Lucas Neill

Date of Birth : 9th March 1978 Place of Birth : Sydney, Australia Signed : January 2007 (Blackburn Rovers) Position : Full-Back Height : 6.01 Weight : 12.07 Appearances: 42 Goals : 0 International Appearances : 31 (0)

KB: KUMB; HM Hammers Mad; ST Sunday Times; SE Sunday Express; SM Sunday Mirror; OB Observer;
DM Daily Mirror; GU Guardian; TM Times; HD Hammers Diary; SK Sky; DE Daily Express

KUMB: Lucas Neill was playing a captain's role, with the crowd, encouraging his team mates to break down the centre, and joining the attack. However, his presence in the firing line left a gaping hole down the right channel, and coupled with the balance of the play, heavily in Blackburn's favour, it was no great surprise when Rovers took the lead through Santa Cruz from a Pedersen cross, on 18 minutes. (Alex Shilling, 17th March, 2008)

The Times: Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, said. “Torres is on fire. He had a small problem before the game and we were thinking about maybe resting him, but he was OK. If he continues scoring goals, I’m sure he will be a threat to defenders.” This is what is known as understatement. Certainly, West Ham’s defence could not get close to him, with Lucas Neill, the captain, enduring a miserable evening and Matthew Upson limping off with a calf strain in the closing stages. Neill and his colleagues breathed a sigh of relief when Torres departed to a standing ovation after his third goal but there was still time for Steven Gerrard to score a spectacular fourth goal, leaving Curbishley at the mercy of West Ham’s supporters. Having begun by calling for him to play two men up front, they finished by chanting “It’s just like watching Charlton” — quite damning, really, at the risk of offending anyone in London SE7. (Oliver Holt, 6th March, 2008)

Sky Sports: West Ham controlled much of the opening exchanges and it came as no surprise when they took the lead inside seven minutes. George McCartney's long throw from the left was flicked on by Carlton Cole and Freddie Ljungberg ghosted in at the back post to bundle the ball home from close range. Birmingham were level though just nine minutes later when Lucas Neill's clumsy challenge on James McFadden resulted in referee Mark Clattenburg pointing to the spot.

The Guardian: In also rejecting criticism of the wages paid at West Ham, Magnusson insists that "the figures have been totally distorted. I don't understand it". The discrepancy arises when reputable sources claim that Parker, Bellamy, Ljungberg and, most astonishingly of all, Lucas Neill are paid £70-72,000 a week whereas Magnusson has said in the past that his top players earn £55,000. He hesitates when asked about that £55,000 ceiling: "Well, we have a basic wage structure and we are there or thereabouts and we don't want to surpass that. That is still the case." (7th August, 2007)

The Independent: Ljungberg brought a touch of Arsenal quality to his operations wide on the right, linking effectively with the overlapping captain Lucas Neill, while Bellamy's quickness off the mark regularly flustered the home back line. Southend's best efforts at attack provided little more than heading practice for Anton Ferdinand and Danny Gabbidon as West Ham soon took command. First, a Neill free-kick, met ferociously with Bobby Zamora's head, was repelled one-handed by Darryl Flahavan, then another Zamora header rebounded off the goal frame, as did the committed striker. Bellamy headed straight at Flahavan, and Lee Bowyer scooped over before Zamora claimed the opening goal on the half-hour. Meeting Ljungberg's long ball, he spotted Flahavan off his line and deliberately looped his header over the keeper. (29th July, 2007)

Sunday Telegraph: Lucas Neill says he is honoured to become the captain of West Ham and hopes it will finally silence his detractors. Neill was criticised last January after he rejected a move to Liverpool and opted for a move to east London, although West Ham were facing a relegation battle. Doubters suggested the Australian international chose Upton Park because of the £60,000 a week salary he was reportedly offered. But Neill hopes he showed his commitment by fighting his way back from injury to help keep the club in the Premier League. Neill, who is also captain of Australia, said: "Being announced as the captain shows I was always going to be part of this team. It wasn't ever promised, but I was told I would be important. "If I was only joining for money, I would have sat on the sidelines and just picked up my wages. I didn't do that. I got in the trenches and helped dig us out." (28th July, 2007)

Romford Recorder: Dean Ashton, Danny Gabbidon and Matty Upson all took part in training which would have been heartening to manager Alan Curbishley. Another absentee is Lucas Neill who is down under with Australia preparing for the Asian Cup competition. Neill, who is expected to be named as the new West Ham United captain for this season, will face Oman this Sunday before taking on Iraq on July 13 and Thailand on July 16 to complete the group. (5th July, 2007)