Filed: Sunday, 28th September 2008
By: Staff Writer
Roy Hodgson has claimed that striker Andy Johnson was unlucky to be sent off
during yesterday 2-1 win for West Ham. Johnson received his marching orders
in first half injury time for going through Lucas Neill as the United
captain attempted to clear the ball on the edge of West Ham's area. Hodgson
claimed that match official Andre Marriner's decision was 'unfortunate',
whilst pleading with the referee to overturn the decision. "I've looked at
it again on the video after the game," said Hodgson. "I see it as Andy
trying to block the ball and Lucas Neill actually catching him on his follow
through as he cleared the ball. "He's caught Andy Johnson rather than Andy
Johnson hitting Lucas Neill. So it's an unfortunate sending off, that one.
"I can understand from the referee's positioning it's not easy to see those
things clearly but I hope he'll look at the video evidence and see that in
actual fact, it was the other way round - not Andy kicking Lucas Neill."
Hodgson failed to comment on Johnson's horrific 'studs up' tackle on Herita
Ilunga for which the former Everton forward received his first yellow card
after 20 minutes - a tackle which many observers felt was deserving of a
straight red card. However he admitted that he felt his side were unlucky to
lose the game. "We did so well over the 90 minutes in terms of our attacking
play, dominating possession and creating chances," he added. "But in three
minutes the game was turned on its head by conceding two goals which we
shouldn't and having a player sent off. If I was to dismiss those three
minutes of the game I would have been quite happy with the other 87 minutes.
"The shot and possession statistics will have been very, very good for us -
even when we were playing with ten men. But it's the result that counts and
West Ham have got that, we haven't. "We did exceptionally well; the work
rate in the second half was fantastic. We created chances even with ten men.
Of course in the last five or six minutes there's always going to be the odd
counter-attack chance - especially when you throw yet another man up front.
"Over the course of the 90 minutes I don't have any reason to be
particularly angry or disappointed by the way the team played. But of
course, I'm very saddened by the result."
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Zola on ... Fulham - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 28th September 2008
By: Staff Writer
Gianfranco Zola shares his thoughts on yesterday's 2-1 win at Craven Cottage
...
On the game ...
"I think we played a good match and came out with a victory that was
probably deserved. The players that played were fantastic and I'm very
pleased with them.
"To be fair to them they are a good side. Usually you can concede something
to them. But we tried to play football; apart from maybe the first ten
minutes when we were having a few problems. But then we started playing our
game and we played a great game. We didn't steal anything today."
On Matthew Etherington ...
"So far he's been a key player. He's worked very, very hard and he gives the
team quality and balance. I'm very pleased with him and I'm sure he's going
to get better. I appreciate what he's doing; he's very willing to work, like
everybody else in the team.
On Carlton Cole ...
"There wasn't a better way to answer back to me and also to the other
players. He realised that he's made a mistake and he's made it up in the
perfect way."
On last week's arbitration ruling ...
"We are working on the pitch and we know we have to work. I'm very confident
that the club will sort it out. I'm assured the situation won't influence
the team. I'm happy with that as I trust the club. "The players don't have
to be consulted about that. They know the situation will be sorted and we
just have to make sure that we do our job on the pitch; that will also help
the club a lot."
On the future ...
"I'd like them to play well and win as many games as possible! "My
philosophy, as I told them is that they have to enjoy what they're doing;
they have to enjoy playing football. They don't have to be worried about
trying to play and maybe losing the ball. They will never get told off by me
if they lose the ball trying to play football. That's what I want. "If we go
with this kind of mentality then I'm sure the results will come. So far it's
been good; we have to carry on doing this as long as possible."
* Gianfranco Zola was talking to the BBC.
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Fulham 1 - KUMB
West Ham United 2
by Gordon Thrower
It's nice to get back to writing about football rather than hypocrisy. A
glorious day started early on the good ship Suerita where a boatload of
Hammers set sail for Putney. Not directly of course. A trip downstream from
Tower Bridge saw us heading in the general direction of the North Sea.
Thankfully our vessel turned around at Greenwich before this turned into a
report on Southend v the O's following a tub of eels on the Golden Mile.
Mention of the film The Poseidon Adventure saw Romford in particularly top
form: "was that the one with that tower that turned into an inferno? No?
What was that one called then?"
A leisurely trip upstream – we were overtaken by rowers at one point – saw
us make several passes by Craven Cottage to sing "Bubbles" at the early
arrivals before finally coming ashore at Putney. A nice walk through the
park in the company of two young ladies from Norway ("we couldn't get in at
Arsenal") saw us arrive in perfect time to see the nauseating Fayed paraded
in front of the home crowd – who, incredibly, applauded him.
Team news was that we were unchanged from the eleven that had started
against Newcastle, with Ashton's ankle keeping him away for another few
weeks and Zola electing to keep faith with the 4-3-2-1 formation used in his
first match giving us a line-up of Green, Faubert, Ilunga, Upson, Neill,
Parker, Behrami, Noble, DiMichele, Etherington, Cole.
It was an eventful first 45. Fulham had started well at home and, whilst
they weren't nearly as dominant as some subsequent reports have suggested
they did have a lot of possession and the better of the half chances. On 4
minutes DiMichele embarked on a promising run, finding Cole with a pass at
the end of it. Cole, who may soon be looking for lifts to training from
teammates, launched his shot high into the crowd. Fulham then went on the
attack and some loose control by Etherington saw Davies volley not too wide.
We hadn't quite settled at the back and on 8 minutes another edgy clearance
from Etherington made it only as far as Murphy whose long diagonal ball into
the box saw Zamora put an almost free header wide from 12 yards out.
Parker then saw an effort from distance go over before the game's first
yellow card on 20 minutes. Parker sold Ilunga a little short but the
challenge by Johnson was disgraceful, the former Everton player stamping on
Cheri's standing ankle in a manner that could easily have caused serious
injury. The yellow card was the very least he deserved and a straight red
could have met with few complaints. Thankfully, Cheri's injury was not
serious – no thanks to Johnson – and the left-back was able to continue
after some treatment.
On 23 minutes Zamora latched on to a through ball and made room for a shot
that, thankfully, went just wide. Ref Marriner then started a one man
campaign to give Jimmy Bullard as many free-kicks as possible, usually
without waiting for the usual nicety of actually seeing a foul committed.
Firstly Davies tried to run through Neill which was, apparently Neill's
fault. Bullard's free-kick thankfully went over. This wasn't good enough for
the ref who then penalised Behrami for handball when he couldn't possibly
have known anything about it from that distance. Bullard's free-kick brought
out what turned out to be Green's only real save of the match, the 'keeper
turning the ball wide. Paintsil slid in late catching the 'keeper a painful
one as he did so, though there was an element of slipping as the full-back
came in. The challenge provided the statutory bout of "handbags" that is
demanded whenever a 'keeper is fouled these days but no disciplinary
sanctions were required.
Konchesky was next into the book, deservedly so for another horrible
challenge on Etherington, which, like Johnson's earlier effort could easily
have been a red. The ignorant amongst the home support – clearly not in a
minority – proceeded to boo Etherington for, er, being chopped in half and
requiring treatment. Matty, though, was to have the last laugh.
A couple of minutes after Konchesky's assault, Cole headed a Green clearance
into Etherington's path. With the whole of the right hand side to run into,
Etherington stormed down the right and moved into the box. It wasn't the
greatest cross in the world but Schwarzer only managed to palm it out into
the path of Cole who finished off the move that he'd started by putting the
ball away from six yards.
It got even better a couple of minutes later. Just as 4 minutes of stoppage
were announced, Parker fed Cole who laid the ball off to Noble. Noble's
first time ball over the top saw Matty run into space, easily winning the
race to the ball with Schwarzer and lifting the ball over the hapless
'keeper for our second of the game and his own second of the season, his
cupped-ear salute rubbing it just a little more for the home support.
The home side appeared to have lost it and the fingers were hovering over
that button that appears in every crap sci-fi movie that sets off a
strangely comforting female voice who tells you that she is "initiating
auto-destruct sequence". Firstly Murphy went straight through the back of
Noble for another deserved yellow. Then Johnson left a foot in on Neill that
produced a second yellow and, in consequence, the red that his earlier – and
only other – contribution to the match had deserved. It was the last piece
of meaningful action of the first half.
We started the second period the brighter of the two sides. Noble took
advantage of some backing off in the home defence to let fly from about 25
yards, Schwarzer saving a little unconvincingly low to his left. The corner
was only half cleared to Faubert who hit a powerful curving effort that
possibly shaved a micron of white paint from the top of the crossbar on its
way over.
Faubert then moved down the right and played a ball from deep into the box.
It appeared over-hit but Etherington kept the ball live and pulled it back
to Noble who fed Ilunga whose low hard shot saw another save by Schwarzer to
the 'keeper's left.
Clean sheets are not a speciality and this match was no exception. A Fulham
corner from our left came back off the turf from a header and up onto
Neill's arm. You see them given and not given. Marriner gave it and Murphy
sent Green the wrong way to reduce the arrears.
The goal seemed to galvanise the home side. Parker picked up a yellow for a
late challenge and Bullard's free-kick in eluded everyone – including Zamora
who had escaped his marker.
The first substitution came on 73 minutes. DiMichele had influenced matters
little and a fluffed shot was one too many for Zola who replaced the Italian
with Bellamy on 73 minutes. Shortly after Mullins came on for Etherington.
Within a few minutes of his arrival Bellamy should have put the game beyond
doubt. Mullins fed Noble who played the ball inside the full-back to the
overlapping Ilunga. Ilunga cleverly pulled the ball back to Bellamy whose
first shot was blocked by Hangeland and whose second effort went way over.
It was a bad miss – Bellamy probably had time to control the ball for the
second shot.
Although Fulham had a fair bit of possession it was telling that Green was
largely unemployed and there were spells when we were able to string
together passes well into double figures. We also looked the more likely to
score. Ilunga's clearance found Noble in space and his pull-back deserved
better from Cole than the weak shot against the defender it actually
received.
Although Fulham created little themselves they could easily have profited
from Mr Marriner's "Bullard-Aid" campaign. Parker won the cleanest of
challenges against Davies. Incredibly Marriner saw the clean winning of a
ball as a foul – Rob Styles would probably have been the only person on the
planet to agree with the ref and we've all seen how bad he is. Bullard
didn't beat the wall however.
Bellamy briefly interrupted the Marriner show to run at the defence and set
up Behrami who brought a save out of Schwarzer. . Fulham's cause was not
helped by the 'keeper throwing the ball straight at a defender which kept
the ball down at their end. Boa-Morte replaced Parker as Bellamy and Noble
kept the ball in the corner – Noble was hauled down but for some bizarre
reason the free-kick went Fulham's way. Hangeland spotted this trend and
flattened Neill, gaining the free-kick as he did so. Bullard again found the
wall – Cole's clean header bringing ridiculous claims for handball – and
that was about it.
It wasn't a perfect performance – we rode our luck early on when Fulham
created their chances - but the goals worked marvels. Certain players are
enjoying the new system and it is refreshing to see us trying to play
football from the back. It is notable that Green only seems to kick long
these days when he has to. The longer we continue to play a passing game the
better the players will get at it and the signs are that the change of
personnel has done wonders for confidence in some quarters. Keep it up guys!
Player Ratings
Robert Green (7)
Only one real save to make – turned a shot round the post under pressure
from Paintsil. Otherwise came and dealt with a few crosses and I suppose we
now have to slag him off when he doesn't save a spot kick!
Julien Faubert (7)
One of those for whom the change in management has worked wonders. The move
back into defence looks to have been a shrewd one, especially as he can also
get forward when required.
Herita Ilunga (7)
Has had an impressive start to his career. Stronger tests than Newcastle and
Fulham are to come but early signs are that we have a useful player here.
Lucas Neill (6)
Early on needed a bit of sorting out but improved as the game went on. The
penalty was instinctive rather than deliberate.
Matthew Upson (7)
Again recovered from early confusion to put in a useful shift.
Scott Parker (7)
A lot of hard work and decent tackles and clearly enjoys the increased
responsibility the new system gives him.
Mark Noble (8)
Reduced Bullard to having to seek assists from the ref. Played some superb
passes, not least for Etherington's goal.
Valon Behrami (7)
With both he and Faubert now seemingly in the right positions he is now
beginning to show more influence.
Matthew Etherington (7)
A couple of loose touches early on apart he had a fine game. In the past
when he's been kicked by the opposition he has disappeared – something of
which Konchesky seemed well aware judging by his assault. However,
Etherington seemed spurred on by the treatment he received in this match and
the freedom to roam the new system clearly suits him.
David Di Michele (5)
The one big disappointment of the day, he failed to make much impression
before his eventual replacement by Bellamy.
Carlton Cole (7)
Held the ball up well and gave the home defence a hard time.
Substitutes
Craig Bellamy (6)
(replaced Di Michele, 74) Looked a lot livelier than Di Michele had done but
his finishing let him down. I look forward to seeing him play 90 minutes in
this system.
Hayden Mullins (6)
(replaced Etherington, 80) Came in for the last few minutes to bolster
things up in the middle. Did so.
Luis Boa Morte (6)
(replaced Parker, 90) Came on in the dying minutes as an aid to running the
clock down. Did so.
Jan Lastuvka (0)
Did not play.
Walter Lopez (0)
Did not play.
Calum Davenport (0)
Did not play.
Freddie Sears (0)
Did not play.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Match Facts
West Ham United: Robert Green, Julien Faubert, Herita Ilunga, Lucas Neill,
Matthew Upson, Scott Parker, Mark Noble, Valon Behrami, Matthew Etherington,
David Di Michele, Carlton Cole.
Substitutes: Craig Bellamy, Hayden Mullins, Luis Boa Morte, Jan Lastuvka,
Walter Lopez.
Goals: Carlton Cole 43 Matthew Etherington 45
Booked: Scott Parker 68
Sent Off:
Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Gera, Murphy,
Bullard, Davies, Johnson, Zamora.
Substitutes: None.
Subs not used: Zuberbuhler, Ki-Hyeon, Nevland, Dempsey, Andreasen, Kallio,
Baird.
Goals: Murphy (pen 59)
Booked: Johnson (20), Konchesky (39), Murphy (45+2), Hangeland (88)
Sent Off: Johnson (45+4)
Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 23946
Man of the Match: Mark Noble
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The blame game - SSN
Justice should have been delivered more quickly
Last updated: 28th September 2008
The trouble with taking £30million from West Ham and giving it to Sheffield
United is that you then give Sheffield United an advantage in the transfer
window over promotion rivals such as Reading and so on, which is deeply
unfair. Patrick Barclay says the finger must be pointed at the Premier
League and the FA over the Carlos Tevez saga. On Tuesday, it was announced
that an FA arbitration had ruled in favour of the Blades against West Ham
United in their compensation claim over the situation involving Argentina
international Tevez. The Premier League previously found West Ham guilty of
failing to declare that Tevez's move to Upton Park had been engineered by
Kia Joorabchian and that he was part-owned by the businessman's company. The
Hammers were handed a £5.5million fine by the Premier League but there was
no points deduction, despite Tevez playing a crucial role in ensuring West
Ham remained in England's top flight, condemning Sheffield United to
relegation.
Sunday Telegraph writer Barclay feels the Premier League were too slow in
dealing with the matter and the FA should have asked questions earlier. And
he now feels there is no fair solution or punishment and it provides another
example of the problems facing our national game. "A dreadful, dreadful
error was made at the time of the transfer," Barclay told the Sunday
Supplement. "It was obvious and was documented by several newspapers and the
media as a whole that something was fishy from the West Ham point of view
about the signing of Tevez and Javier Mascherano in terms of the third-party
ownership. "The Premier League were blatantly hoodwinked over this. It was a
dreadful, dreadful piece of administration and we are now unable to solve
this one. "You can solve it in the sense that you can in effect fine West
Ham a further £30million on top of the £5.5million they were fined initially
- but you can't now relegate them which is what should have happened. "I
don't agree that points-docking would solve anything. You need to relegate
someone and you can't do that now. "The trouble with taking £30million from
West Ham and giving it to Sheffield United is that you then give Sheffield
United an advantage in the transfer window over promotion rivals such as
Reading and so on, which is deeply unfair. "It may not come in time for this
transfer window but it should in time for the summer window. It might be
that £30million is light for what actually happened. "I think that the FA
are to blame. They should have come in and made sure that the Premier League
acted at the right time. "As Arsene Wenger said on Saturday when he was
talking about video replays, justice must be swift. The game moves on. "We
have now got ourselves in a mess and as I've said before the government has
to inquire into football. This is yet another reason. "This game is in one
hell of a mess and it's only going to get worse administratively."
However, John Richardson feels there is a simple solution to the affair -
relegate the Hammers. "In a court of law, if further evidence comes to light
eight years down the line you can still come to trial," he said. "Further
evidence has been found here. West Ham, in my opinion, should still be
relegated. "Why run away from that?"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Paintsil blasts referee over Johnson dismissal - sport.co.uk
Author: Zehaad Hassan
Posted on: 28 September 2008 - 8:18 PM
Category: Football
John Paintsil blasted referee Andre Marriner after Fulham were forced to
play the entire second-half of Saturday's 2-1 defeat by West Ham with ten
men.Andy Johnson was cautioned twice in the opening 45 minutes with his late
challenge on Lucas Neill earning him a red card - a decision which Paintsil
says Marriner got rong.Johnson was already walking a tightrope after a
shocking early tackle on Hammers defender Herita Ilunga saw Marriner
brandish a yellow card. But Paintsil, whose team conceded twice in the final
three minutes of the first-half with Carlton Cole and Matthew Etherington
both scoring, believes Marriner made the wrong call to send Johnson from the
field of play. "I thought it was not the right decision at all," said the
former West Ham defender. "I'm not happy with the decision which the referee
made but we have to take it and there's nothing we can do. "It was a big
blow, we were playing at home and he should have respected that. I don't
think he did and it wasn't good enough."
Despite being reduced to ten men, Fulham still created enough chances to
snatch a draw following Danny Murphy's successful second-half spot kick. But
Paintsil says the dismissal of Johnson killed off any chances Fulham had of
taking a point from a fiery contest at Craven Cottage. "It was a big blow to
the team," he added.
"Playing 10 against 11 when you're two goals down is never easy. When we
went in at half-time the manager changed it around and maybe we should have
got an equaliser but we didn't take our chances. "We must learn from our
mistakes and get better."
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Calculations of Carlos Tévez effect misses points - The Times
Carlos Tevez had very little to do with Sheffield United being relegated,
according to Fink Tank research
Daniel Finkelstein
No doubt. Those are the words I believe that they used. No doubt. I honestly
can't believe it.
Lord Griffiths and his panel have been looking into the Carlos Tévez affair.
And, apparently with the assistance of a video of Match of the Day and a
yellowing copy of The Daily Telegraph, they have "no doubt" that West Ham
United would have secured "at least three fewer points" without Tévez
playing for them in 2006-07.
And they go farther. They think that even in the last two games of that
season Tévez "more likely than not" helped West Ham to achieve the extra
three points that ensured they avoided relegation at Sheffield United's
expense.
No doubt, eh? Well, let the Fink Tank introduce some doubt. Dr Ian Graham
and Dr Henry Stott have gone back to our figures from the 2006-07 season to
see what we can find.
First, let's make a general observation about Sheffield United's relegation.
It was their fault. Take a look at the graphic and it shows the position
clearly. In February, West Ham had a 98 per cent chance of going down and
Sheffield United had a 3 per cent chance. By April, West Ham's chance of
going down had plunged to, er, 97 per cent and Sheffield United's chance was
still only 11 per cent. That they threw it away towards the end had very
little to do with Tévez.
Here's a further point. If all of the shots that crashed against the
woodwork had counted as goals, Fulham would have been relegated and
Sheffield United would have stayed up. To try to isolate one player — Tévez
— is absurd.
Now on to the contribution made by that player. You must, surely, in a
multimillion-pound legal proceeding, use figures rather than old match
reports.
The Fink Tank model of the sport measures each touch of the ball and
simulates the season over and over again. Each player is looked at and
compared with an average player in the same position. So Tévez's
contribution can be established. Even then, I wouldn't begin to claim that
such a figure is beyond argument. But it is, at least, a reasonable stab.
On average over the season, Tévez added 0.15 of a point for every 90 minutes
compared with the average player in the Premier League. The suggestion that
he could have added three points, a suggestion the panel regarded as "more
likely then not", is ridiculous.
What about over the season? Here the panel nearly gets lucky. Tévez added
2.8 points. So it wasn't right because this is not "at least three points",
of which it was in "no doubt". And it wouldn't have been enough to have
saved Sheffield United. But the panel will be feeling pleased that they came
close.
Unfortunately, it isn't as simple as that. The figure compares Tévez with
the average player. If West Ham had been able to play Teddy Sheringham
instead of Tévez in all of those games, the 2.8 points figure would have
held. Sheringham was almost bang on the average. Carlton Cole might have
been far worse. But if Tévez had not arrived at West Ham, perhaps someone
else would have. Would the club really have left the ageing Sheringham with
hardly any cover?
Without that crucial piece of information, a judgment about the number of
points that Tévez added is a ludicrous, indeed impossible exercise.
As for the compensation figure, the Fink Tank's works suggest that if West
Ham's Tévez deal did help to relegate Sheffield United, £30 million is
almost bang on.
But as for "no doubt" — purlease.
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Carlton Cole back on track to please Zola - The Times
Fulham 1 West Ham 2
Kaveh Solhekol at Craven Cottage
A bad week for Carlton Cole ended on a high note after the West Ham United
forward scored a crucial goal to help his team to win in front of Fabio
Capello, the England manager. Cole was arrested on suspicion of
drink-driving last week, but he reminded Capello at Craven Cottage that he
can become an understudy to Emile Heskey at international level.
"It hasn't been the best of weeks but I will take my punishment," Cole, who
has been fined for breaking club rules, said. "I've learnt my lesson. I have
apologised for being stupid. I am normal. I am not an alcoholic."
Cole gave his team the lead against the run of play during a mad three
minutes near the stroke of half-time. Fulham had been running the show, but
Cole's goal — a close-range strike after Mark Schwarzer had failed to deal
with a low cross — changed the game. West Ham's lead was increased two
minutes later when Matthew Etherington beat Schwarzer with a cool chip after
the Fulham goalkeeper had rushed off his line to intercept a through-ball.
Fulham's problems were compounded when Andrew Johnson was shown a second
yellow, for fouling Lucas Neill, and sent off.
"Cole was fantastic," Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham manager, said. "It was
the perfect way to respond. Everybody knows that looking after themselves is
vital to being a good footballer. I am going to be strict."
Fulham tried to play their way out of trouble after the interval, but a
penalty by Danny Murphy was all that they had to show for their efforts.
"The performance has given me a lot of heart, but it's hard to be positive
when you have lost," Roy Hodgson, the Fulham manager, said. "It would be
wrong of me to say I was upset or unhappy with the football we played. I am
unhappy about the two goals we conceded. We have to accept that fate was
unkind to us in this game. West Ham will not be saying this was a game they
fully deserved to win."
Fulham (4-4-2): M Schwarzer 5 — J Paintsil 6, A Hughes 6, B Hangeland 6, P
Konchesky 6 — Z Gera 6, D Murphy 7, J Bullard 6, S Davies 6 — A Johnson 4, R
Zamora 6. Substitutes not used: P Zuberbühler, Seol Ki Hyeon, E Nevland, C
Dempsey, L Andreasen, T Kallio, C Baird. Booked: Johnson, Konchesky, Murphy,
Hangeland. Sent off: Johnson. Next: West Bromwich Albion (a).
West Ham United (4-3-3): R Green 7 — J Faubert 6, L Neill 6, M Upson 6, H
Ilunga 7 — V Behrami 6, S Parker 7 (sub: L Boa Morte, 90min), M Noble 7 — M
Etherington 7 (sub: H Mullins, 80), C Cole 7, D Di Michele (sub: C Bellamy,
74). Substitutes not used: J Lastuvka, W López, C Davenport, F Sears.
Booked: Parker. Next: Bolton Wanderers (h).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United manager Zola reaps the rewards for his Cole therapy - Daily
Mail
By Steve Curry Last updated at 12:13 AM on 29th September 2008
Gianfranco Zola, the man who single-handedly turned John Terry from a lout
into a leader, has started counselling Carlton Cole about straying off the
straight and narrow. The West Ham striker was stopped on suspicion of drink
driving in the middle of the night last Tuesday, and Zola started the
therapy by giving him the chance to help his side defeat Fulham. Zola's
philosophy on errant players is that sometimes the reasoned approach
produces a better outcome than applying the heavy hand, so the 24-year-old
striker has been given similar advice to that handed to Terry by Zola while
they golfed together at Wisley in the Italian's playing days at Chelsea.
After Cole had scored West Ham's opening goal and generally created unease
in the Fulham ranks with his physical presence, Zola said: 'It was the
perfect way for him to respond. 'He scored a goal and helped the team so
much. Everybody makes mistakes and I have told him that. As long as he now
accepts his responsibilities and realises his mistakes, it will help him.
'There was no point in leaving him out. He has to make it up by helping the
team. I know he is a player who wants to improve. If he listens, he is going
to be an important player and not just for us.' Cole has got the message. He
said: 'I realise you can't behave like I did and be a top player. I have
learned a lesson and I won't make the mistake again.'
West Ham's first away win, however, came courtesy of Fulham's failure to
take their chances and the fact that Andy Johnson was redcarded in
first-half injury time for a second yellow. It capped a dismal few minutes
for Fulham who had dominated the opening exchanges but fell behind on 43
minutes when Mark Schwarzer could only palm Matthew Etherington's cross into
the path of Cole, who could hardly miss. Two minutes later, Schwarzer came
rushing out to meet Mark Noble's lofted pass, but Etherington got there
first to poke the ball into an empty net. Fulham boss Roy Hodgson said: 'The
team's performance has given me a lot of heart, but it's hard to stand here
and be positive about that when you have lost the game. 'I was not unhappy
with the football we played, though I was unhappy with the two goals we
conceded. We have to stop giving the opposition that sort of advantage and
try to keep a few clean sheets.'
Fulham replied through a Danny Murphy penalty on 57 minutes, but the 10 men
could not exert enough pressure to trouble West Ham who have now reached the
giddy heights of fifth place.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gudjohsen unmoved by transfer talk - Setanta
by Chris Stanton, 28 September 2008
Eidur Gudjohnsen has played down speculation that he could be a target for
new West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola. The Iceland international has had to
make do with a bit-part role at Camp Nou but the 32-year-old insists he has
faith in his ability. Gudjohnsen's former Chelsea team-mate Zola does too if
reports are to be believed, but the player is determined to ignore talk of a
transfer. "I am used to the rumours linking me with a move away from
Barcelona but I never lose faith in my ability," said Gudjohnsen. "It has
been very difficult for me since I came from Chelsea, but all I can do is
work hard and hope the manager picks me. "I have been hurt by people who
discussed my quality. At such team as Barca when things are not going well
they look for the guilty one and we have all been pointed out in the last
few seasons."
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Gianfranco Zola gives Carlton Cole all-clear to stay in party mood as West
Ham beat Fulham - Telegraph
Fulham (1) 1 West Ham United (2) 2
By John Ley
Last Updated: 9:47PM BST 28 Sep 2008
Given the current mood, Fulham's players, their fans and even club mascot
Billy the Badger may be considering suing West Ham – for feeling aggrieved
at losing a player and three points. West Ham could face countless claims
from players for loss of earnings following the Carlos Tevez affair and the
feeling against them on a sunny day by the Thames was similarly hostile.
However, at least one man began to repay West Ham after adding to his club's
woes last week. Carlton Cole embarrassed new manager Gianfranco Zola when he
was arrested in the early hours of last Tuesday morning on suspicion of
drink-driving. Zola fined Cole two weeks' wages but rather than dropping the
striker, he fielded him at Fulham and he responded so well that his manager
gave him permission to celebrate on Saturday night.
Other managers may not have been so understanding but Zola, in the infancy
of his management career, has already learnt that enticement rather than
punishment can be the key. Cole responded with the opening goal. "It was
fantastic," beamed Zola. "It was the perfect way to respond. He scored a
goal and helped the team. Because of that I allowed him to go out on
Saturday night. He can go out if he plays like that. "Everybody makes
mistakes and that's what I told him. As long as you accept your
responsibilities and you realise you may have made a mistake. Everybody
knows that looking after themselves, looking after their body, their quality
of life is vital to be a good footballer. "I am going to be very strict. I
can't afford to have talented players spoiling themselves with things like
that. I won't allow it. I will be very hard with them."
Some will recall a similar situation in the early days of Rio Ferdinand's
Upton Park career. He was found guilty of drink-driving when he was 20, but
bounced back to represent his country and Cole will be hoping to have
impressed the watching Fabio Capello. Cole is certainly repentant. "I have
had a discussion with the manager and the board," he admitted. "I have
apologised for being stupid. I let the club down and am sorry to the fans."
Cole began to repay his club when Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer parried
Matthew Etherington's cross and he gave West Ham the lead, minutes before
the winger added the second. Fulham's fans were incensed, having seen
Etherington, four minutes before the first goal, writhing in agony from a
Paul Konchesky challenge and they were further infuriated when Andy Johnson
was sent off after tackling Lucas Neill so robustly that the defender's boot
flew off. Overall, referee Andre Marriner got the big decisions right,
including a handball by Neill that allowed Danny Murphy to pull one back for
Fulham.
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Chris Morgan refuses to enter row over Carlos Tévez - The Times
Scott Rutherford
Chris Morgan, the Sheffield United captain, has denied that the club's
players have met to discuss the possibility of launching individual claims
against West Ham United. An independent arbitration panel ruled in favour of
Sheffield United last week in their claim for compensation from West Ham
over the Carlos Tévez affair.
The panel has yet to determine the size of the payout, but Sheffield United
are claiming in excess of £30 million from the London club for being
relegated from the Barclays Premier League on the final day of the 2006-07
season.
After Sheffield United's 2-1 Coca-Cola Championship win over Watford on
Saturday, Morgan said: "There's been no meeting that I'm aware of that's
taken place with any players this week. We've always said as players we
can't get involved in what goes on at that side, that's down to the chairman
and chief executive and people like that.
"That's their job. We're employed by this football club to play football,
not to set meetings up talking about money. We've not even thought about
it."
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Bellamy and Collins look set for return - thisissouthwales.co.uk
Sunday, September 28, 2008, 09:00
WALES boss John Toshack will name West Ham's Craig Bellamy and James Collins
in his squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers — and this time does not
expect any problems over their release. Toshack is due to name a squad for
the Group Four qualifying matches against Liechtenstein in Cardiff on
October 11 and the trip to face Germany in Monchengladbach on October 15.
Three key figures will be included in the squad. Bellamy has recently
struggled with groin and hamstring problems, while Collins has recovered
from knee surgery but has not played a first-team game yet new season.
Derby's Lewin Nyatanga will also return. He has recovered from a knee
problem and was on the bench for the win at QPR on Saturday.
Bellamy and Collins have only just returned to action at West Ham, and when
they were selected for the previous two qualifiers against Azerbaijan and
Russia earlier this month, they were quickly ruled out. Toshack had lengthy
discussions with then West Ham boss Alan Curbishley, as well as Bellamy and
Collins, and it was reluctantly agreed that Wales would leave them out of
those two matches. But Bellamy, who came on for 16 minutes of West Ham's win
at Fulham, and Collins — who has been playing reserve football recently —
will this time be expected to report for duty. An FA of Wales spokesman
said: "We have spoken to both Craig and James in recent days, and both say
they are ready for action this time."
The return of Collins and Nyatanga will ease Toshack's injury crisis in
central defence, having had to use rookies Craig Morgan and Swansea City's
Ashley Williams for the previous two group matches. Both performed well, but
the experience of Collins and Nyatanga will be welcome. Bellamy has managed
just two short substitute appearances for West Ham this term and may not be
used in both Wales qualifiers, but his return will take the pressure off
teenage strikers Sam Vokes and Ched Evans. Wales will be without 20-year-old
Middlesbrough defender Rhys Williams, who is out with a leg injury. Toshack
may leave out Wrexham defender Steve Evans.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fulham 1 West Ham United 2: Zola lets Cole play out after 'perfect response'
By James Wrigley
Monday, 29 September 2008
Independent.co.uk Web
They love their strikers at West Ham but attackers past and present have
caused nothing but trouble recently. Carlos Tevez, long gone to Manchester
United, could yet cost the club a fortune in compensation; Carlton Cole was
stopped by police in the early hours on Wednesday and arrested on suspicion
of drink-driving; Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy spend most of the time in
the treatment room.
There was even the danger at Craven Cottage on Saturday that another former
frontman, Bobby Zamora, would be out to remind his old team of his prowess
following a stunning goal against Bolton in their previous home match.
Well, if West Ham deserved a break they got it as Zamora reverted to type,
missing a hat-trick of chances while young Cole put his alleged midweek
misdemeanours behind him to score the first goal and give a decent all-round
display. There was even a late cameo, albeit with two missed chances, from
Bellamy as he came off the bench late in the game.
Cole tapped home the opening goal after 43 minutes following excellent work
down the right by Matthew Etherington, with the winger adding a second in
first-half stoppage time when he beat the advancing goalkeeper Mark
Schwarzer to steer in Mark Noble's through ball. Suddenly West Ham, like
their hosts beaten in the Carling Cup by a Championship side earlier in the
week, were two goals to the good after Fulham had dominated the play.
It got better as another striker aided their cause, Andrew Johnson getting
himself sent off for a second bookable offence just before the referee Andre
Marriner blew for the interval. To their great credit, Fulham responded well
in the second half and pulled a goal back when Lucas Neill handled a Zoltan
Gera header inside the area and Danny Murphy scored from the spot. But West
Ham hung on to make it two wins from two in the competition that matters the
most for their new manager Gianfranco Zola.
The Italian, who helped a young John Terry clean up his act during his days
at Chelsea, was keen to hail Cole's reaction. "It was fantastic. It was the
perfect way to respond," Zola said. "He scored a goal, he helped the team so
much. Because of that I've allowed him to go out tonight. Tonight he can go
out if he plays like that. Everybody makes mistakes and that's what I told
him."
Cole was contrite to a fault, saying: "It hasn't been the best of weeks but
I will take my punishment. You can't do things like this and be a top
player. I've learnt my lesson – I won't make a mistake like this again. I
hadn't been out for so long and the one time I do go out I get caught for
it, so the past has come back to bite me on the arse."
The Fulham manager, Roy Hodgson, doubtless felt some pain in a similar area,
for his players deserved a point after being the better side for much of the
game. He was philosophical as ever, though. "We have all been in the game a
long time and we know that if you win two games you are world-beaters and
you're going to finish in the top four, you lose two and you are useless and
you are going to get relegated."
The truth, as always, is probably somewhere in between.
Goals: Cole (43) 0-1; Etherington (45) 0-2; Murphy pen (59) 1-2.
Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky; Davies,
Bullard, Murphy, Gera; Zamora, Johnson. Substitutes not used: Zuberbühler
(gk), Seol, Nevland, Dempsey, Andreasen, Kallio, Baird.
West Ham United (4-4-2): Green; Faubert, Neill, Upson, Ilunga; Behrami,
Parker (Boa Morte 90), Noble, Etherington (Mullins, 80); Cole, Di Michele
(Bellamy 74). Substitutes not used: Lastuvka (gk) Lopez, Davenport, Sears.
Referee: A Marriner (West Midlands).
Booked: Fulham Johnson, Konchesky, Murphy, Hangeland; West Ham United
Parker.
Sent off: Johnson (45).
Man of the match: Etherington.
Attendance: 23,946.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
MORGAN DISMISSES COMPENSATION CLAIMS - Football365
Posted 29/09/08 00:06EmailPrintSave
Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan has denied the club's players have met
to discuss the possibility of launching individual claims against West Ham.
An independent arbitration panel earlier this week ruled in favour of
Sheffield United in their claim for compensation from West Ham over the
Carlos Tevez affair. The panel have yet to determine the size of the payout,
but the Blades are claiming in excess of £30million from the London club for
being relegated from the Barclays Premier League on the final day of the
2006-7 season, when a Tevez-inspired Hammers side beat Manchester United to
clinch top-flight safety. The Premier League fined West Ham a record
£5.5million for fielding Tevez and Javier Mascherano when they were
ineligible to play under league rules regarding third-party ownership. And
it has since been reported that the Blades' players are considering their
own additional legal action against the Londoners, which could amount to
further millions of pounds, for lost bonuses and reduced wages. But after
Sheffield United's 2-1 Coca-Cola Championship win over Watford on Saturday,
Morgan said: "Where it's come from I've no idea. "There's been no meeting
that I'm aware of that's taken place with any players this week. "We've been
thinking about the Watford game, not what's going on.
"We've always said as players we can't get involved in what goes on at that
side, that's down to the chairman and chief executive and people like that.
"That's their job. We're employed by this football club to play football,
not to set meetings up talkng about money and things like that. "I think if
there is anything there the chairman will pull the players and say, 'Listen,
this is what's happening', but no, as far as I'm aware there's been nothing.
"We've not even thought about it. It's something that has never cropped up.
It's never been thrown about. "On Tuesday morning when we got up for the
Arsenal game it was on the breaking news that the club had won the
arbitration and things like that. "But we have nothing to do with that.
We've never got involved in it. Obviously people ask us questions about it
and we've got to try to answer as openly as we can. But we don't get
involved in that."
West Ham have confirmed they will appeal against the tribunal's ruling to
the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Hammers argue they have already been
punished for breaching Premier League rules, but their hopes of avoiding a
huge payout were dealt a blow when CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb
admitted their appeal may not even be heard. Reeb said: "As things stand,
CAS would not be able to hear this case. "We would need agreement from
Sheffield United and for Football Association rules to allow an appeal to
CAS."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
PANTS WANTS ANOTHER CHANCE - The Mirror
By John Cross 29/09/2008
John Pantsil insists he still loves the West Ham fans - even after becoming
public enemy No.1. Fulham full-back Pantsil became a cult hero at Upton Park
but upset the West Ham fans after a first-half clash with their keeper
Robert Green when he appeared to tread on his head. Pantsil, who accused
referee Andre Marriner of lacking "respect" for sending off Fulham striker
Andy Johnson, is hoping the West Ham fans will forgive him. Pantsil said: "I
am very sorry for what happened because I did not mean to do it. The West
Ham fans were very good to me last season. I welcomed them to Fulham and I
hope they can forget this. I still love them." And about Johnson's red card,
he added: "It was not the right decision to send him off. "It was a big
blow. We were at home and the referee should respect that. He didn't. I
think the ref did well over all. It was a derby. But the red card to Andy
Johnson I was very disappointed with."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Zola hails Cole response after tough week
29.09.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola was delighted with Carlton Cole's performance
in their victory over Fulham on Saturday. Zola lost no time in fining his
former Chelsea colleague after he was arrested this week on suspicion of
drink-driving. But with Dean Ashton out injured and Craig Bellamy not match
fit the Hammers manager could not punish Cole further by leaving him out at
Craven Cottage. And the 24-year-old responded with a 43rd-minute opener as
the Hammers bounced back from their midweek Carling Cup exit at Watford to
move up to fifth in the Barclays Premier League. Cole had helped set up the
move that led to his goal, although goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer's failure to
hold on to Matthew Etherington's cross was also crucial, and Zola was
delighted. He said: "It was the perfect way to respond. He scored a goal and
helped the team so much. And because of this I have allowed him to go out
tonight. "Everybody makes mistakes and that is what I told him. As long as
you take it in the right way and realise your responsibilities then you
realise your mistake. I am pleased with him. "He had to make up for it. He
paid a fine and also had to help the team on the pitch. He is a player that
wants to improve and become more important. He is doing great and if he
carries on like this he won't only be important for us."
England manager Fabio Capello was in the stands but Zola was not expecting
his fellow countryman to add a third Cole to his squad along with Ashley and
Joe just yet.
He said: "Carlton Cole is not playing at his best because he needs to
improve his finishing. But if he gets that as good as the way he works he
could be an unbelievable player."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fulham boss Hodgson won't hear of Bullard criticism
29.09.08 | tribalfootball.com
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson won't blame Jimmy Bullard for his wayward finishing
after their defeat to West Ham. He said: "We can't blame him for that. He
has scored goals and produced wonderful crosses that maybe kept us in this
league so I will be the last one to criticise him for it. "He's disappointed
because he sees every one of those situations as a great goal-scoring
opportunity and I do as well. "It just goes to show how well we did in the
second half to get so many opportunities despite the fact we were playing
with 10 men. "He is good at those and it is a high skill to be able to lift
balls over the high walls of today and the quality of goalkeepers and put it
in the net. He is the best man we have for that job."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Curbishley convinced West Ham won't sell Zola's players
28.09.08 | tribalfootball.com
Alan Curbishley is confident Gianfranco Zola won't have to sell any more
West Ham players. The former Hammers boss told Setanta Sports: "I understand
some of the West Ham fans talking about perhaps the transfer activity, but
I'm under the impression now that no one else has got to be sold. I'm not
too sure about people being allowed to come in during the transfer window in
January, but I was under the understanding that that was it in terms of
selling."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham rejected mega Tottenham offer for Ashton
28.09.08 | tribalfootball.com
Tottenham made a mega bucks offer for West Ham United striker Dean Ashton in
the summer, it has been revealed. The News of the World says Spurs had a £18
million bid rejected by the Hammers for the England international.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Toshack to call on Hammers pair - TeamTalk
John Toshack has admitted he plans to name West Ham's Craig Bellamy and
James Collins in his Wales squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers.
Toshack names a squad on Monday for the Group Four qualifying matches
against Liechtenstein in Cardiff on October 11 and the trip to face Germany
in Monchengladbach on October 15. Three key figures will be included in the
squad. Bellamy has recently struggled with groin and hamstring problems,
while Collins has recovered from knee surgery but has not played a
first-team game yet new season. Derby's Lewin Nyatanga will also return. He
has recovered from a knee problem and was on the bench for the win at QPR
yesterday. Bellamy and Collins have only just returned to action at West
Ham, and when they were selected for the previous two qualifiers against
Azerbaijan and Russia earlier this month, they were quickly ruled out.
Toshack had lengthy discussions with then West Ham boss Alan Curbishley, as
well as Bellamy and Collins, and it was reluctantly agreed that Wales would
leave them out of those two matches. But Bellamy, who came on for 16 minutes
of West Ham's win at Fulham, and Collins - who has been playing reserve
football recently - will this time be expected to report for duty next week.
An FA of Wales spokesman said: "We have spoken to both Craig and James in
recent days, and both say they are ready for action this time."
The return of Collins and Nyatanga will ease Toshack's injury crisis in
central defence, having had to use rookies Craig Morgan and Ashley Williams
for the previous two group matches. Both performed well, but the experience
of Collins and Nyatanga will be welcome. Bellamy has managed just two short
substitute appearances for West Ham this term and may not be used in both
Wales qualifiers, but his return will take the pressure off teenager
strikers Sam Vokes and Ched Evans. Wales will be without 20-year-old
Middlesbrough defender Rhys Williams, who is out with a leg injury. But with
the return of Collins and Nyatanga, Toshack may well leave out Wrexham
defender Steve Evans on this occasion.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Exclusive: West Ham paying controversial agent Kia Joorabchian £2million a
year to act as transfer consultant - The Mirror
By Simon Mullock, sundaymirror.co.uk 28/09/2008
West Ham have a consultancy agreement with Kia Joorabchian that will see the
controversial Iranian businessman paid more than £2million. West Ham's
desperation to avoid being sued by Joorabchian over the Carlos Tevez fiasco
saw them draw up a contract that enables him to cash in every time he is
involved in a transfer.
Joorabchian's duties include advising the Hammers on players, scouting and
arranging friendly matches. It's an agreement that will infuriate West Ham
fans still coming to terms with the news that they could be faced with a
£30m bill after a tribunal ruled that Sheffield United should be compensated
for their relegation from the Premier League in 2007 in the aftermath of the
Tevez scandal. Joorabchian arranged for Tevez and Javier Mascherano to join
West Ham in August 2006. West Ham broke Premier League registration rules on
third-party interference because Joorabchian retained the power to transfer
either player at any time during their long-term contracts. However, when
Joorabchian signed the players it was not contrary to regulations. It was
West Ham's error in failing to make the contracts known that provoked the
long-running legal issue. The discrepancy came to light when Mascherano left
West Ham for Liverpool in January 2007. But West Ham failed to alter Tevez's
contract until ordered to do so by the Premier League. By then the East
London outfit were embroiled in a relegation fight. With just three games of
the 2006-07 season remaining, Joorabchian threatened to take out an
injunction to prevent Tevez playing against Wigan, Bolton and Manchester
United. He eventually decided against this course of action after meetings
with West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury and chairman Eggert Magnusson
left him confident that he would be compensated by the club. Joorabchian
initially believed he would receive a multimillion-pound pay-off for the
unilateral breaking of Tevez's contract by the Hammers.
When no money was forthcoming he instigated legal proceedings that were
eventually settled out of court when Joorabchian was handed a consultancy
package that will be worth more than £2m to him. Tevez scored goals against
both Wigan and United to save the Hammers and relegate Sheffield United. The
Argentine moved to Old Trafford that summer on a loan deal - and will become
a permanent signing if Manchester United pay £32m. Yet Tevez and Mascherano
were offered to United, Chelsea and Liverpool at a fraction of their current
values before Joorabchian placed them at Upton Park. All three clubs felt
that neither player had the quality to excel in England - even though Jose
Mourinho used Roman Abramovich's private jet to run a personal check on
Tevez when he played for Brazilian club Corinthians.
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SHEFFIELD UNITED: Finally justice is done, says Warnock -
YorkshireEveningPost
Published Date: 27 September 2008
By Lee Sobot
FORMER Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock has welcomed an independent
arbitration panel's verdict in finding against West Ham in the Carlos Tevez
affair as "a matter for justice". But Crystal Palace boss Warnock, who later
left Bramall Lane after the club were relegated as the Argentina striker
fired the Hammers to safety, believes the money is a poor substitute for the
future the Blades could have enjoyed in the Premier League
Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe claimed victory after a 16-month
battle to right the perceived injustice of going down in place of a side who
were fined a record £5.5m, but not deducted any points, for playing Tevez
and Javier Mascherano in breach of league rules on third-party ownership.
The panel are yet to determine the size of the payout but although a figure
of up to £30m has been suggested, Warnock believes something even more
valuable was lost at the end of the 2006-07 season. It's a matter for
justice and I think everyone in the country knows this is the right
verdict," he said. "They (Sheffield United) have only claimed for one season
(in lost revenues) and what they would have missed out on on the field and
off the field. "That's what it comes to in today's game. It's not an awful
lot at the top level...it's one good player. "This justifies what Kevin
McCabe has said all along: that we were hard done by, that it wasn't done
legally and we were fighting for our rights. "It's the principle of the
whole thing. We were appalled by the original verdict."
Reflecting on the effect relegation to the Coca-Cola Championship had on the
Blades, he added: "It was scandalous. It changed one or two lives and it
shouldn't have happened. This verdict puts your faith back into the justice
system. "The club itself is geared up for the top level and it knocked us
back no end. "I think we would be doing very well (in the Premier League).
It (relegation) is on my CV, which it shouldn't be."
Announcing the arbitration panel's findings, McCabe said: "The matter is
still legally in process so I do not wish to comment any further until we
have completed that process."
Tevez and Mascherano are both long gone from Upton Park, earning lucrative
moves to Manchester United and Liverpool respectively, while Kia
Joorabchian, whose MSI company were judged to have partially-owned the
Argentinian pair, is now a transfer consultant with the Hammers. He had
originally taken legal action against the east London club, claiming he was
owed £7.1m, but the parties agreed an out-of-court settlement earlier this
year. For their part, West Ham are now considering whether or not to appeal
against this latest ruling through the Court of Arbitration for Sport,
although that decision may hinge on the level of compensation that is fixed
when the arbitration panel meets again to determine a figure. Like Sheffield
United, West Ham signalled their intent to withdraw from the debate while
they consult legal representatives. A club statement said: "The club will
need to fully digest the findings of the arbitration panel and consult our
lawyers on possible next steps. It would not be appropriate to comment
further at this stage."
Following the news, the Blades could still be backed at a best price of 6/1
with bet365 to win promotion from the Championship this season. A potential
cash windfall could dramatically affect their capabilities in January's
transfer window if, by that time, they know how much they're likely to
receive and when they'll get it. The Blades were mourning the death of club
president Bernard Procter this week. He died suddenly last Sunday, aged 70.
Procter became Blades chairman in 1999, taking over from Mike McDonald
amidst huge fan unrest after the sale of several key players and the
departure of Adrian Heath, who was the club's fifth manager in four years.
Procter brought much-needed stability to his beloved United and was
responsible for appointing Warnock as boss. He lasted eight years as Blades
manager and took them back to the Premiership after a 12-year absence. After
announcing his retirement in 2002, Proctor became the club's president, a
position that he held until he passed away. Meanwhile, it was also revealed
this week that striker Jon Stead had penned a three-year contract at Portman
Road for an undisclosed fee after initially joining Ipswich Town on loan.
Stead has had a great start to life in Suffolk and scored on his debut in
the Tractor Boys' 2-0 win against Reading last weekend. The former Blackburn
and Huddersfield frontman will link-up with another ex-Blade, Alan Quinn,
who signed for Town in January. The 25-year-old, 6ft 3in marksman, scored 11
goals in 32 appearances, 15 as a substitute, for the Blades after joining
for £750,000 from Sunderland in January 2007.
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Hammers boss tips midfielder for the top - Echo
5:10pm Sunday 28th September 2008
HAMMERS boss Gianfranco Zola has tipped Mark Noble to be a big hit at Upton
Park after the midfielder's impressive performance in the team's 2-1 win
over Fulham on Saturday. Noble pulled the strings at the heart of the Irons'
midfield and it was his delictable chipped pass that set up Matthew
Etherington for the decisive second goal at the end of the first half. With
England boss Fabio Capello watching in the stands Noble timed his excellent
display to perfection and Zola insisted the 21-year-old will only get
better. "Noble played very well today," noted the Italian. "But he's not at
his best yet. "He still struggles a bit physically and he will improve even
more."
Noble established himself as a key player under the management of Alan
Curbishley and he has not failed to impress the new boss either, although it
remains to be seen whether his consistent performances will be recognised by
Capello.
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HAMMERS TALK: Barca ace plays down Premier League return - Echo
7:08pm Sunday 28th September 2008
BARCELONA star Eidur Gudjohnsen has played down reports linking him with a
move back to the Premier League. The 30-year-old has struggled to make an
impact at the Nou Camp following his £8million move from Chelsea in 2006.
That has seen him heavily linked with moves to Manchester City and West Ham.
A move to Upton Park may still be in the pipeline, with new Hammers boss
Gianfranco Zola keen on his former Stamford Bridge team mate. However, the
Icelandic striker - who has defended himself in the wake of some unwanted
criticism over his talents - insists he is good enough to fight for his
place in the Barca team. "I am used to the rumours linking me with a move
away from Barcelona but I never lose faith in my ability," Gudjohnsen told
Sky Sports. "It has been very difficult for me since I came from Chelsea,
but all I can do is work hard and hope the manager picks me." He added: "I
have been hurt by people who discussed my quality. At such a team as Barca
when things are not going well they look for the guilty one - we have all
been pointed out in the last few seasons."
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