WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer found plenty of reason for optimism after an encouraging practice
game this week
12.12.2008
West Ham United reserve team manager Alex Dyer was pleased with his side's
attitude and application after securing a 3-2 win over a Major League Soccer
select squad.
A powerful header from United States defender Jonathan Spector and a second
half brace from Freddie Sears were enough to see the Hammers seal victory at
Hornchurch FC. Following Thursday's success, which featured the return of
Kieron Dyer after 16 months out with broken leg and Matthew Etherington from
a virus, the manager was proud of his players' efforts.
"It was a great victory. The most important thing was the workout for the
lads coming back - Kieron, Jon and Matty - and it was also good for Diego
Tristan to have another run-out," said Dyer, who handed starts to Academy
youngsters Marek Stech, Ashley Miller and Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson.
The reserve team boss was also impressed with the skill and fitness levels
showed by the touring side, which contained a selection of the Major
League's finest young players.
"They were good. They were sharper than us, especially in the first half.
Considering they had played on Wednesday and had a game before that as well
(on Monday) their fitness levels were good," he added. "We knew they would
run out of steam and energy as the game went on. We then came to the
forefront and put on a couple of our younger boys, worked hard and got the
result in the end.
"I was impressed with them. I told the lads before we went out not to take
the game lightly. It was a training game for us but at the same time we had
to show them respect. We knew that it would be a decent game."
Dyer will now prepare for the Hammers' final Barclays Premier Reserve League
South fixture of 2008. Chelsea are the visitors to Bishop's Stortford next
Tuesday evening, when United will seek to gain revenge for the 2-0 defeat
suffered at Brentford FC's Griffin Park in September.
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Bondz in Friday night spotlight
WHUFC.com
It is a Friday evening kick-off for Bondz N'Gala and his MK Dons team-mates
this weekend
12.12.2008
Bondz N'Gala will be in action again for his in-form loan team MK Dons on
Friday night when they travel to the south coast to face Brighton and Hove
Albion,
The Dons will be hoping to continue their impressive start to their first
season in League One, which has seen them move up to third under Roberto Di
Matteo. The towering central defender has certainly played his part since
arriving on a one-month deal in the second week of November.
"I'm enjoying it, really like it up here and everyone has made me feel
welcome and there is a good team spirit," N'Gala said. "I played 90 minutes
over the weekend and then 70 twice before that, so pretty much full games
and it's really good to get the experience in front of the big crowd.
"The league is different to reserve team football and more competitive. It's
nice to train all week and get selected for a game that is worth something
to not just the people you are playing with but for the fans as well."
The Dons' hosts on Friday lie 20th in the table and if N'Gala can help his
side to a win they would go second, just a point behind leaders Leicester
City. "It's a big game against Brighton, it's tight at the top and if you
want to stay there you've got to keep on winning. Hopefully we can bounce
back after the defeat [the 2-0 loss to Scunthorpe] and then you've got the
busy Christmas period so you want to get as many games in as possible."
The 19-year-old, one of eight West Ham United players out on loan at
present, hopes to use the experience gained at Stadium MK to impress
Gianfranco Zola upon his return to east London. "I think I've learnt a lot
about positioning and about home and away games, it's different to reserve
team football as the crowd plays a big part in the game.
"I'd maybe like to stay here a little bit longer, gain more experience and
then go back and do well at West Ham. I want to show the manager what I can
do and what I've learnt since he last saw me."
Although away from Chadwell Heath for now, N'Gala has certainly not been
forgotten about. He revealed that he has been in regular contact with his
permanent employers, who have been supportive of his move. "I've had a few
chats with Alex Dyer, he's had some advice for me and he's really positive
about the whole thing. I think he's come up to see me in a game and he says
he may come up again soon."
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Threesy does it, Al
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 12th December 2008
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley is claiming around £3million from West Ham United as part of
his 'constructive dismissal' case. The former Hammers manager resigned in
protest at the club's policy of selling players without his knowledge at the
beginning of September. Now Curbishley, 51, has hit the club with a bill of
around £3million - the sum he would have received had he stayed at the club
for the duration of his contract. Curbishley was earning around £30,000 per
week when he walked out of the club just over two years into a four year
deal. He decided to call it a day when George McCartney was sold to
Sunderland for £6million a day before the end of the transfer window without
his prior agreement - just days after he told Sky Sports that no more
players would be sold. That followed the sale of Anton Ferdinand - also to
Sunderland just days after Curbishley told Setanta that the centre half was
going nowhere - and the termination of Ferddy Ljungberg's contract, again
something that Curbishley was apparently unaware of. The club's board are
set to challenge the claim; Mike Lee, the club's former non-executive
director recently told Radio Five: "Alan didn't particularly want to sell
certain players but we needed to raise money - he knew that, he was
committed to that policy. "The one player in the end that seemed to force
the issue was McCartney. He put in a written transfer request, we had an
offer on the table and we also had alternatives. "That was the one Alan
thought was unacceptable - so he chose to resign."
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Dyer here
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 12th December 2008
By: Staff Writer
Kieron Dyer made a successful return to action yesterday as a Hammers XI
beat an MLS touring XI 3-2. Dyer - out of action for some 15 months - came
through the game unscathed as goals from Freddie Sears (2) and Jon Spector
gave United a 3-2 victory at Hornchurch FC's Bridge Avenue ground. As well
as the returning Dyer and Spector - himself out of action since the end of
last season - the Hammers gave run-outs to Diego Tristan, Jack Collison and
Matthew Etherington. The touring XI took an early lead in the match before
being pegged back by a Jon Spector header. However the Americans went into
the break ahead through a late first half strike.
Freddie Sears restored parity midway through the second half before notching
a late winning goal. Dyer and Etherington - also returning from a recent
spell on the bench - were substituted after an hour with both coming through
unscathed. The former Ipswich winger is thought to be targetting a new year
return, with the FA Cup tie against Barnsley on January 3rd a distinct
possibility.
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Chelsea v West Ham
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Sunday, 14 December Kick-off: 1600 GMT
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live; Score updates on BBC Sport
website & highlights on MOTD 2
BBC.co.uk
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Team news to follow later.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
The West End meets the East End in a London derby at Stamford Bridge, with
Chelsea playing catch-up in the race for the Premier League leadership.
The Blues have twice as many points as West Ham (36 to 18), scored over
twice as many goals (35 to 17), and conceded a quarter of their tally (six
to 24).
Chelsea have a 75% points return under Luis Felipe Scolari (36 of 48); West
Ham a 25% Premier League winning return under Gianfranco Zola (three of 12).
Chelsea are hoping to beat West Ham for a seventh successive time in the
Premier League.
West Ham have not taken a point off Chelsea since doing the double over them
in 2002-03. Paulo Di Canio got a brace in the odd goal in five triumph at
Stamford Bridge on 28 September 2002 and scored the winner in the 1-0
triumph at Upton Park on 3 May 2003. However those six points were not
sufficient to prevent the Hammers from dropping out of the top-flight that
season.
Distance between the clubs: 13 miles (21 kilometres)
Chelsea make the shortest journey of any Premier League club this weekend.
CLUB FORM
CHELSEA
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 2nd 36 points
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League
fixtures)
1. Lost one of seven Premier League games; 1-2, home to Arsenal on 30
November.
2. The joint most winning team with the strongest attack and tightest
defence in the Premier League. More details
3. Kept six clean sheets in seven league games; conceding only two goals in
those outings (v Arsenal).
4. Two points up on this same stage last season when third in the table.
5. Won only one of three home league games (5-0 against Sunderland on 1
November), since suffering their first defeat in 87 to Liverpool on 26
October.
6. Defeat to the Gunners was their first loss in seven London Premier League
derbies.
7. Lying at the foot of this season's table of Premier League London derbies
with just one point from two games, courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Tottenham on
31 August. Their last victory in a capital clash was 2-1, home to Arsenal on
23 March 2008.
Fixtures
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WEST HAM UNITED
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 16th 18 points
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League
fixtures)
1. Won one of 10 Premier League matches; 0-1, away to Sunderland on 23
November.
2. Failed to score in six of the last nine league outings.
3. On the longest current sequence of 10 Premier League games since scoring
more than a single goal in a match; the 1-2 away victory over Fulham on 27
September being the most recent.
4. Four points down on this same stage last season when 11th in the table.
5. Need a draw to total 250 points away from home all-time in the Premier
League.
6. Picked up one point out of nine against the 'Big Four'; the goalless draw
at Liverpool on 1 December being their only return from six games against
the quartet of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, since
beating Liverpool 1-0 at home on 30 January 2008.
7. Lost four of the last five top-flight London derbies.
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
CHELSEA
Squad profiles
Kose BOSINGWA, Frank LAMPARD and John TERRY are the only remaining players
to have started all of Chelsea's Premier League matches this season.
Nicolas ANELKA is the top-scoring Premier League player with 15 club goals
in all competitions, and is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Boot
with 13 Premier League goals. He is the only player, whose Premier League
goals total for the season is in double figures.
If he scores:-
ANELKA will reach the milestone of 100 career Premier League goals (Arsenal,
Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton and Chelsea).
If selected:-
Frank LAMPARD will be facing a former club. The 30 year old England
international was a West Ham trainee, making 187 appearances (148 in the
league) and scoring 38 goals (24 league) for them before his £11m move to
Stamford Bridge in June 2001.
JOE COLE will also will be facing former team mates. The 27 year old England
international similarly started his career with the Hammers, making 149
appearances (126 in the league) and scoring 13 goals (10 league) before his
£6.6m move across the capital in August 2003.
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WEST HAM UNITED
Squad profiles
Robert GREEN is the only remaining player to have been on the field for
every minute of every one of West Ham's Premier League matches this season.
Valon BEHRAMI's winner against Sunderland on 23 November is West Ham's only
goal in four games.
Lee BOWYER is a double shy of 50 career Premier League goals (Leeds,
Newcastle and West Ham).
If he scores:-
Lucas NEILL will be making his 400th career league appearance (Millwall,
Blackburn and West Ham).
James COLLINS will be making his 50th appearance for the Hammers.
CARLTON COLE will be facing the club where he started his professional
career. The 25 year old forward made 32 appearances (25 in the league) and
scored eight goals (four league) before signing for the Hammers in July
2006.
Scott PARKER will be playing against a former club. The 28 year old England
international made 28 appearances (15 in the league) and scored one league
goal for Chelsea between January 2004 and June 2005.
HEAD TO HEAD
Chelsea are bidding for a sixth win in seven home Premier League clashes
with West Ham.
The Blues registered a 5-0 aggregate in winning home and away against the
Eastenders last term. They have put 24 goals past the Hammers in nine
top-flight meetings.
West Ham are one of eight clubs doubled by Chelsea last season, and Chelsea
were the last of two clubs to complete the double over the Hammers - the
other was Arsenal.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Chelsea 31 wins, West Ham 34, Draws 15
Prem: Chelsea 14 wins, West Ham 9, Draws 3
at Chelsea only
League (inc PL): Chelsea 20 wins, West Ham 12, Draws 8
Prem: Chelsea 8 wins, West Ham 4, Draws 1
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Chelsea 1-0 West Ham United
1 December 2007 - Ref: Howard Webb
Chelsea scorer: Joe Cole 76
REFEREE
Mike Riley (Leeds, Yorkshire)
Premier League referees' table
Mike Riley's 2008-09 Premier League card count
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Zola hopes for warm welcome
Watch Chelsea v West Ham live on Sky Sports 1 this Sunday
By Chris Burton Last updated: 12th December 2008
SSN
Gianfranco Zola is hoping his defection to West Ham will not alter his
standing in the eyes of Chelsea supporters. The Italian enjoyed seven
magical years at Stamford Bridge as a player, capturing the hearts of the
Blues faithful In 2003 he was named the club's greatest player of all time,
while the number 25 shirt he wore with such distinction is yet to be
bestowed upon any other player since his departure. Having now moved into
management after hanging up his boots, Zola's first post in England has seen
him pitch up at Chelsea's cross-city rivals West Ham. However, the rookie
boss seems certain to be treated as a returning hero when the Hammers make
the short journey across the capital on Sunday. With another former Blues
favourite, Steve Clarke, also on the coaching staff at Upton Park, Zola
hopes club rivalries can be put to one side - if just for an afternoon.
"It's a great game. We will play in a very, very good atmosphere at a
fantastic stadium so I am looking forward to it and I believe Steve is
also," he said. "I hope that the crowd will give us a good reception. "We
were very committed to the Chelsea cause when we were there, but now we have
made a different choice. We are starting a new career somewhere else and
they have to respect that as much as we respected them when we were players.
"We are trying to build a new adventure and people have to understand that
we are trying very hard to succeed elsewhere. But we are very happy to have
been part of Chelsea's history. "It was an honour for me and Clarkey and
now we are starting again. Hopefully everybody will understand this."
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Chelsea v West Ham preview
Watch Chelsea take on neighbours West Ham at Stamford Bridge, live on Sky
Sports 1 & HD1, from 3.30pm, Sunday
By Rob Carragher Last updated: 12th December 2008
SSN
Luiz Felipe Scolari will be hoping that a seventh successive Premier League
win against West Ham can help Chelsea reclaim top spot this weekend, with
all the action unfolding live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1. Chelsea trail leaders
Liverpool by just a single point and will be looking to secure a
straightforward victory against their struggling East End neighbours in
order to keep up the pressure at the top. West Ham are currently enduring a
dreadful run of form, having managed just one win in their last 10 games and
only three wins in total since Gianfranco Zola took over in September.
Moreover, the Hammers have notched up just three goals in more than 13 hours
of football, meaning that a goal in 90 minutes against the Premier League's
tightest defence looks an unlikely prospect for the away side.
Chelsea have recovered from their early season injury problems and have only
Michael Essien on the long-term absentees list. Ricardo Carvalho and Juliano
Belletti are close to a return but are unlikely to be risked this weekend,
while Didier Drogba could make his long-awaited Premier League return
following his goalscoring performance in midweek. If Drogba does come into
the side then Salomon Kalou is likely to be the man to make way for the
Ivorian, in light of manager Scolari's positive comments about Nicolas
Anelka's impact this season.
Gianfranco Zola is also suffering a selection headache up front, but it is
his strikers' profligacy in front of goal that is the cause for concern.
Leading goalscorer Carlton Cole has not found the net since October and his
main strike partner Craig Bellamy has failed to score at all during the
Italian's reign. As a result, Zola may choose to shuffle his pack by
bringing in David Di Michele or taking a gamble on the fitness of Diego
Tristan, who made his first appearance of the season against Tottenham last
Monday.
Possible starting XIs
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Ballack,
Deco, Anelka, Drogba.
West Ham: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Mullins, Parker,
Faubert, Cole, Di Michele.
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Dyer closes in on return
Dyer features in first match in over months
By James Dall Last updated: 12th December 2008
SSN
West Ham United midfielder Kieron Dyer stepped up his rehabilitation from
injury after featuring in his first match in over 15 months. Dyer has been
sidelined since August 2007 after breaking his leg against Bristol Rovers in
the Carling Cup on just his third appearance for the Hammers. The £6million
signing from Newcastle United was aiming to return at the start of this
season, only to suffer a stress fracture which delayed his comeback.
However, the 29-year-old played almost 60 minutes in a behind-closed-doors
friendly on Thursday as he closes in on a comeback to the first-team. Winger
Matthew Etherington also played in the match and could be available for
Sunday's trip to Chelsea.
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West Ham set to move for 'Slovak Steven Gerrard' Marek Hamsik
The Mirror
By Dan Silver, Mirror.co.uk 12/12/2008
West Ham have reportedly joined the hunt for Napoli's 21-year-old midfield
sensation Marek Hamsik. The Slovak has scored six goals so far this season,
and the Hammers' Director of Football Gianluca Nani has hailed him "the new
Steven Gerrard". "I think his characteristics really suit the English
championship," Nani told Itallian website Ilmattino. "I got to know him at
Brescia and I feel he is the strongest young midfielder around and he could
become a great champion. West Ham would face stiff opposition for the player
from the likes of Inter Milan and Juventus, but he would certainly add some
guile to the Londoners' midfield, as this compilation shows:
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Alan Curbishley 'claiming £3m from West Ham'
Former manager Alan Curbishley has added to West Ham's financial worries
with a £3 million compensation claim.
Telegraph
By Emily Benammar
Last Updated: 10:23AM GMT 12 Dec 2008
Curbishley is claiming constructive dismissal and breach of contract over
his Sept 3 departure from the club and believes he is entitled to the two
years that remained on his £1.5 million-a-year contract. West Ham claim that
they accepted the 51-year-old's resignation and no compensation is
outstanding. According to the Mail the club have turned down previous
settlement claims and it is highly likely that both parties will now have to
fight their causes at an arbitration hearing in the new year.
Anton Ferdinand will feature as part of Curbishley's case. He claims that in
a television interview featuring the two of them it is clear that Ferdinand
had no desire to leave the club and furthermore that he believed this
manager wanted him to stay. The 23-year-old was subsequently sold to
Sunderland, to Curbishley's anger, although the club's will say that minutes
from a board meeting show that the manager agreed to the sale. Curbishley
has remained out of football since his departure and is reported to have
made it clear that he is not interested in the job at Sunderland vacated by
Roy Keane.
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West Ham Zoom In On Napoli Starlet Hamsik
Goal.com
The Hammers have set their sights on Marekiaro, as confirmed by their
sporting director Nani, who hails the Slovak as the 'new Gerrard'. Marek
Hamsik joined Napoli from Brescia in the summer of 2007 and his superb
performances with the Partenopei have attracted interest from several top
European clubs. Inter and Juventus are said to be keeping tabs on the
21-year-old, but Spanish champions Real Madrid were also rumoured to be
chasing him earlier this week. And now Premier League side West Ham are
likely to join the hunt for the prolific midfield dynamo, who is currently
the Azzurri's leading scorer with six goals to his name.
"I think his characteristics really suit the English championship," the East
London outfit's director of sport Gianluca Nani is quoted as saying on
Ilmattino.it "I got to know him at Brescia and I feel he is the strongest
young midfielder around and he could become a great champion. "In my eyes,
he is the 'new Steven Gerrard' and could even target the Ballon d'Or as soon
as he will start displaying his talent in the Champions League." The former
Brescia transfer guru also reiterated that there are no negotiations in
place to capture Fiorentina striker Giampaolo Pazzini and Juventus ace
Sebastian Giovinco.
Vince Masiello, Goal.com
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West Ham's Di Michele To Return To Torino?
Written by Subhankar Mondal
SoccerLens.com
West Ham United's Italian striker David Di Michele could make a swift return
to Torino next month if the Premier League side are ready to let him go. Di
Michele was signed by the Hammers last summer on a loan deal from Torino
after he fell out with the then Torino coach Gianni De Biasi. At the time of
signing the deal, the Hammers retained an option to make the deal permanent
at a later stage. But now that Torino and De Biasi have parted company and
Walter Novellino, who has worked previously with Di Michele, has taken over,
the Italian hitman has expressed his desire to return to the Turin club.
De Biasi told Turin-based sports paper Tuttosport: "I currently feel, and I
always have felt indebted to the fans of Torino, as well as with the
President. Last year I scored six goals and did some important things, but I
had to move away from the club, due to other issues. Now, I have things to
settle; with the fans, with [Urbano] Cairo, with Novellino, and with my team
mates. "I have settled in well at West Ham now, and I have a good
relationship with the club, the players and the fans.I am happy in London,
and so to respect the club, they will decide my future."
The ball then seems to be in West Ham's court. Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola
might just not be willing to let Di Michele leave the club in January. Maybe
at the end of the current season, Di Michele shall be allowed to return to
his former club.
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Franco Will Lift Hammers
The Sun
RAY WILKINS insists Gianfranco Zola will get it right at West Ham — if he is
given time. Chelsea legend Zola returns to Stamford Bridge on Sunday with
his struggling Hammers just three points off the bottom three. But Wilkins
believes Zola can move the Londoners up the table without abandoning the
club's tradition of playing attacking football. The Blues assistant boss
said: "I believe Gianfranco is trying to get them playing some very
attractive stuff — and at times they are already. "Unfortunately results
haven't gone the way they would've liked but he's keeping up the West Ham
tradition of good football. "That will always be the way I think Gianfranco
will approach it, to see the ball played on green instead of blue. "I'm sure
he's quite pleased with the way things are going but obviously he'd like to
see the results pick up."
Zola enjoyed just short of seven trophy-packed years with Chelsea before
joining Cagliari on a free transfer in 2003. And Wilkins is confident both
the Italian and fellow ex-Blue Steve Clarke will receive a warm welcome at
the Bridge. He said: "Gianfranco is one of the greatest players to have
played for our club. "He's a lovely fella and I'd love to see him succeed at
West Ham. "He's held in high esteem here, as is Clarkey, so it will only be
fitting that they get a rapturous round of applause when they come out on
Sunday. "Steve was a player and coach at the club for 20-plus years and
Gianfranco has legendary status here. "They were both great servants to
Chelsea and it will be wonderful to have them back."
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CHELSEA v West Ham: Drogba and Anelka give Blues a dilemma
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 12:43 PM on 12th December 2008
Daily Mail
Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari must decide whether to stick with France
striker Nicolas Anelka or recall Didier Drogba against West Ham at Stamford
Bridge.
Ivorian Drogba is available again after completing a three-match ban for
throwing a coin into the crowd against Burnley in the Carling Cup. Winger
Florent Malouda is a doubt with a hamstring problem while Ricardo Carvalho
(knee), Franco Di Santo (hamstring) and long-term injury victim Michael
Essien (knee), remain sidelined for Sunday's Barclays Premier League game.
Provisional squad: Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Bosingwa, Belletti, Ferreira,
Alex, Terry, Ivanovic, Bridge, A Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Obi, Deco, Kalou,
Drogba, Anelka, J Cole.
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Chelsea midfielder Cole warns his old club West Ham:
We've found our steel again
By Simon Johnson Last updated at 10:49 AM on 12th December 2008
Daily Mail
Joe Cole warned his former club West Ham that Chelsea have rediscovered
their steel and are ready to inflict more misery on Blues great Gianfranco
Zola. Cole believes Chelsea's last two wins against Bolton and Cluj prove
the team are getting their tough streak back now that their injury jinx is
coming to an end. Chelsea
Cole said: 'We have had a lot of injuries but the steel is back in the side.
'Everyone was waiting for us to slip up and they are always tough games but
I feel the strength is back in the team.' The midfielder has missed almost
half of the club's games due to various problems this term but was back to
help Chelsea beat Cluj in midweek. "I just want to get back in the flow of
things again. I just hope I don't get any more injuries," Cole told Chelsea
TV.
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