WHUFC.com
Steve Clarke is feeling confident after a good week for the squad at
Chadwell Heath
02.10.2009
Steve Clarke has been impressed with the positive reaction from the West Ham
United players in training this week ahead of Sunday's match with Fulham.
After being urged by their manager to get ready for a 'cup final' on Sunday
following Monday night's defeat at Manchester City, first-team coach Clarke
is confident the players will give the right response against Roy Hodgson's
side. "It's not just what I've seen this week, it's what I've seen since
we've had this group together at the beginning of the season," Clarke said.
"We have a lot of good players and we have a good unit. We work well
together. "Monday was a disappointment and we have to put that behind us.
We've had other games where we've played really well and we have to make
sure on Sunday we play really well and win the game."
That task should be made easier by more positive news from the treatment
room as Matthew Upson and Valon Behrami have returned to full training.
Upson looks set to return to the starting XI, while it remains to be seen
whether Behrami will start after just two league appearances so far this
campaign. "We're hopeful that Matthew Upson will be ready to play. Valon
Behrami has also trained well this week, whether he'll start the game I'm
not sure. It's possible he might make the bench. "We're starting to get one
or two back which is good news and hopefully when we get the other side of
the international break we'll have a full squad available."
After the City setback, Clarke believed the squad had benefited from time to
reflect on the chance to look at what did not go their way. "I think on
Monday night we were all a little bit frustrated. It was a game where we
didn't play as well as we have in previous games this season but it was also
a game where crucial decisions went against us in crucial times. All those
little things add up to make your frustration. "We've had a good week since
then, we've worked hard and the players are focused on the game on Sunday."
Furthermore, Clarke was happy to report that the spirit at Chadwell Heath
remains high. "I don't think the morale has gone down the way people think
it has. The morale is good and the spirit in the camp is very good. We look
forward to Sunday's game and we'll try to win the game."
Zola had demanded a reaction from his players, demonstrating a steely side
that not everyone gets to see. For Clarke, though, this kind of passion was
nothing out of the ordinary. "He's the same as he always is. He's a very
positive person and he tries to transmit that to the group and I think he
does that very well. I think he won't change his way as he is what he is and
he works as he works. "Toughness is a mental thing and we all have to pull
together, we all have to work hard. He's worked well this week as he's
worked hard every week he's been here so things haven't changed very much.
We lost the game on Monday night but it's not a disaster."
After a couple of momentary lapses allowed Monday's hosts to score three,
Clarke explains those minor should have been ironed out on the training
pitch this week. "If you lose experienced players it is always going to have
a detrimental effect. The biggest thing for me is that we've defended
set-plays not as well as we have done previously. "We've worked on that in
training and hopefully you'll see the results at the weekend."
Although both of Sunday's teams finished in the top half of the Premier
League table last term, they have found the start of this season slightly
more difficult. The home side site 18th, two points and a place behind
Sunday's opponents. "Well that's where we are just now so we have to try and
rectify that just now. It's not about where you are in the league, that's
your position, that's where you are and we have to try and move up.
"Hopefully we can prove we're in a false position but we have to prove we're
in a false position. Really you have to look at the next game as we have to
win the next game. The position we are in will all take care of itself after
the next game."
Just to confirm his focus, Clarke had a simple answer when asked about
whether he might have one eye on the Sunday's meeting of Chelsea and
Liverpool as well. For him, though, there is only one 'big game' taking
place in the capital that day. "No I won't have any eyes on the Chelsea
game. I'm just looking forward to our game. "To be honest I think we have a
bigger game on Sunday. For us it's a bigger game. West Ham against Fulham -
that's the biggest game on Sunday."
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Villa date confirmed
WHUFC.com
The club can confirm the new date for the visit of Aston Villa in the
Barclays Premier League
02.10.2009
West Ham United can confirm the rearranged Barclays Premier League match
against Aston Villa will take place at 7.45pm on Wednesday 4 November. The
fixture was originally due to be played on Tuesday 18 August but was
postponed because of Villa's European commitments. Gianfranco Zola's men
will hope to avenge the last meeting between the sides at the Boleyn Ground
when Villa won 1-0 on 12 December last year.
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Fulham match preview
WHUFC.com
All of the early team news ahead of Sunday's London derby against Fulham
02.10.2009
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United v Fulham
Boleyn Ground
Sunday 4 October 2009
3pm
Referee: Phil Dowd
Introduction
· West Ham United play host to Fulham on Sunday in their third home game of
the 2009/10 season. After defeats by big-spending opponents in their first
two matches at the Boleyn Ground, the Hammers will hope to continue their
good run of form against the Cottagers and return to winning ways.
· The game has been moved to Sunday due to Fulham's commitments in the UEFA
Euopra League on Thursday. With the home games with Arsenal and Everton also
being moved to Sunday due to television and Europa League commitments
respectively, West Ham United's first 3pm Saturday kick-off of the season
will not come until Burnley visit the Boleyn Ground on 28 November.
· West Ham sit in 18th place in the fledgling Barclays Premier League
standings with four points from six matches. Sunday's visitors are two
points and a place ahead, having played the same amount of games. A win for
the home side could see them climb as high as 13th place.
· The Hammers have not picked up three points since their opening day
victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but if recent luck against Fulham is
anything to go by they will fancy their chances changing that statistic.
· West Ham have won the last four games in a row against Roy Hodgson's side,
and have not lost to them since an FA Cup game in February 2004 - eight
games in total.
· You have to go back even further to find Fulham's last league victory over
the Hammers. That came in November 2001 when they beat the Hammers 2-0 at
the Boleyn Ground.
· This is the 75th league meeting between the two sides. West Ham United
have won 34, Fulham have won 24 and there have been 16 draws.
Last meeting
· The last time the two sides met on 18 January 2009, West Ham United came
out on top for the fourth consecutive time. Goals from David Di Michele,
Mark Noble and Carlton Cole, his fifth consecutive goalscoring game, helped
the Hammers move up to eighth in the Premier League. Fulham's consolation
came from former player Paul Konchesky's long-range effort.
The teams that day were -
West Ham United: Green, Neill (c), Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker,
Noble (Faubert, 81), Collison (Mullins 83), Cole, Di Michele (Dyer 87),
Subs: Stech, Boa Morte, Tristan, Sears
Goals: Di Michele 7, Noble (pen) 60, Cole 76.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Davies (Gera 74),
Etuhu, Murphy (c), Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora (Nevland 72)
Subs: Zuberbuhler, Baird, Andreasen, Kallio, Gray
Goal: Konchesky 22.
Last time out
Monday 28 September
Barclays Premier League
Manchester City 3-1 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Da Costa, Ilunga, Noble, Parker,
Kovac (Stanislas 71), Jimenez (Hines 71), Diamanti, Cole
Subs: Kurucz, Spector, N'Gala, Payne, Nouble
Goal: Cole 24
Thursday 2 October
UEFA Europa League
Fulham 1-0 FC Basle
Fulham: Schwarzer ,Konchesky ,Baird ,Kelly ,Smalling ,Murphy ,Greening
,Riise ,Dempsey ,Andrew Johnson ,Zamora
Subs not used: Hughes, Paintsil, Anderson, Gera, Saunders, Nevland, Kamara,
Goal: Murphy 57
Referee
• Sunday's referee is Phil Dowd.
• Dowd began refereeing in 1984 before graduating to the Staffordshire
Senior League and Midland Football Alliance.
• He joined the Football League list of assistant referees in 1992 before
joining the list of referees in 1997.
• Dowd was promoted to the Barclays Premier League list of referees in 2001.
This is his ninth season as a top-flight referee.
• He was the fourth official at the 2006 FA Cup final between West Ham
United and Liverpool at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
• Dowd took charge of five West Ham matches last season, most notably the
3-1 home victory over Newcastle United on 20 September, Gianfranco Zola's
first match as Hammers manager. Dowd was also the man in the middle for West
Ham's home matches against Arsenal, Fulham and Manchester United and the
penultimate game of the season away at Everton.
·Sunday's game will be Dowd's second Hammers game of the season after
refereeing the goalless draw with Blackburn Rovers on 29 August.
Old boys
· Injured Luis Boa Morte made 250 appearances for Fulham in all competitions
between July 2000 and January 2007, scoring 54 goals. Boa Morte scored 18
goals as the Cottagers secured promotion to the Premier League in 2000/01.
He was voted the club's player of the season in 2004/05.
· Four Fulham players could turn out against their former club this
afternoon. Striker Bobby Zamora scored 40 goals in 152 league and cup
appearances for West Ham United between February 2004 and July 2008.
Full-back John Pantsil played 24 matches for the Hammers between August 2006
and July 2008. Left-back Paul Konchesky made 70 appearances for West Ham
between July 2005 and July 2007, scoring one of only two goals for the club
in the 2006 FA Cup final.
· Bobby Moore MBE played for both West Ham United and Fulham during his
glittering career. Moore made 544 appearances for the Hammers before moving
to Craven Cottage for £25,000 in 1974. England's World Cup-winning captain
remained at Fulham for three years, making a further 124 appearances and
facing his former side in the 1975 FA Cup final, which West Ham won 2-0.
· Among the other players who have represented both sides are Jan Lastuvka,
Ian Pearce, Rufus Brevett, George Carter, Brian Dear, Tony Gale, Ron
Greenwood, Jon Harley, Fred Harrison, Jack Hebden and George Horler.
Head to head
(last six meetings, league unless stated)
18 January 2009 - West Ham United 3-1 Fulham
27 September 2008 - Fulham 1-2 West Ham United
23 February 2008 - Fulham 0-1 West Ham United
12 January 2008 - West Ham United 2-1 Fulham
13 January 2007 - West Ham United 3-3 Fulham
23 December 2006 - Fulham 0-0 West Ham United
Overall record v Fulham (all competitions) W 36, D 27, L 18
West Ham United
· Robert Green has played 94 consecutive Barclays Premier League games -
more than any other player in the top-flight currently. All being well, he
will reach his unbroken century away to Hull City on Saturday 21 November.
· Four players - Mark Noble, Matthew Upson, Alessandro Diamanti and Carlton
Cole (three) - have got on the league scoresheet for the Hammers so far this
season.
· Cole has had more shots (21) than any other West Ham player this season,
with 11 of them hitting the target.
· Noble leads the way in the assists chart, with two to his name.
· Alessandro Diamanti has put more crosses into the box than any of his
team-mates (4).
· Scott Parker has won more free-kicks than any other Hammers player (15).
· Cole has also done his bit at the back with more defensive clearances (8)
than anyone else.
· Cole, who has eight goals in his last 16 league appearances dating back to
last season, led the way in the scoring charts last season as well with ten
Premier League goals, one in the FA Cup and one in the League Cup.
· West Ham have won the highest percentage of tackles in the top flight
(80%).
· The Hammers finished last season in ninth in the Barclays Premier League
with 51 points, a place and two points higher than they managed in the
previous season.
· West Ham have recorded exactly 700 Premier League points so far, with the
0-0 draw at Ewood Park taking them to that milestone.
· West Ham's biggest ever home win over Fulham came in the shape of a 7-2
First Division defeat of the Cottagers on 3 February 1968, with all three of
the Hammers' World Cup winners getting on the scoresheet. A crowd of 31,248
saw Trevor Brooking (two), Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst (two), Bobby Moore,
Brian Dear.
· The Hammers also secured a 6-1 First Division victory on 5 November 1966.
Geoff Hurst scored four times and Martin Peters added a brace. Fred
Callaghan had given Fulham an early lead. That victory was matched on 1
September 1917, when Danny Shea scored four times and Frank Roberts twice.
· West Ham are next in action on Saturday 17 October when they travel to
Stoke City in the Barclays Premier League.
Fulham
· Clint Dempsey has had the most shots in the Premier League (21) without
scoring. Seven of those have hit the target.
· Bobby Zamora is Fulham's top scorer so far this season with three goals,
two of which came in the UEFA Europa League.
· West Ham will have to be wary of Damien Duff if selected. The Ireland
international has put in eleven crosses so far this season.
· Brede Hangeland has made more defensive clearances than any of his other
team-mates (10)
· Mark Schwarzer will turn 37 on Tuesday.
· Fulham have never failed to score at Upton Park in the Premier League.
· Fulham's biggest win at the Boleyn Ground came in their last victory over
the Hammers, in an FA Cup fifth-round replay on 24 February 2004. Brian
McBride, Barry Hayles and current West Ham United player Luis Boa Morte
netted in the final 14 minutes to give the Whites a 3-0 victory. Fulham have
never won a league game at the Boleyn Ground by more than two clear goals,
winning 2-0 on 3 November 2001 through goals from Sylvain Legwinski and
Steed Malbranque.
Team news
· With another day of training before the game, both managers will wait
until Sunday afternoon before finalising their plans for the game.
· Gianfranco Zola could welcome back at least two more key players to his
squad for the game. Matthew Upson and Valon Behrami have both been in full
training this week after recovering from the calf injuries that ruled them
out of Monday's game at Eastlands.
· If Upson does return, Zola will have the tough choice of leaving our
either James Tomkins or Manuel Da Costa, who looked assured on his first
Premier League start against City.
· Fresh from his first England Under-21 call-up, Zavon Hines could be
recalled to the starting XI
· It remains to be seen whether Guille Franco will be in line to make his
debut after edging closer to match fitness.
· Luis Boa Morte is due back at the club by the end of the month to step up
his rehab.
· Terry Dixon is in full training with the reserves and could feature in
their next game away at Chelsea on 19 October.
· Danny Gabbidon and Kieron Dyer are not expected to be back this week after
respective muscle injuries.
· Fulham made five changes for Thursday's game with Basle and is expected to
shuffle his pack once more for Sunday's game.
· Two players who could return are Brede Hangeland and Dickson Etuhu, while
Damien Duff (calf) and Simon Davies (foot) are set to miss out.
General information
The weather for Sunday is predicted to be sunny with a top temperature of 15
degrees.
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Ahmed's Arabian aim
WHUFC.com
Academy forward Ahmed Abdulla has set his sights on an international call-up
from Saudi Arabia
02.10.2009
Academy forward Ahmed Abdulla has revealed his ambition to earn an
international call-up from Saudi Arabia. Abdulla, who turns 18 in November,
was born in the Arab Kingdom and lived there with his family until the age
of eight, when he moved to England. Now, with his parents still living in
the country, the teenager is aiming to catch the eye of the Saudi Arabian
Football Association and earn his first call-up to the Falcons' Under-20
squad. At the same time, Abdulla is also planning to surpass the achievement
of legendary Saudi striker Sami Al-Jaber, who appeared at four FIFA World
Cups between 1994 and 2006 and also spent eight months on loan at
Wolverhampton Wanderers during the 2000/01 season, by being a success in
English football. To do so, the north London-based Abdulla knows he will
have to impress for Tony Carr's U18 side, starting in Saturday's FA Premier
Academy League meeting with Southampton at Little Heath. "One of the Saudi
Arabia players, Sami Al-Jaber, came over when he was at the top of his game
and played for Wolves. He is the all-time best Saudi Arabian footballer, but
he didn't quite make it in English football and didn't play too often. I'd
love to be able to make it at the top level myself. "It would be good for me
to get a call-up. My Dad is Somalian and my Mum is from Yemen, but I and all
my brothers were born in Saudi Arabia, as my Dad moved over there to work.
"I was born there and I lived there until I was eight and my parents still
live there now. I speak fluent Arabic, as well as English. I am living with
my brother in England at the moment."
The Hammers take on the Saints looking for their first victory since
defeating Everton on the opening day of the season back on 22 August. Since
then, Carr's side have been beaten by Stoke City, Tottenham Hotspur,
Birmingham City and Ipswich Town, and drawn with Cardiff City. However, they
will be hopeful of getting back to winning ways against a Southampton team
beaten 5-2 at home by Charlton Athletic last weekend. Saturday's match at
Little Heath kicks off at 11am. Admission and parking are free.
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Specs almost there
WHUFC.com
The 2010 World Cup finals are looming large for Jonathan Spector and the
United States
02.10.2009
Jonathan Spector could become the latest Hammer to take a giant step towards
the 2010 FIFA World Cup next week when the United States return to action.
After Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole played their part in
England earning a place at the finals in South Africa, Spector will be
looking to make sure the US qualify. He has been called up for the matches
away to Honduras on Saturday 10 October and at home to Costa Rica in
Washington DC four days later.
Victory in either match would be enough to progress as the US are top of the
CONCACAF standings. They are one point ahead of Guille Franco's Mexico and a
further three and four points ahead of Honduras and Costa Rica respectively.
The top three qualify automatically with the fourth going into a play-off
against a South American nation.
Spector, who at 23 has already amassed 20 caps, appears to have established
himself as Bob Bradley's regular right-back, after helping the team to the
FIFA Confederations Cup final back in the summer. He played in both
qualifying wins last month against El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago.
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West Ham v Fulham
BBC.co.uk
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Premier League
Venue: Upton Park Date: Sunday, 4 October 2009 Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, full commentary on 5 Live
sports extra, local radio & highlights on Match of the Day 2
TEAM NEWS
Fulham made five changes for the defeat of Basle and Roy Hodgson is sure to
freshen up his team again on Sunday. Brede Hangeland and Dickson Etuhu could
return but Damien Duff (calf) and Simon Davies (foot) miss out.
West Ham should welcome back England defender Matthew Upson, who has missed
the last two games with a calf injury. Jack Collison is still missing with
a knee problem and Mexico striker Guillermo Franco is not yet fit enough to
be included.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
West Ham
Suspended: None Doubtful: Collison & Upson (both calf)
Injured: Ashton (ankle), Boa Morte (knee), Franco (fitness)
Fulham
Suspended: None Doubtful: Duff (calf)
Injured: Kallio (Achilles), Davies (foot), A Johnson (shoulder), Nevland
(unspecified)
MATCH PREVIEW
The season is just seven weeks old, but West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has
described Sunday's visit of Fulham as a "cup final".
We just need a couple of results and things can change, starting on Sunday
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola
The London side find themselves in the relegation zone after taking only
four points from their first six matches, their worst start to a season
since the disastrous 2002/03 campaign. Hammers fans will not need reminding
how that season ended.
Optimists will look for mitigating circumstances. Four of their six league
matches have been away from Upton Park and their two home fixtures have been
against high-flying Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
But after three consecutive defeats Zola must engineer a revival quickly to
appease the Hammers' concerned supporters.
Fulham have had their own difficulties as they struggle to repeat last
season's form, and sit directly above the Hammers in the table.
Roy Hodgson's side ended a three-match losing streak with Thursday's win
over Basle but they travel to Upton Park hoping to improve on a dismal
record against their London neighbours - the Cottagers have only beaten West
Ham once in 12 Premier League meetings.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• These sides have met on 82 previous occasions in all competitions. West
Ham have won 36 to Fulham's 28.
• Fulham have only beaten West Ham once in the Premier League (in 12
meetings). That was their first Premier League encounter, at Upton Park,
back in November 2001. Since then the Hammers have won eight of their
top-flight meetings.
• Fulham have never failed to score at Upton Park in the Premier League.
West Ham
• The Hammers have accrued just four points from their opening six games,
their lowest tally since the 2002/03 season which ultimately resulted in
relegation.
• Gianfranco Zola's men have lost four of their last five league home
matches.
• They are in danger of losing four successive league games for the first
time since October last year, just a month after Gianfranco Zola took
charge.
• Carlton Cole has scored three goals in his last five league outings. The
Hammers have lost each time he has found the net this season.
• West Ham have won the highest percentage of tackles in the top flight
(80%).
Fulham
• Fulham have lost four of their last five Premier League clashes including
the last three in a row.
• The Cottagers have won only three out of 37 Premier League London derbies
away from home.
• Fulham have scored in four of their last five away matches in the league.
Prior to this they had failed to find the net in 10 of their previous 13.
• Clint Dempsey has already had 27 shots this season without finding the
net, more than any other player.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
West Ham
Cole: 3 goals (3 league); Stanislas: 2 goals (0 league)
Fulham
Zamora: 3 goals (1 league); Johnson 3 goals (0 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Phil Dowd
Assistant referees: Stephen Artis & Darren Cann
Fourth official: Andy Woolmer
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
West Ham (L1-3 v Man City, a): Green, Faubert, Da Costa, Tomkins, Ilunga,
Diamanti, Kovac (Stanislas 71), Parker, Noble, Jimenez (Hines 71), Cole.
Subs Not Used: Kurucz, Spector, Nouble, Payne, N'Gala.
Fulham (L0-1 v Arsenal, h): Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland,
Konchesky, Duff, Etuhu, Murphy, Dempsey, Zamora, A Johnson. Subs Not Used:
Zuberbuhler, Baird, Gera, Kamara, Riise, Smalling, Greening.
MOST RECENT MEETING
West Ham 3-1 Fulham (18 January, 2009)
West Ham scorers: Di Michele 7, Noble 60(p), Cole 76
Fulham scorers: Konchesky 22
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Wide boy
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 2nd October 2009
By: Staff Writer
Gianfranco Zola has admitted that his preferred 4-3-3 system might have to
be dumped. Zola, who has seen his side ship nine goals in their last three
outings has stuck with his narrow formation despite calls from supporters to
revert to a more traditional 4-4-2 system with wingers. However the Italian
boss admitted that a change may be long overdue with the Hammers having
scored just three goals from open play thus far this season. "I like to
adapt and I am willing to change if necessary," he told reporters. "I want
this team to be successful and I am ready to do whatever it takes to make it
happen. "Wwe are not doing enough. We have to pull something out which is
better than what we are doing. That includes everyone, the players, me.
Every night before I go to sleep I always think 'What can I do better?' "I
am going to be more focused and more demanding of the players. I am going to
be on top of them until they get it right. This is a testing period for us
and from the results so far, we obviously don't like easy starts. "We are
pushing hard though. We just need a couple of results and things can change,
starting on Sunday. I have told the team what I thought and I am expecting a
very good reaction against Fulham."
League goals from open play this season
Mark Noble v Wolves, 15th August: Noble opens his account for the season
with a stunning 25-yard strike.
Carlton Cole v Tottenham, 23rd August: Anything you can do ... Cole goes one
better with a goal that is named Goal of the Month by the BBC.
Carlton Cole v Man City, 28th September: A cheeky backheel to convert
Kovac's 20-yard drive.
League goals from set pieces this season
Matthew Upson v Wolves, 15th August: The unmarked England centre half nods
home a corner.
Alessandro Diamanti v Liverpool, 19th September: The Italian registers his
first goal for the Hammers with a two-footerd spot kick.
Carlton Cole v Liverpool, 19th September: Cole rises highest to head home a
corner.
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Welcome returns
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 2nd October 2009
By: Staff Writer
Matthew Upson and Valon Behrami are both expected to return for the Hammers
ahead of this weekend's cruch derby with Fulham. Gianfranco Zola's side go
into this Sunday's game with points the priority having gained just four
from their opening six fixtures - a situation that has left West Ham firmly
entrenched in the bottom three of the Premier League at this early stage.
Upson, who has been out of action since tweeaking a muscle during the home
defeat against Liverpool will be especially welcomed, with United having
conceded three goals in each of their last three outings against Liverpool,
Bolton and Manchester City. The energy of Behrami - who has been sidelined
since pulling up in the same game - has also been greatly missed by a United
midfield that has struggled to cope in recent weeks. Sadly there looks like
being no return for Jack Collison whose energy and commitment has also been
greatly missed. Guillerme Franco, who is said to have signed for West Ham
last month (despite not having been seen on the field at any level yet) is
also ruled out due to a lack of fitness. This weekend's visitors warmed up
for the game with a 1-0 win over Basle at Craven Cottage in the Europa Cup
last night - their 13th competitive fixture of the season already. West Ham,
by comparison, have played just eight games. The Hammers face Fulham at the
Boleyn Ground this Sunday afternoon. Tickets for the game are still
available from the club's ticket office.
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England boost for Hines
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 1st October 2009
By: Staff Writer
Zavon Hines has been rewarded for his excellent early season form with a
first ever call up to the England under 21s. The 20-year-old Hammer, who,
unusually, is yet to feature for his country at any level has been drafted
into the squad to face Macedonia at Coventry's Ricoh Arena next Friday (9th
October). Hines - who has already featured in the first team squad on six
occasions - has scored just the one goal thus far this season (against
Millwall in the Carling Cup back in August) but has reviewed a string of
positive reviews for some energetic performances. The former Hammers trainee
is joined in the under 21 squad by James Tomkins and Junior Stanislas, who
have made six and two appearances respectively for Stuart Pearce's side.
Hines will battle with the rather more experienced Danny Wellbeck (Man Utd,
three caps), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea, three caps) and Andy Carroll
(Newcastle, one cap) for a starting berth.
Full England under 21 squad
Fielding, Loach, McCarthy; Bertrand, Gibbs, Hutchinson, Mancienne, Naughton,
Richards, Tomkins, Smalling; Cattermole, Cleverley, Cork, Delph, Muamba,
Rodwell, Rose, Stanislas, Wilshere; Carroll, Hines, Sturridge, Welbeck.
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Clarke backs tough Zola
Hammers assistant feels crackdown was needed to clear the air
Last updated: 2nd October 2009
SSN
Steve Clarke feels West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola is right to lay the down
the law to his players. The Hammers have endured a disappointing start to
the 2009/10 campaign and currently occupy a standing inside the Premier
League relegation zone. A lacklustre 3-1 defeat at Manchester City on Monday
night kept them inside the bottom three, much to the frustration of coach
Zola. The mild-mannered Italian was left fuming after the Eastlands showing
and will be demanding a positive response when West Ham face capital rivals
Fulham on Sunday. Clarke said: "I've seen him angry before - I've known him
a long time. On Monday night we were all a little bit frustrated. It was a
game where we didn't play as well as we have done. "Decisions also went
against us at certain times and it all added up to frustration. "We have had
a good week since then, the players have worked hard and we are looking
forward to it. "He is a very positive person who tries to transmit that to
the group and he does that very well."
The Hammers have now lost their last four games in all competitions, leaking
10 goals, and assistant manager Clarke accepts that there are issues which
need to be addressed.
"We haven't defended set plays as well as we have done previously so we have
worked on that in training," he added. "Third from bottom is where we are
right now so we have to rectify that on Sunday. That's where we are and we
have to look at moving up from there. "Hopefully we can prove we are in a
false position - that's what we have to do."
While the recent run has done little to inspire confidence within the Upton
Park camp, Clarke insists it has not crushed morale either. He said:
"Tougher is a mental thing. Everybody has to pull together and work harder.
"We lost a game on Monday night - it's not a disaster. "Morale has not gone
down as much as people think. The spirit is still good in the camp. "We have
a lot of good players, are a good unit and work well together. Monday was a
disappointment we have to put behind us. "If you lose experienced players it
is always going to have a detrimental effect."
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West Ham v Fulham preview
Hammers welcome Cottagers to Upton Park
Last updated: 2nd October 2009
SSN
PREDICTIONS:
Skysports.com prediction: 1-1
SKY BET odds: West Ham 5/4, Draw 9/4, Fulham 9/4
One to Watch: Mark Noble
West Ham will be hoping to climb out of the relegation zone when Fulham
visit Upton Park on Sunday. While Gianfranco Zola's side have won many
plaudits this season, they have only won one of their six league outings to
date and find themselves at the wrong end of the table. West Ham are third
from bottom in the table two points behind Fulham having lost three straight
following Monday's defeat at Man City. The lowly Cottagers find themselves
struggling to emulate last season's exploits having lost four of their six
league matches. However, Fulham received a confidence boost in midweek after
securing a 1-0 Europa League win over Basel. Zola must decide whether to
rejig his back-line in the wake of Monday's 3-1 loss to Mark Hughes' title
challengers at Eastlands. Joel Tomkins and Manuel Da Costa were paired
together for the first time with Matthew Upson and Daniel Gabbidon absent.
Upson and Jack Collison undergo late fitness tests and could be available
for the Italian tactician for Sunday's crucial clash. Zavon Hines and Junior
Stanislas could be given the nod after coming off the bench at City, while
Carlton Cole will continue to lead the line. Striker Dean Ashton and winger
Luis Boa Morte remain long-term absentees for the Hammers and will take no
part in this weekend's action.
Roy Hodgson is likely to recall a number of key personnel for their weekend
trip across London after giving some fringe players a run-out in midweek.
The Cottagers boss omitted a handful of regulars for the visit of Basel,
including John Pantsil, Brede Hangeland, Aaron Hughes and Dickson Etuhu.
Hangeland, Pantsil and Hughes will replace Chris Baird, Chris Smalling and
Stephen Kelly at the back while Etuhu should come in for Greening. Winger
Damien Duff is unlikely to play after picking up a calf strain in last
weekend's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, so Zoltan Gera will get the nod. Andrew
Johnson and Bobby Zamora should retain their partnership up front, although
Erik Nevland and Diomansy Kamara are ready to start if needed.
Possible starting XIs
West Ham: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Da Costa, Ilunga, Dyer, Noble, Parker,
Kovac, Hines, Cole.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Gera, Murphy,
Etuhu, Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora.
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Fulham Preview
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 2nd October 2009
By: Preview Percy
Preview Percy takes a look at Sunday's match....
Fulham up next for a 3pm Sunday kick-off.
The Cottagers are reputedly London's oldest professional club having been
formed in 1879. They've spent the 130 years or so since then doing, well not
much really. Of course being such an old club they would like to think they
have an impressive history, though the chap who wrote their Wikipedia entry
might have chosen his words a bit better when including Bobby Moore and
George Best in amongst the many British greats that it is claimed that the
club "produced". In reality, if you don't count things like the Middlesex
Senior Cup, they've probably had more grounds over the years than they have
had trophies. To summarise, they're kind of like the BBC Parliamentary
Channel of the Premiership – you're sort of vaguely aware of their existence
in the listings without ever really knowing why, or how they are still
there.
They did of course finish higher up the programme listings, er table, than
us last season, managing to grab the 7th place spot that gave them a place
in the new Europa League in which they've made a promising start. Since
qualifying, they are unbeaten so far in their group having drawn away at
CSKA Sofia and beaten FC Basle at home in their two games thus far. However,
current received wisdom suggests that participation in the secondary
European competition is likely to have a detrimental effect on a club's
league form, which is why in recent years so many clubs appear to have tried
almost as hard to exit the competition as they did to qualify for it in the
first place. Of course it's early days in both competitions as yet but the
fact that this weekend's visitors currently lie one place above ourselves at
the wrong end of the table suggests that there may well be something in that
received wisdom.
They currently have two wins to their name having disposed of Pompey 1-0 at
Fratton Park on the opening day and Everton 2-1 at home a couple of weeks
ago. On the debit side have been defeats by Chelsea, Villa and Wolves,
whilst last weekend most observers thought them a bit unlucky to go down 1-0
at home to Arsenal for whom Mannone in goal apparently had a blinder. All of
which has left them on 6 points, which is two more than we've managed to
scrape together thus far. Having said that, the Basle victory brought an end
to a three game losing sequence which included an extra time defeat to
Manchester City in the League Cup, so, unlike ourselves they do at least
have recent experience of victory.
They made five changes for the Basle tie in midweek but are likely to revert
to a side more akin to that which lost last week. There may, however, be at
least one enforced change from that line-up as the calf muscle injury that
saw him limp off last week after only 10 minutes. Simon Davies is also a
doubt with an ankle injury and there are conflicting reports regarding
Andrew Johnson who is either definitely out with a shoulder injury or
fighting fit depending on which of the many sources you care to believe.
They are, as usual, likely to be a trio of ex-Hammers on display with full
backs Pantsil and Konchesky being joined by Bobby Zamora up front.
As for us, well all has not been well of late – yes I know, "Preview Percy –
chosen subject 'The bleedin' obvious'". Though we were (again) on the wrong
end of some dreadful refereeing decisions up at Eastlands the fact remains
that apart from a few short spells we were bloody awful on Monday night and
more clinical finishing from the home side, particularly in the first 20
minutes, could have seen us on the wrong end of cricket score – a proper one
rather than one of England's.
The same injury news sources that seem so undecided about Fulham's Johnson
have made similar diagnoses regarding Matty Upson's calf with him being both
"available" and "very doubtful." We are told that he has been in full
training this week so, assuming that he is fit his will be a welcome return
following the Tomkins/Da Costa partnership that looked exactly like the
first time pairing it was. What was the name of that red-haired fella we
sold the other week?
Also back in training this week apparently was Valon Behrami, who could come
in for Kovac. If so, this will be a most welcome change as the Percy
household remains totally unconvinced that a midfield that includes both
Kovac and Parker will ever really work. Personally we'd also like to see
Hines return to the starting line-up as well. He had a great spell
terrorising Liverpool, who pretty soon abandoned all pretence of dealing
with him legally. The thought of him up against Pa(i)ntsil is one that has
us salivating. Well, not literally you understand but you know what I mean.
Meanwhile, the continued absence of Franco, apart from robbing me of the
chance to make a load of cheap jokes about dictators playing on the right
wing, is beginning to remind me more and more of a certain Diego Tristan.
Like Tristan he arrived, and then disappeared off the face of the earth in a
quest to seek the Holy Grail of match-fitness. Let's hope that, unlike
Tristan, he finds it.
Ok so we've not had the best of starts (see previous comments on "chosen
subject"). However, there have been some encouraging noises suggesting that
that there might be more flexibility to the formation. Clearly, at third
from bottom the "4-3 and not really 3" set up hasn't really been working so
any acknowledgement that the horse being flogged might not actually be too
well is more than welcome. We've got a decent record against this lot and,
with the return of Upson and Behrami I can see the season finally getting
started at last. It might be a bit tense at first. However, if we avoid
conceding first, I can see three points from this one so I'll go for a "less
comfortable than it sounds" 3-1 victory to see us start our clamber up the
table.
Enjoy the game!
Last season: 3-1 A Mark Noble penalty and a Carlton Cole effort gave us all
three points after a freak piledriver from Konchesky had cancelled out an
early Di Michele strike.
Danger Man: Zoltan Gera has begun to pull strings in the middle and
impressed against Arsenal last week.
Referee: Phil Dowd handled the corresponding match last season in which,
after correctly giving the penalty when Cole was upended by Konchesky, he
baffled the hell out of everyone by giving only a yellow instead of the red
card the situation clearly deserved.
Look out for: Trainspotters apparently there may be something called a
District Line train stopping at Upton Park this weekend, an event so rare
that you won't be able to see the station for anoraks and tartan thermos
flasks.
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I lost my enthusiasm in Italy - da Costa
Defender settling well in England
Portugoal.net
Portuguese under-21 international Manuel da Costa says he is enjoying life
again at West Ham, and admits that his spell in Italy led to him losing his
passion for the game.
The 23-year-old left Italian club Fiorentina, from whom he had spent the
second half of last season on-loan at Sampdoria, for a new challenge in
England at the end of the transfer window, signing a three-year contract at
Upton Park,
"I really like it here," he told the club official match day programme. "I'd
lost some of my enthusiasm for football in Italy with being on the sidelines
a lot. Here Mister Zola has brought me into the group, everybody has
welcomed me, and I am very happy to be here. I'm getting used to the team,
to the staff, to the environment, and I am feeling a lot better."
Da Costa made his debut for West Ham in their League Cup defeat to Bolton,
before starting his first league match at Manchester City last Monday,
although he was again on the losing side. However, the defender has already
displayed an appreciation for the club's supporters, having thrown his shirt
into the away end after the defeat in Manchester.
"The fans travel a long way and it's great that they come and support us - I
can already see they're there whether we win or lose. "I am really looking
forward to Sunday's match (with Fulham). I have found it hard to play a full
match and I've had a few physical problems as I'd not played for a long
time. But I have to keep on working hard and hopefully things will go well
for me and the team."
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Wally meets... Former West Ham star George Parris, now on a charity mission
to South Africa
By Mike Walters
The Mirror
Published 22:45 02/10/09
Three months before Fabio Capello lands in South Africa, George Parris will
lead an advance party from England high on the Cape hinterland. Sharing a
tent with ex-Three Lions striker Luther Blissett, he will help to renovate a
dilapidated school building in Leopoldsville, a shanty town where amenities
are basic and living standards dip way below the poverty line. Parris can
expect to be woken every morning by springboks and wildebeest grazing
outside his tent, and when the sun climbs high above the African plain,
temperatures will reach 45 degrees Centigrade. It sounds like the perfect
place for Capello to leave the WAGs while England get on with the serious
business of trying to win the World Cup - surely Posh and Coleen would love
it. Book now to avoid disappointment, girls. Parris and Blissett are heading
for the Cape as ambassadors for the Bobby Moore Fund, a branch of Cancer
Research UK which spreads goodwill in the name of England's 1966 captain
like the great man once sprayed passes across Upton Park. "I'm not sure what
I'm letting myself in for," said Parris, 45, exploring the jungle of
Lincoln's Inn Fields, bullseye in central London, yesterday. "But anything
which keeps up the good name of Bobby Moore around the world is a project
worth the time and effort. "Bobby once tried to get me to sign for Southend
when I was out of contract at West Ham. I went down to Weymouth for a few
days to mull it over and decided against it. Not sure why, because he was a
hero to me, like he was to everyone from east London. But in the end, I
wasn't ready to tear myself away from West Ham."
Parris, a full-back of limited scope but indefatigable spirit, was soon to
become part of John Lyall's fine Hammers side who finished third in the
League in 1986, winning 11 of their last 14 games and pushing Double winners
Liverpool all the way to the tape. He acquired cult status among East enders
and was a standard-bearer for black players at a time when football was
beginning to emerge from the darkness of racist pond life and the appalling
monkey-hoot. How sad, then, that we should meet in a week when West Ham and
Millwall were both charged by the Football Association over the racial
tribalism of their hooligan fringes following last month's pitched battles
at the League Cup debacle.
Parris wonders how many of those poltroons could look him in the eye and
justify their behaviour that night. It was not, he is sad to say, the "West
Ham way." He said: "That wasn't the crowd I knew when I was a player at
Upton Park, and I hope those scenes will prove just a one-off, a throwback
to the past. "In the past, I've been part of a team who have been played off
the park by outstanding performances from black players on the opposing team
and they have been applauded down the tunnel. "West Ham crowds have a
reputation for being knowledgeable and sporting, and that's the way we
should keep it - the good people don't deserve to have their reputation
spoiled in one night.
"I used to cop some unpleasant stick, mainly from crowds up north, and I had
plenty of coins thrown at me down the years. Sadly, they were mainly bits of
copper rather than pound coins, so I was never quite rich enough to retire!
"There was also the odd piece of fruit, but I used to win the fans over by
pretending to peel the bananas and making a snack out of it."
This afternoon Parris, manager of non-league Whitehawk, takes his side to
East Grinstead for a Sussex derby in the FA Vase. It's not quite the glamour
he had in mind when he started taking his coaching badges, but he still
enjoys the buzz of matchdays and making a contribution to the game nearer
grassroots than treetops. And when his expedition lands in South Africa in
the New Year, he will soon be able to leave his mark with a shovel and
paintbrush, too. Don't be shy, Posh - all WAGs are welcome to muck in.
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Gianfranco Zola vows to get tough on West Ham flops - starting with crunch
Fulham clash
Published 22:45 02/10/09 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror
Gianfranco Zola last night warned his West Ham players there will be no more
Mr Nice Guy. The Italian's usual smile has turned to a scowl while his
struggling side have lost four straight matches and failed to win since the
opening day of the campaign. And the Hammers boss even called the the
first-half performance in Monday night's 3-1 defeat at Manchester City as
"the worst we have played so far this season". West Ham, who have slipped
into the bottom three, face fellow strugglers Fulham in a London derby
tomorrow seeking their first home win in the Premier League. And Zola stated
he is ready to crack the whip to get more than pretty football from his
underachieving stars. "I am going to be more focused and more demanding of
the players," he said. "I am going to be on top of them until they get it
right. "I have told the team what I thought and I am expecting a very good
reaction against Fulham. "I like to adapt and I am willing to change if
necessary. I want this team to be successful and I am ready to do whatever
it takes to make it happen. "What I meant after Monday's match was that we
are not doing enough. We have to pull something out which is better than
what we are doing. That includes everyone, the players, me. "Every night
before I go to sleep I always think 'What can I do better?' Just by thinking
that I have started the process of improvement."
Assistant manager Steve Clarke hopes the return of Matthew Upson will help a
defence which has conceded nine goals in the Irons' last three games. "The
experienced players have to step forward," said the Scot. "It is a difficult
moment and we need points. You need all your players to step forward but you
expect your experienced players to be the ones to step forward. "If you lose
experienced players, it is always going to have a detrimental effect. The
biggest thing for me is that we have not defended set plays as well as
previously so we have worked on that in training and hopefully you will see
the results of that at the weekend."
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West Ham No2 Clarke insists morale is fine
03.10.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United No2 Steve Clarke says morale has not sunk over their poor
start to the season. Scott Parker, the Hammers midfielder, admitted
confidence was low during the week. But Clarke insists: "Tougher is a mental
thing. Everybody has to pull together and work harder. "We lost a game on
Monday night - it's not a disaster. "Morale has not gone down as much as
people think. The spirit is still good in the camp. "We have a lot of good
players, are a good unit and work well together. Monday was a disappointment
we have to put behind us. "If you lose experienced players it is always
going to have a detrimental effect."
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Fulham's Konchesky happy to celebrate in front of West Ham fans
03.10.09 | tribalfootball.com
Fulham fullback Paul Konchesky will have no problem celebrating a goal
against former club West Ham United. Ex-Hammer Carlos Tevez refused to
celebrate when he netted against them for Manchester City on Monday but the
Cottagers head to the Boleyn Ground with both sides in the bottom four. And
Konchesky, 28, said: "It's business, it's football. And I'm speaking as a
West Ham fan from Dagenham who used to stand on the terraces at Upton Park
every week. "Players have a right to celebrate a goal and I don't score that
many for a start. It's an adrenalin rush and that kind of takes over. "It's
a big game coming up against West Ham, so why shouldn't I celebrate a goal?
"Carlos showed respect to West Ham but, to be fair, it was a long time ago
now. There's no harm in celebrating a goal as long as you don't go to the
lengths of Emmanuel Adebayor. "I scored at Upton Park last year and
celebrated. And if I score on Sunday, I'll do so again. I don't think the
fans mind."
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