Saturday, November 29

Daily WHUFC News - 29th November 2008

Ashton giving his all
WHUFC.com
Dean Ashton is working hard on his rehab and has been boosted by his
team-mates' good form
29.11.2008

A good week for West Ham United following three victories at senior, reserve
and youth level was further boosted with the news that Dean Ashton continues
to make positive progress.

The 24-year-old, who has been sidelined by an ankle injury which he picked
up in training following the away game at West Bromwich Albion in September,
has stepped up his rehabilitation work. "I was able to start running on the
treadmill this week," said Ashton "I have been working hard since having
surgery in September, focusing on building and strengthening the ankle and
muscles in my calf.

"After surgery, you lose a lot of strength in your muscles, so this is been
the main part of my rehab work. But to do the running this week has seen me
step up a bit more again now in what I am doing."

While being on the sidelines can take its toll, Ashton said he is drawing on
his experience from a couple of years ago, when he had to recover from the
broken ankle that ruled him out of the 2006/07 season. "Back then, it was
all new to me and you can be in the dark about it all," he added. "But
because I have been through a similar time before, I know what to expect
more now.

"You know you will have days where there might not be much progress and then
there will be other days when you really progress. I know now why I may have
to do certain things and why I need to do them and when, so I feel good with
how things are going for me."

Although much of Ashton's rehab work has to be done on a one-to-one basis at
the moment, he has been keeping a close eye on his team-mates and how they
have been doing. It is a positive injury situation generally, with Danny
Gabbidon the only other long-term absentee.

He has been a regular at matches and was also delighted to see the team pick
up a well-deserved win away at Sunderland last weekend. "I think the lads
have been playing well, but were not getting the results to match them. But
now we have got two clean sheets in two matches and got a great win up at
Sunderland. There's no reason why we can't go on from there.

"There's some tough matches coming up, but as I said, we have been playing
well and when you have players in the team such as Craig Bellamy who has a
great goalscoring record, it is promising for us and there is no reason why
we can't look forward to a good rest of the season."

The aim for Ashton is also to play a part in that and he remains confident
of getting through the strenuous rehab work with a positive result. "There
are no targets as such, I want just want to carry on with what I am doing
and keep progressing every day and then playing some part in the season for
West Ham. That is the aim and I am working hard to achieve that."

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Swiss experience for Street
WHUFC.com
Young goalkeeper Adam Street got a valuable international taster with Canada
this past week
29.11.2008

Adam Street is returning to club duties at Chadwell Heath after a memorable
week with Canada's Under-20 side in Switzerland that included another
international cap.

The West Ham United goalkeeper played the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with
the Swiss in Berne on Wednesday night. He could do nothing about a
spectacular opening goal from the home side but, once parity was restored,
proved one of the stars of the show in the second half with some superb
stops. It was his second cap at that level after a previous 1-1 draw against
Argentina back in May.

Ontario-born Street's involvement in the Swiss training camp meant he missed
this week's reserve-team victory against Portsmouth, when the visitors
coincidentally had full Canadian international Asmir Begovic in goal.
However, the 17-year-old has stepped up his experience with the second
string this season and has earned high praise for his progress from Ludek
Miklosko.

The young Canadians used their weeklong get-together as preparation for next
March's CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Trinidad & Tobago. Street, who could
yet emulate Craig Forrest in representing both West Ham United and Canada at
senior level, and his international team-mates are aiming to secure one of
four qualifying spots for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in Egypt.

Meanwhile, England have already reached the September-October finals and
could boast several homegrown Hammers in their ranks, including Jordan
Spence, James Tomkins, Junior Stanislas and Freddie Sears. Street also
represented the Young Lions at U16 level two years ago before opting to play
for Canada. Hungary are also through from the European zone and could line
up with Balint Bajner spearheading their attack.

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Fanimo makes England bow
WHUFC.com
Matthias Fanimo made his England U16 debut on Friday night as they won the
Victory Shield
28.11.2008

Matthias Fanimo made his international debut on Friday night as England
Under-16s clinched the Victory Shield in fine style.

The 14-year-old West Ham United forward was a late substitute in the 2-0
home win against Scotland that made it three wins in three in the
round-robin tournament. On a freezing foggy night, he put in a couple of
lively runs and showed real attacking intent with the chances he had. Kenny
Swain's men had already beaten Northern Ireland 6-0 and Wales 1-0 and only
needed to avoid defeat at the Sincil Bank home of Lincoln City.

Fanimo was the second homegrown Hammer from Tony Carr's academy to feature
in the mini-tournament, after striker Robert Hall appeared in the previous
two contests. England have won the last seven editions of the Victory Shield
and Fanimo followed in the footsteps of a long line of West Ham United
players to appear in the competition including Trevor Brooking, Joe Cole and
Jordan Spence.

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Liverpool match preview
WHUFC.com
All of the early team news and background ahead of Monday's Barclays Premier
League match at Anfield
28.11.2008

Barclays Premier League
Liverpool v West Ham United
Anfield
Monday 1 December
8pm
Referee: Peter Walton
WHUTV - Full audio commentary

Introduction

* West Ham United travel to Liverpool for their second consecutive away game
in the Barclays Premier League. The team will be on a high following the 1-0
win at Sunderland last time out.

* Manager Gianfranco Zola has another strong squad to choose from after more
senior players returned to training as he pits his wits against Rafael
Benitez.

* Zola's side sit 14th in the table prior to the weekend's fixtures, with
five wins and two draws and a goal difference of minus five from their
opening 14 fixtures. The home side are joint top, but sit below Chelsea on
goal difference having won ten and drawn three of their opening 14 games.

* Last weekend's win pushed West Ham United four places up the table and
victory at Anfield could see them climb to seventh, depending on results
from games played earlier in the weekend. Liverpool could move three points
clear of Chelsea, who play Arsenal on Sunday.

* The visitors will be looking to record their first win on Merseyside since
14 September 1963. The London side have lost on their last seven visits
there since goals from Frank Lampard and Marc Keller helped secure a 2-2
draw in February 1999.

* Home form is a different story, though. Last season Mark Noble scored a
last-gasp penalty to give West Ham United a memorable 1-0 win at the Boleyn
Ground on 30 January.

* After ending a run of 25 games without a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw with
Portsmouth, Robert Green and the West Ham United defence have earned two in
a row, following the shut-out against Sunderland.

* West Ham United midfielder Scott Parker said: "We can go there and try to
take the game to them, which I'm sure we're going to, play some nice stuff
and you never know. Fulham went there last Saturday and got a result and we
go there full of confidence with two clean sheets. We'll see if we can keep
the run going."

* Speaking to the club's official website about the injury to Fernando
Torres, Liverpool manager Benitez said: "We have [Robbie] Keane and when we
bought him it was with the idea that he can score goals. We also have Dirk
Kuyt, David Ngog and Ryan Babel. Hopefully they can score enough goals and
we can talk about Fernando in three weeks' time. We have shown enough
quality and character without him and hopefully we can do it again."

* West Ham United are next in top flight action in another Monday fixture,
at home to Tottenham Hotspur on 8 December. Liverpool have a Saturday game
away at Blackburn Rovers on 5 December.

Last time out

Sunday 23 November 2008 - Sunderland 0-1 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Faubert (Boa Morte
76), Parker, Bowyer (Mullins 61), Behrami, Bellamy (Di Michele 87), Cole
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Davenport, Collison, Sears
Goal: Behrami 20

Wednesday 26 November - Liverpool 1-0 Marseille
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio (Dossena 46),
Mascherano, Alonso, Kuyt (Leiva Lucas 85), Gerrard, Riera (Benayoun 63),
Torres
Subs not used: Cavalieri, Keane, Babel, Kelly
Goal: Gerrard 23

Team news

* Parker sat out training on Thursday and Friday with a virus, but is
expected to train over the weekend and should be ready to take his place on
Monday.

* Kieron Dyer continues to impress his manager in training and is edging
ever closer to a return. Mark Noble and Jonathan Spector are also in
training following calf and hip injuries respectively.

* The return of those players mean Danny Gabbidon and Dean Ashton are the
only long-term absentees.

* It will have been a busy week as five more West Ham United players went
out on loan, bringing the total number to eight. James Tomkins went to Derby
County, Kyel Reid was loaned to Blackpool, Southend United borrowed Junior
Stanislas, Jordan Spence moved to Leyton Orient and Jimmy Walker will spend
five weeks at Colchester United. The quintet joined Bondz N'Gala, Josh Payne
and Nigel Quashie, who are already gaining experience away from the Boleyn
Ground.

* Tomkins and Reid had performed particularly well for the reserves in the
2-0 win over Portsmouth on Tuesday. David Di Michele, Freddie Sears, Luis
Boa Morte, Walter Lopez and Calum Davenport all played a key role in the
game as well to further demonstrate the options available to Zola

* Liverpool will be without Torres, who suffered a hamstring injury after
their win over Marseille. Full-back Andrea Dossena is the favourite to
replace Fabio Aurelio, who is out for a few weeks with a calf problem.

Background

* The teams last met on 5 March 2008 at Anfield, when a Fernando Torres
hat-trick helped Liverpool to a 4-0 win.

* The lineups were:

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Riise, Gerrard, Mascherano,
Alonso, Babel (Pennant 76), Kuyt (Benayoun 63), Torres (Crouch 82)
Subs not used: Itandje, Hyypia
Goals: Torres 8, 61, 81, Gerrard 83

West Ham United: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Upson (Spector 63), McCartney,
Solano (Ashton 69), Noble, Mullins, Ljungberg, Boa Morte, Cole (Zamora 69)
Subs not used: Wright, Pantsil

* West Ham United's last win at Anfield, on 14 September 1963, came courtesy
of goals from Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst. Jim Standen also saved a
penalty from Ronnie Moran in the match.

* If selected, Craig Bellamy will be making his 200th career Premier League
appearance against one of his former clubs. The Welshman made 42 appearances
for the Reds, scoring nine goals.

* Liverpool, meanwhile, could boast two former West Ham United players.
Yossi Benayoun made 72 appearances for the club, while Javier Mascherano
played seven times in a loan spell in east London.

* Robert Green is the only West Ham United player to have featured in every
minute of every Premier League game this season, while Matthew Upson has
also started every league match.

Head to head (last six meetings, league unless stated)
5 March 2008 - Liverpool 4-0 West Ham United
30 January 2008 - West Ham United 1-0 Liverpool
30 January 2007 - West Ham United 1-2 Liverpool
26 August 2006 - Liverpool 2-1 West Ham United
13 May 2005 - West Ham United 3-3 Liverpool aet (FA Cup final)
26 April 2006 - West Ham United 1-2 Liverpool

Overall record v Liverpool (all competitions): W 23, D 33, L 60

Barclays Premier League fixtures

Saturday 29 November 2008 (All 3pm kick-off unless stated)
Aston Villa v Fulham
Middlesbrough v Newcastle United
Stoke City v Hull City
Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers
Wigan Athletic v West Bromwich Albion

Sunday 30 November 2008
Chelsea v Arsenal, 4pm
Manchester City v Manchester United, 1.30pm
Portsmouth v Blackburn Rovers
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton

General information
For ticket information, click here For details on getting to Anfield, click
here
Weather: The forecast is for a cold but bright day. The temperature is not
expected to get above 5C.

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Zola relishing Reds challenge
West Ham boss wary of Liverpool
Last updated: 28th November 2008
SSN

Gianfranco Zola is looking forward to taking his West Ham side to Liverpool
on Monday and has played down the significance of Fernando Torres' injury.
Torres is set to be sidelined for between two and three weeks with a
hamstring problem and will not face the Hammers, but Zola accepts that
Liverpool are strong in all departments. The Reds are currently second in
the Premier League table and Zola realises it will be difficult for his men
to come away with a positive result. The Italian knows it is crucial for
West Ham to defend well but insists his players will also look to attack.
"Torres is a very important player for them," said Zola. "I don't know
whether they'll change the way they play but he is important for them.
"Liverpool have a big squad so if Torres doesn't play they can play (Robbie)
Keane or (Ryan) Babel. So they'll still be a threat for us. "They've got
enough options to cause us problems so obviously we're going to try to stop
them and play our game.
"They haven't lost at home yet so it's a huge challenge but the reward will
be huge if we win. "We are going to play our match the way we normally play.
We're not a team that can go there and sit back and wait and wait. "We have
different qualities but obviously our defensive side is going to be vital.
When you play a side better than you, you have to look after the defensive
side of the game and that's what we've been focusing on this week. "But
we're not going to be sitting waiting for something to happen."
Zola has also admitted that he would rather have former Chelsea team-mates
Frank Lampard and John Terry in his team than Liverpool's Steven Gerrard. He
admires Gerrard but, having played with Lampard, regards the Blues
midfielder as one of the best in his position. Zola explained: "I'm very
divided but I'd have to have John Terry and Frank Lampard, no disrespect to
anyone else. "I know them very well and they were fantastic players for
Chelsea. "Frank Lampard is an excellent player because he can defend, he can
clear, he can help the team to create and he can finish it. "He's a
fantastic player to have in your team. He's excellent and also scores
important goals in important matches. The same goes for Gerrard."

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Parker fit to tackle Liverpool
TeamTalk

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has a fully-fit squad at his disposal for
Monday night's Premier League clash at Liverpool (8pm). Midfielder Scott
Parker has missed training the last couple of days because of illness but
will be fit to start at Anfield. Craig Bellamy should lead the attack
against his former club and Valon Behrami, who scored last weekend's winner
against Sunderland, will retain his place in midfield.

West Ham (from): Green, Stech, Neill, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Lopez, Dyer, Parker,
Ashton, Bellamy, Etherington, Cole, Boa Morte, Upson, Noble, Mullins,
Spector, Collins, Faubert, Stokes, Walker, Lastuvka, Diego Tristan,
Davenport, Reid, Bowyer, Sears, Di Michele, Collison, Tomkins.

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Liverpool v WEST HAM: Zola with full squad to choose from for Anfield trip
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 5:13 PM on 28th November 2008
Daily Mail

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has a full squad at his disposal for Monday
night's Premier League clash at Liverpool. Midfielder Scott Parker has
missed training the last couple of days because of illness but will be fit
to start at Anfield. Craig Bellamy should lead the attack against his former
club and Valon Behrami, who scored last weekend's winner against Sunderland,
will retain his place in midfield.

Provisional squad: Green, Stech, Neill, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Lopez, Dyer,
Parker, Ashton, Bellamy, Etherington, Cole, Boa Morte, Upson, Noble,
Mullins, Spector, Collins, Faubert, Stokes, Walker, Lastuvka, Diego Tristan,
Davenport, Reid, Bowyer, Sears, Di Michele, Collison, Tomkins.

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LIVERPOOL v West Ham: Keane has his chance to impress
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 5:19 PM on 28th November 2008
Daily Mail

Robbie Keane will get an extended chance to impress as Liverpool plan for
the loss of hamstring injury victim Fernando Torres, who could be out for
three weeks.
Keane was left on the bench for the midweek Champions League win over
Marseille, but is expected to start against West Ham on Monday. Italian
full-back Andrea Dossena is likely to replace Fabio Aurelio, who is out for
two weeks with a calf injury.

Provisional squad: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia, Dossena,
Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Babel, Kuyt, Keane, Ngog, Riera,
Cavalieri, Lucas,
Insua, El Zhar.

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West Ham look to reduce compensation payout over Carlos Tevez affair
The Times
Sheffield United have revised to £60 million their estimate for loss in
income from relegation, which a panel has said came about due to West Ham
breaching league rules by playing Carlos Tevez
Gary Jacob

The chances are increasing that West Ham United and Sheffield United will
agree an out-of-court settlement to end their bitter dispute arising from
the Carlos Tévez affair. West Ham have had access to their rivals' financial
books, giving them a good gauge of the cost of relegation.

The results showed that the Yorkshire club suffered a drop of about £8
million in income from their football activity after being relegated from
the top flight two seasons ago. Overall, income fell by £12 million and
ticket income was reduced by £1.5 million. West Ham will claim that the real
cost of relegation is substantially less than that claimed by Sheffield
United, but the picture is complicated and the Bramall Lane club will say
that other factors must be taken into account.

Kevin McCabe, the Sheffield United chairman, blamed the loss of £3.5 million
on their relegation — compared with a £2.7 million profit a year before —
which in turn he attributes to West Ham breaching Premier League rules in
their signing of Tévez, the Argentina forward. "One can only ponder as to
the potential turnover and profitability that may have been achieved were it
not for the circumstances and events emanating from the Tévez affair,"
McCabe said. "We will simply not back down or walk away from tackling
head-on those organisations responsible for the shameful actions and events
that have tarnished English football."

McCabe felt vindicated when an arbitration panel ruled that West Ham were
liable to pay compensation, but it has become clear that the East London
club will exhaust legal avenues to contest the ruling, delaying making
payments. West Ham, who engaged Paul Chaisty, QC, and Wilson Horne, a
barrister, both from Kings Chambers in Manchester, are scrutinising every
element of Sheffield United's income and expenditure to estimate the cost of
relegation.

Should West Ham find justification to drive down that figure, there is a
feeling that Sheffield United may be willing to settle out of court to avoid
the embarrassment of compensation being significantly lower. Sheffield
United have revised to £60 million their estimate for loss in income from
relegation to take into account a second year outside the top flight, but
that does not include costs. Compensation of between £10 and £15 million
plus costs could be closer to the mark.

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Zola Won't Have To Sell - Curbishley
Goal.com

Former West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley believes his successor at the
job, Gianfranco Zola, won't have to offload players in January. And he feels
the current Hammers squad is strong enough to do the club proud. Despite the
East Londoners' well-documented financial problems, precipitated by owner
Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson's exposure to the banking crisis in Iceland, and
exacerbated by legal set-backs as Sheffield United pursue compensation over
the Carlos Tevez affair, Curbishley believes Zola can hang on to his best
players in the January transfer window. And even if the club can't afford to
buy in reinforcements, the ex-manager is confident the existing squad is
good enough. "I was under the impression that there's not going to be a fire
sale there at Christmas or in the New Year," the former Hammers boss told
Setanta Sport's Friday Football Show. "What is there is what Gianfranco's
got to work with. "They have got a strong backbone as a side – Green, Upson,
James (Collins) if he stays fit, Scott Parker, Craig Bellamy, Behrami.
"There's a decent squad there."
However, Curbishley added that the intense glare of the media spotlight at
the Boleyn Ground means anything negative is over-exposed. "Someone said to
me when I went to the club that West Ham receive more column inches in the
press than the top four teams," he said. "It just seems to be that sort of
club. We were desperate to be on the back pages for the right reasons. "We
had a comfortable season last year and looking for better this year but, lo
and behold, it's bad news on the back pages again."
The Hammers go to Anfield on Monday to tackle joint league leaders
Liverpool, with Curbishley insisting that good results will lead to positive
headlines. "They've got to start, hopefully, letting the football do the
talking," he said, "but it's a tough game on Monday at Liverpool."
Mark Hinton, Goal.com

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Zola shrugs off sack talk
Ananova.com

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has laughed off suggestions in Liverpool's
official club magazine that he will be sacked if his side do not win at
Anfield on Monday evening. The Italian has had some disappointing results
since taking over in September, but won at Sunderland last weekend for the
Hammers' first league triumph in eight attempts. Liverpool's magazine said:
"Experiencing the same nerve-jangling predicament is a prospect the Upton
Park board won't relish and they may decide to move before it is too late."
It continued: "A defeat on Monday night, particularly if the scoreline is
similar to last season (4-0), could be another nail in the coffin of Zola's
short managerial career in East London." However, Zola claimed such comments
do not worry him. "I'm not really concerned about these things," he said.
"That doesn't change my attitude, my way to think. "We will see. But it
would certainly make me focus a little bit, even more, on what I have to do.
I know what my position is, I have to give the results to this club. "I know
with the wrong results my position might be difficult but that doesn't
really give me too much pressure. "I'm 100% focused on doing my job as best
as I can. But what others think doesn't matter to me." Zola added: "It's
very strange. They can say whatever they want - it doesn't really bother me.
I know what I have to do, I know what my task is. I don't really give too
much attention to those things."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Friday, November 28

Daily WHUFC News - II 28th November 2008

Big weekend for loan stars
WHUFC.com
With eight players out on loan, James Tomkins could be among those in action
this Saturday afternoon
28.11.2008

West Ham United may not be playing until Monday with the small matter of
Liverpool away, but the eight players out on loan should provide plenty of
Saturday interest.

Three of them will be on Championship duty, while the five other loanees
will be involved in League One or FA Cup encounters. whufc.com rounds up who
will be in action and where this weekend.

James Tomkins (Derby County)
The England Under-19 international travelled to Derby on Thursday to join up
with Paul Jewell's side, who are 14th in the 24-team Championship and just
four points off a play-off place. Derby go to Burnley, who themselves are in
fifth place, with Tomkins looking to build on Tuesday's reserve run-out
after a spell out injured and his six first team appearances last season.

Kyel Reid (Blackpool)
The pacy left winger celebrated his 21st birthday this week with an assist
and a goal for the reserves and will now look to build on that with
Blackpool after his Thursday move - his third loan spell away from the
Boleyn Ground. The north-west club, sitting in 18th in the Championship,
have a long trip to the south-west to take on seventh-placed Plymouth
Argyle.

Nigel Quashie (Birmingham City)
Midland derbies are usually tasty affairs but the lunchtime showdown between
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City promises to be extra special as
the two teams currently occupy first and second places in the table. The
30-year-old is into his second month on loan at St Andrews and has proved
popular. A knock to his achilles in midweek could yet keep him out of the
trip to Molineux though.

Jimmy Walker (Colchester United)
The 35-year-old goalkeeper got Thursday's loan activity under way with his
five-week switch to Colchester United. Walker could make his debut in the
League One fixture at Northampton Town on Saturday, with the Essex club
sitting just outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

Junior Stanislas (Southend United)
The last of Thursday's loans to be confirmed, the attacking midfielder, who
turned 19 this week, has made the short trip to the Essex club for a
six-week stay. Southend are tenth in League One but will get a break from
that competition when they welcome Luton Town in the FA Cup second round.
Stanislas has been given special dispensation to play.

Jordan Spence (Leyton Orient)
The England Under-19 defender, still only 18, could make his FA Cup debut
for Leyton Orient in the second round trip to Bradford City after his
month-long loan move at the start of the week. Spence has already played at
the Matchroom Stadium this season, when representing the reserves against
Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month. Orient are 17th in their division, two
points above the drop zone.

Josh Payne (Cheltenham Town)
Having just turned 18, midfielder Payne has been out on loan at League One
strugglers Cheltenham since September. He began his stay with a goalscoring
debut and has already made nine appearances including one in the FA Cup. It
is that competition that concerns Cheltenham this weekend with Martin
Allen's men contemplating the second-round visit of Morecambe Town.

Bondz N'Gala (MK Dons)
After two impressive appearances off the bench in consecutive 3-0 victories
for the League One high-fliers, managed by Roberto Di Matteo, the imposing
19-year-old defender gets a weekend off. MK Dons may be going well in the
league but they were eliminated in the FA Cup first round and consequently
do not have a senior fixture this time around.

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FA Cup draw on Sunday
WHUFC.com
whufc.com will have full coverage and reaction from the FA Cup draw as it
happens this Sunday afternoon.
28.11.2008

West Ham United will learn their FA Cup third-round opponents when the draw
takes place from 2.15pm on Sunday.

The tie will be played on the weekend of 3-4 January, with the Hammers' fate
to be decided in part by Sir Trevor Brooking. The club legend will conduct
the draw with Ray Clemence at FA headquarters in Soho Square. West Ham
United are already designated as ball No42. The 2008/09 final will take
place on Saturday 30 May at Wembley.

Three-time winners in 1964, 1975 and 1980, West Ham United did not enjoy the
best of fortunes in the 2007/08 edition. The club were eliminated at this
stage with a 1-0 replay defeat at Manchester City after a goalless draw at
the Boleyn Ground. whufc.com will bring you instant news and all the
reaction to the draw as it happens so make sure to return here on Sunday.

Draw numbers
1 Arsenal
2 Aston Villa
3 Barnsley
4 Birmingham City
5 Blackburn Rovers
6 Blackpool
7 Bolton Wanderers
8 Bristol City
9 Burnley
10 Cardiff City
11 Charlton Athletic
12 Chelsea
13 Coventry City
14 Crystal Palace
15 Derby County
16 Doncaster Rovers
17 Everton
18 Fulham
19 Hull City
20 Ipswich Town
21 Liverpool
22 Manchester City
23 Manchester United
24 Middlesbrough
25 Newcastle United
26 Norwich City
27 Nottingham Forest
28 Plymouth Argyle
29 Portsmouth
30 Preston North End
31 Queens Park Rangers
32 Reading
33 Sheffield United
34 Sheffield Wednesday
35 Southampton
36 Stoke City
37 Sunderland
38 Swansea City
39 Tottenham Hotspur
40 Watford
41 West Bromwich Albion
42 West Ham United
43 Wigan Athletic
44 Wolverhampton Wanderers
45 Chesterfield or Droylsden
46 Peterborough United or Tranmere Rovers
47 Eastwood Town or Wycombe Wanderers
48 Notts County or Kettering Town
49 Leicester City or Dagenham & Redbridge
50 Barrow or Brentford
51 Bradford City or Leyton Orient
52 Southend United or Luton Town
53 Forest Green Rovers or Rochdale
54 Histon or Leeds United
55 Scunthorpe United or Alfreton Town
56 Torquay United or Oxford United
57 Fleetwood Town or Hartlepool United
58 Morecambe or Cheltenham Town
59 Gillingham or Stockport County
60 Millwall or Aldershot Town
61 Carlisle United or Grays Athletic or Crewe Alexandra
62 AFC Bournemouth or Blyth Spartans
63 Kidderminster Harriers or Curzon Ashton
64 Port Vale or Macclesfield Town

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fanimo earns England call
WHUFC.com
Matthias Fanimo is in line for an England Under-16 cap in the Victory Shield
against Scotland on Friday.
28.11.2008

West Ham United will again be represented when England Under-16s look to
clinch the Victory Shield at home to Scotland on Friday night.

After young striker Robert Hall appeared in the first two matches of the
round-robin competition - 6-0 and 1-0 wins away against Northern Ireland and
Wales respectively - his club-mate Matthias Fanimo has been selected for the
first time. The 14-year-old left sided attacker was a late call-up to
replace Manchester United midfielder Ra'vel Morrison. England need only
avoid defeat to claim the trophy.

The match, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, gets under way at the
Sincil Bank home of Lincoln City at 7.40pm. England have won the last seven
editions of the Victory Shield and Fanimo follows in the footsteps of a long
line of homegrown Hammers to appear in the competition including Trevor
Brooking, Joe Cole and Jordan Spence.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mayor lends his support
WHUFC.com
The Mayor of London spent some time with trainee coaches from West Ham
United at a recent show
26.11.2008

A group of trainee coaches representing West Ham United at a prestigious
careers event were rewarded with a visit from Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

The coaches from the West Ham United Community Sports Trust spent three days
at Skills London, delivering high quality football sessions to more than
44,000 other young people. Throughout the event they encouraged prospective
candidates to apply for places on the Trainee and Mentoring and Voluntary
Work Experience schemes by giving talks about their experiences of working
for West Ham United and by the end of the event, more than 1,000
applications had been received.

Chief among their admirers was the Mayor, who was led through a series of
exercises by trainee coach Jackie Alecho. Mick King, Chief Executive of the
West Ham United Community Sports Trust, discussed the aims and objectives of
the project with the Mayor, who was impressed by the trainees' level of
professionalism.

Afterwards the Mayor said: " I really enjoyed meeting young Londoners and
the WHU Community Sports Trust coaches and I even had the chance to have a
go at some ball skills myself! So many of our young people work hard and
achieve great things. I'm keen to support their ambitions and help them
boost their skills so they can achieve success in their chosen careers."

After the event, the Community Sports Trust CEO was delighted with the
coaches' performance. "The trainees demonstrated as a team their growing
confidence and levels of capability throughout the exhibition," he said.
"Their presence embodied the ethos of Skills London, which is about enabling
London's youth to discover the options open to them, and forge a responsible
plan for their future.

"In doing so they not only created a positive image of young people in
general, but represented West Ham United to their peers and the wider
community."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool v West Ham
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Anfield Date: Monday, 1 December Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio Merseyside 95.8 FM; Updates on BBC
Sport website & highlights on Match of the Day
BBC.co.uk

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

Robbie Keane will get an extended chance to impress up front for Liverpool
because Fernando Torres is out with a hamstring injury. Full-back Andrea
Dossena is likely to replace Fabio Aurelio, who is out for two weeks with a
calf problem.

West Ham team news to follow later.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia, Dossena,
Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Babel, Kuyt, Keane, Ngog, Riera,
Cavalieri, Lucas, Insua, El Zhar.

BIG-MATCH FACTS
Liverpool, safely in the last 16 of the Champions League, resume the defence
of the Premier League's longest unbeaten home sequence.

West Ham are chasing successive league wins for the first time since
Gianfranco Zola's first two league games in charge, having halted a
seven-match winless sequence with their second away win of the season at
Sunderland last weekend - their first maximum of the campaign outside
London.

The Merseysiders have won 10 Premier League matches; the Hammers five.

West Ham travel in search of their first league win in 37 attempts at
Anfield. The Hammers last returned with maximum points on 14 September 1963,
following a 1-2 top flight triumph.

Liverpool are defending an unbeaten home record against West Ham in the
Premier League, and are vying for an eighth successive victory over the
Hammers at Anfield.

Distance between the clubs: 228 miles (367 kilometres)


CLUB FORM
LIVERPOOL

Club stats

Going into the weekend: 2nd 33 points


Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League
fixtures)

1. Picked up seven points out of nine.

2. Lost one of the last 21 Premier League matches; the defeat being 2-1,
away to Tottenham, on 1 November.

3. The current total of 33 points after 14 matches represents their best
ever start to a Premier League season; the club have never registered as
many as 33 points after the first 15 games in this league. In 1990-91, they
amassed 38 points in an unbeaten opening 14-match run.

4. Won 14 and drawn four of the last 18 Premier League matches at Anfield.
The 0-1 reverse to Manchester United on 16 December 2007 is their only home
loss in 30.

5. The Premier League's only club to remain unbeaten at home in 2008.

6. Kept clean sheets in four of the last five home league games, including
the last three. Not conceded in 315 minutes (five hours 15 minutes) of
Premier League football at Anfield since Amr Zaki scored Wigan's second in
the Latics' 2-3 win on 18 October.

7. Not lost in 18 home Premier League games against London opposition, since
Chelsea's 1-4 triumph on 2 October 2005.

Fixtures

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

WEST HAM UNITED

Club stats

Going into the weekend: 13th 17 points


Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League
fixtures)

1. Picked up five points out of 24.

2. On the longest current sequence of eight matches since scoring more than
a single goal in a Premier League match.

3. Lost the last three league games against North-West clubs.

4. Gained just two points from a possible 24 in the North-West in 2008.

5. Lost their last five games against 'Big Four' clubs, not gaining a point
from the quartet of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United since
beating Liverpool 1-0 at home on 30 January 2008.

6. Would be two points adrift at the foot if only second-half performances
counted.

7. Not kept three successive clean sheets in the Premier League since 3 May
2003, when Middlesbrough (h), Manchester City (a) and Chelsea (h) were all
beaten 1-0.

Fixtures

KEY PLAYER NOTES
LIVERPOOL

Squad profiles

Jamie CARRAGHER is the only remaining outfield player to have been on the
field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches
this season.

Goalkeeper Jose REINA, also an ever-present, leads the race for the Barclays
Golden Glove having kept nine clean sheets.

If selected:-

Diego CAVALIERI will be playing on his 26th birthday.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
WEST HAM UNITED

Squad profiles

Robert GREEN is the only remaining player to have been on the field for
every minute of every one of West Ham's Premier League matches this season.

Lee BOWYER is a double shy of 50 career Premier League goals (Leeds,
Newcastle and West Ham).

If selected:-

Craig BELLAMY will be making his 200th career Premier League appearance
(Coventry, Newcastle, Blackburn, Liverpool and West Ham).

BELLAMY will be facing a former club. The 29 year old Wales international
forward made 42 appearances (27 in the league) and scored nine goals (seven
league) for Liverpool between June 2006 and his £7.5m move to West Ham in
July 2007.


HEAD TO HEAD
West Ham have dropped more away points in the Premier League to Liverpool
than to any other club (36).

Liverpool have won the last seven home league games against West Ham with an
aggregate of 16-2.

The Hammers have failed to score in 31 of their 51 league matches on
Liverpool turf.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Liverpool 53 wins, West Ham 21, Draws 28
Prem: Liverpool 15 wins, West Ham 5, Draws 6

at Liverpool only
League (inc PL): Liverpool 35 wins, West Ham 3, Draws 13
Prem: Liverpool 10 wins, West Ham 0, Draws 3


LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Liverpool 4-0 West Ham United
5 March 2008 - Ref: Steve Bennett
Liverpool scorers: Torres 8, 61, 81, Gerrard 83

REFEREE
Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
McCabe rues 'Tevez affair'
Blades cash losses blamed on the Carlos Tevez affair
Last updated: 28th November 2008
SSN

Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe says the club's financial losses are
down to the Carlos Tevez affair. The Blades have announced an operating
loss before tax and interest of £3.5million compared to a £2.7million profit
this time last year. Tevez was the man who effectively relegated Sheffield
United from the Premier League when his goal beat Manchester United on the
last day of the 2006/07 season to keep West Ham up at the expense of The
Blades. But irregularities had already been found in his contract rendering
him ineligible to play - and The Blades have been campaigning for
compensation ever since. McCabe said: "One can only ponder as to the
potential turnover and profitability that may have been achieved were it not
for the circumstances and events emanating from the media-named 'Tevez
affair'.
"Sheffield United are now a robust, strong and proud club, who will simply
not back down or walk away from tackling head on those organisations
responsible for the shameful actions and events that have tarnished English
football."
McCabe added: "Turnover in 2008 was £32.1million, a reduction from the
£44.2million of 2007, arising from our unjust relegation from the Premier
League in May last year and thankfully limited due to the success of our
off-the-field interests." The Blades are hoping to recoup some of that
deficit with compensation figures of up to £50million being bandied about
after an arbitration panel ruled that the Argentinian should not have been
allowed to play. West Ham say they have already been punished by the
£5.5million Premier League fine, and have this week launched an appeal
against an injunction that blocks them from appealing to the Court of
Arbitration for Sport. Both sides will meet the arbitration panel in March
to thrash out a compensation deal, but the longer it drags on, the more
likely it will be that the case is settled out of court.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Masch has no love for Hammers
Midfielder feels nothing for former club
Last updated: 28th November 2008
SSN

Javier Mascherano insists he has no feelings about former club West Ham as
Liverpool prepare to face The Hammers. Mascherano joined West Ham along with
countryman Carlos Tevez - who went on to play a major role in keeping The
Hammers in the Premier League in 2007. Tevez's controversial participation
in West Ham's season is now leading to court battles - but Mascherano's
Upton Park career passed off without anywhere near as much controversy.
Indeed the combative midfielder managed just seven games for The Hammers
before joining Liverpool in January 2007 - and the player admits he has
little feeling for West Ham given how little he played for them. "West Ham
brought me to England. That was very good for me, but I still could not play
there, it was not like at River Plate or Corinthians when I could play and
win titles," he said. "I only played a few games, so I do not have a big
feeling for the club. "But I was very pleased that they brought me to
England, and happy with the welcome I got there. They did give me the chance
to play in England, that is clear. "But I do not feel a big passion for the
club because I couldn't play there. I was there for four months, I did not
have a feeling with the people. "I don't feel anything about them. My club
is Liverpool, and I do the best for the people here, my team-mates and
supporters. "I do not think about anything now at West Ham. West Ham is
nothing in my life now because I was not able to play there. "It is just
another team in the Premier League. I do not feel anything else. "The
important thing now for me is to win with Liverpool and to keep going. We
want to be top of the table and we must just keep going."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
RAFA: BELLAMY WILL BE DANGEROUS
Joe Curran 28 November 2008
Liverpoolfc.tv

Rafa Benitez today warned of the threat former Reds striker Craig Bellamy
will pose when West Ham visit Anfield on Monday. The Welsh captain scored
nine goals during a one-year spell with the Reds before moving to Upton Park
in July 2007, and Benitez admitted the Hammers, who climbed to 13th in the
league after a 1-0 away win over Sunderland last week, could be dangerous
with Bellamy spearheading their attack. "It will be difficult for them to
take something away from Anfield, but it will be hard for us too because it
is the Premier League and it's always tough," said Benitez. "We have
experience of teams coming here very well prepared and defending, and I
think it will be the same situation with West Ham - they will be organised
and have some good players with Bellamy up front, so they will be a threat.
"Bellamy is a good player and was a very good professional when he was with
us - he worked very hard. "We had a lot of confidence in him, he was a good
player for us and he is a winner, but some players prefer to play every week
and it's something you need to understand."
The Reds boss also revealed he was grateful to get a few more days before
the West Ham clash and said: "Clearly it makes a massive difference when we
have extra time to prepare for a game. Just one day can be important, but
two or three extra days is even better. "Maybe I will watch some of the
other games on Sunday, but I am more concerned about my own team. The main
thing for us is to improve and try to get the three points - you cannot do
anything about the other teams' results.
"Sometimes it can be more pressure watching what the other teams do, so it's
better to relax, enjoy the weekend and try to win when our game comes."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sheffield United chairman points finger at Tevez after lossesBy Sportsmail
Reporter
Last updated at 12:46 PM on 28th November 2008
Comments (0) Add to My Stories
Daily Mail

Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe has blamed the club's financial
losses for the year ending June 30 on the 'Tevez affair'. The Blades have
announced an operating loss before interest and tax of £3.5million, while
for the same period last year the club made a profit of £2.7million.
Retained losses stand at £6.3million compared to a £300,000 profit at this
time in 2007. Turnover is down from £44.2million to £32.1million. McCabe
said: 'One can only ponder as to the potential turnover and profitability
that may have been achieved were it not for the circumstances and events
emanating from the media-named 'Tevez affair'. 'Sheffield United are now a
robust, strong and proud club, who will simply not back down or walk away
from tackling head on those organisations responsible for the shameful
actions and events that have tarnished English football.' McCabe added:
'Turnover in 2008 was £32.1 million, a reduction from the £44.2 million of
2007, arising from our unjust relegation from the Premier League in May last
year and thankfully limited due to the success of our off-the-field
interests.' The Blades are hoping to claim up to £50million from West Ham in
compensation next spring after an arbitration panel ruled that Carlos Tevez
should not have been permitted to play in the final matches of the 2006/7
season, when the Argentina striker helped West Ham avoid relegation at
Sheffield United's expense. West Ham have argued they have already been
punished by the Premier League - they were fined £5.5million - but the
arbitration panel decided the Hammers had not abided by their pledge to end
all third-party agreements in relation to Tevez.
The matter will return to the High Court for a full trial next year when the
Blades will be seeking a permanent injunction. Both parties will meet the
arbitration panel in March to thrash out a compensation figure, but it has
been reported that should the case drag on, the matter could be settled out
of court.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hypocrisy Personified Mc Babe And His Cronies
Submitted by Neville Nixon on 28 November, 2008 - 10:42.
West Ham Fans Org.

So the seekers of truth and justice Sheffield United have managed to get
some old soak to grant them an injunction to stop West Ham appealing to the
Court of Arbitration in Geneva. On the back of the original unjust decision
to penalise Hammers, despite the fact that a hefty fine had already been
paid for irregularities in the transfer of Carlos Tevez and Javier
Mascherano, the granting of an injunction is hardly surprising, however the
sheer hypocrisy of Sheffield United's ruling party beggars belief. Having
been guilty of having a third party agreement over the sale of one of their
players themselves, the Blades are now trying to turn a blind eye to the
thuggish and potentially career threatening assault administered by one of
their players as if it didn't happen, what world do they live in? ...And now
the monkeys want to do a deal! - Ed (Here follows a direct cut and paste
from the Guardian)... Sheffield United had originally put in a claim for
£30m to recompense them for being relegated. This was then increased by £20m
which included the cost of a second season out of top level football. The
Mail reports that directors at the Sheffield club are willing to save West
Ham from any further financial problems by settling for half of the £50m
they were initially seeking. With West Ham planning an appeal to the High
Court after Sheffield United won an injunction preventing the Premier League
side from appealing through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the
affair risks running well into the new year. Amid suggestions that West Ham
are already suffering in the current financial climate, the risk of taking
the case to the CAS would cost time and money, something club owner
Bjogolfur Gudmundsson cannot afford. Speculation that he may be forced to
sell the club or go bankrupt if the FA award damages to Sheffield United are
rife. In a bid to bring the matter to a close, Sheffield United's chairman,
Kevin McCabe has said the club will accept staggered payments on the
condition that West Ham admit that they owed something for United's
relegation at the end of 2006-07. McCabe and Sheffield United are in the
position of strength as it has already been firmly established that Tevez
should not have been playing for West Ham in the matches that proved vital
in keeping the club up while United went down.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sheffield United have a double standard for West Ham and Iain Hume
By Ian Winwood 28/11/2008
The Mirror

Sheffield United were unusually blasé this week following the FA's decision
not to take any further action regarding defender Chris Morgan's elbow smash
to the head of Barnsley striker Iain Hume earlier this month. Speaking on
BBC Radio Sheffield, Blades assistant manager Sam Ellis said his club now
consider the matter "closed."
Actually, make that almost closed, because Ellis couldn't resist one final
parting shot. "We didn't think there was anything more [to the incident],"
he continued. "We think people have made a little bit more out of it than
they should have."
Oh really, do you? It's a fact of football journalism that interviewers
don't ask those being interviewed to expand on their answers, so we don't
know who Ellis thinks these "people" actually are. But let's try and have a
guess. Could Mr Ellis be talking about Iain Hume himself? Leaving aside the
question of intent, the facts of the incident are as follows: Chris Morgan
planted his feet on the ground and swung his elbow into the Barnsley
player's head with enough force to fracture his opponent's skull, leaving a
scar the size of a breakfast bagel.
It's probably safe to assume that Iain Hume did not undergo this
life-threatening misfortune so he could get himself on the telly. Is it,
then, the FA who have made more of this matter than they should? No it's
not, because the FA have done nothing at all. Chris Morgan was awarded a
yellow card for his foul (rather than a three month prison sentence) and
that's how it's going to stay.
The Football Association would consider further punishment were the
'circumstances' more 'exceptional', but everyone knows that in the
Championship fractured skulls are as common as throw-ins. So it must be that
Sheffield United are referring to Barnsley Football Club as the people who
have made too much of the unpleasantness at Oakwell. It is, after all,
Barnsley who are threatening to bring a civil action against Morgan and his
club. United obviously think this is all wrong, and that the FA's ruling
should be a final end to the matter.
This, by the way, is the same Sheffield United who refused the official
ruling on the West Ham saga, and are using their own lawyers to try and grab
£30 million. The double standard at work here is both hilarious and pitiful.
If Sheffield United can have their day in court, then why can't Barnsley? If
an official ruling is the end of the matter in one thing, then why not in
everything? Why not? Because Sheffield United's talk of fairness only
applies when it's fair to them, that's why. Anything else gets the elbow.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - I Love This!!

Sheffield United would accept £25m to resolve Carlos Tevez row
Sheffield United are reported to be considering a £25 million out-of-court
settlement from West Ham to bring an end to their damages claim over Carlos
Tevez.
Telegraph
By Emily Benammar
Last Updated: 9:43AM GMT 28 Nov 2008

Sheffield United had originally put in a claim for £30m to recompense them
for being relegated. This was then increased by £20m which included the cost
of a second season out of top level football. The Mail reports that
directors at the Sheffield club are willing to save West Ham from any
further financial problems by settling for half of the £50m they were
initially seeking. With West Ham planning an appeal to the High Court after
Sheffield United won an injunction preventing the Premier League side from
appealing through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the affair risks
running well into the new year.
Amid suggestions that West Ham are already suffering in the current
financial climate, the risk of taking the case to the CAS would cost time
and money, something club owner Bjogolfur Gudmundsson cannot afford.
Speculation that he may be forced to sell the club or go bankrupt if the FA
award damages to Sheffield United are rife.
In a bid to bring the matter to a close, Sheffield United's chairman, Kevin
McCabe has said the club will accept staggered payments on the condition
that West Ham admit that they owed something for United's relegation at the
end of 2006-07. McCabe and Sheffield United are in the position of strength
as it has already been firmly established that Tevez should not have been
playing for West Ham in the matches that proved vital in keeping the club up
while United went down.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 28th November 2008

Reid ready to shine
WHUFC.com
Kyel Reid has gone on loan to Championship side Blackpool hoping to maintain
his good form
27.11.2008

Kyel Reid has headed out for another loan spell after again demonstratig his
potential with an excellent display for the reserves this week.

Homegrown product Reid has previously had spells at Barnsley and Crystal
Palace, the latter coming at the end of last season, and will travel to
Championship outfit Blackpool on a high. In a new central midfield role, he
made one and scored one as Portsmouth reserves were beaten 2-0 on Monday
night at the Boleyn Ground.

The left-sided player, who turned 21 on Wednesday, said: "For my goal I just
thought once I hit it on target I knew it was going to go in. As soon as the
ball came to me I got a touch then I thought if I get it on target it will
go in and it did. So I was very pleased because I needed a goal. The boys
played really well and put in a good performance."

Reid, who could make his Blackpool debut at Plymouth on Saturday, may be
heading to the north-west but this week's taste of the Boleyn reminded him
of his ultimate ambition - to establish himself at West Ham United. "It
always nice to play out there," he said. "It's a big pitch and I'm used to
it. It's my home and it's a dream come true."

He has gained plenty of confidence from working under the manager.
"Gianfranco Zola spends quite a lot of time with us after training doing
extra stuff on our technique and movement off the ball. It's good because
he's encouraging the young ones and giving them a chance. It's brilliant
learning from him as he's still sharp and he's a great player."

Reid also had words of praise for the faith in him shown by reserve-team
coach Alex Dyer. "He brings a lot of entertainment to the team and is a good
motivator to get the team ready for the game. Since he's taken over the
players have done very well for him," he said, before adding that he has
also been encouraged by the opportunities given to fellow youngsters.

He said: "Jack Collison breaking into the first team has given me a boost,
also Freddie Sears getting in there as well. I'm just waiting for my chance
to get in there and I can perform and do myself justice. My target is to be
in and around the first team and get a few games under my belt."

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Walker heads to Colchester
WHUFC.com
Experienced goalkeeper Jimmy Walker has joined Colchester United until the
first week of January
27.11.2008

Jimmy Walker is the latest West Ham United player to go out on loan after
joining League One outfit Colchester United.

The goalkeeper will go straight into Paul Lambert's plans for their weekend
trip to Northampton Town. The Essex club are just outside the relegation
zone but could jump five places with a victory. Walker, who has been at the
Boleyn Ground since summer 2004, will stay with Colchester until 3 January

"I'm really looking forward to the challenge," Walker said. "Hopefully we
can get some victories under our belt and I can help the team keep the ball
out of the net! This is a good challenge for me and one I am looking forward
to. I had a few offers but this is the one that felt right."

Walker, 35, is a popular figure with Hammers fans - not least because of his
penalty save from Chelsea's Frank Lampard in October 2004. The form of
Robert Green has meant first-team opportunities have been limited for
Walker, who has been challenging for the No1 spot with Jan Lastuvka and
Marek Stech. He first made his name with Walsall, making more than 400
appearances between 1993 and 2004.

The club have already loaned out Josh Payne (Cheltenham Town), Nigel Quashie
(Birmingham City), Bondz N'Gala (MK Dons) and Jordan Spence (Leyton Orient).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Derby day for Tomkins
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins is joining Championship side Derby County on a month-long loan
27.11.2008

England Under-19 defender James Tomkins will get the chance of more
first-team football during a one-month loan deal with Championship team
Derby County.

Tomkins demonstrated his potential during five starts and one substitute
appearance for West Ham United last season, playing 90 minutes on his debut
in the 1-1 draw with Everton at Goodison Park. The 19-year-old centre-back
has played for England at Under-17 and U19 level and was a key member of the
squad that went to the European Under-19 finals in the Czech Republic in the
summer - starting all three games.

He said: "I have got to challenge for my place at West Ham United, but if I
can get a few games under my belt in a good league, then it can only be good
for me. Derby have a good stadium and fans. Obviously it will be good
experience, I am looking forward to it - having some games, I know I have to
impress before I play [at West Ham], I won't just walk into the side.

"My total aim is to play for West Ham, but if I have to go out on loan
somewhere else to get some more experience, especially in what is a very
tough league, then it can only be good for me for the future. I can then
come back to West Ham and stake my claim for a place here. Going on loan is
an important part of a young player's development. I am only 19 and still
learning the trade so this can only do me good."

Tomkins missed the first part of this season with injury but made an
impressive return in the reserves' 1-0 win against Portsmouth at the Boleyn
Ground on Tuesday. He marshalled the home defence well, nullifying a
visiting attack featuring David Nugent and Ben Sahar. He could make his
debut for the Paul Jewell's side this Saturday in their Championship match
against Burnley. The Rams sit 14th in the table, just four points away from
the play-off positions.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stanislas loaned to Southend
WHUFC.com
Junior Stanislas is the latest homegrown Hammer to head out on a temporary
basis
27.11.2008

West Ham United have loaned young attacker Junior Stanislas to League One
outfit Southend United.

The 19-year-old, who has been with the club since he was eleven, has been an
impressive performer for the reserves this season, notably scoring the
winning goal against Arsenal last month. He began the 2008/09 campaign on a
high by joining the first-team's tour of North America and has been pushing
hard for a place this season. Stanislas has also been capped by England at
Under-17 and U19 level.

Stanislas is on a six-week loan and could make his debut in the FA Cup
second round tie against Luton Town this Saturday. Southend are tenth in
League One and Stanislas could find himself up against club-mate Bondz
N'Gala, who is on loan at MK Dons, on 28 December before a possible meeting
with Jordan Spence, currently at Leyton Orient, on 3 January.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stanislas joins Southend on loan
BBC.co.uk

Southend United have signed West Ham reserve midfielder Junior Stanislas on
a six-week loan. Stanislas, 19, has yet to play for the Hammers first team,
but has represented England at under-19 level. The left-winger will be
available for inclusion in the Blues' squad for Saturday's FA Cup second
round tie with Luton Town at Roots Hall. The teenager is the club's second
loan signing this week, following the arrival of Salisbury's Liam Feeney.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Blackpool make two loan signings
BBC.co.uk

Derby County striker Liam Dickinson and West Ham winger Kyel Reid have
signed one-month loan deals with Championship side Blackpool. Both will stay
at Bloomfield Road until 1 January to gain more first-team football
experience. Manager Simon Grayson told BBC Radio Lancashire Dickinson's
signature would add strength to his forward line. "We just needed another
option up front with Stephen McPhee being out injured at present," said
Grayson. Reid, 21, came through the youth system at Upton Park and has made
just one senior appearance. Dickinson, 23, moved to Pride Park in the summer
from Stockport and has just returned from loan at Huddersfield. "We are
grateful to both clubs for allowing us to take these players for a month and
I am sure the two signings will improve us and make it more competitive for
places," said the Blackpool boss. "We also looked at Liam in the summer but
once Derby got involved it was going to be too expensive for us. "He's a big
strong lad, a hungry young player and works the channels, we just hope it
works out for him here," added Grayson. And Grayson said he is equally
delighted with the capture of Reid. "He has good pace and delivery into the
box and is a player I tried to get last year on numerous occasions, but West
Ham wouldn't let him out on loan," he said. "He's been on their bench a lot
this year in the Premier League and I think he could do well while he is
with us. "I watched him many times last year, he's a player who can give us
something different in certain areas of the field," he added. Both players
go straight into the Seasiders' squad for Saturday's trip to Plymouth.

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Colchester sign goalkeeper Walker
BBC.co.uk

Colchester United have signed West Ham goalkeeper Jimmy Walker on loan until
the end of December. The 35-year-old has made 20 appearances for the Hammers
since joining them from Walsall in 2004. Walker, who made over 400
appearances for the Saddlers, could feature in the U's game at Northampton
on Saturday.
Colchester manager Paul Lambert has told BBC Essex the club are looking to
bring in further loan signings before Thursday's 1700 GMT deadline.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Freddie's 'delight'
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 27th November 2008
By: Staff Writer

Freddie Sears has joined fellow striker Carlton Cole by signing a new five
year deal with West Ham United. Sears, 19 tomorrow celebrated his birthday
by landing a bumper new deal that ties him to the Hammers until 2013.
Talking to the club's website at whufc.com, he said: "I am delighted to have
signed for another five years.It's nice to know the club wants you here, for
that long as well. I am enjoying my football and all that I have been doing
and hopefully I can now show there is more to come. "I am learning every day
and just trying to get better all the time and see how far I can go. It's
been great to be in and around the first team, travelling to games and all
of that, now to be part of the team itself is great and something I am
determined to continue. "It's good to be part of the team, we win together
and lose together, it's good to be part of it. The team spirit is really
good and I am enjoying being part of it all. I am looking to keep building
on what I have been doing - getting more chances of playing week in, week
out and showing people what I can do."
Sears, who averaged more than a goal per game for the youth and reserve team
last season scored on his first team debut against Blackburn last year but
has failed to hit the net since. He is now a veteran of 19 appearances, 13
of which came from the bench.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jimmy walks
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 27th November 2008
By: Staff Writer

Reserve goalkeeper Jimmy Walker has become the fifth Hammer to go out on
loan, joining League One outfit Colchester until the end of the year. A
popular member of the squad with both players and supporters, 'Wacka' has
spent the last four years with the Hammers having been signed by Alan Pardew
from Walsall. However 'the best goalkeeper outside of the Premier League',
as he was once known had failed to start a first team match in over two
years, and has grabbed the chance to play some first team football with the
U's. With today being loan deadline day Colchester, who are currently
struggling at the wrong end of League One having been relegated from the
Championship last season moved swiftly to capture the 35-year-old stopper,
who will work alongside U's number one Dean Gerkin. Walker joins another
former Hammer, Chris Coyne at Weston Homes Community Stadium. Although he
only made 20 appearances in his four years at the club he will best be
remembered for his part in the 2004/05 play-off final which ultimately ended
in success for the Hammers but misery for Walker as he tore cruciate
ligaments late on in the second half.

KUMB.com would like to wish Jimmy all the best at Colchester.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Us capture Hammers keeper
Walker looking forward to Colchester stint
Last updated: 27th November 2008
SSN

Colchester United have snapped up West Ham United's veteran goalkeeper Jimmy
Walker on loan until January. Walker has spent four years providing the
back-up at Upton Park and has not made a first-team appearance since April
2006. He has accepted a five-week stint at Colchester and is looking forward
to his time with Paul Lambert's side. "I'm really looking forward to the
challenge," Walker told the Hammers' official website. "Hopefully we can get
some victories under our belt and I can help the team keep the ball out of
the net! "This is a good challenge for me and one I am looking forward to.
I had a few offers, but this is the one that felt right."
The 35-year-old is in line to make his debut for Colchester in Saturday's
League One encounter at Northampton Town.

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Hammers starlet set for move
Reid to join Blackpool
Last updated: 27th November 2008
SSN

West Ham starlet Kyel Reid is set join Blackpool, skysports.com understands.
A host of clubs had been chasing the young winger, who has already enjoyed
previous spells on loan in the Championship with Barnsley and Crystal
Palace. Now Reid, who has been a regular on the bench for The Hammers in the
Premier League this term, is set for a move to Bloomfield Road after
agreeing to join Blackpool. Reid will link-up with Simon Grayson's side for
an initial month-long period. The 20-year-old is now in-line to make his
Seasiders debut at Plymouth at the weekend.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Junior looking to kick start career
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 27th November 2008
By: Staff Writer

Junior Stanislas has joined League One side Southend United on loan. The
19-year-old winger tied up a move to the Shrimpers late this morning and
will go straight into the team to face Luton in the FA Cup this weekend. He
will remain with the Seasiders until January 17th.

Who's gone where: loan deadline day summary

Junior Stanislas: joined Southend (League One) on loan until 17th January
2009.

James Tomkins: joined Derby County (Championship) on loan until 31st
December 2008.

Kyel Reid: joined Blackpool (Championship) on loan until January 2009.

Jimmy Walker: joined Colchester United (League One) on loan until January
2009.

Jordan Spence: joined Leyton Orient (League One) on loan until January 2009.

Bondz N'Gala: joined MK Dons (League One) a fortnight ago. On loan until
18th December 2008.

Josh Payne: joined Cheltenham (League One) in September on an initial
month's loan, extended by a further month. Due back this week.

Nigel Quashie: joined Birmingham City (Championship) last month on an
initial month's loan, extended by a further month. Due to return at
Christmas.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Another one off
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 27th November 2008
By: Staff Writer

James Tomkins is off to Championship outfit Derby County in order to
continue his rehabilitation from injury. The young centre-half, yet to play
for the first team this season after sustaining a knock at the end of last
season joins the Rams on loan for the remainder of the year. Talking this
afternoon, the England under-19 defender said: "I have got to challenge for
my place at West Ham United, but if I can get a few games under my belt in a
good league then it can only be good for me. "Derby have a good stadium and
fans. Obviously it will be good experience and I am looking forward to it -
having some games. I know I have to impress before I play [at West Ham], I
won't just walk into the side. "My total aim is to play for West Ham, but if
I have to go out on loan somewhere else to get some more experience,
especially in what is a very tough league, then it can only be good for me
for the future. I can then come back to West Ham and stake my claim for a
place. Going on loan is an important part of a young player's development.
I am only 19 and still learning the trade so this can only do me good."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rams clinch Tomkins signing
Hammers defender looking forward to loan spell
Last updated: 27th November 2008
SSN

Derby County have increased their defensive options after signing teenager
James Tomkins on loan from West Ham United. Paul Jewell has been short of
cover at the back and has secured a deal for Tomkins until the end of
December. The 19-year-old has not featured for West Ham this season due to a
knee injury, but has made six appearances since making his debut in March.
He is highly rated at Upton Park and the England youth international is
looking forward to his stint with Championship side Derby. "I have got to
challenge for my place at West Ham United, but if I can get a few games
under my belt in a good league, then it can only be good for me," Tomkins
told the club's official website. "Derby have a good stadium and fans.
Obviously it will be good experience, I am looking forward to it - having
some games, I know I have to impress before I play [at West Ham], I won't
just walk into the side. "My total aim is to play for West Ham, but if I
have to go out on loan somewhere else to get some more experience,
especially in what is a very tough league, then it can only be good for me
for the future. "I can then come back to West Ham and stake my claim for a
place here. Going on loan is an important part of a young player's
development. I am only 19 and still learning the trade so this can only do
me good."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Blades look to the final twist in Tevez tale
Sheffield Star
Published Date: 28 November 2008
By Alan Biggs

Sheffield United and West Ham could be finally closing towards an
out-of-court settlement over the £50m Carlos Tevez affair, writes. Pressure
is building on the Hammers to negotiate after the Blades' High Court victory
in being awarded an injuction against the London club appealing against
United's damages claim through the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The
Telegraph believes United are prepared to come to the table if West Ham make
the first move. It is rapidly becoming in both clubs' best interests to
thrash out a compensation deal rather than let the matter roll on through
the courts well into next year. United have proved they are in it for the
long haul if necessary and are in a strong, if not unassailable, position.
If the Hammers fail in their fight to appeal against an FA tribunal's
compensation award - and then carry the verdict - the payment of up to £50m
to Bramall Lane becomes automatic. Lawyers representing the Blades are
understood to be emphatic that it is only a matter of time before West Ham
are made to pay up. United, however, are ready to consider an arrangement
that would save time and money, particularly for their adversaries amid
speculation that West Ham's Icelandic owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson could
sell the club. It is suggested that Gudmundsson might be bankrupted by the
financial fall-out of the Tevez issue. Blades chairman Kevin McCabe has
already indicated that he would be prepared to negotiate stage payments on
the final award and now he may go further. A negotiated settlement stands
to net United less than their full claim, which has been upgraded from £30m
to take into account a second season outside the top flight. However, both
clubs have good reason for wanting to put the issue behind them and the
Blades can afford to be magnanimous from a position of strength. Having been
fined £5.5m by the Premier League for breaching third-party ownership rules
- and controversially escaping a points deduction - Tevez only played on
under the understanding that the Hammers had ripped up an agreement with
businessmen Kia Joorabchian. An FA arbitration panel established last
summer that the arrangement was still in place and that West Ham had
deceived the authorities to keep the Argentinian star in their side.
Meanwhile, manager Kevin Blackwell believes his side remain on track in
their promotion quest despite the midweek 3-1 defeat to leaders Wolves at
Bramall Lane. United, who visit Ipswich - and former striker Jon Stead -
tomorrow, made it a much closer contest than the scoreline suggests. But
they will be determined to avoid the anomaly of a third successive home
defeat when fellow high-fliers Burnley are in town next week.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
High Court stops West Ham from pursuing appeal
28 Nov, 08 | England | Legal
Eurofootball.biz

It looks like English West Ham will be unable to appeal to the Court of
Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the ongoing Carlos Tevez matter with
Sheffield United, according a recent High Court decision, granting United
the ability to submit a claim for damages on account of its relegation from
the Premier League. Earlier this year, an independent tribunal determined
that Argentinian Tevez's move to West Ham during the 2006/2007 season was
not permitted. The battle is expected to appear in High Court next year for
a full trial, as reported by The Telegraph, with suggestions that Sheffield
United will seek up to GBP 30 million in damages Sheffield United intitally
took the matter to High Court in an attempt to stop West Ham from appealing
against the tribunal's decision. Once West Ham began the appeal process with
the CAS, United quickly stepped forward to claim that it breached the
arbitration agreement in place between the clubs, placing the matter outside
of CAS' jurisdication. As part of the decision, West Ham is temporarily
unable to pursue any further appeals against the findings of the tribunal
outside of a High Court application.

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Giovinco Won't Leave Juventus For West Ham - Agent
Goal.com

Sebastian Giovinco's agent Claudio Pasqualin admits the player speaks with
Gianfranco Zola but only to reminisce about their days together with the
Italian under-21 side. La Formica Atomica played under Zola's guidance when
the current West Ham boss was Pier Luigi Casiraghi's assistant for the
Azzurrini. Both men enjoyed a good working relationship and Giovinco has
always stated his love for his childhood idol. Reports in both Itay and
England had the Turin-born star already in a claret and blue jersey but his
agent has other ideas. "There are no developments. All the talk is coming
from the papers and no-one else," Pasqualin told Novantesimo.it.
"Giovinco speaks with Zola every now and then but it's just to talk of their
time with the Under-21s. "Will he leave? I have no intention of talking
about this subject at all." The player has only recently signed an extension
and, despite his agent rubbishing reports every week, Turin-based Tuttosport
keep reporting Giovinco as heading through the exit door.

Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tevez dispute may be ended by Sheffield United offer of £25m out of court
settlement
EXCLUSIVE by By Alan Biggs
Last updated at 1:45 AM on 28th November 2008
Daily Mail

Sheffield United will consider a £25million out-of-court settlement from
West Ham to end their damages claim over the Carlos Tevez affair. The
Sheffield club originally claimed £30m to compensate them for relegation,
then upped the claim by a further £20m to include the cost of a second
season outside the top flight after an FA panel found in their favour. But
Bramall Lane directors are now prepared to save West Ham from complete
financial meltdown, offering a compromise deal of about half the £50m they
wanted in compensation. Having won a High Court injunction preventing West
Ham from appealing through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), they
are convinced it is a matter of when, not if, compensation has to be paid.
Although they believe their claim is now a certainty, they are prepared to
give ground to settle if the Hammers do the same and indicate they are
willing to discuss the offer.
A compromise agreement on the final figure could now prove to be in the best
interests of both clubs, otherwise the issue will drag on deep into next
year, with West Ham planning an appeal to the High Court. Even if they were
to prevail, West Ham would still have to convince CAS to take on the case
and then to overturn an FA arbitration verdict that both clubs consented to
as legally binding. The delay will cost time and money amid suggestions that
West Ham's Icelandic owner, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, could be forced to sell
the club or be bankrupted by the FA panel's award of damages to Bramall
Lane. Chairman Kevin McCabe has already offered to accept stage payments and
will consider going further to end the long-running row - providing West Ham
concede that they owe redress for Sheffield United's controversial
relegation at the end of the 2006-07 season. McCabe is being pragmatic as
well as magnanimous from a position of strength. It was firmly established
by the FA hearing that Tevez should not have been playing for West Ham when
his goals kept them in the top flight at United's expense. After the Premier
League fined West Ham £5.5m for breaching third-party ownership rules - and
spared them a points deduction - Tevez only played on under the premise that
the Hammers had cancelled his arrangement with businessman Kia Joorabchian.
It was then found the agreement was still in place and that West Ham
deceived the authorities. More than 17 players past and present are also
pursuing a case for loss of earnings as a result of the relegation.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham owner Bjorgofur Gudmundsson's bankruptcy fears could force sale
West Ham's beleagured owner Bjorgofur Gudmundsson could sell the Premier
League club before he is bankrupted by a £30 million claim for damages by
Sheffield United over the Carlos Tevez affair.
Telegraph
By Richard Bright
Last Updated: 10:36AM GMT 27 Nov 2008

The Icelandic businessman's latest setback comes after Sheffield United won
a High Court battle with West Ham in the Tevez saga. Justice Teare granted a
temporary order stopping West Ham appealing to the Court of Arbitration for
Sport (CAS) over a ruling that they had breached Premier League rules in
hiring the Argentinian.
This will now allow United to go ahead with their arbitration claim for
damages over their relegation from the Premier League last season.
According to the Mail, it emerged from City sources that Gudmundsson would
be unable to pay the fine if Sheffield United were to win damages from the
complicated Tevez saga. The growing crisis which has gripped Iceland in the
wake of the global economic downturn has hit his company Samson Holdings
particularly hard and it is believed they are on the verge of bankruptcy.
Gudmundsson bought West Ham for £85 million and has invested another £30
million into the club. But he suffered a major blow with the recent closure
of the Icelandic back Landsbanki, in which he had a controlling 45 per cent
stake, and is now thought to have lost around £230 million of his personal
fortune.
West Ham's future was also plunged into uncertainty last week after it
emerged that Hansa, the club's holding company, had begun the process of
administration.
However, it is understood that a number of bidders are willing to pay in the
region of £150m for the Premier League club.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool's Mascherano: West Ham means nothing to me
28.11.08 | tribalfootball.com

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano says former club West Ham "means
nothing" to him. "I don't feel anything for West Ham," he said ahead of
their looming date.
"It's nothing in my life because I couldn't play when I was there. They are
just another team in the Premier League. "The fans at Upton Park were very
good for me when I was there but I couldn't play. It's not like River or
Corinthians where I played and won titles and I have an affection. I think
at West Ham I played only four games so I don't have a big feeling for the
club. "I'm pleased that West Ham brought me to England and gave me the
chance to play in this country - it helped me earn a move to Liverpool. But
that's all. All that matters to me now is Liverpool."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Juventus ACE stalls Hammers as Arsenal interest GROWS
06:42 November, 28, 2008
FansFc.com

Arsenal Football Club are said to be determined to sign Sebastian Giovinco.
It was reported earlier this week that West Ham United were keen to take the
21-year-old attacking midfielder to Upton Park in January on a six-month
loan deal. It is believed that Giovinco is willing to move to England to add
to his experience, but he is refusing to commit to the Hammers amidst
growing speculation Arsene Wenger is keen. The Gunners manager wants to
bolster his midfield when the transfer window reopens in the New Year, and
he believes the Juventus star would fit perfectly into his style of play.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Are West Ham simply being made an example of?
Posted by: Rob Facey, today

Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey wonders whether the FA's refusal to let
West Ham take the Carlos Tevez saga to the Court of Arbitration for Sport is
fair and wonders what the realistic outcome will be?

The financial cloud hanging over Upton Park continues to blacken after the
High Court in London yesterday ruled that under FA rules West Ham are unable
to contest the Carlos Tevez dispute at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The case will pick up again in January but it is now looking more likely
that Sheffield United have ended any hope the Hammers had of taking their
fight to a European court, before the clubs meet in March to see how close
they are to reaching a compensation deal.

Sheffield United has revised their estimated losses to £60 million to take
into account a second year outside the top flight but West Ham will
undoubtedly contest every last penny.

They won't mind if the case drags on until the summer by which time they
should have secured a new sponsor as well as received 2008/09s TV money
because a huge payout would further cripple the club who are already £40m in
debt.

Their Icelandic owners are bankrupt so it is thought that they would welcome
a buyout but, with this case hanging over them, it is unlikely anyone will
want to invest with such a huge sum potentially being paid to the Yorkshire
club.

Do West Ham have a leg to stand on or is a colossal payout to Sheffield
United inevitable?

What defence to they hope to convince the courts with; that Tevez wasn't the
sole reason they stayed up at United's expense?

Are the Hammers being unfairly treated by the FA who sanctioned the
transfers at the time?

Are the authorities merely covering their back after failing to check the
small print of the sensational deals?

Are West Ham simply being made an example of?

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Where will West Ham be next season?
4sportsake.co.uk

The problems at West Ham are getting worse. For a year now West Ham has been
fighting court battles against Sheffield United over the relegation battle
of 2007. The Hammers want to appeal to the court of Arbitration for Sport
over a ruling that they breached Premier League rules to sign the
Argentinian striker. West Ham insist the case was concluded when an
independent Premier League tribunal fined them £5.5m
If the Blades are successful in their appeal they will be able to go ahead
with their £50million claim for damages. It could also open the flood gates
for the Shefield United players to continue with their class action against
the Hammers for loss of their earnings since they were relegated.
Bjorgofur Gudmundsson, the West ham owner has been in serious financial
trouble since the economy in his native Iceland went into meltdown. It could
be very unlikely that he could raise the money neede to satify these law
suites if west Ham were found to be in breach of the rules. Fortunately for
West Ham, there does appear to be more than one serious bidder interested in
paying in the region of £150million for the Barclays Premier League club.
But remember what happened to Luton. It will be 'buyer beware.' How will
anyone be able to factor in a potential damages bill.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Upson exit ruled out
E24
27 November 2008

GIANFRANCO ZOLA has issued a hands-off warning to West Ham's Premier League
rivals by insisting that Matthew Upson is not for sale, despite reports
linking the defender with a January exit. The Hammers are expected to
offload players in the new year as the club faces up to a potential £30m
bill over the Carlos Tevez affair.
West Ham owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson has also been rocked by the credit
crisis, suffering a series of financial setbacks that are estimated to have
wiped out more than £200m of his personal fortune. But Zola is adamant that
the club will not cash in on star centre-half Upson, who started and scored
for England in last week's international friendly win over Germany. The
29-year-old has attracted interest from a number of top clubs, including
London rivals Arsenal and Spurs, but Hammers boss Zola is determined to keep
the defender at Upton Park. He said: "Matthew's a wonderful professional and
playing for England has been a big boost for him, but as far as I am
concerned he is not for sale. "I don't have to sell any of my best players.
I have been promised that. The club intends to keep its best players and to
sign good players who we think have a future at the club.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Freddie Sears hails Tony Carr after signing deal
This Is London

Freddie Sears paid tribute to West Ham's academy system after signing a new
five-year deal. Sears, who celebrated his 19th birthday today, joined fellow
strikers Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole on long-term agreements after signing
a contract until 2013. "I owe a big debt to academy director Tony Carr,"
said Sears, who scored 25 goals in 24 youth and reserve matches last year
and scored on his first-team debut against Blackburn. "Tony has had a big
influence on me and it's good for youngsters like me who have come through
the academy to learn from someone as experienced and knowledgable." West Ham
chief executive Scott Duxbury said: "Our philosophy is about developing
home-grown players and then integrating them into the first team."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers like Giovinco, says agentby RivalsDM
msn.foxsports.com
Updated: November 27, 2008, 5:00 AM EST

Sebastian Giovinco's agent has confirmed West Ham's interest in him - but
insists the Juventus midfielder is not looking to leave the club. Giovinco
is rated as one of the top young prospects in Italian football and he only
recently penned a new long-term contract. However, he is still not a regular
in Claudio Ranieri's starting XI and reports in Italy suggested he would be
allowed to leave on loan. Spanish sides Atletico Madrid and Sevilla were
both said to be keen, along with West Ham. Zola worked closely with Giovinco
during his stint with the Italian Under-21s and is well aware of his
capabilities, so his interest in landing the young forward is of little
surprise. Giovinco's agent Claudio Pasqualini has admitted that Zola is keen
on the youngster, but admits a move is unlikely. "A move in January? I don't
think there's anything point to this as we only renewed with Juve a short
time ago," he told Radio Kiss Kiss. "Any move would have to be decided by
Juve but I can only see it if some attitudes at the club change."
Of the interest he added: "There is interest abroad, he has many admirers.
"Gianfranco Zola has always admired him and has said he would like him." One
reason Giovinco could be allowed to leave is that Juve are looking at adding
to their squad in January with reports in Italy suggesting Gaetano
D'Agostino and Cristian Zaccardo are their top targets.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Thursday, November 27

Daily WHUFC News - 27th November 2008

Dyer delighted with reserves
WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer says his reserve team did 'really well' to overcome Portsmouth on
Tuesday evening
26.11.2008

It was a case of home, sweet home for Alex Dyer's West Ham United reserve
side as they maintained their 100 per cent home record against Portsmouth.

First-half goals from David Di Michele and Kyel Reid went without reply as
an experienced line-up triumphed over their visitors on a chilly night at
the Boleyn Ground.

Di Michele opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a well-placed effort
into the top corner following good work from Diego Tristan and Freddie Sears
on the left-hand side. Reid doubled the advantage just after the half-hour
mark. The midfielder, who turned 21 just a few hours after the match had
finished, marked the special occasion with a thunderous left-footed drive
into the top corner after the ball had fallen to him on the edge of the
penalty area.

Tristan and Di Michele were joined up front by Sears and he, along with
James Tomkins and 18-year-old full-back Ryan O'Neill, added a youthful edge
to the side and the reserve team manager believes that playing with more
experienced players can only help their progress.

"Again the senior boys came up trumps. They came in the side on a cold night
and worked hard for each other and deserved the result. We passed the ball
well and created a lot of chances. Playing with these older players really
helps the youngsters' development."

As pleasing as the result was, it was the performances of the returning
Tomkins and Tristan that will have given Dyer real cause for optimism. The
form shown by the pair and several others in the match will give Gianfranco
Zola an added boost as he starts his preparation for the first team game
against Liverpool on Monday.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Striker Sears signs West Ham deal
BBC.co.uk

Teenaged striker Freddie Sears has signed a new five-year contract with West
Ham. The England U19 international, who turns 19 on Thursday, follows fellow
striker Carlton Cole, who signed a five-year deal on Tuesday. Sears scored
on his West Ham debut against Blackburn last March and has made three league
starts this season. "It's nice to know the club wants you here, for that
long as well," Sears told the club's website. "Last year was getting in and
around the team and now I am looking to keep building on what I have been
doing - getting more chances of playing week in, week out and showing people
what I can do." West Ham chief executive officer Scott Duxbury said: "Our
philosophy is very much about developing homegrown players in the academy
and then integrating them into the first team. "Freddie has achieved that
and we are looking forward to him paying his part in a bright future for
West ham United."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
More hypocrisy....
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 26th November 2008
By: A Different Staff Writer

Sheffield United have been granted a temporary injunction preventing West
Ham from bringing their long running grab for cash before the Court For
Arbitration in Sport.

West Ham sought to have the strange decision of the arbitration panel
reviewed by the Lausanne-based court, but, in a move apparently designed to
avoid having the decision reviewed by somebody that might disagree with
their decision, Sheffield United sought to deny any appeal against a
decision described by one legal expert (coincidentally a Sheffield United
supporter himself) as "the most bizarre legal decision seen in (his) 30
years of working in civil law".

On the brighter side, West Ham recently won the right to have Sheffield
United's accounts examined by forensic accountants. Having claimed a
breathtaking £30m as a result of their relegation, the northern club were,
for some reason, reluctant to have details of the claim looked at in any
detail. However they have now been told that any compensation will depend on
a comprehensive analysis of their claims - which have been likened in the
accountancy world to a "holidaymaker claiming on their insurance for a lost
Rolex after mislaying a Casio".

Meanwhile it would appear that McCabe's campaign for "justice" excludes
Barnsley's Ian Hume. Defender Chris Morgan's thuggish assault on the striker
remains unpunished by the FA and the attack appears to have been condoned by
the standard bearers for fairness in football by virtue of the fact that
Morgan - described as a "first class lad" by Blades' boss Kevin Blackwell-
is not only still in a job, but was also part of the team that lost 3-1 to
Wolverhampton Wanderers last night. A match that took place whilst Hume was
enjoying his second spell in hospital following injuries of which Blades
assistant boss said "people have made a little bit more of than they should
have" - a telling comment that gives a valuable insight into the minds
behind the Championship club.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers target to stay put
Juventus starlet not moving
Last updated: 26th November 2008
SSN

Sebastian Giovinco's agent has confirmed West Ham's interest in him but
insisted he is not looking to move. Juventus midfielder Giovinco is rated as
one of the top young prospects in Italian football and he only recently
penned a new long-term contract. However, he is still not a regular in
Claudio Ranieri's starting XI and reports in Italy suggested he would be
allowed to leave on loan. Spanish sides Atletico Madrid and Sevilla were
both said to be keen, along with West Ham. Zola worked closely with Giovinco
during his stint with the Italian Under-21s and is well aware of his
capabilities, so his interest in landing the young forward is of little
surprise.
Giovinco's agent Claudio Pasqualini has admitted that Zola is keen on the
youngster, but admits a move is unlikely. "A move in January? I don't think
anything points to this as we only renewed with Juve a short time ago," he
told Radio Kiss Kiss. "Any move would have to be decided by Juve but I can
only see it if some attitudes at the club change." Of the interest he added:
"There is interest abroad, he has many admirers. Gianfranco Zola has always
admired him and has said he would like him."
One reason Giovinco could be allowed to leave is that Juve are looking at
adding to their squad in January with reports in Italy suggesting Gaetano
D'Agostino and Cristian Zaccardo are their top targets.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sears secures Hammers future
Teenage striker delighted to sign deal until 2013
Last updated: 26th November 2008
SSN

West Ham United starlet Freddie Sears has pledged his long-term future to
the club by signing a new five-year contract. Sears, who turns 19 on
Thursday, announced himself on the Premier League scene with a match-winning
goal on his debut against Blackburn Rovers in March. Though the striker has
not scored since, he has started three games this season and is a key part
of Gianfranco Zola's squad. He follows team-mate Carlton Cole in signing a
new deal and is delighted to have been rewarded with an extension at Upton
Park. "I am obviously delighted to have signed for another five years with
West Ham," Sears told the club's official website. "I am looking forward to
concentrating on football now and getting ready for the next game that is
coming up. "It's nice to know the club wants you here, for that long as
well. I am enjoying my football and all that I have been doing and hopefully
I can now show there is more to come. "Last year was getting in and around
the team and now I am looking to keep building on what I have been doing -
getting more chances of playing week in, week out and showing people what I
can do. "It's been great to be in and around the first team, travelling to
games and all of that, now to be part of the team itself is great and
something I am determined to continue. "It's good to be part of the team,
we win together and lose together, it's good to be part of it. The team
spirit is really good and I am enjoying being part of it all."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham appeal against High Court ruling in attempt to halt Blades' £30m
claim over Carlos Tevez affair
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 7:40 PM on 26th November 2008
Daily Mail

West Ham have lodged an appeal against the High Court ruling that they
cannot take the Carlos Tevez transfer case to the Court of Arbitration for
Sport (CAS).
The Hammers are protesting a decision by the High Court in London to grant a
temporary order preventing it from appealing to CAS against a verdict that
it breached Premier League rules in hiring Argentina striker Tevez, who is
now on loan at Manchester United. The case is now set to be heard in a full
trial by the High Court next year as Sheffield United attempt to prevent the
involvement of sport's highest arbitration body. The Blades are claiming
£30million in damages against West Ham, after the Irons avoided relegation
at the expense of United, partly with the aid of Tevez's goals. Sheffield
United have already won a ruling by an independent Football
Association-appointed panel that they were entitled to compensation from the
Hammers because Tevez was not eligible to play for West Ham at the end of
the 2006-07 season. United contend that CAS has no jurisdiction to hear the
case because the FA had ruled that, under its own regulations, there was no
appeal process.
If West Ham fail in their quest to take the case to CAS, they face financial
meltdown. Earlier today, Mr Justice Teare granted a temporary order stopping
the Hammers appealing to the CAS. West Ham can ill afford a £30m penalty.
They are already in financial turmoil following the collapse of chairman
Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson's main business in his native Iceland. The sale of
players before the transfer deadline at the start of September was seen as a
sign that they were accumulating funds in preparation for losing their court
battle. Today's injunction will allow Sheffield United to press ahead with
their arbitration claim for damages over their relegation.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United vow to fight on in Carlos Tevez saga
Gary Jacob
The Times

West Ham United will continue their fight to avoid paying compensation to
Sheffield United after the Yorkshire club's relegation from the Barclays
Premier League two years ago, despite losing a High Court battle yesterday.

West Ham have been told that they cannot take the dispute to the Court of
Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. The High Court in London sided with
Sheffield United's argument that the CAS does not have jurisdiction because
the contracts entered into come under the law in this country and FA rules
do not permit an appeal to its arbitration process.

West Ham have lodged an appeal against the temporary injunction granted
yesterday and the case will return to the High Court in January, when
Sheffield United will be seeking a permanent injunction to end West Ham's
legal route to Europe.

The dispute stems from an arbitration panel ruling in September that West
Ham were liable to pay compensation because their signing of Carlos Tévez
breached Premier League rules. West Ham finished three points above
Sheffield United, with Tévez's goals instrumental in their survival.
Sheffield United have revised the estimate for their loss in income to £60
million to take into account a second year outside the top flight.


West Ham legal issue sets perilous precedent
Ruling of Lord Griffiths on Carlos Tevez could lead to all kinds of
recriminations, with opinions becoming hard facts

In recent weeks, both sides have been collating evidence to provide an
estimate of the cost of relegation. Both parties are scheduled to meet the
arbitration panel in March to judge how close they are to agreeing a
compensation figure and the process could linger on until the summer. Even
then there could be arguments about when and how any compensation is paid.
West Ham will want to delay payments until the end of the season, when they
will receive fresh television revenue and possible transfer income.

The delay could deter foreign investors from buying West Ham because
possible liabilities are unknown. The club, with debts of about £40 million,
have effectively been put up for sale by their Icelandic owners because of
the effects of the global economic crisis.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham owner urged to sell before £30million claim bankrupts him
By Matt Lawton
Last updated at 1:34 AM on 27th November 2008
Daily Mail

West Ham owner Bjorgofur Gudmundsson is being urged to sell the club before
he is bankrupted by a £30million claim for damages by Sheffield United. On a
day when Sheffield United were granted a High Court order that temporarily
stops West Ham taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, it
emerged from sources in the City that Gudmundsson would be unable to pay a
massive fine for damages if the Yorkshire club eventually emerge triumphant
from the hugely complicated Carlos Tevez saga. The businessman has been in
serious financial trouble since the economy in his native Iceland went into
meltdown and many of his personal assets were frozen after the closure of
Icelandic bank, Landsbanki, in which he had a controlling 45 per cent stake.

His situation is now considered so serious that if West Ham were ordered to
pay substantial damages by the independent arbitration panel that was
appointed by the Football Association, 70-year-old Gudmundsson would not be
able to raise the cash. Fortunately for West Ham, there does appear to be
more than one serious bidder interested in paying in the region of
£150million for the Barclays Premier League club.

But any takeover would be complicated not only by the fact that a £30m bill
could land on the toes of a new owner, but by the fact that Gudmundsson will
want to hold out for the highest price when he has invested so much of his
own money in Upton Park. Unlike a large number of foreign owners in English
football's top flight, Gudmundsson did not add to the club's debt when he
took over. He bought it clean, paying £85million, taking on the club's
existing £23m debt and injecting a further £30m of his own cash to boost the
finances. Yesterday West Ham responded to Sheffield United's High Court
victory by appealing against the order that was granted by Mr Justice Teare.

That High Court hearing will not take place until the New Year, when
Sheffield United will in turn seek a permanent injunction that prevents West
Ham from appealing to the CAS against the findings of the FA tribunal.
Sheffield United continue to argue that in playing Tevez towards the end of
a 2006-07 season, West Ham condemned them to relegation at a cost to the
Bramall Lane club of around £30m. While West Ham insist the case was
concluded when an independent Premier League tribunal fined them £5.5m, they
will also now call for a forensic examination of Sheffield United's accounts
to establish the real cost of dropping into the Championship. Yesterday's
High Court victory for Sheffield United will nevertheless concern West Ham
and in particular Gudmundsson, who will have to factor in a potential
damages bill when it comes to agreeing a price with a potential buyer.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers on the ropes after Blades' legal win
Defeat in the high court over the Carlos Tevez affair could not have come at
a worse time for West Ham
Guardian.co.uk

Sheffield United's emphatic victory in the high court yesterday - which
prevented West Ham United from having the Carlos Tevez affair referred to
the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne - removed the London club's
foremost hope of avoiding a costly day of reckoning. One of the most
remarkable episodes in even the Premier League's tumultuous history is
heading for a conclusion which West Ham have been desperately fighting -
paying compensation to Sheffield United for the swingeing cost of relegation
from the Premier League at the end of the 2006-07 season.

Sheffield United's chairman, Kevin McCabe, and his son Simon, also a
director at Bramall Lane, have since determinedly pursued what they believe
to be football justice, with a still raw outrage that Tevez was allowed to
play the full season despite West Ham admitting irregularities in the
striker's "ownership" by private investors and misleading the Premier League
about those arrangements. Given the £30m gap in television income between a
Championship club and the Premier League's bottom club, Sheffield United are
expected to calculate their total loss at somewhere between £30m and upwards
of £40m. West Ham counter that such a claim should be reduced because of the
costs, principally in higher player wages, of staying in the Premier League,
and warn that a detailed examination of Sheffield United's accounts will
bring that figure down. Asgeir Fridgeirsson, West Ham's vice-chairman, said:
"We do not believe there will be a very large claim. They have to take into
account not just the loss of revenue from being relegated, but the overall
financial benefit of staying in the Premier League."

United are well aware of the need to justify their claim in detail, and are
unlikely to have spent so much in legal fees pursuing this case if they were
not convinced that losing Premier League status cost them a great deal of
money. West Ham will have to prove that Sheffield United's wage bill would
have increased significantly had the Blades stayed up. United can argue they
would not have paid a significant rise in wages. They lost money indirectly,
too. Their defender Phil Jagielka moved to Everton for £4m after the club
was relegated, the fee fixed by a release clause in his contract when he
might reasonably have been valued at £8m had they stayed up.

The legal defeats and prospect of a large payout come at the worst possible
time for West Ham, who now acknowledge that the wealth of the club's owner,
Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, has been seriously damaged by the economic meltdown
in Iceland. After his bank, Landsbanki, was nationalised by the Icelandic
government seven weeks ago at a personal loss to Gudmundsson of £250m, the
club signalled that he had sufficient other assets to remain comfortable.
The assessment now is considerably less optimistic.

One of Gudmundsson's companies lent XL, West Ham's former shirt sponsors,
£150m only to see the travel company collapse. Another holding company,
Hansa, has opted to go into voluntary administration. Fridgeirsson said that
several of Gudmundsson's companies, in construction, shipping and finance,
have been deeply hit by the crisis in Iceland, where the economy is
shell-shocked and the currency's value has collapsed. "We are reviewing the
state of all his assets, including West Ham, but we have still not decided
whether he will sell the club," he said.

Fridgeirsson said agents and aspiring go-betweens have been calling him with
proposed buyers for West Ham, but none has so far been pursued seriously. It
does seem inevitable, however, that the club will be sold. West Ham, which
Gudmundsson bought for £85m in November 2006, now looks a prime asset: a
London club in the internationally coveted Premier League, well set up under
the new managerial team of Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke. Gudmundsson
invested £30m in the club and did not load it with debt, but even if he does
not want to sell, his situation makes it very unlikely he can invest more,
in January or beyond.

This month the two non-executive directors, Gudmundur Oddsson and the
London-based communications adviser Mike Lee, resigned from the board. The
club, it seems, is being streamlined for a sale and Oddsson and Lee may also
have been protecting themselves against any personal financial liability
which could attach to them if West Ham is sucked into Gudmundsson's
meltdown.

West Ham are still reeling from the decision against them of the arbitration
panel chaired by Lord Griffiths in September that Tevez's participation led
directly to the Hammers staying up and Sheffield United going down on the
last day of the 2006-07 season. West Ham admitted to a Premier League
disciplinary panel in April 2007 that they breached the league's rules in
the arrangements which gave Tevez's "owners", a group of unnamed investors
led by the Iranian-born deal-maker Kia Joorabchian, the potential for
improper influence over team affairs. The club also admitted concealing from
the Premier League the contracts that would have exposed the breach.

After maintaining their innocence for months, West Ham pleaded guilty just
before the hearing. They and the Premier League continue to deny that any
deal was done, but the McCabes have long suspected that West Ham pleaded
guilty in the belief the club would be fined rather than have points docked.
The latest arbitration panel ruled that West Ham did not, as promised to the
Premier League, tear up their contract with Joorabchian after the £5.5m fine
was imposed. Lord Griffiths' panel also rejected West Ham's argument that
Tevez, who scored three goals and played inspirationally in West Ham's
victories in all three games that followed, did not make the difference to
the Hammers staying up.

Earlier this month at the All Party Parliamentary Football Group's inquiry
into football, Kevin McCabe renewed his attack on the decision to fine West
Ham and what he insists is "poor governance" by the Premier League's two-man
board, the chief executive Richard Scudamore and the part-time chairman, Sir
Dave Richards.

McCabe argued that in football, points are deducted for serious offences
that affect results. He expressed bewilderment that West Ham were allowed to
play on with a fine when, in the Football League, points are docked for
clubs which go into administration. He also cited the case of Luton Town who
had 10 points deducted by an FA disciplinary panel for improper transfer
procedures. "The Premier League is under-managed and needs wise football
heads on the board," McCabe said. "The Football League board is maturer. The
affair was mishandled and we have had no choice but to seek financial
compensation."

Sheffield United and their lawyers, Denton Wilde Sapte, will move on now to
itemise that claim in detail. West Ham insist they are appealing yesterday's
decision, but a final settlement of this long-running sore, with a payment
to Sheffield United, is now a great deal more likely.

Third-party ownership
Given the general condemnation of the arrangements by which West Ham signed
Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano in the summer of 2006, it can be
forgotten that Tevez is still owned by 'third parties' - the offshore
companies and unnamed investors represented by Kia Joorabchian. Manchester
United signed the striker in the summer of 2007 on a two-year loan - before
the Premier League outlawed third-party 'ownership' of players - and have an
option to buy him when the loan expires at the end of this season.

They are entitled to sign Tevez automatically if they pay Joorabchian a
price agreed at the time of the loan, £34m. If they do not offer that much,
Joorabchian is expected to sell the Argentinian to the highest bidder, for a
value being talked up at present with the reported rival interest of Real
Madrid.

Mascherano, below, went from West Ham to Liverpool on loan but signed
permanently in February, Liverpool paying Joorabchian £17m for him, plus
£1.6m for the original loan deal. Joorabchian is still heavily involved in
the business of owning players' registrations, which is permitted outside
England.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham suffer Tevez appeal blow
By Gordon Tynan
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Independent.co.uk Web

The interminable Carlos Tevez saga took another twist yesterday when West
Ham were prevented from appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

That followed the granting, in the High Court, of a temporary injunction
although West Ham are already planning an immediate appeal against that
decision. Nevertheless the injunction is a blow even if it does not
materially affect the issue of whether or not compensation should be paid to
Sheffield United.

That process is ongoing and will be heard in February or March next year
when the independent panel headed by Lord Griffiths will decide how the
issue will be dealt with. The clubs are set to be involved in a separate
directions hearing, in which guidelines for the awarding of damages to
Sheffield United will be laid out. This will involve representatives of the
two clubs as well as the three-man panel that sat on the original tribunal
in September.

The tribunal ruled that Tevez was not eligible to play for West Ham at the
end of the 2006-07 season. West Ham want the CAS to hear an appeal but
Sheffield United claim the court does not have jurisdiction to do so.

Tevez, 24, who now plays for Manchester United, was deemed by September's
tribunal to have played a key part in the club's Premier League survival as
the Blades were relegated in the 2006-07 campaign.

The decision could leave the Hammers liable for damages. United have claimed
between £30m and £50m but West Ham are fiercely contesting this.

West Ham have already appealed to CAS but, even if United's injunction is
lifted next year, the Swiss court is not guaranteed to hear an appeal. The
Lausanne-based court is expected to make an announcement later this month.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Blades edge closer to Tevez pay-out
Yorkshire Post
Blades can go ahead with arbitration claim for damages over relegation from
the Premier League last season
Published Date: 26 November 2008
By Chris Waters

SHEFFIELD UNITED's quest to claim an estimated £50m in damages from West Ham
took a major step forward yesterday when they won a significant victory in
the Carlos Tevez affair. The High Court granted the Blades a temporary
injunction preventing West Ham appealing to the Swiss-based Court of
Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over a ruling that the London club breached
Premier League regulations by signing Tevez. The Argentine striker was
deemed to have played a key role in West Ham's Premier League survival in
2006-07 when United were relegated by a three-point margin. West Ham
responded to yesterday's judgment by immediately lodging an appeal which
means the case will now go to a full trial in the High Court next year at a
date to be determined. West Ham will look to have their temporary injunction
overturned at that hearing, while the Blades will seek a permanent
injunction. A complex situation is muddied by the fact the CAS has still to
decide whether it would have the authority to hear a submission from West
Ham in any case, with its decision expected within the next few days. The
size of United's compensation claim will be assessed at a private
arbitration hearing early next year but yesterday's ruling gives the South
Yorkshire club the green light to conduct a forensic examination of what
they believe has been the true cost of Premier League relegation. Although a
figure of £30m has been widely quoted in national newspapers, the Yorkshire
Post understands United are pursuing a claim in the region of £50m, with the
bill having risen due to the length of time it has taken to bring the matter
to fruition. United yesterday declined to comment on the latest development
in the saga but it is thought they may issue a statement later today. Lips
were also sealed at Upton Park, where no one from West Ham was available for
comment following a judgment that further threatens to send the Hammers into
financial meltdown.

West Ham are already in turmoil because their owner, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson,
is a major shareholder in an Icelandic bank that has gone into receivership
and it remains to be seen how the club would manage to foot the cost of any
compensation bill. West Ham's decision to sell players prior to the last
transfer deadline was widely interpreted as a sign they are already
accumulating funds in preparation for losing their battle against United's
lawyers, and further players may have to be offloaded if the Tevez saga is
eventually settled to United's satisfaction. A Football Association
arbitration panel ruled in September that West Ham had breached Premier
League regulations on third-party agreements to secure the services of
Tevez, who now plays for Manchester United. The three-man arbitration panel,
headed by Lord Griffiths, found West Ham liable for compensation on the
basis Tevez was worth more than three points over the course of the season.
In announcing that judgment, the panel made clear: "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."
But West Ham countered by insisting the verdict "undermined" the efforts of
their entire squad and insisted Tevez's contribution could not be used as
the basis for judging the results of a 38-match season. West Ham were fined
£5.5m by an independent tribunal convened by the Premier League in April
2007 after pleading guilty to irregularities concerning the registrations of
Tevez and fellow Argentine Javier Maschareno, but the Blades have long
maintained the Hammers should also have been docked points. Tevez was
cleared to play in the remainder of West Ham's fixtures in the 2006-07
season and his goal in the 1-0 victory over Manchester United in May 2007
was instrumental in guaranteeing the Hammers' survival at the Blades'
expense.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Finally some good news for West Ham as youngster Sears signs new deal
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 7:28 AM on 27th November 2008
Daily Mail

Freddie Sears has pledged to keep improving after signing a new five-year
contract at West Ham. Sears, who turns 19 today, put pen to paper on the
deal yesterday evening to become the third Hammers striker to commit his
future to the Upton Park club until 2013, following on from Dean Ashton and
Carlton Cole. The England Under-19 international made his debut for the club
in March, when he scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory against
Blackburn. The highly-rated academy product has made 10 Premier League
appearances this season, seven of those coming from the bench, although he
is yet to find the target. 'I am obviously delighted to have signed for
another five years with West Ham,' Sears told www.whufc.com. 'I am looking
forward to concentrating on football now and getting ready for the next game
that is coming up. 'It's nice to know the club wants you here, for that long
as well. I am enjoying my football and all that I have been doing and
hopefully I can now show there is more to come.' He added: 'Obviously I am
learning every day, I am 19 today and just trying to get better all the time
and see how far I can go.'

West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury said the deal underlined the club's
commitment to young talent. 'Freddie Sears signing a new long-term contract
is great news for everyone at the club,' he said. 'He has more than
impressed since scoring on his Premier League debut last season. 'Our
philosophy is very much about developing home-grown players in the academy
and then integrating them into the first team. 'Freddie has achieved that
and we are looking forward to him playing his part in a bright future for
West Ham United.'

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Swiss ace praises Zola
E24
27 November 2008
By JONATHAN CLEGG

VALON BEHRAMI insists West Ham have vindicated Gianfranco Zola's commitment
to attacking football after they finally eased the pressure on the Hammers
boss.
Behrami's first goal for the club at the Stadium of Light last weekend
sealed a vital 1-0 win over Sunderland and ended a woeful run that had
threatened to plunge West Ham into the Premier League's drop zone. Zola's
pledge to bring entertaining, free-flowing football to Upton Park yielded
back-to-back victories in September, but the Hammers had since failed to win
in seven matches before Behrami's deflected effort secured all three points
on Wearside. Yet Behrami is adamant the West Ham squad never doubted the
Italian's methods and believes the club can use the victory over Sunderland
as a springboard for the rest of the campaign He said: "It was a vital win
for us and it's a performance and a result that shows the team are fully 100
per cent behind the manager. Hopefully this win takes the pressure off a
little.
"Two months without a win made it difficult to go on to the training ground
and this is just what we wanted. The manager has stuck to what he believes
in and hasn't panicked. "We'll come out of this experience stronger for it.
We're not out of this difficult situation yet but this shows we're heading
in the right direction."
Behrami fired West Ham in front against the run of play at the Stadium of
Light, lashing home Nyron Nosworthy's weak clearance via a deflection off
Kenwyne Jones, and Sunderland were guilty of failing to take a string of
first-half chances. The Black Cats were also aggrieved that defender James
Collins was not shown a red card for bringing down Djibril Cisse and Jones
in separate incidents that could have produced two penalties. Behrami
acknowledged that the Hammers had enjoyed a rare slice of good fortune in
surviving both incidents, but the Switzerland international admits that the
Hammers must not get carried away with the win as they face Liverpool, Spurs
and Chelsea in the coming weeks. "This is just one win and we have to build
on it. We've got a really tough schedule looking at the next month, so the
hard work is just beginning," he said. The 23-year-old added that he should
have settled the outcome shortly before half-time when Craig Bellamy
dispossessed former Hammer Anton Ferdinand and squared for Behrami, who
inexplicably struck the bar from point-blank range. He said: "The ball was
fast and it was easy to score but I don't know what happened. "Maybe two
goals is too much for me. When I score two goals in one game, football is
finished.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gudmundsson urged to sell West Ham - quickly
27.11.08 | tribalfootball.com

Bjorgofur Gudmundsson is being urged to sell West Ham United or risk
bankruptcy. The Daily Mail says on a day when Sheffield United were granted
a High Court order that temporarily stops West Ham taking the case to the
Court of Arbitration for Sport, it emerged from sources in the City that
Gudmundsson would be unable to pay a massive fine for damages if the
Yorkshire club eventually emerge triumphant from the hugely complicated
Carlos Tevez saga. His situation is now considered so serious that if West
Ham were ordered to pay substantial damages by the independent arbitration
panel that was appointed by the Football Association, 70-year-old
Gudmundsson would not be able to raise the cash. Fortunately for West Ham,
there does appear to be more than one serious bidder interested in paying in
the region of £150million for the Barclays Premier League club.

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Tomkins hands West Ham boost
27.11.08 | tribalfootball.com

James Tomkins has handed West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola after playing his
first game of the season in this week's reserve-team victory over
Portsmouth. "I'm well pleased to be back in action and playing my first game
of the season at Upton Park," defender Tomkins told whufc.com. Tomkins has
been encouraged by the chances given to Jack Collison and Freddie Sears
under Zola and added: "I've had a lot of frustration with the injuries I've
had so I was just delighted to get a full 90 minutes under my belt. I've
been a bit unlucky but, touch wood, I'm back now and I can stay
injury-free."

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West Ham coach Dyer: Orient move good for Spence
27.11.08 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham reserves boss Alex Dyer expects young defender Jordan Spence to
benefit from his loan at Leyton Orient. Dyer told whufc.com: "I am hoping it
will help him a great deal. He is chomping at the bit. He is at the age now
where he wants to play. He has represented his country, he has captained his
country. "At this present time he isn't going to get in the first team here
and he needs to play first-team football or be around the first time squad.
Hopefully that will serve him well and he will come back a better and
stronger player. "Josh has been away now for his third month at Cheltenham.
He is doing well. He is a young lad and this experience for him will be
good. When he comes back hopefully he will feature in the reserves and push
on to the first team."

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West Ham chief Duxbury intent on blooding youngsters
27.11.08 | Andrew Slevison

West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury says the club is determined to
develop their youth academy and nurture potential stars of the future. After
youngster Freddie Sears signed a five-year deal with the Hammers, Duxbury
sais, "Freddie Sears signing a new long-term contract is great news for
everyone at the club." "He has more than impressed since scoring on his
Premier League debut last season. "Our philosophy is very much about
developing homegrown players in the academy and then integrating them into
the first team. Freddie has achieved that and we are looking forward to him
playing his part in a bright future for West Ham United."

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Tevez court case goes on as Hammers lodge appeal
AFP06:50 AEST Thu Nov 27 2008
Wwos.com.au

The legal argument surrounding Carlos Tevez's controversial role in keeping
West Ham in the Premier League looks set to continue into the New Year. West
Ham appealed Wednesday against a High Court ruling in favour of Sheffield
United. This prevented the London club from appealing to the Swiss-based
Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over a ruling that it had breached
Premier League rules in playing the Argentina striker. The matter is now set
to return to the High Court next year.
In September, an independent arbitration panel ruled in favour of the Blades
in their claim for compensation from West Ham over the Tevez affair. The
panel have yet to determine the size of the payout, but Sheffield United are
claiming in excess of 30 million pounds from the Hammers for being relegated
from the Premier League on the final day of the 2006-7 season, when a
Tevez-inspired West Ham beat Manchester United to clinch top-flight safety.
The Premier League fined West Ham a record 5.5 million pounds for fielding
Tevez, now at Manchester United and Javier Mascherano, who has since joined
Liverpool, when they were ineligible to play under league rules regarding
third-party ownership. However, they did not dock West Ham points and the
Blades remained relegated from the lucrative Premier League.

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