WHUFC.com
Reserve-team coach Alex Dyer was more than content after coming out on top
in a seven-goal thriller
17.12.2008
Alex Dyer was wearing a broad grin after watching his West Ham United
reserve side hold off Chelsea in a thrilling contest on Tuesday evening.
Spanish striker Diego Tristan scored two fine goals - his first strikes for
the club - while teenagers Freddie Sears and Tom Harvey also netted as the
Hammers secured a 4-3 victory at Bishops Stortford's Woodside Park. The
Blues threatened a late fightback, reducing the arrears from 3-0 to 3-2
through a Jonathan Spector own-goal and Frank Nouble's finish, while Scott
Sinclair also converted a last-gasp penalty.
Tuesday's win also completed a fine week for the club in three clashes with
the west Londoners. Last Friday, Tony Carr's youth team drew 2-2 at
Chelsea's Cobham training centre before, on Sunday, the first team battled
to a deserved 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at Stamford Bridge.
A smiling Dyer was delighted to see his players secure a victory that
ensures United will enter 2009 second in the Barclays Premier Reserve League
South standings. The Hammers will return to action on 5 January when they
travel to face leaders Aston Villa. Success would put West Ham United top of
the table.
"It was a great game. The lads worked hard. It was great to get a victory
against Chelsea," he said. "We've done well this week against Chelsea at all
levels. The Under-16s won, the youth team drew and the first team drew and
we've got a win with the reserves so it's been a good week."
Having maintained his side's 100 per cent home record with a fourth
consecutive victory, Dyer is now looking for the second-string to continue
their fine form in the New Year.
"I've said to them before they went out that it was an incentive to them to
finish the year on a high, which we did do," he added. "The lads worked
hard. The experienced boys that came in did us proud and the young boys were
brilliant."
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Confidence key for Tristan
WHUFC.com
'Goals are the lifeblood for every striker' said Diego Tristan after
registering twice for the reserves
17.12.2008
Diego Tristan has spoken of his satisfaction at getting off the mark in a
West Ham United shirt and is eager to go on and make an impact at
senior-team level.
The Spanish striker scored the first and last goals for his side in the 4-3
reserve win against Chelsea on Tuesday night, as part of a strong display up
front alongside Freddie Sears that saw both register during a welcome 90
minutes apiece. As well as his two goals - a fierce first-half shot and a
late second-half header - Tristan showed his awareness with an assist for
Tom Harvey.
Tristan said: "For a striker, goals are always important for your
confidence, and it was also good for me to play 90 minutes and get back into
the rhythm of a match. The first goal I linked up with Walter [Lopez] and
got in a shot from outside the area; I got a header for the second.
"It will give me confidence even if it is a reserve game because goals are
the lifeblood for every striker. I am working well and feeling better every
day in training and although I've not had the chance to play every week, it
was a good chance for a run-out.
Having been given a brief taster of the Boleyn Ground at the start of the
month with his debut appearance off the bench against Tottenham Hotspur - "I
was really pleased to be able to feel the connection between the players and
the supporters," he said - Tristan is hungry for more.
"It is important to be ready for when the team needs me and I hope I can
make a contribution with my goals. I know that Carlton Cole and Craig
Bellamy are doing very well but I want to have my chance and I hope to get
it soon.
"I am satisfied with my progress. It is fine playing for the reserves, but
my aim is to be out there playing every weekend. I hope to have a run-out on
Saturday and do my bit to help the team." Tristan is also playing his part
in terms of his squad-mates, particularly those younger players who can only
benefit from his international and Champions League know-how.
Speaking specifically of his strike partner Sears, Tristan added: "Freddie
has great qualities. I'd like to help all my team-mates and if I can give
the young players some help with my experience then all the better."
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West Ham closer to possible sale
By Simon Austin
BBC.co.uk
Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson has moved a step closer to selling West Ham after
receiving several provisional offers. The owner has signed non-disclosure
agreements with "five to 10 parties". This means the potential buyers will
be given detailed information on the club that they cannot reveal to anyone
else. Vice chairman Ausgier Fridgeirsson told BBC Sport: "This is part of
the ongoing process of Mr Gudmundsson reviewing his assets. But he does not
need to sell West Ham and still might not do." Fridgeirsson said West Ham
were talking to potential buyers in order to establish the club's market
value. Once this is done, Gudmundsson will decide whether or not to sell,
Fridgeirsson added. The agreements fall short of due diligence, which would
give prospective buyers full access to the club's accounts. Several of the
interested parties have put in opening bids for West Ham but these have
fallen well short of the amount Gudmundsson would want. According to court
documents in Iceland filed by his holding company, Hansa, the 67-year-old
values West Ham at £250m. No binding offers have yet been made for the club.
Hansa has gone into voluntary liquidation and Gudmundsson is in talks with
the Icelandic government and banks about how to restructure his assets,
including West Ham. Gudmundsson's business empire has suffered a series of
setbacks in recent months. Landsbanki, the Icelandic bank in which he was
the biggest shareholder, went into receivership in October.
Then Samson Holdings, the holding company for shares in Landsbanki, filed
for bankruptcy last month. West Ham's shirt sponsor, travel company XL, had
gone bust a month earlier and it later emerged that Gudmundsson had been the
guarantor of a £163m loan given to the company. And the Hammers could yet be
liable to pay Sheffield United £30m in compensation after an independent
tribunal ruled in favour of the Yorkshire club in the Carlos Tevez affair.
Gudmundsson bought West Ham for £85m in November 2006 and has invested a
further £30m in the club since then.
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£150mill and it's yours
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 17th December 2008
By: Staff Writer
Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson has relunctantly placed West Ham United FC is up for
sale. Gudmundsson has been forced to put the club up for sale after it was
agreed that freshly-bankrupt Hansa, the company that owns West Ham Holdings
(the football club's holding company) had been granted an extended
moratorium until March in order to arrange the sale of West Ham, it's most
valuable asset.
A court hearing in Reykjavik on Monday granted Hansa until March 6th to find
a buyer for the club, which is set to change hands for the second time in
three years. The hearing valued the club at between £120-£150million - a
huge increase on the £85million Gudmundsson paid for the club in November
2006.
One party thought to have made their interest known already is a consortium
of British-based businessmen. It is understood that they are in the process
of discussing a possible sale fee with Gudmundsson whilst also negotiating a
settlement fee with Sheffield United with regard to their compensation claim
over the Carlos Tevez case. However another Asian-based consortium are also
thought to be monitoring the situation.
News of the impending sale could result in a block on the club selling any
player considered to be vital to the club's future - meaning that the likes
of Rob Green, Matthew Upson and Scott Parker would not be sold. However some
of the fringe players could well be on their way, as originally planned - as
well as those considered non-essential by Gianfranco Zola, whose own
position could be under threat just three months after he took the job. Also
under threat would be the likes of CEO Scott Duxbury, technical director
Gianluca Nani and the remainder of the current board.
We'll have more for you on this as it happens.
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Hammers open to offers
Gudmundsson considering selling up
Last updated: 17th December 2008
SSN
West Ham United have confirmed owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson is considering
selling the Premier League club. The Hammers' vice chairman Asgeir
Fridgeirsson says Gudmundsson is searching for a buyer and has already been
in contact with potential investors. Gudmundsson has reportedly been forced
to consider a sale following the collapse of Icelandic bank Landsbanki of
which he held a 41 per cent stake. Fridgeirsson has stated many parties have
shown interest in buying the club, but that a sale is still only one of the
options under consideration. Hansa, the club's holding company, are believed
to want around £250million for the club, an increase of 194 per cent on the
£85million paid for the club in November 2006. West Ham are currently 16th
on 19 points in the Premier League ladder following their weekend point
against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
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Ashton on target
Hammers boss confident
Last updated: 17th December 2008
SSN
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has confirmed that Dean Ashton is on target
to return to fitness early next month. Ashton has been sidelined with an
ankle injury since September, but he is progressing well. The Hammers hope
to see Ashton in action at the start of next month and he could feature
against Newcastle on 10th January. "Dean is in rehab and seeing his physio,"
said Zola. "He's doing very well but I don't how long he will be out for.
"Hopefully it'll be the very beginning of the New Year."
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West Ham vice chairman says owner seeking buyer
Sports Illustrated
LONDON (AP) -West Ham United's vice chairman says the Premier League club is
searching for a buyer and has been in contact with potential investors.
Asgeir Fridgeirsson tells The Associated Press that club owner Bjorgolfur
Gudmundsson is considering a sale following the collapse of Icelandic bank
Landsbanki. Gudmundsson had a 41-percent stake in the bank. Fridgeirsson
says many parties have shown interest in buying the club, but that a sale is
still only one of the options under consideration. Court papers filed
Tuesday in Iceland show that Hansa, the club's holding company, wants around
250 million pounds ($390 million; ?275 million). Gudmundsson's WH Holding
Ltd. bought the club in November 2006 for 85 million pounds (then $161
million; 126 million euros).
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Tristan eager to help Hammers
TeamTalk
Former Spain striker Diego Tristan has spoken of his determination to make
his mark at West Ham. The veteran forward joined the Hammers on a free
transfer in October after being released by Livorno but has so far made just
one substitute appearance. But after scoring for the first time in a West
Ham shirt in the reserves' 4-3 win over Chelsea this week, the 32-year-old
is confident he can excel at Upton Park. Tristan told the club's official
website: "For a striker, goals are always important for your confidence, and
it was also good for me to play 90 minutes and get back into the rhythm of a
match. "It will give me confidence even if it is a reserve game because
goals are the lifeblood for every striker. "It is important to be ready for
when the team needs me and I hope I can make a contribution with my goals."
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Tristan eyes Hammers chance
Wednesday 17 Dec 2008
4thgame.com
Spanish striker Diego Tristan is hoping to be handed a first-team a chance
with West Ham United in the near future, having scored twice for the
reserves against Chelsea. The 32-year-old helped the Hammers' second string
to a 4-3 win over their Blues counterparts, before turning his attention
towards making an impact in the first team at Upton Park.
DIEGO TRISTAN Tristan told the club's official website: "For a striker goals
are always important for your confidence and it was also good for me to play
90 minutes and get back into the rhythm of a match. "It will give me
confidence even if it is a reserve game, because goals are the lifeblood for
every striker. "I am working well and feeling better every day in training
and although I've not had the chance to play every week, it was a good
chance for a run-out. "It is important to be ready for when the team needs
me and I hope I can make a contribution with my goals. "I know that Carlton
Cole and Craig Bellamy are doing very well, but I want to have my chance and
I hope to get it soon.
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Hammers boss happy after Chelsea boost
8:32am Wednesday 17th December 2008
Guardian Series
GIANFRANCO Zola hopes West Ham's 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Sunday will provide
the springboard for his side to start climbing the table. The former Chelsea
playing legend made an emotional return to Stamford Bridge and then watched
his team earn a vital point. Zola was given a fantastic reception by the
home fans, who were booing their own team off the pitch at the end of a game
that West Ham almost won. Craig Bellamy stunned Chelsea with a 33rd-minute
opener but Nicolas Anelka put the hosts on level terms five minutes after
the re-start with his 16th goal of the season and his 100th in the Premier
League. But Petr Cech's last-minute save from Carlton Cole prevented Zola
from a winning return to the stadium where he was idolised as a player. The
draw lifted West Ham into 16th place and prevented Chelsea from returning to
the top of the table. Zola could not hide his satisfaction at the outcome
and now hopes the performance will act as the catalyst to improve their home
form and pull away to safety. West Ham had been beaten 2-0 at home by
Tottenham in their last outing, but were inspired against Chelsea. "This
performance will help build our confidence and maybe at home we will have
more confidence, freedom and less pressure," said Zola. "This point and
performance have been vital. "I think it was a fair result and very
important for us especially after last week's performance against Tottenham.
"That was a big shock for us. We lost a big game and everybody was down and
nervous in the week. "But we made it very difficult for Chelsea but when you
play Champions League football it is very demanding and it drains you. But
it won't be easy for anybody to come here and get something. "It was a great
result. It was a very good performance from my team. Chelsea is a special
place for me but my team made it a great day. I had a fantastic reception
from the Chelsea supporters."
It was that adoration which prompted Zola not to celebrate Bellamy's goal
out of respect for the home fans. "I could not do it," he admitted. "I was
very happy for the goal, especially for Craig. But I had to pay some kind of
respect to the people who have given me so much here."
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Irons defender out to impress
8:33am Wednesday 17th December 2008
Echo
WEST Ham defender Jonathan Spector hopes to finally get the chance to
impress his new manager before the end of the year. The 22-year-old was a
regular in the Hammers backline last season, but has not featured since
April because of a niggling hip problem. However, after coming through a
behind-closed-doors friendly earlier this week, the former Manchester United
man is determined to soon be available for Gianfranco Zola, who was
appointed in mid-September. "I am certainly happy to be back after being out
for such an extended period of time," said Spector. "It was definitely nice
to have that vote of confidence and I was just excited about playing more
than anything else."
Spector added: "I need at least one more reserve game before I feel fit
enough to be in with the first team - but I will certainly be pushing myself
to be back as soon as possible. "I think the manager has only seen me in
training up to now so it was nice to do that and show him a little of what I
can do."
The Hammers gave themselves a much-needed confidence boost with a
hard-fought 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Sunday. Zola's men - now 16th, but still
only a point clear of the bottom three - have home games against Aston Villa
and Stoke either side of a Boxing Day trip to Portsmouth before an FA Cup
third-round date with last season's semi-finalists Barnsley at Upton Park on
January 3.
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Ashton Set For January Return
Setanta
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola says injury-jinxed striker Dean Ashton looks
set for a January return. Speculation is mounting that The Hammers will part
with some key players in the forthcoming transfer window in a bid to ease
the club's rocky financial position, so the return of Ashton will be
gratefully received by Zola. The former Norwich player has been sidelined
since September with an ankle injury and he has an outside chance of being
fit for the trip to Newcastle on January 10.
"Dean is in rehab and seeing his physio. He's doing very well but I don't
know how long he will be out for," Zola said in The Sun. "Hopefully it'll be
the very beginning of the New year." Ashton has been a regular visitor to
the treatment table and he notably missed the whole of the 2006-07 with a
broken ankle whilst playing for England.
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Sheffield United's Creative Accounting Backfires
West Ham Till I Die
A few weeks ago a High Court Judge ordered Sheffield United to open up their
books to West Ham and to demonstrate how they calculated their £50 million
claim against West Ham. Apparently this has revealed some creative
accounting worthy of Enron/Bernard Madoff/Gordon Brown (delete as
appropriate).
Their biggest scam has been to conveniently ignore that fact that they
received a parachute payment for two seasons. This is thought to have
amounted to more than £15 million. A pretty big accounting mistake, even by
the standards of football accountants. And it is one that the Judge is
unlikely to look favourably upon.
In normal circumstances I'd want West Ham to play hardball on this and tell
them where to go. However, we are not operating in normal circumstances. The
club has to be sold in the next few months and there are few buyers who will
want to part with their money (especially in these economic times) unless
this case has been put to bed.
I would therefore imagine that West Ham will try to reach an out of court
settlement with Sheffield United of about £10-£15 million. While it sticks
in my craw, business experience tells me it is the right way forward.
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Cole can't finish off a memorable display
Newham Recorder
17 December 2008
Chelsea 1 West Ham Utd 1
IT WAS the moment when the wildest dreams of every West Ham fan almost came
true, writes DAVE EVANS. In the 90th minute, Valon Behrami set off on
another lung-bursting run towards the penalty area, slipped it into the path
of Carlton Cole and he had just the keeper to beat to seal a dramatic
victory. Even Hammers fans who didn't see this game will know what happened
next of course. Cole shot, Cech saved and the chance was gone, but even the
most optimistic of West Ham supporters would surely have settled for a draw
when this match kicked off. It is testament to the way that the Hammers
played and the way they kept attacking until the end, that they were in a
position to take all three points at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea had plenty of
possession, and Robert Green had saves to make, but West Ham played their
part. Even after the Blues had levelled the scores just after the break, it
was the Hammers who created the best chances to win the match, both falling
to Cole. "When Carlton Cole was through at the end I was thinking: 'Chip it
over the goalkeeper! Chip it over the goalkeeper,'" said an excited West Ham
manager Gianfranco Zola. "He had a good shot, but Petr Cech made a very good
save. I think it was a fair result, but we went very close to winning it."
The little Italian shuffled the pack for this clash, though his hand was
forced by the withdrawal of James Collins on Thursday with a calf strain.
Mark Noble came in for the hapless Julien Faubert at last, and Jack Collison
was surprisingly preferred to Hayden Mullins, while Collins' replacement -
Calum Davenport - made his first appearance under Zola and put in a superb
performance. Chelsea started at 100 miles an hour prompted by Frank Lampard
and Joe Cole as well as pacy full backs Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa, but
West Ham were never overawed and panicked the home defence on 12 minutes
when Noble's free kick was palmed over for a corner by Cech. Alex headed
Lampard's free kick wide when well-placed, while Daven-port was making a
point of blocking Lampard's numerous shots at goal, but it was West Ham who
were to get their noses in front on 33 minutes. John Terry conceded a
throw-in under pressure from Craig Bellamy, and when Herita Ilunga found
Noble, he managed to shimmy past Bosingwa's challenge and pull the ball back
for the Welshman to thump it into the net.
It was his first goal since August and he celebrated as if he had won the FA
Cup with the strike. Chelsea legend Zola, though, remained outwardly
subdued: "I couldn't jump up and down when we scored," he revealed. "Inside
I was very, very happy - especially for Craig Bellamy because he's been
playing well and working hard and he needed that goal. "He was getting so
frustrated about not scoring and I'm sure that'll help him - in fact, it was
like that I'd scored the goal myself!"
Chelsea controlled the rest of the half, but only Joe Cole's shot across the
face of goal and Michael Ball-ack's deflected effort which was held by
Green, caused any direct problems for West Ham. However, when you can bring
a talent like Didier Drogba off the bench, then you always have a chance to
get back and so it proved, as Chelsea equalised within five minutes of the
restart. A lovely passing move saw Drogba flick on to Lampard who found
Nicolas Anelka with a superb ball and the Frenchman had the easiest of tasks
to bury his shot from barely six yards out. Cue the Chelsea celebrations and
their fans no doubt expected the Blues to go on and win comfortably, but
they were to get one hell of a surprise as West Ham stormed straight back on
to the attack. Within two minutes of Chelsea's goal, Bellamy had beaten his
man on the Chelsea by-line, to pull it back into the path of Cole, only for
the striker to not get enough on his shot. A minute later, Behrami slipped a
pass to Cole and this time he went closer with a shot which beat Cech, but
also the far post. It was not the happiest of days for the former Chelsea
striker. He was constantly picked on and penalised by referee Mike Riley,
when all the big centre forward seemed to be doing was challenging for the
ball. And then when the chances came, he couldn't quite take them, making it
seven games since he last hit the back of the net.
Chelsea looked for a winner, but found the West Ham defence in resolute
mood. Drogba's volley from Lampard's corner was superbly saved by Green, and
the goalkeeper was there again to deny Alex. There were a couple of
heart-stopping moments. First, Green flapped at another Lampard corner and
Scott Parker was forced to use all his height and more on the line to head
it on to the bar and away, while Chelsea had a huge shout for a penalty when
Lucas Neill seemed to clip Lampard. But defeat then would have been so cruel
on a West Ham side that had put in an even better performance than the one
they managed at Liverpool. If Cole had grabbed that last minute winner then
it might have been cruel on Chelsea too, but for all their valiant efforts,
perhaps the Hammers deserved it. "The players did what they've been doing
well," said Zola. "They've been passing the ball very well and if they keep
doing that all the time then I'm sure that the results will come."
They certainly did with Parker and Behrami particularly impressive at the
heart of the action. Parker showed Chelsea what they had got rid of with a
passionate, powerful performance, while the Swiss international Behrami just
runs and runs for the whole 90 minutes. Despite the efforts though, it is
still only one point, just as it was at Liverpool, and if West Ham now go
and lose to Aston Villa on Saturday, they will be back even deeper into
trouble. That would be a shame because this battling performance suggest
that the Hammers can look onwards and upwards, but football is a cruel game
and it would seem that for the fans, the rollercoaster ride is showing no
signs of stopping.
West Ham: Green, Neill, Ilunga, Davenport, Upson, Noble (Mullins 72),
Parker, Collison (Boa Morte 87), Behrami, Bellamy (Di Michele 90), Cole.
Unused subs: Lastuvka, Faubert, Tristan, Sears.
Attendance: 41,675. Referee: Mike Riley.
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Palermo defender Carrozzieri on West Ham radar
17.12.08 | tribalfootball.com
Palermo defender Moris Carrozzieri is a target for West Ham United.
Carrozzieri, 28, is set to be sold by the Sicilians in January, with four
clubs chasing his signature.
Competing with West Ham will be AC Milan, Roma and Lazio.
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West Ham hope to have inside-running for Savio Nsereko
17.12.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United hope they have the inside running for Brescia midfielder
Savio Nsereko. The 19 year-old was brought to Brescia from 1860 Munich by
Gianluca Nani, who is now the technical director of West Ham. Nani would
love to bring the Germany youth international to London and will push his
board to bid for Nsereko should Brescia indicate a willingness to sell.
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