West Ham United Football Club News

• Nickname:Hammers
• Founded:1895
• Manager:Sam Allardyce

• Ground:Upton Park
• Capacity:35,595

Curbs hits back at claims

08 Feb 2008 - 08:05:19

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West Ham manager Alan Curbishley has hit back at claims from Julien Faubert that he lacks tactical knowledge with a thinly-veiled attack on the French midfielder.

Faubert, a £6million summer signing from Bordeaux who has recently returned to action after a six-month injury lay off, accused Curbishley of neglecting tactical coaching during training sessions.

However, the Hammers boss claims he is not in the business of keeping individual members of his squad happy.

"It is a team effort, not for individuals," he countered.

"It is about the make-up of the side and I have changed formations during games.

"My only aim is to get a result. I am not here to keep people happy."

Curbishley claims he has not spoken to Faubert about his comments, but promised to take his criticism with 'a pinch of salt'.

He added: "He has hardly been around us. He has only been in three squads. That was against Fulham, Manchester City in the FA Cup game where he came on for 20 minutes and in the Manchester City league game.

"We haven't seen him since then because he picked up a calf strain.

"In five or six months he has probably trained with the first team, in terms of being near the first team, on two or three days."