WHUFC.com
Freddie Sears was pleased to play his part in West Ham United's exciting
draw at Aston Villa on Saturday
21.04.2009
Freddie Sears is determined to play his part in firing West Ham United into
next season's UEFA Europa League. The 19-year-old was delighted to play his
part in helping the Hammers to nick a deserved Premier League point at Aston
Villa on Saturday, forcing Luke Young to concede the corner that led to
Diego Tristan's dramatic 85th minute equaliser. After appearing as a second
half substitute in the entertaining 1-1 draw at Villa Park, Sears is eager
to make his mark again in the final five games of the campaign. "Obviously
we were pleased to get a draw, but we even had chances to go on and win it
at the end. Junior [Stanislas] had a great chance at the start too. I think,
overall, a draw was a fair result for us. We pushed hard to get the goal so
we were delighted when it came."
Sears was impressed with the expert finishing of Spaniard Tristan, who
swivelled superbly to head Kieron Dyer's shot past Brad Friedel. At the
time, however, the England Under-19 man did not realise just how deliberate
his striker partner's effort had been. "I don't know what part of Diego the
ball has come off but, at the end of the day, it's gone in and that's all
that matters! We got the draw that we needed. The vibe in the dressing room
after the game was good. Everyone was buzzing."
A year ago, Sears burst on to the scene after scoring his own late header
past American Friedel, diving to nod a dramatic winner in the Hammers' 2-1
win over Blackburn Rovers at the Boleyn Ground. This season, the teenager
has not scored as many goals as he would have liked, but Sears knows he
still has a part to play between now and the end of the season as Gianfranco
Zola's team challenge for a top-seven finish and European football. Sears is
one of eight Academy graduates to represent the Hammers this season, Mark
Noble, Jack Collison, James Tomkins, Junior Stanislas, Josh Payne, Kyel Reid
and Zavon Hines being the other seven, as manager Zola has been forced to
shuffle his pack due to injuries and suspensions. All have impressed when
handed their chance to shine. "On a personal note it was good to get on
again at Villa, even if it was only for ten minutes. The manager told me to
go on and make something happen and I think I did ok. We've got Chelsea next
week and I'd love to play against them. We'll see how it goes. "It's
obviously been a bit frustrating not playing as much football as I was used
to in the reserves and youth team, and the injuries we have means the
youngsters haven't been able to go out on loan. I'm training well and
enjoying it here but I obviously want to start playing more and scoring some
goals."
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Holmar on a high
WHUFC.com
Holmar Eyjolfsson is hoping to end the reserves' season with a win after an
exciting weekend away
21.04.2009
West Ham United reserves conclude their season on Tuesday evening with a
trip to the south coast to face Portsmouth. Young Icelandic defender Holmar
Eyjolfsson is determined to end the campaign on a high with a win at Havant
and Waterlooville's West Leigh Park stadium. A win there would cap a great
few days for the 18-year-old Eyjolfsson, after he travelled with the
first-team for their weekend game with Aston Villa. "We are determined to
end the season on a high," Eyjolfsson said. "Personally, the season looks
like it is ending on a high, but it hasn't all gone how I wanted it to. It
is getting there. I want to do as well as I can, play as well as I can and
do well in the last reserve game and see where that takes us."
Eyjolfsson has endured a stop-start season, but after being ruled out for
much of the winter, he has featured in four of the last five reserve games
and is already looking ahead to next season, where he aims to follow in the
footsteps of his former Under-18 team-mates by making his bow for the first
team. "It gives you an incentive to work towards the first team and shows
that you can do it and gets you hungrier to do it. I want to break into the
first team - that is my goal. "It's been a hard season because of the
injuries, but I am getting back now and I'm focusing on ending the season
well and then coming back strongly next pre-season and keeping away from
injuries."
After making the successful step up from youth-team football this campaign,
Eyjolfsson has enjoyed the challenge of facing experienced Premier League
and international footballers in recent weeks. Last week's 4-2 reverse
against West Bromwich Albion saw 42-times capped South Korean forward
Do-Heon Kim provide another stern examination of the youngster's
development. "It was good experience coming up against these players but you
want to do better than we did. We wanted to keep a clean sheet but that
didn't happen. You take the positives, learn from the bad thing and get more
motivated for the next game."
Icelandic Under-21 international Eyjolfsson has struck up a formidable
partnership with regular reserve-team captain Bondz N'Gala this season,
although their pairing could be temporarily put on hold tonight should
N'Gala not recover from the ankle injury that kept him out of the Gianfranco
Zola's squad for the 1-1 weekend draw at Villa Park.
Reserve-team manger Alex Dyer is expected to name another youthful line up
for the season-ender with several players who featured for the Under-18s in
Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Coventry set to be involved. This means the likes
of Adam Street, Matthew Fry, Oliver Lee and Anthony Edgar could all be
called upon again by Dyer. West Ham sit fourth in the Barclays Premier
Reserve League South with 22 points from 15 games. Tuesday's hosts are one
place and three points below, but could go above the Hammers with a victory
in the match, which kicks-off at 7pm.
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Reserves edged out
WHUFC.com
A late goal from Greek Theofanis Gekas broke West Ham United's hearts at
Portsmouth on Tuesday evening
21.04.2009
West Ham United ended their Barclays Premier League South campaign in
heartbreaking fashion with a 1-0 loss at Portsmouth on Tuesday evening.
Greece international striker Theofanis Gekas won the game for Pompey with a
moment of magic just seconds from the end of the game, taking a touch on the
edge of the Hammers' penalty area before unleashing an unstoppable
right-foot drive past the helpless Peter Kurucz. Defeat was very harsh on
the visitors, who could easily have won the game themselves.
First team coach Steve Clarke, Academy director Tony Carr and goalkeeping
coach Ludek Miklosko were among the 257-strong crowd who watched an
intriguing, if not exciting, game at Havant and Waterlooville FC's West
Leigh Park that was settled by Gekas' 94th minute strike.
Reserve team manager Alex Dyer again named a relatively inexperienced side
for the fixture. Hungary Under-21 goalkeeper Kurucz and
captain-for-the-night Zavon Hines were the only non-teenagers in the side.
With regular skipper Bondz N'Gala missing with an ankle injury, Nick Barrett
moved to right-back, with Matthew Fry in the centre of the defence alongside
Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson.
For the home side striker Gekas, who is on loan from German side Bayer
Leverkusen and was the Bundesliga's top scorer with VfL Bochum in 2006/07,
led the forward line, with former Barnet and Reading defender Linvoy Primus
at the back and ex-Reading goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown between the sticks.
West Ham began much the brighter of the two sides on a warm, sunny evening
on the south coast and could have taken the lead in just the fourth minute.
Superb interplay from Daniel Kearns and Balint Bajner down the right wing
was followed by Anthony Edgar lifting a neat pass over the Pompey defence to
Hines, but the striker could only drive a rising shot across the face of
Ashdown's goal.
Edgar, twice, and Ollie Lee both saw shots blocked himself as the Hammers
looked for the opening goal but it was not long before Portsmouth, with
withdrawn striker Gautier Mahoto and left-back Andre Blackman to the fore,
took the intiative.
As Dyer's youngsters struggled to maintain possession in midfield, Pompey
began to threaten fairly regularly. French 17-year-old Mahoto looked the
home side's most likely scorer, smashing a volley narrowly wide of Kurucz's
far post after Eyjolfsson had blocked his initial shot, then screwing an
effort off-target after Gael Nlundulu's cross had deflected into his path
off Fry.
Central defender Luke Wilkinson should have scored for Portsmouth on 27
minutes, but he could only divert his header from Nlundulu's right-wing
free-kick straight at Kurucz from six yards. Seconds earlier, Hammers
left-back Ashley Miller had been booked for an untidy late challenge on
Blackman.
After Mahoto had again shot wide from a decent position, West Ham gradually
worked their way back into the game, with Miller dragging a long-range
effort wide after winning a fine challenge in the midfield, while the
unmarked Bajner should have done far better when Kearns' cross dropped to
him inside the penalty area.
In between those two chances, Lee had a goal correctly ruled out for
offside. Kearns curled a corner into the penalty area and Fry hooked
goalwards, but the midfielder was beyond the last defender when he poked the
ball past Ashdown from inside the six-yard box.
Dyer made a single change at half-time, bringing on Colombian-born forward
Cristian Montano for Bajner. Three minutes after the break, Lee tested
Ashdown with a rising 25-yard shot that the goalkeeper could only push
around the post for a corner, although it may have already been flying wide
of the target.
In truth, the second half was far less incident-packed than the first, at
least until the final seconds, with neither side creating more than a
handful of goalscoring opportunities.
Hines wasted the first of a number of decent chances on the hour-mark,
ghosting past right-back Tero Mantyla with a neat piece of skill but
shooting wastefully wide of the near post instead of cutting the ball back
into the path of his colleagues.
Barrett became the second Hammer to be booked on 65 minutes for hauling back
the lively Mahoto before Lee went close with a well-struck left-foot shot
from 25 yards. Later, Eyjolfsson also saw yellow for a foul on Gekas.
The game finally livened up again in the closing 20 minutes. First, Pompey
substitute Nadir Ciftci gifted possession to Lee with his first touch. The
midfielder fed Hines with a neat through ball, only for Ashdown to block the
captain's shot with his legs.
Seconds later, Gekas stung Kurucz's fingertips with a rising shot on the
turn, showing a glimpse of the international class that has seen him score
14 times in 38 appearances for Greece.
West Ham, who handed a reserve team debut to left-back Jordan Brown with 15
minutes remaining, continued to look the more likely winners and should have
won the game with three minutes remaining. However, instead of finding the
bottom corner of Ashdown's net, Hines could only drag his shot wide of the
far post from 15 yards.
Into the first minute of added time and Hines missed another superb chance,
latching on to Montano's flick-on but delaying too long and allowing
Wilkinson to block his shot behind for a corner.
Dyer's Hammers have ended the season with 22 points from their 16 games and
currently sit in fifth place in the league table, with Portsmouth moving
above West Ham on goal different thanks to Gekas' late, late winner.
West Ham United reserves: Kurucz, Barrett, Miller (Brown 75), Eyjolfsson,
Fry, Kearns, Lee, Grasser, Edgar, Bajner (Montano 46), Hines
Subs: Street, Abdulla, McNaughton
Portsmouth reserves: Ashdown, Mantyla, Blackman, Primus, Wilkinson, Nlundulu
(Bogard 71), Pack, Hurst, Navas Alors (Ciftci 71), Gekas, Mahoto
Subs: Stewart, Gazet du Chattelier, Ryan
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Reserves 0-1 Portsmouth
WHUFC.com
21.04.2009
Barclays Premier Reserve League South
Portsmouth v West Ham United
West Leigh Park, Havant and Waterlooville FC
Tuesday 21 April
7pm
Full-time - Portsmouth reserves 1-0 West Ham United reserves
94 mins - GOAL! Portsmouth have a late chance in the shape of a free-kick 30
yards from goal. Mahoto curls the ball over the wall but Kurucz sinks to his
knees to gather the ball cleanly. Seconds later Gekas breaks the Hammers'
hearts by taking a touch and smashing the ball past the Hungarian into the
far corner from the edge of the penalty area. That is a real sickener for
the visitors. They really did not deserve that at all. Seconds later, the
final whistle is blown.
91 mins - Hines misses another great chance. He latches on to Montano's
clever flick-on but Wilkinson gets in a superb block.
90 mins - We are into the final minute of the 90 and the game looks to be
heading towards a goalless conclusion. There will be three added minutes.
87 mins - West Ham should have just won the game! Instead, captain Hines
could only drag his left-foot shot wide of the far post from 15 yards. He
should have hit the target, at least.
82 mins - Eyjolfsson is the third Hammers' defender to be booked after
bringing down Gekas five yards outside the penalty area. The Greek takes the
free-kick himself and the ball curls just wide of the target with Kurucz
scampering across his goal.
80 mins - Into the final ten minutes and still no goals. Will West Ham
finish their season on a high by grabbing a late winner?
75 mins - Miller is replaced by Jordan Brown. The teenager is making his
debut at reserve team level.
72 mins - Ciftci makes an almost immediate impact...at the wrong end. The
winger gifts the ball to Lee, who threads a fine ball through to Hines, only
for the striker to see his shot blocked by the legs of Ashdown. Portsmouth
break straight up the other end, where Gekas forces Kurucz to tip his rising
shot from 20 yards over the crossbar. West Ham eventually clear the danger.
71 mins - Portsmouth make a double change. Nadir Ciftci is on for Pablo
Navas Alors, while Daniel Bogard is on for Nlundulu.
68 mins - Dyer has striker Ahmed Abdulla on his bench. I wonder if the
Under-18 player will be given a chance to become the match-winner?
66 mins - A loose clearance falls to Lee, but he can only drive a left-foot
shot wide from 20 yards. The game continues to ebb and flow, but neither
side looks like breaking the deadlock at the present time.
65 mins - Barrett is booked for hauling back Mahoto. He becomes the second
Hammer to see yellow after Miller. Mahoto floats the ball over and Kurucz
flaps at it, but the Hungarian recovers well to claim Pack's hooked cross
into the six-yard box.
64 mins - Miller takes an age to clear his lines and is robbed by Gekas.
Mahoto works the ball wide to Nlundulu, who crosses. The Greek striker goes
down under a challenge from Fry but referee Long gives just a corner as
Barrett nods the ball behind. Nlundulu crosses and Kurucz spills the ball,
but he was being fouled.
62 mins - The goalmouth action has been a bit thin on the ground since
half-time. Let's hope things liven up during the final half-hour.
60 mins - Hines skips past Tero Mantyla with ease but then completely wastes
the chance by driving the ball behind the goal from an acute angle. Surely
he would have been better served in pulling the ball back into the danger
area instead?
57 mins - Georg Grasser wins a fine tackle in the midfield. The Austrian is
having a quietly effective game tonight.
55 mins - Kearns does well to win the ball in midfield, but when it is
worked back to him by Montano, he launches his cross way in front of the
on-rushing West Ham attackers and it is claimed easily by Ashdown.
53 mins - Hines wins a free-kick off Pack. Kearns curls the ball into the
penalty area but it is too low and is easily cleared.
50 mins - Montano has gone up front with Hines, who is cutting a bit of a
frustrated figure.
48 mins - Lee forces Ashdown into an acrobatic save. The goalkeeper pushes
the ball behind for a corner, but the shot looked as if it was going wide
anyway.
46 mins - West Ham make a half-time change, with Cristian Montano replacing
Bajner. Portsmouth start well, but Gekas can only head the ball into the
ground from Nlundulu's cross and it is safely gathered by Kurucz.
Half-time - Portsmouth reserves 0-0 West Ham United reserves
47 mins - More assured handling from Kurucz, who stretches to pluck
Blackman's deep cross out of the air after the left-back had got past
Barrett. West Ham end the half by winning another free-kick down the left
flank. Kearns takes but the ball is easily headed clear by Pack and the
half-time whistle is blown.
45 mins - West Ham are finishing the half very strongly. The lively Miller
nips in again and sees his powerful shot loop off Hurst and out for another
Kearns corner. The Northern Irish youth international crosses and the ball
is cleared back to him. Kearns beats his marker and curls the ball into the
danger-zone where four Hammers are being kept company by only three
defenders. Despite their numerical advantage, Bajner can only scuff his
left-foot shot too close to Ashdown. That was a real chance. There will be
two added minutes.
43 mins - West Ham think they have taken the lead through Lee, but the goal
is ruled out for offside. Bajner had forced a corner on the left, Kearns
swung the ball into the box but when Fry hooked the ball goalwards, Lee was
behind the last defender when he poked the ball past Ashdown from
close-range.
42 mins - Nick Barrett concedes possession inside the West Ham half, but
Hurst can only launch his shot out of the stadium.
41 mins - West Ham are threatening again. Miller wins another good challenge
inside the Pompey half and the ball breaks to Bajner, who lobs it over
Blackman into the path of Hines, but the striker's volley is mis-hit and
bounces harmlessly through to Ashdown.
40 mins - A crowd of 257 is watching Hines jink outside of his marker and
fire another shot across the face of Ashdown's goal. The ball flies out for
a throw-in.
37 mins - James Hurst is the latest Portsmouth player to be frustrated,
seeing his shot cannon off Miller and behind for a corner. Kurucz claims
Hurst's corner and launches a swift counter-attack. Hines finds space on the
right side of the penalty area and crosses. The ball is cleared and Miller
picks up possession, cuts inside a challenge and lets fly with his
unfavoured right foot, the ball dribbling narrowly wide of the left-hand
post.
36 mins - While things may have dried up on the attacking front, Eyjolfsson
and Fry have both looked very assured against Gekas and Mahoto, who is
playing in a slightly withdrawn role. As I write that, Mahoto goes close
again, screwing his volley over the top after Blackman had released Navas
Alors down the left wing.
33 mins - Captain Hines gets a talking to from referee Simon Long after
Kearns gives away a free-kick and the striker delays the taking of the
set-piece.
31 mins - Play is held up while Lee receives treatment. He was hurt after an
apparent clash of heads with fellow No4 Marlon Pack. West Ham's players take
advantage of the break to grab a drink, while coach Dyer imparts some advice
to his young troops.
30 mins - Portsmouth go close again, but Kurucz is able to watch Nlundulu's
shot fly narrowly over his crossbar.
29 mins - If we were playing tennis here, West Ham would be committing the
equivalent of unforced errors. Still, they are on level terms and well in
this match.
27 mins - Ashley Miller becomes the first player booked for a late challenge
on Blackman, who picked up a clearance on the halfway line and streaked
forward 40 yards before being brought down by his opposite number. The foul
hands Pompey a free-kick a yard outside the box. Nlundulu takes and Luke
WIlkinson should bury his header from six yards, only to nod the ball
straight into the arms of Kurucz.
25 mins - The Hammers are still giving possession away too easily in
midfield. Portsmouth break from one errant pass and Andre Blackman forces a
corner off Fry's head.
23 mins - The midway point of the first half has passed. West Ham started
brightly but the home side are now in the ascendancy. Fry gets a bit lucky
when his clearance hits Gekas, but the youngster reacts quicker than the
Greek to clear.
22 mins - First team coach Steve Clarke, Academy director Tony Carr and
goalkeeping coach Ludek Miklosko are all here tonight.
21 mins - The stadium we are at tonight, West Leigh Park, is of course home
to FA Cup giant-killers Havant and Waterlooville, who scared the life out of
Liverpool in the fourth round last season. West Ham force a corner, but
Ashdown easily claims Kearns' centre.
18 mins - Mahoto should have scored there. After starting the move himself,
the striker finds Gael Nlundulu on the right wing. The wideman crosses and
the ball breaks back to Mahoto off Fry, but the forward can only smash his
left-foot volley wide of the target from 14 yards. That was a let-off, no
doubt about it.
16 mins - Both teams need to start taking better care of the ball. Too
often, players are taking the difficult option instead of playing an easy
pass to feet. Mahoto goes close for Portsmouth, firing his initial shot
against Eyjolfsson before belting the loose ball a couple of yards wide of
Kurucz's far post.
14 mins - Pompey have come back into the game now, but they are not doing
much with their greater share of possession. For West Ham, Lee and Kearns
are heavily involved. Right on cue, Lee sees a powerful long-range strike
blocked by Primus' legs.
12 mins - Hines is captaining the side in the absence of Bondz N'Gala.
9 mins - Portsmouth win a corner down the right. It is taken short by
Gautier Mahoto, who takes the ball back and takes on his marker before
collapsing in a heap, much to the amusement of the crowd. Seconds later, he
is up on his feet and running again.
8 mins - Goalkeeper Peter Kurucz is wearing tracksuit bottoms under his
shorts, but I think it has more to do with the hard, dry surface than the
temperature!
6 mins - This is a good start from West Ham. Kearns' corner is cleared, but
Hines wins another free-kick in a dangerous position. Ollie Lee crosses, but
the ball is cleared to Edgar, who again sees his shot blocked.
5 mins - Edgar wins a free-kick wide on the left. The ball is only
half-cleared twice and falls to Edgar, who skips around his marker but sees
his left-foot shot well blocked behind for a corner.
4 mins - Great football from Daniel Kearns and Balint Bajner down the right
ends with Anthony Edgar lifting the ball over the Pompey defence for Zavon
Hines, but the striker can only drive his shot across the face of goal. That
was a decent opening.
2 mins - A cagey start from both sides. Unsurprisingly, there is no rhythm
to the game as yet.
7pm - And off we go!
6.59pm - The tune, I'm reliably informed, is called 'Portsmouth' and the
version being played is by Mike Oldfield. Interesting, eh? We're going to
kick-off now. Balint Bajner will do the honours.
6.58pm - The two teams run out to a strange nautical tune that must have
something to do with Portsmouth's maritime tradition...
6.55pm - It has been an interesting season for the reserves. A number have
players have graduated to first team duty after impressing for Dyer's team.
From the side that played in the first game of the season at Chelsea, Junior
Stanislas, Josh Payne, Freddie Sears and Jan Lastuvka have all gone on to
play for Gianfranco Zola's side, while Bondz N'Gala and Holmar Orn
Eyjolfsson have both travelled with the first team in recent weeks. Marek
Stech, Tony Stokes, Joe Widdowson, Calum Davenport and Lee Bowyer, on loan
at Wycombe Wanderers, Ujpest FC, Grimsby Town, Sunderland and Birmingham
City respectively, have also been in second-string action this term, while
senior players including Kieron Dyer, David Di Michele, James Collins, Jack
Collison and Walter Lopez have also featured.
Away from home, the reserves have triumphed at Arsenal and Stoke City and
drawn at Aston Villa so far, with home wins coming against West Bromwich
Albion, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Chelsea and Stoke. Goals from David Di Michele
and Kyel Reid saw off Pompey in the reverse fixture at the Boleyn Ground on
25 November.
6.45pm - West Ham's central defenders Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson and Matt Fry
could be severely tested by Gekas tonight. Although he has only featured
once as a substitute for Paul Hart's team, he was the top scorer in the
Greek League in 2004/05, netting 17 goals for Kallithea and Panathinaikos,
who he joined in January 2005. Perhaps even more impressively, he was the
top scorer in the German Bundesliga in 2006/07, finding the net 20 times for
relegation-threatened VfL Bochum. Gekas, 28, was also part of the Greece
squad at the 2005 Confederations Cup and Euro 2008. He has 38 full
international caps and has scored 14 goals for his country.
Forest Gate-born Primus is also vastly experienced, having played 423 league
games during his career. The 35-year-old also walked the Great Wall of China
in 2005 for the charity Faith and Football.
The other experienced member of the Portsmouth side is Ashdown, who has made
36 first team appearances for Pompey. The 28-year-old goalkeeper also picked
up an FA Cup winner's medal last season, despite not appearing once in the
club's successful run to Wembley.
6.35pm Alex Dyer's West Ham United reserve team complete their Barclays
Premier Reserve League South campaign with a trip to sunny Portsmouth this
evening. The Hammers go into the game in fourth place in the table, three
points and one position above their hosts.
Dyer has named a relatively inexperienced side for tonight's game at Havant
and Waterlooville FC's West Leigh Park home. Hungary Under-21 goalkeeper
Peter Kurucz and striker Zavon Hines are the only non-teenagers in the side.
Captain Bondz N'Gala misses out with an ankle injury, with Nick Barrett
moving to right-back and Matthew Fry to the centre of the defence alongside
Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson. Under-18 left-back Jordan Brown is named among the
substitutes.
For Portsmouth Greek international striker Theofanis Gekas, who is on loan
from German side Bayer Leverkusen, leads the home forward line, with former
Barnet and Reading defender Linvoy Primus and ex-Reading goalkeeper Jamie
Ashdown between the sticks.
It is a gorgeous evening on the south coast. Both teams are out on the
pitch, which looks in superb shape, going through their pre-match warm-ups.
West Ham United Reserves: Kurucz, Barrett, Miller (Brown 75), Eyjolfsson,
Fry, Kearns, Lee, Grasser, Edgar, Bajner (Montano 46), Hines
Subs: Street, Abdulla, McNaughton
Portsmouth Reserves: Ashdown, Mantyla, Blackman, Primus, Wilkinson, Nlundulu
(Bogard 71), Pack, Hurst, Navas Alors (Ciftci 71), Gekas, Mahoto
Subs: Stewart, Gazet du Chattelier, Ryan
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Sears hoping to shine
Hammers youngster seeks regular role
By Chris Burton Last updated: 21st April 2009
SSN
Teenage striker Freddie Sears is desperate to establish himself as a regular
in West Ham's first-team. The 19-year-old burst onto the scene last season
with a match-winning cameo appearance during a Premier League clash with
Blackburn. Much was expected of the latest product to emerge from the famed
Upton Park academy, with big names falling over themselves to pile praise on
the youngster. His first full season as a senior professional with the
Hammers has not gone entirely to plan, though, with opportunities proving
hard to come by. He was in the fold for Saturday's 1-1 draw with Aston Villa
and was awarded a 10-minute run-out off the bench, and he was able to catch
the eye with a bright display. Sears now hopes that he has done enough to
persuade Gianfranco Zola he is worthy of further opportunities in the
future, as he admits to finding life difficult watching from the sidelines.
"On a personal note it was good to get on again at Villa, even if it was
only for 10 minutes," he told the club's official website. "The manager told
me to go on and make something happen and I think I did okay. "We've got
Chelsea next week and I'd love to play against them. We'll see how it goes.
"It's obviously been a bit frustrating not playing as much football as I was
used to in the reserves and youth team, and the injuries we have means the
youngsters haven't been able to go out on loan. "I'm training well and
enjoying it here but I obviously want to start playing more and scoring some
goals."
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Straumar bank forced to back away from West Ham takeover
22 Apr, 09 | England | Clubs ownership & management
Eufootball.biz
While it appeared as though Straumar was ready to assume control of English
West Ham United, the Icelandic bank has since put all plans on hold.
"Industry insiders" indicate that although Straumur was set for a takeover,
the bank is currently restructuring, placing business activity on the back
burner for now. In addition, it looks like Straumar is just one of several
routes for West Ham to take, as told to BBC. Last week, speculation surfaced
to suggest that two parties showed interest in West Ham, with one
originating from the Middle East and the other from the Far East. It seemed
likely that Straumar would help to move the club out of dangerous waters,
after supplying a large portion of the GBP 85 million shelled out by
Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson for West Ham in 2006. Straumar and Gudmundsson are
further linked by Hansa, the owner's holding company and credit client of
the bank. Hansa entered into administration late last year as a result of
financial issues. Ironically, creditor Straumar is now facing difficulties
due to economic changes, much like many other banks in Iceland. Sources
suggest that the reins may be handed to an asset management group, leaving
the future of West Ham and Hansa uncertain.
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West Ham target McCormack
Sport.co.uk
Author: Andrew Allen
Posted on: 21 April 2009 - 6:43 PM
Ross McCormack has emerged as a shock £3million transfer target for West Ham
United. The Cardiff striker, who has also starred for Scotland in recent
weeks, has enjoyed a dream year at Ninian Park to help the Welsh club into
the Championship play-off places.McCormack has made little secret of his
desire to play in the Premier League next season should Cardiff fail to make
it into the top flight. West Ham scouts have been keeping tabs on the former
Rangers man with McCormack continuing to bang in the goals. And Hammers boss
Gianfranco Zola could make a move for the player as he looks to bolster his
striking options for next season.
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Holmar Eyjolfsson determined to finish West Ham season strongly
22.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
Young Icelandic defender Holmar Eyjolfsson is happy to be finishing the
season strongly with West Ham United's reserves. Eyjolfsson has endured a
stop-start season, but after being ruled out for much of the winter, he has
featured in four of the last five reserve games and is already looking ahead
to next season, where he aims to follow in the footsteps of his former
Under-18 team-mates by making his bow for the first team. He told whufc.com:
"It gives you an incentive to work towards the first team and shows that you
can do it and gets you hungrier to do it. I want to break into the first
team - that is my goal. "It's been a hard season because of the injuries,
but I am getting back now and I'm focusing on ending the season well and
then coming back strongly next pre-season and keeping away from injuries."
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Sears pleased with new West Ham first team chance
22.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
Freddie Sears was happy to see action for West Ham United in their 1-1 draw
with Aston Villa. The young striker told whufc.com: "On a personal note it
was good to get on again at Villa, even if it was only for ten minutes. The
manager told me to go on and make something happen and I think I did ok.
We've got Chelsea next week and I'd love to play against them. We'll see how
it goes. "It's obviously been a bit frustrating not playing as much football
as I was used to in the reserves and youth team, and the injuries we have
means the youngsters haven't been able to go out on loan. I'm training well
and enjoying it here but I obviously want to start playing more and scoring
some goals."
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West Ham keen to sign Mario Balotelli from Inter Milan
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola will step up his interest in Inter Milan
striker Mario Balotelli.
By Telegraph staff
Last Updated: 9:39AM BST 21 Apr 2009
According to the Mirror, Balotelli, 18, was a target of West Ham's in
January, but Inter were not willing to sell the Italian U21 international.
However, Balotelli, who was born to Ghanaian immigrant parents but brought
up by an Italian family, was subjected to racist chants at the weekend
during Inter's 1-1 draw with Juventus, and West Ham believe the player may
now be willing to swap Serie A for the Premier League. Zola to use Arsenal
blueprint Juve fans reportedly chanted "black Italians don't exist", and as
a result the Bianconeri have been ordered to play their next league home
game - against Lecce on May 3 - behind closed doors. Inter president
Massimo Moratti said he would have pulled his team off the field if he
witnessed the abuse. "If I had been at the stadium, at a certain point I
would have left my seat in the stand, I would have gone onto the pitch and I
would have pulled the team off," Morati claimed. "They seemed proud and
happy to sing those things. This is terrible."
Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli also condemned the chants, adding:
"On behalf of Juventus and the great majority of our fans I want to strongly
condemn the racist chanting against Inter Milan's Mario Balotelli. "There
are no excuses or justification for this type of behaviour. Episodes such as
this are inexcusable. "Together we must all try to promote a sporting
culture that puts respect for the adversary at its core and fights against
racism."
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Gianfranco Zola plotting for West Ham future by using Arsenal's template
Gianfranco Zola will continue to use Arsenal as his template as he looks to
manufacture a new world at Upton Park.
Telegraph
By John Ley
Last Updated: 9:19AM BST 21 Apr 2009
The West Ham manager, who has taken his side to within sight of a place in
Europe, will follow Arsene Wenger's example and nurture youth for the future
of the club. Zola, though, admitted that if the club are successful and
reach next season's Europa League, more players will be required, despite
the club's uncertain future. West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola opens gates to
public for training"We know that if we play in Europe we will need more
players," said Zola. "One of the reasons we have a policy of having good
young players available is that they can come in and do a good job for the
team. "We are going to have a bigger squad next year. I am not going to have
more than a maximum of 22 players. I know I risk a little bit when I go for
a small number like that but I believe I gain something else. Maybe I will
have three, four or five very good young players in the reserves who are
ready to come in when they are needed."
Mark Noble, James Tomkins, Jack Collison, Freddie Sears and Junior Stanislas
have all come from the Hammers' Academy while others currently on the
fringes of the first team, such as Josh Payne and Bondz N'Gala, all show the
future is bright. "Arsenal was one of the models this club was looking at,"
added Zola. "It is what we want to do. I think it is working okay at the
moment and we want to improve. "Certainly Arsenal is a team I admire very
much and to do what they do is something we would like to do."
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West Ham to step up interest in Inter Milan starlet Mario Balotelli
The Mirror
By Darren Lewis 21/04/2009
Gianfranco Zola is ready to step up his interest in Inter Milan starlet
Mario Balotelli, who was targeted by racists at the weekend. The Under-21
Italian international was born to Ghanaian immigrant parents, but brought up
by an Italian family. West Ham were keen to sign Balotelli in January, but
Inter would not do business. The striker, who scored the opener in his
club's 1-1 draw at Juventus, was subjected to chants of "Black Italians
don't exist" from the Juve fans. Juventus have now been ordered to play
their next league home game - against Lecce on May 3 - behind closed doors,
but are set to appeal the decision. Juve president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli
condemned the actions of his club's fans.
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West Ham United Eyeing Inter Striker Mario Balotelli – Report
The Hammers unsuccessfully attempted to sign the Italian youngster in the
January transfer window...
21 Apr 2009 08:54:26
Goal.com
According to a report in the British tabloid The Daily Mirror, Premier
League club West Ham United have targeted an end of season move for Inter's
Mario Balotelli. It is thought that Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola knows the
18-year-old striker reasonably well from his time as Italy Under-21
assistant coach. Apparently, the east London outfit were keen to sign the
Italy U-21 international, who has scored three goals in six caps, during the
January transfer window, but the Nerazzurri were unwilling to do business. A
potential transfer fee for the 6ft 3in forward has not been mentioned but it
is unlikely he will come cheap because he is regarded as one of Serie A's
hottest prospects. Since breaking into the first-team setup at the San Sire,
Balotelli has scored ten goals in 34 appearances.
Ricky Brooks, Goal.com
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Zola adamant that Hammers will be in market for top stars
East London Advertiser
21 April 2009
Gianfranco Zola insists that West Ham will still be in the market for
top-class signings this summer despite the financial uncertainty at Upton
Park. The Hammers are expected to be taken over by a consortium of
international banks in the coming weeks, with Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson set to
be ousted as chairman as the club falls into the control of its major
creditor, the troubled Icelandic bank Straumur. The transfer of ownership is
unlikely to provide a boost to the club's finances, since Straumur itself
was last month declared "effectively insolvent" by the Financial Services
Authority. Yet Hammers boss Zola remains convinced that he will be given
funds to make a major summer signing as he attempts to build on a successful
first season in charge at Upton Park. The Italian, who expects to sign a new
contract at West Ham before the end of the season, believes that the club's
progress during the current campaign and a reputation for attractive
football will help him lure top names to the club. He said: "We are looking
for top-line players this summer. We are not big spenders, but we will spend
our money wisely and work hard to make it happen. "We are building up a good
reputation among players because we try to play good football and there's a
good atmosphere and that could be an attractive thing for good players to
come here. "I wouldn't be surprised to see a top player come and play for
West Ham in the summer. There is a good platform here to build up something
important for the future. "I believe that the club is going to improve.
There will be some stability and the situation will be better. We've been
through everything this year so we're not scared of anything."
Zola will underline his commitment to the club by signing a new contract in
the coming weeks, with No 2 Steve Clarke also set to extend his current
deal. The pair were signed on one-year rolling contracts when Zola took the
Upton Park hotseat in September, but are set to be rewarded for their
achievements this season in guiding the Hammers into a Europa League spot.
"The club is looking after us and we are talking about [new four-year
contracts] and it's looking good," Zola said. "Maybe it will happen during
the next few weeks. The club has been very good to us and we appreciate
that.
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No problems with Faubert - Juande Ramos
by Laurent Picard , 21 April 2009
setanta.co.uk
Julien Faubert, who missed training on Sunday, will be fined by Real Madrid
according to Juande Ramos. The West Ham midfielder, who is on loan to the
Santiago Bernabeu outfit until the end of the season, is experiencing a
terrible spell in Spain. The Frenchman has only played twice in the Primera
Liga, and he has not been included in Real's squad for a while. Faubert was
told he would not be involved in the game with Recreativo Huelva last
Saturday; and as a consequence he took a day off, whereas he was supposed to
practise on Sunday. "Indeed he forgot to make the training session on
Sunday," Ramos told Marca. "He was confused, that is all. He thought that
Sunday was a day off, as it is usually the case. "It is a mistake, but there
is no particular issue with him. He is aware that there is an internal
discipline and he is ready to respect it. There is no problem at all."
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Hammers close in on Scots star
Eveningtimes.co.uk
Ross McCormack could be set for a £3million switch to West Ham this summer.
The Premiership club have been checking on the former Ibrox kid who has had
an impressive season at Cardiff. He has scored 21 goals in 35 matches this
season, and that kind of form has alerted a number of top clubs. Cardiff are
pushing for a play-off position to take them into the English top flight,
and McCormack has made no secret of his desire to play in the Premiership.
It is understood there is no release fee in his contract, but that Cardiff
won't stand in his way if an offer comes in. Upton Park boss Gianfranco Zola
is believed to be leading the line of admirers and could make a bid for the
Scots star this summer.
Publication date 21/04/09
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More Real Madrid trouble for West Ham's Faubert
21.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United midfielder Julien Faubert is in more hot water at Real
Madrid. Faubert's loan move has been a disaster for the Frenchman and he was
fined for missing a training session on Sunday. Real coach Juande Ramos
explained: "It was an oversight by the kid. He thought we had Sunday off,
like normal. It was an oversight and there is no problem with him."
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Bank takeover unlikely for West Ham
21.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
A takeover of West Ham United by Iceland's Straumur bank looks unlikely. BBC
Sport says reports had indicated that Straumur was poised to take on
ownership of the club from its owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson. But Straumur is
restructuring and at an effective business standstill. Any potential
takeover by the bank in the future is only one of a number of options that
West Ham is considering. One football industry expert with knowledge of the
situation said a Straumur takeover was by no means certain to happen, adding
that: "It is only one of the options potentially on [the club's] agenda." It
was reported at the weekend that two potential bidders, from the Middle East
and Far East, had expressed an interest in buying the club. However, as yet
the club has not opened its books to any parties to undertake due diligence.
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Transfers - Gossip Shop: Balotelli for Hammers
Eurosport - Tue, 21 Apr 12:51:00 2009
Yahoo.co.uk
Sadly, Italy's latest boy wonder Mario Balotelli has been targeted by
racists, but out of all things bad comes some good. Just to prove that every
cloud has a sliver lining, West Ham could well be set to benefit from the
behaviour of the mindless idiots who hurled abuse at the Internazionale
striker at the weekend. The 18-year-old Italy U21 international, born to
Ghanaian parents in Palermo but raised by an Italian family in Brescia, was
taunted about his heritage during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Juventus.
Both Inter and Juve have been quick to condemn the actions of the brainless
Bianconeri fans - culminating in a quickly-delivered stadium ban for Juve -
but the damage might already have been done and Balotelli may be ready to
look for pastures new. At least that is what Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola is
thinking. The Daily Mirror reports that the Italian tactician is keen on
luring his compatriot to Upton Park where he would be able to enjoy life in
the altogether more enlightened world of the Premier League.
With Zola's connections at Italy U21 level, he is sure to have the inside
track on the muscular youngster, who has netted six times in Serie A this
season - no mean feat considering the defensive quality of the Italian top
flight.
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West Ham boss Zola knows he needs bigger squad
21.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola knows he will need a bigger squad if
they qualify for next season's Europa League. "We know that if we play in
Europe we will need more players," said Zola. "One of the reasons we have a
policy of having good young players available is that they can come in and
do a good job for the team. "We are going to have a bigger squad next year.
I am not going to have more than a maximum of 22 players. I know I risk a
little bit when I go for a small number like that but I believe I gain
something else. Maybe I will have three, four or five very good young
players in the reserves who are ready to come in when they are needed."
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