WHUFC.com
West Ham United have another new recruit with Czech international Radoslav
Kovac joining the club
30.01.2009
West Ham United have signed Czech Republic midfielder Radoslav Kovac on loan
until the end of the season with a view to a possible permanent transfer.
The 29-year-old, who has been handed the No14 shirt, joins from Russian
giants Spartak Moscow, where he was the captain, and can also play in
central defence. The 6'3 Kovac, who played at the 2006 World Cup and Euro
2008, is vastly experienced and caught the eye at Wembley last August when
the Czechs more than held their own in the 2-2 friendly draw with England.
He is set to play for his country in next month's friendly against Morocco,
having appeared in their last World Cup qualifier back in November. At club
level, Kovac has also played 14 games in the UEFA Champions League, with one
goal, as well as gaining UEFA Cup experience.
Gianfranco Zola said: "I am pleased to have Radoslav here. He has a lot of
experience with the national team and he will give us competition in a
midfield which is already very strong. I am sure he will help us with what
we are trying to achieve this season."
Kovac arrived at the Boleyn Ground on Friday to finalise the deal and have a
medical. He watched his new team-mates being put through their paces by
Gianfranco Zola, Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen. Negotiations were completed on
Friday evening to allow him to join a strong Czech contingent at the club
following goalkeepers Marek Stech and Jan Lastuvka, along with Ludek
Miklosko.
West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury said: "I am delighted we have managed to
secure the services of a proven international like Radoslav ahead of
interest from clubs at home and abroad. He brings considerable quality and
will fit right into Gianfranco Zola's talented squad. The deal is such that
the manager will be able to sign him permanently in the summer if he so
wishes."
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Faubert in Real Madrid talks
WHUFC.com
Julien Faubert is in talks with Real Madrid about a loan move after
struggling to hold down a regular place
30.01.2009
West Ham United can confirm the club have given Julien Faubert permission to
talk to Real Madrid about a loan move with a view to a permanent switch in
the summer.
The 25-year-old has made a total of 32 Barclays Premier League and cup
appearances for the Hammers following his arrival from FC Girondins de
Bordeaux in July 2007. Faubert's West Ham United career was initially
interrupted by a ruptured achilles tendon suffered in a friendly against
Czech side Sigma Olomouc during the club's pre-season tour to Austria just a
few weeks after signing.
The right-sided player battled back to fitness and made his debut as a
substitute in the 2-1 Premier League victory over Fulham at the Boleyn
Ground on 12 January 2008. However, the Le Havre-born player has been unable
to force his way into Gianfranco Zola's starting eleven in recent weeks and
had previously spoken to the manager about a move away from the Boleyn
Ground.
West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury said: "Julien has struggled to get into
Gianfranco Zola's team this season and, despite the high hopes we had for
him when he joined us 18 months ago, he has not had the best of times. He
had asked the manager about a possible move and we felt it right to let him
talk to Real Madrid. If it does not happen, then we will of course welcome
Julien back into the squad.
"I was first contacted by Madrid on Friday morning and after extensive
negotiations we have agreed in principle a deal that would see them paying
us a £1.5m fee to take Julien until the end of the season. His long-term
future would then be reviewed in the summer with a significant transfer fee
payable should Madrid want to take up their option. If Julien does go on
loan, then we will look quickly to bring in a replacement."
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Zola buoyed by strong belief
WHUFC.com
The West Ham United manager is looking forward to the test of facing Arsenal
at the Emirates
31.01.2009
Gianfranco Zola is looking forward to pitting his wits against one of the
managers he most looks up to at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Zola goes into the game against Arsene Wenger's Arsenal with his team
brimming with confidence after six wins in their last seven games. After two
consecutive 2-0 wins against Hartlepool United and Hull City, Zola believes
there is no better place to see just how far the Hammers have come under his
stewardship.
"I think the players right now feel they can go out and compete with
Arsenal, even away. That is great. I 'm looking forward to this game and it
is one of those games where everything will come out," Zola said.
"I said it last time they were here, that he [Arsene Wenger] is one of the
mangers I look up to. The way he manages is like what we want to do over
here as well. We want to develop the players we have got and make them
better. We want to achieve success by doing that."
Like the West Ham United manager, Wenger has demonstrated his commitment to
blooding youngsters in the Barclays Premier League and the Sardinian belies
it offers a viable alternative to spending vast sums on more established
players.
"It is more or less the same way as we are doing here," Zola said. "There
are two ways. You can either spend £200m and get top class players and win
titles like that or another way you go around and get young players and
develop them to build up your team. It takes longer but that is the way I
prefer to build up a team."
Zola, who is expected to name the same squad that beat Hull City on
Wednesday, must decide whether to field Savio, the latest recruit to his
project in north London, or stick with the in-form forward line that has
served him so well in recent weeks. It is a choice he admits to being happy
to face. "It is a nice problem to have. My way to select them is they select
themselves. The way they play, the way they perform. The players know that
the best one will play. The one that does well will be in the team."
Although Arsenal are currently sit eight point behind leaders Manchester
United at the summit, Zola is sure that his French counterpart will turn the
current Gunners' crop into title contenders before long. "Arsenal are very
talented but young. I'm sure they will become a winning team but they need
time to improve because the Premier League is a tough place to be a winner
in.
"What he has done for the club is a great thing and he keeps bringing in
very good players. Nowadays, it is not easy to compete with teams like
Manchester United and Chelsea, even for Arsenal. Personally I believe he is
doing a great job. I like the project they are bringing forward and Arsene
Wenger is doing well and sooner or later he will get the team winning
again."
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Captain's Blog - Looking up
WHUFC.com
Lucas Neill sees no reason why the club cannot keep the positive run going
although Saturday will be a test
30.01.2009
I would like to start off this week by congratulating all the lads for a
great result and professional performance last weekend at Hartlepool.
The game was live on television and an early kick-off, so there were a few
people who thought an upset was on the cards. It was a close match at times
but the boys were outstanding, got two quick goals to seal the tie and did
everything right to execute it perfectly.
Naturally, the momentum is very high in the camp with a seven-game unbeaten
run and we took this into our midweek match against Hull. Confidence was
such that, although it would be tough, it was one we felt we could win and
we did so in a performance that many people thought was our best.
We have been playing well for quite a while but didn't get the rewards for a
bit, but now we are. Against Hull City, we took our chances, took the game
to Hull at a high tempo and then dominated strongly. If it wasn't for their
keeper and a few chances going astray, then no one would have complained if
the scoreline was 3-0 or 4-0 at half-time and certainly 4-0 or 5-0 at full
time.
I don't want to pick out anyone particular as standing out, because it was a
great team performance once again and we now find ourselves in a fantastic
run. You can sense and see the optimism in the changing room, around the
training ground and amongst every player and member of staff at the club.
We are in the latter stages of the FA Cup, in the league we are looking
towards Europe rather than back at the relegation places and chasing teams
such as Everton and Wigan who are just above us. All in all, we are in a
very positive environment. There has been much negativity from outside
surrounding the club of late and we have answered all of that by doing our
talking on the pitch.
We are now getting the headlines for the right reasons and that along with
our performances and results, is a compliment to everyone's hard work day
in, day out on the training ground and it is shining through. However, we
want to go on from here and the manager will be making sure we are focused
and I will also be making sure the boys and myself won't be taking the foot
off the pedal.
Next up is a challenge we are very much looking forward to, against Arsenal.
We are one of only two teams to beat them at the Emirates and on paper, it
should be a cracking game. A draw will be like a victory for us and a win
will be even better, like a cup final. So, there is plenty to be very
positive about and aim for.
I would like to welcome our new signing Savio, who joined us this week and
was able to get a piece of the action in the game against Hull.
Also this week, myself and the lads were doing our bit for one of our club
charities, the Richard House Children's Hospice - helping them promote and
publicise their Wear Red for Richard House campaign, which is running in
February. We take our duties of supporting charities very seriously and were
only too delighted to be playing our part in helping this very worthwhile
cause.
A big thank you to all our supporters who went to see us up at Hartlepool
and we hope that we made your trip worth it with the result. Also to our
supporters who will make the trip across London to see us play at arguably
one of the best stadiums in the country and let's hope that we are all still
tasting success come 5pm on Saturday.
Lucas Neill
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Collins eager for Arsenal repeat
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Wales international defender is keen to secure another
victory at the Emirates Stadium
30.01.2009
The last time James Collins turned out at the Emirates Stadium, on 7 April
2007, West Ham United secured a heroic 1-0 victory on the way to their
'Great Escape' from Barclays Premier League relegation.
Since then, the Wales international defender had endured a frustrating
period, spending ten months battling back to full fitness after suffering a
serious knee ligament injury in a reserve team fixture at Portsmouth in
January 2008. Now, the 25-year-old is back in the Hammers team and at the
top of his game.
Preparing to return to the scene of that memorable afternoon 21 months ago,
Collins believes Gianfranco Zola's in-form side have every chance of
extending their six-match unbeaten run away from home in north London.
"Of course if we play the way we did in the first half against Fulham and go
there with the right attitude I think we can give them a good game. We beat
them there a couple of years ago and there's no reason why we can't do it
again."
"I think this is the highest I can remember confidence being in my time at
the club. Obviously playing games gives you confidence and that's what I'm
doing at the minute. I've been a bit unfortunate the last few seasons with
injury but I'm playing now and that builds confidence. I'm playing in a
great team. Everyone's playing good football and it's a pleasure to be
involved in."
Collins insists the Hammers' recent success can be put down to the hard work
the players and coaching staff are putting in every day on the training
pitch. Manager Zola and first-team coaches Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen are
using all their know-how to give United the best possible chance of picking
up points in every single match - including Saturday's match at Arsenal.
"We split it up in training. We have certain days when we do defending and
certain days when we do attacking. It's not just the back-four that are
defending well. It is the whole team that is chipping in. The boys are
defending from the front. It's a group effort all over the pitch and I think
that shows. We're playing football the West Ham way and we're getting
results."
The defender, who arrived at the Boleyn Ground from Cardiff City in July
2005, is also quick to heap praise on his team-mates, including central
defensive partner Matthew Upson and West Ham United and Wales team-mate Jack
Collison.
"I think we [myself and Matthew] both complement each others' game quite
well. We're both half-decent on the ball and are both aggressive players.
From a personal point of view it's just great being back in the team and
performing well and I'm just looking forward to every game.
"Jack has been brilliant. I saw him early doors away with the Under-21s with
Wales and the quality he was showing there. To come here and train and be
given his chance by Mister, he is showing his class. Hopefully he's working
in a good midfield with Valon [Behrami], Scotty [Parker] and Mark [Noble]
and all of them are putting in good performances. Long may it continue."
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Czech Kovac joins Hammers on loan
BBC.co.uk
Czech international Radoslav Kovac has joined West Ham on loan until the end
of the season from Spartak Moscow. Also linked with a move to Celtic, the
29-year-old Kovac, who was captain at Spartak, can play in midfield as well
as central defence. West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury confirmed the
club have the option to make Kovac's signing permanent. Hammers boss
Gianfranco Zola said: "He will give us competition in a midfield, which is
already very strong."
Kovac brings a wealth of experience from his country's World Cup 2006 and
Euro 2008 campaigns, while he has also played in the Champions League and
Uefa Cup. "I'm pleased to have Radoslav here," added Zola. "He has a lot of
experience with the national team and I'm sure he will help us with what we
are trying to achieve this season."
Earlier in the week West Ham beat off "fierce competition" from Europe's
leading clubs to complete the signing of 19-year-old Brescia striker Savio
Nsereko.
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Real make move for Hammer Faubert
BBC.co.uk
West Ham midfielder Julien Faubert is on the verge of joining Spanish giants
Real Madrid on loan. The Frenchman has been given permission to talk to Real
after struggling to secure a first-team place this season. Real must pay a
£1.5m fee for the loan move, with the option of buying Faubert at the end of
the season. Faubert, 25, joined West Ham in 2007 from Bordeaux for £6.1m,
but soon ruptured his Achilles tendon, which kept him out until January
2008. Madrid have been searching for a right winger during the transfer
window had been linked with Jermaine Pennant, Aaron Lennon and Antonio
Valencia. The Hammers signed midfielder Radoslav Kovac on a loan deal on
Friday and have also signed striker Savio Nsereko during the transfer
window. West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury: "I was first contacted by
Madrid on Friday and after extensive negotiations, we have agreed in
principle a deal that would see them paying us a £1.5m fee to take Julien
until the end of the season.
"His long-term future would then be reviewed in the summer, with a
significant transfer fee payable should Madrid want to take up their option.
"If Julien does go on loan, then we will look to quickly bring in a
replacement. "Julien has struggled to get into Gianfranco Zola's team this
season and, despite the high hopes we had for him when he joined us 18
months ago, he has not had the best of times. "He had asked the manager
about a possible move and we felt it right to let him talk to Real Madrid.
If it does not happen, then we will of course welcome Julien back into the
squad.
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Joe extends stay
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th January 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham left-back Joe Widdowson has extended his loan with Grimsby Town
until the end of the season. The 19-year-old full back has been on loan with
the League Two outfit since the start of the month and has impressed Grimsby
boss Mike Newell - who himself spent six weeks on loan at West Ham as a
player in the 1996/97 season - sufficiently to earn the new deal. Widdowson
is yet to make a first team appearance for the Hammers but has featured
three times for the Mariners, scoring once against Rotherham - the club with
whom he spent a month on loan at the tail end of last season. The news has
been received positively by Grimsby fans; Marinerz93, a member of popular
Town forum thefishy.co.uk said: "Joe signing till the end of the season is
fantastic. His help has been invaluable to us, it is greatly appreciated and
long may it continue."
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Transfer window: further movement expected
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th January 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are likely to be involved in the transfer window right up to the
wire - with further movement expected between now and 5:00pm Monday. With
the winter window extended by a further two days this year due to January
31st falling on a Saturday the Hammers still have three more days to
conclude any business. It is thought that at least one player will leave
the club, although barring the imminent arrival of Radoslav Kovac - who
could be confirmed as Gianfranco Zola's second signing later today - no
further arrivals are expected, as things stand. The most likely departure is
centre-half Calum Davenport, who has been talking with both Sunderland and
Championship outfit Wolves this week.
The central defender, who was told he would be allowed to leave the club
after a recent bust-up with Zola will cost potential suitors around
£3million, the same figure United paid Tottenham two years ago this month.
The Hammers will also listen to offers for both Luis Boa Morte and Julien
Faubert although neither are close to leaving prior to the end of the
transfer window despite reports of interest from various parties.
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Hammers miss out on FA Cup bonus
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th January 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have missed out on a mini-windfall after their FA Cup fifth round
clash with Middlesbrough was one of only three ties not selected for live TV
coverage. With £275,000 in TV rights up for grabs - plus a further £200,000
for the team progressing through to the quarter-finals - a live TV date
could be worth over £1million to a winning team. Unfortunately for United,
and somewhat predictably, four of the five live games will feature the 'big
four' - with just Swansea and Fulham from outside that group having their
tie televised live. Whilst not so great for the club's accounts Hammers fans
can at least look forward to watching their team play at 3:00pm on a
Saturday - a rare occurence in recent weeks.
FA Cup fifth round schedule
Saturday, 14th February 2009
12:45pm
Swansea City v Fulham (ITV)
3:00pm
Sheffield Utd v Hull City
West Ham Utd v Middlesbrough
Sunderland or Blackburn v Coventry City
5:30pm
Watford v Chelsea (Setanta Sports)
Sunday, 15th February 2009
2:30pm
Everton/Liverpool v Aston Villa/Doncaster Rovers (Setanta Sports)
4:30pm
Derby County/Nottingham Forest v Manchester United (ITV)
Monday, 16th February 2009
7.45pm
Cardiff City/Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion/Burnley (Setanta Sports)
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Faubert: the Real deal?
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th January 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have given Julien Faubert permission to speak to Spanish giants
Real Madrid about a loan move. The Spanish giants are looking to take the
French winger to the Bernabeu until the end of the season, a temporary
switch for which the Hammers have confirmed they will receive £1.5million
with view to a permanent move worth a further £6million in the summer -
should Faubert's loan spell prove a success. The surprise move from Real
came earlier today, and news of the La Liga outfit's interest was confirmed
by West Ham United this evening. CEO Scott Duxbury, talking on whufc.com
tonight, said: "Julien has struggled to get into Gianfranco Zola's team this
season and, despite the high hopes we had for him when he joined us 18
months ago, he has not had the best of times. "He had asked the manager
about a possible move and we felt it right to let him talk to Real Madrid.
If it does not happen, then we will of course welcome Julien back into the
squad. "I was first contacted by Madrid on Friday morning and after
extensive negotiations we have agreed in principle a deal that would see
them paying us a £1.5m fee to take Julien until the end of the season. "His
long-term future would then be reviewed in the summer with a significant
transfer fee payable should Madrid want to take up their option. If Julien
does go on loan, then we will look quickly to bring in a replacement."
Faubert, signed during Alan Curbishley's tenure as manager from Bordeaux for
£6million has failed to settle at the club having missed the first six
months through injury, and has recently become the latest target for the
boo-boys. The once-capped French international has featured 24 times for
United this season, but has struggled to find form and has more often that
not found himself starting from the bench of late.
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Two down, who's next?
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th January 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have confirmed the signing of Czech international Radoslav Kovac.
Earlier tonight Kovac put pen to paper on a move that sees him join the
Hammers on loan until the end of the season, with view to a permanent
£4million move in the summer. The 29-year-old midfielder could go straight
into the squad to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow. Kovac's
arrival has been welcomed by Gianfranco Zola; the United manager told
whufc.com: "I am pleased to have Radoslav here. He has a lot of experience
with the national team and he will give us competition in a midfield which
is already very strong. "I am sure he will help us with what we are trying
to achieve this season."
Zola decided to move for an experienced head once Hayden Mullins had
confirmed his move to Portsmouth - and one that can challenge for a place in
the first team immediately. Meanwhile the Hammers are hot on the trail of
their third signing this transfer window after it was revealed that Julien
Faubert is set to join Real Madrid on loan. United CEO Scott Duxbury
confirmed that the club will seek to bring in a new face prior to Monday
afternoon's transfer deadline if necessary, telling whufc.com: "if Julien
does go on loan, then we will look quickly to bring in a replacement."
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Real set to land Faubert
Hammers midfielder poised for Madrid move
Last updated: 30th January 2009
SSN
West Ham have confirmed that midfielder Julien Faubert is in talks about a
move to Real Madrid until the end of the season. The versatile Frenchman has
endured a frustrating time since moving to Upton Park from Bordeaux in the
summer of 2007. He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon within weeks of his
arrival which kept him on the sidelines for six months. Faubert's Hammers
career has continued to be disrupted by injuries and he has struggled to
consistently find his best form. Speculation has surfaced over a move away
from the Premier League and Faubert admitted earlier in January that he
would welcome the opportunity to move to Lyon. But Real are now poised to
win the chase for his signature after the Hammers gave Faubert permission to
speak with the Spanish giants. West Ham CEO Scott Duxbury told the club's
official website: "He had asked the manager about a possible move and we
felt it right to let him talk to Real Madrid. "If it does not happen then we
will of course welcome Julien back into the squad. "I was first contacted by
Madrid on Friday morning and after extensive negotiations we have agreed in
principle a deal that would see them paying us a £1.5million fee to take
Julien until the end of the season. "His long-term future would then be
reviewed in the summer with a significant transfer fee payable should Madrid
want to take up their option. "If Julien does go on loan, then we will look
quickly to bring in a replacement."
Sky Sports News chief news reporter Bryan Swanson understands Real Madrid
are then willing to pay at least £4.5million in the summer to secure a
permanent transfer. West Ham paid £6million to Bordeaux for Faubert.
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Hammers capture Kovac
Midfielder joins on loan from Spartak
Last updated: 30th January 2009
SSN
West Ham have announced the signing of Radoslav Kovac on loan from Spartak
Moscow until the end of the season. The Czech Republic international
underwent a medical on Friday before putting pen-to-paper on the deal. He is
an experienced midfielder who can also play in defence and Hammers manager
Gianfranco Zola is delighted to have secured his services. "I am pleased to
have Radoslav here," Zola told the club's official website. "He has a lot of
experience with the national team and he will give us competition in a
midfield which is already very strong. "I am sure he will help us with what
we are trying to achieve this season." Zola has already snapped up
highly-rated forward Savio for an undisclosed fee and Kovac may also sign a
permanent contract with the club if he impresses over the next few months.
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Matthew Upson not bitter about Arsenal rejection
Matthew Upson has praised Arsene Wenger for his policy with young players,
even though the West Ham defender was allowed to leave Arsenal at the age of
23.
Telegraph
By John Ley
Last Updated: 9:34PM GMT 30 Jan 2009
Upson returns on Saturday as in-form West Ham attempt to ruin further
Arsenal's chances of winning the Premier League. Upson joined Arsenal from
Luton but made just 35 appearances before being allowed to leave, for
Birmingham. Wenger has admitted he remains an admirer of the central
defender, and was linked with a transfer window move for the player, now 29.
Upson could be forgiven for criticising Wenger's policy now, having been
allowed to leave, but instead he offered praise for the Frenchman's style.
"Arsene's recruitment of young players is second to none," Upson said. "He
is the master at it and has brought a lot of young players from nowhere into
that team and they have gone on to become top players. That is such a great
boost for a football club because financially they can bring a player in for
next to nothing. It's very impressive.
"I learnt from the training every day [at Arsenal]. There were so many top
players there at the time so you take good habits from all of them."
Now Upson is to set down roots at Upton Park, where he has been in
outstanding form, helping to guide the revolution under Gianfranco Zola.
"I was always confident I was stopping around," Upson said on the rumours
linking him with a move. "The club pointed out their intentions at the start
of the transfer window and they've pretty much stuck with them. It shows
there is an intention for success at the club, and as long as there is that
here, I will enjoy myself."
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Matthew Etherington: 'Addiction will always be a part of my life'
By Chris Wheeler Last updated at 10:47 PM on 30th January 2009
Daily Mail
Matthew Etherington was ready to be confronted by Tony Pulis over his
gambling addiction, but certainly not in the way the Stoke manager broached
what could have been a very uncomfortable conversation. 'He just turned to
me and said: "Our chairman is the owner of Bet365 but you won't be having
any bets with him!"' recalled Etherington with a smile. 'The thing I liked
was that he hardly mentioned it. There was no lecture involved, he didn't
grill me on it, but it was blunt and broke the ice. It sums him up. He knows
how to work people and put it to bed straightaway.'
Of course Pulis had done his homework before signing the 27-year-old winger
from West Ham for £3m earlier this month. He had asked questions and found
out what he needed to know - Etherington's latest spell at the Sporting
Chance Clinic had gone well and he was learning to deal with a problem which
had landed him £800,000 in debt and threatened to derail his career; he was
unlikely to be found trying his luck on Stoke chairman Peter Coates'
internet casino website. Besides, Etherington always preferred to have a
punt on the horses or dogs - a habit that began when he was stuck in a hotel
after signing for Tottenham from Peterborough a decade ago. 'I just thought
I'd go to the local dog track,' he said. 'I'd never been involved in
gambling before. Never. It's crazy. It was something to pass the time away.
Then it snowballed.' Etherington's problems came to a head at Upton Park,
although he was not the only West Ham player to suffer. Goalkeeper Roy
Carroll also checked into rehab for a gambling addiction amid reports of
players losing up to £30,000 on card schools. 'My family and friends didn't
realise what was going on,' said Etherington. 'You have time after training
and you think to yourself "what will I do with it?" I got into that circle
and couldn't get myself out of it. It was more a case of going too far
financially. 'It was a bit of fun that spiralled at West Ham. I don't want
to blame them because it's down to yourself. But there were people at West
Ham who gambled as well. 'If you go to most clubs there are three or four
who bet. That's life. It's always gone on in football. Some are controlled
and they gamble to their means, some can't. I got great support from West
Ham. They helped me in every way.'
The club are believed to have handed him an advance of £300,000 on his
salary last year to help pay off the people he owed but Etherington denies
reports he received death threats. Grateful: Matthew Etherington says he
received great support from West Ham 'I can honestly say I've never had a
death threat in my life,' he insisted. 'Maybe it could have got to that
stage because I owed people money. Now they've been paid and that's behind
me.' He is determined to make a fresh start away from London in the
Potteries. Having not featured for the Hammers in the Barclays Premier
League since mid-November, Etherington has played in successive games
against Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham since joining Stoke on a
three-and-a-half year deal and is set to line up against Manchester City
today. If he seems surprisingly candid about his addiction, it is because
his treatment at Sporting Chance taught him that acknowledging the problem
is one of the first steps to recovery. He had counselling after the problem
spiralled out of control in 2006 but suffered a relapse last year and now
knows the urge to gamble will have to be managed on a permanent basis. He
added: 'I've been here before and said it's all behind me but I'm not going
to lie to people now and say that. It's always going to be part of my life
and it's down to me to sort it out. You learn that. 'When I went down to the
Sporting Chance clinic that was the first step. I realised that was my vice
and I've got to curb it and get rid of it. It got to the point at times at
West Ham where football came second. People outside of football think, "how
can it become secondary, it's the best job in the world?"
'But you get so complacent and take it for granted. It's a stupid thing to
do, but I did it and I'm not going to do it anymore. I needed a change of
scenery and one of the reasons why I've come up to Stoke is to get a fresh
start. 'It's just keeping yourself occupied. I've got my girlfriend up here
now and we'll go shopping in the afternoon or go to the cinema.' The
Cornwall-born player and his partner Stephanie are looking to buy a house in
the Stoke area, but while Etherington claims he has dropped the associates
most closely connected to his gambling habit he still intends to visit his
family and close friends in London. After all, it was they who made him
realise his career will not last forever. 'They told me that I'm 27 now and
it creeps up on you. I've maybe got six or seven years left at the top of my
game if I'm lucky. 'Do I want to look back when I'm 35 and think I didn't
get the best out of my ability? 'Something like this gives you a kick up the
backside. You realise how lucky you really are and that you have to look
after yourself in future.'
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Wily Clarke is the power behind the throne as Zola's Hammers go from
strength to strength
By Simon Cass
Last updated at 11:48 PM on 30th January 2009
Daily Mail
An icy wind is cutting across an open field in Essex, a train rumbles past
on the track close by, but a group of footballers are enjoying the challenge
of another session with one of the brightest coaches of the modern game.
Gianfranco Zola has the ball at his feet and is closed down by hungry
midfielders, no doubt including home-grown pair Mark Noble and Jack
Collison. But the man taking charge of this latest exercise is barking
instructions and demanding more. Steve Clarke, once of Chelsea, is Zola's
right-hand man and the West Ham players consider his input crucial as they
continue to advance up the Barclays Premier League table. Unbeaten away in
their last six League games - they go to Arsenal - the improving fortunes
are a result of Zola's management, but also Clarke's coaching. While the
little Italian is eager to play ball, Clarke takes all the sessions,
organises the drills, calls the shots.
Training is based around short and sharp passing, closing down and hunting
the ball in hungry packs, no long passing from back to front. It's enough to
warm the heart of any West Ham supporter, a club where they expect football
to be played a certain way. For Clarke it is all about putting the drill on
the training pitch into practice on the real thing. 'Improving is all about
repetition. The players work on how to receive the ball, how to see angles
and how to pick a pass,' he said. 'We practise every day and, when it comes
to Saturday, they know what to do: control and pass. Seeing it happen in
games is our measure of success.'
Clarke has worked with some of the best in the game, after all. Ruud Gullit,
Sir Bobby Robson, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant and even Luiz Felipe Scolari
have all placed their faith in him. Understandably, Chelsea were sorry to
see Clarke leave after he opted to work with his former Stamford Bridge
colleague. But now it is Zola's turn to reap the benefits of working
alongside a coach of Clarke's undoubted ability, a fact borne out by West
Ham's recent upturn in form.
Taking the decision to quit the club for which he played 421 games before
going on to work his way up through the coaching structure following a spell
at Newcastle was clearly an emotional wrench for Clarke. But while Scolari
did his utmost to persuade Clarke to stay, describing him as 'a man that is
a link between me and the players and between me and the staff', the
Brazilian's arrival left him feeling simply redundant on a training field
where he had enjoyed significant input into the sessions under both Mourinho
and Grant.
Significantly, it was Clarke who ran the set-piece drills under Scolari's
predecessors. Such has been Chelsea's vulnerability in that area in recent
weeks that the Brazilian may live to regret his reluctance to delegate
responsibility a little more. What is beyond doubt is the manner in which
Clarke's presence has been felt at West Ham. Having flirted dangerously with
the relegation zone after losing four consecutive games in October, Zola's
side now sit in eighth place, a healthy 11 points away from the drop zone.
Zola is certainly indebted to his assistant for bringing his wealth of
experience to West Ham's training ground. 'He knows a lot about the league
and the way he organises the training sessions are unbelievable,' said the
manager.
'I have to give him a lot of credit because a lot of the work that has gone
on is because of his fantastic job.' Chelsea's multi-million pound Cobham
headquarters, fingerprint entry system and all, may knock West Ham's
Chadwell Heath base into a cocked hat, but it is what goes on in the
sessions out on the training field that really counts. Judging by the way
Clarke has quickly earned the respect of his new charges with the quality of
his coaching, few players at either club would dispute the fact that
Chelsea's loss has very much been West Ham's gain.
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Upson happy he stayed with West Ham
31.01.09 | tribalfootball.com
Matthew Upson is pleased he stayed with West Ham United this month. He said:
"There was speculation about me leaving but I was always confident I was
stopping. "The club pointed out their intentions at the start of the
transfer window and they have pretty much stuck with them.
"It shows there's an intention for success and as long as there is that
here, I'm enjoying myself and the other players are and the manager is too.
"There's nothing like a few wins to get everyone smiling, especially at
home." And he is now expected to sign a new three-year deal this summer
after renewed interest from today's opponents Arsenal was rebuffed in recent
weeks. Upson said: "There is no reason why we shouldn't go there and take
something from it. We're ready for it."
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