His Face says it all!
Dec 2, 2008 Craig Bellamy, Gianfranco Zola, Liverpool, Mathew Upson, West Ham News
Gianfranco Zola’s smile tells the world of his delight on an evening when his team drew an away game with one of the worlds greatest clubs.
The West Ham fans have a reason to smile too, 3 games without a loss and 3 clean sheets and a team that is gelling into what Zola promised as football worth watching.
Zola had this to say after the match:
“I am very pleased with my team performances of late. It was another clean sheet and we knew that was something we had to achieve.
“We are working well as a group and we are starting to get the results.
“Our goalkeeper Robert Green was outstanding, but then so were Matthew Upson and Craig Bellamy.”
SkySports as usual get the stats all wrong and insist that West Ham only had 30% of possesion, well Setanta was right with 41% and the only real shot on goal came from Bellamy when he hit the left goal post.
Great game, and deserved score at the end. Well Done Zola and the Lads and the fantastic away supporters who we heard sing Bubbles and im West Ham till i die, you did us proud.
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Tags: Bubbles, Clean Sheets, craig bellamy, Face, Football Worth, Gianfranco Zola, Goal Post, goalkeeper, Great Game, Lads, Match, Matthew Bellamy, Matthew Upson, Nbsp, Robert Green, Score, Setanta, SkySports, Smile, Team Performances, West Ham Fans
Liverpool 0-0 West Ham: In-Depth Analysis and Highlights
Dec 2, 2008 Liverpool, Valon Behrami, West Ham News
After Arsenal re-entered the Premier League title race by upsetting the form-book with a 2-1 win at Chelsea, Liverpool had the chance to go three points clear at the top with a home win over West Ham United. But they failed to take advantage against a brave and exciting West Ham side.
Rafael Benitez rang the changes by giving starts to Sami Hyypia, Andrea Dossena and Yossi Benayoun, with Robbie Keane and Dirk Kuyt paired in attack, the Dutchman playing just off the Irishman, and Benayoun playing on the right wing in a 4-4-1-1 formation - with Javier Mascherano on the bench. His Hammers counterpart Gianfranco Zola made one change to the team that beat Sunderland, Hayden Mullins replacing Lee Bowyer in midfield, with Carlton Cole partnering Craig Bellamy up-front.
Liverpool co-owner George Gillett was at Anfield for the game, attending his first match since the Reds beat Manchester United in September.
Rafa’s side began confidently, enjoying plenty of possession, and after seven minutes, they had a half-hearted penalty appeal for handball rightly dismissed by referee Peter Walton when a Benayoun effort struck Herita Illunga’s stomach from point-blank range. Three minutes later, there was another shout for handball and again it was against Illunga, who brought his arms together to block a centre from Kuyt.
West Ham defender James Collins was forced to cover for Robert Green and clear the ball to safety when the goalkeeper’s attempted clearing punch lacked distance.
And with Liverpool beginning to lay seige to the Hammers’ goal, Hyypia headed a Gerrard corner just over the bar, before Benayoun was brought down by Mullins as he dribbled his way into the Hammers’ defence. The resultant free-kick from Gerrard, some 30 yards out, was deflected for a corner by Ilunga with another suspicion of handball. Carlton Cole then had to clear another Hyypia header off the line, before a rare West Ham attack proved to be an anti-climax when Julian Faubert’s feeble shot was comfortably dealt with by Pepe Reina with his feet.
The first 30 minutes had been largely one-way traffic and Liverpool should have been ahead, but without the injured Fernando Torres they lacked that killer touch in front of goal, and despite some intelligent probing by Xabi Alonso from midfield they were short on creativity, relying mostly on set-pieces.
But Gerrard went close when he went on a mazy run into the box, leaving Cole in his wake, and let fly with a shot that hit the side-netting.
Suddenly at the other end, former Red Bellamy produced the best moment of the half when he collected the ball and fired in a superb effort from 20 yards that beat Reina and hit the inside of the post, rebounding across the open goal to safety.
Gerrard then fired another a long-range shot high over the bar, and from an Alonso corner Kuyt at the far-post forced Green into a good save at the near-post. Hyypia stayed up-field and met a Gerrard cross with a header that flew wide.
But Bellamy drove in a low free-kick from long-range that Reina fielded at the second attempt.
As half-time came, it was still goalless, with Bellamy’s earlier effort off the post still the closest either side came to scoring, Liverpool losing impetus after having enjoyed most of the possession, and lacking penetrative width. Although West Ham had been limited going forward, Matthew Upson and Scott Parker had begun to excel as the half wore on.
The second-half started with Kuyt soon wasting an opening by producing a weak shot wide when captain Gerrard was better-paced for a pass.
After a dangerous Bellamy free-kick was cleared up-field, the ball found Keane but his shot was both high and wide.
But Green saved superbly from Benayoun, who volleyed a Gerrard cross goalwards after Collins failed to cut it out.
Mullins thumped a low ball through a crowded Liverpool area for Reina to gather and launch Riera down the left-wing, only for Gerrard to slice the resultant cross high.
On 66 minutes, David Ngog replaced the ineffective Keane, and a minute later, Cole wasted a great chance for the Hammers, heading wide of the goal from six yards at a corner as the Liverpool fans began to express some frustration with their team’s performance.
Gerrard uncharacteristically wasted a chance with an air-shot, but with West Ham beginning to pose more of a threat, Cole burst forward and forced Dossena into an important tackle. Then Gerrard, not enjoying one of his better games, blazed the well over from some 30 yards out, before Alonso shot from distance, but straight at Green.
On 78 minutes Ryan Babel replaced Riera, and a couple of minutes after that substitution, Hyypia went close again, beating Green to the ball from a corner but lacking direction with his effort, which Kuyt just failed to turn into the net at the back post.
Liverpool had another scare, though, when Cole dwelt on the ball too long with Parker well placed for a pass in the box.
Gerrard shot well wide again from 25 yards, and Upson blocked an Ngog shot. Two minutes from time, a good diagonal ball into the danger area by Gerrard was well controlled by Kuyt at the far post, but Green saved his shot.
Then as Liverpool were stretched in pursuit of a goal, Luis Boa Morte, on for Faubert, was put through on goal but wastefully sliced his shot well wide.
And Reina had to save from Cole at the death, though the flag went up for offside as Liverpool wasted the chance to pull three points clear of Chelsea. It was West Ham’s first point at Anfield for nine years.
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Dossena, Benayoun, Gerrard, Alonso, Riera, Kuyt, Keane.
Subs: Cavalieri, Agger, Babel, Mascherano, Leiva Lucas, Insua, Ngog.
West Ham: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Faubert, Parker, Mullins, Behrami, Bellamy, Cole.
Subs: Boa Morte, Noble, Lastuvka, Tristan, Davenport, Collison, Di Michele.
Liverpool 0 - 0 West Ham Highlights
First Half
Courtesy of Soccer-Pages.com
Second Half
Courtesy of Soccer-Pages.com
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Tags: Anfield, craig bellamy, Dossena, Dutchman, Faubert, Free Kick, George Gillett, Gerrard, Ilunga, Irishman, Lee Bowyer, Manchester United, Mascherano, Point Blank Range, Rafael Benitez, Robbie Keane, Robert Green, Seige, West Ham United, Yossi Benayoun, Zola
Not Enough Quality! + [Video Highlights]
Nov 23, 2008 Featured Article, Gianfranco Zola, James Collins, Prediction League, Sunderland, West Ham News
After watching the Spurs match and how they only just beat a 10 man Blackburn, West Ham for 50 minutes were sitting in 17th place until Valon Behrami saved the day.
Roy Keane was dissapointed at not at least getting a share of the points and had this to say:
“I don’t think we deserved to lose,” Keane said after the match on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s questionable if we’ve done enough to win, but we could not provide the goal at the end.
“We got the opportunities. At least test the keeper but we didn’t really test him and we gave a bad goal away.
“It’s hard to take.
“I’ve no problem with the effort, we just need a bit more quality in the attacking third.”
Gianfranco Zola on the other hand was over the moon with his team and said to SkySports:
“Football is strange - sometimes you play well and get nothing.
“In those times you have to keep faith you are going to be rewarded and today is one of them.
“Today my smile is bigger. I am pleased for the boys because they were playing well and not getting results.
“We know that it is important to defend properly and the three points proved that.
“We are going to try and build (on) that.”
Match analysis
Valon Behrami handed Zola his first Barclays Premier League victory in eight attempts as Sunderland suffered a third successive home defeat.
The Switzerland international fired West Ham ahead with 20 minutes gone and could have made what followed far more comfortable had he not shot against the crossbar from just six yards on the stroke of half-time.
But in the end, his contribution proved enough to win a game which the home side dominated for long periods, but failed to make the most of the chances they created.
Manager Roy Keane has admitted in the past that the relative lack of goals his side scores often makes life difficult for them, and that shortcoming was painfully evident once again.
Djibril Cisse in particular had a series of chances, but the Wearsiders did not work goalkeeper Robert Green anywhere near often enough and ultimately paid the price.
The Hammers had to defend for long periods, but in Matthew Upson and James Collins, had willing workhorses, while former Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy was at his irritating best in front of a disgruntled crowd of 35,222.
Keane has seen and done most things in football, and little surprises him any longer.
However, he headed for the dressing room at half-time having seen his side create more than enough chances to win the game, but lucky still to be in it.
With recalled midfielder Andy Reid tormenting the Hammers down the left to provide a series of inviting cross for Cisse, it seemed only a matter of time before the home side took the lead.
Cisse sent one header just over and another narrowly wide, and then drilled a right-foot shot into the side-netting.
Reid landed a curling shot on top of Green’s crossbar and Danny Collins forced a good save from the keeper four minutes before the break, and there was fury inside the Stadium of Light went Cisse went down on the edge of the box under James Collins’ challenge and referee Mike Dean waved away his penalty appeals.
But in the meantime, Zola’s men had taken the lead against the run of play.
Reid was penalised for a foul on Lucas Neill wide on the right, and although Nyron Nosworthy cleared Julien Faubert’s free-kick, Behrami picked up the rebound and drilled a low shot past Marton Fulop with the help of a deflection off Kenwyne Jones.
Chances were few for the Londoners, but they should really have been 2-0 up in first-half injury-time after former Hammer Anton Ferdinand was left red-faced.
The defender attempted to control a high ball on halfway when he should really have headed it and succeeded only in giving it to Bellamy.
The Welsh international striker sprinted into the box and although he was forced wide as he attempted to round Fulop, he managed to squad for Behrami on the edge of the six-yard box - only for the midfielder to fire against the bar.
Keane’s side returned determined to make the most of their escape, and they were appealing for a penalty again within two minutes when Cisse smashed the ball against Upson’s arm from point-blank range - although Dean turned them down
The Frenchman was finding space with ease and headed wide once again from Phil Bardsley’s 49th-minute cross, and Green was relieved not to be punished for losing out in an aerial battle with Jones five minutes later.
Having spent 10 minutes pinned back inside their own half, the Hammers eventually fought their way into enemy territory and went close to a second goal with 56 minutes gone when Lee Bowyer headed just over.
The former Magpie was in on goal again on the hour when he ran on to Behrami’s pass, but Fulop smothered his cross with the blue shirts gathering.
Cisse was unable to capitalise on James Collins’ misjudgement when he allowed Reid’s 65th-minute cross to reach the Frenchman, who totally miscued his header.
Keane’s withdrew Steed Malbranque and Reid and sent on Daryl Murphy and Carlos Edwards, the latter having been recalled from his loan spell at Wolves.
Dean Whitehead forced a smart save from Green with a glancing 84th-minute header, but Sunderland’s fightback simply dwindled away to nothing.
Sunderlands biggest mistake was taking off Andy Reid which brought a sigh of relief to West Ham players and Fans as Reid was a definite danger to the Hammers and was more likely to bring on a goal for Sunderland with his accurate crosses to the 6 yard box.
COYI MOTM goes to James Collins
A massive 50 points each goes to Bobshep53 and shahirenayet for the correct Sunderland V West Ham prediction
This post was submitted by west ham fan.
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Tags: Andy Reid, Attempts, Barclays, Barclays Premier League, Behrami, Cisse, craig bellamy, Crossbar, Djibril Cisse, Dressing Room, Gianfranco Zola, hammers, League Victory, Long Periods, Match, Matthew Upson, Midfielder, Moon, Relative Lack, Robert Green, Roy Keane, Shortcoming, Smile, Spurs, striker, Stroke, Sunday Afternoon, Valiant, video highlights, West Ham, Workhorses
Wind Up!
Nov 21, 2008 Craig Bellamy, Sunderland, West Ham News
Craig Bellamy will set out on Sunday to frustrate the Sunderland defence with what he does best, not only by scoring goals but also by winding the defence up with his taunts.
Welsh team mate Danny Collins has warned his side to ignore the antics that Bellamy will set upon them and to just take it all as a joke and not get sucked in an argument, Collins said:
“Craig is his own type of character and you have to be aware of that, Craig is probably the loudest man in football, He’s always moaning and if you’re ready for it, it can be a bit off-putting.
“Out on the training ground, he works as hard as anyone, and that transfers into his performance and attitude on a match day as well. He’s fully focused on what he does and what he wants to achieve. I have time for him as a player.
“He moans and whinges constantly, and I think some defenders find that difficult to deal with. That won’t be the case with me because I’ll be expecting it, but it can be a bit unsettling if you’re not used to it. You just have to turn a deaf ear to him and let him get on with it. He moans more than any other player I know, but I guess that’s just his way of showing he wants to win. He’s a top player.”
Danny Collins also see’s West Ham’s 2007/08 season finish at 10th place as the benchmark to which Sunderland set their target as for this season, but to do this they must improve on their home form.
10th place finish this season for West Ham would not be taken badly as Zola obviously needs a season where he can finish adapting his players to the style he wishes West Ham to play in future, with the fans behind West Ham even in times of financial trouble West Ham will benefit from Zola’s style of tactics.
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Tags: Antics, Attitude, Benchmark, craig bellamy, Deaf Ear, Financial Trouble, Joke, Match Day, Scoring Goals, Sunderland, Target, Taunts, Team Mate, Welsh Team, West Ham
West Ham 0-0 Portsmouth (Video Highlights)
Nov 15, 2008 Highlights, Matches, Portsmouth, West Ham News
West Ham stopped their losing streak with their first clean sheet of the season and a point, but they could easily have had all three.
Portsmouth’s three best first-half chances fell to Jermain Defoe but despite the visitors dominating Robert Green was hardly really tested.
Craig Bellamy’s second-half free-kick against the bar for West Ham was the best chance for either side so far.
This inspired them to go on the attack but a goal proved just beyond them.
Highlights
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Tags: craig bellamy, Football Highlights, Free Kick, Highlites, Jermain Defoe, Losing Streak, Portsmouth, Robert Green, West Ham
Craig Bellamy: i am not Second Class
Oct 11, 2008 West Ham News
Craig Bellamy announced that Welsh Players are not treat like English players when called up for international duty and are considered second class citizens.
Bobby Gould the former Wales Manager has hit out at West Ham for not treating Bellamy with the same consideration as West ham do with players that play for England.
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Tags: Bobby Gould, Class Citizens, craig bellamy, england, wales, Welsh Players, West Ham
West Ham Vs Bolton: Live Streaming and Team News
Oct 5, 2008 Bolton, Gianfranco Zola, West Ham News
West Ham have won both their games under new manager Gianfranco Zola. The former Chelsea player will try to extend the run when they host Bolton.
A win today will see West Ham go into 1st place, well at least for 90 minutes until Chelsea and Liverpool finish.
West Ham news: Craig Bellamy is pushing for a starting place in the first XI, although it is likely Zola will stick to Cole and Di Michele up front. Dean Ashton is still out with an injury, as is Kieron Dyer. Zola’s concerns will mainly be the defence, conceding a goal in almost every match lately.
Bolton news: Gary Megson who spoke highly of both Zola and his predecessor Curbishley will try to win the game at Upton Park as he has lanuched a health programme at the Reebok Stadium. Matt Taylor will be back in contention despite not having played any reserve game. According to Megson, Matthew Taylor is the fittest player they have. The manager admitted Bolton have had problems winning away but will try to collect at least one point against the Londoners.
West Ham United still have the best home record in the Barclays Premier League with three wins from three and secured their first away win of the season at Craven Cottage last Saturday. Bolton, meanwhile, have the worst away record in the league - losing all three away from the Reebok Stadium.
Our bet: 3-1.
Kick-off 13:30
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Tags: Barclays, Barclays Premier League, Bet, Bolton, Chelsea Player, Contention, craig bellamy, craven cottage, Dean, dean ashton, Gary Megson, Gianfranco Zola, kieron dyer, Last Saturday, LIVE FOOTBALL, Liverpool, Londoners, Match, Matt Taylor, Matthew Taylor, Michele, Predecessor, Prediction League, Reebok Stadium, Reserve Game, Team News, upton park, West Ham, West Ham United
Wage reduction for Sick Notes
Oct 1, 2008 West Ham News
It is sometimes inevitable that a player gets injured in the course of his duty playing for his club and a long term injury to a player can damage a clubs standings in its league, this is why new clauses may come into players contracts when signing for team.
For instance Dean Ashton, Craig Bellamy, Kieron Dyer, all 3 have spent many months out injured and in some cases they are old injuries from their past clubs coming back to haunt them.
The SPL board wishes to place injured stars on a reduced wage for a set period of time, and, should they still be unavailable once that has elapsed, they will
find themselves on sick pay rather than their full weekly wage which is
what currently happens.
Sick Pay is common for the likes of us in the public that feign illness or injury even if this happens whilst working, so why should it not be common for players.
Brining this clause into a contract will obviously have the players union ranting and raving but it will save clubs probably millions each year and also give the club the option of brining in another player to temporary fill the injured players place.
In the case of Dean Ashton, i feel we are pretty well covered but what happens if Cole falls ill or gets injured?
In the case of Craig Bellamy who without doubt is great player but is getting very close to be playing more games for wales than he has for West Ham United.
Kieron Dyer another good player and i am sure is raring to get back to full time football and when he does it will take another good few months to gain his confidence back as it did with Ashton.
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Tags: Clauses, Confidence, Contracts, craig bellamy, Dean, dean ashton, Doubt, Full Time, kieron dyer, Period Of Time, Playing Games, Sick Notes, Sick Pay, Time Football, wales, West Ham United
Zola will he beat the Jinx
Sep 20, 2008 West Ham News
West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola is hoping he will be luckier than his predecessor when it comes to injuries.
The Italian takes charge of a team for the first time today when the Hammers play host to Newcastle United.
Alan Curbishley, who walked out on the club earlier in the month after the sale of players without his full backing, often had to make do without experienced players through lack of fitness
Striker Dean Ashton has already been ruled out of tomorrow’s clash and fellow forward Craig Bellamy is unlikely to feature either but Zola, who has brought in a new fitness coach, was confident he would fare better.
He said: “I know that at this club there have been a lot of injuries and we have been very unlucky. We have been working hard trying to improve this and with a bit of luck it will.
“I don’t know the training system they had before and I don’t want to say we had loads of injuries because of that. When Alan was here he did a great job and I hope I can carry on from that job.”
Zola watched last week’s 3-2 defeat at West Brom from the stands before taking charge on Monday and revealed he intended to sharpen up the Hammers in all areas.
He said: “Obviously you also have to keep a balance. The idea is to get to the point where we play offensive football as much as possible. But we also have to work on the defence.
“We are trying to look at things defensively but also passing the ball.”
The Hammers finished 10th under Curbishley last term and Zola made it clear he expected better come May.
He said: “We need to improve on last season. That is our main target although I have just stepped into the job and I have to work on the team, so I can’t say what the possibilities are.
“But I am sure that if the players carry on working as they have been, with spirit and attitude, then we can do a good job.”
One area Zola has no plans to revamp concerns the players’ diets.
He said: “I went to the canteen and I enjoyed the food very much so I don’t want to change that part.
“I haven’t had pie and mash yet but I hope I can have a big dish of it after Newcastle. They are very professional here in that way. The food is okay.”
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Tags: Alan Curbishley, Attitude, Canteen, Clash, craig bellamy, dean ashton, Diets, Fitness Coach, Gianfranco Zola, Good Job, Jinx, New Fitness, Newcastle United, Possibilities, Predecessor, striker, Target, Time Today, Time Tomorrow, West Brom, West Ham United
Keen: Spoilt For Choice!
Sep 11, 2008 Gianfranco Zola, Injuries, Kevin Keen, Matches, New Manager, WBA, West Ham News
Kevin Keen
Kevin Keen is spoilt for choice and will have 23 players to choose from on Saturday when he takes on WBA at the Hawthorns.
Alan Curbishley’s only dream was to have a fully fit squad but Keen is the man to fulfill that dream.
Just six players remain unavailable for selection with three of them - James Collins, James Tomkins and Jack Collison - close to first-team comebacks.
Craig Bellamy is 100% fit now and will more than likely feature in this Saturdays game.
Zola, is to take over the squad on Monday and lets hope from then on we may see a dazzling new kind of West Ham team playing quality fast moving football.
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Tags: Alan Curbishley, craig bellamy, Fit, Hawthorns, james tomkins, Keen, Saturdays Game, Wba, West Ham, Zola
