WHUFC.com
A 15th cap against Kazakhstan would be the icing on the cake for Matthew
Upson after a great club season
05.06.2009
Matthew Upson is being widely tipped to earn his 15th England cap on
Saturday when England take on Kazakhstan in FIFA World Cup qualifying.
The West Ham United defender is in pole position to replace the injured Rio
Ferdinand and line up alongside John Terry for the match in Almaty which
sees England looking to make it six wins out of six on the road to South
Africa. Upson faces competition from Everton's Joleon Lescott but will hope
recent experience could give him the edge.
Upson, who did not miss a league match this season, played the whole 90
minutes in the 5-1 victory against the Kazakhs at Wembley back in October.
Whether he plays or not, the 30-year-old is relishing being involved around
the camp again. "I am enjoying being with England and looking forward to the
games coming up," he said.
"I see it as another opportunity for me, hopefully I will get some action
and get to play, but it's just great to be involved. It's ten days of
training, two important games for qualification for the World Cup, so I am
very much looking forward and then having a good break and being ready again
for the new season."
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Big weekend for Boa
WHUFC.com
Back in the fold for Portugal, Luis Boa Morte is feeling fit ahead of a
major weekend international date
04.06.2009
Luis Boa Morte has been training hard with Portugal this week after making
the final 24-man squad for their vital FIFA 2010 World Cup qualifier against
Albania.
The 31-year-old forward has been with his international team-mates for the
training camp in Obidos, 50 miles from Lisbon. Boa Morte has not played for
his country since the 2006 World Cup but impressed in last week's
get-together in Lisbon to make the final cut in Carlos Queiroz's selection.
He may not be as young as the likes of team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani
and Joao Moutinho but is hungry to show his worth. "I am 31 but I feel like
an 18-year-old and I want to keep going, keep playing," Boa Morte said. "As
long as I feel like this I want to keep going."
Portugal travel to Tirana today for their qualifier with Albania needing a
win to have any chance of catching Group 1 leaders Denmark and Hungary, who
are seven points ahead in the standings. They still have to play Denmark
away in September before taking on Hungary, who have also played a game
more, at home and away.
Boa Morte may be focused on national-team duty but is also raring to go at
club level for next season. He admitted there was plenty to learn from next
time around.
"I would have been more pleased with the season if we had beaten Everton and
had taken the European spot," he said. "We feel a bit sad that we only
finished level on points with Tottenham. That is something that we are going
to work out for next season and we will learn from our mistakes.
"The point is not to look back because we will be even more frustrated and I
think it will be better to wait for next season. We have to start well and
not commit the same mistakes we made this year and we will have a more
enjoyable season."
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Green in upbeat mood
WHUFC.com
Robert Green is enjoying life for club and country at the moment ahead of a
potential first start for England
04.06.2009
Robert Green has spoken of his happiness at West Ham United as he looks
forward to the prospect of a first competitive appearance for England this
weekend.
Speaking to the England press pack ahead of Saturday's FIFA World Cup
qualfier in Kazakhstan, Green was asked about his thoughts on the future
after his club just missed out on European football with a very creditable
ninth-place finish. "There are no problems at West Ham," he said. "I love it
there and enjoy playing in front of the fans and for the manager.
"Playing football in the Premier League you are up against the best players
in the world. Realistically you are getting tested every week in that
respect. It's enough of a challenge in the Premier League as anywhere else."
Much of his upbeat mood can be attributed to the arrival of Gianfranco Zola,
and the No1 was full of praise for the manager who has helped him in his run
of 88 consecutive league appearances. "He's been a tremendous attribute to
me personally, to the team and the club. It didn't take him too long to be
offered a longer-term contract or improved contract.
"On a personal level, within the side it's helped that we are playing out
from the defence a lot more. I feel my right leg isn't hurting so much at
the end of the season because I haven't taken so many goal-kicks. We're
passing it out a lot more.
"You take stock and just in flashpoints in games you receive a pass and pass
it out the other side … we hadn't done that before. He's given the players
the confidence to go out and do that because he has belief in the guys
within the side that we can play football. That is a tremendous attribute to
have for himself and the players.
"He's helped me as a player and each individual at the club. You look at
someone like Carlton Cole who has come on a great deal since he's taken
over. It helps that he is in the manager's old position but even for the
goalkeeper, you respond to the team around you.
"If you get a back-pass and four people in your defence are wanting the ball
then it's going to make you play in a more footballing manner than
supposedly a guy who would look up and see ten numbers rather than faces."
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Owls chase West Ham striker Sears
BBC.co.uk
Sheffield Wednesday are closing in on signing West Ham striker Freddie Sears
on a season-long loan. The 19-year-old had been in talks with Peterborough
over a possible temporary move to London Road. However Posh director of
football Barry Fry has been quoted suggesting that Sears has been told by
the Hammers that he must join Wednesday. The England Under-20 international
has made 25 appearances for the Hammers first team, scoring once. Wednesday
have made no official comment on the story.
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Hammers keen on Frenchman
Rennes defender a target for Upton Park side
Last updated: 4th June 2009
SN
West Ham are targeting a move for Rennes defender Rod Fanni as a possible
replacement for Lucas Neill, skysports.com understands. The Hammers are in
the market for a new right-back after seeing Lucas Neill leave Upton Park at
the end of his contract. Fanni has been linked with a move to England in the
past and the Hammers are now weighing up a move for the French
international. The player's agent Dominique Six has admitted West Ham have
enquired about Fanni, but there have been no offers for the full-back. "It's
true that we have spoken to West Ham scout Roger Cross who has asked about
information on Rod," Six told skysports.com. "We have had no offers for Rod
and West Ham would need to speak to Rennes if they want to do that. "We
believe England would be a good option for Rod, but it depends on Rennes.
"There is also interest from clubs in Spain and Bayern Munich."
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Sears set for Owls switch
Posh supremo Fry expects to miss out on Hammers youngster
Last updated: 4th June 2009
SN
Barry Fry has claimed Peterborough have been beaten to the loan signing of
Freddie Sears by Sheffield Wednesday. Posh director of football Fry was keen
to bring the young West Ham striker to London Road but believes the Owls
offered a more lucrative package. Gianfranco Zola was happy for the
19-year-old Sears to go out on loan to increase his first-team opportunities
and it now looks as though Hillsborough will be his next destination. Fry
told the Peterborough Evening Telegraph: "The lad came down to London Road
with his dad and liked what Darren Ferguson had to say. "He made it clear he
was keen to come here, but West Ham have blocked the move and told him he
has to go to Sheffield Wednesday. "It is a big disappointment because
Freddie would have provided some hot competition for Craig Mackail-Smith and
Aaron Mclean, but there was obviously more money involved with Wednesday."
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England v Kazakhstan: Robert Green to make first 'competitive' outing for
England
Robert Green will be given his chance for England on Saturday. The
29-year-old West Ham keeper will gain his third cap, but his first in a
competitive match, and also make his first start for his country.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 7:30AM BST 05 Jun 2009
England manager Fabio Capello is understood to have decided to give Green
his opportunity ahead of Scott Carson and Paul Robinson, who has been
recalled because of a spate of injuries. England are missing first-choice
David James plus Ben Foster and Chris Kirkland. Green, England's self-styled
"No 6" choice goalkeeper because of the number of times he has been
overlooked in the past,can also expect to face Andorra next week should he
perform well against Kazakhstan. Football images of the year He has been in
impressive form for West Ham this season and has been given a strong
recommendation by his club manager, Gianfranco Zola. Green has played 45
minutes in friendlies against Colombia in 2005 and Spain earlier this year.
He has impressed Capello in training, however. It is believed that Capello
lis likely to start with Emile Heskey up front, ahead of Peter Crouch, with
his only other major selection decision being whether to partner John Terry
with Matthew Upson or Joleon Lescott.
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West Ham keen on £5m-rated Rennes defender Rod Fanni to replace skipper
Lucas Neill
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 1:25 AM on 05th June 2009
Daily Mail
West Ham are interested in Rennes defender Rod Fanni. The £5m-rated France
international, 27, is seen as a possible replacement for Lucas Neill. The
east London club are also trailing Middlesbrough's Mathew Bates. Meanwhile,
Peterborough have missed out on securing the services of England Under 21
striker Freddie Sears. The young Hammer will instead join Championship
rivals Sheffield Wednesday on a season long loan after Posh director of
football Barry Fry revealed: 'He made it clear he was keen to come here, but
West Ham have blocked the move and told him he has to go to Sheffield
Wednesday. Obviously there was more money involved.'
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West Ham favourites for Middlesbrough's Bates
04.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are closing in on Middlesbrough utility Matthew Bates. The
Evening Gazette says the Hammers may have emerged as favourites for the
signature of the 22-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of this
month. Bates had been expected to agree to a move to Wigan Athletic, who are
also prepared to make him a lucrative offer. But the departure of Latics
manager Steve Bruce to Wearside may have thrown this potential link-up into
the air. Bruce may yet be keen to try to take Bates to Sunderland, though
West Ham's positive approach could turn Bates' head towards a London switch.
Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola has regularly given chances to his young
players with the result that lads like Jack Collison and James Tomkins have
become established Premier League stars. So Bates knows that if he goes to
Upton Park, he will get a fair crack of the whip.
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PSG in contact with West Ham's Faubert
04.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
Paris Saint Germain have made contact with the minders of West Ham United
midfielder Julien Faubert. The France international is returning to Upton
Park after an ill-fated six months on-loan at Real Madrid. Hammers boss
Gianfranco Zola doesn't see Faubert in his plans for next season and a
return to France is likely if PSG make their interest concrete.
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West Ham's Boa Morte insists he's not slowing down
05.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United winger Luis Boa Morte says he has plenty of years left in
his 31 year-old legs. "I am 31 but I feel like an 18-year-old and I want to
keep going, keep playing," Boa Morte told the club's website. "As long as I
feel like this I want to keep going."
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West Ham's Boa Morte regrets missing out on Europe
05.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United winger Luis Boa Morte admits regrets at missing out on
European qualification last season. "I would have been more pleased with the
season if we had beaten Everton and had taken the European spot," he told
whufc.com. "We feel a bit sad that we only finished level on points with
Tottenham. That is something that we are going to work out for next season
and we will learn from our mistakes. "The point is not to look back because
we will be even more frustrated and I think it will be better to wait for
next season. We have to start well and not commit the same mistakes we made
this year and we will have a more enjoyable season."
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