WHUFC.com
Winger Derek Woodley and a memorable European triumph feature on this date
in West Ham United's past
02.03.2009
On This Day: 2 March
Anniversary
Name: Derek Woodley
Date of birth: 2 March 1942
Clubs: West Ham United, Southend United, Charlton Athletic, Gillingham
A lightning fast winger, Derek Woodley burst into the West Ham United first
team as a 17-year-old. Having appeared for England schools - scoring the
fastest-ever goal at the old Wembley Stadium after just 13 seconds against
Wales in 1957 - and won six England youth caps, Woodley appeared set for
great things when he scored twice on his debut in a 3-1 First Division win
over Luton Town in October 1959.
However the youngster, who had earned an FA Youth Cup runners-up medal with
the Hammers in 1957, found his opportunities limited at the Boleyn Ground.
After making 14 appearances and scoring three goals in league and cup,
Woodley joined former West Ham manager Ted Fenton at Southend United in the
summer of 1962.
Woodley, whose move to Roots Hall was part of a dual-player deal alongside
Mick Beesley, went on to make nearly 200 appearances for the Essex club. A
short spell at Charlton Athletic bisected his time with Southend before the
wideman completed his career at Gillingham and non-league Folkestone.
Nicknamed 'The Fox', Woodley passed away in January 2002 at the age of 59.
Classic Match
West Ham United 1-0 1.FC Magdeburg
European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final, first-leg
2 March 1966
West Ham United's defence of the European Cup Winners' Cup had begun with a
6-2 aggregate victory over the Greeks of Olympiakos, setting up a
quarter-final tie with the East German side 1.FC Magdeburg.
Ernst Kuemmel's side were enduring a terrible season domestically and would
end the campaign by being relegated to the DDR-Liga Second Division.
However, in Europe, they were still going strong after beating Spora
Luxembourg and Swiss outfit FC Sion. As East German Cup holders, Magdeburg
would still present a stern test for Ron Greenwood's team.
With Kuemmel setting his team up to defend deep and in large numbers, the
Hammers struggled to convert their chances and, by the time French referee
Tricot blew the final whistle, West Ham had just Johnny Byrne's 46th-minute
shot to show for their efforts.
West Ham would go on to draw 1-1 at the Ernst Grubbe stadium in the second
leg, moving on to a semi-final against West Germans Borussia Dortmund.
Greenwood's side would lose 5-2 on aggregate to end their defence of the
trophy.
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Positive start for Stokes
WHUFC.com
Tony Stokes enjoyed a winning debut for his new Hungarian team on Saturday
afternoon
02.03.2009
Tony Stokes has made his debut for Hungarian Soproni League title-chasers
Ujpest FC in a 2-1 friendly win over Kaposvar. The West Ham United
midfielder, who has joined Ujpest on loan until the end of the season, lined
up in central midfield for the match at the Szusza Ferenc Stadium on
Saturday and completed the full 90 minutes.
The 21-year-old, who joined Ujpest after impressing during a week-long trial
with the club last month, received a generous reception from the 700
supporters who turned out to watch the fixture, which the home side won
through goals from forwards Peter Kabat and Tibor Tisza. Afterwards, Stokes
told Ujpest's official website he had enjoyed the experience. "I gradually
got into the game, but I think I managed to provide good performance," he
said. "I think I will be able to help the team even more in the next game,
because then we will know each other better. Ujpest are a strong team that
could be very successful this season. I had a great time on the pitch, I
heard the fans and their recognition has given me self-confidence."
Stokes will now hope to make his competitive bow in Saturday's Soproni
League home fixture against relegation favourites Siofok on Saturday
evening. Ujpest go into the weekend level on points with leaders Debrecen,
but in second-place on goal difference. The Budapest-based club have lost
just one of the 16 league matches they have played this season. Ujpest are
also involved in the Magyar Kupa and will take on MTK Hungaria in the
last-16 on 17 March.
Elsewhere, West Ham's other on-loan players were in action at the weekend.
Winger Kyel Reid started for Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers in
their 1-0 home defeat to Plymouth Argyle before being replaced after 58
minutes at Molineux. Fellow Hammer Nigel Quashie, who has also been loaned
to Wolves until the end of the season, was not involved in Saturday's match.
Lee Bowyer missed out on Birmingham City's 2-1 Championship defeat at
Sheffield United through suspension, while Calum Davenport was an unused
substitute during Sunderland's goalless Premier League draw at Arsenal. In
League One, goalkeeper Jimmy Walker was in fine form as Colchester United
earned a 1-1 draw with Hartlepool United at the Weston Homes Community
Stadium. Jordan Spence played a full 90 minutes at right-back for Leyton
Orient in the O's 2-1 defeat at Hereford United. Left-back Joe Widdowson
missed Grimsby Town's 2-0 League Two defeat at Rochdale with a slight thigh
injury. France international midfielder Julien Faubert was not involved as
Real Madrid notched their tenth consecutive La Liga victory with a 2-0 win
at Espanyol on Saturday.
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Collison on WHUTV
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison spoke to WHUTV after scoring the winning goal against
Manchester City on Sunday
02.03.2009
Jack Collison was quick to credit the display of his team-mates after
scoring the winning goal in Sunday's important Barclays Premier League
victory over Manchester City.
The Wales international kept a cool head to finish after Shay Given could
only parry Savio's curling shot into his path with just nineteen minutes
remaining. The 1-0 win moved West Ham up to seventh in the table and with it
the possibility of a UEFA Cup place next season. Although delighted at his
personal achievement, the 20-year-old midfielder was keen to praise the
efforts of all those in a claret and blue shirt.
"It's nice to score goals but I think it was a real team display today and
the boys dug in," Collison told WHUTV. "We wanted to put things right from
Wednesday as we were disappointed not only for ourselves, but for the
travelling fans as well. We wanted to put things right and try to
consolidate that seventh place."
In an extended interview, the Watford-born player shares his views on
Radoslav Kovac's home debut, Valon Behrami's injury and the target
Gianfranco Zola has set his players for the rest of the season.
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No break for Behrami
Hammers ace boosted by MRI results
Last updated: 2nd March 2009
SSN
Gianfranco Zola is hopeful of having Valon Behrami back sooner rather than
later after tests confirmed the midfielder did not break his ankle against
Manchester City. West Ham fans feared the worst on Sunday when Behrami was
stretchered off and taken to hospital in an ambulance during the 1-0 victory
having twisted his knee attempting a tackle. However, the Hammers have been
boosted by MRI results that have shown the Serbian-born Swiss international
did not break or fracture anything against Mark Hughes' side. Although West
Ham boss Zola says it is too early to speculate how long the 23-year-old may
be on the sidelines, he is hoping to have his first-team regular back sooner
rather than later. "Hopefully we are going to have him back soon but it is
too early for us to assess him right now," he told the club's official
website. "Hopefully it is not going to be too bad as the boy is a really
important player for us - on the pitch and off the pitch as well."
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Collison delights Zola as West Ham move up to seventh
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 2nd March 2009
By: Thomas Rooney
After watching his West Ham United team pick up three valuable points
against a Manchester City team that has cost millions and millions to put
together, Gianfranco Zola hailed the performance of his team as 'superb'.
The 1-0 win moves the Hammers up to 7th in the Premier League with more and
more people talking about the possibility of Europe. This is something that
the football odds would never have suggested a couple of months ago, but now
it is a very realistic aim.
This is credit to Zola and his players who have applied themselves so well
in recent weeks. Yes, there has been a bit of luck along the way, but let's
be honest – West Ham were due some weren't they? The fact that the physio
room hasn't had too many new arrivals recently is so, so important.
As already mentioned, Zola was very happy with his team after yesterday's
win. He has said that it was a 'real team display' and one which left the
whole squad 'buzzing' in the changing room after the game. There is a real
sense of unity right now isn't there?
One man in particular caught Zola's eye during the 90 minutes though and
that was home-grown talent Jack Collison. The West Ham boss described the
young midfielder as an 'unbelievable' player who is getting 'better and
better' with every game that he plays.
The 19-year-old has been operating in a relatively unfamiliar right wing
role of late, but has excelled in the position and Zola says that his
versatility is something which makes him such a valuable player to the
squad.
The Italian went on to say that he feels 'very lucky' to have a young player
with Collison's ability, undoubted passion and fantastic attitude in his
playing staff.
As we all know, Collison scored the goal that secured the points against
Manchester City and it was exactly the result that his performance deserved.
He is becoming a regular for Zola and at this moment in time, the team are
benefiting from his involvement.
As for what Collison could achieve in the future, well who knows what
football can throw at him? Personally, I expect him to be a fixture in this
West Ham team for years to come. Then, on the international stage he will
add significantly to the four caps he has already won for Wales.
In terms of the team as a whole, things are looking very good right now. The
win against Mark Hughes men ended a run of five games without a win and it
puts the European bid right back on track.
As things stand, West Ham sit a point above Wigan and two points above
Fulham in the race for 7th place. This means that football betting is
backing them to achieve their aim of playing in the UEFA Cup next season,
with a win against Steve Bruce's side on Wednesday likely to emphasise this
even further.
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West Ham new boy Savio Nsreko heading for cult status at Upton Park
The West Ham faithful love to idolise an individual and the signs, at the
weekend, were that it will pay to be patient and await the improvement of
Ugandan-born German Under-21 international Savio Nsereko.
Telegraph
By John Ley
Last Updated: 9:51AM GMT 02 Mar 2009
Savio, still just 19, was signed towards the end of the January transfer
deadline, for around £6 million, with the money gained from the £14 million
sale of Craig Bellamy, to Manchester City. Born in Kampala, he joined German
club 1860 Munich but at the tender age of 16 moved to Italy to play for
Brescia. It was there that he caught the eye of the club's sporting director
Gianluca Nani and, after arriving at Upton Park a year ago, he recommended
the youngster to Gianfranco Zola. Zola, though, admitted that Savio is under
pressure to perform. The manager has handled him with kid gloves so far,
starting him from the bench, and before Sunday's 1-0 win over Manchester
City, he had played just 81 minutes in five games. However, the serious
injury to Valon Behrami on Sunday meant the forward was given his longest
run-out in English football so far, and in his 47 minutes on the pitch Savio
did not disappoint.
Indeed, he was responsible for the goal, his effort parried by City
goalkeeper Shay Given before another youngster, 20-year-old Jack Collison
claimed the winner. Zola said: "Savio came on and did very well and I am
pleased for him because he came here followed by a lot of expectation and,
to be honest, he was under pressure a little bit because he knows that
everybody is waiting to see something special from him. "But we are pleased
with the way he is working. His attitude is good and I am sure he is going
to be a successful player for us. "We bought him because he's got something
different, something that is sometimes missing in the game, and against City
we saw a little bit of that but I'm sure there is still a lot to come."
Zola took pleasure from Wales Under-21 international Collison impress. He
added: "That is the beauty of football. If you work hard and if you have
passion and belief you can be successful and Jack Collison is an example of
all of that. "I feel very lucky that we have a few players, not just him,
who can play in different positions." West Ham go to Wigan on Wednesday when
Mark Noble will be able to return and the club will discover today [Mon] the
extend of Behrami's injury. The Cech midfielder caught his studs in the turf
and it is feared he may have damaged knee ligaments.
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Behrami blow hurts Zola's Euro dreams
Ken Dyer
02.03.09
This Is London
West Ham 1-0 Manchester City
West Ham's midfield star Valon Behrami looks certain to miss the rest of the
season after damaging knee ligaments in yesterday's 1-0 win over Manchester
City. Swiss international Behrami, one of manager Gianfranco Zola's most
consistent performers this season, was carried off after 42 minutes in
obvious distress and went straight to hospital. Behrami's studs seemed to
catch in the Upton Park turf and he fell awkwardly on his knee. A subsequent
scan revealed no fracture which was positive news for Zola but the knee will
be further assessed when the swelling has subsided and significant ligament
damage is likely. "Hopefully the injury will not be too bad," said Zola,
because he is such an important player for us."
Behrami's prolonged absence is a blow for Zola as his team attempt to hold
on to seventh place in the Premier League and possible qualification for
Europe next season.
"If the combinations are right for us we might be able to play in Europe
next season so we are fighting to keep this spot," Zola added. "Some people
have been worried about our recent results but the players here make me
positive so I knew we would kick on again. "I am looking up. I always look
up. I try to focus not on problems but on the good things that can happen."
Zola has a limited squad from which to choose after off-loading eight
players in the January transfer window and his substitutes' bench against
Manchester City reflected that with youngsters Freddie Sears, Josh Payne and
Junior Stanislas included. Behrami's first-half injury though, gave another
West Ham teenager, Savio Nsereko, an opportunity to illustrate why the club
paid £5million to Brescia to sign the German Under-19 international last
month. The Ugandan-born Savio looks raw and will obviously take time to
adjust to the physicality of the English Premier League. He does have that
rare ability, though, of being able to take on opponents and he played a
major part in West Ham's winning goal in the 71st minute when his shot was
parried by Shay Given as far as Jack Collison (left), who coolly lobbed the
ball back into the net. Zola was delighted because, with five matches
without a win for his side, this was a vital victory. "It was a close game
but maybe we deserved a little bit more than them," he said. "It was a
crucial game so to have won it is so important. "Savio came on and did
well. I'm pleased for him because he came here with a lot of expectation. He
was a little bit under pressure because he knew that everyone was waiting
for something special from him. I am pleased, though, with the way he is
working. "His attitude is good and I am sure he will be successful. We
bought him because he has something different and I am sure there is a lot
to come."
The vast majority of West Ham fans were geared up for the return of Craig
Bellamy following his £14m move to City in January and the Welsh
international striker was duly accorded the kind of Upton Park reception
given to other former players such as Paul Ince and Frank Lampard. "You only
went for the money," was the one repeatable chant which washed down from the
stands every time Bellamy touched the ball and the biggest cheer was
reserved for the striker when he was forced to leave the field in the second
half with a knee problem. Before that, however, he and Zola had shared a
chat and a hand clasp on the touchline although the West Ham manager
revealed: "I had a big chat with him when he was on the pitch. I was trying
to distract him. "I wish him success there, though. He was very good and
helpful for me."
It's true that Bellamy worked hard to make it work for City but others, such
as Brazilian Robinho, looked less enthusiastic and you could see why they
have only managed one away Premier League win all season. It was Zola who
summed it up when he said: "If you work hard, if you have passion, if you
have belief, then you can be successful."
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A deal for West Ham is cheap at half the price
Posted by: Rob Facey , on Mon 2 Mar 2009
West Ham Football Fancast
Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey looks at the prospective takeover at
Upton Park and wonders whether at £90m the new owners have got themselves a
bargain.
West Ham are on the verge of a £90m takeover from an Asian industrial group,
according to reports. The Sunday Mirror states that the new owners could
even replace Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson's group this week. Gudmundsson's
position at Upton Park has been heavily hit by the credit crunch which saw
the collapse of the Iclandic bank he owned which restricted any investment
into West Ham. The CarlosTevez saga and potential pay-out that could result
still lingers overthe club and the huge contracts that were handed out a few
years ago have burdened the club into near stagnation. This season their
sponsor went under and at one point a relegation scrap looked a certainty,
however, with a fresh £90m bid apparently on the table, it seems there is
finally hope at the end of the tunnel in East London. A 1-0 win over Man
City on Sunday saw the Hammers move into seventh place in the Premier League
and capped a weekend of good news for fans. And, at just £90m, the owners
will be over the moon with the bargain that they are getting too. West Ham
have a bright young manager who is not afraid to try new things in
Gianfranco Zola. Since his arrival along with assistant Steve Clarke, Zola
has got the team playing some of the best football in the league and are
fast becoming the neutral's favourites.
They also have great young, British talent including Sunday's man of the
match and Welsh international, Jack Collison, and striker Freddie Sears.
Should the new owners' deal get passed before the end of the season, they
will have the summer to readdress some of the faults within the club. Money
must also be provided for Zola to improve the squad. But where do they
start? Should they look at the contract situation of certain players and get
things sorted in-house before they start scouring the transfer market, or
must they immediately compete with the new injection of cash?
Behind-the-scenes factors, such as sponsorship deals, need to be addressed
and new bridges will need to be built from scratch. It will take time but
with steady investment and faith in Zola, West Ham are surely on the verge
of great things.
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Gianfranco Zola - an apology
Manchester Evening News
March 02, 2009
ON 14 January 2009, we published an article which claimed, wrongly, that
Gianfranco Zola had telephoned Manchester City's Bulgarian striker Valeri
Bojinov and asked him to play for West Ham United, despite Manchester City
having made it clear that they do not want to sell him. This would have been
contrary to Premier League rules. We accept that this allegation was
incorrect and we apologise unreservedly to Gianfranco Zola for the the
embarrassment caused by the article.
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No break but Behrami fears persist
by Tom Adams , 02 March 2009
Setanta.co.uk
West Ham have confirmed that Valon Behrami did not suffer a fracture before
being stretchered off at the weekend but fears of a serious knee injury are
yet to subside.
The Switzerland international landed awkwardly on his ankle in Sunday's win
over Manchester City and injured his knee in the process before requiring
lengthy treatment.
After receiving oxygen on the pitch, Behrami was stretchered off at Upton
Park and subsequently taken to hospital where MRI scans confirmed that there
was no damage to his bone. But The Hammers are still concerned over possible
knee ligament damage and will have further news when the swelling around his
left leg dies down. "Hopefully it is not going to be too bad as the boy is a
really important player for us, on the pitch and off pitch as well," Zola
told the club's official website. "I think his studs got caught and he fell
on his knee. He was in pain so he needed some oxygen. "Hopefully we are
going to have him back soon but it is too early for us to assess him right
now."
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CITY LEFT BROKEN BY JACKHAMMER
Daily Express
Jack Collison scored West Ham's winner yesterday
Monday March 2,2009
By Gideon Brooks
A WEEKEND that kicked off with defeat for their rugby team in Paris
finished suitably with a Welshman grabbing the headlines on St David's Day.
But it was Jack Collison, not Mark Hughes or Craig Bellamy, who left Upton
Park smiling. A cleverly-taken second-half goal from West Ham and Wales
midfielder Collison decided an encounter low on quality and lower still on
entertainment, three points taking his side to seventh in the table. But it
said much about the quality on show that injuries to Micah Richards, who
tweaked a hamstring, Bellamy, Robinho and Valon Behrami, who damaged knee
ligaments and could be out for some time, proved as much of a talking point
as anything else. Gianfranco Zola has already urged his players to think of
Europe and, if things fall their way elsewhere, seventh place will be enough
to qualify. And yet there was a warning in this match that an extended
campaign on the Continent can bring its own pressures. Hughes refused to
blame the exertions of the UEFA Cup for what was a tepid display. But it was
hard not to think that the efforts of seeing off FC Copenhagen on Thursday
night had taken a yard or two out of their legs. "We created good chances
and had long periods of possession and if we had taken one then they would
have had to come out at us," said Hughes. "We deserved a draw at least but
unfortunately they scored first."
If City had their chances – Robinho missed two, Richards' replacement Felipe
Caicedo blasted both wide and high in the second half and Elano hit the bar
from a late free-kick – Zola's assessment that his side deserved to win was
the easier of the two to agree with. City have registered just one win away
from Eastlands this season, a worrying trend for a side with aspirations as
far afield as Istanbul and the UEFA Cup final in May. Hughes insisted he was
seeing improvement yet it was difficult for travelling supporters to take
any great positives from a display so visibly low on effort. "We have
performed better in recent games," said Hughes. "But we haven't been able to
get a positive outcome. We have played a bit like the home team and got
caught on the break."
West Ham outworked City with Scott Parker and Carlton Cole putting in shifts
that should shame some of the visiting team. Indeed Robinho, who limped off
with an ankle injury at the death, will not be the only City player fearing
the Prozone stats landing on his manager's desk this morning. Bellamy – who
will see a specialist about the knee problem that cut short his Upton Park
return – Robinho and Richards are set to sit out Wednesday's clash with
Aston Villa, but on this evidence they won't be much missed.
Collison, 20, took his chance well after 71 minutes to score his third goal
for the club. Savio cut in from the left and fired a shot from the edge of
the box which Shay Given parried, and Collison gently directed the rebound
over the keeper and just under the bar. Robinho had gone close in the first
half, deflecting Vincent Kompany's shot only to see his clever intervention
saved well by Robert Green. And Elano came close to equalising late on, his
free-kick glancing off Lucas Neill's head and on to the bar. But a draw
would have been unfair to West Ham. Behrami had an MRI scan on his left knee
after catching his studs in the turf just before half-time and although
there were no broken bones, he will have more tests today. But that was the
only thing that dragged at the smile on Zola's face. "It was close but maybe
we deserved something just a little bit more than a draw," he said. "We are
going to try to stay in this position now because if the combinations are
right for us we may be able to go into Europe."
WEST HAM 1
MAN CITY 0
West Ham (4-4-2): Green 6; Neill 6, Tomkins 6, Upson 6, Ilunga 6; Behrami 5
(Savio 43, 6), Kovac 6 (Spector 83), Parker 7, Collison 7; Di Michele 6
(Lopez 87), Cole 7. Booked: Parker, Kovac. Goal: Collison 71.
Man City (4-3-3): Given 6; Richards 5 (Caicedo 15, 5), Dunne 5, Onuoha 5,
Bridge 5; Kompany 4, De Jong 4 (Bojinov 88), Zabaleta 5; Ireland 3, Bellamy
4 (Elano 66, 4), Robinho 3. Booked: Kompany.
Referee: M Dean (Wirral).
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'Unbelievable' Collison delights Zola
Mar 2 2009
SundaySun
Gianfranco Zola watched Manchester City's expensively assembled team slump
to defeat against his industrious West Ham side, and then hailed his
homegrown match-winner Jack Collison for making it happen. Hammers teenager
Collison scored the only goal of Sunday's Barclays Premier League meeting,
with a neatly-taken volley following up Savio's parried effort. "Jack is
unbelievable - he's getting better and better," said the Italian, whose team
now lie seventh. "He's 19 and he's playing nearly every week. He's got a
very good attitude and he's going to get better and better." He added: "That
is the beauty of football. Sometimes if you have passion and if you have
belief you can be successful, and I think Jack Collison is an example of all
of that."
Collison is a left-sided player by choice but excelled on the right, and
Zola insists versatility is a big part of his game. "I feel very lucky to
have him - not only him but other players," he added. "That's why I like the
attitude here. I can play them in different positions. "As long as you know
how to play football, you can still produce and be important for the team.
I'm sure I could play Jack Collison up front or right at the back, and he
could still produce good results for the team."
Collison himself was eager to spread the praise, insisting his winning goal
would not have been possible without the hard work of others. "I'm delighted
with the goal, but it was a real team display," he said. "We were buzzing
after the game. I think we worked really hard as a team to close them down
and we kept a clean sheet. If you do that you've got a great chance to win
games. "I felt all the boys were superb. A few were struggling with little
knocks towards the end but they played through and did really well."
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West Ham to be sold to Asian investors?
Soccerway - 2 March 2009 09:41
The Daily Mirror reported West Ham are set to be taken over by a group of
Asian investors in a £90million deal. The group from the Far East are close
to replacing the current Icelandic owners. Talks are advanced and might even
be concluded this week. The prospective owners, believed to be a wealthy
industrial group, have the funds in place to buy the club from Bjorgolfur
Gudmundsson. His Icelandic company arrived at Upton Park in November 2006
after clinching the £85m deal that paved the way for the departure of
chairman Terry Brown. Eggert Magnusson was named chairman and splashed out
vast transfer fees while agreeing inflated contracts that are now millstones
around the club's neck.
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Manchester City face £46million injury crisis after West Ham defeat
The Mirror
By Mirror Sport 2/03/2009
Mark Hughes paid a high price for Manchester City's latest away flop - his
£46million strike-force is crocked. Brazilian striker Robinho (ankle) and
Upton Park hate figure Craig Bellamy (knee) are virtually certain to miss
Wednesday night's clash with Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa. And
England defender Micah Richards (hamstring) will probably also miss out.
Bellamy will consult a specialist in London today, while Robinho limped off
in stoppage time after another wretched performance which mocked his record
British transfer fee. City manager Hughes, whose side have picked up just
eight points from a possible 42 away from home in the Premier League, denied
the emphasis for the remainder of City's season had switched to the UEFA
Cup, in which they meet Aalborg for a place in the last eight He said: "The
priority is to finish as high as possible up the Premier League table and to
keep our focus."
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Report: Asian Investors Linked With West Ham United Takeover
It is thought that negotiations over the £90 million deal could be concluded
as early as this week...
2 Mar 2009 08:38:21
Goal.com
Premier League club West Ham United could soon be under new ownership, if a
report in the British tabloid The Daily Mirror is to be believed. It is
claimed that a group described only as 'Asian investors' are set to take
over from the Hammers current owner, Bjorgulfur Gudmundsson. Indeed, it is
suggested that talks are progressing so well between the two parties that
the £90 million deal could be completed as soon this week. Gudmundsson
bought the east London-based outfit in 2006 for around £85m, but the club
have struggled financially since due to lucrative contracts handed out to
playing staff. The Icelandic businessman is also thought to have been hugely
affected by the 'credit crunch', losing his chairman status of his native
country's second largest bank, Landsbanki, after its demise. Potential
stumbling blocks which could slow the deal down include Championship club
Sheffield United's £45m claim for remuneration over the Carlos Tevez affair
and former manager Alan Curbishley's £3m compensation claim following his
sacking. It is also believed that the Irons may have to pay adviser Kia
Joorabchian up to £10m, while current boss Gianfranco Zola (pictured) is
likely to ask for transfer funds to improve his squad in the summer.
Ricky Brooks, Goal.com
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Nobby Watch
South America Results: Nobby nets again in Peru
Reuters - Today, 12:05
442.com
BUENOS AIRES - Peruvian side Melgar threatened to walk off the pitch in
protest at a refereeing decision, changed their minds and then scored a 97th
minute equaliser in a bizarre end to their match at the weekend. Ecuadorean
champions Deportivo Quito lost 4-0 to local rivals LDU in a game they had
threatened to boycott over a pay dispute.
PERU
Melgar snatched a point in amazing circumstances after drawing 1-1 away to
newly-promoted Inti Gas. The hosts, who had Jean Tragodara sent off after
only nine minutes for a rough challenge, appeared set for their first win of
the season when Mario Velarde scored from a free kick in the 88th minute.
The referee was surrounded by a furious Melgar team and media reports said
one player appeared to push one of the policemen who came onto the field to
protect the official. Melgar coach Claudio Techara was sent off and his team
at one stage threatened to abandon the match as play was held up for five
minutes. When the game re-started, Inti Gas lost concentration and Gerardo
Gerarte equalised in the seventh minute of injury time after being left
completed unmarked. Former Newcastle United, Aston Villa, West Ham United
and Boca Juniors midfielder Nolberto Solano converted a last minute penalty
to give Universitario a 1-1 draw at Cienciano, who went ahead with a
Mauricio Romero penalty after half an hour. Paraguayan striker Richard
Estigarriba scored four goals in Total Chalaco's 4-0 win over Jose Galvez.
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