WHUFC.com
A revelation last season, James Tomkins is back and looking to push on in
the first-team picture
08.01.2009
With a trip to Newcastle United on Saturday to look forward to after
returning to West Ham United's starting lineup for the FA Cup last weekend,
it will surprise few that James Tomkins is rather happy with the way life is
going at the moment.
The 19-year-old defender, who burst on to the scene with a succession of
impressive Premier League displays at the tail-end of last season, was
handed his first Hammers appearance of the season in the 3-0 win against
Barnsley after Matthew Upson was ruled out with a virus.
Tomkins responded with another assured, unflustered display that will no
doubt have impressed watching manager Gianfranco Zola. The club's coaching
staff had been keeping a close eye on Tomkins during eight games on loan at
Derby County at the end of 2008 and knew he was up to the challenge.
"It was good to be back. I've come back and I've started which was obviously
great for me. Matthew Upson has done so well in recent weeks so I've had to
come in and raise my game. I've coming from a club that is down at the
moment [Derby] to West Ham where there is a good team spirit at the moment.
To win the game and clean sheet were the most important things."
Tomkins admitted that the experience he gained during his five-week stay at
Pride Park had stood him in perfect stead against Barnsley's physical
forwards Kayode Odejayi and Maceo Rigters. The teenager belied his tender
years with a mature, composed performance at the Boleyn Ground.
"I've had quite a bit of experience in the Championship playing games for
Derby and I'd come up against quite a few physical lads like Barnsley's
strikers. I think I'm learning more and more and used my experience to play
against them. I'm pleased."
Tomkins was also quick to appreciate the influence Zola and Steve Clarke
have had since their arrival in east London four months ago. "The gaffer has
obviously encouraged me a lot since he's been here and given me the
confidence to play and be confident. I think you can see that in the way I'm
playing at the moment. I've improved little by little through the
information that he's given me.
"He's started me now which was brilliant for me, as was him bringing me back
from loan. I enjoyed it against Barnsley and now I need to push on from
here.
"Steve has had a lot of experience playing for Chelsea. He brings that
experience to the team. He's played under so many good managers at Chelsea
and he uses that which is good for people like me. If he spots something
that you need to improve, he tells you, and that's good because obviously
you want to improve as a player."
While he was delighted to find himself back in West Ham's starting lineup,
Tomkins knows Upson is likely to return against Newcastle this weekend. As
such, the amiable England Under-20 defender has vowed to keep up the good
work on the training pitch and keep himself in Zola's thoughts.
"I've done well but it doesn't stop here. I'm going to keep working hard in
training and trying to impress because there's a lot of competition here and
a lot of good centre-halves who I'm learning from."
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Etherington set for Stoke switch
BBC.co.uk
Stoke City are close to making West Ham winger Matthew Etherington their
first signing of the January transfer window for an undisclosed fee.
Etherington, who has made 13 Premier League appearances for the Hammers this
season, is expected to sign a three-year deal at the Britannia Stadium. The
27-year-old joined West Ham in 2003 after spells with Peterborough United
and Tottenham Hotspur. Etherington could make his Potters debut against
Liverpool on Saturday. Stoke manager Tony Pulis spent about £20m on 10 new
signings during the summer, in preparation for the club's first season in
the top flight. The Potters are third from bottom in the Premier League, and
Pulis has repeatedly stated his desire to strengthen his squad further
before the transfer deadline on 2 February.
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Boa set for Hull switch
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 7th January 2009
By: Staff Writer
Luis Boa Morte is set to hold talks with Hull City after West Ham United
accepted a £2miilion bid. The former Portuguese international joined the
Hammers two years ago this month in a £5million switch from Fulham. However
having initially impressed he found himself more often than not kicking his
heels in frustration on the bench. Despite enjoying a mini-revival of late
having featured 18 times already this season Gianfranco Zola has given the
green light to part company with the 31-year-old who is thought to be one of
the club's top earners. With Matthew Etherington, Calum Davenport and Lee
Bowyer also set to complete moves out of the club within the next 48 hours
Zola will raise around £10million in transfer fees whilst reducing the
club's wage bill by around £6million per annum. Tomorrow's Independent
reports that Boa Morte could complete the switch in time to feature for Hull
against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.
We'll have more for you as it happens ...
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Bow to go
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 7th January 2009
By: Staff Writer
Lee Bowyer is on the verge of a move to Birmingham City after he travelled
to the Midlands for talks earlier today. The Birmingham Mail confirmed that
32-year-old Bowyer, who has been linked with a move to the Championship club
for several weeks had been spotted at City's Wast Hills training ground this
lunchtime where it is thought he held talks with the management team. The
fee for the former Charlton and Leeds midfielder is expected to be nominal,
although United will save around £2million in wages per year by selling
Bowyer, who has now spent two spells with the club. The United midfielder
has made just seven appearances for the Hammers thus far this season,
scoring just once - in his first appearance of the season against
Macclesfield.
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Blues move for Bowyer
Midfielder set for St Andrews switch
Last updated: 7th January 2009
SSN
Sky Sports News understands Birmingham are closing in on the signing of West
Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer. Blues boss Alex McLeish has lined up a deal to
sign Bowyer as he looks to bolster his midfield options. West Ham are
willing to offload Bowyer as they look to trim their squad by selling some
of their fringe players.
The former Leeds and Newcastle man is believed to be in talks with
Birmingham officials after being spotted at the club's training ground.
McLeish has been busy already in the January transfer market with the
signing of Scott Sinclair, and Bowyer is on the verge of becoming the club's
second new arrival.
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West Ham sell Calum Davenport after astonishing attack on Gianfranco Zola
The Mirror
Exclusive by Darren Lewis 8/01/2009
Angry Gianfranco Zola has drummed Calum Davenport out of West Ham after the
hapless defender told him: "I'm not f*****g playing for you." Normally
mild-mannered Zola, famed for being the nicest guy in football, showed his
ruthless streak after 26-year-old Davenport tried to embarrass him in front
of the rest of the squad.The centre-back is poised to join Bolton in a
£3million deal. But Mirror Sport can reveal that Davenport was suspended for
two weeks, fined two weeks' wages and axed after the amazing bust-up. It
came at a team meeting ahead of West Ham's 2-1 win over Stoke on December
28.
Davenport had started in the previous three games as the Hammers gained a
point at Chelsea, lost to Aston Villa and crushed Portsmouth 4-1 at Fratton
Park. In a team meeting ahead of the Stoke game, however, he was told he
would be on the bench as James Collins would be taking his place. Davenport
then replied: 'I ain't f*****g playing then. I ain't going on the bench
either." He then walked out of the room.
Zola immediately set in motion the club's disciplinary process before
leaving Davenport in no doubt that he had no future at the club. It was a
swift and impressive show of steel by the Italian, determined to ensure that
the error-prone defender did not succeed in undermining his authority.
Meanwhile it has emerged that the Hammers are set to harden their stance
over the sales of either Craig Bellamy or Scott Parker to Manchester City.
Zola maintains he is not interested in selling either player and would only
agree to their departures if West Ham were to receive upwards of £15m in
each case. Club chiefs insist they are no longer under pressure to sell off
players after raking in £20m from the sales of Anton Ferdinand, George
McCartney and Bobby Zamora last summer.
In addition they are poised to make £7m from selling Davenport, and winger
Matt Etherington to Stoke.
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West Ham to sell Lee Bowyer to Birmingham and tie-up Herita Illunga
The Mirror
By Football Spy 8/01/2009
West Ham have been told to sign Herita Ilunga on a permanent deal or risk
losing the Congolese left-back. Ilunga has impressed since arriving at Upton
Park on a season-long loan from Toulouse and his agent Daniel Striani
warned: "We have not contacted other clubs as we respect West Ham." The
Hammers are also poised to sell Lee Bowyer to Birmingham. Blues fans
protested against Bowyer when he almost signed in 2005.
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Bowyer fear shows Birmingham have a soft side
Last updated at 8:27 AM on 08th January 2009
Daily Mail
Birmingham, of all clubs, are apparently wary of a potentially adverse
reaction from fans about the signing of Lee Bowyer. Fancy that. The club
which is partly owned by a supplier of soft porn and which had no problem
taking Jermaine Pennant from Arsenal, electronic tag and all, when he came
out of prison after a drink driving conviction, are worried that their
supporters might question a player's character. They fear they may not be
able to complete a £1m deal for the midfielder from West Ham because there
was a backlash against him when they tried to sign him four years ago. Now
Bowyer is certainly not be the sort of bloke you would want to have a night
out with, but the only incident that he has been convicted of was 12 years
ago.
It was nasty - he was convicted of affray in a McDonalds amid allegations of
racism - and justifies people thinking of him as a thug. Yet in the more
famous case he is associated with and which sullied his reputation, he was
cleared of all charges. That went to court in 2001 when Bowyer was still at
Leeds and related to an incident in which an Asian student was badly hurt.
So where do Birmingham fans draw the line about their players? Bowyer has
always appeared to be a nasty piece of work. He is a sneaky, snarling
player, but that is probably part of the attraction for manager Alex McLeish
and if Birmingham fans react strongly enough to cause the deal to be
scrapped, it would show a surprising new sensitive side.
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Hull agree fee to buy Boa Morte
By Michael Walker
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Independent.co.uk Web
Hull City are in the process of taking Luis Boa Morte from West Ham, a
transfer that may be finalised today. A fee of £2m is understood to have
been agreed between the two clubs for the 31-year-old Portuguese left-sided
midfielder, who joined West Ham from Fulham for around £5m two years ago.
Prior to that Boa Morte was at Southampton and Arsenal.
With Matthew Etherington due to leave Upton Park for Stoke City and Calum
Davenport for Bolton, for £4m and £3m respectively, West Ham are clearing
out their fringe players for good fees while simultaneously reducing their
wage bill. The hope is that this will enable the manager Gianfranco Zola to
hold on to more coveted players such as Craig Bellamy, Scott Parker and
Matthew Upson.
Hull, who have won only one of their last 11 league games, have Everton away
on Saturday and then Arsenal at home. The manager, Phil Brown, is determined
to counter the suggestion that Hull's bubble has burst and bringing in
experienced Premier League players such as Boa Morte will aid that. Boa
Morte has appeared 17 times already for West Ham this season and started
last Saturday's FA Cup tie against Barnsley.
Should Etherington complete his move to Stoke, he may be joined there by
Wigan's Henri Camara. Tony Pulis needs a striker to assist Ricardo Fuller,
with only Middlesbrough and West Bromwich having scored less than Stoke this
season. Camara, 31, has scored six times for Wigan this season.
"I am happy to play for Wigan at the moment," Camara said yesterday, "my
agent has told me that there are clubs in the Premier League and in Europe
interested in me. Stoke City is a good club, but I don't know about any
interest from them. My contract will expire in June, so it is normal for
there to be speculation. By the end of the month it will be sorted out."
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West Ham hope to keep best players as trio leave
West Ham remain confident that they will keep their best players at Upton
Park throughout the January transfer window after agreeing deals on
Wednesday for a combined £7 million that will see Lee Bowyer, Matthew
Etherington and Calum Davenport all leave.
Telegraph
By Jeremy Wilson
Last Updated: 8:40PM GMT 07 Jan 2009
The club have repeatedly stressed that manager Gianfranco Zola will only
sell players he deems surplus to requirements and the Italian was willing to
sanction the deals for a trio of players who do not form part of his long
term plans.
Bowyer was on Wednesday holding talks with Birmingham to join on a nominal
fee, while fees of £4 million from Stoke for Etherington and £3 million from
Bolton for Davenport have also been agreed.
All three players were on Wednesday evening in negotiations and the
transfers are expected to be formally announced within the next 48 hours.
Zola is also willing to listen to offers for other squad players, such as
Julien Faubert, Nigel Quashie and Luis Boa Morte, but will feel emboldened
in his desire to keep the likes of Craig Bellamy, Scott Parker, Robert
Green, Matthew Upson and Valon Behrami.
With owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson having suffered during the Icelandic
economic crisis, there was concern that West Ham would have to sell their
best players. However, the club is financially fire-walled from Hansa, the
holding company, and is not directly affected by the owner's difficulties
and current review of all his assets.
Gudmundsson has spoken to a number of potential investors, but is understood
to want around £150 million for West Ham and is not rushing to sell.
Senior figures at the club, both privately and publicly, have also stressed
that there is no requirement to sell players, while chief executive Scott
Duxbury said last week that deals would only be completed if a superior
replacement had been identified.
West Ham have since backed this stance by rejecting two bids from Manchester
City for Parker and bids for Bellamy from both Tottenham and City.
The club are also encouraged by talks with Upson, who has indicated a desire
to stay. On the pitch, they will be aiming for a fourth consecutive win when
they face Newcastle on Saturday.
"The manager has come in and freshened a lot of things up, training is
brilliant," said Hayden Mullins. "It was not quite going for us a couple of
weeks ago. But now it is turning round, and everything is looking upwards.
We have got a new shape we are working on, and a lot of it is coming off.
"In the last couple of weeks people have seen the Portsmouth result and the
Stoke result and then the win over Barnsley. It is something we are building
on."
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Lee Bowyer tries again as Birmingham look to close in on £1million deal for
West Ham man
By Neil Moxley Last updated at 2:18 AM on 08th January 2009
Daily Mail
Lee Bowyer hopes Birmingham City fans will not block his arrival at the
club for a second time after being shown the Wast Hills training ground. The
former England midfielder, 32, was given a guided tour by manager Alex
McLeish after the Championship club agreed a fee with West Ham, believed to
be in the region of £1million.
Four years ago, Bowyer was wanted by Steve Bruce but an internet petition
from supporters, concerned about the player's controversial past, forced
David Sullivan and his board of directors into a U-turn. Bowyer was
extensively photographed being shown around, giving rise to the notion that
the club is keen to canvas supporters' opinion before sealing the deal. It
appears that Sullivan has decided to splash out in a bid to win promotion,
with Bowyer's possible arrival following the signing of Chelsea forward
Scott Sinclair on a one-month loan.
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Cardiff consider West Ham midfielder Boa Morte
08.01.09 | Ian Ferris
Cardiff City are looking at West Ham midfielder Luis Boa Morte. The
Portuguese International is well known to Bluebirds boss Dave Jones who
signed him while at Southampton. The 31 year old is currently out of favour
at West Ham United although his Premiership wages could prove an obstacle .
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