WHUFC.com
West Ham United great Tony Cottee has been appointed as the club's first official ambassador
03.07.2009
West Ham United are delighted to announce the appointment of Tony Cottee as the first official club ambassador. As part of the club's positive plans for the future, Cottee will be just one of a number of high-profile ambassadors charged with raising West Ham's profile at home and abroad. Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural Gala Evening in May, everyone at West Ham is determined to move forward as a unified and progressive club. As part of his new role, Cottee will work to promote the club by attending functions and meeting with potential clients and sponsors. He will also work alongside the club's office-based corporate sales team. Plaistow-born Cottee plundered 146 goals in 336 first-team games for the club during two successful spells at the Boleyn Ground. The forward, who turns 44 next month, made a dream start to his West Ham career, scoring on his debut as a 17-year-old in the 3-0 Division One victory over Tottenham Hotspur on New Year's Day 1983. Since his retirement in 2001, Cottee has maintained his relationship with the club he represented with such honour between 1983 and 1988 and 1994 and 1996, working most notably as a matchday host at the Boleyn Ground. Cottee has also been a regular visitor to east London as a reporter and pundit for Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday programme and is also a recognisable face on WHUTV alongside former team-mate Tony Gale. The duo catch up with famous names past and present and provide exclusive news and interviews from behind the scenes. "I am delighted to have been offered this new position at the club," said Cottee. "I've always said I would do anything to help what I consider to be my club and this role will give me the opportunity to do that. "This is yet another new challenge for me from a football point of view and I can't wait to get started."
West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury said Cottee was the ideal person to take on such a role. "Tony is West Ham through and through and, as such, is perfect to act as the public face of the club," said Duxbury. "He is as committed to the club now as he was when he was scoring goals for West Ham during the 1980s and 1990s and we are delighted he has agreed to sign for the club again. "We plan to announce the appointment of a number of other official club ambassadors in the near future."
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Pre-order new home kit
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's new home kit - to be launched on 30 July - is available for pre-order now
02.07.2009
Supporters wanting to be one of the first to pull on the brand new West Ham United home kit can pre-order it from either of the club stores or the official online Megastore today. The new strip will be launched on 30 July, and fans who are eager to ensure they are among the first to sport the new home shirt - perhaps during the club's visit to China for the Barclays Asia Trophy or Bobby Moore Cup match against SSC Napoli on 8 August - can do so now. Hollywood actor, east London native and lifelong West Ham United fan Ray Winstone has thrown his support behind the launch and marketing campaign for the new home kit - I'm Forever.
To pre-order your new home kit, click http://www.megastore.whufc.com/stores/westham/products/kit_selector.aspx?selector=108&portal=VO1719DK
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Barclays Asia Trophy update
WHUFC.com
The Premier League has released more information about the ticket pricing for the Barclays Asia Trophy
03.07.2009
Ticket prices for the Barclays Asia Trophy have been agreed and will go on sale to West Ham United fans early next week.
The tickets, which will be available to fans in the UK through the club only, will be priced at Chinese RMB380 (approximately £34) for each two-game matchday. It has been confirmed that West Ham fans, like the others travelling with Hull City and Tottenham Hotspur, will collect their tickets in Beijing rather than receiving them in the UK.
Final purchasing details are being confirmed with all three clubs' ticket offices and a further announcement will be made on Monday 6 July regarding how fans go about buying their tickets.
From Boleyn to Beijing
The Premier League and Barclays have launched the 2009 Barclays Asia Trophy in Beijing
10.06.2009
West Ham United can confirm the club will take part in the four-team Barclays Asia Trophy in Beijing, China next month as part of the club's pre-season preparations.
The prestigious event is being organised by the Premier League, the Beijing Football Association (BFA) and Barclays. West Ham will play Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday 29 July (11am London time) before Hull City take on local side Beijing Guoan later that same day (1.30pm). The two winners will then meet in the final on Friday 31 July (11am) after a third-place play-off (1.30pm) between the two losing sides from the opening matches.
Gianfranco Zola has plenty of experience of the Workers Stadium, which will stage all the matches, having coached the Italian national team at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Working with Pierluigi Casiraghi, Zola's team played there in front of more than 50,000 fans at the quarter-final stage, only to be defeated 3-2 by Belgium.
The manager is looking forward to be heading back to Beijing. "The Chinese people love football," he said. "I went there with the Italian Olympic team last year and it was clear they have a passion for the game. I was recognised by a lot of people and you could see that the Barclays Premier League is very popular over there. It is going to be an exciting experience for everyone and we are looking forward to going to Beijing.
"This pre-season, and the matches we will play in China, are going to be very important for us because it will allow us to prepare for the new season in the right way. The young players will gain more experience and it is going to help us to be stronger and improve on what we have achieved so far."
The Barclays Asia Trophy is one of the headline events at the inaugural 2009 Beijing Football International Festival. Now an established part of the Premier League's fixture calendar, the Barclays Asia Trophy has been staged in some of Asia's major cities - Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Hong Kong.
With 49,000 tickets will be on sale for each matchday, the tournament will be officiated by Barclays Premier League and BFA match officials, and will also be staged in accordance with Barclays Premier League rules. Additionally, all matches will be broadcast locally in China, in the UK by Sky Sports and around the world. Pricing and advice on purchasing tickets will be announced shortly.
The Premier League has also committed to a full programme of 'Creating Chances' activities, including coaching initiatives, refereeing schemes and community schemes to run alongside the Barclays Asia Trophy. The Premier League will run one of its innovative Premier Skills coaching courses as well as a Barclays Asia Trophy Creating Chances Community Programme for 10-13 year-old children. The Premier League is working in close partnership with the BFA on both initiatives which will culminate on the Thursday when there will be a Barclays Asia Trophy Creating Chances Community Festival.
Premier Skills is an international coaching development project run by the Premier League and the British Council. Designed to leave lasting legacy, it provides week-long courses to coach the coaches at grassroots level in the morning and afternoon workshops on coaching best practice and community sport development. At the end of the course the coaches return to use their new skills in their local communities.
West Ham United will have two coaches to join representatives from the two other participating Premier League clubs to help run the course in Beijing from Friday 24 to Thursday 30 July. Former Premier League player Warren Barton will run Premier Skills in Beijing.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore said: "All of us involved in the Barclays Asia Trophy are looking forward immensely to playing a successful part in the 2009 Beijing Football International Festival. We know that there is a great appreciation for Barclays Premier League football in China and we are anticipating passionate home support in the Workers Stadium.
"We also hope that our on and off-field knowledge will aid China's continued progress as a football nation. The development of the game in China is critical to football's future as the world's sport of choice.
"We have three fantastic clubs in Hull City, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur - each of them says something about what makes the Barclays Premier League so compelling. I am sure our clubs will take as much from the experience as Beijing Guoan and the BFA."
Click here for details of fan travel information.
*A West Ham United XI will head to Blue Square South side Thurrock on Friday 24 July, with kick-off at 7.45pm.
The match is the third against non-league opposition to be announced, with the Hammers also travelling to Blue Square Premier Grays Athletic on Sunday 12 July (3pm) and Ryman League Premeir Division Kingstonian on Friday 31 July.
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Where do West Ham fans stand on Dean Ashton?
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 3rd July 2009
By: Thomas Rooney
During his time at West Ham, there have been two talking points as far as Dean Ashton is concerned. First of all there are the injuries. He has had a bit of a nightmare since signing from Norwich and has only managed 33 Premier League since January 2006.
The second talking point is often centred around transfer speculation. Many times over the last three years, Ashton has been linked with a big money move away from Upton Park. Newcastle and Tottenham have been interested in the past, but in the end – nothing happened.
The latest club to have shown an interest in Ashton though is Stoke City. Despite their Chairman's claims that they are a 'million miles away' from securing a deal to sign the striker, their interest in him is fairly obvious. Tony Pulis is clearly an admirer and they may well make a move for Ashton in the coming weeks.
Regardless of whether this happens though, I wanted to gather opinion on what West Ham fans think the best move is for the club as far as Ashton is concerned.
The first option is that Gianfranco Zola and co reject any move for Ashton in the hope that he will stay fit long enough to have an impact on the Hammers season. After all, when the 25-year-old is injury free, he normally scores goals.
I mentioned earlier that he has only made 33 Premier League starts in a West Ham shirt. He has notched 15 goals for the club as well though, so this is quite a good start/goals ratio.
Ashton does more than score goals though. He can hold the ball up, bring other players into play, take it past defenders, showboat with his skill, fire shots from distance and head the ball better than anyone. When he is away from the physio room, it is fair to say that he is an excellent player to have.
It is a fact that he is an injury prone player though and this is why Zola might be tempted with the second option concerning Ashton – sell him on to Stoke or whoever is interested. The Hammers could receive around £10m for the England international and with this money they could buy someone whose fitness is more reliable.
Ashton is presumably one of the highest earners at the club as well, so how long can they pay him to sit on the sidelines? Should they cash in now before his value starts to dip?
Personally, I would keep hold of him. The attributes he brings to the team when fit are too hard to ignore. Imagine if he was sold and then he stayed fit and scored goals for another Premier League team. How sick would West Ham feel that they let him go?
This is all about your opinion though, so let me know what you think about Ashton's future. Should West Ham consider offers for him? Or should they reject all interest and keep faith in the fact that he can consistently produce the goods?
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Hammers target in fatal car crash
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 3rd July 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham target Bryce Moon has been involved in a fatal car accident. 23-year-old Moon, who was part of the Bafana Bafana squad for the recent Confederations Cup was driving a car which killed a female pedestrian in Sandton, South Africa in the early hours of Monday morning. Rumours that the right-back, who currently plays for Panathinaikos was drunk at the wheel have however been swiftly refuted by the player who told kickoff.com: "It happened on a bend as I was driving from a friend's place in Sandhurst. I was driving on the curve of a road and I couldn't see the women (I say women, because there were two). "When I suddenly saw them I tried everything I could to avoid hitting them so I tried to drive to an opposite direction, but the confusion was that they both ran in different directions. The lady I hit ran to my direction and unfortunately, I hit her. "I did drink two beers at the party, but I was not drunk. The accident was unfortunate because the two ladies ran in different directions and the direction I chose happened to be the one where the lady ran to."
Moon has been linked with the Hammers since the January transfer window and is understood to remain on the potential list of replacements should Lucas Neill choose not to accept the one-year contract extension from West Ham that remains on the table.
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On Luis Antonio Jiménez
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 3rd July 2009
By: Fionn Kiely
Following the signing of Luis Jimenez, our first major arrival of the summer I thought I could provide a little detail of his background. In this regard the idea is to give a bit of information pertaining to the player's domestic and international career to date, their personal life and just a general overview of them as a player and as a person.
So, beginning with our most recent arrival; 'the Magician', aka Luis Antonio Jiménez.
Position
Attacking midfielder. In theory he plays behind the front tow in a 'free role' as such. Is also known to have played on either wing and up front at times. One can imagine him playing behind the lone front man in Zola's preferred formation.
Details
Born in the capital of Chile, Santiago on June 17 1984 into a poor lower class family, Luis found solace (like so many before him…) in football and his talents were noticed at a young age. Quickly signed up to various local clubs, he joined Club Deportivo Palestino in Santiago (former club of the 'famous' Clarence Acuña…) and thus began his football apprenticeship.
Domestic
Spotted by visiting Italian scouts Jiménez quickly found an escape route out of his native Chile and like many South Americans found the route to European football through the lax immigration policy of Italy. He began his Serie A career with Ternana at the age of 18 and quickly began to make an impact in Serie B, making nearly 100 appearances for the club with a scoring record of almost 1 in 3.
Shortly thereafter the big boys of Italian football began to take notice of this young player making waves in the second division and quite quickly a loan deal was announced with Fiorentina. This deal was atypical of many deals in Serie A where Jiménez was jointly owned by two clubs, Ternana and Fiorentina. Luis enjoyed a relatively successful start to his Serie A career playing 19 times and scoring 3 goals.
The next season, with Ternana being relegated to our equivalent of League 2, it seemed Jiménez wouldn't be staying with the club for much longer even though Ternana had purchased Fiorentina's half back off the Florence club.
Lazio came into the picture shortly thereafter and a loan deal was struck. This was a major episode in Jiménez's career as it was an issue of great controversy in the Italian league. Essentially what happened was that Ternana had originally agreed to let Jiménez go on loan for the season to Lazio, with a view to a permanent deal. Much like West Ham's favoured transfer policy at the moment. Ternana quickly began to change the terms of the deal however and began to make extortionate demands. Lazio didn't agree to these and the case went to FIFA. The issue was solved when the two clubs finally agreed to a loan deal with a figure of €11 million to come at the end of his first season.
However, things were not as easy as that. Even though Jiménez enjoyed a relatively successful six months in Rome, playing nearly every game (with Behrami in the same team), Lazio began to have second thoughts and Inter Milan quickly stood in and snapped Luis up in another loan-to-buy deal. Jiménez arrived in Milan at the same time as Luis Figo and others and he quickly began to make an impact. He scored his first Inter goal in the Champions League against Fenerbache, a lovely goal coming in extra time, and was rewarded with his first Inter start on the 2nd of December against Fiorentina, where he scored the opening goal, and then went on to start the subsequent match against Lazio where he grabbed an assist, had a goal disallowed and set up another disallowed goal.
At the end of the 2008 season, Inter officially signed him in another co-ownership deal. Injuries hampered his progress under the 'Special One' and Luis found opportunities scarce under Mourinho, only managing a handful of appearances. After strong links to Athletico Madrid, his future looked to lay away from the San Siro. Due to the close relationship between West Ham's number two Steve Clarke and his former boss, West Ham managed to secure the services of Jiménez for the coming season on 23 June 2009. The deal is loan one with a view to a permanent deal at the end of the season. However, as with all things West Ham, his ownership is still a matter of controversy with both Inter Milan and Ternana still retaining their halves.
International
He made his international debut on April 28, 2004, in a match against Peru. Jiménez became captain of Chile during 2006 and also won the 2005-06 Chile Player of the Year award. Having gained 20 caps for his country recently Jiménez has found himself in International exile while Chile are under the stewardship of Marcelo Bielsa.
Personal: Luiz married Chilean model María José López in 2006. She is the type of woman who'd cause you problems, as we'll see in the next section. Here's a link or two to make up your mind….
Character
Ah the infamous bar fight…. a brawl that occurred in a Santiago nightclub between two Jiménez and Mauricio Pinilla, his international team mate.
The feud between Jiménez and Pinilla goes back to over a year ago when the tabloid press in Chile alleged that Pinilla had spent the night with Jiménez's wife Maria whilst the Inter midfielder was in Jamaica on international duty.
Whilst both were on their winter holidays back from Italy and Brazil respectively, they found themselves in a night club in Santiago and Jimenez took out his anger on Pinilla. According to a number of reports, Jiménez attacked Pinilla with a blunt instrument, causing three blows to the head and the victim of the attack was forced to go to hospital for treatment and was diagnosed with head trauma and a neck injury.
According to the local media, Mauricio Pinilla had approached the couple at the nightclub and was warned to back off. Failing to heed the warnings, a fight broke out with Pinilla getting thumped by Jimenez. When Pinilla exited the club the paparazzi were waiting outside. They chased down Pinilla's car barking "is it true you got hit?" After finally get the footballer to acknowledge them, Pinilla responded by simply pointing to his cheek before making the "crazy" sign, turning his finger on his temple.
Interesting Facts
Jiménez once released a calendar of himself to much scorn and hilarity. Here's a link to some of the photos. This will no doubt endear him to many of our fans….
http://habs.theoffside.com/gratuitous-nudity/luis-jimenez-when-football-calendars-go-wrong.html
Video Links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjvi7vosWW8
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Poles apart - or deal on?
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 3rd July 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are being linked with a move for Polish striker Pawel Brozek. A report on sports.pl is claiming that the Hammers are one of two London-based clubs considering a bid for the 26-year-old goalgetter, who currently plays for Wisla Krakow. According to the story, both West Ham and Fulham are said to be keeping tabs on the 19xcapped Polish international, who has spent his entire professional career with Wisla. Brozek's current manager, Radoslav Osuch said: "We will know everything within next 3 or 4 days. Wisla should reach an agreement with English clubs. "Pawe³ is the best Polish player at the moment and is ready to change the club in order to develop his skills. It would be better for him to join a better club from a better league. "It is hard to say but Pawe³ is too good to play in Poland. As of today the chances of him moving to England are 50/50." Kielce-born Brozek, who, along with his brother Piotr spent a week on trial with the Hammers five years ago has also spent time on loan with Lodz and Katowice.
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Neill back in Hammers talks
Defender makes Upton Park U-turn
Last updated: 3rd July 2009
SSN
Skysports.com understands Lucas Neill is in talks with West Ham about returning to the club. Neill left the Hammers last month following the expiration of his contract at Upton Park. However, the former Blackburn man is now considering making a U-turn and re-signing with the East London outfit. Neill departed after failing to agree a new deal, but talks are thought to have been rekindled and the full-back could end up signing on with Gianfranco Zola's men again. Zola was keen to keep Neill and if he can persuade the Australia international defender to return to the club it would be a major boost ahead of the new season.
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Quinn dismisses Anton exit talk
Talented defender staying at Stadium of Light
Last updated: 3rd July 2009
SSN
Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has dismissed suggestions Anton Ferdinand could be sold this summer. There had been talk the former West Ham defender could be off-loaded following a mixed season with the Black Cats. Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola is reportedly an admirer of the stopper and is keen to bring him back to London less than a year after his departure. Quinn has confirmed clubs have enquired about Steve Bruce's players, but insists that there will be no overhaul in the close season. The Black Cats supremo is against giving up on Ferdinand as he believes with guidance he can fulfil his vast potential and follow in the footsteps of older brother Rio in gaining full international honours. "People have made enquiries about our players, but we're not going to drastically overhaul the squad," said Quinn. "When Anton matures, he has the opportunity to be an international footballer."
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What's Lucas Neill's priority?
By Half Time Orange - Jesse Fink | 3 July 2009 | 12:02
The World Games
A week or two ago at a bar somewhere deep in the bowels of swinging Razorhurst, or Darlinghurst as it's more commonly known today, I had a drink with a well-known football media personality. I could name this person, but I won't, because it's really immaterial to the story but what they went on to say is worth protecting their anonymity given their close association with Football Federation Australia and current Socceroos.
Let's call this person X.
X was livid about Lucas Neill, the Australia captain, flirting with Turkish Süper Lig club Galatasaray, the home for some time now of fellow Socceroo Harry Kewell.
"I can't believe this guy," X railed. "We're a year out from the World Cup, the most important thing in Australian football for four years, needing our team to be at their absolute best, and right at the time when we need the captain of our side to be playing at the highest possible level, week in, week out, he has a chance to sign a contract extension with West Ham, keeping him in the Premier League, the biggest competition in the world, but instead he's arguing over money, already more money than he'll ever need, and choosing to go play in
f***ng Turkey!
"What does that say about his priorities? Verbeek would like every one of his first XI playing in the EPL but arguably our most important player, Lucas, our captain, goes for the money instead of the challenge. Turkey is good, don't get me wrong, but it's a B league.
"Not even on the same park as the EPL. It's easy football. Easy money. I'm so mad about it. And so should Pim and the FFA be."
I could only nod my head and swivel what was left of my nine-dollar glass of shiraz. X was right.
Give it a day or two, but by next week Neill looks set to sign with the Istanbul giants in a deal set to be worth $7million a year after rejecting West Ham's offer of $60,000 a week.
As one SBS report detailed: "With taxes in the UK spiralling to 50 per cent for high earners, [Neill] saw the high wages and less punitive tax structure of Turkey as an added incentive. At Gala, free agent Neill would expect to pocket nearly $4 million a year after taxes, plus be the willing recipient of a hefty sign-on fee."
Nice coin.
And even if he does to an 11th-hour U-turn and sign with the Hammers – that can't be ruled out, anything can happen in football – he won't have endeared himself to anybody, least of all Hammers fans, whose misgivings were best expressed by one fanzine blogger when he said Neill "clearly had no ambition to stay at Upton Park and was holding out for the highest bidder this summer".
More of concern to me, though, is how Socceroos fans feel about him and his decision making.
This is not a discussion about his virtues as a player. That is for another day. This is a debate about what is best for Neill and what is best for the Socceroos. What should take precedence 12 months out from a World Cup where, barring a total change of heart from Verbeek, Neill will be leading our nation onto the biggest sporting stage of all?
In my view, as in X's, if Neill goes to Turkey he is shortchanging the Australia cause. Harry Kewell's case is different. His club didn't want him. He wasn't playing regular first-team football.
In contrast, Neill's club does want him and he is one of their most important players and their captain.
There are players in the green and gold swapping clubs and flying around the globe to be playing football at the best level available to them so as to keep themselves in the selection frame for the World Cup.
Neill, Australia's captain, should be leading by example and setting an example. But on the evidence so far he is coming up well short.
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Prolonged stay on the cards as skipper has change of heart
Sport.co.uk
Author: Ben Moss
Posted on: 03 July 2009 - 13:48
Former Blackburn defender Lucas Neill has re-entered negotiations with West Ham about extending his deal at the club, despite rejecting their initial offer. The Australian international is currently a free-agent having left West Ham after failing to agree a contract extension, however Sky Sport News understands Neill is talks with the club once again, and all parties are hopeful of a successful outcome. West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola is keen to keep the experienced defender who he made captain last year, and initial reports indicate a deal is close to being agreed. Neil has played 78 games for the Hammers scoring one goal, having joined from Blackburn Rovers in January 2007.
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HAMMERS: Green not green at top level any more
1:46pm Friday 3rd July 2009
Guardian Series
HAMMERS stopper Robert Green says he wants to play for England as much as he can. The 29 year-old stopper is set to be in goal when England play Holland in Amsterdam just three days before the start of West Ham's new season, next month. On his busy schedule, Green said: "It's pleasing. It is a reward and I feel I can do a job at this level. "The more I play, the more confident I'll get and the more I'll become accustomed to it, and hopefully more chances will come along."
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Sunderland chairman Quinn tells Ferdinand to forget West Ham
03.07.09 | tribalfootball.com
Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn says Anton Ferdinand doesn't need to move to win an England call. West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola is a big admirer of the 24-year-old, who left Upton Park for £8million almost 12 months ago. But Black Cats chairman Quinn said: "If he goes on to get international caps nobody will be happier than me.
"We'll be pushing him to drive his career forward."
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West Ham linked as Espanyol seek Finnan buyer
04.07.09 | tribalfootball.com
Espanyol fullback Steve Finnan is being linked with a return to England. Sport says Espanyol are willing to listen to offers for the former Liverpool defender. West Ham United have been linked with Finnan.
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