A solid base helped West Ham United to get off to a winning start in the new 2008/09 season
17.08.2008
Alan Curbishley was delighted with the rearguard resilience shown by his team in securing three points on the first day of the Barclays Premier League season.
The manager described the 2-1 defeat of Wigan Athletic as the typical "game of two halves". Having seen his side surge into a two-goal lead in a first half they dominated, he then watched as his players from front to back kept a dominant Wigan at bay after the interval. He said: "We took advantage in the first half because we scored two and perhaps could have had another one but they got on top in the second half. We defended ever so well."
Although Dean Ashton's two early goals set the tone, Amr Zaki pulled one back after the restart to leave a few nerves jangling at the Boleyn Ground. However, the new-look back four that had debutant Valon Behrami at right-back, Lucas Neill at left-back and Matthew Upson and Calum Davenport, on his first competitive appearance in claret and blue since March 2007, in the centre stayed strong.
Behind them Robert Green once again attracted attention - not least for a world-class save from Wigan inspiration Wilson Palacios. "If that had gone in it may have been a lot more difficult for us," Curbishley said. "He does his job quietly. [With regard to England] he can't do any more than he is doing and we said that last year. He knows that and he has just got to get on with it."
Upson has been called up by his country for the midweek visit of the Czech Republic to Wembley, while Dean Ashton has been excluded after being withdrawn during the weekend game with what felt like severe cramp. The manager was thrilled with his striker's contribution. "He has got so much ability and brings people into the game and is a very good finisher ... We are delighted that he has got his two goals."
Talking generally of the England players in his contingent, Curbishley added: "We think that in our squad we have got some players that can force the issue. Matty Upson played for [Fabio] Capello before he got injured at the end of last season and Dean played in the summer. We have got Greeny and there are one or two other boys that but they have got to be playing and playing well."
One player who has not been mentioned in England reckoning is Carlton Cole but the 24-year-old striker caught the manager's eye. "He can be very pleased with his performance," he said of Cole, who was a good foil for Ashton and cleared one off the line at the other end as well as a number of timely blocks and headers. "He just needs a goal," added Curbishley who will watch this week's internationals with baited breath before Sunday's televised trip to Manchester City.
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Ferdinand bid accepted - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 18th August 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have accepted an £8million bid for centre-half Anton Ferdinand from Sunderland, according to today's Independent. The two clubs are said to have reached an agreement over the weekend - and the move now rests on whether or not Ferdinand, 23, wishes to move to the North East to join Roy Keane's team. Ferdinand - who was officially injured and therefore unavailable to play in Saturday's 2-1 win over Wigan - is said to have rejected a new, improved contract offer from West Ham earlier this month. His future has been up in the air all summer with United and Alan Curbishley apparently keen initially to offload the former youth academy product, who has been with the club since his early teens. Should Ferdinand depart East London, Alan Curbishley would be left with just two fit central defenders - Calum Davenport and Matthew Upson, who both played in the Wigan game. Jon Spector, Danny Gabbidon, James Collins and James Tomkins are all injured and not expected to return for some time. Ferdinand, claims the Independent, will give Sunderland an answer sometime today (Monday). We'll have more for you on this as it happens.
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Curbishley: we needed a third - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 17th August 2008
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley was a happy man following his team's winning start to the season - but admitted he would have been happier with a third goal. The Hammers stormed into a 2-0 lead against Wigan yesterday before blowing chances to wrap the game up before half-time. An early goal in the second period for the Latics put United on the backfoot for the remainder fo the game. And despite being satisfied with the three points, Curbishley admitted that he was left biting his nails in the closing stages as the visitors pushed for an equaliser. "When you come into the game that's what you hope for, to play well," he told the BBC. "I think we did for 45 minutes, we stunned Wigan a bit and perhaps could have come in 3-0 at half time. But the game was always going to change; Wigan scored very early on in the second half and got on top of us. "I thought first-half we played some decent football and made some chances. Dean scored a fantastic first goal. It's funny to say it but when you're 2-0 up you probably need that third. Opening day, people running out of legs, people still feeling their way and Wigan got on top of us but we defended fantistically, second-half. "Calum Davenport and Carlton Cole were getting their little blocks in. It was so important, that game, to win the first game of the season."
Despite the win Curbishley remains the bookies' favourite to be first Premier League manager for the chop this season. Whilst recognising his position Curbishley says that it doesn't worry him unduly. "I just get on with it. It's part and parcel of football now," he added. "I've been a manager twenty years and it's the first time I've found myself favourite as I'm normally the rank outsider! Now I know how it feels but you've just got to get on with it."
Meanwhile Wigan boss Steve Bruce was disappointed with the defeat although happy with his team's response after the break. "We think we've done particularly well in the second half and gave West Ham a bit of a doing. But we're disappointed with the way that we started," he said. "The first goal you can hold your hand up and say it was a quality finish by a very good striker - but the second one was poor on our behalf because of the organisation and defensive naivity. "Anyone here will go away and think 'Wigan deserved to get something out of that' because we were the better team by far in the second half. We gifted them the game really which at this level you can't do."
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Ashton injury wait - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 17th August 2008
By: Staff Writer
Two-goal hero Dean Ashton will undergo a scan later today to discover the extent of the damage sustained to his calf. Ashton suffered the knock when taking a second half free-kick during yesterday's 2-1 win against Wigan - and was immediately pulled out of the England squad set to face the Czech Republic later this week as a precautionary measure. The 23-year-old striker got his season off to a flyer with two goals in the opening ten minutes of yesterday's game. But it was an all-too familiar story when he was forced to come off with 17 minutes to go after suffering the knock. "I'm hopeful that it's just severe cramp," Ashton told the BBC after the game. "Obviously it feels a bit tight now but I'll have a scan tomorrow just to make sure. That's what I'm hoping it is. "I'll know by Sunday or Monday whether that's okay then if selected it's down to the management of England whether they want me to join up or not."
Despite the disappointment at missing out on what would have been his second England cap, Ashton was delighted with the way the game went yesterday - and his two goals, both of which were very different. "I was really pleased with my goals and to get them so early on, in the first game of the season is really nice," he added. "I'm just pleased that it ended up being the goals that won the game for us. "The first goal, I think people associate me with those type of goals - a strong finish. But the second one, probably people don't think that I'm a goal poacher but I like to score them goals. If you can try and get as many of them a season, they're valuable goals. "They mean as much to a forward as the first goal I scored today, the strong finish. Being in the right place at the right time."
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Matt back - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 17th August 2008
By: Staff Writer
Matthew Upson has been recalled to Fabio Capello's England squad for the forthcoming friendly with the Czech Republic. The Hammers defender is back in the squad after missing out on England's most recent friendlies through injury. However there was bad news for Dean Ashton who, despite being picked in the initial squad, is forced to miss out after sustaining a calf injury against Wigan yesterday. He is replaced by Emile Heskey. Once again goalkeeper Robert Green has been completely overlooked in favour of Portsmouth veteran David James, Blackburn's Paul Robinson and Manchester City's uncapped youngster, Joe Hart.
England face the Czech Republic at Wembley this Wednesday evening.
Full England squad
David James (Portsmouth), Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers), Joe Hart (Manchester City); Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur); Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), David Bentley (Tottenham Hotspur), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough); Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe(Portsmouth), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Emile Heskey (Wigan Athletic).
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Ashton remains upbeat - SSN
Hammers ace staying positive
By Chris Burton Last updated: 17th August 2008
Dean Ashton is refusing to let another frustrating spell on the sidelines spoil his opening day joy. The West Ham striker bagged both goals for the Hammers as they secured a 2-1 victory over Wigan in their first fixture of the new campaign. That brace came on the back of an impressive pre-season, which had put him back in line for an England call-up. However, the burly forward has been denied the opportunity to add to his solitary international cap in a friendly with Czech Republic on Wednesday. A calf problem saw him hobble off against the Latics on Saturday, ruling him out of the Wembley date.
The Hammers had initially hoped that Ashton had suffered nothing worse than cramp, but are now facing up to the prospect that they are likely to be without their top target man for a short period of time. The injury is the latest in a long line suffered by the 24-year-old, although he has chosen to focus on the positive aspects he can take from a fine start to the new season. He said: "I was really pleased with my goals - especially to get them so early.
"And the fact that they were the ones that won the match was really nice. "Now we'll have to see what happens with the injury."
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Harry the Hammer? - SSN
Has Redknapp taken Pompey as far as he can?
Last updated: 17th August 2008
Harry Redknapp has been linked with a return to West Ham - and the Sunday Supplement panel agreed it wouldn't be a bad idea. Portsmouth boss Redknapp enjoyed a successful spell as manager at Upton Park from 1994 to 2001 and is still held in high regard among the notoriously demanding West Ham supporters. Alan Curbishley is the bookmakers' favourite to be the first Premier League manager to be sacked this season and despite an opening-day win over Wigan, the Sunday Mirror claims West Ham chiefs are lining up Redknapp to replace him. Assessing the situation on The Sunday Supplement, The Sun's Shaun Custis admitted it is a real possibility and suggested that Redknapp would be keen to return to Upton Park. Custis said: "If I was Alan Curbishley I would be worried about that story because Paul Smith is just about the best-connected journalist there is in Portsmouth. "It looks to me like there's definitely something in it so I'd say Alan Curtbishley hasn't got very long at the start of this season if they don't get off to a flyer. "I'm not saying West Ham should get rid of Curbishley, but Harry's their favourite son, he's done a magnificent job with Portsmouth and he did a magnificent job with West Ham beforehand. "Portsmouth, from Harry's point of view, don't seem to want to spend any more money - or don't have any money - and for Harry I think it would be a very attractive proposition to go back again. "From Curbishley's point of view he hasn't quite won over the West Ham fans, there was a little bit of disgruntlement among the supporters last season - but then there often is at West Ham. "I just think there's no smoke without fire in this one. Harry Redknapp seems to have been angling to get away from Portsmouth over the summer and there's clearly a bit of unrest in the way Harry feels at Portsmouth."
Martin Lipton of the Daily Mirror was also in the studio and admitted that Redknapp may be looking for a new start after taking Portsmouth as far as he can. "He's won the FA Cup, what more can he do with Portsmouth?" Lipton said. "The money's not there and you saw the players in the Community Shield last week - any older and they'd be taking their pension book at the back. They really were looking like an old team. "He's lost Sulley Muntari, one of his better players, he's got in Peter Crouch and Younes Kaboul and they're not going to be in the top five or six with those sorts of players. "West Ham do have the backing, the Icelandic money is still there, and as Shaun said he is still the favoured son. "It's another challenge and let's be fair, Harry loves the next move. He's always interested in what comes next and he's never settled anywhere. "He can commute from Sandbanks to West Ham because he used to when he was manager there before, so it's viable for him. "I don't see any reason why he wouldn't want the job."
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Livewire Palacios exposes frailties of West Ham as Capello sees Ashton double up and limp off
Guardian
Premier League
West Ham United 2 Ashton 3, Ashton 10
Wigan Athletic 1 Zaki 47
David Lacey at Upton Park The Guardian, Monday August 18 2008 Article historyAs a taste of things to come West Ham's performance in narrowly beating Wigan here was more likely to evoke mixed memories of things immediately past. A promising and productive start gave way to muddle and myopia as Wigan, inspired by Wilson Palacios, their Honduran midfielder, dominated the second half and with better finishing would have saved or even won the match.
For home supporters the game was a summary of last season when West Ham played in fits and starts before becoming rooted in 10th place after Christmas. A chronic casualty list did not help and on Saturday there was a short spell in the second half when a succession of Alan Curbishley's players needed to have treatment.
As if to emphasise the eerie echoes of old problems Dean Ashton, whose two goals in the opening 10 minutes would have increased his stock with the watching Fabio Capello, limped out of contention for England's friendly with the Czech Republic on Wednesday with a calf injury 17 minutes from the end.
Obviously West Ham took greater satisfaction from the result but in terms of what the teams are hoping to achieve this season Wigan were entitled to be better pleased with their overall performance. While West Ham will be disappointed not to finish a mite higher this time, perhaps in with a shout for a Uefa Cup place, anything more than survival would be a bonus for Steve Bruce and his players. For this to happen Wigan will need to defend with greater awareness than they did at the start on Saturday.
Ashton, slimmer and sharper than he was after his long lay-off, turned away from Paul Scharner rather too easily to score after three minutes before increasing West Ham's lead with a tap-in after 10, the defence having pushed out for a corner while omitting to pick up Calum Davenport, whose volley reached Ashton standing unmarked in the goalmouth.
Perhaps West Ham fooled themselves into thinking the match was as good as won. Certainly Wigan did little up to half-time to suggest the strength of the recovery that followed, although Amr Zaki did see a header cleared off the goalline by Carlton Cole just past the quarter-hour. The Egyptian striker stunned Upton Park two minutes into the second half with an excellent hooked volley after Emile Heskey, who is in the England squad, had headed on a long throw-in.
Zaki, on loan from El Zamalek, has scored 22 times in 54 games for the Cairo club and he should at the very least have gained Wigan a point. Fortunately for West Ham he wasted three further chances, the best a free header that went wide. "If he adds a little composure to his game he'll do really well for us," said Bruce.
Certainly the effectiveness with which Zaki combined with Palacios and Heskey caused mounting problems for West Ham's defenders, who were grateful for the number of times Cole came back to help out. Palacios made the biggest impact on the last 45 minutes through his penchant for bringing the ball from deep inside his own half and taking on West Ham's midfield for pace and power. The Honduran was originally recommended to Bruce by Arsène Wenger, who had Palacios on trial at Arsenal, and the Wigan manager signed him in January, when he quickly caught the eye.
"The kid has everything you want in a footballer and if he keeps playing like this he'll be a fantastic one," Bruce enthused. One shot on the turn from Palacios brought the save of the afternoon from Robert Green. "We'll take the win," said Curbishley.
"I thought we were very good in the first half but their midfield overran us in the second." With Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy and others due to return soon West Ham may shortly be up to strength, and judgment on their prospects should be reserved until then. Wigan just need a win.
Man of the match Wilson Palacios (Wigan Athletic)
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Sunderland await decision by Ferdinand after agreeing £8m fee
By Michael Walker
Monday, 18 August 2008
Independent.co.uk
Sunderland should discover today if Anton Ferdinand is to become their next major signing after the Wearside club and West Ham agreed a fee in the region of £8m for the 23-year-old centre-half over the weekend. But it is by no means a certainty that London-born Ferdinand will wish to move to the North-East, with Newcastle having failed when expressing interest earlier this summer, and other clubs are believed to be monitoring Ferdinand's situation. He did not play in the Hammers' 2-1 win over Wigan on Saturday.
Roy Keane is eager to sign a new central defender, with on-loan Jonny Evans having returned to Manchester United, who will not now consider a sale. Sunderland's need for strengthening in that area was evident on Saturday when they lost to a late goal from Liverpool's Fernando Torres, who was given time and space by the makeshift central pairing of Nyron Nosworthy and Danny Collins.
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West Ham United 2 Wigan Athletic 1: Ashton the throwback drives Hammers forward
By Hyder Jawad
Monday, 18 August 2008
Independent.co.uk
Dean Ashton is a throwback to a time, in the Fifties, when an English centre forward made up for a perceived lack of sophistication with an emphasis on attributes such as strength, power and hard running. That is not to say that the West Ham United striker lacks sophistication, it is just that he makes virtues of what one might deem to be a simplistic approach.
And how significant it proved, for it was his two goals that set West Ham on their way to a victory against Wigan Athletic, whose own old-style English centre forward, Emile Heskey, was there to show that such players are enjoying a renaissance.
"I've never seen a finisher who strikes the ball as hard as Ashton does," Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, said. "If you want the ball bouncing around or in the penalty area, you want it to bounce to Ashton because he'll hit it hard and on target." That was evident in the third minute when, collecting a cross by Julien Faubert, Ashton turned Paul Scharner and scored with a powerful shot from 12 yards out. The encore, six minutes later, came when Ashton scored from close range after Calum Davenport, taking advantage of wretched Wigan defending, flicked the ball towards the far post.
"We all know about Ashton's ability," Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, said. "You have to take your hat off to him. But the second goal was poor – the sort of mistake we pride ourselves on avoiding."
It needed a rousing half-time team talk by Bruce – "I should have given the half-time talk before the kick-off" – to change the complexion of the match and Wigan pulled a goal back within two minutes of the restart through Amr Zaki.
Zaki, the Egypt international striker, the antithesis of the old-style English centre forward, finished superlatively after Heskey flicked on a throw by Maynor Figueroa. Had Zaki possessed greater composure with two simpler opportunities, Wigan would have won. "In Zaki, we've unearthed a diamond," Bruce said.
Indeed, diamonds were everywhere. Wilson Palacios, the Wigan midfield player from Honduras, was the most dazzling of all, dominating play in the second half. West Ham hung on, partly thanks to Matthew Upson's fortitude in defence, but mainly due to Zaki's profligacy.
Ashton would have swallowed up those chances, but he was off the pitch before the end – injured, of course. Instead, it was Heskey who was called into the England squad.
Goals: Ashton (3) 1-0; Ashton (9) 2-0; Zaki (47) 2-1.
West Ham United (4-4-2): Green; Behrami, Davenport, Upson, Neill; Faubert (Boa Morte, 86), Parker (Mullins, 72), Noble, Etherington; Ashton (Sears, 73), Cole. Substitutes not used: Lastuvka (gk), Reid, Bowyer, Spence.
Wigan Athletic (4-4-1-1): Kirkland; Melchiot (De Ridder 83), Scharner (Koumas 83), Boyce, Figueroa; Valencia, Cattermole (Sibierski 85), Palacios, Kapo; Zaki; Heskey. Substitutes not used: Pollitt (gk), Kilbane, Brown, Bramble.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
Booked: West Ham Parker, Davenport; Wigan Palacios.
Attendance: 32,758.
Man of the match: Ashton.
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Harry Redknapp staying loyal to Portsmouth - Telegraph
Harry Redknapp reaffirmed his commitment to Portsmouth, despite admitting that financial constraints had forced the club to sell Pedro Mendes.
By Jeremy Wilson
Last Updated: 12:24AM BST 18 Aug 2008
Redknapp has been linked with a move back to West Ham but, after turning down Newcastle, indicated that he intends to finish his career on the south coast. "I'm happy where I am. I've had opportunities before and didn't take them," he said. Redknapp said that it would be impossible for another club to break into the established top four this season. "We've improved the standard of the squad in the last three or four years but you step into a different level. ''I had to sell Pedro, not that I wanted to – he would have played. ''I've had terrific backing – I couldn't have asked for more. We only hold 20,000. The man can't keep putting money into a bottomless pit."
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Dean Ashton's England credentials thwarted by injury - Times
West Ham 2 Wigan 1Alyson Rudd at Upton Park
The problem with being England manager is the lack of control over players, so you could be forgiven for thinking that Fabio Capello was mesmerised by the performance of Dean Ashton. The West Ham striker not only scored twice in the opening ten minutes but did so looking as if he had taken Capello's advice to heart. Yes, Ashton had listened to the Italian and given up the pepperoni.
Capello, however, should also have reminded Ashton to deal with his tendency towards injury. The striker limped off in the second half with a calf problem. However, Capello was not so smitten by Ashton that he failed to note Emile Heskey and the Wigan Athletic forward was included in the England squad to face the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
"If the England manager tells you he wants you to lose weight, then that's what you do," Ashton said. "I've worked hard in the summer and I have lost some weight – exactly how much is for me to know. It's difficult when you're out for a year, especially for someone of my size. It was just a case of eating healthily and making sure you eat the right things. My favourite food will always be pizza but it's a case of not eating it all the time."
Heskey made no changes to his waistline and was, as he so often has been, an unselfish foil for his strike partner, in this instance Amr Zaki, the Egypt forward who scored on his Premier League debut with a chance set up by a Heskey flick.
"I've played with Heskey for a while now and I'm a massive fan," Chris Kirkland, the Wigan goalkeeper said. "You know you'll get a hard time from him and he'll never give in. He proved it over the two games he played for England with Michael Owen last season."
Capello clearly did not allow the scoreline to cloud his judgment and the visiting fans enthusiastically applauded at the final whistle.
Despite stuttering in the first half, Wigan were dominant in the second with Wilson Palacios living up to the tag of "the magician" that he has given in his native Honduras. The manner in which Steve Bruce's side switched from looking like relegation fodder to a top ten team was as magical as the Ashton Diet.
West Ham United (4-4-2): R Green 5 – V Behrami 5, C Davenport 6, M Upson 5, L Neill 5 – J Faubert 6 (sub: L Boa Morte, 86), M Noble 5, S Parker 5 (sub: H Mullins, 73), M Etherington – D Ashton 7 (sub: F Sears, 73), C Cole 5.
Substitutes not used: J Lastuvka, K Reid, L Bowyer, J Spence. Booked: Parker, Davenport. Next: Manchester City (a).
Wigan Athletic (4-4-2): C Kirkland 5 – M Melchiot 5 (sub: D de Ridder, 83), E Boyce 5, P Scharner 5 (sub: J Koumas, 83), M Figueroa 6 – L A Valencia 5, W Palacios 7, L Cattermole 5 (sub: A Sibierski, 86), O Kapo 5 – E Heskey 6, A Zaki 6. Substitutes not used: M Pollitt, K Kilbane, M Brown, T Bramble. Booked: Palacios. Next: Chelsea (h).
Referee: S Bennett. Attendance: 32,758
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Disappointed Ashton knows he has to slim down to team up with England - Daily Mail
West Ham 2 Wigan 1
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 10:53 PM on 17th August 2008
As Dean Ashton discussed the new dietary regime which he hopes will guarantee him an England future, a plot was unfolding which was about to rob him of yet another chance in international football. Ashton left Upton Park after scoring twice in front of Fabio Capello, confident that a calf niggle which forced him off near the end would prove nothing more than severe cramp. He hoped it would not rule him out of Wednesday's international friendly against the Czech Republic. Less than two hours later, without waiting on scan results, Capello named his squad without Ashton. The injury scare itself was enough to convince the England manager he need not antagonise Alan Curbishley by taking any chances at this stage of the season. Curbishley will be secretly pleased his centre forward can now rest and prepare for a trip to Manchester City. For Ashton, however, it may seriously damage his international dreams, just 11 weeks after a disappointing debut in Trinidad and Tobago on a summer tour when Capello advised him to lose some weight. 'If the England manager tells you to lose weight then that's what you do, you do whatever it takes,' said Ashton, who piled on muscle after breaking his ankle in an England training session two years ago. 'But I've gone away and worked hard this summer. I've adjusted my diet and lost a bit of weight - exactly how much is for me to know. I feel good for it. Pizza will always be my favourite food but it's a case of not eating it all the time.' The West Ham striker played 45 minutes in Trinidad, missing a good chance in that time. It did not convince Capello he is the answer to England's problems up front. 'I'm not going to lie, I was nervous,' said Ashton. 'In my eyes, playing for your country is a big deal. I just feel I want more chances to show everyone I am good enough.'
Emile Heskey is in the squad after a game which showcased the strengths and limitations of both strikers for Capello. Ashton's natural goal touch was on display with a sublime turn and vicious strike for West Ham's first. He put them two up inside 10 minutes with a tap-in but later hobbled off to remind everyone of his fragile fitness.
Heskey rarely threatened to score but worked tirelessly as Wigan fought to salvage something from a sloppy start. He won everything in the air - including a flick for Amr Zaki to pull a goal back - and tracked back when needed. His selfless efforts are appreciated by his team-mates. 'I'm a massive fan,' said goalkeeper Chris Kirkland. 'I've played with Hesk for a while and seen what he can do for a team. There's nobody like him. He proved it over the two games he played for England with Michael Owen last season. He came back in and he was magnificent.'
West Ham (4-4-2): Green 6; Behrami 5, Davenport 6, Upson 6, Neill 5; Faubert 5 (Boa Morte 86min), Noble 5, Parker 5 (Mullins 72, 4), Etherington 6; Cole 6, Ashton 7 (Sears 73, 4).
Booked: Parker, Davenport.
Wigan (4-4-2): Kirkland 5; Melchiot 5 (De Ridder 83), Scharner 5 (Koumas 83), Boyce 5, Figueroa 5; Valencia 6, Cattermole 5 (Sibierski 85), Palacios 7, Kapo 6; Heskey 6, Zaki 6.
Booked: Palacios
Man of the Match: Dean Ashton
Referee: Steve Bennett
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Hammers defender Upson named in England squad, but Ashton/Green miss out - Guardian Series
10:31am Sunday 17th August 2008
WEST Ham United defender Matthew Upson has been named in England's squad for Wednesday evening's friendly international against the Czech Republic at Wembley. The 29-year-old centre-back recovered from a calf injury to make a successful comeback in Saturday's 2-1 Premier League win over Wigan Athletic. And Upson will be hopeful of earning his ninth England cap after being selected by Fabio Capello. The Suffolk-born player made his full England debut against South Africa in May 2003, only to miss out on international recognition between November 2004 and February 2008, when Capello selected him for his opening match in charge against Switzerland. Irons team-mate Dean Ashton was left out of the 23-man squad after suffering a calf injury after scoring twice in Saturday's win. Goalkeeper Robert Green was also overlooked in favour of Portsmouth's David James, Manchester City's Joe Hart and Blackburn Rovers' Paul Robinson.
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ASHTON DOUBLE WRECKS WIGAN - Daily Express
Sunday August 17,2008
By Colin Mafham
THE injury jinx that cursed Dean Ashton struck again just when his comeback dream looked complete. With England manager Fabio Capello watching from the stands he played well enough to book himself a place against the Czechs on Wednesday with two clinical goals. Then Lady Luck kicked him where it hurts again – this time on the ankle – and that has ruled him out of the international date at Wembley. But if Capello lost one new centre forward, he quickly found himself an old one as Emile Heskey was recalled to the international squad late last night. It must have been a unique experience for Capello to watch a team with seven Englishmen in it. But, realistically, Ashton was the only one he had come to see. And he didn't have to wait all that long to make the journey worthwhile. Just when Wigan looked likegetting off to a flyer, West Ham broke quickly. Julien Faubert found Ashton with Paul Scharner breathing down his neck, but the blond hitman turned the Austrian before banging his third-minute opener into the net. Ashton probably didn't know the England coach was there beforehand, but he must have realised six minutes later. The Italian flashed a smile the width of Upton Park as the born-again striker helped himself to a second goal, courtesy of more woeful marking.
The striker was all on his own just a couple of yards out when a ball that should never have got anywhere near him landed at his feet. Even your granny would have slotted the ball into the empty net the West Ham man found himself facing. Less than 10 minutes gone and 2-0 up, Capello wasn't the only one smiling. Wigan did try to make a fist of it and they certainly weren't slouches going forward as Carlton Cole found when he had to head one goalbound effort off the line. The trouble was the guys at the back. But every cloud has a silver lining – and at least goalkeeper Chris Kirkland had plenty of chances to show Capello what he is missing. Whatever Wigan pay for overtime the keeper earned every penny of it because, for 40 minutes at least, he was their only real line of defence. So, you could say it served West Ham right when Wigan pulled one back, their reward for a spirited response in the second half.
Amr Zaki, Egypt's player of the year last season, grabbed it after Heskey nodded the ball on to him. Even the club doctor couldn't have prescribed a better tonic as Wigan gave their answer to what must have been an almighty half-time rollicking from manager Steve Bruce. West Ham, on the other hand, had a real wobbly as they were out-muscled by men who aren't supposed to like the rough stuff. Talk about a game of two halves. It really should have been honours even and would have been if Olivier Kapo and Zaki hadn't both missed gilt-edged chances. And at the hub of it all was a player of no use whatsoever to Capello as Wilson Palacios took the game by the scruff of the neck. The Honduran was a class act and would have scored but for a world class save by Robert Green. You had to wonder where on earth he's been since signing for Wigan in January. So despite the result, the day turned out well for Heskey, who was a constant thorn in West Ham's side after the interval. And the man who was England's first choice before the Italian got the job certainly did enough to justify his recall under Capello. It wasn't really fair that he and Palacios finished on the losing side. But, on this showing, they're not going to suffer the struggles they had last term.
Hammers boss Alan Curbishley said: "We'll take the win. I thought we were very good in the first half and should have had more goals but their midfield over-ran us in the second."
Disappointed Wigan manager Bruce was pleased about Heskey's recall but ended up cursing his bad luck. He said: "It says on the wall here that it is the Academy of Football, but we have just slaughtered them in their own back yard and come away with nothing."
West Ham United 2 Wigan Athletic 1
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Cats in £8m Ferdinand bid
Aug 17 2008 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun
SUNDERLAND have launched an £8 million bid to land West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand. Roy Keane is ready to swoop after the defender, in the last year of his deal at Upton Park, turned down a new £40,000 per week contract with the Londoners. Ferdinand sat out his side's win over Wigan yesterday, apparently with a hamstring injury. It is no secret that Keane wants to add another centre-back and has admitted defeat in his quest to get Manchester United to part with Jonny Evans. And Ferdinand — younger brother of Keane's ex-Man Utd team-mate Rio — is the man he has turned his attentions to.
The 23-year-old was linked with a move to Aston Villa over the summer but Martin O'Neill's interest is at an end after he signed Carlos Cuellar from Rangers. West Ham do not want Ferdinand to go but would rather sell him now than watch him leave for nothing next summer. Sunderland are also looking for a striker and a left-back, and are refusing to take no for an answer in their pursuit of Benni McCarthy. They had an £8m bid for the South African turned down by Blackburn last week but sources in the North West expect the Cats to return with an improved offer. Keane is desperate to bring in another proven Premier League striker as he looks to boost his side's firepower.
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Exclusive: Harry Redknapp tipped to takeover from West Ham boss Alan Curbishley - the Mirror
By Paul Smith 16/08/2008
Harry Redknapp will be given the chance to head back to his football home and succeed Alan Curbishley as West Ham manager. The pressure is mounting on the current Hammers boss. He is the bookies favourite to be the top flights first managerial casualty, and Portsmouths growing financial problems could see 61-year-old Redknapp ready to review his football future. West Ham owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson is understood to have become frustrated by Curbishleys excuses that an injury list has undermined results. And senior Hammers players have complained about his coaching methods. Redknapp, who left the Hammers in 2001, has in the past year turned down Tottenham and Newcastle. But an approach from West Ham could prove irresistible. Redknapp has performed miracles at Fratton Park including guiding Pompey to their FA Cup triumph last May. Redknapp has remained popular with many Hammers fans but his return would still prove an expensive exercise. He signed a new four-year deal last season and it would cost around s8m to prise him away.
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Lack of investment is a concern for supporters - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 17th August 2008
By: Graeme Howlett
West Ham United went into the 2002/03 season as the only Premiership club not to have spent a single penny on transfer fees during the summer - and were subsequently relegated nine months later. Are the Club's Icelandic owners about to emulate the mistakes made by Terry Brown's administration six years ago? Hopefully not – and the arrival of Valon Behrami (aka 'The Swiss David Beckham') from Lazio means that United have broken their summer spending duck, at least.
However Alan Curbishley's squad is still painfully thin in vital areas – none more so than in attack where injury to Craig Bellamy, plus the recent sale of Bobby Zamora to Fulham has left Curbishley with just Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole as fit, experienced strikers. The controversial trial given to Ben Thatcher earlier this month also illustrated United's lack of depth at left-back, and with first-choice George McCartney still injured club captain Lucas Neill – a right-back by trade - is likely to deputise against Wigan at the Boleyn Ground this weekend.
Given the current Board's reluctance to release funds for player acquisitions (due in no small part to the Freddie Ljungberg fiasco) it's perhaps no surprise that the bookies have made Alan Curbishley favourite to be the first Premier League manager to face the axe this term. Additionally, a number of experienced football writers insist that the Hammers will struggle this year, with the Independent going so far as to say that United will finish 17th in 2008/09 – just one place above the relegation zone.
On a brighter note, similar noises regarding the club's lack of investment were made during the 1985/86 pre-season– and things didn't turn out too bad in the end that year!
* This article was first published in the Evening Echo on Friday, 15th August 2008.
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