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PREMIERSHIP TEAM PREVIEWS
WEST HAM UNITED FC
Coach: Alan Curbishley (Eng)
Alan Curbishley’s first management job came in 1991 when he took over Charlton in joint control with Steve Gritt. He was appointed sole manager of Charlton in 1995 and gained promotion to the Premiership in 1998 and again in 2000 after relegation in 1999. He then established Charlton in the top-flight, before leaving in 2006, after 729 games in charge.
He took over at West ham in late 2006, when the club were in the relegation zone. A sensational end to the season saw West Ham win 7 of their last 9 games to stay up, and last year they were just below the European places, with injury problems resulting in a 10th place finish.
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Recent record: (Pos); Pl; W-D-L; F-A; Pts
2007/08: (10th); 38; 13-10-15; 42-50; 49
2006/07: (15th); 38; 12-5-21; 35-59; 41
2005/06: (9th); 38; 16-7-15; 52-55; 55
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Good:
There is a lot of talent in West Ham’s squad, albeit slightly flawed in terms of injuries (e.g. Ashton) and mentality (e.g. Bellamy); if Curbishley can manage to harness the good aspects of his talented players, West Ham realistically can challenge for the European spots.
Bad:
West Ham had an unbelievable amount of injuries last year and though they have changed their whole training set up in an effort to curb the amount of injuries this season, their real problem lies in having bought injury-prone players in recent years; Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy, Lee Bowyer, Scott Parker and Dean Ashton to name a few all have a long history of injuries.
With injuries being so prevalent last season, Curbishley bought extra cover during the January transfer window and now West Ham have a squad that may be too big; with 31 first team players, unrest over selections could hamper their progress this season.
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Transfers, Loans, Retirements...
IN: Valon Behrami (Lazio), Jan Lastuvka (Shakhtar Donetsk, loan).
OUT; John Pantsil and Bobby Zamora (Fulham), Richard Wright (Ipswich).
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Star Player:
If Dean Ashton can stay fit, he has the ability to become an England regular up front; despite spending the whole of the 2006/7 season out with a broken ankle, he had a decent season for West Ham last term, scoring 10 league goals and he earned his first England cap against Trinidad and Tobago in June.
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Summary:
Injuries and squad discipline are where West Ham will succeed or fail this season; they have the players to be safely in the top ten challenging for European places, but if key players get injured or if there is dissent in the squad, their form will suffer and they can quickly slip down the table.
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TO WIN PREMIERSHIP:
Bet on West Ham to win Premiership: $1,001.00 @ Bet365
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Match Previews 10-11 January:
18 games this weekend, including the big match in the Premiership on Sunday, Manchester United v Chelsea.
In Italy, David Beckham is expected to make his debut in Milan's visit to the capital to face AS Roma.
La Liga's runaway leaders, Barcelona, face a short trip north-west to take on the league's bottom club, Osasuna.
Bordeaux and PSG meet in a game which should tell us more about who's likely to keep challenging Lyon as the season wears on in France.
read the Previews...:
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*** BETZINE UK RECORD ***
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*** LATEST PROMOTIONS ***
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Paddy Power
London Calling! (Sun 31st Aug)
If Deco scores at anytime, Paddy Power will refund all losing 1st /last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on the match.
Click to open an account with Paddy Power
Read more about the promotion HERE
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Weekend Match Reports
Links to the match reports of games in the Premiership, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga
HERE
Starting this season; news feed for ALL Premiership teams available on Betzine UK
Read the news section HERE
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