WHUFC.com
An intriguing date at Liverpool on Tuesday night is a new but exciting
experience for Alex Dyer's side
05.10.2010
Alex Dyer's reserves will head to Liverpool this evening looking to make it
three wins from three in the Barclays Premier Reserve League. The Hammers
second string won 1-0 at Everton last month before following that up last
Tuesday with a 2-0 home success against Wigan Athletic. The quick return to
Merseyside to take on the Reds promises to be the toughest challenge yet -
especially as Dyer is unlikely to have as many senior players at his
disposal as he has had in the first two outings. The coach said his young
players - likely to be led again by Jordan Spence and feature Freddie Sears
in attack - were all eager to put their hard work on the training pitches
into action when they take to the field at Prenton Park, home of Tranmere
Rovers. Liverpool boast a strong youth set-up too, including Thomas Ince,
the 18-year-old midfielder son of former Hammer Paul. Dyer said: "I am
looking forward to getting back out there. The boys are doing well and they
can't wait to play. We are looking forward to going to a good club, a club
with tradition and hopefully we can go out and give a good account of
ourselves. "I hope we can repeat [the Everton result] but we had a strong
squad in that match. Tonight, the lads will be quite a lot younger but it is
a good opportunity for them to go out there and see what they can do."
The Barclays Premier Reserve League has been reshaped for the new season,
with the 16 competing teams now split into three divisions. West Ham are in
the Southern section alongside Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, West Bromwich
Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the Hammers taking on each of their
division rivals home and away. Dyer's squad will also take on the ten teams
in the two other divisions - Northern A and Northern B - once each, making
for a 20-match season. Liverpool are currently top of Northern B, having
taken five points from their opening four matches.
The coach said the new format was "great" and was already making for a more
interesting programme. "It gives the lads a chance to travel up north and
for other clubs to see them as well. For them to play against new different
players and experience travelling is invaluable. "The bread and butter for a
footballer is to travel, sit on a coach for a long time, then play a game
and then get home at 3am in the morning. It is all a learning curve and will
help them develop for the future. "I am hoping again to go there and give a
good account of ourselves. I want to go to Liverpool and win the game. I am
not looking to sit back and go through the motions. Even if we have a
younger team, I still want to win the game, play attacking football and show
ourselves in the best light."
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Newcastle match just 15 pounds
WHUFC.com
The club has a special offer open to season ticket holders only for the next
home game
04.10.2010
Season tickets holders can take advantage of a superb ticket offer for the
Newcastle United home game on Saturday 23 October. As yet another 'Thank
you' for the terrific backing given this season, the club is offering season
ticket holders the chance to buy up to three additional tickets for friends
and family at the reduced rate of £15 each. This innovative offer is first
come, first served and is subject to availability - with a maximum of 3,000
tickets available on this basis. With last weekend's home game with Fulham
selling out, fans are urged to move fast or face disappointment. The team
has received passionate backing of late and with Newcastle set to bring
strong away support, another exciting afternoon is expected in east London.
The Premier League newcomers having started the season in solid fashion. The
north-east club promise to be tricky opposition, having achieved wins away
at Everton and Chelsea this campaign, and boast the likes of England hopeful
Andy Carroll in attack. The Hammers are unbeaten in the last two home
matches, having won 1-0 against UEFA Champions League side Tottenham Hotspur
and then drawn 1-1 with unbeaten Fulham last Saturday. Manager Avram Grant
could also have Thomas Hitzlsperger back in contention for his home league
debut as part of an increasingly strong squad. Youth Academy members can
also exclusively take advantage of the Kids for a Quid promotion on this
fixture, with child tickets available for just £1. That's not all, with the
club slashing all ticket prices for the Carling Cup last-16 tie against
Stoke City four days later. Season ticket holders have until Friday, 8
October, to make sure of their seat before they go on sale to members.
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Green in England squad
WHUFC.com
England manager Fabio Capello has called Robert Green into his squad to face
Montenegro
04.10.2010
Robert Green has been rewarded for his tremendous early-season form with a
call-up to the England squad to face Montenegro at Wembley on Tuesday week.
The goalkeeper has caught the eye with his displays this season - most
notably in helping the Hammers secure a 1-0 victory against Tottenham
Hotspur last month. Green, 30, has eleven caps to his name but has not
figured so far in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying. He played a key role in helping
the Three Lions to the 2010 FIFA World Cup and started the opening match
against the United States.
England squad
Ben Foster (Birmingham City), Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart
(Manchester City)
Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool),
Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John
Terry (Chelsea), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa)
Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Joe Cole (Liverpool), Steven Gerrard
(Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Johnson (Manchester
City), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Shaun
Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
Darren Bent (Sunderland), Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur), Kevin Davies
(Bolton Wanderers), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
With 2012 UEFA European Championship and CAF Africa Cup of Nations
qualifiers, 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs and friendly
matches being contested all over the world, the Hammers' international
representatives will certainly be kept busy.
• PABLO BARRERA is in the Mexico squad for the international friendly
meeting with Venezuela in Mexico City on 12 October.
• VALON BEHRAMI may be ruled out of Switzerland's EURO 2012 Group G meetings
with Montengero in Podgorica on 8 October and Wales in Basel four days later
due to a knee injury.
• TAL BEN HAIM is almost certain to be involved as Israel host Croatia in
Ramat Gan on 9 October before travelling to Piraeus to take on Greece in
EURO 2012 Group F on 12 October.
• THOMAS HITZLSPERGER is unlikely to be fit enough to face either Turkey in
Berlin on 8 October, or Kazakhstan in Astana four days later as Germany
continue their EURO 2012 Group A campaign.
• LARS JACOBSEN should be involved when Denmark travel to Porto to take on
Portugal on 8 October and host Cyprus in Copenhagen on 12 October in EURO
2012 Group H.
• VICTOR OBINNA should be in the Nigeria squad that travels to Conakry to
take on Guinea in a 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations Group B qualifier on 8
October.
• HOLMAR ORN EYJOLFSSON will be with the Iceland squad for the EURO U21
play-off with Scotland. The first leg is in Iceland on 7 October and the
second in Scotland on 11 October.
• WINSTON REID is in the New Zealand squad to host Honduras in Auckland on 9
October and Paraguay in Wellington on 12 October. Both matches are part of
the ASB International Series of friendly matches.
• JONATHAN SPECTOR is in the United States squad for an international
friendly meeting with Poland in his home city of Chicago on 9 October and
Colombia in Chester, Pennsylvania on 12 October.
• MAREK STECH is in the Czech Republic squad for the EURO U21 play-off
against Greece. The first leg is in Czech Republic on 8 October and the
second leg in Greece on 12 October
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Gabbidon ends Wales career
WHUFC.com
Hammers defender Danny Gabbidon has called time on his international days
with Wales
04.10.2010
Danny Gabbidon has announced his retirement from international football. The
31-year-old has been capped 43 times by his country but has decided to call
it quits in order to focus on his club career. He has been in great form for
West Ham United this season, making five appearances so far and impressing
at left-back. Gabbidon has been at the Boleyn Ground for five years and was
voted Hammer of the Year in 2006.
In a statement, Gabbidon said:
After nine fantastic years of playing international football for Wales
during which I had the honour and privilege of captaining my country, and
after long consideration, I have decided to retire from international duty.
On a personal note, I would like to thank the Football Association of Wales
for their support over the years and I would like to thank people of Wales
who supported me and my fellow team-mates at every game, home and away,
giving their all to the cause - true supporters!
I would also like to say a special thank you to my family, friends and
management team, who have stood by me throughout the many good times and
very few bad times.
It has been a wonderful journey.
Thank you all.
Daniel Gabbidon
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Gabbidon ends Wales career
Hammers defender hangs up international boots
Last updated: 4th October 2010
SSN
West Ham defender Danny Gabbidon has called time on his international
career, the Football Association of Wales have announced. The 31-year-old,
who has not played for his country since last November due to injury, had
been named in Brian Flynn's squad for the impending Euro 2012 qualifying
matches against Bulgaria and Switzerland. However Gabbidon, who has won 43
caps for Wales, announced his international retirement through the FAW on
Monday afternoon. He said: "After nine fantastic years of playing
international football for Wales during which I had the honour and privilege
of captaining my country, and after long consideration, I have decided to
retire from international duty.
Support
"On a personal note, I would like to thank the Football Association of Wales
for their support over the years and I would like to thank people of Wales
who supported me and my fellow team-mates at every game, home and away,
giving their all to the cause - true supporters! "I would also like to say a
special thank you to my family, friends and management team, who have stood
by me throughout the many good times and very few bad times. "It has been a
wonderful journey."
Gabbidon, who made his first Wales appearance against the Czech Republic at
the Millennium Stadium back in 2002, is the second Welsh player to quit
international football this season following Fulham's Simon Davies. The
defender did not give a reason for his retirement but is in the final year
of his contract at Upton Park and spoke only last week of the importance of
the current season. He has been hampered by injuries in recent years but,
playing at left-back, has impressed so far this campaign under new Hammers
manager Avram Grant Gabbidon's absence for Friday's match against Bulgaria
in Cardiff and next Tuesday's visit to Switzerland strikes another blow for
caretaker boss Flynn, who is already without striker Robert Earnshaw and
captain Craig Bellamy.
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Noble - Grant has helped me
Hammers midfielder praises Israeli boss
Last updated: 4th October 2010
SSN
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble has praised manager Avram Grant despite their
stuttering start to the season. The Hammers currently sit rock-bottom of the
Premier League despite picking up a point against Fulham at the weekend. It
has been a tricky start for Grant at Upton Park after the Israeli coach took
the reins in the summer, but Noble, 23, says his manager has got the best
out of him. "I'm enjoying my football at the moment," he told the club's
official website. "I'm looking forward to every game and I just want to keep
improving. "I had a little spell when I lost a little bit of confidence and
wasn't playing to my best. "I was playing out of my position but now I feel
I'm playing in my best position and slowly getting better every game. "The
manager said 'go out and play' and that's obviously what I want to do. I'm
playing in the centre of midfield and that's where I want to play. "I'm
playing with Scotty (Parker) and we obviously understand each other and
we're keeping the ball well in games and controlling games when maybe two or
three weeks ago we were off the cuff."
Big call
Grant left Carlton Cole out of the starting line-up on Saturday in favour of
Frederic Piquionneand the French striker once more got on the scoresheet.
Noble added: "The manager knows the players here like to play football and
when you've got the likes of Freddie and Victor (Obinna) up front and Coley
to come on, we know we've got a threat now and teams will be scared of us.
"We played really well in games and lost, but we're gelling together and
looking forward to the games coming. "The manager is paid to make decisions
like this and it's paid off for him at the minute because Freddie is on fire
and scoring goals and that's what we need." Meanwhile, Noble also came out
in support of Robert Green, who has been under pressure since his World Cup
blunder for England. "Greeny is the same every week," he remarked. "During
the week he trains hard and is the same every day. "He's had a couple of
mistakes in the last few months but hopefully they're gone now and he can
crack on. We all know what a fantastic goalkeeper he is."
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Grant expects to beat drop
Hammers boss confident of steering a route to safety
By Chris Burton Last updated: 3rd October 2010
SSN
Avram Grant is adamant that West Ham United will pull clear of trouble this
season and remain a top flight outfit. The Hammers prop up the Premier
League table at present, with just one win taken from their seven fixtures
to date. That solitary success, recorded against Tottenham last week,
momentarily lifted them off the bottom, but they returned to the foot of the
division over the weekend. Victories for Everton and Wigan, coupled with a
1-1 draw of their own against Fulham, saw the Hammers slip back down the
standings.There is, however, still plenty of time in which to claw their way
to safety and Grant is confident that his side will not be playing
Championship football next term. "We are not a team to be on the bottom of
the league," said the Israeli, who suffered relegation with Portsmouth last
season. "We are not heading for relegation. We play football to be in a
better place and we will do it."
Key to West Ham's survival plans will be their ability to get goals. They do
have a number of attack-minded players on their books and Grant has called
on one of those, loan signing Victor Obinna, to maintain his recent fine
form. "Obinna didn't play for a long time before he came to us and he was
good for us (against Fulham)," said Grant. "He can play in many positions.
He can play left or right and he can play better also. "He sometimes does
things on his own but I do think he is a team player as you saw with his two
assists in the last two games."
Grant has also been quick to praise summer signing Frederic Piquionne, with
the French striker having found the target three times in his last three
appearances. "Last year when I was at Portsmouth, he scored some important
goals for us," he added. "He has scored three in the last three. If he
continues like this then he will be good. "He is working hard. He is a team
player and you saw the difference in his movement (against Fulham)."
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Danny Gabbidon announces retirement from Wales duty
West Ham defender had not played for country since last year
31-year-old won 43 caps for Wales
guardian.co.uk, Monday 4 October 2010 17.18 BST
The West Ham defender Danny Gabbidon has announced his retirement from
international football with Wales. Gabbidon has not played for his country
since last November due to injury, but had been named in Brian Flynn's squad
for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland. The
31-year-old, who won 43 caps, announced his decision through the Football
Association of Wales this afternoon. Gabbidon said: "After nine fantastic
years, during which I had the honour and privilege of captaining my country,
and after long consideration, I have decided to retire from international
duty.
"I would like to thank the Football Association of Wales for their support
over the years and I would like to thank the people of Wales who supported
me and my team-mates at every game, home and away, giving their all to the
cause – true supporters. It has been a wonderful journey."
Gabbidon is the second Welsh player to quit international football this
season, following Fulham's Simon Davies. No reason has been given but
Gabbidon is in the final year of his contract at West Ham and spoke only
last week of the importance of the current season. Gabbidon has been plagued
by injuries in recent years but, playing at left-back, has made an
encouraging start to the campaign under the new manager Avram Grant.
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