WHUFC.com
Tony Gale thinks West Ham United will have to be at their best when the
2009/10 season gets going
17.06.2009
West Ham United will have a tough test on the opening day of the new
Barclays Premier League season at Wolverhampton Wanderers but Tony Gale is
confident for the new campaign.
The former Hammers defender turned Sky Sports pundit said facing top-flight
newcomers is always a tricky test, and predicted it would be no different
for Gianfranco Zola's men at Molineux on 15 August.
"The Wolves game is a tough one as you don't want to be facing the promoted
sides first," Gale said. "They've still got their peckers up a little bit
and they haven't had any good hidings.
"Although people will look at it and say 'that's an easier one on paper',
it's actually not because you would probably prefer to face Wolves ten games
in after they've had a few defeats."
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy guided his side to the Championship title last
term and the home support in the Midlands will no doubt be in good voice as
Wolves get their second spell in the Premier League under way.
"It's a big test and their crowd will be buzzing for the first game after
coming up," Gale added. "It certainly won't be as easy as some people might
think."
With the 'big four' teams set to visit the Boleyn Ground before Christmas,
the second half of the campaign has thrown up some tricky-looking fixtures
and Gale believes it is vital that West Ham start the season strongly.
"I always look at the run-in and although I can't see us being in any
problems this season, it is not easy. I think we've got a tough run-in as we
play Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Fulham and Manchester City.
"I'm thinking we could get off to a good start in the first half of the
season and that's what we need."
Gale himself knows all too well about off to a flying start, having scored a
superb free-kick winner against Coventry City in the opening game of the
1986/87 season.
"It's probably ranked as one of the best goals ever at Upon Park," Gale
joked. "We knew what it was going to be like as they got ten men behind the
ball. It wasn't until ten minutes before the end that we broke them down
when I got a curler from 25 yards from Steve Ogrizovic. I didn't get many
but that was one of the better ones."
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Away kit arrives on Thursday
WHUFC.com
The new West Ham United away kit for the 2009/10 is available to buy from
the club stores tomorrow
17.06.2009
The West Ham United club stores will have extended opening hours on Thursday
to deal with the expected rush as the new away kit is launched.
Thousands of fans have already pre-ordered the new dark blue kit and with
Gianfranco Zola's side expected to wear the strip in their first game of the
2009/10 Barclays Premier League at Wolverhampton Wanderers, the levels of
interest are expected to grow even further.
The Stadium and Lakeside stores will be open from 9am and the Lakeside store
will be open until 10pm for late-night purchases.
The new kit, which was first modelled by Jack Collison, Carlton Cole and
Robert Green, uses a striking modern design that also respects the club's
traditions by combining the popular dark blue that dates back to the Thames
Ironworks with a bold sky blue panel. The state of the art fabric uses
Umbro's innovative Climate Control technology to enhance the movement of
moisture away from the body.
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Sears set for Eagles switch
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 17th June 2009
By: Staff Writer
Freddie Sears is set to snub a move to Sheffield Wednesday in order to sign
for Championship outfit Crystal Palace. The 19-year-old striker was told at
the end of last season that he would be sent out on loan in order to gain
valuable first team experience having failed to make much of an impression
at the Boleyn during 2008/09.
A move to The Owls had looked on the cards after Wednesday agreed to pay
Sears' wages in full. However a late approach from Palace - who are
understood to have matched Wednesday's offer - is thought to have been
deemed more beneficial by West Ham due to the clubs' close proximity to each
other. Talking about a potential move last month, Sears said: "We've
discussed what could happen at the start of next season and I think the
Championship is a good, strong level to go and develop your football. For
me, a London team would be nice - but if you have to go away from home, you
live with it."
Sears, currently away on holiday prior to the start of pre-season could
confirm his move sometime next week.
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Wolves trip for Hammers
West Ham open campaign with visit to Wolves
Last updated: 17th June 2009
SSN
West Ham are to open their 2009-10 Premier League campaign with a trip to
newly-promoted Wolves on 15th August. Gianfranco Zola takes his side to
Molineux on the opening day for a clash with Mick McCarthy's newboys. The
first visitors to Upton Park are Aston Villa on 18th August while the first
London derby of the season follows four days later when Spurs travel to take
on the Hammers. Two more local derbies follow in October with the visit of
Fulham on the third followed three weeks later with a trip to Arsenal. The
festive programme begins with a trip to Portsmouth on Boxing Day followed
two days later with the return game against Tottenham.
West Ham fixtures 2009-10
August
15 Wolverhampton (A)
18 Aston Villa (H)
22 Tottenham (H)
29 Blackburn (A)
September
12 Wigan (A)
19 Liverpool (H)
26 Man City (A)
October
3 Fulham (H)
17 Stoke (A)
24 Arsenal (H)
31 Sunderland (A)
November
7 Everton (H)
21 Hull City (A)
28 Burnley (H)
December
5 Man Utd (H)
12 Birmingham (A)
15 Bolton (A)
19 Chelsea (H)
26 Portsmouth (H)
28 Tottenham (A)
January
9 Wolverhampton (H)
16 Aston Villa (A)
26 Portsmouth (A)
30 Blackburn (H)
February
6 Burnley (A)
9 Birmingham (H)
20 Hull City (H)
27 Man Utd (A)
March
6 Bolton (H)
13 Chelsea (A)
20 Arsenal (A)
27 Stoke (H)
April
3 Everton (A)
10 Sunderland (H)
17 Liverpool (A)
24 Wigan (H)
May
1 Fulham (A)
9 Man City (H)
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BLADES DASH IN FOR REID 18/06/2009
The Mirror
Football Spy
West Ham youngster Kyel Reid has signed for Sheffield United. The
21-year-old winger was out of contract and the Hammers decided against
keeping him. Reid, who was loaned to Wolves last season, joins the Blades on
a two-year deal.
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MEGS WILL BOW FOR IT
Daily Star
18th June 2009
BOLTON are ready to hijack Birmingham's attempts to sign Lee Bowyer from
West Ham. Bowyer, 32, played a major role in helping Birmingham gain
promotion into the Premier League last season after joining the Midlands
club on loan in January. But Bowyer has so far failed to agree personal
terms at St Andrews. Bolton boss Gary Megson has now expressed a late
interest in the former Leeds and Newcastle midfielder.
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West Ham stakeholder is given a six-month reprieve
Icelandic bank is handed a reprieve to restructure
Club hope to secure Mancini and Jiménez loan deals
Buzz up!
Digg it
Dominic Fifield
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 17 June 2009 21.16
West Ham's manager, Gianfranco Zola, is hopeful of signing Amantino Mancini
and Luis Jiménez on loan from Inter despite the uncertainty surrounding the
club's finances.
The stricken Icelandic bank Straumur, which has a 70% stake in the new
owners of West Ham United, has been granted a six-month reprieve by a
district court in Reykjavik to stave off creditors as it continues its
desperate attempts to restructure financially.
CB Holdings, which is made up of creditors owed money by West Ham's former
owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson and whose majority stakeholder is Straumur,
took over at Upton Park last week. The bank has been in danger of being
declared insolvent and applied for an extension to an existing three-month
moratorium – a suspension of payments to creditors. A judge in the Icelandic
capital has now increased that period until 11 December.
Straumur must still convince its creditors that its plans for West Ham and
its other managed assets are acceptable. The bank is attempting to transform
itself into an asset-management company but will need a "composition
agreement" to be granted by creditors, who will be asked to accept a fixed
sum for what they are owed, at a meeting on 6 August. Should they fail to
reach an agreement, Straumur would be wound up, a move that could have
serious implications on the stability at Upton Park.
Sources at Straumur remained positive last night, insisting the granting of
the moratorium "does not change anything for West Ham", with this the latest
stage in the bank's attempt to transform itself into the asset-management
company. Indeed the London side's manager, Gianfranco Zola, remains hopeful
that he can add to his squad in the coming weeks with talks ongoing with
Jose Mourinho's Internazionale over the potential deals of the winger
Amantino Mancini and the attacking midfielder Luis Jiménez, both on
season-long loan arrangements.
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HAMMERS TALK: West Ham to swoop for Taylor?
3:41pm Wednesday 17th June 2009
Guardian Series
WEST HAM have joined Tottenham in the race to sign Newcastle United defender
Steven Taylor, according to the Independent. The newspaper claims boss
Gianfranco Zola hopes to lure the centre-back down south with a bid of
around £4million, following the Toon's relegation from the Premier League
last season. Taylor was one of Newcastle's stronger performers during a
disastrous campaign, providing plenty of grit and determination at the heart
of the defence.
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Hammers legend Dicks fears for Zola's future
By DANNY GRIFFITHS - Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Julian Dicks has hailed Zola for the work he has done at Upton Park
Sport.co.uk
West Ham legend Julian Dicks fears Gianfranco Zola could be forced to walk
away from Upton Park if the Hammers can't secure their long-term future.
Icelandic asset management company CB Holding have taken charge at West Ham
but question-marks remain over their long-term involvement of the club.
Georg Andersen, head of corporate communications at the investment bank
Straumur which owns 70% of CB Holdings, recently said: 'I'm not going to
pretend we are going to own the club forever. Our plan is to hold onto the
club for a couple of years, or maybe four or five years, until we believe we
can get an appropriate price.'
But Dicks said: 'I am still not totally convinced that we are out of the
woods yet. I hope it's not the case but if, as is being claimed, the new
owners are forced to sell the club so soon after buying it, we could be back
in trouble,' he said.
'After such a positive season under Zola and with a respectable ninth spot
in the Premier League that is heartbreaking.
'I know we came close to administration and understand that this measure
avoids that but that hardly gives us confidence for the future.
'And Zola is told he has to sell this player or that player, he has every
right to consider his future. It should be about buying new players to
compliment his squad, not flogging off the best talent he has.
'Hopefully, the future can be settled once and for all and Zola and Clarke
can continute doing the fantastic job they have started.'
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West Ham watching Sweden U21 fullback Mikael Lustig
17.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are being linked with Rosenborg fullback Mikael Lustig. The
Sweden U21 international is being tracked by Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola's
scouts at the European Championships.
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Palace boss Warnock admits talks with West Ham's Sears
17.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock has confirmed their push for West Ham
United striker Freddie Sears. Warnock told the South London Press: "I've put
it to Freddie that we play a lot of youngsters and give them opportunities
and I feel this is the right club for him. "I'm hoping we can conclude it
over the next week or two but there are three or four other clubs who have
agreed financial terms and are talking to him."
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