Freddie Ljungberg, Jonathan Spector and John Pantsil were all on
international duty on Wednesday night
26.03.2008
Freddie Ljungberg led the way for West Ham United on a busy night of
international action across Europe.
The Sweden captain played 57 minutes in his country's 1-0 defeat by Brazil
at the Emirates Stadium home of his former club Arsenal. The midfielder had
the honour of leading the European Championship qualifiers out in a match
being played to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1958 World Cup final when
the South American side beat the host nation 5-2 in Stockholm. This time
around, Pato scored the only goal in the 72nd minute.
In Krakow, Jonathan Spector appeared for the last 18 minutes of the United
States' impressive 3-0 victory against Poland. Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi
Onyewu and Eddie Lewis were on target for the US. A week ago, Spector helped
the Under-23s qualify for this summer's Olympics and the defender was the
only one from that age group to also be required on senior-team duty.
Elsewhere, John Pantsil got the whole game for Ghana in their 2-1 defeat by
Mexico in a match played at Fulham's Craven Cottage. The defender was
cautioned in a contest that saw Michael Essien open the scoring. Robert
Green was an unused substitute for England in their 1-0 defeat by France in
Paris while George McCartney did not even feature on the bench for Northern
Ireland in their 4-1 home win against Georgia in Belfast.
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Collison a winner with Wales - WHUFC
Jack Collison played his part as Brian Flynn's side moved closer to winning
their U21 qualifying group
26.03.2008
Jack Collison has moved a step closer to appearing at the 2009 European
Under-21 Championship in Sweden after a last-gasp 2-1 win for Wales in
Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday.
Late goals from Simon Church and Ched Evans cancelled out the hosts' opener
just before the hour mark. The victory leaves Brian Flynn's men four points
clear at the top of qualifying Group 10. Their closest rivals are Romania
who they meet home and away in August and September. Only the group winners,
with Mark Noble's England looking likely to take Group 3, are guaranteed a
spot in October's play-offs which will determine the seven nations to join
hosts Sweden next summer. The four best runners-up from the ten UEFA
sections will also go through.
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Neill marches on with Australia - WHUFC
Lucas Neill was the Socceroos captain as they earned a precious point away
to China on Wednesday
26.03.2008
Lucas Neill played the whole 90 minutes as Australia continued their 2010
World Cup qualifying campaign on Wednesday with a 0-0 draw in China.
The Socceroos needed a last-gasp penalty save from Middlesbrough's Mark
Schwarzer in difficult conditions to make it four points from two matches,
having won their opening game 3-0 against Qatar last month.The Socceroos are
now based in the Asian continental zone and have been drawn in qualifying
Group 1 - along with Iraq in a tough four-nation section. Iraq are the
reigning Asian champions while today's opponents in Kunming reached the 2002
World Cup.
Australia are next in action on 2 June when they welcome Iraq before the
reverse fixture is played just five days later. If Australia finish in first
or second in the group, they will progress to the next stage which will see
two groups of five teams. The top two teams from both pools will then go to
the World Cup in South Africa - a fifth team will play-off against a nation
from the Oceania zone for another spot.
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United for Sport Relief - WHUFC
Celebrity fans Kriss Akabusi and Ben Shephard did their bit this year but it
is not too late to get involved
26.03.2008
Sport Relief was an unqualified success this year with more than £20m being
raised and West Ham United are continuing to support this year-round good
cause.
Former Olympic athlete Kriss Akabusi, a season-ticket holder, turned up at
the Boleyn Ground to lend his backing to Radio 1 DJs Chris Moyles, Chappers
and Dave as they ran a mile around the pitch. The gang - cheered on by
Kieron Dyer - clocked up a time of 8.43 minutes as part of their successful
bid to run a mile at every top-flight club in England and Scotland in the
course of just one week.
Speaking to WHUTV, Akabusi revealed he has been most impressed this season
with the likes of George McCartney, Hayden Mullins and Carlton Cole for
their efforts in helping the squad to a solid league position. "In general,
we have had a fantastic season," he said. "We are mid-table, we ain't going
down and we have got a good base but let's get Dean Ashton scoring, let's
get Kieron Dyer and Craig Bellamy coming at them ... that's what I want to
see, that's West Ham United."
Meanwhile, TV presenter Ben 'The Hammer' Shephard, another lifelong fan,
beat singer Lemar, a Tottenham Hotspur supporter, in a special three-round
celebrity boxing match. Having received specialist training from Ricky
Hatton, Shephard fought back from a difficult opening round to win the day
against his taller - Amir Khan-coached - rival. You can also see him talking
about his experiences as a West Ham United fan on WHUTV.
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Tomkins delighted with dream week - BBC
West Ham defender James Tomkins says he is still coming to terms with a week
that has seen him make his club debut and net two goals for his country.
The 18-year-old started his first Hammers' match at Everton on Saturday and
bagged a brace in England under-19s 3-1 win against Russia on Tuesday.
He told BBC London 94.9: "It's hard to put this week into words. I still
can't believe it now, I'm still buzzing. "To score two goals as well, it's
been a very good week for me."
Tomkins was the second West Ham youngster to make his debut in consecutive
weekends after Freddie Sears came off the bench to score the winner against
Blackburn. "Freddie made his debut a week before me and he could have won
the game against Everton as he popped up and hit the post," he added. "He's
been banging them in for the youth team and the reserves, and he's deserved
his chance. Now I've got my chance I just want to show everyone what I can
do."
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Neill in penalty drama - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 26th March 2008
By: Staff Writer
Lucas Neill's Socceroos had goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to thank for saving a
point against China in Kunming earlier today. The Middlesbrough keeper went
from villain to hero in the space of 60 seconds after first giving away an
89th minute penalty then saving it moments later in today's World Cup
qualifier. West Ham's Neill, who once again captained the Australians played
a full 90 minutes as his side struggled to match the supposedly inferior
Chinese. 'Roos coach Pim Verbeek, reflecting on the game said: "We were
very good, I'm very proud of the boys. We always like to win, but a draw was
probably a fair result. "After the penalty save at the end, I am very happy
with the point."
Australia: Schwarzer, North, Neill, Beauchamp, Wilkshire, Carney, Grella,
Valeri, Culina, Bresciano, Thompson (Holman 9).
Subs not used: Covic, Kisnorbo, Topor-Stanley, Bridge, Jedinak, Burns.
Booked: Carney (17), Holman (79), Schwarzer (88).
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Academy awards - Newham Recorder
26 March 2008
HAMMERS goalkeeper Rob Green has praised the club's Academy after James
Tomkins became the latest homegrown talent to make his first team debut,
writes DAVE EVANS. Green, called up for the England squad this week,
confirmed that the youngsters have been impressing all season. "The
manager's had no hesitation in blooding them and it just shows what they can
do," he said. "We've seen their qualities all season in training and it's
just really pleasing to see." He continued: "I'm sure everyone at the
Academy is encouraged to see players coming through and doing so well. "It
will spur them on to continuing this wonderful conveyor belt of talent."
Just last week, chief executive Scott Duxbury told the Recorder that West
Ham may concentrate on the stars they have at the club already next season,
and the likes of Tomkins, Freddie Sears and Jack Collison will be hoping
that means they will get even more of a chance. Tomkins himself knows the
value of West Ham's youth set-up. "It is great for the Academy and shows how
well we are doing in the reserves and the youth team," said the defender.
"Freddie deserved his chance and obviously you have got Jack Collison and
Junior Stanislas coming through. It is looking good for the Academy."
Sears may start his first game for West Ham this weekend at Sunderland after
another accomplished performance at Goodison Park on Saturday. The
18-year-old played the last 40 minutes against Everton and helped turn the
game as he carved out two great chances and almost won the match in the
final minute - agonisingly hitting the post after beating Tim Howard. "I'm
going to start him in one of the games, I've just got to pick it," revealed
manager Alan Curbishley this week. "We'll see what we've got in the
remainder of the games because certainly we want to see him start a game and
see what he's got."
With James Tomkins impressing on his debut on Saturday, the manager is
spoilt for choice at the moment, and he is quick to draw attention to one or
two other youngsters who are on the brink of selection. "I don't know how
it's going to shape up in the run-in, but if I can put one or two of them
in, I will," he said. "Jack Collison came on against Arsenal and is just
waiting for his chance. "Kyel Reid has been around the first team for some
time. He came on in the cup games against Everton and Manchester City and
he's been itching to have another go."
In a world littered by shameful tales of the exploits of pampered
footballers, it is refreshing to note just how level-headed the youngsters
at Upton Park are, a glowing testament to the talents of Academy Director
Tony Carr. "They're very, very level-headed," said Curbishley. "I came down
to breakfast in the hotel on Saturday and the three of them (Collison, Sears
and Tomkins) were sitting round the table. "Then Mark Noble came down, who
was like the shop steward because he's a year older than them. He sat with
them and I thought he was taking their subs," smiled the boss, like a proud
father watching his young sons come of age. "There is a nice spirit when
you've got the young boys with you. Everything is a bonus to them at the
moment and long may it continue."
With just seven games to go the season is really over for West Ham to all
intents and purposes. But the experiment to bring the youngsters into the
team has given it fresh impetus and experience for the new players. "How do
these youngsters get the experience unless they are given a chance?" asked
the boss and he is dead right.
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Back to his best! - Newham Recorder
26 March 2008
WEST HAM goalkeeper Rob Green may have got the England call at long, long
last, but he was keener to extol the international credentials of team-mate
Dean Ashton rather than his own qualities after Saturday's 1-1 draw at
Goodison Park, writes DAVE EVANS. Ashton struck in the second half with a
stunning header to notch up his eighth goal of the season and back-to-back
Premier League strikes, and Green feels that the striker possesses something
extra. "If you look at English strikers, you've got the likes of Wayne
Rooney and Michael Owen, but I think that Dean has got unique attributes
among the England strikers," explained the Hammers keeper. "England is
something that I'm sure he's got half an eye on, but with him it's one step
at a time. "He's got the qualities and he's got the ability, it's just
getting him out on the pitch week in, week out and getting him back up to
where he did it for Norwich, where he did it for Crewe and where he did it
for West Ham for half a season."
It has been a strange and at times frustrating season for the centre
forward. Too often he has been the man to miss out when Alan Curbishley has
opted for just one up front, and when he has appeared as a substitute, he
seems to find it difficult to handle the pace of the game and has suffered
at times with the manager and with the fans accordingly. Curbishley though
was delighted with his contribution at Everton. "When you've been out that
long, there are going to be ups and downs, certainly when you're playing in
the Premier League," said the boss. "But today he relished it with some of
the young boys around him and played a centre forward's role and we're
delighted with him."
Many pundits have criticised Ashton for being overweight this season,
something that the player has rigorously denied, and there certainly did not
seem to be any excess flesh holding up the striker in the last two weeks as
he has galloped over every blade of grass against Blackburn and Everton.
Green has certainly been impressed: "It was a wonderful goal and I think he
really revelled in playing with Freddie Sears. He was causing havoc with his
pace and Dean was laying on balls for him and looking really good," said the
goalkeeper. "With regard to getting back to his top form, as a forward
you're judged on scoring your goals aren't you? He scored one last week and
he's scored this week, so maybe he is getting there."
The goalkeeper also touched on Ashton's physical shape and how best to
manage it. "It's difficult for him because he's a fantastic player, but he's
someone who's got to be managed well physically," he explained. "He's going
to struggle sometimes with the demands of playing week in, week out and he's
got to be helped through it, particularly with his ankle because sometimes
he's going to wake up and it will feel stiff."
Ashton looks to be back in the sort of form which made him such a hit with
the fans following his £7.25million arrival from Norwich City back in
January 2006. A lot has happened to the striker since then including a goal
and then the agony of an FA Cup Final defeat against Liverpool, followed by
the even greater agony of breaking his ankle on the eve of his England
debut. And Green thinks that it takes an awful lot longer than you think to
finally return to full fitness. "They say with your injury, you take three
times as long to get match fit, than you were out with the injury," he
surmised. "So with a year out, you're saying three years, which is obviously
a long time, but it just shows how long it takes for your body to really
adjust back into things. "But his qualities are so great and so vast that
just as long as everyone can keep him fit and healthy, then that's the main
thing and his qualities will come through."
Well, if the striker is still not match fit, then defences will really have
to watch out come 2010 - because a match-fit Dean Ashton will by then, be
absolutely lethal.
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Dwight Yorke plays key role as Roy Keane wins his battle with Trinidad - The
Times
Keeping his head: Yorke intervenes to ensure that Sunderland fight on to
avoid relegation
George Caulkin
Kenwyne Jones and Carlos Edwards will be available for Sunderland's crucial
Barclays Premier League match at home to West Ham United on Saturday after
the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) withdrew its threat to
invoke the five-day rule against the pair. It took the intervention of
Dwight Yorke, the former Trinidad & Tobago captain, to settle the matter in
the club's favour.
Fitness permitting, Jones and Edwards can play in a match that could be
pivotal to their team's hopes of avoiding relegation, a prospect that seemed
unlikely when the T&TFF reported Sunderland to Fifa, world football's
governing body. That step was taken when the North East club refused to
allow Edwards, the midfield player, to have an injury assessed
independently.
Jones, Sunderland's leading centre forward, missed last weekend's 1-0
victory over Aston Villa with a virus, while Edwards, who has only recently
returned from 3 months on the sidelines with a broken leg, was substituted
after 66 minutes with what Roy Keane, the manager, said was a groin strain.
Keane had previously expressed irritation that the two players had been
selected for last night's friendly international against Jamaica in
Kingston.
Had the five-day sanction been imposed, Jones and Edwards would have been
unable to have trained or played with their Sunderland team-mates for five
days from the day of Trinidad & Tobago's match, effectively suspending them
for the tie against West Ham. With T&TFF officials acknowledging that they
would require Keane's co-operation in future, the threat persuaded both
sides to embrace a compromise.
After an intense round of negotiations involving Keane, scan results for
Edwards, 29, were dispatched to the T&TFF, but the intervention of Yorke was
also a critical factor. Revered in his homeland after helping to steer the
country to the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, as well as for his heroics
with Manchester United, the Sunderland player made a powerful case for his
club not suffering disruption at such an important stage of the season.
"We are putting all that behind us," Jack Warner, the Fifa vice-president
and T&TFF special adviser, said. "We won't invoke the Fifa regulation."
Warner was speaking at yesterday's announcement of a friendly match between
Trinidad & Tobago and England in Port of Spain on June 1; he used Yorke's
call to tempt the 36-year-old out of international retirement for the match
against Fabio Capello's team. "He was thrilled," Warner said.
While it may be early to be thinking in terms of Capello's successor,
another North East manager is being spoken about in those terms.
In his first stint in the dugout, Gareth Southgate has been working
assiduously at Middlesbrough, impressing his players with his commitment to
establishing the club in the upper half of the Premier League. "I think it's
only good for Gareth the progress that he's making because after Capello's
reign I think it would be better to go back to a British manager," George
Boateng, the Middlesbrough midfield player, said. "They will be looking for
someone with a very good pedigree and Gareth is included in that.
"This period will do him good in terms of the learning process. I think
being here would make him a very strong candidate because it's not easy
being a manager at Middlesbrough. People think that because we are a smaller
club in a huge environment maybe it's easier.
"But Gareth has a lot of pressure because the club needs to progress. If you
have a good result, it only lasts two or three days, then you are looking at
the next game."
Boateng does not envy the 37-year-old. "I don't want to be in Gareth's
shoes," he said. "I don't have any interest in it at all. I think it's great
what he's done because when I speak to him he does say that there are
certain things in football that he never thought were part of being a
manager.
"He only thought of helping players to develop their game and training
sessions, but it's so much more than that. I would definitely not go from
playing straight into management."
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West Ham Don't Want Ljungberg, Hammers Eye Colchester's Gerken – Report -
PremeirshipLatest.com
Submitted by Niraj Prabhu on Wed, 2008-03-26 11:09. Premiership Transfer
News West Ham
According to a report, West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley is looking to
sell veteran winger Freddie Ljungberg as they want to give youth a chance.
The Hammers are also being linked with Colchester keeper Dean Gerken.
The Hammers had signed the Sweden captain last summer from Arsenal, but now
want to ease the bulging wage bill, according to Sportsmail. The 30-year-old
is reportedly among the top earners at West Ham, getting about
£80,000-a-week.
Meanwhile, the Mirror has reported that the Hammers are set to launch a
£500,000 bid for Gerken. The 22-year-old is tipped as the possible
challenger to first-choice place of Robert Green following unimpressive
back-up roles by Richard Wright and Jimmy Walker.
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Hammers mourn John Cushley - Newham Recorder
26 March 2008
FORMER West Ham centre half John Cushley has died at the age of just 65. The
Scottish defender arrived from Celtic in 1967, replacing Ken Brown in the
team and most of his 46 appearances were alongside Bobby Moore. When Ron
Green-wood brought Alan Stephenson from Crystal Palace, Cushley's days were
numbered and in 1970 he returned to Scotland to play for Dunfermline and
Dumbarton before joining the staff back at Celtic.
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Sweet baby James - Newham Recorder
26 March 2008
ANOTHER week, another homegrown 18-year-old makes his West Ham United debut
in the Premier League, writes DAVE EVANS. And just as Freddie Sears had made
an almighty impression last week against Blackburn, so James Tomkins showed
that he has the talent and just as importantly, the temperament to make his
name in one of the toughest leagues in the world. Just eight minutes were
gone when the young centre half got too tight to the experienced Yakubu, was
beaten and the rest is history as the Everton striker smashed in the opening
goal. But it is how you react to that setback that sets you apart from those
who are not going to make it in the top flight. "He was stronger than me so
after the goal, when he rolled me, I didn't want to get too tight to him,"
explained the level-headed youngster, who has been knocking on the first
team door for much of the season. "Other than the goal, all the boys and the
gaffer were quite pleased with my performance. Now it's up to me to impress
and take advantage of the next opportunity that comes along."
Manager Alan Curbishley was certainly happy with what he saw from the
towering six-foot three-inch defender. "He likes to play and I think you saw
that today," said the boss. "I know he is quite aggressive, but what pleased
me most is that when Yakubu rolled him it didn't faze him."
Facing a player with the strength and experience of Yakubu on your debut
really is a baptism of fire and Tomkins was certainly a little apprehensive
before the match. "I found out I was included a few hours before the game,"
he revealed. "I was thinking before that I could be playing and I had
prepared as if I was, which is what I always do, but when the manager named
the team, I was absolutely buzzing. "I was thinking 'This is what I have
been playing for, for so many years. This is what I live for'. You have to
try and take it in your stride and not let the moment get to you."
Injury to Matty Upson gave Tomkins the nod over Jonathan Spector, who had
played against Blackburn but did not return from international duty with the
United States until 2am on the morning of the match. Tomkins relished the
opportunity though: "It was pretty loud and obviously the crowd was much
bigger than any I had ever played in front of before - I felt I dealt with
it the best I could. I was nervous before, but it was excitement more than
anything."
It could have been an even better debut for the youngster of course, had he
taken the chance he carved out after just seven minutes of Saturday's clash
at Goodison Park. A corner from the right was met by Tomkins' head and the
ball beat Howard only to hit the bar. "Mark Noble put in a great ball and I
managed to get my head on it," he said. "Obviously it all happened really
quickly, but I was just praying it would go in. When it hit the bar I just
felt really frustrated because, after Freddie scored last week, I could just
imagine what it would have been like if I'd scored on my debut."
It wasn't to be though and within a minute his mistake had allowed Everton
to score, but for West Ham goalkeeper Rob Green, he still had faith in the
young defender. "These things happen," he reflected. "Anton Ferdinand missed
the first header and he felt he could win the second, but the strength of
the two forwards have proved otherwise. "Both he and Anton learned from it
and kept themselves goalside as much as they could for the remainder of the
game and did brilliantly. They've come in with some vital challenges and
vital blocks and been the bedrock of a really good performance," said the
West Ham goalkeeper. High praise indeed and Tomkins himself is an ambitious
and confident lad who is determined to make sure that he doesn't fade back
to the fringes of the squad. "I have high expectations of myself," he said.
"If I don't think I've played well I kick myself that I must do better. I
just play to 110 per cent and play every game as if it is going to be my
last."
He continued: "I've got to keep working and improving and be patient.
Playing in the Premier League is amazing. Nothing could beat that feeling
and now I've had a taste of it, I want to experience it again and again.
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West Ham eager to show Sweden captain Ljungberg the exit door - Daily Mail
Last updated at 14:34pm on 26th March 2008
West Ham are desperate to offload veteran midfielder Freddie Ljungberg as
the Hammers revert to giving youth a chance. Sportsmail understands that
Upton Park boss Alan Curbishley has been offering the 30-year-old, who will
lead Sweden against Brazil at the Emirates Stadium tonight, to other clubs
in a bid to ease his bulging wage bill. The former Arsenal star is believed
to be among the top earners at West Ham, raking in about £80,000-a-week -
full back Lucas Neill is in the same salary bracket - and recent matches
have seen Curbishley put increased faith in his rising stars. James Tomkins,
19 this weekend, started in the Hammers' 1-1 draw at Everton last Saturday
and 18-year-old Freddie Sears, who burst on to the Barclays Premier League
scene with a goal on debut against Blackburn, has featured in West Ham's
last two outings. West Ham paid Arsenal £300,000 for Ljungberg in July last
year to end the Swede's nine-year spell with the Gunners. Don't be surprised
if you see Ljungberg appearing at a Coca-Cola Championship club near you
come August. Norwich City anyone?
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Tomkins takes his hat off to Anton - TeamTalk
West Ham teenager James Tomkins praised central defensive partner Anton
Ferdinand for steering him through his first-team debut at Everton. Tomkins
was at fault for Everton's opening goal when he was caught out by the power
and pace of Toffees striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu but he recovered to put in an
impressive performance. The 18-year-old said: "Anton was talking to me
every few seconds and it helped me a lot. He was great to play alongside."
With Matthew Upson still struggling with a calf injury, Tomkins could retain
his place in the side for the trip to Sunderland on Saturday - his 19th
birthday.
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Noble could have been collecting the subs of some of our players, jokes West
Ham boss Curbs - Daily Mail
Last updated at 12:54pm on 26th March 2008
West Ham's midfielder Mark Noble is the shop steward among West Ham's young
players. Despite being only 20 years old he has racked up a half century of
appearances for the east London club. Boss Alan Curbishley revealed: "On the
morning of the Everton game, James Tomkins, Jack Collison and Freddie Sears
were at the table. "Then [Mark] Noble came down and he was like the shop
steward because he's a year older than them; I thought he was taking their
subs." Meanwhile Tomkins hit two goals as England defeated Russia 3-1 in an
Under-19 international friendly in Milton Keynes - the same week as he made
his first senior start for the Hammers against Everton. He told BBC London
94.9: "It's hard to put this week into words. I still can't believe it now,
I'm still buzzing. "To score two goals as well, it's been a very good week
for me." The Hammers 19-year-old midfielder Collison was furthermore set to
feature for Wales away to Bosnia-Herzegovina this afternoon.
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T&T pair can face Hammers - ITV.com
March 26 2008
Trinidad & Tobago will not prevent Sunderland duo Carlos Edwards and Kenwyne
Jones from facing West Ham this weekend. The Blacks Cats refused to release
the pair for Wednesday night's friendly international against Jamaica on
medical grounds. After Edwards (groin) and Jones (virus) were withdrawn, the
Premier League club rejected a request from the Trinidad & Tobago Football
Federation to have their conditions independently verified. The T&TFF
threatened to impose a FIFA sanction that would deny the Mackems use of the
duo until five days after the clash in Kingston. Enforcement of the ruling
would have prevented them from featuring in the crucial top-flight showdown
against the Hammers on Saturday. But according to FIFA vice-president and
T&TFF special adviser Jack Warner, agreement was reached following
intervention from Black Cats manager Roy Keane and striker Dwight Yorke.
Keane and Yorke, Trinidad & Tobago's 2006 World Cup captain, persuaded
Warner to drop the threat. "We are putting all that behind us," Warner told
a press conference, reported in the Trinidad & Tobago Express. "We won't
invoke the FIFA regulation."
Keane's side sit just four points above the relegation zone, with seven game
remaining.
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Rangers to miss out on Hammer - Clubcall
20080326 15:47
West Ham's Northern Ireland international George McCartney has declared his
intention to stay at Upton Park and not move to Rangers. Gers boss Walter
Smith was said to be very keen on the international left-back and it's
claimed he is ready to make a move to take him to Ibrox in the summer.
Whilst McCartney says he is flattered by the link to the leaders of the SPL,
he does not believe a move to Scotland would improve his game and is happy
with life at east London. "I'm happy with life at West Ham - I am playing
every week in the Premier League," said McCartney. "Rangers are a massive
team but I don't know if Scottish football is really up to Premier League
standards."
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Toshack seeking talks with West Ham over crocked stars
By Guardian-series
WALES boss John Toshack is planning to pay a visit to West Ham to assess the
fitness of injured trio Craig Bellamy, James Collins and Danny Gabbidon.
Toshack (pictured) is preparing his troops for tonight's friendly in
Luxembourg, but is keeping one eye on the 2010 World Cup qualifying
campaign, which begins early next season. That ideally would involve the
Irons' three experienced Wales interntional stars and the 59-year-old is
eager to hold crunch talks with the east London club on their availability
ahead of the international friendlies with Iceland and Holland in May. "I'd
like to know as soon as possible when these players are going to be ready
and whether or not they're available for the friendlies in Holland and
Iceland in May and Georgia in August," he said. "Rather than think they're
going to be available and then they're not, we've got to start looking at
alternatives. "It really is a disappointment to miss players like that but
the clock is ticking now for the World Cup qualifiers."
Wales skipper Bellamy has struggled with a long-standing abdominal problem
this season and has undergone two bouts of surgery on his groin. The
28-year-old forward has made just one brief substitute appearance for the
Hammers since October as a result, although he could yet make a comeback
before the season is out. "I plan to go up there and speak to the people
concerned at the club, and the players themselves" Centre back Collins
though, suffered cruciate knee ligament damage during a reserve team run-out
in January and is earmarked for a return in September. However, there is no
set return date for fellow defender Gabbidon, who has been out since
December with a groin problem. Toshack himself is growing increasingly
troubled about the length of time it is taking the players to get over their
respective injuries.
"We're very concerned with the whole situation," he said. "We understand
that Bellamy could be back before the end of the season, but Gabbidon is not
involved with the group at all. "Collins we know is pushing it to be ready
for September so our centre-back position really has become an area of
concern.
"We know that James' injury is going to take time, but with Craig it's been
a long, long time now. "We're guided by what West Ham's doctors say, but
we're not getting many positive vibes from them at the moment. "But for my
own peace of mind, I plan to go up there and speak to the people concerned
at the club, and the players themselves. "Apart from Collins, if they're not
ready by August, then there's got to be something wrong."
3:37pm Wednesday 26th March 2008
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Ljungberg laughs off Hammers exit talk - Setanta
by Tom Adams, 27 March 2008
Speaking to setantasports.com, Freddie Ljungberg has laughed off suggestions
that he is poised to be the victim of a summer cull at West Ham, with the
Sweden star instead stating he is looking forward to an exciting future at
the club. It has been claimed in the national press that Hammers manager
Alan Curbishley is actively seeking buyers for the former Arsenal star in a
bid to lower the club's substantial wage bill and to help bring through
younger players in a nod to the East London club's fine tradition of
developing stars of the future. Whilst conceding that changes may be afoot
in the summer if West Ham are to continue on an upwards trajectory,
Ljungberg seems assured of his own future given his recent impressive form
in the claret and blue. "That was nice of them!" said Ljungberg to
setantasports.com when told of the speculation surrounding his future. "No
not really, we have worked really well and I think I was voted the best
player last month so I can't really complain about that. "Maybe there will
be [people leaving], we have a very big squad and maybe they will if they
are going to bring in some players. "But I think whatever the manager does
to make the squad better or the team better, that is a good thing."
Ljungberg was a high-profile component of a substantial transfer outlay by
Curbishley last summer as the London club, bankrolled by owner Bjorgolfur
Gudmundsson, sought to build a side capable of challenging for European
football. That may remain a distant possibility if the Intertoto Cup is
taken into account - given West Ham are currently six points behind
sixth-placed Portsmouth - but Ljungberg has hinted that the club are ready
to continue their investment off the pitch in order to keep progressing.
"I am looking forward to it [next season]. When I joined they said they
wanted to build a new team and maybe a little bit like Chelsea did, they are
willing to spend the money to make a great side, and that is probably the
same thing we will do this summer - spend a bit and go a bit further on.
"But I hope we will still reach Europe [this season] to be honest and that
would be great because it is fantastic for the club to get good experience
playing in Europe."
After a shocking run of three 4-0 defeats in a row at the start of March,
West Ham's season looked to be on the brink of collapse but they responded
well by beating Blackburn 2-1 and then drawing 1-1 with Everton at the
weekend. That brief yet damaging blip was enough for manager Alan Curbishley
to endure speculation over his future and Ljungberg has rued the speed at
which his boss was targeted for criticism. "He did [get criticism] which was
maybe a bit sad," said Ljungberg. "Of course it is never good to concede,
three games in a row, 4-0, but that was for one week and before that we
played quite well and after we played quite well, so maybe it was a bit too
fast with the sledgehammer or the axe! "To be honest I am disappointed about
the Everton game, I think we played quite well and maybe we should have won
the game and then definitely we would have been back on track so to speak,
but after three four-nils of course it is better. "But I think we have to
look forward, and if we can play like that against Everton and they are
fourth or fifth, we should have won the game away, I think we can look
forward and look to better things to be honest."
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