WHUFC.com
Birthday boy Matthew Upson was delighted to come away smiling from Villa
Park for once
19.04.2009
Matthew Upson admitted Diego Tristan's late equaliser at Aston Villa had
ensured he enjoyed a happy birthday this weekend.
The England defender marked his 30th birthday with a strong performance as
West Ham United sneaked a deserved 1-1 draw through the Spaniard's fine
85th-minute header. It was no surprise the imposing No15 was the first to
congratulate his team-mate on such a well-taken goal.
For Upson, the sight of Tristan glancing Kieron Dyer's shot past goalkeeper
Brad Friedel not only cheered him on his own special day, but also went some
way to extinguishing the terrible memories he has endured at Villa Park in
the past.
In April 2006, Upson suffered a broken leg during the local derby between
Birmingham City and Villa. Nine months later the centre-back's West Ham
debut was ruined by a calf strain.
This time around, he successfully came through the full 90 minutes for the
31st time in 32 Premier League appearances this season. Upson was delighted
with the way he and his fellow defenders dealt with the twin threat of
Villa's giant forwards John Carew and Emile Heskey.
"It was a nice game," he said. "I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a good, well
thought out affair. A point apiece was a decent result in the end, but I
felt we possibly could have taken more of the chances we created.
"It was a good physical battle for us. We knew before the game it would be a
physical test for us but we coped quite well. They were always going to win
their fair share of balls up there and knock-downs, so it was a case of
dealing with the second ball, and I thought we did that well.
"I've not had some good times at Villa Park before. I've had a couple of
injuries there but on Saturday we got a decent result and put in a good
performance so I was well pleased."
Upson and his team-mates will face another stern examination when Premier
League title-chasers Chelsea travel the length of the District Line to the
Boleyn Ground this coming Saturday.
West Ham have conceded eleven goals in their last three home games against
the Blues, and Upson will be eager to gain revenge for the 4-0 reverse the
Hammers suffered on home turf in March last year.
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Sanchez scores in loss
WHUFC.com
Tony Carr's Under-18s lost by the odd goal in three to Coventry City in a
competitive weekend contest
19.04.2009
Coventy City Under-18s 2-1 West Ham United Under-18s
West Ham United were narrowly beaten on Saturday when they travelled to
Coventry City for an inter-group fixture in the FA Premier Academy League.
Tony Carr's side had been in good form and went into the weekend on a
three-match unbeaten run, having beaten Crystal Palace 4-1 and MK Dons 3-0
and drawn 1-1 with Cardiff City in recent weeks. However, they were to lose
out 2-1 to the Sky Blues at the Alan Higgs Centre in Pinley,, with
16-year-old Spanish defender Sergio Sanchez scoring his first goal at U18
level.
Sanchez had headed in the openerl midway through the first half but Callum
Wilson and Sulliman Lellu, from the penalty spot, scored either side of the
interval to give Coventry the win. Adam Street, who had no chance with the
spot-kick, was busy in the second half and was grateful to see Coventry hit
the bar with one good effort. Robert Hall suffered a facial injury late on
but was given the all-clear after a precautionary trip to hospital.
Many of Carr's squad formed part of Alex Dyer's reserve team for last week's
4-2 Barclays Premier League South defeat at West Bromwich Albion and will
hope to be involved again this Tuesday. The second string take on Portsmouth
away for the final fixture of the season. The U18 season concludes with home
matches against Bristol City and Fulham before the trip to take on Tottenham
Hotspur on 2 May.
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Zola on ... Aston Villa
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 19th April 2009
By: Staff Writer
Gianfranco Zola reflects on a well-deserved point at Villa Park...
On the game...
This team has got a great spirit and never gives up. Also they play some
very good football and I'm delighted because of the point, because it's been
a wonderful game and because I believe that everybody in the stadium enjoyed
it. So I'm very very pleased.
I try to [sit back and enjoy the game] but sometimes your responsibilities
takes over so you have to be on the spot all the time, but today I really
enjoyed it and I believe many others did.
On Tristan's 85th minute equaliser...
It was a very good goal that came out of the blue. We had so many chances
before but the ball didn't want to go in. We were starting to think it was
going to end up like that so that goal was really something special for us
and I think it was totally deserved.
On Martin O'Neill...
I believe that he had a lot of expectations for this game but the way West
Ham played I think we can say that it was a very well deserved point.
On contract renewal...
We're working on that. I think the club is looking after us very much and
we're very pleased with that. Hopefully in the next few weeks something will
happen.
Martin O'Neill (Aston Villa)
I thought it was a fantastic game. It was end to end, there were chances
galore during the game - but frustrating for us obviously to concede such a
late equaliser and even more disconcerting when we had a blatant penalty
turned down at the end. Quite a number of people in the ground saw it, but
unfortunately the people who count didn't.
West Ham, to their credit, never never gave up. They were always in the game
and as we tried to sweep forward to get the second goal there was always the
possibility of being hit on the counter - and I thought that's what happened
for most of the game.
It's a big setback, there's no question about that and we'll just have to
take it and try and roll back next week.
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The Marathon Man returns
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 20th April 2009
By: Staff Writer
KUMB.com regular Colin Wells is running the 2009 London Marathon - and
looking for your support.
Colin - whose marathon exploits we have carefully followed here on KUMB in
recent years, and who readily admits to being 'closer to 50 than 40' - has
come out of (semi) retirement to run this year's event on behalf of housing
charity Shelter.
"Shelter has a national network of 27 local advice centres offering expert
information, advice and advocacy," explains Colin. "Advisers let people know
what their rights are and explain their housing options.
"Advisers help citizens negotiate with councils, landlords and lenders, and
help with disability and/or care needs, debt problems and welfare benefits.
"Homeless to Home projects help families that have been living in temporary
accommodation to settle in permanent homes. For more than 40 years, Shelter
has campaigned for a decent home for all, including a Children's Service
which aims to end child homelessness.
"Tens of thousands of children in Britain are homeless. Growing up without a
permanent home has adverse affects on children's health, education and
wellbeing. Practical help is given to vulnerable children through six
regional projects, which helped 24,824 children and young people last year."
Colin, who has also previously run on behalf of the Bobby Moore Fund has
received generous backing in the past from fellow KUMB.com readers - and he
is once again asking for your generous support as he looks to reach his
fundraising target.
"A big thank you," he adds, "to all KUMBER's who have sponsored me over the
years, including this, and I hope people can (yet again) sponsor me for such
a good charity."
To sponsor Colin, visit http://www.justgiving.com/colinwells2009.
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Upson hopes Zola stays
Hammers ace wants to see boss rewarded
Last updated: 19th April 2009
SSN
Matthew Upson believes West Ham should do all they can to ensure Gianfranco
Zola pens a contract extension. The Italian joined the Hammers in September
following Alan Curbishley's resignation. He has since led the club to within
touching distance of European qualification for next season, with a
top-seven finish now in sight. Zola is currently working on a 12-month
rolling contract, though, and Upson believes the 42-year-old is deserving of
a more permanent deal. "I don't know what his (Zola's) contract situation is
but the longer he can stay at the club, the better. He has done brilliantly
since he came in," said the England international. "He has a very good
relationship with the players, who all respect him and value his opinion,
and I think next season will be very interesting for West Ham. "He has a
great tactical awareness. His man management skills are excellent. He has a
lot of respect from the players probably because of the quality of player he
was. "If you are not a good manager, that soon wears out and he has come in
and proven that he has got good managerial skills."
Upson is also confident the Hammers can sustain their push for a Europa
League spot. He said: "I think we can do that. Even though we do still have
Chelsea and Liverpool to play, they are both home games. "If we can get one
or two players back fit before the end of the season just to strengthen the
team and to give people a rest, there is no reason why we can't do it. "We
speak about a European spot regularly. It is a big target, a big goal for
the club."
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Vinny's Aston Villa Report
Vinny - Sun Apr 19 2009
West Ham Online
Aston Villa 1 West Ham United 1
West Ham claimed an important point at Villa Park after an 85th minute
equaliser gave the us a share of the spoils in an entertaining end to end
encounter.
Most reports on this game suggest that we were lucky to come away with a
point and one even says that our equaliser was "barely deserved". The same
report later goes on to say that things could have all been different if we
had have taken our chances.
Sky Sports though have a different take on the game with the man of the
match award going to Aston Villa Keeper Brad Friedel, which I think gives a
little bit more fairness about how the game actually went.
And this is what this was really all about - teams taking chances and I
wouldn't go as far to say that our equaliser was underserved. To be
perfectly honest, with the clear cut nature of some of our chances we should
have been out of sight before Villa opened the scoring through Heskey.
After we scored we had Villa firmly on the ropes and many of us thought that
we might even get the winner thus was our attacking prowess.
The Stats prove that this game was not as one sided as made out. We had more
shots on target, more possession (59% to Villa's 41%), a whopping eleven
corners which for any team playing away from home is not bad. Nope, I will
not have it that we 'barely deserved' a point. We may have got lucky on a
few occasion with regards to Villa hitting the post and a penalty decision
which was turned down, but for an away side I thought we did pretty well.
Gianfranco Zola named the same starting line up as the one which began at
White Hart Lane last weekend. This saw Lucas Neill continue in his midfield
role with Kovac and Parker still missing. Just like last season we again
have these injuries which come with a mass of mis-information. A few weeks
ago they were doubtful for the Sunderland game and here we are a few weeks
on and they are still injured?
Watching from an excellent view in the upper tier at Villa Park we started
well and should have been in front within just a few minutes of kick off.
The chance came from another wonderful passing move which we are beginning
to take as normal service for a Gianfranco Zola West Ham side.
This move led to Stanislas bursting through the Villa defence with ease with
only the keeper to beat but his shot was somehow saved by Friedel and
knocked away for a corner. Although it was a good save, Stanislas should
have buried it.
Not long after a wonderful pass from Luis Boa Morte put Stanislas through
again but just as he was about to pull the trigger James Milner got back to
make a challenge which surely saved Villa from conceding.
Having survived our good start to the game Villa began to take a foothold on
proceeding and began to attack with purpose.
The hosts went close to scoring when a cross into the area from Nicky Shorey
was met by Gareth Barry who saw his header go just inches wide.
Villa wouldn't have to wait much long for their opener which came as a real
blow considering how bright we had looked in the first ten minutes. We
surrendered possession in midfield and there were massive gaps which allowed
Barry to burst forward and play the ball out wide to James Milner. This pass
went straight through Ilunga and Milner crossed for Heskey to score from
just a few yards out.
We did not react well to going a goal down and there was a period where it
looked as though it may well be a long afternoon as Villa had a few chances
which they will look back on and know that they themselves could have put
the game beyond us if one of them were taken.
But, there was a chance for us get back into the game and one which was
squandered again. A good run from Tomkins saw his pass put Di Michele
through but the shot was charged down by Freidel but came out to Tomkins but
his shot went high over the bar.
It was Robert Green who was to be the busier of the keepers from then to
half time as he had to be alert to keep out James Milner who hit a snap
shot. From the corner which came from that save John Carew head over from
just a few yards out.
A foul by Boa Morte on the edge of the area saw a free kick smashed at the
wall by Ashley Young but the ball came back out to him and he smashed his
shot which clipped the post and went wide.
That same post would be called into action just moments later when a
terrible back pass from Mark Noble was played straight into the path of
Heskey who lifted the ball over Green but the ball hit the post and came
out.
A change was made on the 33 minute park when James Collins was replaced by
Kieron Dyer. This change has since been confirmed as an injury to Collins
(once again), but at the time I think Zola could have been forgiven if it
had been tactical as moving Neill back to his rightful position at full back
saw Ashley Young have a much greater obstacle to overcome.
Boa Morte went on a run and stumbled over (maybe just outside the area), and
he was harshly booked for diving. I have not seen this incident again but it
looked as though he just stumbled over and was not a dive by any means.
A shot from Di Michele saw Friedel called into action once again as the
referee blew for half time.
Villa were excellent in the opening stages of the second period and I felt
it was this spell which should have produced something for them as we had
just not begun.
The best chance came when Young ran through the middle and played a
wonderful chipped pass over the top of our defenders for Emile Heskey to hit
a shot from just a few yards out which was kept out by Robert Green as the
Villa fans looked on in despair.
A quick note at this point on the West Ham fans who again were superb. The
"Franco Zola's Claret & Blue Army" was constant and we once again showed
wonderful support for the team.
As the Villa chances dried up we slowly started to get back into the game
but any good work from the midfield was wasted by the woeful Tristan and Di
Michele. They wanted too long on the ball and were easily shrugged off the
ball by the Villa defenders.
A terrible and needless tackle from Petrov on Noble sparked an exchange of
harsh words between the players who had to be separated.
This seemed to give us the spark we needed to push forward. Zola made a
change which saw Savio replacing Stanislas. Many of the West Ham fans felt
that this was harsh on Stanislas given the ineffectiveness of the front two.
Nevertheless this change did seemed to give us something else going forward
and Savio quickly got into the game but his shot went well wide of the goal.
The equaliser was nearly found when Di Michele was played in but Friedel was
quickly out but the Italian managed to get the ball back to Tristan but he
could not get it out of his feet. The ball then broke loose and Boa Morte
flung his foot at the ball and managed to get a powerful shot in but again
it was kept out.
It was at that point where I thought that we would never get back into the
game and we had just had 'that' chance.
Zola removed Di Michele and replaced him with Sears. Again the West Ham fans
were unhappy as it was Tristan who everyone wanted off due to his poor
performance.
With just five minutes remaining the pressure paid off and we found the goal
we had been searching for all day.
A corner from Noble was cleared only as far as Dyer who hit a shot which was
going well wide but Diego Tristan was there to divert the ball with a clever
header into the back of the net.
Jubilant scenes erupted in the West Ham end as we had got the equaliser just
in the nick of time. The remaining five minutes and the four minutes injury
time saw us at our best as Villa fell apart and we looked to grab a winner.
Noble came within inches of giving us victory as he cut inside and hit a
shot which took a wicked deflection and so very nearly went over Friedel but
the Aston Villa keeper again kept the ball out.
Villa felt they had a penalty claim when a long ball found Carew go shoulder
with Tomkins. Having not seen the incident it is difficult to comment but
judging from many of the reports we may have been fortunate to get away with
it.
As the final whistle blew the Villa fans booed (what a strange bunch they
are), as the travelling West Ham fans applauded as we claimed a good point
against a side who has been riding high all season.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
Made a few excellent saves and none better than the save in the second half
from Heskey which was vital to us staying in the game.
James Tomkins
Much better when he moved back to centre and looked solid for most of the
game
Matthew Upson
A tough battle up against Heskey and it was Upson who seemed to lose the
battle as Heskey dominated him in the air and Upson was struggling. The
second half was a different encounter and Upson looked much better.
James Collins
Looked as though he was struggling from the off and although he was taken
off due to injury, I wouldn't have started him in the first place.
Herita Ilunga
In the first half he dwelt on the ball far too much and seemed to be
reluctant to play the easy pass. Although Noble was at fault for that poor
back pass in the first half it was not helped by the ball he received from
Ilunga. In the second half he got better and was rarely threatened.
Luis Boa Morte
He will again get my Man of the Match but not just for his work rate but
also for his effectiveness on the ball which is something which has been his
failure at his time with West Ham. He looked very sharp and wanted to run at
players, and his passing was much better.
Lucas Neill
As a centre midfielder he looked lost but at right back he was excellent.
Ashley Young struggled in the second half to get past him and he seemed to
always be there to intercept a pass or make a tackle.
Mark Noble
Apart from that bad back pass in the first half I again thought Noble was
terrific. With so many players out a technically gifted individual such as
Noble really needs to get involved and he did so very well.
Junior Stanislas
I am quite impressed with him as I had feared that the early hype may just
lead to him fizzling out but he was really involved although he will know he
should have scored at least once.
David Di Michele
Had a couple of chances to score but did not looked very convincing when he
attempted to take them. Gave away possession time and time again and overall
this was a pretty poor showing.
Diego Tristan
He scored, and took his goal well which is of course what we want him to do.
Anyone who saw this game will make what they will of his overall
performance.
Subs Used
Kieron Dyer (on for Collins 33 mins)
His longest run out for the first team for quite some time. Looked decent in
the second half and technically has an assist for the goal.
Savio Nsereko (on for Stanislas 74 mins)
Looked bright when he came on and this is not the first time I have been
impressed when he has come on as a substitute.
Freddie Sears (on for Di Michele 81 mins)
Did well in his time on the pitch as he managed to drift into wide areas and
make space for himself.
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Payne, Hines.
Overall
This was always going to be a difficult game up against a talent Aston Villa
side. We held our own for the most part and considering that we are missing
so many players we did not look too out of place against a side who were
hopeful for Champions League football.
Like last week our problem is taking chances but this of course is expected
when you consider whom we have in our strike force. Tristan though did
manage to get on the score sheet and despite his questionable performance he
did manage to grab us a point.
The race for 7th place continues to press on and we remain that position
with five games to go.
Next up are Chelsea. I believe we need to win two of our next three games to
give us this European place. Beating Chelsea would be a good start.
Att: 39,534
Franco's Feelings
It was a pity [there were not more goals] because everything else was on the
pitch.
"It was a very good display of football. It was very enjoyable and the only
thing missing was a few more goals. It was an exciting game.
"Everybody can be satisfied with the game, especially us. We can say that we
totally deserved a point and if we had won the game no one could have said
anything about that either. It was a hell of a game. Both teams tried to win
the game so this result is fine."
"My team dug in under pressure. It keeps happening. We had to take out James
Collins [in the first half] because of a problem with his calf but it has
been like this since the beginning,"
"I like this because the team never lets itself down. They always fight
against everything that comes against them. I am delighted about their
attitude. "
We fight to the end. They just need to play and keep the same attitude no
matter what comes in front of us. We always have to give 100 per cent and
that has been the spirit, the trademark of this team."
"It is good, the club has been very good to us and we appreciate that. I
believe the club is going to improve and there will be stability. The
situation will be better, but we have been through everything this year so
we are not scared of anything."
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Consortium of banks to assume control of West Ham
20 Apr, 09 | England | Clubs ownership & management
Eufootball.biz
English West Ham United has no choice but to cave to the pressure of
financial decline, as a group of banks moves in to take over the club. As a
result, owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson will be forced to hand over the reins
to a group of officials issued by the Icelandic government to assume control
of Straumur-Burdaras, a company once considered the country's largest
investment bank.
The success of Straumur has since spiralled, with the United Kingdom's
Financial Services Authority stepping in to declare the bank insolvent last
month, as reported by The Guardian. One day later, Straumar was nationalised
by the Icelandic government, much to the dismay of Gudmundsson, who had
acquired significant financing from the bank to purchase West Ham in 2006.
Not surprisingly, Gudmundsson's ability to stay above water has been
repeatedly questioned, based in part on the demise of holding company Hansa.
The collapse of Hansa in late 2008 is thought to have caused Gudmundsson a
GBP 230 loss, creating concerns about the future of West Ham.
Even though Gudmunsson managed to have his debts suspended until June, there
appears to be nothing in place to stop Straumur's creditors from seizing
West Ham. While Gudmundsson continues to look for a new owner, West Ham
supporters are growing more doubtful about the future of the club with each
passing day.
The latest turn of events could likely see the group of institutions
appointed by Straumar's creditors maintain control of West Ham through to
2011. In addition, budget restrictions will prevent manager Gianfranco Zola
from buying new players and may force the club to operate on a cash basis
for the summer.
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Matthew Upson: West Ham Must Lock Down Gianfranco Zola
The Hammers defender says that it is imperative that the club do whatever it
takes to prevent the little Italian slipping through their fingers and on to
a bigger side...
20 Apr 2009 04:29:27
Goal.com
Matthew Upson believes it is crucial that West Ham United's board tie
Gianfranco Zola to a long-term contract at Upton Park. Zola, whose only
previous managerial experience was co-coaching Italy's Under-21 squad, has
had a big impact since taking over from Alan Curbishley back in September.
He had taken over a side that looked set to struggle against relegation
again this season and has now lifted them to within grasping distance of a
place in Europe next term. The 42-year-old, idolised during a seven-year
spell at Chelsea, is now on a 12-month rolling contract at West Ham,
according to Sky Sports News, which could soon be upgraded into a
full-fledged long-term one. "I don't know what his [Zola's] contract
situation is but the longer he can stay at the club, the better. He has done
brilliantly since he came in," said Upson, 30, who has enjoyed a late bloom
under Zola's tutelage. "He has a very good relationship with the players,
who all respect him and value his opinion, and I think next season will be
very interesting for West Ham. "He has a great tactical awareness. His man
management skills are excellent. He has a lot of respect from the players
probably because of the quality of player he was. "If you are not a good
manager, that soon wears out and he has come in and proven that he has got
good managerial skills." Upson went on to say that the Hammers still have
every chance of claiming seventh spot in the Premier League this season and
thus being part of the Europa League's debut season next term. "I think we
can do that. Even though we do still have Chelsea and Liverpool to play,
they are both home games," added the tough-tackling centre-back. "If we can
get one or two players back fit before the end of the season just to
strengthen the team and to give people a rest, there is no reason why we
can't do it. "We speak about a European spot regularly. It is a big target,
a big goal for the club."
Derek Wanner, Goal.com
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West Ham United Pursue Oleksandr Aliyev
The Hammers begin making their summer transfer targets known...
19 Apr 2009 17:23:05
Goal.com
West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola is tracking the status of Dynamo
Kiev player Oleksandr Aliyev, according to The Mirror. The Ukrainian
striker's contract ends in the summer and the club are desperate to secure
the 24-year-old to a new deal, but the player is reported to be less keen.
The Ukraine international is also wanted by the likes of Tottenham Hotspur,
Everton and Portsmouth, who have been monitoring his situation for some
time. It now looks as though he will make a move abroad in the summer, but
his potential destination is far from clear. The player is reportedly
waiting to see what offers he gets from England in the summer, as he feels
his talents could be better utilised in higher quality league.He is said to
be refusing to sign a new deal with Kiev. Many Premier League clubs
reportedly sent scouts to watch Aliyev in action in the UEFA Cup against
Paris Saint-Germain during the week, and were reportedly impressed with what
they saw. Kiev won the tie 3-0. Aliyev has been part of the Kiev setup since
2002, coming through the club's C and B teams to reach the first team three
years ago. He has since made 37 league appearances for the club, scoring ten
goals.
Nick Turner, Goal.com
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High-rise Hammers overshadow O'Neill
Aston Villa 1 West Ham United 1
By Jon Culley
Independent.co.uk
Monday, 20 April 2009
To focus on Aston Villa's failings may be unavoidable after Martin O'Neill's
side allowed their diminishing Champions League chance to become more
tenuous still with another two home points dropped. Yet to do so, perhaps,
would unfairly obscure West Ham's achievements.
On 20 December, when a home defeat to Villa left them with seven points from
12 games, Gianfranco Zola's side were 17th, just one point above the bottom
three. Today, they are 10 places better off and prime candidates for the
Europa League.
Villa in that time have merely slipped from third to fifth. Of course, it
means rather more than that and it shows in O'Neill, who wore the look on
Saturday evening of a man suffering almost intolerable frustration.
Any change in Zola's demeanour, given that his smile seems irrepressible
even in the most trying times, would be difficult to spot. Yet his pride,
you sense, is the equal of O'Neill's disappointment, particularly after all
the challenges he has faced, on and off the field, since taking charge in
mid-September.
"When you see a project coming together so well, you just feel so good," he
said. "To be so high in the table is a dream. When you start something you
have ambitions, but you never know where you are going to get to. Some
players have come through out of the blue. First it was Jack Collison, then
Freddie Sears and now Junior Stanislas. But it means that the methodology we
are using is working and it gives us a good base for the future."
Stanislas, 19 and starting only his third Premier League match, brimmed with
pace and confidence on the left before two more 19-year-olds – Sears and
Zola's £9m forward Savio Nsereko provided the late injection of energy that
secured West Ham's point, supplementing a performance underpinned by the
growing maturity of 21-year-old Mark Noble in midfield.
The goal their enthusiasm created might have had an element of flukiness,
given that Diego Tristan's header owed more to instinct than intention, but
Villa's Brad Friedel had to make vital saves either side of it, so it was
hardly undeserved.
Villa believed, nonetheless, that they should have won, having squandered
several chances to build on Emile Heskey's 11th-minute goal and been denied
a clear penalty late on.
After only five home League wins, O'Neill's frustration is understandable,
although his players are trying to be upbeat. "It is going to be tough now
[to finish in the top four] but fifth place would not be a failure," said
the defender Curtis Davies. "You have to look at things from the beginning
of the season. If we finish fifth, it will be one better than last year.
There are a lot of teams who would love to finish fifth in the Premier
League."
Aston Villa (4-4-2): Friedel; L Young, Cuellar, Davies, Shorey; Milner
(Gardner, 81), Barry, Petrov, A Young; Heskey (Delfouneso, 71), Carew.
Substitutes not used: Guzan (gk), Sidwell, Knight, Salifou, Reo-Coker.
West Ham United (4-4-2): Green; Tomkins, Collins (Dyer, 33), Upson, Ilunga;
Boa Morte, Neill, Noble, Stanislas (Nsereko, 74); Tristan, Di Michele
(Sears, 81). Substitutes not used: Lastuvka (gk), Lopez, Payne, Hines.
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).
Booked: Aston Villa A Young, Petrov; West Ham Noble, Boa Morte, Upson.
Man of the match: Noble.
Attendance: 39,534.
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Two potential bidders circle West Ham for full control
19.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United have received interest from two potential new owners. The
Mail on Sunday says companies from the Middle East and the Far East have
expressed an interest in a buy-out of West Ham but have yet to commit to the
final stage of the deal, due diligence. But with the club edging ever closer
to being taken over by their creditors, currently led by troubled Icelandic
bank Straumur — the principal creditors of West Ham's parent company, Hansa
— a deal worth around £80 million could be struck this summer.
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West Ham to invite offers for Ashton
19.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
Dean Ashton may be cashed in by West Ham United in the summer. The News of
the World says Ashton is close to a comeback after missing most of the
season with ankle problems. But the cash-hit Hammers are ready to listen to
offers for the £7.5million hitman during the summer.
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Portsmouth, Sunderland chasing West Ham defender Collins
19.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham centre-half James Collins is a £4million target for Portsmouth and
Sunderland. A move to either club will depend on them staying in the Premier
League. Collins, 25, has two years left on his Upton Park deal.
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Cole back for West Ham within two weeks
19.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
Carlton Cole hopes to be back for West Ham United before the end of the
season. West Ham feared the striker, 25, would be out for the rest of the
season after tearing a groin muscle playing for England last month. But they
now hope Cole will return for the last few matches of the campaign.
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Upson urges West Ham to agree new contract with Zola
20.04.09 | Ian Ferris
Matthew Upson believes it is imperative that West Ham tie down boss
Gianfranco Zola to a new contract. Zola is currently working on a 12-month
rolling contract and Upson believes the 42-year-old is deserving of a more
permanent deal. "I don't know what his (Zola's) contract situation is but
the longer he can stay at the club, the better. He has done brilliantly
since he came in," said the England international. "He has a very good
relationship with the players, who all respect him and value his opinion,
and I think next season will be very interesting for West Ham. "He has a
great tactical awareness. His man management skills are excellent. He has a
lot of respect from the players probably because of the quality of player he
was. "If you are not a good manager, that soon wears out and he has come in
and proven that he has got good managerial skills."
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