WHUFC.com
Season tickets for the 2009/10 are proving popular among West Ham United
fans
16.06.2009
Excitement among West Ham United fans for the 2009/10 season is already
building if season ticket sales are anything to go by. Sales are up compared
to the same period last year and there has also been a rise in the number of
new applicants. With the fixtures for the new season announced on Wednesday,
thousands of supporters have been taking up the opportunity to make sure
they do not miss a kick at the Boleyn Ground. With the number of season
tickets capped at 26,000, it is expected that the number sold will come
close to that come the first game of the season in mid-August. All four
stands - including the West Stand, which has reverted to its old name from
the Dr Martens Stand - are proving popular. Head of matchday sales Steve
Kitcher said: "Once again the West Ham United supporters have demonstrated
their loyalty to the team. The 2009/10 promises to be an exciting campaign
under Gianfranco Zola and by the time the season kicks off on 15 August
we're optimistic we'll have an increase on last year's numbers. "We'd like
to thank all of the fans who have already applied and would remind those
that haven't already renewed that the deadlines for applications is
Wednesday 1 July."
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Napoli ticket details confirmed
WHUFC.com
Ticket prices for the Bobby Moore Cup match with SSC Napoli have been
announced
16.06.2009
West Ham United have confirmed ticket prices for the 2009 Bobby Moore Cup to
be played against SSC Napoli on Saturday 8 August.
The match will be the traditional curtain-raiser for the new season with
Gianfranco Zola sure to field a strong lineup just a week before the big
kick-off in the Barclays Premier League. As was the case in last year's
inaugural Bobby Moore Cup fixture against Villarreal, the club will use the
match to raise funds and awareness for the club's main charity partner - the
Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK (Registered Charity No. 1089464).
Once again, all advanced ticket sales will be reduced, with advanced prices
for season ticket holders starting at £10, with under-16s from £5.
As such, £1 from the sale of every match ticket will go to the Fund to help
tackle bowel cancer. In addition, West Ham United will match each £1 raised
to double the total amount donated to the charity. This initiative follows
on from a number of events last season, which was the first year of the
formal three-year partnership agreement signed with the Fund.
Stephanie Moore MBE, the charity's founder, said: "I am delighted that West
Ham United are holding the second Bobby Moore Cup in aid of the Bobby Moore
Fund. The donation made from the £1 contribution on the ticket sales and the
£1 matched donation by the club will go towards funding dedicated bowel
cancer research in the UK.
"I want to say a huge thank you to the fans and West Ham United for helping
the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK to tackle bowel cancer by
supporting this fantastic match. In addition I would also like to say a
massive thank you to the opponents, Napoli, for joining us at Upton Park in
August to play in this special match - I look forward to the match
immensely."
West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury said: "I am very pleased that we are once
again able to support the Bobby Moore Fund in this way. We are into the
second year of our formal partnership and the backing the fans continue to
give to such a good cause is tremendous - especially in these difficult
times. The Napoli match will be a great way to start the new season and we
are all looking forward to seeing what Gianfranco Zola and his squad can
achieve."
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Jeremy in the spotlight
WHUFC.com
Boleyn Ground Stadium Announcer Jeremy Nicholas had a busy afternoon on the
final day of the season
16.06.2009
The final day of the season is always an extra busy one for Boleyn Ground
Stadium Announcer Jeremy Nicholas, but he took some time out of his
preparations on the day for a quick Q&A session about what a matchday holds
in store for him.
Is today a busy day for you?
Yes it is a very busy day. We normally have a meeting three hours before
kick off but today it was four hours. Before kick-off it's about getting the
atmosphere right and making sure we hit bubbles at the right time. That's
one of the most important things on matchdays. You talk to the floor manager
and if there is a TV company like Setanta here they want it to happen at a
certain time, then the ref has got his own ideas, but we want to make sure
it happens at the right time for us. Once all of the players are there, you
give the cue to start Bubbles and then you want them to come out when it's
just on 'fortunes always hiding' or 'United, United'. What you don't want is
for them to come out too early so I always have a chat with the referee as I
always want the away team to stand in the tunnel and hear what is happening
outside and think "We've got to go out in that cauldron."
But you are being pushed aside for a short while aren't you?
Yes it's a big moment for Russ Bray, the darts commentator from Sky. He is a
big West Ham fan and it's his dream to do it so I wouldn't want to stand in
his way. I don't think we've got a player that wears 180, but maybe we
should create one just for today! We usually do the teams three times. We
get the teams at about ten past two, so I first do them about quarter past
two. Then Russ will do the second reading at about twenty to three when the
ground is starting to fill up. Then I'll do the final reading just before
kick-off.
What sort of half-time entertainment is there?
We've got Trevor Morley, a Hammers legend, coming down for a chat on the
pitch and I think it is always good when we get the old players on the
pitch. People like to see them and it is good to see what they look like.
You see Alan Devonshire now and he looks completely different. I saw Alan
Taylor the other week and he looked like Alan Taylor but with the glasses so
it will be interesting how Trevor Morley has changed. I assume he will be
tall and dark. Then during the second half it just builds up for full time
and Hammer of the Year and all of the presentations there. It's a bit
trickier this year as we play Middlesbrough and the chances are they're
going to get relegated. So it's a bit of a funny one as we're having an end
of season party and they're having a funeral almost. It's a bit of a
balancing act so hopefully most of their fans will have left the ground by
the time we get on with our party and the player awards come about.
And how do you prepare for the after-match events?
Well we've had our meeting, where we were just coordinating who has won
which award and who is presenting the awards. When I came in I didn't know
who had won Hammer of the Year so when I found it was like "Wow."
Who did you vote for?
I voted for Herita Ilunga actually and so did my wife as I thought he was
fantastically consistent and he gave his all. I'd never heard of him before
we signed him and I just thought he was great. But I think Scott [Parker]
was awesome this season so no worries about that.
Why do you think the fans have taken to Scott so much?
He's all over the place. He's a real midfield dynamo, he wins the ball and
sets everyone up. He never does anything fancy, he's just class like Michael
Carrick used to be. He's a brilliant player.
And goal of the season?
Well there was only one winner. I was at the Hammer of the Year launch
dinner and I thought there is only one of those really, Carlton Cole. I
wasn't at the game but as soon as I saw it on the box, with the passing
around from player to player and the way it went up the field so quickly, it
was a proper West Ham old-style goal. There's no doubt that should have been
the one.
What do you think about the other winners?
I used to sit next to Jack Collison on the bench last year and he is a model
professional. I sat next to him and James Tomkins and they just watched the
game - they were so into it. I'd also like to present him with his '35th
Hottest Man in Wales award', but we don't have a trophy for that! Then it's
the big award with the runner-up, Rob Green, first and then the Hammer of
the Year, Scott Parker. Then there will be the lap of the pitch, which is
very much a lap of appreciation so that the players can say thanks to the
fans for what the fans have done this year and the fans can appreciate all
of the effort the players have put in.
Do you find it easy talking in front of that many people?
Yes I do, I'm just a bit of a show-off really!
What do you see your role as - is it to inform or entertain?
It's a bit of both really. Probably informing people, letting people know
what's happening. It's a bit of entertaining. I think most West Ham fans
have a sense of humour so occasionally I'll say something funny to show that
it's not too official or serious. It's a balancing act between being a
representative of the club and being a fan. Obviously I'm a big West Ham fan
but I can't always say on the mic the things I might want to say as a West
Ham fan. We had Alan Wiley the other week and I was sitting in the dug-out
not particularly happy with some of the things he was doing but I can't just
shout out what I think because the chances are when you get home and see the
replays you think "Oh yes he did get that right." I'm just watching it
through claret and blue glasses and sometimes you have to sit on your hands
and not press that little button on the mic.
So you say you're a big West Ham fan. Is this something of a dream job?
I started supporting them when I was six as I grew up in Clayhall, which is
prime West Ham territory and have just always supported them. When I first
got the call in the summer of 1998, England were in the World Cup and our
first game that season was Manchester United when David Beckham had just
been sent off against Argentina. I knew everyone was going to booing and
hissing at him. I was actually quite scared at the first game as in my
career as a TV and radio presenter you don't see the audience and being
Channel Five the audiences were very small those days. So suddenly I had
large audiences and I could see them. I knew I would say "No7 David Beckham"
and everyone would boo and hiss and the only thing that got me through it is
in the previous season when the announcer said "No7 David Beckham" I was one
of those booing and hissing.
How did you get the job at West Ham?
I always used to talk about West Ham on the radio and in the summer of '98
they put a new PA system in with a new announcer and I think someone had
always heard me talking about them. Originally I turned it down but then I
had this dream three nights running that I welcomed Rio back onto the pitch
and he had just scored the winning goal in the World Cup final. I remember
in 1966 Moore, Hurst and Peters got clapped out onto the pitch after the
World Cup final and the announcer said "Let's hear it for the West Ham guys
who won the World Cup for England." I thought I was going to do that for Rio
so I rang them up and said "I'll do it". Rio didn't even get on the pitch at
the World Cup and I ended up having to announce Beckham and everyone booed
so it wasn't quite the dream that I had had.
Do you listen to other clubs' announcers or model yourself on anyone else?
I think all that announcers can do is get it wrong or annoy people. I get
annoyed when I go to our away games and they just run through our team and
not read through them properly. Then they run through their team and give
them a big build up with pictures on the boards and all that. It's just a
case of respecting the other team and then being enthusiastic about our
team. Having said that when I announce a goal, if it's for us I do it really
loudly but if it's for them I just kind of mumble it. Once when we played
Coventry we were the beneficiaries of a superb own goal and I announced it
as "Goal for West Ham scored by Richard Shaw" very excitedly and then
Coventry complained that I had announced it too loudly.
And you've just become an author?
Yes, the book is called Media Masters and I've interviewed 25 different
people in the media and it's about how to come across well in TV and radio
interviews. So there's lots of people in there. There's Rebecca Adlington
the swimmer, George Galloway, Uri Geller and various business people. It's
just what sort of things to avoid saying and what things to say to best
promote whatever it is you want to talk about, whether it be your brand,
business or service.
So this interview should be perfect then?
Well it should be but if not then I should read the book. One of my
favourite chapters is about someone who I didn't interview for the book,
Brian Clough. I worked for BBC in Nottingham, covering Forest home and away
so I got to know him quite well and all of the sound bites he did were
brilliant. He used to come up with superb little nuggets like "Rome wasn't
built in a day but I didn't work on that project" and the "River Trent is
nice at this time of year, I just walked across it."
Jeremy's book, 'Media Masters, Insider Secrets from the big names of
broadcast, print and social media' is available to order now, priced £15.
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Hammers land promising youngster
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 16th June 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have made their first signing of what promises to be a busy
summer. American starlet Sebastian Lletget - a midfielder by trade -
recently secured his move to England after obtaining a European passport.
The Hammers had been tracking the 16-year-old American youth international
for more than a year, since he was first spotted playing for his current
club Santa Clara Sporting. Lletget - born and bred in the USA - circumvented
the rules regarding the signing of non-EU youth players by obtaining an
Italian passport last November, for which he qualifies through an Italian
grandfather. Currently on his summer break, Lletget is set to join up with
his team mates again in London next month and will spend the next year
commuting between the UK and the US in order to continue working with the
American youth set-up before hopefully moving to England permanently.
Talking about his future recently, Lletget said: "My heart's always going to
be with the U.S - it's just that playing for a European team is amazing.
It's just a higher level. That's how far I want to push it." Wilmer Cabrera
- Lletget's national youth team coach - added: "He is a very good technical
player. He reads the game well."
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Napoli details confirmed
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 16th June 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have confirmed ticket details for August's Bobby Moore Cup clash
with Napoli. The Hammers face the Serie A outfit at the Boleyn Ground on
Saturday 8th August, a week ahead of the 2009/10 Premier League season
kick-off. The club have confimed that tickets for the game are available in
advance from the ticket office at £10-15 for season ticket holders (£5 for
under 16s) whilst academy members will pay £13-20 (£5 again for under 16s).
Advance tickets for non season ticket holders are priced at £16-25 for
adults, £6.50-10 for senior citizens and £5 for under 16s. However those
hoping to pay on the door will have to fork out between £20-35, with senior
citizen and under 16 rates as before. Season ticket holders can apply for
tickets from Tuesday 7th July, Academy members from Wednesday 15th July and
everyone else from Tuesday, 18th July.
A brief history of the (new) Bobby Moore Cup
2008 vs Villareal: 1-1 (Trophy shared)
Alan Curbishley's side made a dream start when Cole finished an incisive
move started by Matthew Upson. Villarreal equalised nine minutes ahead of
the break through Cazorla, who played a neat (headed) one-two before firing
past Rob Green from an acute angle. The Hammers thought they had snatched a
late winner, however Sears' effort was ruled out for offside; a marginal but
probably correct decision.
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Roll with it
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 16th June 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have appointed former Chelsea and Watford Chief of Medical
Staff Andy Rolls to the club's backroom team.
Rolls left Watford last week and, according to local news, has joined the
medical team at Chadwell Heath. His departure was confirmed by the Hornets
at the weekend; a statement on watfordfc.com confirming that "the
highly-respected former Chelsea physio leaves his position with the Hornets
to take up a job with a Premiership club."
Rolls spent three years learning his trade at Chelsea before moving to
Vicarage Road in the summer of 2005. He is recognised by the Championship
club as having played a "vital role in Watford's promotion in his first
season".
watfordfc.com also referred to the departing Rolls as "a leader in the
industry with many other clubs copying [his] techniques and systems."
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Vultures swoop again
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 16th June 2009
By: Staff Writer
Former Hammers winger Kyel Reid is set to sign for Sheffield United,
according to latest reports. The former West Ham United trainee was released
at the end of last season having failed to nail down a first team spot under
three different managers and has been linked with a number of Championship
clubs in recent weeks. But according to fresh reports emerging this
afternoon, the compo-happy Blades appear to have won the race to sign the
21-year-old former England youth international.
Reid made just one Premier League start for the Hammers during his four
years as a pro, that coming in the 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion in May
2006 when Alan Pardew was still manager. His only other first team start
came in the 2-1 Carling Cup defeat at Chesterfield in October 2006.
Despite making a total of just nine first team appearances in claret and
blue, Reid still managed to get on the scoresheet once - that being in the
4-1 defeat of Macclesfield in the Carling Cup at the beginning of last
season. His career at West Ham was interrupted by a number of loan spells;
in the last three years Reid enjoyed spells on loan with Barnsley, Crystal
Palace, Blackpool and most recently newly-promoted Wolves.
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Werder up
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 16th June 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham will face Werder Bremen in Bad Waltersdorf next month as part of
their Austrian stay.
The Hammers are off to the Bad Radkersburg training camp in Austria for the
second time in three years where they will play at least two games against
foreign opposition.
The first of those fixtures has now been confirmed for Saturday, 18th July
in Bad Waltersdorf - just North of United's Bad Radkersburg base - with
German side Werder Bremen providing the oppostion.
West Ham could yet face another German side as Hertha Berlin are also in
Austria at the same time. Another possibility is Czech outfit FK Jablonec.
Have a Werder: 5 things you probably didn't know about Sportverein Werder
Bremen von 1899 e. V.
1. Bremen echoed West Ham's mid-table form in last season's Bundesliga,
finishing a comfortable 10th.
2. The club was founded 100 years ago by a group of students who had won
sporting kit in a competition. They play home games at the Weserstadion,
which has a capacity of 42,358.
3. Werder have numerous nicknames, including Die Grün-Weißen (the green and
whites) and HB (abbreviation of the German 'City of Bremen').
4. Bremen were the first German club to erect a fence around their ground
and charge entrance fees . They were also the first German club to appoint a
professional manager (in 1922).
5. The club have been known as ASC 1898 Bremen (1899-1900), FV Bremen
(1900-20), Sportabteilung Werder des ABTV (1914), Sportverein Werder Bremen
(1920-2009), Turn- und Sportverein Werder 1945 Bremen (1945-46) and
Sport-Club Grün-Weiß 99 Bremen (1946).
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Eagles move back on?
KUMB,.com
Filed: Tuesday, 16th June 2009
By: Staff Writer
Freddie Sears could still be playing his football in the capital next
season, according to reports. The Croydon Advertiser are claiming this
morning that the 19-year-old striker could yet spend next season on loan at
Crystal Palace - despite a move to Sheffield Wednesday being virtually
rubber-stamped last week. According to the report, Gianfranco Zola would
prefer Sears to remain rather closer to home than Sheffield - giving the
Eagles the green light to press ahead with their bid to sign the England
youth striker. However a move to Palace would appear unlikely given that the
South London club's current manager, Neil Warnock, revealed he was set to
sue the Hammers for lost earnings earlier this year. Sears, who was told
last month that he will spend next season on loan in a bid to gain
experience had also been interesting newly-promoted Peterborough. However
KUMB.com understand that move was vetoed after the Championship new boys
admitted that they could not afford to pay Sears' full wages for the
duration of his loan spell - something which the Owls have already agreed
to.
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Mancini set for loan switch?
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 16th June 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are set to sign Brazilian attacking midfielder Mancini on loan from
Inter, according to reports tonight. The Times are one of a number of
tomorrow's papers to report that Scott Duxbury and Gianluca Nani are in
Italy in order to tie up deals with both Luis Jimenez and Inter team mate,
28-year-old Mancini. The move was first mooted earlier today by La Gazzetta
dello Sport. As revealed here on KUMB.com last week the three players
referred to by Duxbury in his recent Sky interview are all attack-minded -
and the former Roma man certainly fits that bill. Bought by Inter for
£11million last summer, Mancini has failed to make an impact at the San Siro
and is keen to resurrect his career elsewhere. Like Jimenez, who secured a
work permit for his potential move to London last week - despite not having
made the requisite number of international appearances - Mancini would also
arrive on an initial season-long loan with view to a permanent deal.
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Window watch: Manchester City in £17m Roque Santa Cruz talks
Gary Jacob; James Ducker
The Times
West Ham United were in negotiations last night to complete a loan deal for
Mancini, the Inter Milan and Brazil attacking player, who has been likened
to Cristiano Ronaldo by Sven-Göran Eriksson. The East London club are
confident of securing Luis Jiménez, the Chile forward, on the same terms
from Inter, with an option to buy both players, valued at a combined
£22million. Mancini, 28, gained a reputation as a creative and quick winger
at Roma, for whom he scored a spectacular goal against Lyons two years ago
that followed six step-overs and has become a YouTube hit. However, he did
not reproduce his form for Inter after an £11million transfer last summer.
Mancini attracted interest from Liverpool last summer and Manchester City,
who tried to sign him when Eriksson was manager. Scott Duxbury, the West
Ham chief executive, took control of the talks for Mancini and Jiménez in
Milan at the weekend, alongside Gianluca Nani, the club's Italian technical
director.
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Lustig owners fearing West Ham approach
by Ben Blackmore , 16 June 2009
setanat.co.uk
Rosenborg have admitted they will struggle to hold onto Mikael Lustig if
West Ham come calling. In the Norwegian media, fotbollexpressen.se are
reporting that West Ham are fighting a number of clubs from Denmark and
Holland for the young right back. Lustig is currently representing Sweden in
the Under-21 European Championships, and has agreed not to comment on his
future until the completion of the tournament. However, Rosenborg's sporting
director Erik Hoftun has conceded that his club will be fighting an uphill
battle should the likes of Gianfranco Zola register a firm interest. "We
will of course keep him, but when the big clubs start to let hear from them,
it can be difficult, "said Hoftun.
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Hammers Inter Two too
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
WEST HAM have completed a double swoop for Inter Milan duo Mancini and Luis
Jimenez. Hammers chief executive Scott Duxbury tied up season-long loan
deals for the pair, who are worth a combined £25million on the open market.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is an admirer of Brazilian Mancini but West Ham
boss Gianfranco Zola used his Italian contacts to land the winger. Mancini,
28, wants out because of a rift with Inter boss Jose Mourinho. He will also
be able to cover at right-back as Lucas Neill looks set to quit Upton Park
after rejecting a final contract offer. Chile striker Jimenez, 25 today, has
been pursued by Zola for weeks. Hammers will have first refusal on making
the moves permanent at the end of the season. Mancini, rated at £15m and
Jimenez, worth around £10m, are Zola's first signings after control of West
Ham was taken from outgoing chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson and passed to
Icelandic bank Straumar. The Hammers chief hopes to be able to land at least
one of the Inter pair on a permanent deal next summer but needs to sell to
raise cash first. That is why West Ham have slapped a staggering £15m price
tag on defender Matthew Upson. The Hammers are resigned to losing the
England centre-half this summer, with Manchester City favourites to sign
him. Upson, 30, has dropped heavy hints he wants to join a bigger club in
the run-up to next summer's World Cup finals — and his Hertfordshire house
is up for sale. England boss Fabio Capello has also advised Upson he should
be playing at the highest level possible to boost his chances of making the
squad for South Africa. Arsenal and Liverpool are expressing passing
interest in Upson but ambitious City lead the way.
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West Ham bid for Mancini in double deal with Mourinho
By Ian Herbert
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Independent
West Ham United are close to concluding an eye-catching double signing from
Jose Mourinho's Internazionale which would see the 28-year-old Brazilian
winger Mancini and the attacking midfielder Luis Jimenez heading for Upton
Park.
The West Ham chief executive, Scott Duxbury, spent last weekend in Milan
with the club's technical director, Gianluca Nani, and they are hopeful that
Mancini, who arrived at Inter in a £15m deal last year after several
outstanding years at Roma but has struggled to make an impact under
Mourinho, will be heading to east London. The Jimenez deal is already well
advanced.
Mancini was once one of the brightest prospects in Serie A thanks to his
ability to take defenders on and score goals. Before his move to Inter last
July he is understood to have attracted the interest of several Premier
League managers, including Sven Goran Eriksson when he was at Manchester
City.
The pursuit of Mancini reflects the way that the West Ham manager,
Gianfranco Zola, is using his Italian connections to bring talent to the
club. An overhaul is under way at Upton Park, the Hammers having released 10
players at the end of the season, while central defender Matthew Upson would
also like to pursue a career with a wealthier club. However, Manchester City
are understood to prefer Everton's Joleon Lescott.
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Bowyer to settle Birmingham move with new deal for Traore
By Sportsmail Reporter
Daily Mail
Last updated at 2:42 AM on 17th June 2009
Lee Bowyer's free transfer to Birmingham from West Ham should be concluded
in the next week. Bowyer has taken a significant salary cut. Full back
Djimi Traore has been offered a deal based heavily on appearances while the
club is also preparing another improved offer for Cardiff's Roger Johnson.
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Crystal Palace in bid to hijack Freddie Sears' Sheffield switch
Evening Standard
16.06.09
Crystal Palace have made a loan move for West Ham starlet Freddie Sears.
Sheffield Wednesday had appeared in to be in pole position to take Sears,
19, on a season-long deal when he returns from holiday but the talented teen
would rather stay in London. The Hammers want Sears, who made just seven
starts last season, to gain more experience before returning to Upton Park
next summer. Peterborough have also expressed an interest in him, but Sears
has rejected the move. Meanwhile, Manchester City are believed to be
stepping up their interest in Matthew Upson and have made a firm inquiry
about the player's availability.
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West Ham in the market for Mancini?
Aboutaball.co.uk
After news that Gianfranco Zola has snapped up one winger from Serie A in
the shape of Luis Jimenez, Gazetto dello Sport in Italy are reporting that
Mancini from Inter Milan could also be on his way to Upton Park. The
Brazilian winger has been angling for a move away from the San Siro, and may
jump at the chance of a move to the Premiership.
Mancini arrived at Inter Milan only last season after several outstanding
years at AS Roma, but has struggled to make a firm impact under Jose
Mourinho, and the cloub are now actively believed to be listening to offers
for his services.
This isn't the first time that Mancini has aroused English interest. After
growing restless at AS Roma and refusing to sign a new contract several
English clubs, including Manchester City under Sven Goran Eriksson, took a
good look at the winger. Mancini opted for a move to Inter shunning English
interest, but after the move has turned sour, he may be quickly looking for
a way out.
Mancini has already been apparently offered has a makeweight in a deal to
try and bring Lyon's Karim Benzema to the San Siro, whilst Brazilian side
Santos are thought to be mulling over a move.
The 28-year-old would certainly be a terrific asset for West Ham, if they
could work out a deal to take him to Upton Park. The former Atletico Mineiro
(where he played with Gilberto) and AS Roma player was one of the brightest
prospects in Serie A thanks to his ability to take defenders on, and score
goals. His best season at Roma saw him hit 12 Serie A goals in just 27
matches, and set up plenty more.
Comfortable on either wing, but naturally right-footed, Mancini excelled on
the left wing, cutting in to shoot. Strangely enough he has been
persistently overlooked by the Brazilian national team, which in many
respects may make him an even more interesting transfer prospect; he won't
be off globetrotting to participate in next autumn's World Cup Qualifiers.
West Ham have already wrapped up the transfer of Inter's Chilean winger Luis
Jimenez, so it would certainly not be beyond the realms of possibility that
Zola could also work out a deal for Mancini. The prospect of Jimenez on one
flank, and Mancini on the other would certainly be an exciting prospect for
any Hammers fans.
Posted by Walter Townsend on Tuesday, 16th June 2009
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Zola moves for £7m Inter midfielder Jimenez as first of three new West Ham
signings
By Sportsmail Reporter
Daily Mail
Last updated at 9:37 AM on 16th June 2009
West Ham United are closing in on Inter Milan's Chile midfielder Luis
Jimenez. The club hope to agree terms in the next 48 hours, with the player
moving initially on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent £7m deal.
A work permit has already been secured for Jimenez on Friday, after manager
Gianfranco Zola told his superiors to make a move before rival bidders had a
chance to sign the player. Scott Duxbury, West Ham's chief executive, and
Gianluca Nani, the technical director, flew to Milan over the weekend with
the intention of securing a deal with Inter for the 24-year-old. Jimenez has
been a bit-part player since signing for the Italian champions last summer
and is keen to leave to find first-team football.
Fiorentina and Parma are also said to be keen on the attacking midfielder
but, Jimenez sees West Ham as an ideal location. The former Ternana,
Fiorentina and Lazio player, who has been capped 19 times by his country,
has played nearly all his football in Serie A and wants to move to another
country. West Ham hope to agree terms with both Inter and the player's
representatives shortly.His medical could take place before the weekend.
Zola hopes Nani, who will remain in Italy this week, will also secure a
further Serie A player and also finalise plans for a third player. All three
moves are likely to be initial loan deals. Such transfers are favoured
because of their low risk factor and, in the case with the defender Herita
Ilunga last season, successful. However, the club's new owners, CB Holding,
are not in a position to dedicate large amounts of money to transfers. But
Jimenez's arrival indicates that the club remain committed to significantly
strengthening their hand this summer. in the hope of improving on last
season's ninth-place finish.
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West Ham United-Reject Kyel Reid Not Stuck For Options - Reports
The youngster could yet be a feature of the Premier League next season...
16 Jun 2009 07:37:07
Goal.com
Kyel Reid's future looks anything but glum despite his recent release by
West Ham United. According to Sky Sports, Wolverhampton Wanderers,
Birmingham City, Burnley, Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle
United are all interested in taking a chance on the 21-year-old winger, who
has spent time on loan at Barnsley, Crystal Palace, Blackpool and Wolves
during the past two seasons. The London-born Reid is a product of the West
Ham academy but never was able to achieve the breakthrough at Upton Park,
despite representing England at the Under-17, U-18 and U-19 levels. He made
his full debut for the Hammers in a 1-0 away win over West Brom in May 2006,
but was quickly shipped out to Barnsley for his first of many loan spells.
Derek Wanner, Goal.com
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West Ham target Rosenberg defender Lustig
17.06.09 | Ian Ferris
West Ham's interest in Sweden U21 international Mikael Lustig is causing
concern to his club Rosenberg. fotbollexpressen.se are reporting that West
Ham are one of a number of clubs from Denmark and Holland interested in the
young right back. Rosenborg's sporting director Erik Hoftun admitted, "We
will of course keep him, but when the big clubs start to call it can be
difficult."
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Loan club still not confirmed for West Ham youngster Sears
17.06.09 | Ian Ferris
Freddie Sears is being encouraged by West Ham to go out on loan for
experience, with Crystal Palace the latest club being linked with the 19
year old. Last week the striker seemed bound for Sheffield Wednesday but the
Daily Mail is now reporting Sears will remain in the capital with Palace.
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Middlesbrough's Southgate desperate to keep West Ham target Bates
17.06.09 | Andrew Slevison
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is desperate to retain defender Matthew
Bates. The 22-year old is being pursued by West Ham United but Southgate
will do everything he can to keep him at the Riverside. "One of my
priorities is trying to get Matthew to re-sign for the club. In fact, if we
can convince him to stay, I would see him as a key signing," said Southgate.
"He has got the right drive, mentality and attitude, the sort of qualities
that I want my players to have, plus the football he played for us during
the final weeks of the season was enough to make me feel he can have a real
impact for us next season. "I've been impressed with him and I'd like him to
stay here. I've had some good discussions with Matthew and with his agent
and I think he would like to stay if everything felt right. "I know he wants
to be a leader wherever he plays his football and I think he can fulfil that
desire with us. He certainly has excellent leadership qualities. "Of course
he'd like to play Premier League football - and rightly so - but he would
also like to help us get back to the Premier League. "I think ideally he'd
like to stay, but I'm not taking anything for granted at this stage."
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Inter Milan dazzler Mancini to join Jimenez at West Ham
17.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are moving for Brazilian dazzler Amantino Mancini. The Daily
Mail says West Ham are pressing ahead with their moves for experienced South
American pair Mancini and Luis Antonio Jimenez from Inter Milan. Chief
executive Scott Duxbury flew to Italy last week to discuss the deal which
will bring the experienced internationals to Upton Park on one-year loan
deals. Left winger Mancini, 28, joined Inter last summer from Roma. Chile
skipper Jimenez, 25 today, is an attacking midfielder.
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Birmingham wrapping up deal for West Ham's Bowyer
17.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
Birmingham City are wrapping up a permanent deal for midfielder Lee Bowyer.
The Daily Mail says Bowyer's free transfer to Birmingham from West Ham
should be concluded in the next week. Bowyer has taken a significant salary
cut.
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Wolves face Sheffield Utd competition for West Ham's Reid
17.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
Wolves face missing out on West Ham United winger Kyel Reid. The Daily Mail
says Sheffield United are set to sign West Ham's out-of-contract Reid on a
two-year deal.
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