WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola has back his players to bounce back at Birmingham City on
Saturday
11.12.2009
Gianfranco Zola predicted his players would 'come out of the situation in
style' as he made his final preparations for Saturday's trip to Birmingham
City.
Zola has been impressed by his squad's effort in training this week ahead of
the St. Andrews match, which he considers to be more signficant than last
weekend's fixture with Manchester United. An away victory could potentially
lift the Hammers five places higher in the league and towards mid-table.
"I know the fans get excited when you play teams like Manchester United, but
we have to get excited to play in games like Saturday's," Zola said. "It is
vital and is an opportunity to get the three points in our situation. Our
aim and focus is on that."
West Ham United went down to just their second defeat in seven games last
weekend when the champions won at the Boleyn Ground, but Zola has been
impressed by the manner in which his players - including the available again
Mark Noble - have responded. "I've already forgotten about last week as it
was a tough game. Saturday is the game that is on our possibilities. It is a
big game and we are prepared. We trained very well this week and I saw the
boys quite focused and tuned in and that is very good thing for me."
Much of the post-match coverage of the last few weeks has concentrated on
the goals West Ham United have conceded rather than their impressive
attacking displays and Zola wants everyone, including himself, to focus on
the positives. That is not to say there has not been plenty of analysis at
both ends of the pitch. "I want to shift it. After we beat Burnley everyone
has been talking, including myself, and I want to punish myself for that,
about the three goals we conceded rather than the five goals that we scored.
That was wrong and I think this team is going to come out of this situation
in style. "The boys have seen the situations and they have seen it again.
The point is it is a moment when every mistake we make is punished. But I
want to shift it and I want to point out other things that are going very
well. We know we are not perfect but the things we do well we want to do
even better. "But we know this moment will pass. There have been moments in
the past like last year when we defended better than we have defended right
now but the momentum was on our side and our attention was more on good
things and that is my point. "We have to do the things that we do well, even
better and we'll overcome all the other problems we have right now. "I think
we have done some defensive work. I must say against Manchester United it
was a different story. I think we should be focused on what we are doing
very well right now, playing and scoring goals. I think it's more important
than emphasising too much the fact we are not defending very well. "Probably
we are not defending very well because everybody is giving a lot going
forward. I don't mind. I just want to score one more goal than the
opposition. That's the point really."
If things are not going well, Zola is clear that his players have been and
will continue to be made aware of his feelings. "I think unless they are
blind they see I am not very happy about the situation. Whether I'm going to
change myself because of it, I don't think so, I am what I am and I've got
good results with the person that I am and the way I have conducted myself
and I don't see how I can change it. "Now if you are intelligent you have to
understand there is a thin line where you know I don't have to cross and
they don't have to cross it. I don't think it's a point, it is a point
because I'm dealing with intelligent people and they understand what is
right and what is wrong. "Even if I seem nice, that doesn't mean that I am
not able to able to distinguish that line and make sure that nobody crosses
it. But I won't change myself because of it. I know my job, I know my duty
and I'll do it myself. I'll do it the best way I can being myself, not being
somebody else."
Zola would not be drawn on speculation about transfer window activity.
Instead his faith was in his squad to deliver when necessary. "I don't want
to talk about January. Before then we've got five or six games before then.
We will consider everything but before that happens we play five games and
our minds and focus must be about getting points from those five games.
After that we will see what we need."
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Ashton thanks the fans
WHUFC.com
Dean Ashton has spoken for the first time to thank supporters for all of
their backing in the last three years
12.12.2009
Dean Ashton has thanked the fans for their unstinting support as he faced up
to the realisation he had to retire. The 26-year-old has never fully
recovered from an ankle injury suffered while on international duty back in
August 2006. He has undergone four operations with a fifth due next week as
he bids to be able just to walk properly. While he contemplates his future,
Ashton was grateful to those who have rallied to his side. "I would like to
thank West Ham as a club for all the time they have spent on me and the fans
have been terrific. I'm sad I could not get back and play in front of them."
Ashton's last surgery was in February and there was hope he would be back
for pre-season training in the summer. However, an attempt to join in fully
with his team-mates after a lengthy spell of personal rehab ended in tears -
with his ankle unable to cope with the rigours of training. "It's a rubbish
situation. This news is what every footballer dreads. But at the moment, I
just want to be able to walk properly and at the moment, I cannot. My health
is obviously more important than football." "I was told that if I kept
trying to play football, I might never walk again. I am going to hospital on
Tuesday for my fifth operation. It's unlikely I will ever be able to jog
again but right now, I still can't walk properly. Hopefully, this will be my
last operation but my left ankle is still very sore."
He has many great memories of playing for the club, not least the 2006 FA
Cup final, when he scored in a 3-3 draw before the defeat on penalties.
"When I got to West Ham, you could tell there was a great vibe about the
place and I rolled with it. It ended in a great highlight - scoring at the
FA Cup final. It was sad to lose to Liverpool but it was a brilliant game."
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Zola's thoughts with Deano
WHUFC.com
The manager has shared his thoughts on the news of Dean Ashton's enforced
retirement
11.12.2009
Gianfranco Zola has spoken of his sadness after Dean Ashton was forced to
hang up his boots at the age of 26. The manager never had the chance to
properly work with the England forward, after Ashton was sidelined on his
first day at the club on Monday 15 September 2008 with a repeat of his
longstanding ankle problems. Zola said: "He is feeling as OK as he can be.
It is a sad situation. He is very young and talented and to see such a
player having to retire is very sad. "I feel it for him and I feel it for me
as well as I wonder what it would have been like to have a player like him
in my squad as he would have made a big difference for us. That is my
sorrow. I would have wanted to see him training with me all of the time but
I only had him for one day and that is sad."
Zola would not be drawn on his private conversations with Ashton but said he
could "only imagine" what the forward was going through. "It was painful for
me when I retired as I was 39, he is only 26. Football is something you do
with all your heart and passion so I leave it to you to imagine how he is
feeling right now. "Football is lived by everyone in different ways but one
thing in common is the joy of going out there and running and chasing a ball
that makes you feel so good. Also working together with 20 other people to
achieve something and that is something he will miss a lot. He is always
welcome with us and we will always make him feel part of us. "It's not about
money. If you ask every player, nobody will say they play for the money.
Money is important to every one of us including you, but what we do here is
first of all the pleasure and the joy you get from the game. There are
people who are paid a lot of money for the game and they don't do it for
that. The main reason they do it is because they enjoy it and that is
priceless."
* Fans wanting to send a message of support to Dean Ashton can do so by
contacting website@westhamunited.co.uk - whufc.com will print a selection
early next week.
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Birmingham City match preview
WHUFC.com
All of the early team news and stats ahead of Saturday's game at St. Andrews
11.12.2009
Barclays Premier League
Birmingham City v West Ham United
St. Andrews
Saturday 12 December
3pm
Referee: Lee Mason
WHUTV - Full match commentary
• West Ham United travel to Birmingham City looking to build on two
successive away draws and hoping for their first away win since the opening
day of the season. The Hammers drew 2-2 and 3-3 at Sunderland and Hull City
respectively in their last two away fixtures.
• A win could potentially move the club up to 13th in the table and within
three points of tenth place. Birmingham sit in ninth spot, seven points
better off than their visitors.
• Birmingham, unbeaten in six matches, have not lost at home since 26
September.
• Robert Green has not kept a clean sheet since the 0-0 draw at Blackburn
Rovers on 29 August.
• West Ham United have not lost in their last five home and away meetings
with Birmingham, all of which came in the top flight.
• The Hammers last defeat at St. Andrews came on the opening day of the
memorable 1985/86 season on 17 August 1985. John Lyall's team lost 1-0 but
went on to finish in third place that season - still the club's best league
showing.
• Since 1985, the club has won five and drawn one of their six road trips to
Birmingham. The most recent was a 1-0 win on 18 August 2007 when Mark
Noble's 70th-minute penalty separated the teams.
• The Hammers team that day included Green, Jonathan Spector, Kieron Dyer
and late substitute Danny Gabbidon, while current Blues midfielder Lee
Bowyer remained on the bench. Liam Ridgewell, Sebastian Larsson, Garry
O'Connor, along with subs Cameron Jerome and Gary McSheffery, played for the
hosts.
• This is the 81st league meeting between the two sides. West Ham have won
26, drawn 18 and lost 36 of the previous 80 contests.
Referee
• Saturday's referee is Lee Mason.
• Mason started refereeing in 1988 and in 1992 he was added to the North
West Counties Football League assistant referees' list, and progressed to
full referee for that competition four years later.
• He was included on the Football League list of assistant referees in 1998,
and was then added to the Premier League list in 2000.
• In 2002, he was promoted to referee for the Football League and in 2003
became a 'Development Group' referee, before finally reaching the Premier
League list of Select Group referees in 2006.
• His first ever match in the top tier was on 4 February 2006, when
Middlesbrough lost 4-0 at home to Aston Villa.
• Mason was also chosen to control the League One Play-Off Final between
Barnsley and Swansea on 27 May 2006 and also took charge of the 2009 FA
Youth Cup final first leg between Arsenal and Liverpool.
• Mason's last match in the middle with the Hammers was the FA Cup
fourth-round tie at Hartlepool United on 24 January this year. West Ham won
2-0.
Last time out
Saturday 5 December
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 0-4 Manchester United
West Ham United: Green (Kurucz 73), Spector, Tomkins, Gabbidon, Ilunga,
Kovac (Dyer 67), Parker, Collison, Stanislas, Hines (Diamanti 46), Franco
Subs not used: Faubert, da Costa, Payne, Nouble
Saturday 5 December
Barclays Premier League
Wigan Athletic 2-3 Birmingham City
Birmingham City: Hart, Ridgewell, Carr, Dann, Roger Johnson, Bowyer,
Larsson, Ferguson, Jerome (Fahey 81), Benitez, McFadden
Subs not used: Carsley, Maik Taylor, McSheffrey, O'Shea, Queudrue, Vignal
Goals: Larsson 61, 72, Benitez 66
West Ham United
• West Ham United will be hoping to continue their form against Barclays
Premier League newcomers this season. The club were 2-0 winners at
Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening day of the season before a 5-3 home
defeat of Burnley a fortnight ago.
• Hanging on to leads is crucial if the club are to pick up their second
away win of the campaign. Three times they have failed to convert a two-goal
lead into a win so far this season.
• The Hammers have scored eight headed goals this season - more than any
other team in the top flight. The club have also won more penalties (five)
than any other team this campaign.
• West Ham have scored 24 goals this season with ten different scorers
registering. Carlton Cole leads the way (seven), with Guille Franco (three)
next in line. Jack Collison (two), Matthew Upson (two), Alessandro Diamanti
(two), Junior Stanislas (two), Manuel da Costa, Mark Noble, Luis Jimenez and
Zavon Hines have also registered.
• Cole is West Ham's top scorer this season with seven goals in 13 league
games. The England striker has scored 14 goals in 25 Premier League games
since Boxing Day 2008.
• Diamanti has more assists (three) than any other West Ham player.
• Noble has put in more crosses (15) than anyone else for the Hammers.
• Upson has made more defensive blocks (ten) and more defensive clearances
(16) than anyone else for the club.
• Noble is in line to play his 100th league game for the club, if selected.
• Only Robert Green has played in every league game for the club this
season. He is on a run of 103 successive league appearances.
• Julien Faubert and Cole are each on four yellow cards this season.
• West Ham's record away victory at Birmingham was on 1 November 1975 when
they were 5-1 winners.
Birmingham City
• Alex McLeish's men will be looking to continue an impressive run of form
after six games without defeat. That run has seen them win four and draw
two, with the stalemates coming at home to Manchester City and away at
Liverpool.
• The Blues have conceded just four goals at home all season.
• Birmingham's best home showing against West Ham was a 4-0 success on 18
November 1961.
• The Blues have only lost nine times at home to the Hammers in 38 previous
league meetings.
• Bowyer tops the scoring charts with four Barclays Premier League goals
with Sebastian Larsson next on three.
• All three of Larsson's have come from direct free-kicks this season, more
than any other player in the Barclays Premier League.
• Joe Hart has made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the Barclays
Premier League (99)
• Roger Johnson's 48 defensive clearances this season is the highest in the
league.
Team news
• Alessandro Diamanti and Kieron Dyer have both trained fully again after
substitute run-outs last week against Manchester United, while Robert Green
is also expected to feature after being substituted in the last game feeling
unwell.
• Mark Noble has fully recovered from a calf strain, having also missed out
last week with a virus.
• Gianfranco Zola has lost Carlton Cole for a number of weeks with a knee
injury. The extent of the problem was confirmed by the club last week after
specialist advice. The England striker did not need surgery and has already
undergone a week of rehab in the hope of returning early in the new year.
• Zavon Hines is also out with a knee problem with the club still assessing
the extent of the injury. Luis Jimenez has been doing light training after a
muscle problem and will hope to be in contention next week.
• Matthew Upson sat out last week with a hamstring problem and is unlikely
to face his former club at the start of a run of three matches in eight
days. Valon Behrami is targeting a return for the busy Christmas period
after minor keyhole surgery on a knee cartilage problem.
• The long-term absentees remain Calum Davenport (leg) and Luis Boa Morte
(knee). As confirmed on Friday, Dean Ashton has retired from football with
an ankle injury.
• Birmingham will be without Stuart Parnaby, Teemu Taino and Martin Taylor
while Kevin Phillips is doubtful.
Last meeting
• The teams last met at the Boleyn Ground on 9 February 2008, with Freddie
Ljungberg's seventh-minute strike cancelled out by James McFadden's
16th-minute penalty in a 1-1 draw.
• The lineups that day were:
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney, Ljungberg,
Bowyer (sent off 88), Mullins, Etherington (Camara 83), Ashton (Spector 89),
Cole (Faubert 62)
Subs not used: Wright, Collison
Birmingham City: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Martin Taylor, Ridgewell, Murphy,
Larsson, Muamba, Damien Johnson, McSheffrey (Parnaby 87), Forssell (Jerome
76), McFadden
Subs not used: Doyle, Nafti, Zarate
Old boys
• Matthew Upson played 128 games for the Midlands side during a four-year
stay from 2003-07 before joining the Hammers. The former Birmingham captain
scored five goals during his time at St. Andrews.
• Lee Bowyer made 60 appearances for West Ham United in two separate spells.
The first saw him play eleven games in a six-month spell before a move to
Newcastle United in 2003. The midfielder returned to the Boleyn Ground in
2006 for a three-year stay, which saw him play 49 times, scoring five goals.
• Liam Ridgewell started off life in the West Ham United Academy before
moving to Aston Villa in February 2001.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Alan
Curbishley, Jimmy Bloomfield, Kenny J Brown, Julian Dicks, Eamonn Dolan,
Harry Hooper, David Kelly, Stan Lazaridis, Mike Newell and Sam Small.
Head to head
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
9 February 2008 West Ham United 1-1 Birmingham City
18 August 2007 Birmingham City 0-1 West Ham United
13 February 2006 West Ham United 3-0 Birmingham City
05 December 2005 Birmingham City 1-2 West Ham United
11 May 2003 Birmingham City 2-2 West Ham United
5 October 2002 West Ham United 1-2 Birmingham City
Overall record v Birmingham City (all competitions) W 41 D 24 L 52
Next up
• West Ham United will travel to Bolton Wanderers in the Barclays Premier
League on Tuesday 15 December, kick-off at 8pm. At the same time, Birmingham
will be at home again against Blackburn Rovers.
General information
• For ticket information, click here. For details on getting to St. Andrews
click here
• Saturday's weather forecast is for a chilly, cloudy day with temperatures
peaking at 6C.
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Birmingham v West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Barclays Premier League
Venue: St Andrew's Date: Saturday, 12 December 2009 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC London 94.9 fm & Online, BBC Sport website,
BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day
TEAM NEWS
Kevin Phillips is available for Birmingham, having recovered from a foot
problem. Fellow forward Garry O'Connor and on-loan midfielder Teemu Tainio
remain long-term absentees after hip and knee operations respectively.
West Ham pair Robert Green and Mark Noble have recovered from illness.
Central defender Matthew Upson is still sidelined with a hamstring problem,
while Luis Jimenez is missing with a groin strain.
________________________________________
Birmingham
Suspended: None Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: O'Connor (hip), Parnaby (back), Murphy & Tainio (knee),
Martin Taylor (fitness)
West Ham
Suspended: None Doubtful: None
Injured: Behrami, Boa Morte, Cole & Hines (all knee), Davenport (leg),
Jimenez (groin), Upson (hamstring)
MATCH PREVIEW
Birmingham are enjoying their best ever start to a Premier League season,
moving into the top half of the table last week with a 3-2 win at Wigan.
Promoted behind Wolves last season, they have adapted to the top flight
better than their Midlands rivals.
One of the keys to Birmingham's success has been the form of goalkeeper Joe
Hart, on a season-long loan from Manchester City. He has made 99 saves this
season, more than any other Premier League goalkeeper, and kept five clean
sheets. Manager Alex McLeish this week endorsed Hart's prospects of making
England's World Cup squad.
West Ham, by contrast, have been leaking goals at an alarming rate. They
have conceded an average of two a game this season and haven't kept a clean
sheet since a goalless draw at Blackburn in August.
The retirement of Dean Ashton and a lengthy injury list, which includes
top-scorer Carlton Cole, has not helped manager Gianfranco Zola's cause.
With matches against fellow strugglers Bolton, Portsmouth and Wolves in the
next month, it is imperative some of his key players make a timely return.
At least there are encouraging signs for West Ham off the pitch.
Ex-Birmingham owners David Sullivan and David Gold are reported to have
tabled an offer to buy into the club, promising to invest in the team in
January. Gold and Sullivan sold Birmingham to Hong Kong billionaire Carson
Yeung in October, and would be particularly interested spectators on
Saturday.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Birmingham, winning
their last two trips to St Andrew's.
• You have to go back to August 1985 to find the last time Birmingham beat
West Ham at home - Robert Hopkins scoring for the Blues in a
1-0 win.
Birmingham
• Birmingham are aiming for a fourth successive win and are unbeaten in six
games (W4, D2).
• If they win on Saturday it will equal their Premier League club record of
four successive victories, set in both April 2003 and December 2004.
• Birmingham have kept a clean sheet in the last two home matches. The last
opposition player to score at St Andrew's was Bolton's Chung-Yong Lee on 26
September.
• There have been just nine goals scored at St Andrew's this season, fewer
than any other Premier League stadium.
• Birmingham's leading scorer, Lee Bowyer, is facing a former club. He
scored four goals in 51 league appearances for West Ham.
West Ham
• This will be manager Gianfranco Zola's 50th Premier League match in charge
of the club. He has won 15, drawn 14 and lost 20 of his 49 matches so far.
• West Ham have not won away since a 2-0 victory at Wolves on the opening
day of the season.
• They have conceded at least two goals in 10 of their last 11 Premier
League matches.
• If he plays, Mark Noble will be making his 100th Premier League appearance
for West Ham.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Birmingham
Bowyer: 5 goals (4 league)
West Ham
Cole: 7 goals (7 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Lee Mason
Assistant referees: Jake Collin & Paul Thompson
Fourth official: Neil Swarbrick
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Birmingham (W3-2 v Wigan, a): Hart; Carr, Dann, Roger Johnson, Ridgewell,
Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden, Benitez, Jerome (Fahey 81). Subs not
used: Maik Taylor, McSheffrey, Queudrue, O'Shea, Carsley, Vignal.
West Ham (L0-4 v Manchester Utd, h): Green (Kurucz 73); Spector, Tomkins,
Gabbidon, Ilunga, Collison, Kovac (Dyer 67), Parker, Stanislas, Franco,
Hines (Diamanti 46). Subs not used: Faubert, Da Costa, Nouble, Payne.
MOST RECENT MEETING
West Ham 1-1 Birmingham (9 February 2008)
West Ham scorer: Ljungberg 7
Birmingham scorer: McFadden (pen) 16
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Home draw for Hammers
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 11th December 2009
By: Staff Writer
Tony Carr's youth team have landed a home tie in the fourth round of the FA
Youth Cup.
The under-18s made the fourth round of the competition courtesy of Danny
Purdy's extra-time winner at Plymouth on Tuesday night and will now face
fellow Londoners Queens Park Rangers, presumably at the Boleyn, in mid
January.
Irish under-17 international Purdy scored the only goal of Tuesday's
encounter midway through extra-time to send the Hammers into today's draw -
an effort described by Carr as "an excellent goal to win the game".
That was United's first outing in this year's competition, with the club
having received a bye until the third round. The club have won the trophy
three times previously, most recently in 1999.
FA Youth Cup: fourth round draw
Arsenal or Crewe Alexandra v Ipswich Town
Blackburn Rovers v Leyton Orient
Bolton Wanderers or Bournemouth v Stockport County or Fulham
Burnley v Manchester United
Crystal Palace v Derby County
Hartlepool United v Watford
Leicester City v Liverpool
Northampton Town or Brighton and Hove Albion v Everton
Nottingham Forest v Charlton Athletic or Chelsea
Reading v Newcastle United
Stoke City v Hull City
Sunderland v Preston North End
Torquay United or Millwall v Barnsley
Tottenham Hotspur v Portsmouth
West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa
West Ham United v Queens Park Rangers
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Stech up
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 11th December 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham reserve goalkeeper Marek Stech has joined Bouremouth on a weeks'
loan. The 19-year-old stopper has been training with the Cherries this week
and is set to make his debut at Morecombe tomorrow as regular number one,
former Spurs keeper Shwan Jalal. Stech, who joined the Irons in 2006 from
Sparta Prague has slipped to third in the pecking order at West Ham
following the arrival of the more experienced Peter Kurucz, who made his
first team debut against Manchester United last weekend. Although the
initial loan period is for a week, that could be extended should Bournemouth
wish to do so. The Cherries become the second club for whom 6'3" Stech has
played on loan this year following a spell at Wycombe in March that ended
prematurely due to injury.
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Zola - Ashton could have shone
Boss believes striker could have made England's World Cup squad
By Nick Howes Last updated: 11th December 2009
SSN
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola believes Dean Ashton would have been
challenging for a place in the England World Cup squad had his career not
been cut short by injury. The 26-year-old striker was forced to retire on
Friday after failing to recover from an ankle injury picked up while on
international duty in 2006. Ashton made only one appearance for the Three
Lions, a friendly clash with Trinidad & Tobago in June 2008, and Zola is
confident he would have added to that tally if he had made a full recovery.
"Everybody knows how skilful Dean was as a player, and to have a goalscorer
like that in your side makes a big difference," said Zola. The Italian found
his own decision to retire in June 2005 one of the toughest he has ever
faced and is full of sympathy for Ashton. He added: "I can only imagine what
Dean is going through. It was painful for me when I retired and I was 39, he
is only 26. Football is something that we do with a lot of passion, with all
our heart, so you can't imagine what he is feeling." The Hammers manager
admitted Ashton would be a very hard player to replace but confirmed the
search would begin once the transfer window re-opens in January: "He would
have made a big difference to our side, but we have five or six games to
play now before January and then we will have to consider bringing someone
in."
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Bowyer - Blues move no risk
In-form midfielder defends move to St Andrews
By James Riach Last updated: 11th December 2009
SSN
Birmingham City midfielder Lee Bowyer insists it was not a gamble to move to
the Blues from West Ham. Bowyer takes on his former club in the Premier
League at St Andrews on Saturday after he moved to the Midlands from the
East London club in January. The 32-year-old was deemed surplus to
requirements at Upton Park and dropped down to the Championship, initially
on loan and then on a free transfer, to win promotion with the Blues. He is
their top scorer so far this season with five goals and is reaching form
somewhere near his best, and he maintains that moving to Birmingham was no
risk.
He said: "Was it a gamble leaving West Ham, dropping down a league? I
wouldn't say I took a gamble. "Birmingham were a good side who were unlucky
to go down from the Premier League the season before, I think by only the
one point. "From my point of view, all I wanted to do was get back playing.
You've got to grab the chance to do that with both hands and play as much as
you possibly can - because one day it will stop. "I don't why but, for one
reason or other, West Ham didn't want to extend my contract so I came to
Birmingham and it has turned out to be a good thing for all parties. "Yes,
some would have been happy to stay and pick up their money, especially with
me being from London and that being where I live but I just want to play
football.
"That's the main thing. I'm back playing and enjoying my football and waking
up on a Sunday after a win and feeling happy."
Birmingham have been on a good run of late but Bowyer has warned that the
only goal this season is to avoid relegation, and that they have to keep
grinding out results. "There aren't going to be many pretty games for us
this season," he added. "We are not going to go out there and out-pass teams
like the Arsenals and Manchester Uniteds do. "We have to work hard for our
points. As long as we can get clean sheets, we will nick goals. "We are
just going to keep working hard, which I think is the main thing in this
league, and see where that takes us. "We are not going to get ahead of
ourselves, see where each point takes us but at the moment we are very
happy."
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Birmingham v West Ham preview
Bowyer to face former suitors but Upson misses out on City return
By Elliot Ball Last updated: 11th December 2009
SSN
PREDICTIONS
Skysports.com prediction: Birmingham 2 West Ham 1
SKY BET odds: Birmingham evens, Draw 12/5, West Ham 11/4
Birmingham and West Ham United could be forgiven for thinking their teams
would be in opposite positions going into their weekend clash. Blues were
one of the pre-season relegation candidates having come up from the
Championship last season, but Alex McLeish's side are currently flying high
in the Premier League after last weekend's win at Wigan. The 3-2 victory
over the Latics saw the promoted club extend their unbeaten run to six and
the St Andrews faithful are in dreamland after seeing their side occupy
ninth position in England's top division. The Hammers, who finished last
season in the same place where Saturday's opponents currently lie, look
extremely unlikely to repeat the top-half successes of the last two
campaigns judging by current form which sees them lurking a point and a
place above the drop zone. Gianfranco Zola's side travel to the West
Midlands off the back of some inconsistent form - they first defeated
Burnley 5-3 at Upton Park before the visit of Manchester United saw the
champions put four past the East Londoners without reply. Confidence is
never sky-high after a drubbing in front of the home fans, but Zola will be
keen to stress to his players that they travel to a ground where they have
not lost in 24 years.
The Hammers have won five of their last six visits to St Andrews and the
Italian will be desperate for his side to improve upon their poor away
record this season which has seen them win just once on their travels.
Team news
West Ham, though, begin life without Dean Aston who was forced to call time
on his career on Friday. The 26-year-old striker has been forced to retire
from the ankle injury which has plagued him since 2006 and it brings a sorry
end to a difficult time but the Hammers have more injuries to worry about.
And Zola will again be without the services of skipper Matthew Upson who has
been denied a return to his former stomping ground. The England defender,
who spent four seasons with City, has failed to recover from a hamstring
injury, and stays on the sidelines alongside Carlton Cole (knee ligaments),
Valon Behrami (knee) and Luis Jimenez (muscle strain). Forward Zavon Hines
(knee) has also joined the absentee list but midfielder Mark Noble is back
after missing the last twi games with a virus. Injury-prone Kieran Dyer came
off the bench in the United defeat so he will be pushing for a starting
berth while goalkeeper Robert Green has overcome his illness which saw him
substituted last time out.
Birmingham, meanwhile, welcome Kevin Phillips back to the squad for
Saturday's home clash with West Ham. The veteran striker has been sidelined
for the past fortnight with a foot problem and will provide back-up for the
first-choice pairing of Cameron Jerome and Christian Benitez. Fellow forward
Garry O'Connor and on-loan Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio remain
long-term injury absentees after hip and knee operations respectively. The
game sees Lee Bowyer face his former club for the first time since leaving
for St Andrews initially on loan last January and the in-form midfielder
will be keen to continue his impressive run to extend City's unbeaten record
to seven matches.
Possible starting XIs
Birmingham: Hart, Ridgewell, Johnson, Dann, Carr, McFadden, Ferguson,
Bowyer, Larsson, Jerome, Benitez.
West Ham: Green, Illunga, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Spector, Stanislas, Noble,
Parker, Collison, Dyer, Franco.
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WEST HAM SET FOR £7M ASHTON PAYOUT
Daily Star
West Ham are in line for a £7m payout from the FA over crocked Dean Ashton.
The striker announced his retirement yesterday after a long-running battle
against an ankle injury first picked up on England duty in August 2006. And
West Ham will now contact the FA to put the wheels in motion over a
compensation claim. West Ham signed Dean Ashton, 26, from Norwich in a
£7.25m deal in January 2006 - and the club will look to recoup that amount
from the FA. The Hammers will resist the temptation to inflate their
compensation claim, despite the player's status as an England international.
Any fee they get would be paid by the FA's insurers and not the governing
body itself. Meanwhile, Ashton has been urged NOT to take legal action
against Shaun Wright-Phillips. Ashton suffered a broken ankle in a challenge
from Wright-Phillips, then a Chelsea player, during an England training
session in August 2006. But PFA chief Gordon Taylor said: "Talk of legal
action against one of our members is never a route we are happy to be
involved with. We hope it doesn't need that." West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola
admits Ashton's retirement has blown a hole in his striker plans.
Zola was confident the forward would recover and planned the season with his
return in mind. With Carlton Cole and Zavon Hines both sidelined with knee
problems, the little Italian is struggling for front men. He said: "I always
hoped he would be playing for me since the summer. "All our campaign during
the summer was conditioned to the fact that we were waiting for him. We left
a place for him as we strongly hoped he would be back. "I can only imagine
how he is feeling. "It was painful for me when I retired and I was 39. He is
only 26."
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Hammers Seek 10Mill for Ash
The Sun
WEST HAM will demand £10million-plus from the FA following the
injury-enforced retirement of Dean Ashton. Upton Park's board want the
£7.25m they paid Norwich for the striker in January 2006 and will claim some
of his £60,000-a-week wages too. Ashton was insured by the FA when he was
originally crocked following a challenge by Shaun Wright-Phillips at an
England training camp. While Ashton did make a return for West Ham, all the
medical evidence points to the original ankle injury as the reason he has
had to quit.
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Dean Ashton: An Appreciation
Posted by Billy Blagg
ESPN
I have studiously avoided joining the discussions on this until it was
confirmed, but today conjecture finally caught up with fact as it was
announced that striker, Dean Ashton, has had to retire at the age of 26 due
to a persistent ankle injury.
This is an absolute tragedy for the club but, more importantly, Ashton
himself who admitted he was having trouble walking, let alone running, as he
contemplates his fifth operation on the injury that never really recovered
from the England training accident with Shaun Wright-Phillips.
With a injury list as long as West Ham's over the past decade it is a cruel
irony that Ashton's initial injury occurred when the Hammers striker was
away training with England in what looked like the beginning of a fruitful
International career. There is no doubt in my mind that, had he been fit,
Ashton would have been starting as centre forward for England in next year's
World Cup and, if that sounds like it's a bit of club loyalty then I'd be
the first to admit that, given a good three years from Ashton's appearance
in the 2006 FA Cup Final, the ex-Crewe striker may well have been going as a
representative of Manchester or Arsenal as the Hammers would surely have had
difficulty on hanging onto a striker of Ashton's calibre had he continued as
he had done since his switch from Norwich in January 2006.
With an unerring eye for goal, strength and awareness in abundance, Dean
Ashton had the full package and it is ironic that, when writing for the
Ironworks West Ham site back in 2001 both the site editor Alex V and myself
constantly suggested the purchase of the young Ashton, then making a name
for himself with Dario Gradi's Crewe side.
As it was we had to wait until January 2006, the season after Norwich were
relegated after Ashton scored 17 goals in 44 appearances, before the player
eventually turned out in claret and blue – but it was worth the wait as the
striker was instrumental in the Hammers getting to the FA Cup Final that
season with a Man of the Match display in the quarter final against
Manchester City and heading down for Marlon Harewood to score the only goal
in the semi-final. In the final itself, Ashton was one of the unlucky
players to gain a Runners-up medal in a match West Ham should have won, the
player himself scoring the second goal and giving the Liverpool defence a
torrid time.
Reports that West Ham are too seek compensation to the tune of £7m from the
FA surely cannot be discounted as Ashton's value as a 15+ goal a season
striker would probably have made him worth much more but for the training
accident.
Chief Executive Scott Duxbury paid tribute to Ashton in a statement "I would
like to place on record our thanks to him for all his efforts and wish him
the very best." Adding "I would also like to thank the fans for their
patience and understanding during what has been a difficult time."
This announcement at least ends the constant speculation of the strike
position that usually accompanied the comment "... and when Deano is fit..."
and the club now have to contemplate replacing the forward. For Hammers fans
it's the latest in a string of misfortunes that suggets that, were it not
for bad luck, we'd have no luck at all. Whatever the disappointment for the
club and fans though, thoughts must go out to Dean as we wish him well in
his fight to gain full mobility as he ponders a career outside of football.
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Ashton: I may not run again
Teletext
Former West Ham striker Dean Ashton has admitted it is unlikely he will ever
be able to run again after quitting the game because of an ankle injury. The
26-year-old suffered the injury in in a challenge by England colleague Shaun
Wright-Phillips in 2006 and has since tried in vain to recover. He told the
Sun: "It's unlikely I will ever be able to jog again but right now, I can't
walk properly."
Dean Ashton and West Ham have little chance of launching successful lawsuits
in relation to his career-ending ankle injury, according to a legal expert.
Ashton announced his retirement after failing to recover from an injury
sustained while training with England. Adrian Oliver said: "Unless it has
exceeded the normal boundaries and it was deliberate, there is no chance of
a claim getting off the ground."
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