The 2007-08 Premiership campaign was a test of resolve for West Ham United. The club overhauled its roster entering the season and spent millions to acquire such notable players as striker Craig Bellamy and midfielders Julien Faubert, Kieron Dyer and Scott Parker.
West Ham's dreams of winning a European placement on the backs of those four newcomers quickly went sour, however, as the entire quartet missed significant time to injury. The four players combined for just 40 appearances in a season that was seemingly less about playing soccer than it was about staying out of the trainer's room.
With a few months of rest, however, a refreshed Hammers squad is looking forward to the MLS All-Star Game as a chance for some of its stars to display their fitness to an international audience. Faubert, Parker and Bellamy are all on West Ham's roster for their North American tour, and all three started in WHU's 3-1 win against Columbus last Sunday. Bellamy has been a particular force thus far for the Hammers, as the Welsh national team captain has three goals in West Ham's two preseason friendlies.
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley said that regulars Matthew Etherington and Luis Boa Morte have recovered from groin and back injuries, respectively, and will be available for Thursday's match.
Curbishley didn't bring his full roster across from England, as regulars Matthew Upson, George McCartney and Freddie Ljungberg stayed to heal nagging injuries and rest. The Hammers manager also noted another player that, much to the dismay of American soccer fans, won't be appearing in the All-Star Game. U.S. international Jonathan Spector is expected to miss six months of action following hip surgery.
"Jon Spector, our American import, is injured as well, unfortunately, because he was really looking forward to it," Curbishley said. "He had a hip operation so he misses this and he misses the Olympics."
As it is only West Ham United's third preseason game, Curbishley said his team's fitness is not quite 100 percent, so he is likely to make some substitutions as the game wears on. Team captain Lucas Neill estimated the team is "close to 70 or 80 minutes of good footballing stamina.
"It's going to be a tough game for us, I think later on in the game we'll probably look a little bit jaded, but I think the adrenaline and the excitement that surrounds the game will keep us going. ... There's a lot at stake, trans-Atlantic pride."
With an increased focus on fitness and a bit of luck from the injury gods, Neill said on Tuesday that his team's respectable finish in the face of all those injuries in 2007-08 is a sign of the talent on the West Ham roster.
"Our plans were derailed with major key players getting injured, but the character in the change room got us to 10th in the league," Neill said. "We've still got that character and we've got some of our weapons back so we're excited now that we're going to have threats all over the field. We've got goalscorers, pace down the wings and we can defend quite well. If we can put all that blend together it's going to be en exciting season for West Ham."
New faces: With some regulars not making the trip to North America, depth is being provided by some newcomers from the famed West Ham academy.
"We've brought six all in all, young players who haven't had too much first team experience," Curbishley said. "But they've enjoyed every minute of it and they're looking forward to tomorrow night. It's an experience they're going to gain and not forget."
Nineteen-year-old Joe Widdowson has been the most notable of these youngsters thus far in West Ham's preseason. With McCartney and Spector injured, Widdowson has filled in at fullback and started both of the Hammers' preseason friendlies.
Curbishley chuckled when he was told that Widdowson was reportedly very excited to possibly be matched up against England legend David Beckham on Thursday.
"We'll have to see if Joe is playing tomorrow night, but I'm sure if he is he'll enjoy the experience immediately," Curbishley said.
Revenge for Boa Morte: Luis Boa Morte may have some extra incentive to be in West Ham's lineup. If the Portuguese winger takes the field on Thursday, he will become the first-ever international player to twice oppose the MLS All-Stars since the All-Star Game adopted its current format in 2003.
Boa Morte played for Fulham in 2005 when the west London side took a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of the MLS All-Stars at Columbus Crew Stadium. He started the game at forward and was one of five Fulham players who played the full 90 minutes.
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
