Grant laments bad timing

West Ham manager Avram Grant is angry last week’s international break came when his team had finally hit a good run of form.

Grant’s men spent long periods of the season slumped at the foot of the Premier League table but a recent upturn in fortunes has seen West Ham haul themselves out of the relegation zone.

Before the international break West Ham had suffered just one defeat in six league games but the side could have lost that momentum going into Saturday’s match against Manchester United.

Grant said: “We wanted to play last Saturday because we were on a good run.”

“We had good momentum but this is how the fixtures have worked out and we are looking forward to the game on Saturday.”

“International breaks are not good for the clubs because there are so many Premier League players in international teams. We need to respect the way the fixtures are.”

“From our point of view things are good because it looks like everybody is fit but with West Ham you never know.”

Influential midfielder Scott Parker impressed in England’s 2-0 victory over Wales on Saturday – a mature performance just days after the death of his father. Grant was full of praise for the 30-year-old’s attitude.

He said: “He is a good lad, a positive lad who is good for the team. Scott Parker is maybe the best midfielder in the league this season.”

“He is doing a job that some other players don’t like to do so much. I am pleased he has been recognised by England because he has deserved that for a while.”

West Ham will be without goalkeeper Peter Kurucz (knee) and midfielders Jack Collison (knee) and Junior Stanislas (groin).

Thu 31 March, 2011

Grant laments bad timing

West Ham manager Avram Grant is angry last week’s international break came when his team had finally hit a good run of form.

Grant’s men spent long periods of the season slumped at the foot of the Premier League table but a recent upturn in fortunes has seen West Ham haul themselves out of the relegation zone.

Before the international break West Ham had suffered just one defeat in six league games but the side could have lost that momentum going into Saturday’s match against Manchester United.

Grant said: “We wanted to play last Saturday because we were on a good run.”

“We had good momentum but this is how the fixtures have worked out and we are looking forward to the game on Saturday.”

“International breaks are not good for the clubs because there are so many Premier League players in international teams. We need to respect the way the fixtures are.”

“From our point of view things are good because it looks like everybody is fit but with West Ham you never know.”

Influential midfielder Scott Parker impressed in England’s 2-0 victory over Wales on Saturday – a mature performance just days after the death of his father. Grant was full of praise for the 30-year-old’s attitude.

He said: “He is a good lad, a positive lad who is good for the team. Scott Parker is maybe the best midfielder in the league this season.”

“He is doing a job that some other players don’t like to do so much. I am pleased he has been recognised by England because he has deserved that for a while.”

West Ham will be without goalkeeper Peter Kurucz (knee) and midfielders Jack Collison (knee) and Junior Stanislas (groin).

Thu 31 March, 2011

Gyan laments England absences

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan has expressed his disappointment that England will field a second-string squad in their friendly match on Tuesday.

Gyan, who plies his trade with Sunderland in the English Premier League, said although he expects Fabio Capello’s men to put on a good show, he feels let down his side will not come up against the likes of Wayne Rooney, John Terry and Frank Lampard.Some 21,000 Ghanaian fans will fill the away section at Wembley for the match and Gyan expressed his sympathy for those who have spent big money to see England’s stars.”We were expecting the changes,” Gyan told reporters on Monday.”I might be disappointed but it is one of those things. Maybe the fans are disappointed because we have never played against England. Maybe some of the fans are there to see the big names and they are not playing.”"They have paid a lot of money. They came to see Rooney and the big players.”But Gyan says he and his team-mates will not be taking England lightly, despite the absence of some of their big names.”England are still a strong side. Everyone knows England. We will have to be very careful,” he said.”They have never lost to an African team and we have to stay focused and see what happens. Those players who are coming to face Ghana are also good players. It is an English national team. Maybe they might be better than those players that are out!”Gyan also reserved special praise for Jack Wilshere and England boss Capello ahead of the fixture.His club team-mate, John Mensah, who doubles as the Ghana captain, said although England will not be at full strength, he still expects them to play well. “It would be nice to see the big names but I don’t think those that are playing are not good,” Mensah said.”I know that if they have the national jersey, they are good players. We all know Rooney and some of the others who are big names and we respect all of them. But anyone who wears the jersey is a capable player.”

Mon 28 March, 2011

Mazzarri laments ´unlucky´ defeat

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri believes his team did not deserve to exit the Europa League at the hands of Villarreal on Thursday.

Serie A contenders Napoli drew 0-0 at home to Villarreal in the first leg of their round-of-32 tie at the Stadio San Paolo on February 17.

They took the lead through the highly-rated Slovak Marek Hamsik and struck the woodwork four times throughout the return match at Villarreal’s El Madrigal.

But goals from Brazil forward Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi sent the Spanish hosts through to the next round 2-1 on aggregate.

“Today we were unlucky,” Mazzarri said.

“It is not easy to come to this stadium and impose your game, but I have to congratulate my players, we played a good match.”

Mazzarri also felt that his team should have been awarded a penalty by Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir.”We see that it is written that we don’t go through,” he said.

“There was a penalty our way, and we didn’t deserve to go out.”"From a general point of view, we couldn’t have done any better, we were simply unlucky.”

Fri 25 February, 2011

Mazzarri laments ´unlucky´ defeat

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri believes his team did not deserve to exit the Europa League at the hands of Villarreal on Thursday.

Serie A contenders Napoli drew 0-0 at home to Villarreal in the first leg of their round-of-32 tie at the Stadio San Paolo on February 17.

They took the lead through the highly-rated Slovak Marek Hamsik and struck the woodwork four times throughout the return match at Villarreal’s El Madrigal.

But goals from Brazil forward Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi sent the Spanish hosts through to the next round 2-1 on aggregate.

“Today we were unlucky,” Mazzarri said.

“It is not easy to come to this stadium and impose your game, but I have to congratulate my players, we played a good match.”

Mazzarri also felt that his team should have been awarded a penalty by Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir.”We see that it is written that we don’t go through,” he said.

“There was a penalty our way, and we didn’t deserve to go out.”"From a general point of view, we couldn’t have done any better, we were simply unlucky.”

Fri 25 February, 2011