WHUFC.com
The club's two newest defensive recruits were both on international duty and
neither conceded
07.09.2010
Lars Jacobsen and Tal Ben Haim will have given Avram Grant plenty to think
about for Saturday's visit of Chelsea with both defenders getting a
much-needed 90 minutes in the latest round of UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers.
Denmark right-back Jacobsen helped his country to a 1-0 home win against
Iceland in Copenhagen, although they had to wait until an added-time goal
from Thomas Kahlenberg. In Georgia, Also on Tuesday night, Ben Haim helped
his side keep a clean sheet with Israel's goalless draw in Georgia. It was
his second full game in five days after a 3-1 home win against Malta last
Friday. Elsewhere, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole were not used by England
in their 3-1 win in Switzerland, who were themselves without Valon Behrami
because he is focused on club duty. Pablo Barrera could play his second game
in quick succession for Mexico overnight as they take on Colombia in a
friendly in Monterrey.
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Boffin eager to shine
WHUFC.com
The club's new goalkeeping recruit is happy to finally be a West Ham United
player
07.09.2010
Ruud Boffin is ready to take the next step in his career and prove himself
at West Ham United. The 22-year-old Belgian has received promising notices
as an emerging shot-stopper in Dutch football, spending the latter part of
last season at Eredivisie outfit VVV-Venlo on loan from MVV Maastricht. He
headed to Chadwell Heath for a short trial earlier this summer - including a
reserve-team run-out - and was subsequently signed on a two-year contract on
deadline day. "I am very happy to be here," said the club's towering new
No31, who was impressive in the 1-0 reserve friendly win against Leicester
City on Tuesday. "It is a great opportunity for me to come and play here. "I
had been training here before at Chadwell Heath. I was here for four days
and I had a game. Things then happened very quickly on the day I signed and
we had just two and a half hours for the paperwork. I had to wait until the
last day but it all happened."
Boffin will provide competition for Robert Green and Marek Stech, and is
hoping to settle quickly in order to give himself the best chance to make an
impact. "For me it is no problem to move to London. It is a great city and
also my wife and my six-week-old boy are going to come here and live with
me. I am in a hotel now so it is not so good for them but we will all
settle quickly." "I like the atmosphere here and it is a very nice group. I
will learn a lot from playing with Robert and under [goalkeeping coach]
David Coles. It is going to be a big challenge for me but I am ready."
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Frank downs Foxes
WHUFC.com
Frank Nouble's first-minute goal saw West Ham United reserves win at
Leicester City on Tuesday
07.09.2010
Frank Nouble struck after just 20 seconds to secure West Ham United reserves
a hard-fought friendly victory at Leicester City on Tuesday. Latecomers to
the Foxes' Belvoir Drive training ground would have missed all the action as
Nouble started and finished a move to score the only goal of the game in the
very first minute. A Leicester midfielder slipped, allowing the England
Under-19 forward to pick up possession midway inside the home half. Nouble
then swapped passes with strike partner Freddie Sears before sending an
unstoppable shot into the roof of the net from 12 yards. With new signing
Ruud Boffin in goal and first-team squad members Radoslav Kovac and Junior
Stanislas in midfield, the Hammers were handed a stern test by their hosts -
managed by former West Ham full-back Chris Powell. Boffin was regularly
called into action in the early stages, racing from his goal on a number of
occasions to make catches or to kick or punch the ball clear of his penalty
area. The tall Belgian also showed assured handling when one well-struck
bouncing shot was struck towards his goal from 25 yards. When Boffin was
beaten, left-back Jordan Brown was in the right place to block following a
superb left-wing cross from Leicester's left winger. In the centre, captain
Jordan Spence and Sergio Sanchez worked hard to repel the home side. West
Ham gradually worked their way back into things and enjoyed a strong 15
minutes as half-time approached, with Olly Lee seeing one effort blocked
following a swift counter-attack involving the lightning-quick Sears.
Into the second half and Alex Dyer's side began to take control of
proceedings, with both Sears and Ahmed Abdulla going close, but it was not
long before Leicester came on strongly again in an attempt to salvage
something from the game. Boffin was again heavily involved as the half wore
on, making one fine save to deny Leicester's No9 from point-blank range. The
former PSV Eindhoven man also showed his aerial prowess to deal with a
succession of crosses and corners into his box, as well as a defensive
header from Sanchez. Leicester's best chance also fell to the No9 with 17
minutes remaining. The striker looked odds-on to equalise when he burst
between Sanchez and captain Spence, only to poke his shot past the
goalkeeper and on to the base of the post.
Boffin made a last-minute save to keep out a deflected low shot from a Foxes
substitute before punching the resulting corner confidently clear to
complete an encouraging full debut for the club. Dyer's reserves will begin
their Barclays Premier Reserve League campaign with a trip to Everton on
Tuesday 14 September.
West Ham United reserves: Boffin, Modelski, Spence, Sanchez, Brown, Kovac,
Abdulla (Montano 67, Moncur 69), Lee, Stanislas, Nouble, Sears
Unused subs: Cowler, Craig, Lletget
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Jacobsen aims to prove fitness
New defender looks for West Ham boost while on international duty
By Ben Collins Last updated: 7th September 2010
SSN
Lars Jacobsen is hoping to put himself in contention for a West Ham debut
when he features for Denmark on Tuesday night. The Danes kick off their Euro
2012 qualifying campaign at home to Iceland, with Jacobsenset to make only
his second appearance of the season having played in just a Carling Cup game
so far for Blackburn. The 30-year-old defender fell down the pecking order
at Ewood Park but is now looking to make a fresh start having secured a
deadline-day move to West Ham and hopes to make his Hammers bow at home to
Chelsea on Saturday. "We are playing at home against Iceland and most people
expect us to win, we expect that ourselves," Jacobsen told West Ham's
official website. "It is important to get off to a good start. We really
want to put three points on the board, it is very important for us. "I have
only played one Carling Cup match since the season started and was on the
bench for the Premier League matches. "It is a good opportunity to get a
full 90 minutes to help me for what I need to do with West Ham."
Jacobsen joined Blackburn on a free transfer from Everton last summer and
became frustrated with their direct style. While the full-back accepts some
teams have to play to their strengths to survive in England's top flight, he
feels West Ham will be better suited to his game after joining them on a
free transfer. "That was what I was used to, keeping the ball on the ground
and playing out from the back," he said. "Of course, you cannot be naïve,
especially in the Premier League and there are many different styles. "The
way West Ham play is how I want to play and get the most out of my ability."
Jacobsen played in his native Denmark and Germany before joining Everton in
2008 and then Blackburn last summer. Despite making just 18 Premier League
appearances in two years, he wanted to stay in England and is relishing the
chance to play at Upton Park. "I am delighted to have signed and looking
forward to play for West Ham," he said. "It is a bonus as well to get the
opportunity to live in such a great city as London. "West Ham excited me. My
first priority was to stay in England. I am happy here and so are my family.
I could have gone to another country but I preferred to stay in the Premier
League and West Ham have given me that opportunity. It would be nice to stay
here a long time."
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Petrovic backing Hammers
Assistant boss believes Upton Park outfit have the quality to stay up
Last updated: 7th September 2010
SSN
Zeljko Petrovic has backed West Ham to survive the dreaded drop this season.
The Hammers assistant manager believes the club must aim to make steady
progress under new boss Avram Grant. Petrovic, who joined the club just
before the new season feels, the Upton Park hierarchy must not panic with
the team's current run of poor form. The 44-year-old is in no doubt that the
quality at the club will eventually shine through under the guidance of
Grant. However, Petrovic says the current management must ensure the club's
survival before they can contemplate thinking about building for the future.
"We have a good team, we have a good squad and they are good professionals,"
Petrovic said. "They have a fantastic attitude but it is important for us
all to believe. "This club needs to survive one year and then from next year
make a step forward. This is what I hear from Avram and he is right. "I am
very happy and proud to be here at West Ham. It is a big name in Europe with
a fantastic academy. "It is a very famous club. It is very easy to be a
coach or manager here because everyone here helps you for success and for
the club. "You can be the best coach in the world but when the kit men, or
the kitchen staff are not together to form one team you don't have success.
"Everybody here and at the stadium is together at West Ham. We have to all
help the manager to achieve his targets."
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Hammers get Green for Go
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
ROBERT GREEN handed West Ham a boost as he returned to training yesterday
after a groin op. And Hammers owners David Gold and David Sullivan are to
put their faith in the former England No 1 by offering him a new deal.
Green, 30, should be fit for Saturday's clash at home to leaders Chelsea
after having minor surgery last week to repair a niggling injury. He has
more than two years left on his contract, worth £35,000 a week. And Sullivan
said: "We want to sit down with him in the summer and talk to him about
extending it even further as a sign of our commitment to him." Hammers
new-boy Thomas Hitzlsperger is out of the Chelsea clash after failing to
recover from his thigh injury.
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Player Of The Month - August
Vinny - Mon Sep 6 2010
West Ham Online
PLAYER OF THE MONTH - AUGUST
Kieron Dyer 51%
Mark Noble 25%
Pablo Barerra 14%
Scott Parker 7%
Games In August
Aston Villa (a)
Bolton Wanderers (h)
Oxford United (h)
Manchester United (a)
It has been a dismal start to the season with few postives taken from any of
the four games during August. There has been one glimmer of hope and that
has been the form and fitness of Kieron Dyer. That's right, I said fitness,
meaning that the injury prone Dyer is currently not injured and showing us
slowly but surely what he can do. He started two of the four games with
those two coming in the Premiership. This is the first time he has started
two games in a row during his time at club. He may be 31 years old but his
pace is certainly not gone and what we have seen so far is him regaining his
form which can only be a positive thing for the club. We all know that when
Dyer is fit he is a starter and although he may have been signed to play in
a more central role his use on the wing with his ability to beat players is
going to be important this season. He has hit the post both of the games he
has played in. The first was against Bolton when a great through ball from
Scott Parker saw Dyer burst into the area but he was denied by the woodwork
just as he was at Old Trafford when his shot hit the same post and went
wide. Goals from midfield is something we need this season given our lack of
firepower so hopefully it will be Dyer who will weigh in with a few as he
has done throughout his career. If Dyer can keep fit and continue his way
back to form he will be a key player in our fight for survial. In second
place was Mark Noble who has performed well and started every game scoring a
goal from the penalty spot against Bolton and putting in a dominating
display against Oxford. New signing Pablo Barrera has also impressed and was
in third place.
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West Ham new boy didn't enjoy Blackburn style of football
07.09.10 | Ian Ferris
07.09.10 | tribalfootball.com
Lars Jacobsen fell down the pecking order at Blackburn Rovers but is now
looking to make a fresh start having secured a deadline-day move to West Ham
and hopes to make his Hammers bow at home to Chelsea on Saturday. The 30
year old joined Blackburn on a free transfer from Everton last summer and
became frustrated with their direct style. While the full-back accepts some
teams have to play to their strengths to survive in England's top flight, he
feels West Ham will be better suited to his game after joining them on a
free transfer. "That was what I was used to, keeping the ball on the ground
and playing out from the back," he told the club's official website. "Of
course, you cannot be naïve, especially in the Premier League and there are
many different styles.
"The way West Ham play is how I want to play and get the most out of my
ability."
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Chelsea confident Lampard and Terry will be right for West Ham
08.09.10 | Andrew Slevison
08.09.10 | tribalfootball.com
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is confident that two of his key players
will be available to take on West Ham United this weekend. Midfielder Frank
Lampard and defender John Terry both missed England's Euro2012 qualifier
with Switzerland on Tuesday due to injury but Ancelotti expects them to be
able to take their place at Upton Park as the Blues try to maintain their
perfect Premier League record so far this term. "Lampard had (hernia)
surgery on Tuesday and I think that he will start to train this week," he
said. "I don't know when but we will see how he trains and we will take a
decision for the game against West Ham. "Terry didn't have surgery but he
used the last week to improve his hamstring. "He will start to train with
the squad this week, maybe Tuesday, and I think he will be able to play
against West Ham."
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Petrovic: No doubting West Ham unity
08.09.10 | tribalfootball.com
Zeljko Petrovic is delighted to be with West Ham United this season.
Petrovic quietly slipped in at Upton Park as manager Avram Grant's new No2
over the summer. "We have a good team, we have a good squad and they are
good professionals," he told whufc.com. "They have a fantastic attitude but
it is important for us all to believe. This club needs to survive one year
and then from next year make a step forward. This is what I hear from Avram
and he is right. "You can be the best coach in the world but when the kit
men, or the kitchen staff are not together to form one team you don't have
success. Everybody here and at the stadium is together at West Ham. We have
to all help the manager to achieve his targets. I am here in my role to
support the manager to achieve this."
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West Ham's Reid to play in NZ friendlies
08.09.10 | Andrew Slevison
08.09.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United defender Winston Reid will play for New Zealand in two
friendlies next month according to New Zealand Football chief Michael
Glading.
The All Whites meet Honduras in Auckland on October 9 and then Paraguay
three days later in Wellington and Glading has confirmed Reid would be in
town for the matches despite reports suggesting otherwise. "Absolutely,
Winston has been cleared by his club and is coming," Glading said. "It has
been more speculation than facts, and the facts are he has been cleared by
his club and he is keen to come. Again, that is exactly as we expected it to
be played out."
NZ skipper Ryan Nelsen, who doubles as captain of West Ham's English Premier
League rivals Blackburn Rovers, has already stated his intent to play in the
double-header.
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