Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Cambridge United 0 - 4 Hammers
A young hammers side easily desposed of Cambridge United in this preseason friendly which must surely bode well for the future. A teenage midfield quartet of Hogan Ephraim, Mark Noble, Tony Stokes and Kyel Reid again lined up for the first team in a friendly match with Mark Noble grabbing the headlines with his first senior goal for the club to make it 2-0 in the 4oth minute. Up front we had some experience with Dean Ashton, who scored the first goal & Carlton Cole who also grabbed his first goal for the club to make it 3 just before half time. Kyel Reid Grabbed a 4th late in the 2nd Half.
In defence 16 year old Ryan O'Neil made his first senior appearance at right back whilst James Tomkins kept his place in the side alongside James Collins. Paul Konchesky was the final piece in an otherwise inexperienced back four which held its own well in this encounter.
Cole and Ashton formed a good partnership which will please Alan Pardew as he increases his options for a starting front pair. Indeed it was Cole who supplied Ashton with his goal and Ashton who returned the favour for the newly signed youngster from Chelsea.
As for Cambridge I was suprised to learn that they are currently fighting it out in the Nationwide Conference. I remember West Ham playing against them in the league, in fact I'm sure they beat them 2-0 at home in order to get promtion the the Premier League in 1993 I recall. What a turn of events for them to have dropped 3 leagues over the course of 12 years.
In defence 16 year old Ryan O'Neil made his first senior appearance at right back whilst James Tomkins kept his place in the side alongside James Collins. Paul Konchesky was the final piece in an otherwise inexperienced back four which held its own well in this encounter.
Cole and Ashton formed a good partnership which will please Alan Pardew as he increases his options for a starting front pair. Indeed it was Cole who supplied Ashton with his goal and Ashton who returned the favour for the newly signed youngster from Chelsea.
As for Cambridge I was suprised to learn that they are currently fighting it out in the Nationwide Conference. I remember West Ham playing against them in the league, in fact I'm sure they beat them 2-0 at home in order to get promtion the the Premier League in 1993 I recall. What a turn of events for them to have dropped 3 leagues over the course of 12 years.
Posted by Dave at 7:42 am
Dave said...
Apparently Ashton went off and iced his hamsrting - not good news.
Also what is curious is Carroll has not yet played a single preseason game. Bywater played tonight.
whubris said...
Hope Deano's all right. Good to see most of our players getting to a good start - a clean sheet for Bywater and goals for half the team in recent matches. Goes to show that we have some quality youngsters - of the 8 midfield and defence players only 2 had first team experience (in a competition that is).
Carroll may be injured. On the other hand Pardew may play him in Greece.
said...
Sir Alex Ferguson
"The midfield area was something that we maybe had to bolster," he said. "We kept saying about replacing Roy Keane and that kind of thing. You can't replace Roy Keane - we've been trying for five years. Michael's an excellent footballer and a very, very good passer of the ball. The good thing is he's been playing English football. He went into a West Ham team very young and most players who come through West Ham get a good education. Roy was a possession player, a straightforward A to B passer. Michael is a far more inventive passer of the ball, but the most important thing to mention is keeping possession."
...Post a Comment ... Go to Forum
Dave said...Apparently Ashton went off and iced his hamsrting - not good news.
Also what is curious is Carroll has not yet played a single preseason game. Bywater played tonight.
whubris said...Hope Deano's all right. Good to see most of our players getting to a good start - a clean sheet for Bywater and goals for half the team in recent matches. Goes to show that we have some quality youngsters - of the 8 midfield and defence players only 2 had first team experience (in a competition that is).
Carroll may be injured. On the other hand Pardew may play him in Greece.
said...Sir Alex Ferguson
"The midfield area was something that we maybe had to bolster," he said. "We kept saying about replacing Roy Keane and that kind of thing. You can't replace Roy Keane - we've been trying for five years. Michael's an excellent footballer and a very, very good passer of the ball. The good thing is he's been playing English football. He went into a West Ham team very young and most players who come through West Ham get a good education. Roy was a possession player, a straightforward A to B passer. Michael is a far more inventive passer of the ball, but the most important thing to mention is keeping possession."
