14/05/2007 11:34
West Ham United may have rounded off the season in unforgettable style at Old Trafford on Sunday, but Alan Curbishley's men still have one game to play before heading off on a well-deserved summer break. Hammers will be providing the opposition tomorrow night at Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium, for a testimonial match in honour of our current Youth Academy Goalkeeping Coach Andy Woodman. The popular Woody, who spent much of his playing career at Northampton, will be reunited with his former team-mates from the Cobblers' triumphant season of 1996-97, when they won promotion from the old third division via the play-offs. Alan Curbishley has promised to take a full first team squad for the game. Kick off is 7pm, with admission only £10 (£6 concessions and £3 for under 16s). Tickets are on sale from the Northampton Town Box Office on 0870 822 1966, while entrance will also be available on the night via the turnstiles.
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The Great Escape: How we pulled it off! - WHUFC
14/05/2007 12:47
Old Trafford, Sir Matt Busby Way, Manchester, M16. There could be no more daunting venue in which to face 11 full internationals in front of 75,927 fans, roaring on their Premiership champions. But as he headed north for a nail-biting Survival Sunday, Alan Curbishley had already admitted that he would have taken that final day scenario during Hammers' long, dark winter of discontent. Indeed, after his side had turned an 89th-minute, 3-2 lead into an improbable 3-4 stoppage time defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on 4 March 2007, Curbs was left to survey the damage of bottom place and a cavernous 10-point gap to safety, with just nine matches remaining.
Certainly, the Premiership table did not make happy reading down West Ham way:
15th - Wigan Athletic - Played: 29. Points: 32. (Goal Diff: -14)
16th - Sheffield United - Played: 29. Points: 31 (Goal Diff: -16)
17th - Manchester City - Played: 27. Points: 30 (Goal Diff: -13)
18th - Charlton Athletic - Played: 29. Points: 24 (Goal Diff: -23)
19th - Watford - Played: 29 Points: 20. (Goal Difference: -25)
20th - West Ham United - Played: 29. Points: 20 (Goal Diff: -29)
Things could only get better. And they duly did.
A controversial victory at Blackburn Rovers (2-1) proved the catalyst for tremendous three-pointers against Middlesbrough (2-0) and Arsenal (1-0). Not even back-to-back defeats against fellow strugglers Sheffield United and title-chasing Chelsea could knock the Hammers out of their stride, though, and following wonderful wins over Everton (1-0), Wigan Athletic (3-0) and Bolton Wanderers (3-1), those 18 points from a possible 24, had given the in-form Hammers a real lifeline to cling to. Heading to Manchester United for that nervy, final 90 minutes of a hair-raising campaign, Curbs' commandos had battled their way out of the bottom three knowing that their fate was finally in their own hands:
16th - Sheffield United - Played: 37. Points: 38 (Goal Diff: -22)
17th - West Ham United - Played: 37. Points: 38 (Goal Diff: -25)
18th - Wigan Athletic - Played: 37. Points: 35 (Goal Diff: -23)
19th - Charlton Athletic (R) - Played: 37. Points: 33 (Goal Diff: -26)
20th - Watford (R) - Played: 37. Points: 27 (Goal Diff: -30)
If Hammers could avoid defeat at Old Trafford, then safety was guaranteed, while victory for Sheffield United over Wigan Athletic would condemn the Latics to relegation. And in a final twist of the knife, the 16th-placed Blades would depart the Premiership if they lost to Paul Jewell's visitors and the Hammers returned from Old Trafford unscathed! With all eyes on centre stage at the Theatre of Dreams and an ear listening out for events across the Pennines in the City of Steel, a dramatic afternoon was set to unfold:-
Old Trafford - 6 minutes: Wayne Rooney's 20-yard free-kick is deflected over to the relief of the Hammers. Wigan will be relegated.
Bramall Lane - 12 mins: Kevin Kilbane's low, left-wing cross is rifled home by Paul Scharner from 18 yards to put Wigan ahead. Sheffield United will be relegated.
Old Trafford - 30 mins: Hammers have Yossi Benayoun to thank as he makes a double goal-line clearance to deny both Alan Smith and Kieran Richardson.
Bramall Lane - 38 mins: Jagielka's well-flighted cross is bravely headed home by Jon Stead, who clashes heads with 'keeper Mike Pollitt as he equalises for the Blades. Wigan will be relegated.
Old Trafford - 45 mins: Robert Green's huge, stoppage time drop-kick finds its way to Carlos Tevez via Bobby Zamora and the Argentinian ace sneaks between Gabriel Heinze and Wes Brown to give Hammers an audacious lead with his seventh goal in nine games. Wigan will be relegated.
Bramall Lane - 45 mins: Jagielka turns from hero to villain as he recklessly handles Kilbane's stoppage free-kick into the danger area, leaving ex-Hammer and former Blade David Unsworth to blast home from the penalty spot to put Wigan back in front. Sheffield United will be relegated.
Bramall Lane - 54 mins: Danny Webber agonisingly raps the Wigan post.
Old Trafford - 57 mins: Internationals Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Ronaldo step from the bench as Sir Alex Ferguson ups the stakes!
Bramall Lane - 74 mins: Having already been booked for dissent, Wigan's Lee McCulloch is then sent off for chopping Michael Tonge.
Old Trafford - 90 mins: Having survived John O'Shea's penalty appeal and seen Ronaldo's downward header saved by the busy Robert Green, the Hammers again have their 'keeper to thank for palming over Scholes late sizzler seconds before referee Martin Atkinson calls time on the champions. Hammers are safe!
Bramall Lane - 90 mins: Goalkeeper Paddy Kenny is in the thick of it in the Wigan penalty area but the Blades' 11 men cannot force a saving equaliser against the depleted Latics and Mike Dean's final whistle signals relegation for Sheffield United.
"It's such a cruel game," bemoaned Neil Warnock after seeing his side make an instant return to the Championship. "We just couldn't climb the final hurdle and we've suffered the consequences." The joyous Paul Jewell added: "Wigan shouldn't have been in this position but we were and it's now great honour to be able to stay in the Premiership." And having pulled off a mini-miracle to keep 15th-placed Hammers in the Premiership the final word went to Curbs. "To come away from Old Trafford with the win was the bonus ball," he beamed. "But whenever United tried to create anything we got there, we blocked it and put our bodies on the line. It was a great effort and we've pulled off an amazing escape!"
by Steve Blowers
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Big mouth strikes again - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 14th May 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Rent-a-quote Wigan Chairman Dave Whelan has vowed to continue his fight against West Ham - despite his team avoiding relegation yesterday. Wigan won 2-1 at Sheffield United yesterday afternoon thanks to a penalty from ex-Hammer and Blade David Unsworth. However Whelan insists that the fight to have West Ham United's £5.5m punishment increased will go on - despite his previous appeals having been all but laughed off by the Premier League. "Charlton, Sheff United, Wigan, Fulham and Middlesbrough are all determined that we should get justice," bleated Whelan last night. "West Ham should have been deducted points. "It has to be done quickly because the longer this goes on the less likelihood of the league reviewing it at all. We are going to fight and support Sheffield United - and we will fight with them to the end."
Meanwhile Sheffield United Chairman Kevin McCabe - understandably perhaps given the fact that his club are some £40m worse off this morning - backed Whelan's latest call for a review into the adjudcating panel's decision. "I think most of the Premier League clubs and other football clubs support us over this injustice that has come about this season," he said. "Four years ago the Blades had just lost in the play-off final and I felt gutted. This time I feel cheated. "I think there is a consensus most clubs support an injustice so I hope we will get the vast majority of clubs in the Premier League supporting our case."
* Dave Whelan's Wikipedia entry has been placed on the website's 'semi-protected' list following numerous recent cases of vandalism. He shares the page with such luminaries as Adolf Hitler, James Blunt and Nick Griffin of the BNP.
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Magnusson's joy - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 14th May 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Hammers Chairman Eggert Magnusson has paid tribute to Alan Curbishley and his squad for pulling off one of the most remarkable achievements in recent years. Curbishley's side avoided relegation by finishing the season with seven wins from their last nine games - West Ham's best ever run of results in the Premier League, and their best sequence in the top flight since 1986.
And Magnusson - who was seen leaping around in the directors box before hugging his manager following the final whistle - has no doubt that Curbs is the man to take the club forward.
"This is a wonderful moment for a great football club," he told whufc.com. "I feel so much joy and also pride in the team and our fantastic supporters. "We have shown that this is a Club with a great fighting spirit and a group of players who know how to win. "I pay tribute to Alan Curbishley, who has provided real leadership since he took over as manager. To the players, for the way they have performed in recent months, to all the staff at the Club, and to the amazing fans. "To have won seven out of the last nine games is a genuine achievement and should not be forgotten as people reflect on the Premiership season. "Now we can look ahead to moving forward as a club and building on what we have achieved this season."
And with regard t the legal battle that is likely to rumble on over the summer, he added: "Of course I feel sympathy for the clubs no longer in the Premiership. "But in the end I believe it is right that football matters be decided on the pitch."
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We were in a bit of trouble - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 13th May 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Alan Curbishley reveals that it wasn't all plain sailing at Old Trafford this afternoon ...
As the games were unfolding here and at Bramall Lane, for a long while we were in a bit of trouble. It was important that we got to half-time with the game close - but we nicked a goal just before which gave us great belief for the second half. I heard our fans signing and thought that Sheffield United had gone one up - but it was the other way round! We were trying to keep one eye open as to what was going on [at Bramall Lane], but at the end of it we were doing our job which meant Man United needed to score two. As the minutes were drifting away it got a bit more comfortable. The players have got to take great credit. The run we've had - seven wins out of nine - against top Premiership opposition has been fantastic. Nine or ten that started today were players who were here before I got to the club, so great credit to them. We've had a real topsy turvy season; we went eight games without winning before I took over, then after I took over we had a bad ten game spell as well. So when you consider that for half the season we've not won any games, and that we've had to pick up all our points in the remaining half - fantastic.
Tevez's goal? It was a great finish. We felt that Man United would commit and push people forward as that's the way they play, and that we may have a chance on the break. We fashioned a couple of chances but we needed to take one of them. Carlos took it, and it gave us something to defend. He's been inspirational in the last two months, along with a number of other players. It's been a settled team and there's been some fantastic performances, as you saw today.
Legal issues? I did say whatever the outcome of the enquiry, we'll have to get on with it - and that's the way I've been. I've kept well away from it. There's not been a lot of noise coming out of West Ham - we've just got on with it and tried to win the matches. For a long while we were playing 'must win' games and we've clawed back a massive points deficit. It's been a fantastic result for us.
Eggert Magnusson? When you consider he spent an awful lot of money on the club and changed managers only for it to get worse, if you like, he's been very supportive - and fantastic to me since I've been at the club. If you said to me nine games ago we were going to win seven of them and get ourselves out of it ... it was a big ask, but it just shows you what can happen in football. I just hope we don't have to go through anything like this again.
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The end of the beginning - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 14th May 2007
By: Ron Manager
Good old Winnie. If ever a man could encapsulate a momentous moment in history using our magnificent language, he could. An extract from his 'The Few' speech, resonates with the twists and turns of this season: "We cannot tell what lies ahead. It may be that even greater ordeals lie before us. We shall face whatever is coming to us. We are sure of ourselves and our cause and that is the supreme fact which has emerged in these months of trial."
There is a limit to the amount of trauma a set of supporters and a football club can withstand and WHUFC are way off the clock on that score. I am simply amazed that the present incumbent and the team were able to focus on winning seven out of nine to preserve our Premiership status. Winston again encapsulates Paul Aldridge's dilemma at the begining of this fateful season: "Although present on the occasion I have no clear recollection of the events leading to it!"
For as long as night follows day dear readers, we have all crossed the rubicon after the tectonic plates started moving under Green Street last summer. Indeed, the recent earthquake in Kent had its epicentre under the Boleyn! I have supported 'The Irons' man and boy since the 60s cup finals and I have NEVER witnessed a season and indeed the latter part of the pre-season that produced such fulminating situations that literally took one's breath away.
One must realise at this stage that we have broken the mould. The perception of West Ham United was amply illustrated by the reaction of the media to the Argentinians transfer ( what are two international footballers doing at West Ham?) and the transfer of Lucas Neill. Remember he had the effrontery to sign on at Upton Park instead of signing for Liverpool stating that he 'felt more wanted at the Boleyn than at Anfield'. We all know that the pecuniary emolument had something to do with him signing but the pundits could not get their heads around the fact that Neill had flown in the face of perceived football wisdom (I use the word wisdom advisedly). The previous Chairman and administration were shown to be, in the full light of day......................... (I will leave you to fill in the rest due the swingeing libel laws in this country, suffice it to say it is unlikely that Terence Brown will be darkening the doors of The Boleyn whilst King Egg is in residence).
The previous managerial incumbent has been done to death on KUMB.com and I would add only three quotes from him which I feel illustrates his attitude towards his teams (supporters). Prior to the second play off final - 'this lot can get me into the Premiership', and more recently with Charlton after relegation 'I've never been relegated before' and lastly which illustrates his lack of memory 'I hope WHUFC don't get relegated, there are people there that I love' - oops!
So to Curbs, down to earth? Yeah. Lacking in sartorial elegance? yeah. Lacking in the PR skills other purport to have? Yeah - but a GIANT among managers - oh yes! To salvage our status after the bombsite he inherited is worthy of deification. I make no bones about it - I love the man for bringing back to us a sense of purpose and dignity that has been lacking for a long time. I expect a top six finish as the minimum requirement next season!
We happy few, lucky to have King Egg instead of the Iranian Mafia but be warned, the balmy days of Academies (old style), second team for other supporters, bacon sandwiches missed at Chadwell Heath (Fat Frank), 'arry running down the wing and into the boards with the cry resonating 'Harry for England' all gone now. Get your tin hats on - it's going to be a bumpy ride - but it is West Ham so it is guaranteed to be nerve jangling, interesting and with maybe a pot or two thrown in to keep us interested. My Claret and Blue dreams will never die.
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Haven't we been punished enough already? - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 14th May 2007
By: P.Benjy
Over the past weeks West Ham United have managed a remarkable turnaround in form, culminating in yesterday's win at Old Trafford to complete a truly 'great escape' from relegation.
Unfortunately, praise for this achievement has been drowned out by howls of indignation and moral outrage and calls for retribution from the, so called, 'Gang of Four', aided and abetted by large sections of the media who never let the facts stand in the way of a good story.
The facts of the matter are these: last year the previous regime at West Ham United breached Premier League rules regarding disclosure of a third party agreement over the ownership of two players. This year, the club's new owner disclosed the transgressions of his predecessor to the authorities and accepted a punishment meted out according to Premier League rules under a procedure approved by all Premier League meetings, including the 'gang of four'.
Unfortunately for Sheffield United, the punishment was in the form of a fine rather than a points deduction, so due to the fact that during the course of the season their team had amassed less points than 17 other Premiership sides they were relegated.
There is no precedent that a points deduction is the appropriate punishment for West Ham's offence. There is no evidence that Sheffield United or Wigan would have been treated any differently if they had committed the same offence.
Furthermore, the team that suffered the most from all the disruption caused by the controversial signing of the two Argentines was actually West Ham themselves who for the first seven months of the season collapsed from the attacking progressive outfit of the previous season to a disorganised apathetic rabble.
The fact that the players and management turned things around at the end of the season is due more to the triumph of human spirit over adversity than any unfair advantage gained from contractual irregularities and as such should be celebrated, not vilified.
But the question remains - what were the hapless Brown and Aldridge trying to achieve by pulling the wool over the Premiership's eyes? The full facts may never been known, but it seems that they were motivated by Kia Joorbichan's mooted takeover of the club and their own personal enrichment that may follow from such an outcome.
The irony is that Tevez and Mascherano hardly played for the club in the first part of the season, so Brown and Aldridge could perhaps have taken their time to get the paperwork right like Liverpool evidently have with Mascherano, even if it meant missing the August transfer deadline.
In summary, any further penalty handed out to West Ham United as a result of legal action from the Gang of Four/Five would be punishing the current management and fans of West Ham United for the greed and general dimwittedness of Terence Brown.
And Lord knows, we have already been punished enough for that over the past fifteen years.
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Ham it up: Neill feels safe at last as Blades cut adrift - smh.com.au
Email Print Normal font Large font May 15, 2007
LONDON: Lucas Neill's contentious decision to sign with West Ham rather than Liverpool was vindicated in dramatic fashion on the final day of the English Premier League season, as the Hammers beat relegation against all odds. The London club escaped by winning 1-0 at champions Manchester United. Instead, Sheffield United were relegated after losing 2-1 at home to Wigan, who had to win to stay up. There is still some risk to West Ham's status, as five clubs - Wigan, Sheffield United, Charlton, Fulham and Middlesbrough, according to Wigan chairman Dave Whelan - are considering going to court to have them docked points for playing Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano when they were not owned by the club but by a third-party investor.
The game at Sheffield United was one of nerve-shredding drama, with West Ham's result meaning Wigan had to win to stay up, while the Blades needed only a draw. Wigan took an early lead, and after half an hour Australian Josip Skoko came on as a substitute. The Blades equalised after 38 minutes, but it was veteran David Unsworth - who left Sheffield United to join Wigan in mid-season - who put the visitors back in front from the penalty spot on half-time. Also on the last day of the season, Harry Kewell staked his claim for a Champions League final position by scoring a 90th-minute penalty to secure Liverpool a 2-2 home draw with already-relegated Charlton. The queue of clubs wanting Mark Viduka's signature lengthened as the Socceroos captain scored twice in Boro's 3-1 win over Fulham.
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Bitter Blades step up Tevez legal bid - Soccernet
Neil Warnock conceded his lingering sense of injustice was likely to get him nowhere after Sheffield United's 2-1 defeat to Wigan consigned them Championship football again next season.
Ex-Blade David Unsworth, a free transfer to the JJB Stadium in January, scored the crucial penalty in first-half injury time which gave Wigan the win they needed to fashion their own great escape from the drop. And despite still seething over what he perceives to be a catalogue of unfair treatment - chiefly the Premier League's decision not to dock West Ham points - United boss Warnock admitted he is probably fighting a lost cause. He said: 'I feel bitter about all the circumstances over the last two weeks really but by Tuesday it will all be fish and chip paper. I have just got to get over that bitterness. 'It will all be in the bin and there won't be a big hoo-haa. Sheffield United - so what? West Ham are a big club with big reputations and they've obviously got good solicitors.' Warnock ought never to have needed to write off his season with another angry outpouring as his team went into the final day needing only to avoid defeat to retain their place in the top flight. It seemed a much harder task for beleaguered Wigan but their faith was placed in the experience of boss Paul Jewell - a veteran of previous last-gasp heroics, including a great escape with Bradford. Jubilant Jewell drew on that, insisting: 'I have been in football for a long time now and I know when people have some doubts in their mind you have got to play on them. 'Sheffield United didn't have to win today to stay up but we had nothing else on our minds but to win the game. I said to the players, they will be edgy because it is all in their hands. 'People's persona of Wigan is that it is probably the least attractive club in the Premiership so we deserve great credit for being there for a third successive season.'
Wigan starter much the better side at a sold-out Bramall Lane and deserved their 14th-minute lead when Kevin Kilbane's low cross from the left was swept home by Paul Scharner. The Blades equalised in the 37th minute through Jon Stead's brave header from a Phil Jagielka cross, which left the former Blackburn man down and seemingly unconscious for a spell on the turf. But Unsworth's spot-kick in first-half injury-time, after a clear handball by Jagielka, turned the tide back in the Latics' favour even though the visitors had to withstand a few scares. Danny Webber hit the base of the post after bursting clean through, a Keith Gillespie cross hit the crossbar and Wigan had to play the last 17 minutes with 10 men after Lee McCulloch was sent off. 'I feel like I have just run a marathon,' grinned Jewell afterwards, while Warnock - who refused to discuss his own future - questioned the fairness of Manchester United and Liverpool fielding weakened teams. Sir Alex Ferguson's men started without Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs in their home defeat to West Ham, following the lead of Liverpool who made multiple changes for their loss at Fulham the previous week. Describing relegation a 'gut-wrenching, horrible feeling', Warnock could not resist shrugging: 'Fate's fate. 'Probably, Chelsea will win the FA Cup final and AC Milan will win the Champions League.'
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Curbs' head is spinning after joy - TeamTalk
Alan Curbishley drove home on February 24, head spinning after a four-goal hammering at his old club Charlton, and felt West Ham were doomed. The Hammers boss freely admitted he let his head rule his heart when he opted to end his managerial exile by joining the club he supported as a boy. He had failed to understand how big the job was or, more importantly, how much expectation was attached to it. And that night, as he sat in his car, the abuse of his own fans ringing in his ears, it all looked like a terrible mistake. Less than three months on, Curbishley has presided over a miracle escape. Legal action not withstanding, West Ham will take their place in the Premiership next season on the back of a run of seven wins from nine games which saw them surge out of the relegation trap that seemed to have snared them and leave Sheffield United facing a bitter fall back into the Championship. Yet, amid the euphoria, Curbishley still cannot explain how such a startling turnaround has occurred. "I came away from that Charlton game very despondent," he recalled. "I had never gone into a club in mid-stream and I found it very difficult. "I didn't realise how big the club was and I didn't realise how big the responsibility of being West Ham manager was. "The fans were having a go at the players and telling me to get back to Charlton. They could not work out what was happening at the club because, 12 months earlier, they had been in an FA Cup final. "And I have to admit, after the Charlton game I just couldn't see where the next result was coming from. "I can't quite put my finger on what has happened since then but I do remember people close to the club saying, if we picked up a couple of results, I would see a big difference in the players. And that is exactly what has happened."
The amazing truth is that for all the massive investment the Hammers made during the transfer window in a desperate attempt to survive - with the exception of Lucas Neill and Luis Boa Morte - it is largely the players who failed former boss Alan Pardew who have come to the rescue. "It just shows you the ability was there," said Curbishley. "Somehow, that form escaped the club before I arrived and also after I joined. To finish the season with seven wins from nine games just shows what can be done."
Even with 15 years of management behind him, Curbishley admits the last six months have represented a steep learning curve. Having to lift a team that is losing every week has been a new experience for a start, as well as trying to divert attention away from the off-field problems which seem certain to rumble on well into the summer. "All I could do is keep everything low key, try to keep training simple and hope the results would pick up," he said. "Whichever way you look at it, confidence breeds results and results breed confidence. You need both of them and thankfully, they have come along when it mattered."
Although he acknowledges everyone else around Upton Park is in need of a break, Curbishley himself feels fresh and is already planning for next season. With Dean Ashton, Matthew Upson and Danny Gabbidon all likely to be available, Curbishley believes Hammers fans have every reason to look forward with confidence now this season's woes can be cast aside. A meeting with chairman Eggert Magnusson on Wednesday will determine the outline plan for the months that lie ahead, including the likelihood of star man Carlos Tevez remaining with the London outfit. "I have not even spoken to the chairman about what would happen if we stayed up or went down," said Curbishley. "I will meet him on Wednesday and see where we go from there. "When I first arrived, I said I wanted to bring in some senior players to work with the young talent. "I am already thinking about the summer and pre-season and looking forward to it."
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To All The West Ham Haters… - CaughtOffside.com
Posted on Monday, May 14th, 2007
Dear West Ham haters,
I know that you would like us to apologise for avoiding relegation and depriving you of the opportunity to wheel out your clichéd sanctimony about justice having been done. Wouldn't you all have loved it if we had gone down because Tevez missed a 90-minute penalty just as the Sheffield United and Wigan were contriving something at Bramall Lane? I have lost the will to try to explain to you all the facts about just what West Ham were and were not found guilty of again, or to remind you of the other offences that the Premier League has chosen not to punish with points deductions, or even to investigate properly. But your moral sanctimony is as hypocritical as it is futile. By every measure beyond the final chapter, this has been a catastrophic season at West Ham. We have survived a takeover bid made to line the pockets of Middle Eastern property developers, our players have succumbed to the demons of drink, drugs, violence, and gambling whilst making allegations of racism against the fans because we dared to criticise them, and our first manager this season let a complete breakdown of self-discipline derail a promising career.
As a result of the interaction of these things we lost eight games in a row without scoring for seven in the autumn and went another 10 without a win through the winter. Whilst this implosion was going on, you were all massively enjoying it because it's always satisfying to watch a club you hate suffer and because you think West Ham fans lord it about being a special club. What better than all the footballing world turning into a weekly soap-opera to find out just how rotten and self-indulgent West Ham really are. Now that we have found a way through this devastating morass with a Chairman that although loaded with money has some sense of football values, a manager who having gone to the emotional abyss on his return to the Valley found from somewhere the mental strength to remotivate himself and his team, and a set of players who rediscovered some connection to each other and the fans, we are being massacred as the symbol of moral decline in the game, something that when everything was indeed totally rotten you all thought was addictive entertainment.
As a result of our resuscitation as a football club, we won 7 of our last 9 games and beat the Premier champions and the teams finishing 4th, 6th, 7th and 10th in doing so. Get mad about that if you like. Tell us that it all began with a non-goal against Blackburn because it did. Tell us that, despite our own efforts, we've got Bolton and Arsenal to thank for ending Chelsea's quest for the Premiership because we do. Tell us that Alan Pardew gave us a parting gift in getting Robert Green signed because Green's immense performance at the Emirates gave us three massive points that allowed us not to turn up the next week at Bramall Lane. But don't tell us that there was something rotten in our effort for the past two months because Carlos Tevez was playing.
West Ham fans have had a glimpse of the end of the footballing road this season, when we were left with nothing but self-loathing for turning up, for still caring. The aftertaste of those months won't quite go away, and even on Sunday Nigel Reo-Coker chose to remind us of them. The only special stuff is moments of beauty the pitch, as Tevez has blessed us with, and our solidarity with each other in the agony and the euphoria. From where we've been finding that there was a road part of the way back is something that we've every right to celebrate.
Yours
Effra
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Green: Siege mentality worked for Hammers - Daily Mail
Last updated at 14:36pm on 14th May 2007
Robert Green feels the furore surrounding the eligibility of Carlos Tevez has taken the shine off West Ham's "impossible" escape from the relegation zone. The Hammers beat champions Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford, where the Argentina striker's goal proved enough to keep the east-London side in the Barclays Premiership. It was a remarkable seventh win in nine games which pulled Alan Curbishley's men clear of the bottom three - and sent Sheffield United down as a result of their home defeat by Wigan. However, the Blades are set to pursue the possibility of a legal challenge against the Premier League as they look at challenging West Ham's right to play Tevez and the ruling of the league's independent commission. A record £5.5million fine was handed out for irregularities over the signings of Argentinians Tevez and Javier Mascherano when many thought they should have had a points deduction, which would have probably resulted in the Hammers and not Sheffield United being relegated. England keeper Green, 27, feels the whole saga produced a "siege mentality" at the Upton Park club and spurred the team on. He said: "The off-the-field stuff did invoke a siege mentality - we have been called every name under the sun recently and there was the feeling that there was not anyone else who could turn against us. "We probably will not get the plaudits we deserve for those seven wins in the last nine games - but so be it. "I do not believe any of the players really give a monkey's about that."
Green added: "People can say and write what they like - but we have done our talking on the pitch. "This is up there with the best feelings I have had in football, it is a great achievement from the position we were in, but in another way it was a position which was avoidable. You can make excuses for what has happened off and on the pitch, but the bottom line is that for three quarters of the season it was not good enough. "But we have done the impossible. If we start next season the way we have finished this one, we will be in the Champions League. "I do not think anyone can deny us our right to stay in this league after what we have done."
It remains to be seen whether Tevez, 23, will still be at Upton Park next season. A meeting between Curbishley and chairman Eggert Magnusson on Wednesday will determine the outline plan for the months that lie ahead. The future of captain Nigel Reo-Coker, the England Under-21 international, is also uncertain. "I do not know what my future is and need to sit down and talk with the manager and the chairman this week," said the midfielder, singled out by some supporters as the main culprit behind the Hammers' slump earlier in the campaign. "I have been through the mill this season, but it has made me a stronger person and I would not have changed anything. "I am a very loyal person but to play at my best I need to be happy. "I made a promise to West Ham fans that I would help keep this club in the Premier League and I have done that."
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Nigel making plans for Irons talks - TeamTalk
Nigel Reo-Coker admits his future at West Ham is uncertain and will hold talks with Alan Curbishley and Eggert Magnusson this week. The England Under-21 international has had a troubled season at Upton Park, and was singled out by some supporters as the main culprit behind the Hammers' slump earlier in the campaign. The Irons secured their Premiership status for next season with a stunning 1-0 win at champions Manchester United on Sunday. And midfield battler Reo-Coker, who had been linked with Arsenal and United last summer, will discuss his future this week. "I do not know what my future is and need to sit down and talk with the manager and the chairman this week," said Reo-Coker. "I have been through the mill this season, but it has made me a stronger person and I would not have changed anything. "I am a very loyal person but to play at my best I need to be happy. "I made a promise to West Ham fans that I would help keep this club in the Premier League and I have done that."
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Siege mentality saved West Ham, says Green
Times Online and Agencies
Robert Green, the West Ham United goalkeeper, feels the furore surrounding the eligibility of Carlos Tevez has taken the shine off his side's "impossible" escape from relegation. West Ham beat Manchester United, the champions, 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, where the Argentina striker's goal proved enough to keep the east-London side in the Barclays Premiership, and won seven of their last nine games to haul themselves out of the danger zone. The club relegated in their place, Sheffield United, are looking into the possibility of a legal challenge against the Premier League as they look at challenging West Ham's right to play Tevez and the ruling of the league's independent commission, which handed out a record £5.5million fine rather than a points deduction. Green, 27, feels the whole saga produced a "siege mentality" at the Upton Park club and spurred the team on. "The off-the-field stuff did invoke a siege mentality - we have been called every name under the sun recently and there was the feeling that there was not anyone else who could turn against us," he said. "We probably will not get the plaudits we deserve for those seven wins in the last nine games - but so be it. I do not believe any of the players really give a monkey's about that. "People can say and write what they like - but we have done our talking on the pitch. This is up there with the best feelings I have had in football, it is a great achievement from the position we were in, but in another way it was a position which was avoidable. "You can make excuses for what has happened off and on the pitch, but the bottom line is that for three quarters of the season it was not good enough. But we have done the impossible. If we start next season the way we have finished this one, we will be in the Champions League."
Meanwhile, the future of West Ham captain Nigel Reo-Coker, the England Under-21 international, could be resolved shortly. "I do not know what my future is and need to sit down and talk with the manager and the chairman this week," said the midfielder, singled out by some supporters as the main culprit behind West Ham's early-season slump. "I have been through the mill this season, but it has made me a stronger person and I would not have changed anything. "I am a very loyal person but to play at my best I need to be happy. I made a promise to West Ham fans that I would help keep this club in the Premier League and I have done that."
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Redknapp predicts break-up of Gang of Four
Times Online and Agencies
Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, has predicted the break-up of the 'Gang of Four' who have lined up together to fight the Premier League for their failure to deduct points from his former club West Ham United. The Londoners were found guilty of playing ineligible players, Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, but were fined £5.5million rather than being assessed a points penalty and ultimately retained their top-flight status after a final day victory at Manchester United. Relegation rivals, Wigan Athletic, Charlton Athletic, Fulham and Sheffield United have all vowed to contest an independent commission's verdict in the courts. But Redknapp, the manager at Upton Park from 1994 to 2001, predicts now that some clubs are safe they will be much more reluctant to continue the fight. "Do you know what will happen now," Redknapp said. "All those [(other] clubs will disappear. "Sheffield United now will be saying 'where are you, where are you? You were going to appeal and you were going to appeal', but suddenly they will all disappear because that is how the game is. Everybody looks after themselves in this game. "I'm sorry for Sheffield United but I think they will be on their own now. If they want to go to court, good luck but what can they do, they can't change anything now, can they ? "It was a great result for West Ham and it is amazing how it turns but I say good luck to them too."
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Hammers deserve their survival - TeamTalk
West Ham have caused a huge row but TEAMtalk's Mark Holmes is happy they survived and glad to see the back of Neil Warnock's Sheffield United. The Monday morning papers are full of bitter columnists lambasting the fact Alan Curbishley has kept the Hammers up, insisting they should have been relegated weeks ago with a hefty points deduction. But I'm delighted we'll be seeing Curbishley's men back in the Premiership next season and even more delighted we won't have to put up with the idiotic Warnock quite as much. Ever since the Blades' relegation was confirmed on Sunday afternoon, Warnock and his chairman Kevin McCabe have bemoaned the "unfair" circumstances that have seen them drop back to the Championship. The Premier League has been blamed for not docking West Ham points, Rafa Benitez and Sir Alex Ferguson have been blamed for fielding under-strength sides and referee Rob Styles has been blamed for a couple of questionable penalty decisions. "You can blame everyone really can't you?" mused Warnock. Well, everyone except yourself it would appear.
Watford, Charlton and Sheffield United have been relegated because they were the worst three teams in the Premiership this season. It's about time Warnock held his hands up to that.
West Ham, regardless of the situation with Tevez, have survived on merit. They showed title-winning form over the final two months of the season, winning seven out of nine games and to relegate them now would be beyond cruel. Tevez was instrumental in that end-of-season run and Warnock will no doubt argue the Hammers would have been relegated without his involvement at a crucial stage of the season. But let's not forget Tevez and Javier Mascherano's arrival at Upton Park coincided with a nine-game winless run for the east-Londoners. They were accused of upsetting morale at the club and were widely blamed for their new club's freefall.
There's the possibility West Ham would never have even been in a relegation scrap if it weren't for the Argentines' arrivals, so it's extremely hypocritical of people to claim Tevez single-handedly kept them up. Let's not forget this is a team who finished on the fringe of the European places last year. A side that were expected to challenge at the top end of the table, not need a final-day result to ensure their survival. It is a phrase that is used too often but the Hammers were too good to go down and regardless of what critics may say about the Tevez controversy, it would have been detrimental to the Premiership if Sheffield United had survived instead of them.
A manager who believes the whole world is against him and a team that will never be more than perennial strugglers in England's top division. West Ham on the other hand are true entertainers with a fine tradition of bringing through young English talent and a true gent of a manager. A top-flight club if ever there was one. The Blades are simply clutching at straws. Would they have joined the 'Gang of Four' if they were in midtable? Or if West Ham were pushing for Europe? Probably not. They spotted an opportunity to ensure their survival and they're predictably trying to grab it with both hands. But can Warnock honestly say he wouldn't have played Tevez if he was in squad? I'm sure his morals would have miraculously disappeared then.
Warnock is a loathsome man and his comments after Sunday's game highlighted his complete lack of class. But Curbishley has conducted himself impeccably through the whole saga, as have the Hammers in general. Previous chairman Terence Brown's reign of the club was littered with mistakes but Eggert Magnusson has brought a more professional approach to the club and he should not be punished for his predecessor's mistakes. Ever since the Icelandic magnate arrived in east London, the club have kept quiet over the controversy and quietly got on with their business on and off the field.
Unlike the Yorkshiremen, the Hammers did not feel the need to go running to the media with their side of the story, nor did Curbishley feel the need to moan about every refereeing decision that went against his side. Instead they set out on achieving the greatest escape ever and deservedly achieved it, finishing off with a last-day victory at champions Manchester United. They have broken the rules and critics will argue they should be docked points but what are they basing this on? There is no precedent to their case so nobody can righty criticise the punishment handed to them by the FA. Teams have been docked points for various misdemeanors in the past but this is a completely different scenario and there is nothing to say a points deduction was correct in this case. And how many points should they be docked? McCabe and Warnock will no doubt push for three, but then they would wouldn't they?
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We're safe and that's the end of it, says Eggert - This Is London
14.05.07
West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson is convinced the Premier League will stand firm if Sheffield United and Wigan bring any legal action over Carlos Tevez. The Argentine scored the winner at Manchester United yesterday that kept West Ham up and consigned Sheffield United to relegation. Wigan also survived but their chairman Dave Whelan said straight after his side's 2-1 win: "I saw Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe and told him to get stuck into West Ham quickly and that we are with them."
McCabe said today: "I think most of the Premier League clubs and other clubs support us over this injustice. Four years ago the Blades had just lost in the Championship play-off final and I felt gutted. This time I feel cheated. "There is a consensus most clubs support an injustice so I hope we will get the vast majority of clubs in the Premier League supporting our case."
But Magnusson is confident his club's Premiership status would survive any threatened legal action over the League's decision to fine the club £5.5million rather than deduct points for fielding Tevez and Javier Mascherano, even though the original deal broke league rules. Magnusson said: "The matter is in the hands of the Premier League and I am content to leave it so. The Premier League are clear they are satisfied with things and as far as I am concerned, that is that. "I always wanted our destiny to be decided out on the pitch and it has been. Alan Curbishley has done a magnificent job and now we must sit down at talk about the future." Captain Nigel Reo-Coker said: "We decided to keep our mouths closed and let our feet do the talking."
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Gang of Four becomes Famous Five as Boro join fight against West Ham - This Is London
14.05.07
Support for a legal challenge to West Ham's escape from relegation appears to be growing after Wigan chairman Dave Whelan claimed Middlesbrough had joined the so-called 'Gang of Four'.
Sheffield United were relegated from the Premier League yesterday on goal difference but the perceived injustice of the Hammers' record £5.5million fine instead of a points deduction for irregularities over the signings of Argentinians Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano is starting to rankle. Whelan has given his full support to any legal challenge to the decision made by the Premier League's independent commission and said his club, the Blades, Charlton and Fulham had been joined in their fight by Middlesbrough. Reports this morning also suggest at least another two unnamed top-flight clubs are ready to join the movement. "Charlton, Sheff United, Wigan, Fulham and Middlesbrough are all determined that we should get justice and West Ham should have been deducted points," said Whelan, whose club survived at the expense of the Blades after winning 2-1 at Bramall Lane yesterday. "It has to be done quickly because the longer this goes on the less likelihood of the league reviewing it at all. "We are going to fight and support them and we will fight with them to the end."
United's plc chairman Kevin McCabe also said he believed the groundswell of opinion was behind them. "I think most of the Premier League clubs and other football clubs support us over this injustice that has come about this season," he said. "Four years ago the Blades had just lost in the [Championship] play-off final and I felt gutted. This time I feel cheated. "I think there is a consensus most clubs support an injustice so I hope we will get the vast majority of clubs in the Premier League supporting our case."
Wigan chief executive Brenda Spencer called for the Premier League to end the argument over Tevez once and for all. "We just want justice and we want the Premier League to prove Tevez was eligible to play," she insisted.
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Whelan claims Boro have joined 'Gang of Four'
Wigan Athletic chairman says Middlesbrough will help him take the fight to the Premier League
Staff and agencies
Monday May 14, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
The momentum behind possible a legal challenge to West Ham's escape from relegation appears to be growing after Wigan chairman Dave Whelan claimed Middlesbrough had joined the so-called 'Gang of Four'.
Although his club avoided relegation yesterday by beating Sheffield United and consigning them to the drop in the process, the perceived injustice of the Premier League's decision to hand West Ham a record £5.5million fine instead of a points deduction for irregularities over the signings of Argentinians Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano continues to rankle. Whelan has therefore given his full support to any legal challenge to the decision made by the league's independent commission and said his club, United, Charlton Athletic and Fulham have been joined in their fight by Middlesbrough. It is also believed that at least another two unnamed top-flight clubs are ready to throw their weight behind the movement.
"Charlton, Sheff United, Wigan, Fulham and Middlesbrough are all determined that we should get justice and West Ham should have been deducted points," said Whelan. "It has to be done quickly because the longer this goes on the less likelihood of the league reviewing it at all. We are going to fight and support them and we will fight with them to the end."
United's plc chairman Kevin McCabe also told Radio Four's Today programme he believed the groundswell of opinion was behind them. "I think most of the Premier League clubs and other football clubs support us over this injustice that has come about this season," he said. "Four years ago the Blades had just lost in the [Championship] play-off final and I felt gutted. This time I feel cheated. I think there is a consensus most clubs support an injustice so I hope we will get the vast majority of clubs in the Premier League supporting our case."
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United join the race to sign West Ham saviour Tevez - Daily Mail
Last updated at 13:18pm on 14th May 2007
Manchester United are one of a clutch of top European clubs chasing Carlos Tevez. Liverpool, who signed Tevez's fellow Argentine international Javier Mascherano, are also said to be interested in the front man. Anglo-Iranian businessman Kia Joorabchian, who brought the pair to Upton Park in a loan deal which has caused so much controversy, was in the Manchester United directors' box yesterday. Mark Noble echoed the sentiments of his team-mates when he called on the club to do everything in their power to keep striker Tevez, valued by Joorabchian at £20million. Noble said: "Anyone would love Carlos to be in their team. He's set up all my three goals this season and he's a joy to play with. I am sure he will think seriously about staying."
Chairman Eggert Magnusson also wants to keep Tevez but said "many things have yet to be decided". Manager Alan Curbishley added: "Carlos has been magnificent for us but so have other players. It is not for me to discuss Carlos's future at this time. I will sit down with the chairman this week and discuss the whole question of next season." The club may also struggle to hold on to captain Nigel Reo-Coker, who could attract interest from Tottenham and Arsenal. The 22-year-old said: "I don't know what my future is and need to sit down and talk with the manager and the chairman this week. I've been through the mill this season but it has made me stronger as a person and I wouldn't have changed anything. "I'm a very loyal person but to play at my best, I need to be happy. I made a promise to West Ham fans that I would help keep this club in the Premier League and I have done that." One player who confirmed that he would be leaving is midfielder Matthew Etherington, who said: "I've had four great seasons at West Ham but perhaps I need a change." Portsmouth, Manchester City and Derby are three clubs who have expressed an interest in him.
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Hero Tevez wants to stay - RobbieSlater.com
Agent Kia Joorabchian says West Ham hero Carlos Tevez is interested in staying on at the club next season despite reports linking him with a move back to South America. He said: "There have been no talks of any kind at all because Carlos and I agreed we would wait until the final game of the season was over so he could concentrate fully on getting West Ham out of trouble.
"So reports saying Carlos is leaving West Ham because he stopped taking English lessons are just not true. "Carlos stopped having lessons because he is returning soon to Argentina and does not know where he will be playing next season. "He could be at West Ham but he doesn't know yet because we have done nothing about his future. "We will talk to West Ham and any other interested parties. "Carlos loves playing for West Ham and has a great relationship with the supporters. "He would like to stay if all parties can agree a deal between them."
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Gerken linked with Hammers move Mon, May 14 2007 15:07 - EatSleepSport
West Ham have been linked with a summer swoop for Colchester United goalkeeper Dean Gerken. Reports over the weekend suggested the Hammers, who only avoided relegation to the Championship on Sunday, have earmarked Gerken as a possible replacement for Roy Carroll. The veteran former Manchester United stopper is set to leave Upton Park and boss Alan Curbishley is on the lookout for a new man to be the understudy to England keeper Robert Green. It is thought that 22-year-old Gerken would be interested in a move and a deal could be struck over the summer.
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How West Ham got out of jail and soured Dave Whelan's Wigan joy - Sportigo
Mon, May 14, 07 14:05
Joe Morris
Hammers escape the drop - phew! So Manchester United won their ninth Premiership, West Ham avoided the drop into the Championship and Sir Alex Ferguson finished off his 80th packet of chewing gum. Somehow we all went home happy - well most of us, anyway. For this claret-and-blue supporter it was an afternoon of epic proportions. Not for one moment did I think that the miracle was on and that the beleaguered Hammers would pull off the miracle. After a desperate 4-3 defeat at home to Spurs, it was widely assumed that we were facing the firing squad. Morale had reached its lowest point and relegation was a certainty. But little did we know that the East Enders had several tricks up their sleeve. The turning point for West Ham was the goal that never was at Blackburn Rovers. In hindsight, Bobby Zamora's winner should never have been allowed. But as we now know, such flashpoints in important matches can often be the vital difference between relegation and promotion. After that game at Ewood Park the Hammers were a side transformed; rather like a reformed prisoner who goes straight. Their football was quick-witted and inventive, confidence had returned to their side and the goals from Carlos Tevez were truly ravishing. By the time West Ham met Bolton, they were back in cracking from. Surely the volley from Mark Noble will never be bettered and the overall quality of the Hammers' football has earned them the right to another season in the Premiership. The irony, of course, that West Ham sealed their Premiership status at Manchester United - the team which provided Alan Curbishley with his first game in charge at Upton Park. Curbishley, of course, also finished his Charlton career at Old Trafford. Exactly a year late, he sampled another historic moment at the Theatre of Dreams as Carlos Tevez struck the winning goal after a gorgeous one-two on the edge of the area with Zamora.
We know United had one eye on next week's FA Cup Final but once again their play has had the stamp of craftsmanship. Players like Wayne Rooney, Christiano Ronaldo. Michael Carrick and the evergreen Ryan Giggs have lit up English football with their entrancing one-touch football. For Sheffield United, though, relegation back to the Championship means a monumental loss of TV money. Neil Warnock, their down-to-earth boss, continues to give the impression of a bear with a sore head. He may well need more than a stiff gin and tonic to lift his own spirits. Wigan survive but their chairman Dave Whelan still looks like a man who's just lost a valuable ornament. West Ham's alleged illegal signings of Tevez and Javier Mascherano could give him sleepless nights for a long time. But if he does drag this case through the courts, the voices of sympathy will be few and far between. Besides, the season has now finished and Whelan, has certainly made his point.
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Hammers line up Gerken swoop - Clubcall
20070514 15:07
West Ham have been linked with a summer swoop for Colchester United goalkeeper Dean Gerken. Reports over the weekend suggested the Hammers, who only avoided relegation to the Championship on Sunday, have earmarked Gerken as a possible replacement for Roy Carroll. The veteran former Manchester United stopper is set to leave Upton Park and boss Alan Curbishley is on the lookout for a new man to be the understudy to England keeper Robert Green. It is thought that 22-year-old Gerken would be interested in a move and a deal could be struck over the summer.
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West Ham threat to Duke
May 14 2007
Eric Paylor, Evening Gazette
West Ham United could emerge this week as the biggest threat to Boro's bid to hang on to prize asset Mark Viduka. The moneybags Londoners were keen on Viduka earlier in the season, but the threat to their Premiership status put any potential move on the back-burner. Now that the Hammers are safe, and in the knowledge they have a massive war chest to spend this summer, they could make a move. Viduka's phenomenal finale to the season, with seven goals in his last five starts, is certain to alert other clubs. Newcastle United, who were keen in January, may be back, though it will all depend on whether new boss Sam Allardyce fancies Viduka. Even promoted Sunderland have been linked with an interest in Viduka. With the sudden influx of Sky cash, every Premiership club is capable of making at least one major signing this summer. Certainly from Gareth Southgate's point of view, this is the most difficult time. Southgate, who knows that Viduka is vital to his bid to take the club forward next season, is hopeful he will get an answer in ten days. Southgate said: "Mark is going to think about things. I suspect we will know in the next ten days or so. "He heads back to Australia to link up with their team, but I do not mind how long it takes if it is the right answer from our point of view."
Viduka has always remained positive in his talks with Boro. He is happy here, and there are no problems with Boro's lucrative offer. But nobody knows if any other club will come up with a bank-busting offer in the near future. Viduka further demonstrated his uncanny ability with two excellent finishes yesterday as Boro signed off with a 3-1 win against Fulham. Southgate admitted his need to assess the squad when he took over last summer had caused a delay in resolving Viduka's situation, although one he hopes will not prove fatal. He said: "With it being my first year, I suppose I wanted to assess the squad in the early part of the season and I did not want to make a decision last summer on what I was going to do with players this summer.
"Perhaps that delay has slightly put us on the back foot a bit, but I needed to make sure I was making the right decisions on people. "But that is how it has to be. If we had rushed into things previously, anything could have happened. "But he knew we wanted him to stay - we made that clear in January when we had the opportunity to sell him if we had wanted to. "Whatever happens with him, he has been brilliant for me as a manager. He has been a real leader in the dressing room and on the field. I am very grateful for his contribution."
Whatever happens, Southgate has reiterated that he wants to strengthen his squad during the summer. Jonathan Woodgate's potential transfer will take up a large slice of his spending money, but Southgate has other irons in the fire. He is looking for right-sided players in particular, and one of them is a right-back from Switzerland. Southgate said: "In terms of numbers, we have lost nine or ten from last season. In addition to that, we have had five come in, which is probably about right because we have not been in Europe this season. We have reduced the age of the squad with a few over 30s moving on. We are still strong in several areas of the squad, and not so strong in other areas, where we need more cover, so that's what we will be trying to address in the summer."
Three Boro teenagers played for England Under-17s in the European Championship Final against Spain in Tournai, Belgium, yesterday. Jason Steele played the full 90 minutes in goal and made some vital saves, though Spain won 1-0. Nathan Porritt, who is expected to leave Boro this summer, played the first hour and went very close to scoring, while Jonathan Franks came on for the final 15 minutes.
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We've defied logic
May 14 2007
By The Evening Chronicle
James Collins admits West Ham have "defied logic" with their amazing surge to Premiership survival. Yesterday's 1-0 win at champions Manchester United completed an astounding run of seven wins from the last nine games by Alan Curbishley's men, which saw them preserve their top-flight status. Despite being written off at Christmas and then pilloried amid the wrangle over the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, the Hammers have somehow remained strong. And, after surviving a first-half bombardment, Tevez's goal was enough to see them clamber away from the bottom three, leaving a disgruntled Sheffield United to accompany Charlton and Watford into the Coca-Cola Championship. We have defied logic," said Hammers defender Collins. "I don't think the players ever thought we wouldn't get out of it, but we knew we were in a lot of trouble. "Plenty of people wrote us off and said we were dead and buried. Certainly, no-one would have believed we could win seven out of our last nine games. "But, thankfully, we managed to turn it round and now we can enjoy it for the rest of the summer."
Tevez has had a massive bearing on results, but it is impossible to mention his name without dredging up the row over whether West Ham should have been docked points over his signing.
And Curbishley felt maybe West Ham's rivals have become sidetracked over the issue. "We have had to concentrate on playing football, but maybe other people have concentrated on the other side of it a bit too much," he said.
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Tevez secures survival unless courts intervene - Fox Sports
Mon., May 7
The fallout from the Argentina forward's signing may still see the Hammers relegated in the courts. Last month, the London club was fined 5.5 million pounds (US$10.9 million; €8.1 million) for breaking league rules over the transfer of Tevez and Javier Mascherano in August. Mascherano moved to Liverpool in January. Despite being found guilty of fielding players owned by a third party no points were deducted, angering the Hammers' one-time relegation rivals, who have threatened legal action. Sheffield United dropped into the League Championship on Sunday after losing to Wigan 2-1, but would have survived if the Hammers had been deducted at least three points. "I don't think there will be an overturning of the decision," West Ham manager Alan Curbishley said. "And it's out of my hands."
But Blades chairman Kevin McCabe is furious that the relegation battle was not been played on "a level playing field." "The FA Premier League should have a good night's sleep and think, 'Is what has happened fair?"' McCabe said. "We have played to the rules and one club hasn't played by the rules and the FA Premier League should do something about it."
Tevez's goal in first-half injury time led West Ham to a 1-0 win at champion Manchester United, which means the club can contemplate rebuilding after a season mired in farce and uncertainty off the field. "We've pulled off an amazing escape," said Curbishley, who was appointed in December to salvage West Ham's faltering campaign. "We have been public enemy No. 1. It's been ramped up a lot this week, but all we've done is got on with it and the Premier League have said it's over. We've got to get on with it now and get on with it next year."
West Ham was 18th in the 20-team league when Curbishley took over, but the club has produced some good results to creep out of the relegation zone, winning seven out of its last nine games. "I'll give great credit to the players. All I've done is perhaps kept it low key and kept the training simple and the results have picked up," Curbishley said. "In football, confidence breeds results or results breed confidence. Either way, you need both of them, and that's what has come along."
Tevez has been voted the club's standout player of the season, but he took 20 appearances to score, eventually knocking a free kick past Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson in a 4-3 defeat in March. The 23-year-old forward's frustrations were reflected throughout the team, which struggled to recover from a demoralizing setback exactly a year ago. West Ham was on the verge of lifting the FA Cup in 2006 until Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard scored a late equalizer to cancel out a 2-0 lead and force extra time. West Ham lost the final on penalty kicks. The season started brightly, with West Ham rallying to beat Charlton 3-1. Then the club spiraled out of control. Despite the arrival of Mascherano and Tevez from Brazilian club Corinthians raising hopes of a new era, the next win didn't come until the end of October when Blackburn was beaten 2-1. Meanwhile, the club was eliminated from the UEFA Cup by Palermo and from the League Cup by third division team Chesterfield.
In November, an Icelandic consortium led by Eggert Magnusson ended months of destabilizing speculation by taking control of the club for 85 million pounds (US$166 million; ?126 million).
With the Hammers languishing in the relegation zone after 11 league losses from 17 games, Magnusson wasn't prepared to take any risks. Within weeks, Alan Pardew, who led West Ham back into the top division in 2005, was fired. But crises on and off the field - including a gambling scandal - sparked the club to fight for its survival and was praised by United manager Alex Ferguson on Sunday. "West Ham have been in championship form. They were the team in the best form coming into these fixtures," Ferguson said. "Whether West Ham should be in the league is not for me to say."
It may be for the courts, however.
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How to solve the West Ham question - SquareFootball
Antony Melvin
14/05/2007 08:00:00.
"There are no easy solutions to 'West Ham Question' - but right now the question could be answered by leaving The Blades in the top flight until the legalities or otherwise of West Ham's conduct are resolved"
West Ham United avoided relegation on the final day of the season after a fabulous run of form that saw them win seven of the last nine games including winning at Arsenal and Manchester United. And in any normal season that would be that - but not 2006/7. In signing two Argentinian internationals at the end of the 2006 summer transfer window West Ham breached Premier League contract rules and set in motion a series of events that could lead to enormously damaging legal action.
Barring the legal teams who have been through the minute of the contracts of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano there is little concrete information as to the exact illegalities of the transfers. The most likely offence was that the players in question would have to be sold at the behest of a third party - rather than because West Ham would want to. Why West Ham would want to sign up to such a deal is questionable - but given the last minute nature of the transfers mistakes can be made.
West Ham were fined £5.5m as a result of the contract irregularities, but this has left a number of other Premiership clubs are unhappy. If the contract failings meant that the pair were ineligible then a fine is inappropriate. Most teams would expect to be relegated if they fielded ineligible players - whether they were playing in the Sheffield and Rotherham Imperial Sunday League Second Division or in The FA Premier League. If an ineligible player turned out a couple of times then almost any team would expect a points deduction - and more than that and relegation would be likely.
And this is where the Premier League is in a difficult position. There are precedents set for points deductions or relegation for fielding ineligible players, financial irregularities, illegal payments, failure to fulfill fixtures, administration and a whole range of other offences. If West Ham had erred sufficiently to be fined £5.5m how could they not have erred sufficiently to be docked points?
The contract difficulties do not end there. Tevez continued to play for West Ham after the fine - with some suggestions that there remained a third party influence in his future; not least from Kia Joorabchian formerly of MSI. Of course MSI have been considered likely to have an impact on English football for three years now.
The 'Eastern Question' in European socio-political history revolved around the fall-out from the break up of the Ottoman Empire - a break-up that was directly connected to many of the nastiest conflicts in modern European history, from The Crimean War to the First World War and the recent Bosnian Crisis. The 'West Ham Question' is set to involve a lot of lawyers - who can be about as nasty as many Balkan warlords.
Is there a compromise that could appease the warmongers in this scenario? One resolution does seem to have some possibilities and that is to not relegate Sheffield United before due legal process is resolved. The easiest way to do this would be to start next season with 21 teams in the Premiership. It is too late and far too damaging to change the promotion rules from the Championship - to try to persuade the play-off teams that 'there's always next year' would not work and would only result in more legal issues. Some kind of play-off between West Ham and Sheffield United is morally bankrupt; as is paying Sheffield United an enhanced parachute payment as though they were in the top flight - given the imbalance that it would cause in the Championship.
A 21 team Premiership would allow for time to any legal challenge to West Ham to be at least started - although given the speed of the legal process it might end up as a 'Bleak House', where the process drains all cash and hope from those concerned. But, perhaps it may even avoid the whole process. Sheffield United's relegation could even be suspended so that if they lost their legal challenge they would then face automatic relegation. And if the legal challenge succeeds perhaps West Ham could also face automatic relegation. The golden scenario would be that a 21 team top flight would avoid the need for any kind of legal challenge.
However it happened, a 21 team league for 2007/8 would need to see four teams relegated - which would be altogether fraught; but it could also acclimitise the top division to readjust to changing the division size and usher in some momentum to move to an 18 team top division.
There are no easy solutions to 'West Ham Question' - but right now the question could be answered by leaving The Blades in the top flight until the legalities or otherwise of West Ham's conduct are resolved. Is this too much like natural justice?
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Hammers face intense scrutiny - The Sun
By ALI MARTIN
May 14, 2007
WIGAN chairman Dave Whelan claims Middlesborough have joined the growing number of clubs planning to challenge West Ham's Premiership status. The Latics survived on the last day of the season at the expense of relegation rivals Sheffield United. But Whelan insists he will press ahead with plans to fight the Premier League's decision to fine West Ham for contract irregularities instead of deducting points. Wigan, Sheffield United, Charlton and Fulham currently comprise the 'Gang of Four' lining up to take on West Ham. Yet Whelan claims Boro, who were relegated after a points deduction in 1997, have also pledged their support. The Latics supremo said: "Charlton, Sheffield United, Wigan, Fulham and Middlesbrough are all determined that we should get justice and West Ham should be deducted points. "It has to be done quickly because the longer this goes on the less likely a review is. "We are going to fight the decision and will do so until the end." Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe added: "I think most of the Premier League clubs and other football clubs support us over this injustice. "Four years ago the Blades had just lost in the Championship play-off final and I felt gutted — but this time I feel cheated. "I hope we will get the vast majority of clubs in the Premier League supporting our case."
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