Archive for the ‘West Ham United’ Category
LONDON: Tony Adams insisted on Monday his sacking as manager of Premier League strugglers Portsmouth would not deter him from taking charge of another club.
Former Arsenal and England captain Adams was forced out following a run of results which had left Portsmouth, seventh in the table when he took over in October, just a point above the relegation zone.
However, Adams told BBC Radio Solent on Monday: “It’s not turned me off management that’s for sure.
“I’ve just got to make sure I get all the parameters right before I walk into the next one.”
He added: “I can’t wait to get back in and have another bash. But I won’t be impulsive, I’ve got to learn from that and make sure I get things right.”
Adams was promoted from assistant manager when Harry Redknapp, who guided the south coast club to FA Cup glory last year, left to join Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Pompey won just two out of 15 league games under Adams, whose Dutch assistant John Metgod also left Fratton Park on Monday.
The overall record of four wins in 22 under Adams which included defeats that knocked them out of the FA Cup and saw them eliminated from the UEFA Cup.
Adams’ final match in charge was Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Liverpool.
Paul Hart, the club’s director of youth operations, will take over as caretaker manager until a new boss is appointed.
Reports said Alan Curbishley and ex-Chelsea manager Avram Grant, a former Portsmouth technical director, were on a shortlist to take over, although Curbishley might be prevented from doing so as he is embroiled in a legal wrangle with his former club West Ham United.
A Portsmouth spokesman said: “This has been a very difficult decision and Tony has worked tirelessly to arrest the slump in form.
“He is rightfully highly respected within the football world and played a major role in our FA Cup triumph last season.
“We would like to thank him and John and wish them well in the future.
“The owner and the board feel they have been as supportive as they can during a period where results have been poor.
“The team has played well but too many points have been dropped from winning positions,” the statement said, with Saturday’s match against Liverpool – where Pompey were twice in front – the most recent example.
In the January transfer window Pompey saw the influential duo of midfielder Lassana Diarra, who joined Real Madrid, and striker Jermain Defoe, who returned to Tottenham, leave Fratton Park.
Portsmouth’s last Premier League win was against Blackburn Rovers on November 30 – shortly before the Lancashire side sacked Paul Ince, Adams’ ex-England team-mate, as their manager.
Adams’ only other managerial position before taking over at Portsmouth was an unsuccessful spell in charge of lower league Wycombe which saw them demoted to the fourth tier. – AFP/de
Channel News Asia
LONDON: Tony Adams insisted on Monday his sacking as manager of Premier League strugglers Portsmouth would not deter him from taking charge of another club.
Former Arsenal and England captain Adams was forced out following a run of results which had left Portsmouth, seventh in the table when he took over in October, just a point above the relegation zone.
However, Adams told BBC Radio Solent on Monday: “It’s not turned me off management that’s for sure.
“I’ve just got to make sure I get all the parameters right before I walk into the next one.”
He added: “I can’t wait to get back in and have another bash. But I won’t be impulsive, I’ve got to learn from that and make sure I get things right.”
Adams was promoted from assistant manager when Harry Redknapp, who guided the south coast club to FA Cup glory last year, left to join Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Pompey won just two out of 15 league games under Adams, whose Dutch assistant John Metgod also left Fratton Park on Monday.
The overall record of four wins in 22 under Adams which included defeats that knocked them out of the FA Cup and saw them eliminated from the UEFA Cup.
Adams’ final match in charge was Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Liverpool.
Paul Hart, the club’s director of youth operations, will take over as caretaker manager until a new boss is appointed.
Reports said Alan Curbishley and ex-Chelsea manager Avram Grant, a former Portsmouth technical director, were on a shortlist to take over, although Curbishley might be prevented from doing so as he is embroiled in a legal wrangle with his former club West Ham United.
A Portsmouth spokesman said: “This has been a very difficult decision and Tony has worked tirelessly to arrest the slump in form.
“He is rightfully highly respected within the football world and played a major role in our FA Cup triumph last season.
“We would like to thank him and John and wish them well in the future.
“The owner and the board feel they have been as supportive as they can during a period where results have been poor.
“The team has played well but too many points have been dropped from winning positions,” the statement said, with Saturday’s match against Liverpool – where Pompey were twice in front – the most recent example.
In the January transfer window Pompey saw the influential duo of midfielder Lassana Diarra, who joined Real Madrid, and striker Jermain Defoe, who returned to Tottenham, leave Fratton Park.
Portsmouth’s last Premier League win was against Blackburn Rovers on November 30 – shortly before the Lancashire side sacked Paul Ince, Adams’ ex-England team-mate, as their manager.
Adams’ only other managerial position before taking over at Portsmouth was an unsuccessful spell in charge of lower league Wycombe which saw them demoted to the fourth tier. – AFP/de
Channel News Asia
LONDON: Tony Adams insisted on Monday his sacking as manager of Premier League strugglers Portsmouth would not deter him from taking charge of another club.
Former Arsenal and England captain Adams was forced out following a run of results which had left Portsmouth, seventh in the table when he took over in October, just a point above the relegation zone.
However, Adams told BBC Radio Solent on Monday: “It’s not turned me off management that’s for sure.
“I’ve just got to make sure I get all the parameters right before I walk into the next one.”
He added: “I can’t wait to get back in and have another bash. But I won’t be impulsive, I’ve got to learn from that and make sure I get things right.”
Adams was promoted from assistant manager when Harry Redknapp, who guided the south coast club to FA Cup glory last year, left to join Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Pompey won just two out of 15 league games under Adams, whose Dutch assistant John Metgod also left Fratton Park on Monday.
The overall record of four wins in 22 under Adams which included defeats that knocked them out of the FA Cup and saw them eliminated from the UEFA Cup.
Adams’ final match in charge was Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Liverpool.
Paul Hart, the club’s director of youth operations, will take over as caretaker manager until a new boss is appointed.
Reports said Alan Curbishley and ex-Chelsea manager Avram Grant, a former Portsmouth technical director, were on a shortlist to take over, although Curbishley might be prevented from doing so as he is embroiled in a legal wrangle with his former club West Ham United.
A Portsmouth spokesman said: “This has been a very difficult decision and Tony has worked tirelessly to arrest the slump in form.
“He is rightfully highly respected within the football world and played a major role in our FA Cup triumph last season.
“We would like to thank him and John and wish them well in the future.
“The owner and the board feel they have been as supportive as they can during a period where results have been poor.
“The team has played well but too many points have been dropped from winning positions,” the statement said, with Saturday’s match against Liverpool – where Pompey were twice in front – the most recent example.
In the January transfer window Pompey saw the influential duo of midfielder Lassana Diarra, who joined Real Madrid, and striker Jermain Defoe, who returned to Tottenham, leave Fratton Park.
Portsmouth’s last Premier League win was against Blackburn Rovers on November 30 – shortly before the Lancashire side sacked Paul Ince, Adams’ ex-England team-mate, as their manager.
Adams’ only other managerial position before taking over at Portsmouth was an unsuccessful spell in charge of lower league Wycombe which saw them demoted to the fourth tier. – AFP/de
Channel News Asia
LONDON : Manager Tony Adams has left Portsmouth after the club took just two points from its last nine Premier League matches, the club said in a statement on its website Monday.
“Portsmouth Football Club can confirm that Tony Adams and John Metgod have left their positions as manager and first team coach with immediate effect,” the statement said.
Portsmouth’s 3-2 home defeat to Liverpool on Saturday spelled the end of Adams’ short reign at the club, who are hovering one point above the relegation zone.
Adams, a former England captain, won just four of his 22 matches in charge after being promoted from assistant manager when Harry Redknapp left to join Tottenham in October.
Portsmouth, the holders, were also knocked out of the FA Cup and eliminated from the UEFA Cup.
Paul Hart, the club’s director of youth operations, will take over as caretaker manager until a new boss is appointed.
Reports said Alan Curbishley and ex-Chelsea manager Avram Grant were on a shortlist to take over, although Curbishley might be prevented from doing so as he is embroiled in a legal wrangle with his former club West Ham United.
A Portsmouth spokesman said on the website: “This has been a very difficult decision and Tony has worked tirelessly to arrest the slump in form.
“He is rightfully highly respected within the football world and played a major role in our FA Cup triumph last season.
“We would like to thank him and John and wish them well in the future.
“The owner and the board feel they have been as supportive as they can during a period where results have been poor.
“The team has played well but too many points have been dropped from winning positions,” the statement said.
Portsmouth were twice ahead against Liverpool on Saturday before falling to defeat.
The spokesman added: “The priority is for Portsmouth Football Club to remain in the top flight and we feel the appointment of a new manager will give us the best opportunity to enable us to do this.”
– AFP/vm
Channel News Asia
STOKE, England: Rio Ferdinand faces a 10-day lay-off after being forced to pull out of Manchester United’s victory over Stoke City with a recurrence of a back injury.
The centre-back was named on the team-sheet at the Britannia Stadium but was withdrawn minutes before the Boxing Day kick-off when the problem flared up and he was deemed unfit to start the game.
Ferdinand’s place was taken by young Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans and the England international has now been ruled out of the rest of the Christmas and New Year programme.
“We have to get to the root of this because he has had this problem too many times now,” said Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
“We have to get to the bottom of it. It will be a week to ten days and then he should be okay.”
His injury means Ferdinand will miss Monday’s visit of Middlesbrough to Old Trafford and the FA Cup third round tie at Southampton the following Sunday.
The defender, who would almost certainly have been rested for the first leg of the League Cup semi-final with Derby County on January 7, will now target the visit of Chelsea to Old Trafford four days later for his return.
That game now has added significance following United’s victory at Stoke which came courtesy of Carlos Tevez’s goal seven minutes from time.
United returned from winning the Club World Cup in Japan six points behind second-placed Chelsea with two games in hand and, with both clubs winning on Friday, the game at Old Trafford could be crucial in terms of the title race.
Ferguson admitted his English and European champions faced a tough task at Stoke after their exertions in the Far East and said he was relieved to see United claim a victory.
“At this stage of the season I think they are all good wins,” he said.
“Coming back from Japan I think we were all worried about how it was going to affect the team but the energy level was good. It was a difficult game but sometimes you have got be patient in games and we were patient.
“Hopefully we will look back on this and think it was a significant victory,” the Scot added.
“If we get to New Year’s Day and are just a couple of points behind, we’ll be happy with that. The second half of the season, we will kick on a bit.”
Stoke appeared capable of claiming the point that would have eased their relegation concerns until defender Andy Wilkinson was sent off after collecting a second yellow card following a clash with Cristiano Ronaldo.
The full-back will now miss the trip to West Ham United on Decenber 28 but Stoke assistant manager Dave Kemp bemoaned the fact referee Chris Foy had missed Ronaldo’s earlier kick at Wilkinson that could easily have been punished by a red card.
“28,000 people saw it but the one person who matters didn’t,” said Kemp.
– AFP/yt
Channel News Asia
STOKE, England: Rio Ferdinand faces a 10-day lay-off after being forced to pull out of Manchester United’s victory over Stoke City with a recurrence of a back injury.
The centre-back was named on the team-sheet at the Britannia Stadium but was withdrawn minutes before the Boxing Day kick-off when the problem flared up and he was deemed unfit to start the game.
Ferdinand’s place was taken by young Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans and the England international has now been ruled out of the rest of the Christmas and New Year programme.
“We have to get to the root of this because he has had this problem too many times now,” said Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
“We have to get to the bottom of it. It will be a week to ten days and then he should be okay.”
His injury means Ferdinand will miss Monday’s visit of Middlesbrough to Old Trafford and the FA Cup third round tie at Southampton the following Sunday.
The defender, who would almost certainly have been rested for the first leg of the League Cup semi-final with Derby County on January 7, will now target the visit of Chelsea to Old Trafford four days later for his return.
That game now has added significance following United’s victory at Stoke which came courtesy of Carlos Tevez’s goal seven minutes from time.
United returned from winning the Club World Cup in Japan six points behind second-placed Chelsea with two games in hand and, with both clubs winning on Friday, the game at Old Trafford could be crucial in terms of the title race.
Ferguson admitted his English and European champions faced a tough task at Stoke after their exertions in the Far East and said he was relieved to see United claim a victory.
“At this stage of the season I think they are all good wins,” he said.
“Coming back from Japan I think we were all worried about how it was going to affect the team but the energy level was good. It was a difficult game but sometimes you have got be patient in games and we were patient.
“Hopefully we will look back on this and think it was a significant victory,” the Scot added.
“If we get to New Year’s Day and are just a couple of points behind, we’ll be happy with that. The second half of the season, we will kick on a bit.”
Stoke appeared capable of claiming the point that would have eased their relegation concerns until defender Andy Wilkinson was sent off after collecting a second yellow card following a clash with Cristiano Ronaldo.
The full-back will now miss the trip to West Ham United on Decenber 28 but Stoke assistant manager Dave Kemp bemoaned the fact referee Chris Foy had missed Ronaldo’s earlier kick at Wilkinson that could easily have been punished by a red card.
“28,000 people saw it but the one person who matters didn’t,” said Kemp.
– AFP/yt
Channel News Asia
Sekilas – Sukan
Posted on: November 30, 2008
Lennon bukti hebat bagi Spurs
LONDON: Pemain sayap, Aaron Lennon, wajar diberi peluang untuk menyerlah bersama pasukan England.
Pengurus Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Redknapp, melahirkan pandangannya itu kepada Fabio Capello selepas persembahan cemerlang Lennon ketika Spurs menewaskan Blackburn Rovers 1-0 dalam satu pertarungan Liga Perdana kelmarin.
Dalam satu lagi perlawanan, West Ham United menewaskan Sunderland 1-0. — AFP.
Keita wira Barcelona
MADRID: Seydou Keita menjaringkan gol penyamaan pada separuh masa kedua bagi membantu pendahulu Liga Primera Sepanyol, Barcelona, seri 1-1 dengan Getafe kelmarin.
Getafe berjaya membendung serangan Barca pada separuh masa pertama dan mengejutnya menerusi serangan balas apabila Manu del Moral membuka jaringan.
Barca tidak bernasib baik apabila percubaan Samuel Eto’o terkena palang sebelum Keita menjaringkan gol penyamaan selepas rehat. — Reuters.
Milan disekat, Inter lebar jurang
ROME: AC Milan disekat 2-2 oleh Torino kelmarin bagi membuka peluang kepada juara bertahan, Inter Milan, melebarkan jurang tiga mata di tangga atas Liga Serie A Italy.
Alessandro Rosina menjaringkan penalti bagi Torino pada minit ke-78 untuk memberikan tuan rumah gol penyamaan selepas Ronaldo meletakkan Milan 2-1 menerusi tendangan percuma pada minit ke-34.
Sebelum ini, Torino membuka jaringan menerusi tandukan Roberto Stellone tetapi kecemerlangan penyerang Brazil, Alexandre Pato, mengawal bola umpanan Gennaro Gattuso membolehkannya menyamakan 1-1. — Reuters.
Cyberita
Sekilas – Sukan
Posted on: November 30, 2008
Lennon bukti hebat bagi Spurs
LONDON: Pemain sayap, Aaron Lennon, wajar diberi peluang untuk menyerlah bersama pasukan England.
Pengurus Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Redknapp, melahirkan pandangannya itu kepada Fabio Capello selepas persembahan cemerlang Lennon ketika Spurs menewaskan Blackburn Rovers 1-0 dalam satu pertarungan Liga Perdana kelmarin.
Dalam satu lagi perlawanan, West Ham United menewaskan Sunderland 1-0. — AFP.
Keita wira Barcelona
MADRID: Seydou Keita menjaringkan gol penyamaan pada separuh masa kedua bagi membantu pendahulu Liga Primera Sepanyol, Barcelona, seri 1-1 dengan Getafe kelmarin.
Getafe berjaya membendung serangan Barca pada separuh masa pertama dan mengejutnya menerusi serangan balas apabila Manu del Moral membuka jaringan.
Barca tidak bernasib baik apabila percubaan Samuel Eto’o terkena palang sebelum Keita menjaringkan gol penyamaan selepas rehat. — Reuters.
Milan disekat, Inter lebar jurang
ROME: AC Milan disekat 2-2 oleh Torino kelmarin bagi membuka peluang kepada juara bertahan, Inter Milan, melebarkan jurang tiga mata di tangga atas Liga Serie A Italy.
Alessandro Rosina menjaringkan penalti bagi Torino pada minit ke-78 untuk memberikan tuan rumah gol penyamaan selepas Ronaldo meletakkan Milan 2-1 menerusi tendangan percuma pada minit ke-34.
Sebelum ini, Torino membuka jaringan menerusi tandukan Roberto Stellone tetapi kecemerlangan penyerang Brazil, Alexandre Pato, mengawal bola umpanan Gennaro Gattuso membolehkannya menyamakan 1-1. — Reuters.
Cyberita
Gunners Kian Getir
Posted on: November 28, 2008
LONDON: Ketika prestasi Arsenal agak terkapai-kapai tiga minggu lalu, mereka bangkit dengan menewaskan Manchester United dan kini selepas satu lagi kekecewaan di kancah domestik, mereka perlu menang besar ketika berdepan pendahulu liga, Chelsea untuk kekal dalam perburuan gelaran juara.
Pertembungan di Stamford Bridge adalah satu daripada perlawanan tumpuan Sabtu ini, ketika Manchester United turut berkunjung ke Manchester City.
Liverpool yang berkongsi mata dengan pendahulu tapi ketinggalan berdasarkan perbezaan gol, menanti kunjungan West Ham United, malam Isnin ini.
Chelsea dan Liverpool berkongsi 33 mata manakala United 25, tapi kekurangan satu perlawanan. Selepas tewas 3-0 di tangan Manchester City, Arsenal tergelincir ke tangga kelima dengan 23 mata.
Kekalahan dalam perlawanan itu akan menyaksikan mereka ketinggalan 13 mata di belakang Chelsea dan pada hari Isnin, mereka akan semakin jauh ketinggalan terhadap Liverpool dengan United begitu hampir dengan mereka.
Pengurus pasukan, Arsene Wenger buat kali pertama dalam tempoh 12 tahun membimbing skuad berkenaan mula menerima kritikan.
Kegagalannya membina kekuatan terhadap skuad itu pada musim rehat membuatkan peminat kecewa dan dengan ketiadaan gelaran sejak empat tahun kebelakangan ini, membuatkan rekod kemenangan musim 2003-2004 hanya tinggal sejarah.
Wenger mungkin boleh memberi tumpuan terhadap pemain remaja berpotensi dengan mempertaruhkan bakat mereka dalam Piala Liga tetapi ia akan mengambil masa untuk kesemua mereka diturunkan sebagai kesebelasan utama.
Bagaimanapun, dua pemain boleh dikecualikan iaitu pemain tengah berusia 16 tahun, Jack Wilshire, yang kali pertama merasai pengalaman beraksi di kancah Eropah dengan kemenangan 1-0 terhadap Dynamo Kiev Selasa lalu dan pemain tengah Wales, Aaron Ramsey yang semakin meningkat prestasinya.
Kemenangan itu melonjakkan Arsenal dalam kedudukan selesa di pusingan kalah mati Liga Juara-Juara dengan baki satu perlawanan, sekali gus membawa khabar gembira buat kelab itu.
“Ini adalah langkah pertama, apa yang diperlukan pasukan ini adalah sedikit jaminan dan kemenangan itu memberikan keyakinan terhadap kami,” kata Wenger selepas jaringan saat akhir Nicklas Bendtner.
Cesc Fabregas yang dilantik sebagai kapten selepas William Gallas dilucutkan daripada gelaran itu kerana mengkritik rakan sepasukannya berkata: “Kami menunjukkan bahawa kami bersatu dan sikap itulah yang menjadi tumpuan kami,” katanya.
Harian Metro
Kemenangan Bersama
Posted on: November 25, 2008
SUNDERLAND: Pengurus West Ham United, Gianfranco Zola mengaku lega selepas jaringan Valon Behrami berjaya menamatkan kemarau tujuh perlawanan tanpa kemenangan.
Behrami, pemain kebangsaan Switzerland, meledakkan gol tunggal pada babak pertama di Sunderland sebelum skuad Hammers itu bekerja keras bertahan untuk memastikan kemenangan itu, yang mengeluarkan mereka dari zon penyingkiran.
Tetapi, pelawat terpaksa bertahan untuk tempoh lama dalam pertembungan di mana pemain Sunderland sekali lagi merasai padah kegagalan mereka menyempurnakan peluang.
“Kami memandang berat setiap persaingan – kadang kala kami terlalu serius, maka adalah normal jika kami mengalami sedikit kekecewaan. Keputusan ini akan melonjakkan semangat pemain,” kata Zola.
“Akhirnya, kami berjaya meraih keputusan yang amat penting selepas bekerja keras sekian lama. Kami melalui saat sukar dan kemenangan ini amat penting buat pemain – begitu juga pengurus.
“Mungkin ada kalanya kami berjaya mempamer aksi lebih baik namun gagal meraih apa-apa. Keputusan ini sesuatu yang kami fikir layak dimiliki berdasarkan pengorbanan yang dilakukan sebelum ini.
“Saya amat gembira mengenai prestasi pemain. Mereka amat hebat. Segalanya terpulang kepada mereka.
Jaringan kemenangan Behrami muncul di celah-celah dominasi Sunderland pada babak pertama, namun mereka gagal menyempurnakan deretan peluang terhidang.
Sunderland mencipta banyak peluang sepanjang tempoh 45 minit babak pertama namun gagal disempurnakan dengan Djibril Cisse berdepan beberapa peluang terhidang dan tekanan mula memuncak selepas rehat apabila hilang arah.
Keputusan mungkin berbeza buat tuan rumah jika James Collins dikenakan hukuman kerana mengasari Cisse dan Kenwyne Jones. Kesalahan pertamanya dilakukan betul-betul di luar petak penalti sementara yang kedua, dalam kotak penalti.
Pengurus Sunderland, Roy Keane berkata: “Kami fikir ianya kesalahan untuk penalti, tapi tiada gunanya untuk saya terlalu memikirkan perkara itu.” – AFP
Harian Metro
My Soccer World 