All the early team news and background for Tuesday night's trip to take on
Championship club Watford
22.09.2008
Carling Cup third round
Watford v West Ham United
Tuesday 23 September
7.45pm
Referee: Keith Stroud
WHUTV - Full audio commentary
Introduction
* West Ham United maintain their bid for League Cup glory away to Watford
having won through to this stage with a 4-1 win after extra time against
Macclesfield Town on 27 August. The tie will be Watford's third home game in
this season's competition, with the Hornets having beaten Bristol Rovers 1-0
in the first round and then triumphing 2-1 after extra time over Darlington
on 27 August.
* Gianfranco Zola's side will be full of confidence of securing a
fourth-round berth after a 3-1 home win against Newcastle United on
Saturday. The Championship club were also in action that day, earning a 2-2
home draw against Reading although the visitors were awarded a controversial
opener when the referee's assistant flagged for a goal despite the ball not
crossing the line.
* West Ham United have not lost in their last eleven trips to Vicarage Road
in all competitions, with eight of those coming as victories. The last
reverse was a 5-0 defeat in a top-flight encounter back on 2 April 1985.
* The winners of the tie will be entered into Saturday lunchtime's
fourth-round draw, which will be televised on Sky Sports. The next round is
due to be played on Wednesday 12 November.
* West Ham United are sixth in the Barclays Premier League with nine points
from five games. However, the club have yet to win in two away games this
season. Watford are 17th in the 24-team Championship with two wins and a
draw from their four home fixtures.
* Gianfranco Zola said: "We have to see how many players are available
because some of them were playing with some problems [against Newcastle] but
for us the Carling Cup is an important competition. We are going to try and
play as well as possible. Freddie [Sears] took his chance [to play] against
Newcastle very well. I might consider playing him. It is too early to say.
* Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd said: "We've got a tough period coming
up. They're going to be hard games and the lads have given their absolute
all. That's all you can ask."
* Watford have two former West Ham United players in Jobi McAnuff and Jon
Harley who both played for the club briefly in 2004. Winger McAnuff played
13 games, scoring one goal, while left-back Harley got 15 matches and also
found the net once.
* West Ham United reached the fifth round of last season's competition
before losing 2-1 to Everton at the Boleyn Ground. Carlton Cole opened the
scoring on 12 minutes but Leon Osman equalised just before half-time before
a late Yakubu Ayegbeni winner.
* West Ham United have not kept a clean sheet in their last 17 matches
dating back to 23 February 2008.
* Only Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Valon Behrami have started every West
Ham United game this season, although Julien Faubert and Carlton Cole have
also played some part in each of the five fixtures.
* West Ham United are next in top-flight action on Saturday 27 September
away to Fulham.
Last time out
Saturday 20 September - West Ham United 3-1 Newcastle United
West Ham United: Green, Behrami, Upson, Neill, Ilunga, Faubert, Noble,
Parker (Mullins 72), Etherington (Boa Morte 73), Di Michele, Cole (Sears 87)
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Davenport, Reid
Goals: Di Michele 8, 37, Etherington 53
Saturday 20 September - Watford 2-2 Reading
Watford: Poom (Loach 4), Mariappa, Bromby, DeMerit, Harley, Eustace, McAnuff
(Ainsworth 34), Williamson, O'Toole (Bangura 78), Smith, Hoskins
Subs not used: Young, Jenkins
Goals: Smith 57, O'Toole 64.
Team news
* Carlton Cole will be rested after a minor foot problem suffered against
Newcastle United and will join Dean Ashton (ankle) and Craig Bellamy
(hamstring) in missing out.
* Freddie Sears could be in contention for only his second start of the
season while a number of other youth-team graduates are also in the frame
for the 18-man squad including Marek Stech, Bondz N'Gala, Jack Collison,
Kyel Reid and Junior Stanislas.
* Zola has indicated though that he will put out a strong starting eleven
with the competition being afforded plenty of importance, with Herita Ilunga
and David Di Michele in line for their first appearance in English cup
competition. Walter Lopez could also make his first senior appearance.
* Mart Poom will miss out on the tie with a dislocated shoulder suffered
early on Saturday while former Hammers winger Jobi McAnuff is also a major
doubt with a back problem. Scott Loach and Lionel Ainsworth could deputise
respectively.
* Two key midfielders are on the sidelines in Damien Francis and Gareth
Williams, with both having knee troubles.
* In attack, Tamas Priskin, Theo Robinson and Grzegorz Rasiak are still out
while their weekend goalscorer John-Joe O'Toole is also a doubt with a
knock. Watford's injury problems mean their 18-man squad will likely include
every fit first-team player.
Background
* The last meeting of the clubs came on 10 February 2007 in the Barclays
Premier League, when a 12th-minute penalty by Darius Henderson was all that
separated the sides.
The lineups were:
West Ham United: Green, Neill (Spector 32) ,Ferdinand ,Davenport, McCartney,
Benayoun, Reo-Coker, Quashie (Boa Morte 80), Etherington, Harewood, Zamora
(Tevez 46)
Subs not used: Carroll, Dailly
Watford: Foster, Mariappa, De Merit, Mackay, Stewart, Smith, Mahon, Francis,
Cavalli (Bangura 75), Henderson (Shittu 89), Kabba (Ashikodi 79)
Subs not used: Priskin, Hoskins
* West Ham United - in 1966 and 1981 to West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool
respectively - have twice reached the League Cup final but have never
triumphed. Watford have twice been semi-finalists, in 1979 and 2005.
* The only previous League Cup encounter came at the same stage of the
1986/87 edition, when West Ham United won 3-2 at Vicarage Road on 29 October
1986. Goals from Paul Goddard, Alan Dickens and Mark Ward ensured victory
for John Lyall's team in a thrilling cup tie.
Head to head (last six meetings, league unless stated)
10 February 2007 - West Ham United 0-1 Watford
27 January 2007 - West Ham United 0-1 Watford (FA Cup)
22 August 2008 - Watford 1-1 West Ham United
8 May 2005 - Watford 1-2 West Ham United
27 November 2004 - West Ham United 3-2 Watford
1 May 2005 - West Ham United 4-0 Watford
Overall record v Watford (all competitions): W 23, D 5, L 7
Carling Cup fixtures (all 7.45pm unless stated)
Tuesday 23 September
Arsenal v Sheffield United
Burnley v Fulham
Leeds United v Hartlepool United
Liverpool v Crewe Alexandra (8pm)
Manchester United v Middlesbrough (8pm)
Rotherham United v Southampton
Stoke City v Reading
Sunderland v Northampton Town
Swansea City v Cardiff City
Wednesday 24 September
Aston Villa v Queen's Park Rangers
Blackburn Rovers v Everton (8pm)
Brighton v Manchester City
Ipswich Town v Wigan Athletic
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Portsmouth v Chelsea
General information
For ticket information, click here. For details of getting to Vicarage Road,
click here
Weather: The forecast is for a cloudy, overcast evening. The temperature is
set to peak at around 12 degrees.
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Cup chance fires Zola - WHUFC
Gianfranco Zola has won the League Cup as a player and is aware of the
benefits of a good run
22.09.2008
Gianfranco Zola is looking for his West Ham United squad to "keep the
momentum" when they travel to Watford in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night.
The manager and his No2 Steve Clarke both tasted success in this competition
a decade ago and know the value of a good cup run starting with the
third-round tie at Vicarage Road. "To win a trophy is always important and
we really value the importance of the Carling Cup. Watford will be difficult
but we see this match as a good opportunity for us to go forward in this
competition."
As well as thinking about progressing to the fourth round, Zola said a
strong display was also necessary in order to build on the 3-1 win against
Newcastle United in his first game in charge. "It will be great if the
players can keep the momentum going. That is what I told them. After
Saturday's performance when everyone was happy and full of confidence, I
told them we had to keep that going for as long as possible."
With Carlton Cole sitting out after picking up a slight foot problem against
Newcastle, there may be a chance for Freddie Sears to stake a claim in
attack alongside David Di Michele. One or two other academy products may
also be in with a chance of making the 18 such as central defender Bondz
N'Gala, who has impressed in recent youth and reserve-team action, and Jack
Collison.
"This match could be a good chance for the young players," Zola added. "It
might be an opportunity for one or two of them. Whoever plays we are going
to try and play as well as possible and get through to the next round."
Along with Di Michele, Herita Ilunga will be looking for his first taste of
English cup competition while Walter Lopez, who is yet to make a first-team
appearance, is also in contention.
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Sheff Utd 'win West Ham tribunal' - BBC
Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe has told BBC Radio 5 Live that an
independent tribunal has ruled against West Ham over the Carlos Tevez
affair. McCabe said it would be "inappropriate" to discuss figures of
compensation despite reports claiming the Hammers could be forced to pay
£30m. West Ham were found guilty of breaching league regulations in the
signing of Tevez and Javier Mascherano in 2006. The Hammers survived in the
Premier League in 2007 at the Blades' expense.
More to follow.
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Watford v West Ham - BBC
Watford will be without goalkeeper Mart Poom after a dislocated shoulder and
winger Jobi McAnuff, who suffered a back strain at the weekend. Scott Loach
will start in goal and Lionel Ainsworth could come in for McAnuff, but
Grzegorz Rasiak is out.
West Ham will rest striker Carlton Cole for the Carling Cup tie at Vicarage
Road as he has a slight foot injury. Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy are both
still out so Freddie Sears could play, but Kieron Dyer is not yet ready.
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£30m: the price of hypocrisy - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 22nd September 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United are set to face a multi-million pound claim from
Championship outfit Sheffield United after an independent tribunal ruled
against them. According to today's Mail, the Hammers are set to face damage
claims of around £30million for losses incurred by the Blades' relegation to
the Championship two seasons ago.
Sheffield claim that they lost around £20million in TV revenue and other
payments as a result of relegation plus several million pounds from the fee
received for defender Phil Jagielka. The Mail published the findings of
tribunal Chairman Lord Griffiths, which are expected to be revealed later
today; his statement read:
"On the totality of the evidence, we have no doubt that West Ham would have
secured at least three fewer points over the 2006/07 season if Carlos Tevez
had not been playing for the club. "Indeed, we think it more likely than not
on the evidence that we heard, that even over the final two games of the
season, West Ham would have achieved at least three points less overall
without Mr Tevez. He played outstandingly well in the two wins that West Ham
secured in those last two games."
It is unclear at this stage whether West Ham United will appeal against the
decision, but it would explain why the club felt pressured to reduce costs
during the summer. Rumours of a multi-million pound payout first surfaced on
the KUMB.com forums last month, and speculation has been rife since. West
Ham United are yet to respond to the news although an announcement will
almost certainly follow now that the story has been made public. The club
have already been fined a record £5.5million by the Premier League for
failing to declare the full details of the contracts given to Carlos Tevez
and Javier Mascherano. Sheffield United were themselves investigated by the
Premier League for breaking the same rule that West Ham United were
penalised for in regard to the transfer of Steve Kabba to Watford - a faux
pas which led to charges of hypocrisy.
It was later revealed that the Blades also attempted to force another former
player - Lilian Nalis, who they sold to Plymouth in January 2006 - to sit
out a game a month after the transfer took place; both clear cases of third
party influence.
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Ashton on the comeback trail - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 21st September 2008
By: Staff Writer
Dean Ashton is set to return to fulll training next week, according to
Gianfranco Zola. The United striker suffered his third injury of the season
last week in training, a knock that ruled him out of yesterday's 3-1 win
over Newcastle. But according to Zola, he will be back in contention for
next weekend's short trip to Fulham. "Dean will have to rest," said Zola. "I
think he will start training again next week. Then we will see what his
condition is. "At the moment he needs one week to recover. He already had a
problem and the ankle got sore as he was training, so we had to stop him."
Zola also revealed that Craig Bellamy has suffered another setback in his
return from injury - although he chould be available for selection next
weekend and possibly for the trip to Watford on Tuesday night. "Bellamy has
had a problem as well," he confirmed. "It's an old problem but he's still
recovering." The good news is that there were no further injury concerns
from yesterday's match, which was won thanks to goals from David Di Michele
(x2) and Matthew Etherington.
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Green - Zola will deliver - SSN
Hammers keeper happy with Italian's appointment
Last updated: 22nd September 2008
Gianfranco Zola is the ideal man to deliver stylish football to Upton Park,
according to West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green. The Italian tactician got his
East End regime off to the perfect start at weekend as West Ham saw off
Newcastle 3-1. Zola's second game at the helm sees West Ham travel to
Watford on Tuesday night for a Carling Cup tie and Green is expecting more
attacking football from his team-mates. "It is a new manager and there is
fresh impetus, a new directive," said Green. "Everyone wants to impress, all
of a sudden it is a fresh slate and you have a job to keep your job.
"Everyone wants to do well, no-one wants to come in and do badly, so it is
just an added impetus."
Green added: "The manager has come in and brought his new ideas and new ways
of playing, as well as new thoughts. "It is just a different thought process
and a different way of doing things. "Sometimes it is better, sometimes it
does not work, but the lads want it to work and want to work for him.
"Everyone saw against Newcastle we had chances to score goals and hopefully
the more we play and the more the ideas come across the more chances we will
get."
Green is well aware that a trip to Vicarage Road is never an easy prospect
and he is predicting a tough cup tie on Tuesday. "They have a set way of
playing and it is not easy to play against," he said. "We will have to go
there with a few boys who have never played there before and it could be a
welcome to Championship football.
"It will be different for them. I am not sure it will be a welcome change -
they will come off with a few bruises. These guys possibly won't have come
up against anything like it, but I am sure it is going to be a bit of fun
for them. "It is going to be a tough game, they will definitely be up for
it."
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Hammered! West Ham facing £30m payout as Sheffield United win legal battle -
Daily Mail
By Chris Wheeler Last updated at 12:07 AM on 23rd September 2008
West Ham are faced with having to pay a crippling £30million in damages to
Sheffield United after an independent tribunal ruled against them over the
Carlos Tevez affair. Fears that the decision was imminent are believed to be
behind a fire sale of players at Upton Park this summer that led to the
departure of disillusioned manager Alan Curbishley. A compensation figure
has yet to be set, but Sportsmail can reveal Sheffield United are demanding
£30,396,897.32 after they were relegated from the Barclays Premier League at
the end of the 2006-07 season and a Tevez-inspired West Ham stayed up. The
tribunal's decision is based on the fact that Tevez - who had been
registered illegally - was worth at least three points to West Ham in the
relegation battle. As a result of losing their Premier League status,
Sheffield United claim they lost out on £21,788,795. Most of that figure is
made up of television and merchandising rights, as well as bonus payments
for finishing higher up the table. The Yorkshire club also claim they lost
£4m from Phil Jagielka's transfer to Everton that summer. They valued the
defender at £8m but a release clause in Jagielka's contract stipulated that
he would be allowed to leave if they were relegated and another club offered
£4m, as Everton did. The rest of the claim for damages is based on season
ticket sales, sponsorship, catering, club merchandising and 'lost business
opportunities'.
West Ham may now be forced to make an unprecedented multimillion pound
pay-out, which explains why they were prepared to sacrifice so many players
this summer. As well as handing Freddie Ljungberg a £6m pay-off, the club
sold Bobby Zamora to London rivals Fulham, while Anton Ferdinand and George
McCartney went to Sunderland against Curbishley's wishes, causing the
manager to depart in protest earlier this month. They also got John Pantsil,
Richard Wright and Nobby Solano off the wage bill. And it is believed as
many as seven more top players were secretly made available, with Dean
Ashton, Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker all up for grabs at the right price.
Some will argue that West Ham are getting their comeuppance after escaping
lightly in the first place. The Hammers were originally fined a record
£5.5m by a Premier League panel in April 2007 for breaking transfer rules -
including withholding vital documentation - over the signing of Argentine
duo Tevez and Javier Masherano. But the panel crucially decided not to
deduct points that would have almost certainly condemned the club to
relegation. Tevez was cleared to play on and helped West Ham survive on the
last day of the season at Sheffield United's expense. West Ham finished on
41 points, compared to third-from-bottom United who had 38 points, but a
superior goal difference. Now the tribunal, chaired by Lord Griffiths, has
decided in Sheffield's favour and are expected to reveal their findings
today. The judgment reads: 'On the totality of the evidence, we have no
doubt that West Ham would have secured at least three fewer points over the
2006-07 season if Carlos Tevez had not been playing for the club. 'Indeed,
we think it more likely than not on the evidence that we heard, that even
over the final two games of the season, West Ham would have achieved at
least three points less overall without Mr Tevez. He played outstandingly
well in the two wins that West Ham secured in those last two games.'
Because both clubs and the FA agreed to the tribunal, it is not yet clear if
West Ham have any right of appeal. They have been found guilty of breaking
Premier League rules B13 and U18. Rule B13 states: 'In all matters and
transactions related to the League, each club shall behave towards each
other club and the League with the utmost good faith.' Rule U18 concerns the
issue of third party ownership, which West ham breached by signing Tevez and
Mascherano when they were part owned by Media Sports Investment. The rule
states: 'No club shall enter into a contract which enables any other party
to that contract to acquire the ability materially to influence its policies
or the performance of its team.'
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West Ham face possible £30m payout after Tevez ruling
Edward Gibbes The Guardian, Tuesday September 23 2008 Article history
West Ham face the possibility of a £30m damages payout after an independent
tribunal found in Sheffield United's favour over the Carlos Tevez affair.
Tevez played for the London club in the 2006-07 season while illegally
registered and his displays were instrumental in West Ham avoiding
relegation at the expense of the Blades, who finished three points behind
them but with a superior goal difference.
The compensation figure has yet to be set but United are reported to be
demanding £30,396,897. Of that amount, £21,788,795 is for lost television
and marketing money, along with lost bonus payments for league positions.
Also included is a claim of a loss of £4m on the sale of Phil Jagielka to
Everton. The Yorkshire club say the defender was worth £8m at the time but
he had a buyout clause in his contract of £4m if they were relegated. The
rest of the claim is for ticket sales and other commercial activities.
The tribunal, chaired by Lord Griffiths, is expected to release its findings
today. According to the Daily Mail, the judgment reads: "We have no doubt
that West Ham would have secured at least three fewer points over the
2006-07 season if Carlos Tevez had not been playing for the club. Indeed, we
think it more likely than not on the evidence we heard that even over the
final two games of the season West Ham would have achieved at least three
points less overall without Mr Tevez. He played outstandingly well in the
two wins West Ham secured in those last two games."
West Ham's keenness to sell players this summer is now thought to have been
prompted by a need to raise funds in anticipation of the judgment. Freddie
Ljungberg was paid to leave to get him off the wage bill, Bobby Zamora and
John Paintsil were sold to Fulham, and Richard Wright and Nolberto Solano
also left. The sale of Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney to Sunderland,
apparently against Alan Curbishley's wishes, precipitated the manager's
resignation. Seven other players - including Dean Ashton, Craig Bellamy and
Scott Parker - are also thought to have been available at the right price.
West Ham were fined £5.5m by an independent panel in April 2007 for the
irregularities over Tevez's and Javier Mascherano's registrations - which
centred on third-party ownership of the players, which is against Premier
League rules - but no points were deducted and Tevez was cleared to play in
the remaining league fixtures. He scored the winning goal against Manchester
United - for whom he now plays - which confirmed West Ham's safety on the
last day of the season.
Sheffield United fought against the judgment and went before an arbitration
panel which ruled in July last year. The panel's chairman, Sir Philip Otton,
said he could not overturn the decision not to dock West Ham points but that
he would have done so had he been on the original panel. "We have much
sympathy for [Sheffield United's] grievances arising from the decision and
the manner it was arrived at," he said. "We would in all probability have
reached a different conclusion and deducted points from West Ham."
The clubs subsequently agreed to go to the independent tribunal over
compensation, which led to today's expected ruling. Because West Ham agreed
to the tribunal, under the auspices of the FA, it is unclear whether they
have any right to appeal.
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ZOLA EAGER TO PROMOTE YOUTH - Football365
Posted 23/09/08 06:54
West Ham 11/10, Watford 2/1, Draw 12/5
Gianfranco Zola is determined that his West Ham side will maintain a strong
emphasis on youth. The new Upton Park boss got off to the perfect start with
a 3-1 victory over crisis-club Newcastle and will take his squad to
Coca-Cola Championship side Watford for Tuesday's Carling Cup tie, where
some of the younger players could be given a chance to impress. From World
Cup winners Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters through to current
England internationals Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Michael
Carrick, the Hammers' academy has a long tradition of producing top-quality
players. Midfielder Mark Noble, an England Under-21 international, is one
first-team regular to have come up through the youth ranks, along with squad
men Freddie Sears, Jack Collison and James Tomkins. Zola - who worked with
the Italy Under-21s before taking up his post at Upton Park - is determined
for that conveyor belt to continue. "I believe every club should have a
strong youth foundation, and that was one of my main aspirations when I came
here," he said. "I believe very strongly there should always be the
possibility of allowing young players to come through to the first team. "I
know there are some good young players here and that the academy has
produced many top players over the years. "It is one of my dreams to give
our young players the chance to play in our first team and become wonderful
players for this club. "It is part of the project I have taken on here as
manager."
West Ham impressed in Zola's first match, when they played some entertaining
football to please the demanding Upton Park faithful. However, the former
Chelsea midfielder is ready to mix things up when needed. "Obviously we want
to play good football, to entertain the fans, but to get the victory at the
same time," he said.
"However, sometimes that does not always go hand in hand - you have to, at
times, try to just get the victory. "But what we want to do, and will work
at doing, is to play good football and get victories which will see us have
success."
West Ham will again be without striker Dean Ashton (ankle) and Craig Bellamy
(hamstring/groin) is a doubt, while Carlton Cole is set to be rested after
picking up a slight foot problem in a man-of-the-match display against
Newcastle. That means Sears is expected to be given a chance to impress.
Zola said: "For us, the Carling Cup is an important competition and we are
going to try to be very competitive. "We do not give anything away, so we
are going to try to play as well as we can."
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West Ham's Gianfranco Zola vows to take Watford seriously in Carling Cup -
Telegraph
As the Italian domination at West Ham received its first challenge –
Fiorentina manager Cesare Prandelli claiming that midfielder Riccardo
Montolivo, one of the club's prime January transfer targets, would not be
moving to Upton Park or anywhere else – Gianfranco Zola's thoughts turned to
building a team the English way.
Last Updated: 9:43PM BST 22 Sep 2008
Into action: Gianfranco Zola will hope to strengthen his grip on West Ham
with a Carling Cup win victory Photo: Getty Images
After the euphoria over his debut win over Newcastle on Saturday, Zola
confronts the grittier task of outwitting Watford in the Carling Cup; the
perfect chance, you might think, to blood one of east London's local
favourites, 18-year-old striker Freddie Sears, alongside such imported stars
as David Di Michele.
But the new manager understands that West Ham do not have the luxury of
trial and error even against Watford and intends to treat the game as any
other first-team affair. "For us the Carling Cup is an important competition
and we are going to try to be very competitive," he said. "We do not give
anything away."
This unyielding attitude was acknowledged by Robert Green, who described the
instant change wrought by Zola. "There is fresh impetus," the goalkeeper
said. "The manager has come in and brought new ideas and ways of playing,
and the players want it to work for him. More exciting football is what we
crave."
The fluid, flamboyant style coveted by Zola could prove difficult to execute
against an obdurate Watford as Green – who worked with their manager, Aidy
Boothroyd, at Norwich when he was the academy coach – testified.
"It will be different for them," Green said of summer signings Di Michele
and Henri Ilunga. "I am not sure it will be a welcome change – they will
come off with a few bruises. These guys possibly won't have come up against
anything like it."
An added complication for West Ham is the absence of strikers Dean Ashton
and Craig Bellamy, although Zola is still set to rest Carlton Cole.
Watford full-back Jon Harley, who played with Zola at Chelsea for five
years, suggested that despite his friendship with the Sardinian he would
show scant sympathy for his former team-mate.
"No one has a bad word to say about Gianfranco," Harley said. "Whether you
played with or against him, or if you supported his side or another club,
everyone loves him. He was a fantastic player and he'll take that style into
management and be very good.
"But West Ham is a big one. We're as good as any team on our day and this is
a chance to judge ourselves against Premier League opposition."
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West Ham could have to pay Sheffield United £30m today over Tevez row - The
Mirror
By Lee Reynolds 23/09/2008
West Ham's season could to be thrown into turmoil today when an independent
tribunal, set up to inquire into the Carlos Tevez affair and Sheffield
United's relegation, is likely to find against the Hammers. It could mean
West Ham paying the Blades £30million in compensation, forcing a firesale of
big-name players in the January transfer window. The Hammers, inspired by
Argentinean superstar Tevez - now with Manchester United - staged a miracle
escape from the drop at the end of the 2006-07 season, consigning Sheffield
United, managed by Neil Warnock, to the Championship on the final day. But
previously West Ham were fined a record £5.5million by the Premier League
for irregularities in the documentation concerning the signings of Tevez and
countryman Javier Mascherano. Crucially, though, they were not deducted any
points.
In the wake of all that, a tribunal was set up to look into all aspects of
the situation, chaired by Lord Griffiths. He is expected to reveal his
findings today and find in favour of Sheffield United, who claimed Tevez
should not have been playing and that he helped West Ham to stay up. The
judgement reads: "On the totality of the evidence, we have no doubt that
West Ham would have secured at least three fewer points over the 2006-07
season if Mr Tevez not been at the club.
"Indeed, we think it more likely than not on the evidence of what we heard
that even over the final two games of the season, West Ham would have
achieved three points less overall without Mr Tevez. He played outstandingly
well in the two wins that West Ham secured in those last two games." West
Ham finished on 41 points. Sheffield United went down on 38 points but they
had a better goal difference
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West Ham face £30m bill as tribunal rule against them in Carlos Tevez saga -
Telegraph
West Ham are reportedly faced with a £30 million bill after an independent
tribunal ruled in Sheffield United's favour in the Carlos Tevez wrangle.
By Telegraph staff
Last Updated: 7:55AM BST 23 Sep 2008
According to the Daily Mail , a compensation figure has yet to be set but
Championship side Sheffield United are demanding £30, 396, 897.32 after they
were relegated from the Premier League on the final day of the 2006/07
season and West Ham survived. The tribunal's decision, say the Mail, is
based on the fact that Tevez was worth at least three points to West Ham in
their battle to avoid the drop. The tribunal, chaired by Lord Griffiths, is
expected to release its findings today. The judgment reads: "We have no
doubt that West Ham would have secured at least three fewer points over the
2006-07 season if Carlos Tevez had not been playing for the club.
"Indeed, we think it more likely than not on the evidence we heard that even
over the final two games of the season West Ham would have achieved at least
three points less overall without Mr Tevez. He played outstandingly well in
the two wins West Ham secured in those last two games."
West Ham were originally handed a record £5.5m fine by the Premier League in
April 2007 for breaking transfer rules which included withholding
documentation over the signing of Argentine duo Javier Mascherano and Tevez.
Tevez went on to play a crucial role in ensuring West Ham's top-flight
status as they finished on 41 points compared to third-from-bottom United
who ended on 38 points but boasting a superior goal difference. As a result
of their relegation, Sheffield United claim they lost out on nearly £22m in
television and merchandising rights. The rest of the claim for damages in
based on ticket sales, sponsorship deals, club merchandising and a loss of
£4m for the sale of Phil Jagielka to Everton due to a clause in the player's
contract.
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Hammers facing Tevez payout - Setanta
by Chris Stanton, 23 September 2008
West Ham face the possibility of paying out £30 million in damages after an
independent tribunal ruled in favour of Sheffield United in the long-running
Carlos Tevez affair. According to the tribunal, Tevez, who was illegally
registered, was worth 'at least three points' to The Hammers in the team's
battle against relegation at the end of season 2006/2007 West Ham's survival
came at the expense of Sheffield United and the Daily Mail claims The Blades
are demanding around £30 million in compensation. The tribunal, chaired by
Lord Griffiths, is expected to release its findings today. According to the
Daily Mail, the panel's judgment reads: "We have no doubt that West Ham
would have secured at least three fewer points over the 2006-07 season if
Carlos Tevez had not been playing for the club. "Indeed, we think it more
likely than not on the evidence we heard that even over the final two games
of the season West Ham would have achieved at least three points less
overall without Mr Tevez. He played outstandingly well in the two wins West
Ham secured in those last two games."
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