All the background and early team news for Sunday's first away game of the 2008/09 season
23.08.2008
Barclays Premier League
Manchester City v West Ham United
City of Manchester Stadium
Sunday 24 August
4pm
Referee: Howard Webb
Live on Sky Sports
WHUTV - Full audio commentary
Introduction
* Alan Curbishley expects to have largely the same squad that won 2-1 at home to Wigan Athletic on Saturday 16 August for what will be the first home match for new Manchester City manager Mark Hughes. He began his City career with a 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa on the opening day.
* Curbishley said: "I think Mark Hughes knows what he is doing. He has been very successful. I don't see that changing. Once he gets embedded at Man City, they will be a decent side. They were a decent side last year ... I am expecting them to do OK this year."
* Speaking to mcfc.co.uk, Hughes said: "They had a decent result at the weekend, they got off to a good start which settled everybody down, scoring two goals quite early on. By all accounts they were put under pressure by Wigan in the second half and could have lost the game in the end. The key for us is that we are nice and solid at the back."
* The teams met four times last season - twice in the league and twice in the FA Cup - with this weekend's hosts just having the better of it with a win and two draws.
* Dean Ashton scored twice in the win against Wigan and has happy memories of playing against City as he struck twice there in the 2-1 win in the 2005/06 FA Cup quarter-final meeting as the Hammers went all the way to Wembley.
* Ashton has six goals in five pre-season matches while in competitive league matches he has struck seven goals in his last nine appearances.
* Going back to last season, West Ham United have not won in six matches on their travels and lost the last three while City have not won any of their last four league meetings. This weekend's hosts have not lost any of the last half-dozen meetings between the two clubs.
* City have never lost their opening two matches in any of their previous eleven Barclays Premier League campaigns. Last season, West Ham United won their first three away games in all competitions.
* Mark Hughes is well known to Lucas Neill as the club captain played under the Manchester City manager when both were at Blackburn Rovers.
* West Ham United are next in action at home against Macclesfield Town in the Carling Cup second round on Wednesday night, the day before Manchester City go to Denmark hoping to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against FC Midtjylland in the UEFA Cup second qualifying round.
Last time out
Saturday 16 August - West Ham United 2-1 Wigan Athletic
West Ham United: Green, Behrami, Davenport, Upson, Neill, Faubert (Boa Morte 86), Parker (Mullins 72), Noble, Etherington, Ashton (Sears 73), Cole
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Reid, Bowyer, Spence
Goals: Ashton 3, 10
Saturday 16 August: Aston Villa 4-2 Manchester City
Manchester City: Hart, Corluka, Richards, Ben-Haim, Garrido, Etuhu, Gelson (Ireland 81), Johnson, Petrov, Elano, Evans (Sturridge 81)
Subs not used: Schmeichel, Ball, Onuoha, Caicedo, Hamann
Goals: Elano 64 pen, Corluka 89
Team news
* Dean Ashton has been in training this week after coming off late in the game against Wigan with severe cramp in his calf and should play. Scott Parker was also replaced with a thigh problem but it is hoped he could figure.
* Lucas Neill, Valon Behrami, Matthew Upson, Mark Noble and Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson all came through international duty with their respective countries on Tuesday and Wednesday.
* George McCartney has been back at Chadwell Heath after a virus that laid him low for nearly two weeks just as he was recovering from a hamstring injury. He could play in a practice game in midweek alongside some others getting near to fitness.
* Anton Ferdinand and Craig Bellamy are getting closer to their playing returns after hamstring injuries suffered on 4 August away to Ipswich and have been in training.
* James Collins and Nigel Quashie got 45 minutes each against Queen's Park Rangers in a behind closed doors game last Tuesday. Collins has not played since mid-January when he suffered a knee ligament injury while on reserve-team duty. Quashie last played for the second string back in December and has had a persistent foot injury.
* Luis Boa Morte, who scored both goals in the 2-2 draw against QPR, and Lee Bowyer played the majority of the game and will be pushing hard for a first-team start at the City of Manchester Stadium.
* James Tomkins and Jack Collison could be back in two to three weeks after knee problems suffered on England U19 duty and training respectively.
* Jonathan Spector should be back at Chadwell Heath in September to continue his rehabilitation from hip surgery. Kieron Dyer is also continuing his personal training programme as he bids to return from his double leg break. Danny Gabbidon is the main long-term absentee with his abdominal problem.
* City will be without the suspended Richard Dunne but are hoping new signing Vincent Kompany - who joined from Hamburger SV on Friday - could take his place at the back, provided he gets clearance to play. He is the third new recruit after Brazil striker Jo and Israel centre-back Tal Ben-Haim.
* Up front, Jo will not be back from Olympic duty in time to feature while Bulgaria striker Valeri Bojinov is sidelined with an achilles injury suffered last week. To further complicate matters, Darius Vassell (knee) and Benjani (thigh) are also expected to miss out.
Background
* The 2007/08 league season started with City's trip to the Boleyn Ground on 11 August and it was the first game in charge for manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who lasted only a season. Rolando Bianchi (18) and Geovanni (87) scored both goals. That was followed by the first FA Cup third-round meeting on 5 January again in east London when neither side could break the deadlock in a contest that saw Robert Green and Joe Hart excel.
* The replay at the City of Manchester Stadium was again a tight affair and only a 73rd-minute headed goal from Elano separated the sides. The final meeting last season was the 1-1 league draw four days later on 20 January. Carlton Cole scored a terrific overhead kick in the eighth minute before Darius Vassell struck a 16th-minute equaliser.
* The lineups in that last meeting were:
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney, Ljungberg, Noble, Mullins Bowyer (Spector 90), Boa Morte (Faubert 71), Cole
Subs not used: Wright, Collins, Reid
Manchester City: Hart, Corluka, Dunne, Richards, Ball, Ireland (Geovanni 68), Hamann, Elano (Garrido 78), Petrov, Vassell (Gelson 58), Bianchi
Subs not used: Isaksson, Onuoha
Head to head (last six meetings, league unless stated)
20 January 2008 - Manchester City 1-1 West Ham United
16 January 2008 - Manchester City 1-0 West Ham United (FA Cup)
5 January 2008 - West Ham United 0-0 Manchester City (FA Cup)
11 August 2007 - West Ham United 0-2 Manchester City
30 December 2006 - West Ham United 0-1 Manchester City
23 September 2006 - Manchester City 2-0 West Ham United
Overall record v Manchester City (all competitions): W 34, D 14, L 38
Barclays Premier League fixtures (all 3pm unless stated)
Saturday 23 August
Blackburn Rovers v Hull City
Fulham v Arsenal (5.30pm)
Liverpool v Middlesbrough
Newcastle United v Bolton Wanderers
Stoke City v Aston Villa
Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland
West Bromwich Albion v Everton
Sunday 24 August
Wigan Athletic v Chelsea (1.30pm)
General information
For ticket information, click here. For details of getting to the City of Manchester Stadium, click here
Weather: The forecast is for an overcast day with sunny spells. The temperature is set to peak at around 19C.
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Behrami making his mark - WHUFC
The manager is pleased with the contribution to date of Valon Behrami since his arrival from Lazio
23.08.2008
Valon Behrami is being tipped to be a hit with the West Ham United fans by his manager Alan Curbishley.
The 23-year-old, who was on international duty with Switzerland this week, turned in an impressive Barclays Premier League debut last week in the home win against Wigan Athletic and the manager is expecting more of the same at Manchester City on Sunday afternoon. "He is the sort of player who is going to love every minute. He loves every minute of training. He is going to love every minute of the games."
Curbishley added: "He has shown his versatility already for us. He has played right-back, he went to wide right on Saturday and he can play midfield." Behrami's dedication was shown by the way he threw himself straight into the club's pre-season programme as soon as he arrived. The manager added: "He has got the attributes for the Premier League and I think he is one player that will enjoy the full on 90 minutes."
The manager added that he expects even more from his £5m recruit from Lazio "once he gets his feet under the table". Summing up, he said: "He has got what the West Ham fans want. He is all action. He is 150 per cent in everything he does. He is one of those players that is very attack-minded and plays with a bit of freedom. [As] someone who wants to get past [Julien] Faubert when he is in full flight, he must fancy his chances because his mileage is unbelievable."
While the manager is more than content with his big-money summer signing, he added that he is still "looking to add" to his squad. He is also relishing the chance to promote more youngsters from the academy - such as 18-year-old England youth starlet Jordan Spence, who was on the bench on opening day - with the increased number of potential replacements allowed. Curbishley said: "It is giving one or two of the youngsters an opportunity ... perhaps some more will get a taste of it."
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Honours even for U18s - WHUFC
A solid start to the season saw West Ham United's youngsters earn a 0-0 draw on Saturday
23.08.2008
West Ham United U18s 0-0 Manchester United U18s
Tony Carr was more than content with his Under-18s on Saturday after they secured a goalless draw in their opening game of the FA Premier Academy League season.
The young Hammers were solid throughout although both teams had their moments to take all the points, with the impressive Ahmed Abdulla and Josh Payne particularly having good chances late on to take the points. Adam Street was also in fine form in the home goal at Little Heath. West Ham United are next in action on Saturday when the Group A side play another inter-group game away to Leeds United.
Carr said: "It was a good solid start. We are really pleased. Maybe on reflection we might have won it but I think they might think the same. For a nil-nil draw, it was a very entertaining and open game." The late opportunities saw the versatile Payne take a quick shot when he perhaps did not realise he had more time while Ahmed Abdulla had been sent free by Oliver Lee and got beyond the last defender but was off balance as he struck for goal.
The academy director was very happy to avoid conceding yet again in a competitive home match. His strong side, that featured Austrian summer recruit Georg Grasser as a second-half replacement in midfield, had ended last season with three clean sheets at home - with 2-0, 5-0 and 4-0 wins at Little Heath - and again looked strong at the back.
"It was important to get a clean sheet," he said. "It keeps you in the game all the time. Manchester United had their moments obviously as you would expect but I thought we defended very well and worked very hard. It was very very hot and we just about edged it. Maybe it would not have been an injustice if we had won.
"It was a hot day and we had put in a lot of effort. Both teams were wilting but obviously at that point one goal was going to win it for either team. Although he didn't have too much to do, Adam Street made a good couple of saves when he needed to. Overall we were quite pleased."
West Ham United: Street, Brookes, Fry, N'Gala, Eyjolfsson, Lee, Payne, Kearns (Montano 77), Okus (Grasser 67), Ahmed Abdulla, Edgar
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Captain's Blog - A good start - WHUFC
Lucas Neill reflects on a great start to the season, not least for Dean Ashton, and looks ahead
22.08.2008
It was a fantastic way to start the season with a win at home and a very impressive first- half performance. Granted we rode our luck at times in the second half. However, it is the result that counts and it gives us a platform and confidence to build on. I have said it on numerous occasions that the crowd plays a crucial role for us and this year we need you once again. Teams will be turning up hoping to get a result which is why you the fans have to make the atmosphere an intimidating one and Upton Park a daunting place to come.
It was great to see Deano start the season off with a brace and had it not been for the scare with his calf I am sure he would have joined Matty Upson for a well earned England call-up. A few of us have been with our respective countries this week, Valon Behrami helped Switzerland to a great 4-1 win over Cyprus, Mark Noble was deservedly handed the armband against Slovenia for the Under-21s where they won 2-1 and I captained my side to a 2-2 draw against South Africa. It is always an honour to play for your country but I have to admit the timing was strange having only played one game of the season.
This week we travel to the City of Manchester stadium to take on my former boss and a Manchester City team who started the season with a 4-2 loss to Aston Villa. On the back of their defeat and our victory we go there positive and determined to put together early back to back wins and keep the momentum going. I feel it is a good time for us to be visiting Manchester City when Mark Hughes' influence may not quite be in full flow yet. However, you can be guaranteed of a very tough game and you know you will have come away with points the hard way.
Shortly following that will be Wednesday's game against Macclesfield Town. We want to advance further than we did last year in our Carling Cup campaign and are hoping to get past the quarter-final stage. So with a home draw and a bit of luck along on the way we could have a successful campaign. It is a competition that must be taken seriously as it is a path to Europe and it is an opportunity to win some silverware. I look forward to the no doubt electric atmosphere evening games at Upton Park inevitably generate.
Thank you in advance to those who travel up this weekend and for your support on Wednesday,
Lucas Neill
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Man City v West Ham - BBC
Venue: Eastlands Date: Sunday, 24 August Kick-off: 1600 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day 2
Manchester City have problems in attack with Valeri Bojinov (Achilles), Benjani and Darius Vassell out. Forward Jo is not an option as he will not be back from Olympics duty with Brazil to figure, while centre-back Richard Dunne is suspended.
West Ham hope to have striker Dean Ashton (calf) and midfielder Scott Parker (thigh) fit. Central defender Anton Ferdinand and striker Craig Bellamy remain sidelined with hamstring injuries.
Man City (from): Hart, Corluka, Onuoha, Richards, Ben Haim, Ball, Garrido, Fernandes, Hamann, Ireland, Johnson, Etuhu, Elano, Bianchi, Evans, Sturridge, Castillo, Schmeichel, Caicedo.
West Ham (from): Green, Behrami, Davenport, Upson, Neill, Faubert, Parker, Noble, Etherington, Ashton, Cole, Lastuvka, Reid, Bowyer, Spence, Boa Morte, Mullins, Sears.
Manchester City boss Mark Hughes: "We did okay to a certain extent against Villa but we need to be a bit more resolute. "We have to make sure the pattern of play and the way we approach games is correct, not just for 45 minutes or 60 minutes but for 90 minutes. "That is what we are striving to achieve. It is early days, though, and these things can take time. "We worked extremely hard in pre-season and are looking for a positive result from our first league game at home."
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley on Man City counterpart Mark Hughes: Mark knows what he is doing, and he has been very successful. I do not see that changing. "Once he gets bedded in at Manchester City, they will be a decent side. "Last season they finished in the top half and then came under pressure from injuries near the end, so I am expecting them to do okay this year."
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Under 18s: West Ham Utd 0 Man Utd 0 - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 23rd August 2008
By: Staff Writer
Tony Carr's youngsters kicked off their 2008/09 campaign with a goalless draw against Manchester United at Little Heath this morning. A crowd numbering around 500 - many of whom were local fans supporting the away team - watched the two sides battle out a 0-0 draw on a balmy summer's day. Both teams has chances to snatch a win but a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing ensured the spoils were shared. United's Adam Street - in for regular keeper Marek Stech - had to be at his best to deny a late effort from Manchester's Federico Macheda which he tipped over the bar. At the other end Saudi striker Ahmed Abdulla - who played much of the game with a nasty-looking cut to his face following a first half challenge from Reece Brown - missed a gilt-edged chance when sent clear through in the final stages. The visitors also saw a late penalty claim denied when Brandao tumbled over in the box; the referee rightly ignoring Menchester's claims. Next up for Tony Carr's young charges is the visit to Leeds next weekend.
West Ham United: Street (7), Brookes (6), Fry (5), N'Gala (7), Eyjolfsson (7), Kearns (6) (Montano 77 (6)), Edgar (6), Lee (6), Okus (6) (Grasser 67 (5)), Payne(c) (6), Abdulla (5).
Manchester United: Woods, Strickland, Gill, Brown, Wootton, Norwood, James, Petrucci (Brady 64), Stewart (Curran 80), Macheda, Brandao (Ajose 53).
Man of the Match: Adam Street - there when it mattered.
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Curbishley: no fallout - KUMB
Filed: Friday, 22nd August 2008
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley has denied rumours of a falling-out between himself and the club's technical director, Gianluca Nani. One daily newspaper claimed earlier in the week that the United boss and Nani had crossed swords over triallist Sebastian Pinto, stating that Curbishley has annoyed the Italian director after refusing to play the Chilean striker in a specially-arranged friendly. However Curbishley dismissed the story in today's pre-match press conference, claiming that it was nonsense. "I do despair sometimes about what is written about us and I've been saying it for 18 months but it doesn't seem to make any difference," he said. "If someone had just made a phone call [they would have know that] the boy played. He came over, he played on Tuesday for 80 minutes in a reserve game arranged with QPR a week before for James Collins to play in. We didn't fancy him and he's gone back. "After the game, me and Nani went to QPR to watch South Africa and Australia and then I dropped him home, so if we'd had a big row he wouldn't have got in the car!"
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Tosh: no Gabbs til 2009 - KUMB
Filed: Friday, 22nd August 2008
By: Staff Writer
Welsh international boss John Toshack has claimed that West Ham United's Danny Gabbidon is unlikely to return to first team action until next year.
The 59-year-old former Liverpool start was talking about his nation's forthcoming World CUp qualifiers, for which Gabbidon had hoped to return earlier in the year. However Toshack believes that he will be without his number one central defender until 2009, with no signs of an imminent solution to his injury problems. "Gabbidon is still way off and won't be back until next year," he said. "Across the back we are thin on the ground." However the news for United's other Welsh centre-half, James Collins, was more encouraging; he could return to first team action by the beginning of October - just nine months after suffering a potentially career-thretening injury. "Collins played for West Ham reserves this week and hopefully he will be available for our World Cup qualifying double-header with Azerbaijan and Russia in September," confirmed the Welsh manager. Talking to whufc.com, Collins confirmed that he was itching to play once again (an interview which coincided neatly with the news that Anton Ferdinand is set to sign for Sunderland). "It was good to be back out there but also very strange," he said. "I think it was the most nervous I have ever been before a game in my life but I got through it. "It is the worst injury of my career and it has been a long old road trying to get back. When I first got the injury the surgeon seemed to think I could be out for a year or even 18 months. "I feel like I still have a big part to play in West Ham's future so I am just looking to get my head down and concentrate on getting back as soon as possible. My aim is to get straight into the team."
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Simply the Bresc? - KUMB
Filed: Friday, 22nd August 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are yet again being linked with a move for Palermo's Australian midfielder Mark Bresciano. The Sicilians claimed last night that both West Ham and Rangers had been in discussion with representatives of Bresciano, who was watched by Alan Curbishley and Harry Redknapp at Loftus Road on Tuesday night when playing for Australia in their 2-2 draw with South Africa. Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini told Italian reporters: "There are currently negotiations with West Ham and Glasgow Rangers, but I am hoping he stays. He is a player who makes a difference. "We value the player at around €7m; last year I rejected an €8m bid for him." In a recent interview with Australia's Channel 10 last night Bresciano reiterated his desire to move to the Premier League - and mentioned West Ham as a possible destination. A left midfielder by trade, He was part of the team that knocked West Ham out of the UEFA Cup two seasons ago.
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Anton: yes to Sunderland? - KUMB
Filed: Friday, 22nd August 2008
By: Staff Writer
Anton Ferdinand is expected to say 'yes' to a move to Sunderland later today. The 23-year-old centre-half has spent the last 48 hours mulling over a move to the North East after West Ham accepted a bid worth in the region of £8million. Having already rejected the opportunity to move to Newcastle earlier in the summer the former under-21 had been holding out for a possible rival move from Tottenham. However as that failed to materialise he was left with Sunderland as the only option - a move to which he is thought to be ready to rubber-stamp today. Ferdinand made his debut for the Hammers at Preston on the opening day of the 2003/04 campaign. But it was his partnership with Elliott Ward in the centre of defence the following season that saw him come of age as the Hammers won promotion back to the Premiership. The following year - 2005/06 - he was again a regular in what was United's first season back in the top flight. However the season ended on a sour note as Ferdinand missed United's final penalty in the 2006 FA Cup Final shootout which led to the trophy going to Liverpool. Things went from bad to worse the following season for the boy from Peckham when he was arrested and later charged with assault and violent conduct following a fracas outside Face nightclub (he was later acquitted in November 2007). He was also disciplined by the club after travelling to the USA for a lads' jolly, having told his employers that he was absent from work in order to visit his sick grandmother. His potential sale has polarised opinion amongst Hammers fans, with just as many being happy to part company with a defender who, they feel, lacks concentration as those disappointed with the club's decision to allow another Academy product to leave the club. * Sunderland boss Roy Keane has also been linked with a £5million move for Ferdinand's team mate Carlton Cole.
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Alan Curbishley calls for Dean Ashton to be handed England role - Telegraph
As Dean Ashton fights to be fit for West Ham's trip to Manchester City, his manager insists he is the ideal striker for England.
By Andrew Warshaw
Last Updated: 11:41PM BST 23 Aug 2008
Ashton was watched by England manager Fabio Capello on the opening day of the season, when he scored twice against Wigan, but a calf strain subsequently ruled him out of last week's friendly with the Czech Republic. But Alan Curbishley believes Ashton is the best man for the job if Capello opts to play one out-and-out striker. He said: "If he [Capello] is going to play the shape when he's got players coming from midfield and needs somebody who will bring other players into the game, then he should look at Dean." Ashton, 24, played nine times for the England Under-21 side, scoring four goals, before finally making his full England debut, more than two years after his first call-up, in the game against Trinidad and Tobago in June. Ashton has been compared to the former Newcastle and England striker Alan Shearer.
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Dean Ashton's blond ambition - The Times
The West Ham striker has a point to prove to Fabio Capello at Manchester City today
Joe Lovejoy
Albert King sings in Born Under A Bad Sign, "If it wasn't for bad luck , I wouldn't have no luck at all". Dean Ashton knows how the old Mississippi blues-man felt. After another missed England opportunity in midweek, the West Ham striker's international career has had more false starts than the Grand National.
Still only 24, Ashton might have had that many caps by now. Instead, he was passed over for a juvenile tourist (Theo Walcott) at the last World Cup, broke an ankle in training the day before he was due to make his debut in Steve McClaren's first match in charge, was recalled last season at home to Estonia and promptly strained knee ligaments, and was due to be picked last weekend, only to be ruled out of the dreadful 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic by a phantom injury that turned out to be cramp.
Consequently, the man once tipped to be the new Alan Shearer has been restricted to just 45 minutes in an England shirt, in the friendly away to Trinidad and Tobago at the end of last season. Even that first cap was the cause of embarrassment, as well as elation, Fabio Capello telling Ashton that he was overweight. Dressing-room banter being what it is, nearly every teammate who passed by as we chatted at West Ham's training ground on Friday mentioned pizza, or pies, but Ashton is big enough to take it, in every sense.
Having just parked his Porsche Cayenne in the middle of the motor show that is Chadwell Heath, he admitted that the money footballers earn was ample compensation for criticism of almost any sort - even from Disgusted of Wembley last Wednesday. An articulate young man, capped by England at every level from under17s up, he is both polite, apologising for being a few minutes late (Sol Campbell once kept me waiting for 2½ hours and didn't) and disarmingly honest (he accepts he needed to shed surplus avoirdupois and that he "didn't set the world alight" on his international baptism).
It seemed an appropriate starting point to clear up his omission from Capello's latest squad. The England coach was at Upton Park to check on Ashton and saw him score twice against Wigan, before hobbling off. Some four hours later, the man of the match suffered premature ejection, Emile Heskey getting the nod instead. Ashton said: "I went to take a free kick and my calf cramped up. The staff said they didn't want to take any risks, so I came off. The club wanted me to have a scan the next day to make sure that it was just cramp, and because I was waiting for that, and the squad was being named on the Saturday night, England assumed I was unavailable. I knew it was only cramp, so obviously I was really disappointed to miss out."
It was ever thus, or so it seemed. "Because of the timing of the injuries I've had, before England games, I've been labelled injury-prone, but anybody can get a bone broken," Ashton said. "That's nothing to do with fitness or strength. My ankle was broken [in a collision with Shaun Wright-Phillips] before we played Greece, that was just bad luck. Then I got back and had a minor strain to my medial ligament, which put me out against Estonia. That's it really. It's a myth that I'm injured a lot. That's another reason why I was so disappointed last weekend – because it was made out that I was injuredagainwhen I wasn't."
There is still plenty of time to forge an international career, but frustration is starting to creep in. Ashton said: "If I hadn't broken the ankle I would have started that game. They won comfortably [4-0] so I might have scored a couple and played ever since. And I was only 22 then, but there's no point dwelling on that."
It is widely accepted that England need an "old-fashioned" centre-forward, in the Shearer mould, and Ashton contended that the role was up for grabs. He said: "For a long time there hasn't been a player of that type who has done so well that he has to be in the team. When Michael Owen is fit and playing regularly, clearly he deserves to be in. You always think he's going to score. But apart from him, nobody can say, 'I've played so well that I deserve that place'. A lot of strikers, including myself, are looking for their chance, but you need time on the pitch - more than the 45 minutes I got in Trinidad." In Port of Spain, Jermain Defoe eclipsed him, scoring twice in a 3-0 win. "To me, being a forward is all about scoring goals, so I'm never happy if I don't," said Ashton. "I've watched the video of that game and I had one good chance, which I didn't take, but it was my debut, I was very nervous, and I thought I did okay." Capello was more worried about his physique than his finishing. "When I was injured, I was in the gym a lot, and I'd really bulked up," Ashton explained. "My body fat percentage wasn't high, but I was big from doing weights. When the England manager tells you you've got a chance if you trim down, you do it. I really knuckled down."
Ashton signed a new, five-year contract this summer with West Ham, who face Manchester City today, and anticipates an improvement on last season's 10th place. "We'd like to be challenging for the top six," he said.
For the past two years, Alan Curbishley and his team had been hampered by a debilitating sequence of injuries. Bad luck, or was there perhaps more to it? "I'm not a physio, but I have my opinions. Let's just say that I didn't use the medical team here for my rehab, I used my own man, Jon Green, who has worked with Michael Owen as well." The "Claret and Blue Army" was as loyal as they come, but they were not the easiest fans to play for. "They can turn on their own, and there are times when you think, 'That's a bit unfair'." With England, too, criticism came with the territory. "I don't think it's fair that when [Frank] Lampard left the field the other night he was booed, but it's part of football and you've got to take it on the chin. These are the strongest players in the country, mentally, as well as the best. I'd be nervous about playing for England at Wembley for the first time, but I wouldn't feel intimidated by the crowd. At the moment, England seem to be like a club team struggling against relegation when they shouldn't be. Sometimes you get into that losing habit and develop a negative mindset."
Hammers look to Ashton to win battle of the wannabes
DEAN ASHTON
Position Striker Age 24 Clubs West Ham United (Jan 2006 - present), Norwich (2005-06), Crewe (2000-2005) England caps 1 (v Trinidad and Tobago, June 2008) England goals 0 Club goals 95 (Premier League 22, Championship 51, League One 9, FA Cup 8, League Cup 5)
MAN CITY V WEST HAM
- Both clubs are of similar mid-table stature with ambitions of a place in the top six. Since rejoining the Premier League in 2002-03 City's average finishing position is 11.8. West Ham, back in the top flight since 2005-06, average 11.3
- City have finished one place above West Ham for the past two seasons. In their past four Premier League games against City, West Ham have managed just one goal, and are looking to Dean Ashton, left, with five goals in his past four league matches, to turn the tide
- City have conceded 12 goals in their last two league games and it is eight matches since they kept a clean sheet. They have also lost six of their past eight league matches. The Hammers have gone 13 league games without a clean sheet and 29 matches since a 0-0 draw
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Curbs - Deano can do it - SSN
Hammers' boss says 'keeper must be in Capello's mind
By Hayley Paterson Last updated: 23rd August 2008
Alan Curbishley believes Dean Ashton could be the answer to England's centre-forward options. The West Ham boss has urged his powerful striker to keep "plugging away" and his prayers of more England chances will soon be answered. The 24-year-old made an instant impact in the Premier League opening win with a brace against Wigan, but then he limped off with a calf strain. That injury kept him out of contention for the England friendly against the Czech Republic, which ended in a disappointing 2-2 draw, as Fabio Capello started with Jermain Defoe up front before bringing on Emile Heskey. "If he (Capello) is going to play with a lone striker and (Wayne) Rooney coming from deep, flooding the midfield, then perhaps he will take a look at Dean," the Hammers boss said. "If he is going to play with one and wants someone to hold the ball up, bring others into the game and then take a chance when it is presented, then I do think if a ball drops to Deano in the penalty box, something is going to happen. "Deano started off really well against Wigan and now has another game to impress, like so many players. "Rob Green is another one here who must come into Capello's thinking. "All they can do is to keep plugging away."
West Ham will be hoping to make it two wins in two when they take on Manchester City on Bank Holiday Sunday.
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Hammers take flight to land Appiah - lep.co.uk
West Ham staff fly to Italy this week in a bid to snap up Ghana ace Stephen Appiah - from under the noses of Tottenham. The midfielder, 27, played with Turkish club Fernebahce last season but he wants to move on and has been linked with both West Ham and Tottenham. Appiah, who suffered a long spell out with injury, previously played for Juventus and is currently living back in Turin. The first problem for Alan Curbishley's outfit is to clarify his contractual status before aiming to secure either a loan move or permanent deal ahead of the transfer window closure.
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Let Ash Fire Up England - The Sun
FABIO CAPELLO has been urged to let Dean Ashton take England's attack to new heights. West Ham boss Alan Curbishley claims Ashton has the physical presence to become a one-man strikeforce for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia. Capello tried Jermain Defoe and then Emile Heskey up front alone - with Wayne Rooney just behind - in Wednesday's dismal 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic. And Curbishley believes Hammers targetman Ashton has the right blend of power, panache and poaching ability to fill the role. Curbs said: "If Capello is going to play with one and wants someone to hold the ball up, bring others into the game and then take a chance when it is presented, then I do think if a ball drops to Deano in the penalty box, then something is going to happen. "If he is going to play with a lone striker and Rooney coming from deep, flooding the midfield, then perhaps he will take a look at Dean. "Whether that is in the qualifiers, we will have to wait and see."
Ashton, 24, looked lively as he netted twice in West Ham's 2-1 opening-day victory over Wigan last Saturday. But he limped off with a calf injury that ruled him out of England's Wembley debacle. Curbishley added: "Deano started off really well against Wigan and now has another game to impress, like so many players. "Rob Green is another one here who must come into Capello's thinking. "All they can do is to keep plugging away."
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Thaksin offers to resign from Man City board - sportsillustrated.com
MANCHESTER, England (AP) -Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has offered to resign from the club's board and has been advised to stay away from Sunday's game against West Ham over fears for his safety. The former Thai prime minister was due to face corruption charges in a Bangkok court Monday, but instead jumped bail and took a flight from Beijing, where he had been watching the Olympics, back to exile in England. City chief executive Garry Cook said Thaksin had offered his resignation from the board, but insisted that he would remain as owner. "Dr. Thaksin is embarrassed about the indignity brought on all the entities - the club, the Premier League - he never intended this,'' Cook said. "Thaksin has been really open about this. He has said to me, 'If you need me to resign from the football club as a director, because it would serve the needs of the Premier League, then I'm fine with that as long as that doesn't change any other thing.'''
Cook said Thaksin may stay away from the West Ham game - City's first home match of the season - after being told he might not be safe. "He wants to be at this ground on Sunday but he is hearing advice about being in a public space,'' Cook said. The Premier League may now look into whether he passes the so-called "fit and proper person'' test for being involved in a topflight club, but Cook said that term was very vague. "I think there is a very loose term about what is 'fit and proper,''' Cook said. "It is almost a tongue-in-cheek term that you would use for Premier League football over the last 10 years. There are plenty of unfit and improper individuals.''
Thaksin's assets have been frozen in Thailand, but Cook said that would put City at risk and claimed the charges against the owner were politically motivated. "Thaksin is in a political situation and a case that affects his assets, so that's well documented. So that's a hurdle,'' Cook admitted. "The truth of it is this club is not going to go out of business. This club is not bankrupt. We're moving forward.''
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Former Hammers winger back at work after hospital scare - Guardian Series
10:14am Saturday 23rd August 2008
FORMER West Ham winger Liam Brady has been discharged from hospital and will return to work today. The 52-year-old, who is the Republic of Ireland's assistant manager and head of Arsenal's academy , was taken to Dublin's Beaumont Hospital on Thursday morning after complaining of back and chest pains and was detained overnight for tests. Prior to that the former winger had been away on international duty and was said to be suffering with pains in his back during Ireland's 1-1 draw with Norway in Oslo. Brady flew home with the rest of the squad but, upon his arrival in Dublin, he was taken to Beaumont Hospital for tests. But everything now appears fine with Brady set to be back watching football today. "He has been given a clean bill of health and has told us he will return to work, when he will travel to London to be at the Tottenham v Sunderland match," the Football Association of Ireland said.
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Pantsil admits to West Ham frustration - Guardian Series
9:55am Saturday 23rd August 2008
By Rob Pritchard »
FORMER Upton Park cult hero John Pantsil has claimed he was "frustrated" with his lack of opportunities at West Ham United. The Ghana international became a popular figure during his two seasons at the Boleyn Ground due to his all-action style of play and engaging personality. Such was the full-back's popularity that Pantsil even went on his own individual lap of honour following the final game of last term against Aston Villa. However, after making just 24 league and cup appearances, the former Hapoel Tel Aviv player joined Fulham with team-mate Bobby Zamora in a joint £6.3million deal in July. And Pantsil has vowed to make up for lost time at Craven Cottage. "Fulham is a fantastic place for me to continue my career," he insisted. "I was frustrated at West Ham because I wasn't playing. As an international, sitting on the bench was not enough for me. "I needed to go where I could get more action so, when Fulham came in, I was happy to join them because it is a great side and had a lot of prospects for me. "I strongly disagree that we will be fighting relegation again this season. I'm confident we'll finish in the top 10 rather than be fighting relegation." Pantsil will also have his name spelled correctly as "Paintsil" on the back of his Fulham shirt.
An administrative error meant the 27-year-old ran around with the incorrect spelling on his West Ham shirt, but the mistake has been corrected on his new registration documents.
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HOTLINE - SEB IN INCE WEB - The Mirror
Blackburn boss Paul Ince is trying to hijack Chilean striker Sebastian Pinto's move to West Ham. Ince stepped in when the Santos hit-man walked out on the Hammers after a row between boss Alan Curbishley and technical director Gianluca Nani. 'The Tank' has started training with Rovers and could be available on season's loan. Ince wants Valencia's £11million-rated winger Joaquin Sanchez, plus Torino midfielder Vince Grella and MK Dons' Keith Andrews
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