West Ham United Chairman Eggert Magnusson today issued the following
statement:
"There is bound to be a lot of speculation over the summer about our playing
squad. It is normal in a transfer window - who is going, who we want to
bring in.
"We are ambitious for this club and what we can achieve next season. We want
to strengthen the squad and to build on the positives of the 2006/07 season.
I'm proud of what the club has achieved and now we can move forward.
"We will work hard over the summer to prepare for next season and that
includes keeping our best players who want to play for us.
"There will be a particular focus on Carlos Tevez and I want him to stay. I
suspect a lot will be written about his future but the starting point is
that he is a West Ham player, registered with and contracted to the club
with three years remaining on a 4 year contract. Whatever happens next we
will act to protect the best interests of West Ham United FC".
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Green delighted with England call-up - WHU Official Site
Robert Green has been rewarded for his superb end-of-season form with a
call-up to the England B squad to face Albania in a friendly at Burnley's
Turf Moor stadium on Friday night.
The Hammers goalkeeper received the call from England manager Steve McClaren
and said: "I'm delighted to be called back into the squad. Hopefully, it's
recognition of a good run of form which I've had and which the Club's had."
Rob, 27, is hoping for his first taste of international football since May
2006, when he appeared against Belarus in a B friendly, but suffered a groin
injury that ruled him out of the World Cup finals.
"It's almost a year ago to the day since I got injured," he said. "Things
have changed since then. There has been a change of manager and he's brought
in a couple of his own people like Terry Venables, Steve Round and Bill
Beswick.
"Apart from that all the other backroom staff have remained, but it does
have a different feel to it. The surroundings are very familiar but it's all
slightly different."
It has been a tumultuous twelve months for Rob since his last involvement
with England. "Playing my second game for England was a high point, with the
intention of going to the World Cup and being named in the squad; then I
came in for a big fall by getting injured and almost losing the entire
summer because of it.
"After that I signed for West Ham, which was a huge moment in my career and
life and a massive boost to come to such a great Club. Then we had a real
yo-yo season full of ups and downs.
"To finish on such a high, after some real low points in the season, has
been capped off nicely by this call up."
And the experience so far has been a positive one - despite Rob having to
cut short his summer holidays!
"It's been really good," he said. "We trained yesterday, which was great. It
was the first time I've trained since before the Manchester United match and
I felt surprisingly sharp!
"We're all going to be watching the Champions League final tonight and I'm
looking forward to that.
"I did have a nice holiday lined up but this is an offer you can't turn down
and I'm delighted to be involved. I'm just hoping to play some part in the
action."
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Spend an evening with Bonzo! - WHU Official Site
Hammers fans are being offered the chance to spend an evening in the company
of one of our greatest living legends, Billy Bonds.
The former Upton Park player and manager will be appearing at a special
event at the Brentwood Centre, in Essex, on Friday, June 1, 2007. The
evening is hosted by two other Hammers legends, Tony Gale and Tony Cottee,
and promises to be a memorable night of entertainment.
Tickets are priced at £17.00 and £15.00, and can be purchased from the
Brentwood Centre on 01277 262616.
For further information visit the Brentwood Centre website
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Merv reflects on last season - WHU Official Site
Looking back over last season, Mervyn Day admitted it was probably the most
testing time of his career.
"Five months felt like about five years," he joked. "We came in December and
they were five tough months. We were brought in to make sure the club didn't
go down and by the skin of our teeth we managed to do that.
"Our major focus was on the players. We knew the Chairman was very ambitious
and we knew he had plans to take the club forward over a period of time.
Initially it was literally a case of making sure we got some results.
"We were fortunate enough in the first couple of games, against Manchester
United and Fulham, to get a couple of results. Then we had a bit of tough
time for nine or ten games.
"Thankfully we managed to turn it around and not only get some results but
play some really good football for the last few games."
Reflecting on the tough times, Merv said: "The worst time was after the
Charlton game. Luck was against us at that point, or so it seemed. We
prepared a side where we had to make four changes after the last training
session on the Friday because we had four players with niggly injuries.
"It's hard when you prepare for a game, you then go to Charlton, which is
against our old club and where we had a lot of good years and we basically
didn't turn up. We got beat 4-0.
"They had our old manager Alan Pardew and all our fans were singing 'We want
our manager back.' It was very hurtful, but understandable given the
circumstances of the game."
The turning point, according to Merv, came in the following game against
Tottenham. "It was definitely chalk and cheese because the game against
Charlton was so awful, then to play so well against Tottenham, even though
we didn't get a result, we went for it at the end.
"But it was the performance and it was the fact that we produced such a good
game for the telly, the fans and the players' self-belief. Then came the
Blackburn game where we got a little bit of luck and all of a sudden we were
on our way."
And the momentum the Hammers showed in the final part of the season has put
everyone at the Club in a positive frame of mind for the new season.
"I think we've proved that if we get our heads right and we're focused and
we put out a settled side that we are a match for anybody in the Premier
League," said Merv.
"There will be some comings and goings in the summer and we're excited about
that and sad about that in equal measure. But we're looking forward to it.
"In the meantime we're going to enjoy our break, I'm absolutely shattered,
as are most of the players and the staff because the last few weeks have
been incredibly stressful and tense.
"People say it's only a game but, believe you me, it's not. We're already
planning for next year in terms of our pre-season programme and we're
looking forward to it with renewed optimism and great hope."
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Go Hammers - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 23rd May 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
West Ham United have tapped the US market in an attempt to find the best
young talent.
The club's new Football Academy USA website - opened recently - is seeking
clubs with which to form partnership programmes in order to develop players
capable of one day playing for the Hammers on the other side of the Atlantic
in the Premier League.
The programme represents the club's first major foray into North America, a
huge untapped market where football is likely to explode in the next few
years.
Tony Carr and several members of his coaching team spent some time in
Georgia last month giving lectures to local coaches and clubs. Topics on the
agenda included 'Player Development - the West Ham way' and 'Fixing Common
Team and Player problems'.
The Hammers are seeking two clubs, schools and colleges from each area with
which to partner with. Interested parties can apply to join the scheme by
visitng the US Academy's new website at whufc-usa.com.
Meanwhile the first product of the new scheme visited England last month to
get a taste of life in East London.
14-year-old Cobb FC striker Jack McInerney, a member of the USA under-15
national squad from Alpharetta, Georgia spent a week with Carr and his staff
gaining vital experience at Chadwell Heath.
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Green gets England call - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 22nd May 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
West Ham United's Robert Green has been called up to the England 'B' squad
in place of the injured Ben Foster.
The Manchester United goalkeeper pulled out of the squad today after
aggravating an old knee injury; both Rob Green and Liverpool's Scott Carson
were drafted in as a result. They join Tottenham's Paul Robinson as the
goalkeepers in the 22 man squad.
Green will join up with his England team mates at their Carrington base
tomorrow in preparation for the friendly with Albania, which takes place at
Burnley's Turf Moor this Friday (25th) evening.
England B Squad
Robert Green (West Ham United), Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), Scott
Carson (Liverpool); Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Joleon Lescott (Everton),
Phil Neville (Everton), Nicholas Shorey (Reading), Phil Jagielka (Sheffield
United), Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur), Ledley King (Tottenham
Hotspur); Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), David Bentley (Blackburn),
Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Kieron Dyer (Newcastle United), Scott
Parker (Newcastle United), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur), Aaron Lennon
(Tottenham Hotspur); Alan Smith (Manchester United), Michael Owen (Newcastle
United), David Nugent (Preston North End), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham
Hotspur).
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Chelsea linked with £35m Tevez - TeamTalk
West Ham's Carlos Tevez has been offered to Chelsea in a deal that would
cost the club £35million.
According to the Daily Express the Argentine striker could well move across
London from Upton Park to Stamford Bridge after preliminary talks began
between the FA Cup winners and the player's representatives.
Tevez has returned to South America to be with his wife and family but the
Hammers are still hopeful he will agree to stay with them for another
season, especially given their Premiership survival.
Kia Joorabchian is due to meet with West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson this
week about extending Tevez's deal but with his stock now at an all-time
high, the lure and financial power of the FA Cup winners might prove too
much.
Chelsea were offered Tevez last year but having seen what they missed out
on, the board will be keen for him to be part of Jose Mourinho's re-building
process.
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League will press ahead with fixtures - TeamTalk
The Premier League will go ahead with next season's fixture list despite
setting up an arbitration tribunal over the Carlos Tevez affair.
The three-man panel is due to be appointed on Friday but any final decision
is not likely before the end of June.
The League are to publish the fixtures for the new season on June 14 and are
preparing to do so on the basis that the Blades have been relegated and West
Ham remain in the top flight.
League chiefs are confident the arbitration tribunal will find they acted
strictly according to their regulations in both the disciplinary case
against West Ham and in regards to the registration of Tevez.
The Blades will pursue their claim that an independent commission should
have deducted points from West Ham and that the League should have cancelled
Tevez's registration.
It is more likely however that should they persuade the arbitration panel of
their case they would be awarded a compensation payment rather than the
commission's decision be overturned.
Sheffield United plc chairman Kevin McCabe said he believed the Blades'
stand would be justified.
McCabe said: "I'm here to protect Sheffield United's position against what I
firmly believe was an irrational decision.
"I genuinely believe that the arbitration proceedings will reverse
decisions.
"Whether that means they are able to reverse decisions to deduct points
rather than fines I do not know.
"But I state very clearly when you see the commission hearing minutes say
'points should normally be deducted but because it's April not January we're
going to fine you', when you consider there are 20 clubs in the Premier
League who only play for one thing every Saturday - points, I find it
absolutely irrational that you can fine and not deduct points.
"If you clearly breach the rules surely you deduct points because that's
what the commission says, but the irrationality says that because it's April
not January, we're only going to fine you. I cannot work it out."
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Blues plotting £3m Konchesky raid
By Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail
BLUES are plotting a raid on West Ham United for £3million-rated left-back
Paul Konchesky.
The England cap, who has just turned 26, is thought by Hammers boss Alan
Curbishley to be surplus to requirements and Blues are interested.
Curbishley sold an unsettled Konchesky to West Ham from Charlton Athletic
for £1.5million in July 2005.
And since Christmas, Konchesky has made just three appearances for the
Hammers, the last of which was at the beginning of March.
A competitive player with a classy left-foot delivery, Konchesky enjoyed a
successful first season at his boyhood heroes.
He scored in the FA Cup final, but missed West Ham's third penalty as they
went down in a shoot-out to Liverpool.
Manager Steve Bruce has been searching for a replacement for Martin Grainger
for four seasons when it fell into his lap from within. But Mat Sadler,
despite impressively reviving his career after a two-year spell blighted by
foot and ankle problems, has yet to play a full season in the Premiership.
He was arguably Blues' most consistent player as they slid to relegation in
2005-06 after being given a chance in April.
And he was a sterling performer during Blues' promotion campaign until Bruce
decided he was in need of a break and took him out of the firing line at
Easter.
Bruce has not written off 22-year-old Sadler, but he is looking for a more
experienced left-back in the top flight.
Jeff Kenna, Jamie Clapham, Matthew Upson and Julian Gray, amongst others,
have all also been used in the position since Blues last gained promotion.
Konchesky has won two England caps and spent a spell on loan to Spurs when
he was frozen out at the Valley in 2003.
Although adept wide on the left of midfield, he prefers left-back and he is
very much in the mould of Grainger.
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West Ham plan £8M bid for Man Utd, Sunderland target Gudjohnsen
tribalfooball.com - May 23, 2007
West Ham United are planning a bid for Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.
The Iceland international is being made available by Barca this summer after
a difficult season in Spain.
The Daily Express says West Ham are poised to make an £8 million bid to
Barcelona for Gudjohnsen, but Manchester United and Sunderland are also
interested.
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Reds talks on Reid return - The Star
KYEL Reid is eyeing a Premiership future although he would be happy to
continue his career at Barnsley.
The West Ham winger sealed his place in Oakwell boss Simon Davey's team at
the end of last season and settled into living in South Yorkshire.
He still has one year of his contract at Upton Park to run although Davey
has declared he wants the 19-year-old back next season.
He is planning talks with West Ham manager Alan Curbishley about the
possibility of another loan.
Reid's agent, Lara Southworth explained: "At the moment Kyel's future is in
the hands of Alan Curbishley. I know he loved his time at Barnsley, loved
the club and the fans.
"Anyone who saw him at the end of the season could see Premiership
qualities."
Barnsley could also work on a deal to bring Lewin Nyatanga back to Oakwell.
The Welsh international is with the Derby squad preparing for Sunday's
Championship play-off final with West Brom.
If Derby are promoted they could allow the 18-year-old out on loan again.
Kayode Odejayi has said he is looking forward to spending next season with
Cheltenham - despite being linked with a move to Barnsley
The 25-year-old, who was Cheltenham's top scorer this season with 15 goals,
is the subject of a £200,000-plus bid from a club - believed to be Barnsley.
Odejayi said in an interview: "The manager (John Ward) is aware I have
spoken to another club but I am still a Cheltenham player who is looking
forward to next season and that is the way it is at the moment.
"If you ask anyone in football they will tell you they want to play at the
highest level possible but it has been a great couple of years at Cheltenham
and I am happy and I am enjoying my football.
"I am living with my girlfriend and I am very settled so I will wait and
see, weigh up my options and see what is best for my career. It has all come
out of the blue and it is still in the early stages."
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West Ham green light for new stadium
tribalfooball.com - May 23, 2007
West Ham United could be moving to a new 60,000 all-seater stadium - thanks
to London Mayor Ken Livingstone.
Livingstone has told West Ham he'll back their plans to move from Upton Park
and the Mirror says the former Parcelforce depot adjacent to West Ham tube
station is a possible site and would be part of a £350million entertainment
and housing complex to be built by 2012.
A club source said: "There are still a few things to think about and the
club have to make sure the deal is right but it is looking very positive."
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'New Ronaldo` In West Ham Talks - Vitalfootball.co.uk
Hogan Ephraim, who spent much of last season on loan at Colchester United,
will today discuss the possibility of getting a new contract with West Ham
United, although has not ruled out a return to Essex.
The under-19 international, scoring the only goal for England as they lost
in a game against Holland last week, will possibly agree a long-tem deal
with Alan Curbishley`s Premiership side, before securing a loan deal to
bring him back to Colchester for another season.
Despite the fact that Hogan, who operated in midfield for the U`s last
season, only scored once against Barnsley, he has been a huge hit a Layer
Road, with coparisons to Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo being justly
made.
Hogan has admitted that his best position is just behind the front two,
although looks to have a bright future ahead of him. He admits, as he looks
forward to the possibility of securing a new contract that he faces a
'massive decision.`
Speaking yesterday, he said: "Hopefully I'll sort out my future when I sit
down with West Ham but there are two or three other clubs interested in me."
I've enjoyed my time at Colchester and I loved it there from day one."
He added: "It's a massive decision for me," before going on to lavish praise
onto Colchester United and the catching staff.
"The manager is the best man-manager I have worked under and him and Mick
Harford really look after their players.
"It's been a very good season but the last month was especially pleasing.
"They were big pressure games and I enjoyed playing in them.
"I felt I did myself justice and I was happy with the way I played.
"I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get one or two more goals.
"But it was a good experience at Colchester and I'm hoping it'll help me to
improve next season."
Words: Vital Colchester
Quotes sourced via the Colchester Evening Gazette.
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Curbishley to expel Pardew's class of 2006 - all3points
By Dan Halton
Now that Premiership football is secure for another season, Alan Curbishley
is looking to rebuild over the summer. Many will be shown the door including
an entire team predecessor Alan Pardew would have once been proud of.
Consider the following line-up: Carroll - Konchesky, Pantsil or Mears,
Dailly, Ferdinand - Etherington, Newton, Mullins, Reo-Coker - Harewood,
Sheringham. Quite conceivably an XI that Pardew would have sent out earlier
in the season to win a Premiership match. A few months on and in all reality
it's an XI that will be plying its trade elsewhere by the time West Ham
kicks off a new campaign in a few weeks time.
So what happened to them? There is no doubt complacency and arrogance set in
off the back of a successful first season in the Premiership. The likes of
Ferdinand, Harewood, Konchesky and Reo-Coker became too comfortable and
lacked the hunger and drive that saw each of them being tipped for an
England call-up. How the "mighty" have fallen.
Heading the exodus this summer will be our beloved captain Nigel Reo-Coker.
Having turned in his best performances against the bigger clubs this past
season it's only right that one of them will notice his prowess? Well my
guess is Tottenham, that lover (and waster) of central midfielders, will be
his likeliest destination. Not exactly Champions League material so expect
poor Nige to issue a disgruntled plea to the likes of Arsenal and Man United
sometime next year from the wilderness of the White Hart Lane bench. The
player we rescued from the obscurity of Milton Keynes and bestowed the
honour of captaincy on will command a fairly high transfer fee (naturally)
so an offer of £7m should suit all parties concerned.
A few weeks ago Anton Ferdinand was one name I expected to be booted out
this summer pronto. Attitude, lies and affray all culminated in seeinga
promising career nose-dive but his performances towards the end of the
season have convinced me he might be given another chance. Curbishley though
may have other ideas and a bid of £5m should prise him from Upton Park.
Glenn Roeder - not known for his subtlety when discussing potential
signings - made his feelings known about Ferdinand before he lost his job at
Newcastle so it looks like the London graveyard that is the Tottenham bench
may be where Rio's bruv ends up.
This season saw Marlon Harewood revert to the frustrating displays of his
early days in a West Ham shirt. Clumsy and wayward he lost confidence as the
season went on and in the end was restricted to the odd substitute
appearance. A transfer back to the arms of old boss Pardew at Charlton
wouldn't surprise me (as part of a Darren Bent deal?) with Curbishley
rejects Konchesky and Mullins following for a combined fee of a few million.
For Carroll, Etherington and Newton it was personal demons that affected
performances on the pitch and fuelled the media witch hunt that took great
delight in West Ham's mid-season woes. With Rob Green cementing his position
as number one keeper at the club, Carroll's days are numbered. The Northern
Irishman joined on a free two seasons ago so Curbishley will be keen to
reduce him from the wage bill and bring in a replacement that no doubt
prefers a good mineral water to a quadruple whiskey. Newton has re-found his
level on loan at Leicester and will be allowed to go on a free while
Etherington has already been linked to (of all places) Wigan in a £3m move
which was swiftly rebutted. Fulham or one of the promoted clubs will be keen
on his services.
For the out-of-contract Sheringham, the alleged ringleader of the infamous
card schools that Curbishley rooted out, a future in the backwaters of
American or Australian "soccer" beckons. His contribution since joining the
Hammers to an initially cautious reception three years ago has been immense,
belying his age. The adaptable Dailly, another old boy, has surely played
his last game for West Ham too but is bound for far less glamorous
surroundings in the Championship or SPL.
Two of Pardew's cheap summer flops Tyrone Mears and John Pantsil will be
shown the door. Both right-backs but both out of their depth in the
Premiership. Mears has already established himself on loan at Derby while
the appropriately-named Pantsil will be flogged to any team on the continent
willing to part with a million or so.
So there you have it. An entire team with Pardew's stamp all over it heading
for the exit door. How quickly football has moved on from the plaudits of
one good season and a Cup Final. An indictment on Pardew or the players
concerned? Probably a bit of both but the exodus will be worth it not only
in terms of revenue but in clearing the decks for the Curbishley era to
really begin.
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