WHUFC.com
All the early team news and background for Sunday's return to action at the
Boleyn Ground
06.08.2011
WEST HAM UNITED v CARDIFF CITY
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2011
KICK-OFF: 1pm
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Introduction
• West Ham United start the 2011/12 npower Championship campaign with a home
game against Cardiff City, managed by former Hammers defender Malky Mackay.
• The match will be Sam Allardyce's first competitive game since taking
charge at the Boleyn Ground on 1 July. He could have four players making
their debuts, with summer signings Joey O'Brien, Abdoulaye Faye, Kevin Nolan
and Matt Taylor all involved in his matchday squad.
• The Hammers were relegated last season after finishing last in the
Barclays Premier League. Cardiff just missed out on promotion last season
after a second successive failure in the play-offs.
• This is West Ham's fifth spell outside the top flight since the promotion
season of 1957/58. Those previous occasions lasted for three seasons, two
seasons, one season and two seasons, and in those eight campaigns the lowest
second-tier finish was seventh
• West Ham spent six seasons in the Premier League, having last been
promoted in 2004/05.
• Although they lost 3-0 at Aston Villa on opening day last season, the
Hammers' biggest opening day defeat came in 2002, when Newcastle United won
4-0 at St James' Park.
• West Ham have not drawn the opening game since 1994, when they drew 0-0
with Leeds United at Elland Road
• Cardiff, beginning their ninth season at this level, have only lost two of
their last 16 season-openers.
• West Ham are looking for a fifth consecutive home win against Cardiff
City.
• The Bluebirds have not won at West Ham since a 1-0 success on 15 April
1950, a run of 14 games without taking all the points at the Boleyn. That
was the only time they have ever won at Upton Park.
West Ham's biggest home win against Cardiff came in the League Cup on 20
December 1965, with a 5-2 success.
Team news
West Ham United
• Peter Kurucz (knee) and Gary O'Neil (ankle) are both definitely out.
Julien Faubert (hamstring) is also missing but could return at Doncaster
Rovers next Saturday.
• Abdoulaye Faye (hamstring) and Junior Stanislas (groin) have also been
back in full training for a week, while Jack Collison has also been training
fully having sat out last week's win against Real Zaragoza.
• Jordan Spence is on a season-long loan at Bristol City while Olly Lee and
Cristian Montano are on month-long stays at Dagenham & Redbridge and Notts
County respectively.
Cardiff City
• Malky Mackay has yet to name his first-choice keeper with David Marshall
competing with Tom Heaton for the berth.
• Having had to overhaul his squad in the summer, the other big selection
decision is up front with Kenny Miller set to partner Rob Earnshaw.
Last time out
Saturday 30 July 2011
Pre-season friendly
West Ham United 2-0 Real Zaragoza
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien (Spence 52), Samuel (Montano 79), Tomkins,
Reid, Faubert (Barrera 39), Taylor (Sears 71), Noble (Stanislas 89), Parker
(Cole 63), Nolan, Piquionne (Nouble 71)
Subs not used: Boffin, Ilunga, Collison
Tuesday 2 May 2011
Pre-season friendly
Cardiff City 0-0 Parma
Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton, Taylor (Naylor), Hudson, Gerrard (Keinan),
Whittingham, Cowie, Earnshaw (Fagan), Conway (Taiwo), Gestede (Miller),
Mason. Subs not used: Heaton, Parkin, Gyepes.
Last meeting
West Ham United welcomed Cardiff City to the Boleyn on 6 February 2005. An
89th-minute winner from Welsh international midfielder Carl Fletcher settled
the contest. Mark Noble was the only current Hammer on view - in fact, he is
the only first-team player still at the club from that last Championship
campaign. Malky Mackay was in the Hammers lineup, while Danny Gabbidon was
playing for Cardiff.
West Ham United: Bywater, Mullins, Ferdinand, Mackay, Powell, Noble (Rebrov
84), Reo-Coker, Fletcher, Sheringham, Harewood, Zamora (Chadwick 61)
Subs not used: Walker, McClenahan, Brevett
Cardiff City: Alexander, Weston (Vidmar 77), Gabbidon, Lee, Langley, Barker,
Collins, McAnuff, Kavanagh, Thorne, Inamoto (Ledley 86)
Subs not used: Warner, Fleetwood, Bullock
Last six meetings
(Championship unless stated)
6 February 2005 - West Ham United 1-0 Cardiff City
2 November 2004 - Cardiff City 4-1 West Ham United
28 February 2004 - West Ham United 1-0 Cardiff City
25 October 2003 - Cardiff City 0-0 West Ham United
23 September 2003 - Cardiff City 2-3 West Ham United (League Cup)
6 May 1981 - Cardiff City 0-0 West Ham United (old Second Division)
Overall record v Cardiff ( all competitions) W 24 D 15 L 8
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via
play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
Cardiff
2010/11 Championship 4th (80 points)
2009/10 Championship 4th (76 points)
2008/09 Championship 7th (74 points)
2007/08 Championship 12th (64 points)
2006/07 Championship 13th (64 points)
2005/06 Championship 11th (60 points)
2004/05 Championship 16th (54 points)
2003/04 Championship 13th (65 points)
2002/03 Division Two 6th (81 points - promoted to the Championship via
play-offs)
2001/02 Division Two 4th (83 points)
2000/01 Division Three 2nd (83 points)
Referee
• Sunday's referee will be Howard Webb, who last took charge of a Hammers
game when they lost 2-1 at Manchester City on 1 May 2011.
• He took charge of the 2010 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and
Netherlands in South Africa.
• Webb began officiating in Yorkshire in 1989. He took charge of his first
Barclays Premier League match as a referee in October 2003 and has since
been the man-in-the-middle for a host of high-profile fixtures.
• Webb also refereed the 2005 FA Community Shield, 2006 FA Trophy final and
2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, as well as taking charge of his
first UEFA Champions League match in 2006. The former police officer was
referee for the 2007 Carling Cup final and was selected as England's
representative at Euro 2008, taking charge of the first match of the
tournament between Austria and Poland and the Group D fixture between Greece
and eventual champions Spain.
Old boys
• Malky Mackay played for West Ham in the 2004/05 season. He made 18
appearances and scored two goals.
• Others to have played for both clubs include Craig Bellamy, John Burton,
Clive Charles, William Charlton, James Collins, Danny Gabbidon, Jobi
MacAnuff, Keith Robson, Bill Stephens.
Next up
• West Ham United welcome Aldershot Town in the Carling Cup first round on
Tuesday 9 August. Cardiff travel to Oxford United on Wednesday 10 August in
the same competition.
General information
• For ticket information, click here.
• Sunday's forecast in east London is for an overcast day with possible rain
showers. Temperatures will peak around the 20C mark.
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Collison fired up for Cardiff
WHUFC.com
Wales midfielder Jack Collison will meet some old friends but knows there is
a job to be done
07.08.2011
Jack Collison is ready to put Welsh allegiances aside this Sunday afternoon
when Cardiff City arrive in east London looking to spoil the Hammers' grand
plans. All at West Ham United are eager to mount a successful promotion
campaign but the Bluebirds will prove stiff opposition, having just missed
out on going up last season. Collison knows the Cardiff team well but
believed the strong summer work under Sam Allardyce would prove pivotal for
the home side this weekend. "The match can't come soon enough," the Wales
midfielder told West Ham TV. "Everyone has been trying their hardest to get
in the starting lineup and looking to do their best for the team. We have
all been itching for it. I am looking forward this season and to playing as
much as I can under him. I am going to give it a real go."
That desire will show itself if selected on Sunday and Collison admitted it
was special that he would be taking on a team from the Principality. He is
especially looking forward to meeting international colleagues, even if the
pleasantries would be saved for the final whistle. "I might have to give Rob
Earnshaw a little bit of stick," he said with a smile. "It is one of the
first fixtures I looked for. They have been so close for two seasons on the
bounce and a bit unfortunate not to get promoted. "It will be a test and I
know they are raring to go. It is going to be a massive game, we need to
start well. The only thing on everyone's mind is getting those three
points."
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League round-up: Lee shines
WHUFC.com
It was a good day for Olly Lee on Saturday while Paolo Di Canio made a great
start to management
06.08.2011
Olly Lee fared the best of the Hammers young loanees on Saturday as he
helped Dagenham & Redbridge to a 1-0 win at Macclesfield Town. The
19-year-old midfielder moved to the Daggers for a second spell on Friday,
after last season's short stay, and was thrown straight into the starting
lineup at Moss Rose. Lee was a lively presence throughout, playing the full
90 minutes. Dagenham are tipped to be one of the favourites from League Two.
In League One, Martin Allen's Notts County were impressive 3-0 winners at
Carlisle United, thanks to Lee Hughes' double. Cristian Montano is still
waiting for his league bow so was not involved, having joined the Magpies on
a month's loan on Friday.
In the Championship, Jordan Spence's return to Bristol City ended in
disappointment with a 3-0 defeat at home to Ipswich Town. Spence is set to
spend the entire season at Ashton Gate after being loaned out by the Hammers
this week.
Finally, Paolo Di Canio's first foray into management got off to the perfect
start with Swindon Town's 3-0 home win against Crewe Alexandra to help them
set the early pace in League Two.
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Carew signs
WHUFC.com
Norway striker John Carew has become the fifth new face at West Ham United
this summer
06.08.2011
West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of Norway striker John
Carew. The Hammers' fifth summer recruit with a proven Premier League track
record, Carew passed a medical on Saturday morning before putting pen to
paper at the Boleyn Ground in the afternoon. He has been handed the No11
shirt. The imposing 6'5-tall forward will bring vast experience to the
forward line, having earned league winners' medals in three different
countries. With Norway going well in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying, he continues
to be a leading international and has scored 23 goals in 88 games for his
country. Speaking exclusively to whufc.com, he said: "I am so pleased to be
here. I am very happy to sign for such a big club. I am looking forward to
being part of a good team here that will bring this great club back up to
the Premier League again."
Carew first met Sam Allardyce on Thursday to agree his switch to east
London. He had been coveted by several clubs across Europe since leaving
Aston Villa at the end of last season but was eager to sign up for the
club's Championship challenge. "The manager was very good," Carew added. "I
know about him from other players, former team-mates I know who have played
under him. They all had fantastic words to say about him. He spoke well to
me and I think he is a great manager and I am very happy to be playing for
him and for the club."
At the start of a hugely successful career, Carew's first major honour was
the Norwegian title with Rosenborg BK in 1999 before notable displays in
European competition saw him attract the attention of Europe's elite clubs.
Valencia paid £7.5m for his services in 2000 and Carew went on to help them
to the 2001 UEFA Champions League final and a Spanish title in 2001/02. From
there, he headed to France and he ultimately won a Ligue 1 championship with
Olympique Lyonnais in 2005/06 Carew, 31, has been in England since January
2007, racking up 133 appearances for Aston Villa and scoring 54 goals
overall. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Stoke City,
playing 13 times for the Potters. The striker will not be eligible to play
against Cardiff City on Sunday, having not been registered in time with the
Football League. Allardyce could field his other four new recruits, with
Joey O'Brien, Abdoulaye Faye, Kevin Nolan and Matthew Taylor all forming
part of his matchday squad. Carew is the first Norwegian to sign for the
club since defender Ragnvald Soma, who played seven league games between
2001 and 2002.
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Green and Parker named
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will be well represented when England take on the Dutch on
Wednesday night
06.08.2011
Robert Green and Scott Parker have been named in the England squad to face
the Netherlands on Wednesday. The West Ham United duo will both hope to be
involved in the first international of the new season, which pits Fabio
Capello's side against the FIFA World Cup finalists. In all, the England
manager has named a 25-man selection for the match at Wembley.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Robert Green, Joe Hart, David Stockdale
Defenders: Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Phil
Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, John Terry, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Stewart Downing, Adam Johnson,
Frank Lampard, James Milner, Scott Parker, Jack Wilshere, Ashley Young
Forwards: Andy Carroll, Peter Crouch, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck
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John Carew moves to West Ham United on free transfer
Page last updated at 20:57 GMT, Saturday, 6 August 2011 21:57 UK
BBC.co.uk
Former Aston Villa striker John Carew has joined Championship side West Ham
United on a free transfer. The 31-year-old, 6ft 5in Norwegian striker, who
scored twice in 13 games on loan at Stoke last term, became a free agent
after being freed by Villa. "I am very happy to sign for such a big club,"
he told the West Ham website.
"I am so pleased to be here and am looking forward to being part of a good
team here that will bring this great club back up to the Premier League."
Carew's registration was not completed in time for him to play in West Ham's
opening Championship match against Cardiff on Sunday. The powerful forward,
who has been given the number 11 shirt at Upton Park, passed a medical
before he was confirmed as West Ham's fifth signing of the summer. He has
scored 23 goals in 88 appearances for the Norwegian national side, and
netted 52 goals in 133 matches for Villa. His strike-rate in the FA Cup was
particularly impressive, as he scored 11 times in 10 games. Carew joined
Villa from Lyon in 2007 and was a key member of their side under former
manager Martin O'Neill. But injury has prevented the striker from making an
impact last season while his relationship with O'Neill's successor Gerard
Houllier was strained, with the pair arguing in the press in 2010.
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West Ham v Cardiff
BBC.co.uk
Npower Championship
Venue: Upton Park Date: 07 August Kick-off: 1300 GMT Coverage: Watch live on
BBC1; Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on the
BBC Sport website
TEAM NEWS
West Ham's £3m signing Kevin Nolan has been given the captain's armband
following his summer move from Newcastle. Promising left-back Jordan Brown,
who has featured prominently in the pre-season campaign, is out for a month
with an ankle injury. Cardiff manager Malky Mackay has yet to decide who his
first-choice goalkeeper will be, with fit-again David Marshall vying with
last season's regular Tom Heaton for a place in the team. Wales
international Rob Earnshaw and Scotland striker Kenny Miller are set to lead
the Bluebirds' new-look forward line following their summer moves.
PREVIEW
Just the odd point here and there last season and this could have been a
Premier League match with Avram Grant and Dave Jones in the dugouts; instead
Sam Allardyce and Malky Mackay start new jobs with the same objective - to
get out of the Championship.
Cardiff might feel that they are unlucky to be facing West Ham now, because
for the moment Hammers' boss Allardyce still has Robert Green, Scott Parker
and Carlton Cole to call upon; any or all could be sold before the transfer
deadline. The addition of Matt Taylor from Bolton and Kevin Nolan from
Newcastle means that the Londoners arguably start life in the Championship
with a stronger squad than the one which was relegated from the Premier
League.
Cardiff have lost Bothroyd, Chopra and Bellamy, with the onus for
goalscoring now falling on Kenny Miller and the returning hero Rob Earnshaw
who scored more than a hundred goals for the club in his first spell. Mackay
has also recruited Scottish internationals Craig Conway and Don Cowie and
has high hopes for twenty year old Joe Mason signed from Plymouth.
Both sides will be expecting to be in contention for promotion and Sunday's
match offers an intriguing early insight into which is better prepared for
the long slog ahead.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Of 40 previous league meetings, West Ham have won 18, Cardiff eight
with 14 draws.
• It's 31 years since the club playing away from home has won a league
match between the pair.
• West Ham are pursuing a fifth successive home league win against the
Bluebirds.
West Ham United
• Finished bottom of the Premier League last season, with relegation
ending a six-year stay in the top flight.
• Not won in 10 league and cup outings, following a 3-0 home win over
Stoke on 5 March.
• Sam Allardyce begins his sixth managerial appointment, and is one of
five sending out teams in the Championship this weekend for the first time
at a new club.
Cardiff City
• Starting a ninth successive campaign at this level, having failed in
the play-offs for two seasons in a row.
• Former Watford boss Malky Mackay succeeds Dave Jones as manager, and
launches his career with the Bluebirds against a club he used to play for.
• Avoided defeat in 14 of their last 16 seasonal openers.
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Capello: I'll still pick Hammers
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 6th August 2011
By: Staff Writer
Fabio Capello has revealed that he will continue to pick Scott Parker for
England if he remains at West Ham. The England manager, who has included
Parker and team mate Rob Green in his squad for Wednesday night's friendly
against Holland dispelled suggestions from some quarters - including,
notably, the Boleyn Ground boardroom - that Parker's international career
would be put on hold should he remain at West Ham and play in the
Championship.
Ideally, stressed Capello, Parker would be playing in the top flight -
although with limited alternative options, the England boss was careful not
to fully exclude the midfielder. "If he does not move then that is not my
problem. He is one who can play with the national team," Capello told
reporters. "He is part of the group. If he is fit, he will be okay to stay
with us. I will continue picking him. If I find a really good player in the
Championship, I will pick him. "I hope for him and for me he will play in
the Premier League. It is important Scott plays in the Premier League. He is
a focused guy - but they play more games [in the Championship] than the
Premier League."
Parker is set to start for West Ham against Cardiff at the Boleyn Ground
this lunchtime.
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Hammers duo in England squad
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 6th August 2011
By: Staff Writer
Robert Green and Scott Parker have been called up to Fabio Capello's latest
England squad. The duo - both of whom are considered likely to leave east
London before the end of the month - have become the first Hammers to
receive an England call-up whilst in the second tier since David James
played in England's 3-2 defeat at home to Denmark in November 2003. England
face Holland in a friendly at Wembley on Wednesday evening with the two
included in a 25-man squad. Their inclusion in the squad made a mockery of
David Gold's claims earlier in the summer that to retain the services of
Green, Parker and striker Carlton Cole would harm their international
chances. "It's unrealistic to ask an England player to come down and play in
the Championship. We've got to be realistic," Gold said back in May. "It's
unfair to say to a player we want you to forego your potential England
career to come and play in the Championship. I think we - and the fans -
have to be realistic... It really is just not fair to ask a player to stay."
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Allardyce lands fifth signing
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 6th August 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have completed the capture of former Norwegian international John
Carew. The 31-year-old striker - who is understood to have signed an initial
12-month contract - became Sam Allardyce's fifth signing of the summer on
Saturday night. Speaking about his latest move - West Ham being the ninth
club of an eventful career - Carew told whufc.com: "I am so pleased to be
here. I am looking forward to being part of a good team here that will bring
this great club back up to the Premier League again." Although the transfer
was completed too late for the 6'5" forward to be involved against Cardiff
City at the Boleyn Ground tomorrow lunchtime, Carew would have been unlikely
to feature anyway due to a lack of match fitness.
Chim Chim Carew: career stats
1998-99 Valerenga (Norway) P33 G14
1999-00 Rosenborg (Norway) P29 G23
2000/01 Valencia (Spain) P53 G14
2001/02 Valencia P21 G1
2002/03 Valencia P45 G13
2003/04 Roma (Italy, loan) P26 G7
2004/05 Besiktas (Turkey) P27 G14
2005/06 Lyon (France) P36 G12
2006/07 Lyon P12 G2, Aston Villa P 11 G3
2007/08 Aston Villa P33 G13
2008/09 Aston Villa P34 G15
2009/10 Aston Villa P41 G17
2010/11 Aston Villa P13 G0, Stoke (loan) P13 G2
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Loan watch
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 6th August 2011
By: Staff Writer
It was a mixed day for West Ham United's young loanees in today's Football
League programme. Jordan Spence, who completed a season-long loan move to
Championship club Bristol City earlier in the week was part of the side that
suffered a heavy opening day defeat at the hands of Ipswich Town. The
21-year-old full-back played the full 90 minutes of City's 3-0 defeat at the
hands of an ebullient Town, who scored twice in the final six minutes to
record the division's biggest win of the day. The game also featured Nicky
Maynard, reportedly the subject of a bid from West Ham last week and former
Hammers David James and Lee Bowyer, making his debut for Ipswich. "Spence
might be needed at centre back sharpish. He is composed and classy. We need
his brains in the middle because unfortunately Tangs and Liam ain't dominant
enough to form a partnership" - Jordan Tansley, Bristol City Fans' Forum Two
tiers below in League Two, 19-year-old Olly Lee's first game of his second
spell with Dagenham & Redbridge ended in victory as John Still's side won
1-0 at Macclesfield. Lee, like Spence, played a full 90 minutes in the
Daggers midfield; the game was won for the visitors - who played the final
quarter-of-an-hour with ten men after Chris Lewington was sent off for hand
ball - by Medy Elito's 60th minute goal. The third of West Ham's current
loanees - midfielder Cristian Montano - failed to make the squad for Notts
County's emphatic 3-0 win at Carlisle.
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You'll win nothing with kids
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 6th August 2011
By: Staff Writer
Young Hammers Oliver Lee and Cristian Montano have been sent out on loan on
the eve of the new Championship season. Lee, son of former Hammer Rob has
joined neighbours Dagenham & Redbridge for a month whilst Montano, one of
only two players to feature in all seven of West Ham's first team pre-season
fixtures has moved to Notts County for the same length of time. 19-year-old
Lee, who made six appearances during a two-month loan spell at Victoria Road
last season has been drafted in by Daggers boss John Still in order to cover
for a string of short term injuries. Meanwhile Montano, also 19, has joined
former Hammer Martin Allen at League One County. Allen told
nottscountyfc.co.uk: "I'm pleased Cristian is joining us; he'll go straight
into our squad for Saturday. It's a one-month loan with a view to extending
it at a later stage."
A third Academy graduate, Jordan Spence, joined Bristol City on a
season-long loan earlier this week. The average age of players signed by
Sam Allardyce since joining West Ham is 29.
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Hammers capture Carew
Norwegian seals move to Upton Park after successful medical
Last Updated: August 6, 2011 9:42pm
SSN
West Ham have completed the signing of former Aston Villa striker John Carew
on a free transfer. Skysports.com reported earlier on Saturday that the
Norway international, a free agent this summer, was undergoing a medical
with the Hammers. Everything has now been finalised to allow Carew to become
Sam Allardyce's fifth new recruit of the transfer window. The Hammers have
undergone a summer of rebuilding as they bid to earn an immediate return to
the top flight and Carew is looking forward to playing his part. "I am so
pleased to be here," the 31-year-old, who spent the second half of last
season on loan at Stoke, told the club's official website. "I am very happy
to sign for such a big club. I am looking forward to being part of a good
team here that will bring this great club back up to the Premier League
again." Carew did not sign in time to play in Sunday's Championship opener
against Cardiff.
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John Carew Takes the Number 11 Shirt
August 6th, 2011 - 9:29 pm by Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
John Carew has become Sam Allardyce's fifth signing today, after he signed a
contract this afternoon having passed a morning medical. You can read the
official club statement HERE. Does this make the departure of Carlton Cole
more likely? I am not so sure. I reckon Freddie Picquionne is the more
likely player to leave. Cole is apparently refusing to contemplate moving to
a club outside the capital.
Carew is slightly more prolific that I thought. He has scored 23 goals in 88
appearances for Norway, and 37 goals in 113 games for Aston Villa. For his
other clubs (including Besiktas, Rosenborg, Lyon and Valencia) he appeared
213 times, scoring 81 goals. So all in all he has a scoring ratio of 1 goal
per 2.9 games. This compares to Carlton Cole's career average of 1 every
5.5. Freddie Picquionne is hardly prolific either, again with a career
average of 1 in 5.5. Last season he oonly scored 6 in 34 matches for West
Ham – not good. If Steve Bruce wants him I'd wave a fond farewell.
Carew is ineligible tomorrow and it's not clear how fit he is. Perhaps he
might get some time against Aldershot on Tuesday in the League Cup.
Let's wish him well.
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West Ham sign John Carew
Published: 06 Aug 2011
The Sun
WEST HAM have snapped up John Carew on a free transfer. The Norway striker
has signed for the Hammers after his release by Stoke last season. But he
could not push through the deal in time to play for the Upton Park outfit
against Cardiff tomorrow. Carew said: "I am very happy to sign for such a
big club. "I am looking forward to being part of a good team here that will
bring this great club back up to the Premier League again."
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FABIO CAPELLO: SCOTT PARKER HAS GOT TO MOVE ON UP
Daily Express
Sunday August 7,2011
By Colin Mafham
HE was Player of the Year last season, but today Scott Parker kicks off in
the Championship with a telling message from Fabio Capello – Get yourself a
Premier League club... and quick. The England coach will stick with his
experienced stars for the friendly against Holland on Wednesday – and he
gave 33-year-old Frank Lampard a very public vote of confi dence to prove
it. But his advice to Parker was clear. If he wants to stay in Capello's
plans, he will need to be playing in the Premier League.
The Italian is planning a special spy mission to run the rule over Parker,
whose West Ham side face Cardiff today. "But it is important for him to play
in the Premier League," Capello said. "I know he is a focused guy. He is one
player who can play with the national team and stay with us. "It is no
problem picking someone from the Championship but I hope for him and for me
he will play in the Premier League."
Capello was quick to quash speculation that Lampard's England days could
soon be over. "Absolutely not. He is an important player. I don't know which
level of form he is in now, but he is a really important player," he added.
But with Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Steven Gerrard
all in their thirties, the coach is looking to a new generation – and to
Jack Wilshere in particular. He added: "We have experienced players who are
really good. But I think now the new generation is good. "Some young players
are really interesting and I hope in the next six months these young players
will be better. But they need experience. They need the games. "It is not
easy to find a player like Wilshere, who explodes in six months. This is the
big difference. He is an extra player, a leader. It is really difficult to
find this. The other ones probably need more time."
This is a game the England coach wishes his players – young or old – didn't
have to play. "It is a terrible moment to play a friendly. It is too early,"
said Capello, who has not been able to watch his players in serious
competition. "I am not very happy for the players. I am not very happy for
me," he said. "The manager says, 'Why are you playing in a friendly game? We
need you for an important game on Saturday in the Premier League.' I know
how they think. I remember this problem as a club manager."
Capello will talk to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger about Wilshere's fitness
before he pencils him in for Wednesday. The England supremo stressed his
intention to quit after Euro 2012 and revealed he is worried about the
fitness of Steven Gerrard, who will miss the Premier League kick-off. He
said: "It is a concern because his operation was not an important one. I
hope he will be fit in a short space of time."
FABIO CAPELLO was speaking at an FA MARS Just Play Q&A. The scheme aims to
get 150,000 more people playing football by 2013. For more details, search
online for Just Play.
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WEST HAM V CARDIFF: FRANK LAMPARD'S MESSAGES OF SUPPORT GAVE STARLET JACK
HOPE
Jack Collison has revealed how Frank Lampard helped him through his darkest
days
Sunday August 7,2011
By Colin Mafham
Daily Express
JACK COLLISON steps out at Upton Park this afternoon for the beginning of
the end of a two-year nightmare that brought him heartbreak and an injury
that threatened to ruin his career. With help from Hammers old boy Frank
Lampard, the midfielder once hailed as West Ham's new golden boy has emerged
from a private hell that saw his father killed in a motorcycle crash on the
way to watching him play against Tottenham. Despite playing for rivals
Chelsea and suffering his own heartache with the sudden death of his mother,
England star Lampard has helped Collison cope with his pain and grief by
sending him messages of hope. The young Wales international revealed
Lampard's role in his recovery as he prepared to help West Ham's bid to
bounce back up to the Premier League at the first attempt. Collison has a
tattoo tribute to his father Ian, who died aged 46, and he said: "What Frank
did was a nice touch that I'll never forget. It was a difficult time for me
and he'll always be someone I look up to. "It's nice when your heroes are
like that. It shows he's got class off the pitch as well as on it. It was
nice of him to send me the messages just to keep me going. You need role
models and idols to keep pushing yourself and he is a good person. "Frank
came through the West Ham academy and I really admire him. I don't know him
all that well, so what he did means a lot."
Collison suffered the knee injury that required major surgery 14 months ago.
He has worked throughout the summer to make sure he was fit for today's
curtain-raiser against Cardiff and the major promotion push that is
expected from West Ham this season. "It's been a turbulent time for me and
it was very frustrating being out so long," he added. "While a lot of the
boys were away, I was in the gym working hard on my own. Rehab is a very
lonely place. "But now I'm back and stronger as a person. I'm just looking
forward to getting in as many games as possible and getting us to the top of
the league and promoted."
Collison is confident that with Sam Allardyce as manager the Hammers can
fulfil their fans' high expectations. "He's got this long-ball tag but he's
not like that," he added. "If we start winning and the confidence comes,
you'll see good football." Today's opponents also have a new boss and
Cardiff captain Mark Hudson says they were right to axe Dave Jones following
a third consecutive play-off disappointment. Malky Mackay is now in charge
of the Bluebirds and Hudson hopes the ex-Watford boss can guide Cardiff into
the top flight. Hudson, 29, said: "What Dave Jones did for this club was
brilliant. He got the club to where it is now. But maybe it was the right
time for a change and hopefully the new manager can help us to take that
next step."
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Exclusive - McDermott expecting bidding war for Long
TalkSport
By Michael Wade
Saturday, August 6
Brian McDermott has told talkSPORT that he expects a bidding war to decide
the outcome of Shane Long's future. And the Reading manager also appeared to
discourage interest in the 24-year-old Republic of Ireland striker from
Championship rivals West Ham and Leicester. West Ham are believed to have
already lodged a bid for Long's services and Leicester boss Sven
Goran-Eriksson has also talked up his interest publicly. But McDermott
claimed that a deal is most likely with a top-flight side, saying: "There's
lots of interest from the Premier League as you can imagine, because he's a
top player. "Shane Long's going to get better and better. He's not only a
top player but a top person. "The way things are going, my experience is
that we've had interest from lots of clubs in the Premier League and once
someone makes a bid then four or five will make a bid." McDermott also
reiterated that despite the interest in his star man he would still prefer
not to sell Long at all. "He's not a player that I would want to leave the
club because he is very important," he added. "But if the right club comes
in and agrees a deal from the Premier League then I'm sure that he may move
on."
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