WHUFC.com
Savio has been called into Germany's Under-20 squad for a friendly against
Italy in Biella on 19 May
12.05.2009
West Ham United winger Savio has been called into the Germany Under-20 squad
for a friendly international against Italy in Biella on 19 May.
The 19-year-old, who has made eleven appearances for the Hammers since his
January move from Italian side Brescia, will hope to win his third Under-20
cap for Germany.
Savio, who was born in Uganda before his family moved to the German city of
Munich when he was a child, played in the 4-2 win over Austria in Gutersloh
last September and the 2-0 defeat by Switzerland in Lugano in March.
Last summer, he was part of the Germany squad that won the UEFA European
Under-19 Championship title in Czech Republic, scoring in the 3-0 group
stage victory over Bulgaria.
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Mehmet ends on a high
WHUFC.com
Young Turkish goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet finished the UEFA European U17
Championship with a win
13.05.2009
Deniz Mehmet finished the UEFA European Under-17 Championship with a clean
sheet after Turkey beat England by a single goal in the German town of
Gotha.
The 16-year-old Academy goalkeeper was the hero for Abdullah Ercan's side,
who went into the match with nothing to play for but pride after losing
their first two matches.
Mehmet was called into action with the first attack of the game and he
showed good positioning to collect a looping header from Arsenal's Benik
Afobe. He was busy once more shortly afterwards when he had to be alert to
tip an over-hit cross over the crossbar.
England, knowing they needed a win to stand any chance of progressing in the
tournament, continued to press after the break, but Mehmet once again denied
them when he showed good handling to hold a shot from Reading's Jacob
Walcott when under pressure shortly after the re-start.
Defeat at the Volksparkstadion meant England do not progress to the
semi-finals of the competition and lose any chance of securing a place at
the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria in October.
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Payne pride at home debut
WHUFC.com
Josh Payne was delighted at making his home debut in the weekend game with
Liverpool
12.05.2009
It was a day of mixed emotions for young midfielder Josh Payne on Saturday
as he came on to make his home debut against Liverpool.
By the time he entered the field in the 80th minute, the Reds were already
2-0 up and Payne could do nothing as they added a third in the dying
minutes. Despite the scoreline not finishing in the Hammers' favour on the
day, the feeling of getting out in front of the West Ham United faithful is
certainly not something Payne will forget in a hurry.
"The last time I played here was in the youth cup and a couple of reserve
games. They were nice, but they don't compare with being out there on
Saturday," Payne said.
"It's always hard to come on in games like that, especially against
Liverpool. When you're 2-0 down and you come on in it's always hard to get
the boys going again."
Gianfranco Zola had handed Payne his first-team debut at Blackburn Rovers at
the end of March and he chose to give the 18-year-old his second taste of
first-team action at the Boleyn Ground.
Now the former reserve-team captain, who has spent much of the season on
loan at Cheltenham Town, is eager to get more minutes on the pitch in the
last two games of the season in a bid to help the Hammers' push for UEFA
Europa League football next season.
"Everyone works hard to get that spot out there. You work hard and you've
got to keep going.
"You've got to work hard in training and show what the manager can do and
see if he will might chuck you on."
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Spence in England fold
WHUFC.com
Jordan Spence is in England's squad for three UEFA Under-19 Championship
Elite Round qualifiers
12.05.2009
West Ham United defender Jordan Spence could be the first Hammer to pull on
an international shirt this summer after being named in England's squad for
their UEFA Under-19 Championship Elite Round qualifiers
England take on Bosnia-Herzegovina at Doncaster Rovers' Keepmoat Stadium on
Wednesday 27 May before contesting further qualifiers against Slovakia, on
Friday 29 Mayat Bradford City's Valley Parade, and Scotland, at Sheffield
United's Bramall Lane on Monday 1 June.
Should Brian Eastick's team top Elite Round Group 6, they will qualify for
the eight-team final tournament, which will be held in Ukraine at the end of
July.
Spence is back at Chadwell Heath following a successful loan spell at League
One side Leyton Orient, where he made 21 league and cup appearances. The
versatile defender, who can play at right-back or centre-back, has captained
England at Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 levels.
Eastick has named an 18-man squad including Manchester United pair Danny
Welbeck and Danny Drinkwater and highly-rated Aston Villa forward Nathan
Delfouneso.
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Jeremy Nicholas Q&A
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 12th May 2009
By: Staff Writer
Earlier this week KUMB.com met up with stadium announcer Jeremy Nicholas for
a chat.
In our latest KUMB Q&A, Jeremy talks about his recent return to his post at
West Ham, his love for the club and his new career as an author - whilst
revealing just how KUMB.com gets a mention in the forthcoming FIFA 10
computer game.
Jeremy Nicholas
Filed: Tuesday, 12th May 2009
By: Gordon Thrower
He's been reading out the team selections for over 10 seasons now yet he
originally turned the job down when he was first asked to do it! We caught
up with stadium announcer Jeremy Nicholas to discuss skateboarding badgers
and to find out just how easy it is to upset Sir Bobby Charlton...
KUMB: You started at the Boleyn in 1998 but before that some of us recall
you working at much-missed BBC radio station GLR.
JN: That's right. I joined GLR in 1990. I was a regular there until about
1994 when I went freelance. I did the breakfast show for three years then
afternoons for a while. I went back there in 1999 and did the breakfast show
for a year or so. It was a smashing radio station the people that were
there Danny Baker, Chris Evans Chris Morris, Emma Freud it was quite a
breeding ground. The great thing about it was the mixture of serious speech
and great music.
KUMB: So, 1998. How exactly do you go about getting a job where you are paid
to watch West Ham?
JN: The way it happened was that I got a 'phone call out of the blue from
(former Managing Director) Paul Aldridge. He said that the club had
installed a new sound system and were looking for a new announcer and would
I like to do it and I said "no not really!" As a fan I liked going to
matches and shouting at the players and I wasn't sure that sort of thing
would be allowable in the job! I enjoyed just turning up and relaxing at
matches.
I presume that I was offered the job because I was always mentioning West
Ham on the radio and I think I was presenting sports programmes on Channel 5
at the time so they asked me to come down and give them some advice on how
things should be run. I kept turning the job down but they were quite
persistent. I then had a recurring dream that I'd be introducing Rio on the
pitch as having scored the winning goal in the '98 World Cup. I was brought
up on tales of Moore, Hurst & Peters being introduced as World Cup winners
in '66 so I thought that I'd be the one to do that for Rio and I agreed to
do the job.
It didn't quite work out as I planned though. Rio didn't get a game in the
World Cup and, instead of introducing World Cup heroes in my first game, I
had to introduce David Beckham who was public enemy no.1 at the time! I'd
been used to radio and tv where you don't usually see your audience so I was
scared enough at having to speak in front of 30,000+ people anyway without
having to announce "No. 7 David Beckham" in front of everyone booing. The
only thing that got me through it was the knowledge that the previous season
I'd been up in the Dr Martens stand myself doing the booing.
KUMB: A few years back we attended one of the fans' forums which happened to
coincide with a reserve match against Spurs. We had a half-hour break to
watch the end of the match and we were quite surprised to hear you
announcing all the substitutions. Do you do all the reserve games as well?
JN: I do some of them if they're at the Boleyn but I don't go to Bishop's
Stortford or wherever. What often happens is that reserve matches get moved
to the Boleyn at short notice. If there's a player being given a run-out
after injury, for example, they may move the game to the Boleyn rather than
risk further injury on a non-league pitch. If that happens I'll do it if my
other commitments allow I might have an engagement that's been booked for
months that I can't cancel so reserve games are a bit hit and miss. Reserve
games are great though you get some real fans there.
KUMB: So over the years are there any matches that stand out from a stadium
announcer's point of view?
JN: Well the one that everybody mentions is the play-off semi final against
Ipswich. We had the opera singer, the fireworks and the bloke doing the Post
Horn Gallop. That was a highlight.
KUMB: Looking back on that era, we used to speak to Alan Pardew and we know
that he used to ask you to do stuff to get the crowd going. Is that sort of
thing common?
JN: I guess that Alan Pardew was the most "hands on" of the managers I've
met. Harry would ask me not to get the crowd going too much in case it put
pressure on the players which I thought was a little bit strange to be
honest. Glenn Roeder didn't say anything much.
Pards would like to get anything new that was going streamers and that
sort of stuff. There were a few times I had to tell him that I didn't think
West Ham fans would go for that sort of thing. Some things might work well
at Reading but I thought we were steeped in tradition a bit more than that
so I had to tell him a couple of times that his suggestions wouldn't go down
too well.
KUMB: How about music after goals? We happen to know you share our distaste
for that sort of thing!
JN: It was suggested once! I can't remember if it was Pardew who suggested
it but it did come up once. I was against it and, to be fair, so was
everyone else at the club. Everyone agreed it was a bad idea.
KUMB: We heard a radio interview with you once when you put your views on
the subject quite forcefully!
JN: I believe the phrase I used was "Over My Dead Body!" My general feeling
about the job is that I'm there to do pretty much what the club wants. I
only say two things: that we should always run out to "Bubbles" and that we
should never play music after goals. Other than that I pretty much do what
I'm told.
KUMB: You mentioned turning the job down originally because you were a fan
and you occasionally hear stories of announcers at other clubs getting the
sack for saying things the guy at Preston was dismissed a few years back
for making a comment about Uriah Rennie. How hard is it to stay detached
during a match?
JN: It is quite tricky. There are other examples. There was the guy in the
Bristol derby can't remember which club who got the sack for announcing
"no. 12 Junior Bent and I bet he is" and there was the guy at Charlton who
was sacked for continually referring to the opposition as "Crystal Palarse."
It is difficult to keep yourself in check. Last Saturday for example I sat
there thinking that Alan Wiley wasn't doing a particularly good job and
I've got a microphone in my hand! However, also in the back of my mind is
the fact that Wiley is probably one of the better referees out there and,
apart from the foul on Luis before the penalty he got most things right.
It wouldn't be a good job to do if you had Tourette's and were shouting out
everything that runs through your head! You have to be conscious of what you
say. I used to shout a lot as a season ticket holder but now I don't!
KUMB: You mentioned the Ipswich game as a highlight. How about low points?
Any moments where you thought "did I really say that"?
JN: (Laughs) what could I tell you that wouldn't lose me my job! I suppose
there's the famous "Aliadiere" moment. Everyone kept getting his name wrong
so I thought "he's here, he's there, he's Aliadiere" it's impossible to
get his name wrong if you say it in that rhythm. I waited for weeks for him
to get on so I could use that. I thought that it would be hilarious and that
everyone would crack up and it would become a real cult thing. Unfortunately
he was rubbish!
KUMB: That one still raises a smile in certain quarters!
JN: Then there was Richard Shaw. He scored an own goal when he was playing
for Coventry and I announced the goal in "too cheerful a voice" for the
opposition directors apparently. It was a bullet header and it was quite
funny "goal for West Ham scored by Rich-ard Shaw!" I've since learned that
you're supposed to say these things like you're at a funeral.
Actually it was quite funny and, you know what, we are West Ham. We're not
the BBC, we're not neutral, it's not Wembley. We scored a goal so let's go
nuts! I remember reading out the half-time scores once and saying "Here's
some good news Spurs are losing" and Bobby Charlton of all people
complained! He was in the directors' box and it was relayed to me that he
thought that "your announcer shouldn't do that sort of thing". Mind you it
was also relayed to me "carry on Jeremy we're not neutral" so I've carried
on doing that sort of thing ever since.
Actually that might have been my very first game first game and I upset
Sir Bobby Charlton!
KUMB: Good! You had a bit of a break earlier this season?
JN: Yeah - it was great to watch games again from the stand with my wife.
But when the call came asking me to return for the Hull game, I was
delighted to say yes. Could I say thanks to everyone who's been kind enough
to suggest my return coincided with an improvement in atmosphere. I don't
think an announcer has much to do with improving atmosphere if I'm honest,
it's all down to the fans.
From watching West Ham away I would say most announcers love the sound of
their own voice and talk far too much. Maybe I was guilty of that when I
started. I've supported West Ham all my life and the one thing I know about
us, is we don't like being told what to do. I might say 'come on let's make
some noise and get behind the Hammers' just to raise levels at the start of
the second half, but I will never do a 'Delia' and shout at fans 'let's be
having you!' Well, not unless Pards makes an unexpected return and I'm under
orders!
KUMB: I believe the missus ran the marathon the other week. You didn't fancy
that one yourself?
JN: No! I can't run - I'm a terrible runner. I love golf and tennis. I used
to play football until my pace went. I hate running. Whenever I'm running I
think "I could stop now". If there's a tennis ball at my feet or there's
something to win I think "fair enough" but just running? No! Jeanette did it
in 5:36 she did it three years ago in 4:58 but she got a calf injury this
time round so she had to power walk the last 9 miles. She's from South
Africa and she's quite "outdoorsy". We actually got married at the ground.
KUMB:
She didn't mind that? I'm in no rush to get married but I'm pretty sure that
if I suggested the Boleyn Ground I'd get pretty short shrift! (I won't ask
in case she says yes!)
JN: No she didn't mind at all! The beauty of it all was that we had the
wedding and reception all in the one place and we had guests from overseas
so they could stay in the hotel.
KUMB: I stayed in a hotel once that had a marvellous view across the bay of
Cape Town and Table Mountain and I maintain that it's got the second best
hotel view in the world after the Boleyn! So what occupies your time away
from the Boleyn these days?
JN: Everything is to do with talking really. My background is obviously
radio, then I went into telly with Sky and Channel 5 and did a lot of sports
presenting. Nowadays the day job is basically professional speaking. I do a
lot of after dinners there's a lot of sports anecdotes and "when
broadcasting goes wrong" stuff. I still do the odd week here and there for
the BBC doing "and finally" stories the "skateboarding badger" stuff you
can see reports like "David Beckham's face on a melon" on the website -
jeremynicholas.co.uk.
That's mainly for the BBC "East Midlands Today" programme I've done a lot
of stuff for that area historically so I spend a lot of time on the
motorway. I'm gradually moving away from that area though and I'm doing a
lot more just speaking. I host and compere a lot of business events and
awards shows.
I also do a lot of media training I set up my company Talking Toolbox
about a year ago and we go into companies armed with camcorders and laptops
to show them how to be interviewed and how things get edited down, that sort
of thing. That's going really well.
KUMB: You're also a published author we understand!
JN: Yeah! When you do public speaking they have to introduce you onto the
stage and I'm a bit of a hotch-potch! "It's Jeremy Nicholas, stadium
announcer at West Ham, TV reporter, radio presenter, a bit of this, a bit of
that". Now they can say "Jeremy Nicholas, author of "Media Masters" and
they'll know roughly what I'm going to talk about.
I had no idea when I started it whether it'd be any good at it but I think
it's turned out ok!
KUMB: So what's the book about then?
JN: Well we interviewed 25 people who are in the public eye, there's some
sports stars, TV presenters, politicians, that sort of thing, and they give
their tips for how to come over well in the media on TV and radio. There's
a couple of Hammers in there. There's Iain Dale, who runs political and West
Ham blogs, and also Phill Jupitus of "Buzzcocks" fame. Iain Dale ran through
the politicians who he thinks come over well on TV and Phill's tip was that
you should make sure that what you say actually looks good in black & white
as well as sounding good in context.
KUMB: The book's available in all good bookshops we presume?!
JN: And some very poor ones as well! Another thing I did last year was
hosting the reception of Rebecca Adlington the double Olympic gold
medallist. That was quite funny. She was expecting maybe 2 or 3,000 to turn
up but when she came out there were 50,000 there! The previous biggest thing
to come out of Mansfield was Richard Bacon!
KUMB: How about voiceovers?
JN: Yeah I do the stadium announcements on the EA Sports FIFA games I've
been doing those since FIFA 06. Once a year I go into a voice-over booth in
Wardour Street and announce the names of every team and every player from
any country in the world. Each year I just have to announce the new players
the 17 year olds that are coming through and I announce their names as
if they've just scored or as if they've been substituted and I update it for
any new grounds that have been built. You get to make some announcements of
your own every car I've ever owned has left its lights on and Mr Moon
arrives and leaves you'll be glad to hear. I mentioned a mate's wedding in
the past and I managed to mention KUMB.com in the 2010 version. The
announcements come up at random though. My mate's brothers were playing it
for a year and a half before they heard his announcement!
KUMB: It's fun to stick somebody's name into google just to see what the
"wrong" hits come up with. Did you know that you have an MBE for services to
Anglo-Belgian trade for example!?
JN: I had no idea! There is an actor called Jeremy Nicholas though. I met
him in my GLR days. I'd just finished a breakfast show which puts you in a
jet-lagged state. You spend the week working in one time zone and the
weekend in another and you exist in a sort of twilight zone. I'd been
drinking coffee all morning and reception announced "Jeremy Nicholas please
come to reception Jeremy Nicholas to see you" which I thought was a bit
weird. I remember walking along the corridor in my jet-lagged state thinking
"what shall I do if I get there and it's me?!"
KUMB: BBC coffee is that good?!
JN: When I got to reception there was this actor waiting for me. We went
across the road for a drink and after 20 minutes he told me that his agents
were worried and would I mind awfully changing my name! I said no. He used
to read "Book At Bedtime" on Radio 4 and Radio 4 kept telling GLR to get me
to change my name. They were putting the pressure on even when I had moved
onto TalkSport Radio. He started mentioning (the actors' union) Equity and I
countered that with my membership of the NUJ. They wanted me to change it to
Jeremy J Nicholas a bit like Harry H Corbett of Steptoe fame and Harry
Corbett who did Sooty. Jeremy J Nicholas that would have been terrible!
I did a radio show on technology once and we were discussing websites. The
expert mentioned that jeremynicholas.com was available and explained how to
register it the idea was that the following week he was going to explain
how to fill it with content. By the time the programme had finished the
actor had registered jeremynicholas.com for himself which is why mine is
jeremynicholas.co.uk!
KUMB: Any plans for the future at the moment?
JN: Well I'm about to launch a You Tube Video channel where I'll be
presenting "soft news" more of the "skateboarding badger" stuff that the
BBC tend not to cover in too much depth. I've bought an illuminated globe
and it'll just be me sitting in the office talking to a camera. Very high
tech! I'm also hoping to get some work in South Africa around World Cup
time!
KUMB: We'll keep an eye out for the you tube stuff. Thanks for your time.
JN: No problem.
Jeremy's book "Media Masters" co-written with Alan Stevens and edited by
Debbie Jenkins is available from all good bookshops, some very poor ones and
also at Amazon.
Jeremy's wife Jeanette ran the London Marathon in support of an orphanage in
South Africa.
Jeremy Nicholas - fact file
Jeremy is an award winning TV and radio broadcaster, after dinner speaker,
compere and media trainer.
Radio
He won a Sony Award for his breakfast show on BBC Greater London Radio and a
New York Academy Award for his live commentary on the Hillsborough disaster
for BBC Radio Nottingham. He also presented The World Today on the BBC World
Service, afternoons on BBC Radio 5 Live, You Cannot Be Serious and Sick As a
Parrot for BBC Radio 5, Call the Doc and Time Smart for Talk Sport and
Jeremy Nicholas in the afternoon on GLR.
TV
He was the face of sport for the first two years of Channel 5 fronting live
European and World Cup football, Live and Dangerous, Turnstyle and Sick as a
Parrot. He's also presented sports shows on ITV, Sky and is currently a news
reporter working for BBC TV.
Guest
Jeremy has been a regular guest on Call My Bluff (BBC TV) and Wordly Wise
(BBC Radio 4)
Writing
As well as writing columns for various magazines, Jeremy is the co-author of
MediaMasters with Alan Stevens, available on Amazon from May 2009.
Training
Jeremy is the director of Talking Toolbox which teaches speaking skills for
TV, radio and live audiences. Media training sessions are available on site
at your firm, or to individuals at venues including the Groucho Club, Amida
Hampton and Loughborough College.
Speaking
A well known voice on the after dinner circuit, Jeremy also is an
accomplished host of business events working for clients such as Carling,
Ericsson, Electronic Arts (EA Sports), EPI-USE, Bobby Moore Fund, Ecademy,
The Football Association and Samsung.
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Hammers win BBC damages
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 12th May 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's management team have won damages from the BBC over
libellous claims made by journalist Harry Harris.
Steve Clarke and Gianfranco Zola were awarded an undisclosed sum earlier
today after the hearing in London's High Court found in their favour.
Harris, who was participating in a BBC Radio Five Live show back in February
claimed that Clarke and Zola had met Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich with
view to succeeding the sacked Phil Scolari in the week prior to the
broadcast.
Harris' claims were rubbished by a Hammers source who told KUMB.com in the
wake of the storm that the duo remained committed to West Ham. Both have
since signed four year deals with United, tying them to the club until 2013.
Solicitor James Quartermaine, speaking on behalf of Clarke and Zola said:
"The broadcast of this unfounded allegation caused Mr Zola and Mr Clarke
acute distress and anxiety as it was understandably feared that it would
damage their relationship with their employers and with the players and fans
of West Ham United."
The BBCs solicitor, David Carrington apologised for any distress caused as a
result of the programme whilst adding that the corporation did not endorse
Mr Harris' comments.
News of the victory comes just weeks after the Manchester Evening News were
forced to issue an apology for publishing a story that claimed Gianfranco
Zola had 'tapped up' Manchester City striker Valerie Bojinov.
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Tristan set for contract talks
Striker to discuss new deal with Zola
Last updated: 13th May 2009
SSN
Diego Tristan has revealed he will discuss his future with West Ham manager
Gianfranco Zola at the end of the season. The Spanish striker arrived at
Upton Park on a free transfer earlier in the season but his current deal is
set to expire in the summer. Tristan has made it clear that he would like to
remain with the Hammers and Zola recently admitted he was putting a strong
case forward for a fresh contract. The 33-year-old has produced a series of
increasingly impressive performances and is determined to maintain his form
for the final two matches of the campaign. He is then looking forward to
sitting down with Zola to speak about whether he will be staying. "It is up
in the air," Tristan said. "I came with the idea of playing this season and
then we'd see at the end of it. I will do my best in the games we have left
and then we'll see. "I will speak to the manager and he will decide. I just
hope that in these games I can keep playing well and help this team achieve
their goal of qualifying for Europe."
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Biglia interest mounts
Clubs impressed with Argentine
Last updated: 13th May 2009
SSN
A host of English clubs were in Belgium at the weekend to check on
Anderlecht star Lucas Biglia, skysports.com understands. The Argentine has
emerged as a target for a host of clubs after he secured his Italian
passport earlier this year. The 23-year-old midfielder is on the fringes of
the Argentina squad and is on outside bet to make their World Cup squad next
year - but he would have been unlikely to gain a work-permit at this stage
of his career. But now his EU status has been confirmed Biglia, has emerged
on the radar of half-a-dozen Premier League clubs. It is believed Tottenham,
West Ham, Blackburn, Sunderland, Bolton, Wolves and Birmingham were all
represented in Brussels on Saturday when Anderlecht tackled Roeselare. Les
Mauves won 3-1 and Biglia - who put in a Man of the Match performance -
smashed home a wonderful third. Biglia's British-based representative Barry
McIntosh confirmed to skysports.com the interest was mounting. "The interest
in Biglia is growing all the time, and yes I can confirm a number of Premier
League clubs are checking on him," he told skysports.com. "Lucas is a great
talent and we have few qualms that he would be an excellent addition for any
club. "He is keen on a move to England, but we will have to see what
transpires in the next few weeks."
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Hammers 'target' dressed to impress
by Laurent Picard , 13 May 2009
setanta.co.uk
Reported West Ham target Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik has set his sights on proving
his talent. The nephew of former Cameroon star François Omam-Biyik has been
linked to The Hammers after impressing during his debut season in the French
top flight. The 19-year-old centre back has learnt his trade with
rock-bottom side Le Havre and he is eager to play top flight football
'sooner rather than later'. "[Despite the fact that Le Havre have nothing to
play for] it is easy for me to find motivation ahead of the last few games
of the season because I am playing for my future," he said. "I am 19 and
still have everything to prove so my performances must be good. I have to
give my all throughout the games, and have no problems of motivation at all.
"What I must do is prove myself." He added: "Still I have a three-year
contract so obviously I am going to continue in Ligue 2. And our objective
is to be back to the top flight sooner rather than later."
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Everton v West Ham preview
11:34am Wednesday 13th May 2009
Guardian Series
Everton v West Ham
Premier League, Saturday, 3pm
LAST MEETING: West Ham 1-3 Everton (08/11/08) Jack Collison looked to have
won it for the Hammers but in four incredible minutes, the game was turned
on its head. A Louis Saha brace and a Joleon Lescott header saw the Toffees
take all three points.
LAST TIME AT GOODISON PARK: Everton 1-1 West Ham (22/03/08) Dean Ashton's
second half strike cancelled out Yakubu's opener to earn a point.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Everton 59 wins, West Ham 36 wins, 24 draws
FORM: Everton recently shut out both Manchester United and Chelsea, and with
West Ham struggling for goals, Gianfranco Zola will have plenty of work to
do if they are to trouble the Toffees' backline.
David Moyes' side will be up for the clash, as they still harbour realistic
hopes of pipping Aston Villa for fifth place.
DANGER MEN: Hair raisers Marouane Fellaini and Jo have been taking Goodison
by storm, combining to good effect at the heart of the Toffees' attack.
Fellaini, in particular, specialises in bringing his team-mates into play
with his strong hold-up play and deft flicks.
FUN FACT: The tower depicted on Everton's crest is a famous feature of the
area, and was once used as a bridewall to incarcerate criminals.
The wreaths wrapped around it were the symbols of winners in classical
times.
PREDICTION: Everton 2 West Ham 1
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Tristan set to bid adios to Upton Park
13 May 2009
East London Advertiser
EXCLUSIVE
By JONATHAN CLEGG
Diego Tristan is ready to turn down a new contract at West Ham and return to
Spain at the end of the season. Tristan's current deal expires at the end of
the season and Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola has hinted that the 33-year-old
could be offered an extension to remain at Upton Park next year. The veteran
striker has impressed for the Hammers in recent weeks, netting twice in his
past four appearances after getting an extended run in the side.
But the former Deportivo La Coruna hitman has now revealed that he would
snub a deal to stay at West Ham in favour of a return to La Liga this
summer.
He said: "It's a topic that has been revived with my recent performances,
but there are still two matches left and I don't want to be rushed. "It
depends on what happens at West Ham with a view to next season and on what
my family decide. "I have received several offers, but I still hope to go
back to enjoying my football in Spain."
Tristan was one of the most feared strikers in Europe during his days at
Deportivo and has netted 96 goals in the Spain's top division. He believes
that a return to his homeland will help his quest for a century of
top-flight goals. "I dream of reaching 100 goals in La Liga. It's something
that is very much within my reach," he told Spanish newspaper Marca.
Tristan's desire to quit Upton Park will come as a blow to Hammers boss
Zola, who last week claimed that the forward is close to recapturing his
best form. "Diego Tristan has got everything and he can be one of the top
strikers in Europe again - easily," Zola said. "He has been an international
player and top scorer in Spain for many years. "He just lost a little bit of
it in the last few years but he is getting back very, very quickly.
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Genoa rival West Ham for Lecce defender Esposito
14.05.09 | tribalfootball.com
Lecce defender Andrea Esposito continues to attract big club interest. After
being linked with West Ham and Roma, the 22 year-old is now being tracked by
Genoa. Esposito could make the move to Genoa should they clinch Champions
League qualification this season.
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