WHUFC.com
James Tomkins has returned from his loan spell at Derby determined to force
his way into the first team
02.01.2009
West Ham United defender James Tomkins is back from a successful loan spell
with Coca-Cola Championship side Derby County and aiming to force his way
into Gianfranco Zola's team.
The England Under-20 international spent five weeks at Pride Park,
impressing his Rams team-mates and supporters alike with his composed,
committed displays at the heart of the club's back-four. Tomkins, a graduate
of West Ham United's Academy, made eight appearances for the Midlands side,
helping Derby reach the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.
While Derby wanted to keep the youngster for a further month, Zola has
chosen to bring Tomkins back to the Boleyn Ground with a view to including
him in his first team squad in the coming weeks. Tomkins himself, who made
six encouraging Premier League appearances for United at the tail-end of
last season, believes he has learned a lot from his five weeks away from
east London and is now aiming to regain his place in the Hammers side.
"From a personal point of view, it was good experience for me and a good
education. Results didn't go our way as much as I would have liked while I
was there (at Derby) - it was a bit of a sticky situation for them, but I
thought I did okay. I felt I learned more and more with the matches I
played, got games under my belt and played a part in every one. I got to
play with a lot of different other centre-halves which was all good for my
experience.
"When I first got there, I had to get to know the players and the place
itself, then played very soon after - everyone made me feel welcome, the
players and all the staff at Derby were great, but I have been at West Ham
since I was eight, so it was all very different for me. There was a
different environment and moving up north to be able to play there for that
time, but it did me good."
While he enjoyed his time at Pride Park, Tomkins admitted he is glad to be
back at Chadwell Heath. The teenager is relishing the challenge of fighting
for the privilege of playing first-team football again after getting a taste
of it yet again during his time with Derby. However, he knows that he faces
a tough task to force his way into Zola's starting lineup.
"I am glad to be back - the manager wanted me back. I want to try and
impress him. My aim is to get back in the team - there is a lot of
competition for places. The team is playing well and doing well, so I know I
have to fight for my place, but I am going to be working hard to push on now
here. The boys here have welcomed me back, I haven't seen them for a month,
so it was good to see them all.
"West Ham tried to watch me as much as they could while I was there, so
hopefully the manager would have been pleased with what I did. Derby wanted
me for another month but West Ham asked for me to come back. I enjoyed the
experience, playing lots of games in what is a competitive league, and I
feel fresh and ready to go again."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Widdowson goes out on loan
WHUFC.com
Joe Widdowson has joined League Two side Grimsby Town on loan for a month
02.01.2009
Young defender Joe Widdowson has signed for Grimsby Town on loan for an
initial one-month deal.
The 19-year-old played a part in the club's prestigious tour of North
America in the summer and had the "unbelievable" experience of marking David
Beckham in the MLS All-Star Game in Toronto. The Forest-Gate born Academy
graduate, who has previously enjoyed loan spells at Rotherham United and
Carlisle United, could make his debut for the Mariners in their League Two
fixture away at Barnet on Saturday.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stanislas unfazed by Chelsea
WHUFc.com
Junior Stanislas is raring to go for his loan club Southend on Saturday when
they go to Stamford Bridge
01.01.2009
West Ham United youngster Junior Stanislas is relishing the opportunity to
lock horns with Premier League giants Chelsea in the FA Cup third round this
weekend.
The England Under-19 international is currently on loan with League One side
Southend United, where he has netted three goals in six appearances. Two of
those goals came in the 3-1 FA Cup second round win over Luton Town, a
result that set up Saturday's daunting trip to Stamford Bridge. There,
Stanislas is planning to upstage former Hammers Frank Lampard and Joe Cole
and fire the Shrimpers to a shock victory over the Blues.
"I've played against some very good players and teams already during my
career but this will be the biggest test I've had so far. Everyone knows
just how good Chelsea are so it will be a real test for me but it's one I'm
looking forward to. These are the type of games I want to play in and if I
keep working hard then hopefully I can do it every week one day."
Winger Stanislas was in impressive form for West Ham's reserve team before
being snapped up on a temporary basis by the Essex side in the final week of
November. Having headed down the A13, the 19-year-old has made a big impact
for Steve Tilson's side with both his goals and his exciting style of play.
Those performances have confirmed the thoughts of those around the Boleyn
Ground who believe Stanislas is set for a bright future in the game.
"I'm learning and getting better all the time by playing these games. That
was always the aim and I'm enjoying it. It's been better for me than playing
in the reserves and I think I've been playing quite well so hopefully I can
keep that going."
While Southend will be huge outsiders to cause an FA Cup upset in west
London this weekend, Stanislas is eager to make a name for both himself and
his team-mates. Southend beat Manchester United en route to the
quarter-finals of the Carling Cup three seasons ago and the teenager would
love nothing more than to make history again against Luis Felipe Scolari's
star-studded squad.
"All we can do is go there and just give it everything we've got. It's a
really difficult game but there's no pressure on us so we need to put in a
good shift and then see what happens. They have a few former West Ham
players like Frank Lampard and Joe Cole but they were a bit before my time.
It will be great to play against them though and the dream is to try and
make sure it isn't a one off."
Loan latest
While Bondz N'Gala (MK Dons) and Josh Payne (Cheltenham Town) are also back
at West Ham United, Nigel Quashie, Jimmy Walker are set for longer stays at
Birmingham City and Colchester United respectively. It remains to be seen if
Blackpool will continue Kyel Reid's impressive loan with them while Jordan
Spence is due back at the club from Leyton Orient on Monday.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Barnsley
FA Cup third round
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 3 January Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio Sheffield, score updates and text
commentary on BBC Sport website
BBC.co.uk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
West Ham team news to follow.
Barnsley are without on-loan striker Jamie Cureton who has been refused
permission to play by Norwich.
Anderson De Silva (ankle) and Darren Moore (knee) join Rob Kozluk and Martin
Devaney on the injured list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Barnsley were the surprise package in the FA Cup last season reaching the
semi-finals but Tykes manager Simon Davey told BBC Radio Sheffield there is
no added pressure on his side this year:
"We're going to West Ham with no pressure on us so in many ways it's a
perfect scenario. We can go there and relax."
"Last season we had an unbelievable run in the competition and it really did
put this club on the map. Leading the team out at Wembley in an FA cup
semi-final is the proudest moment of my career."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Barnsley must repeat their giant-killing feats of last season's
extraordinary FA Cup campaign if they're to make progress this time around.
The South Yorkshire side face West Ham at Upton Park in one of seven Premier
League against Championship third round ties.
West Ham are one of the most successful top-flight clubs, as far as
negotiating the third round is concerned. Last season's exit to Manchester
City was only the fifth time in 25 years they have fallen at this hurdle.
The League ladder
Barnsley are 26 places lower than West Ham in the league standings.
Referee
Michael Oliver (Northamptonshire)
Replay date
Tuesday, 13 January 2009, 1945
FA CUP RECORDS AND BEST PERFORMANCES
WEST HAM UNITED
Current form
Won the last two, after failing to win 11 of the previous 12 - all Premier
League matches.
Recent FA Cup performance
Failed to progress beyond the third round last season, for the first time in
eight years.
The Manager
Gianfranco Zola won two FA Cup winners' medals with Chelsea in 1997 (v
Middlesbrough) and 2000 (v Aston Villa).
FA Cup fact
The second of West Ham's three cup final winning line-ups in 1975 was the
last to be comprised entirely of English-born players.
BARNSLEY
Current form
Won two and drawn one of the last three; lost one of five.
Recent FA Cup performance
Knocked out Liverpool and Chelsea in successive rounds last season.
The Manager
An energetic "box to box" midfielder as a player with Swansea, Carlisle,
Preston and Darlington, 38-year-old Simon Davey is in his third season in
charge of Barnsley - his first managerial appointment.
FA Cup fact
Barnsley qualified for the last four for only the third time in their
history last season, and the first since winning the trophy nine days after
the sinking of the Titanic.
HEAD to HEAD
All competitions
West Ham last met Barnsley in the Premier League in 1997-98 and did the
double over them, winning 1-2 at the Oakwell and 6-0 at Upton Park.
FA Cup
Barnsley won the only previous FA Cup clash against the Hammers; 4-1 in the
fourth round 16 years ago. Both were second-tier clubs at the time.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham Utd v Barnsley: match preview
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 2nd January 2009
By: Preview Percy
And so, after a successful Christmas in the league thoughts turn to the FA
Cup where we entertain Barnsley who are currently plying their trade in The
Championship.
The club has a long history of second-tier football – over 60 years which I
believe is a record. It could have been a lot different as they ought to
have been promoted to the top flight after the First World War. However,
they lost out in all the bribery and corruption that saw Arsenal promoted
and Manchester United and Liverpool keep their places in the league despite
having been found guilty in the courts of match-fixing. They had to wait
over 80 years for another shot at the big time, a sojourn which lasted but
one season before their return to more familiar territory.
They look a long shot for a return to the Premiership this season, lying as
they do in 16th place some 9 points off a play-off spot, though they would
appear to be safe enough from relegation worries sitting some 8 points off
the drop zone. Recent results haven't been too bad with the stand out
victory being a 2-1 win at Burnley who have been going well of late, though
their most recent outing saw them held 1-1 at home by Preston who currently
hover just outside the play-offs on goal difference. The Preston equaliser
came as a result of an alleged dive by a Preston player which goes to show
that they haven't changed much since we were promoted.
Of course as every football correspondent will be writing at this time of
year, league positions count for nothing in The Cup, a theory that Barnsley
themselves proved during their fine run in last season's competition. That
run knocked out both Liverpool and Chelsea much to everyone's delight. Well
almost everyone – the screenshot of the arrogant and smug Phil Thompson's
face as the Liverpool result came in on Sky Sports was one of my favourite
photos of the season.
They are managed by Welshman Simon Davey who has been dining out on the fact
that, as a Preston player, he stepped aside to allow a young loan player to
take a free-kick. The resulting goal was apparently the first league goal
for a kid called Beckham. Whatever eventually happened to that kid, he is
likely to have had a lengthier playing career than the unfortunate Davey who
was forced into retirement as a player following a training ground mishap at
the age of 27. Davey learned his trade under David Moyes at Preston and got
the Barnsley job 2 years ago, his promotion from Youth Academy boss coming
on the sacking of Andy Ritchie.
The current first team squad has something of a cosmopolitan air about it,
with the club having convinced Jamaican, Canadian, Peruvian, German, Dutch,
Brazilian and Argentinean players of the delights of South Yorkshire. The
current incumbent twixt the sticks is Heinz Muller who you will not be
surprised to hear is German. He arrived via a spell in the Norwegian league
and has returned to the no.1 slot having missed the latter stages of 07/08
with a knee injury.
In front of Muller against Preston the back five consisted of Dutchman
Marciano Van Homoet, player of the year Stephen Foster, Jamaican Darren
Moore, Bobby Hassell and Robert Kozluk who, despite the foreign sounding
name actually hails from Mansfield. Kozluk picked up what was at first
suspected to have been a hairline fracture of his cheek against Preston.
Although this turned out to be a smudge on the x-ray film or something he
will still be out for this weekend and Davey will have a selection problem
in trying to replace a name that has been a first choice in the line-up all
season.
In a three-man midfield they went with Brazilian Da Silva , Spaniard Diego
Leon, who started his career at Real Madrid and much travelled Jamaican
winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce who counts Leyton Orient and Southend amongst his
list of 7 former clubs which isn't bad for someone who won't be 26 until
April (though this total does include loan spells at the O's, Colchester and
Milton Keynes).
Up top they will need to change from the pairing of Cureton and Macken.
Cureton, who has scored in the last two matches, is currently on loan from
Norwich City and the Canaries have refused permission for him to turn out in
this one. One possible replacement is another Dutchman Maceo Rigters whose
own loan from Blackburn is a season-long deal.
Canadian Iain Hume would have been a likely starter but he is still
recovering from the disgraceful assault on him by Chris Morgan of that
hotbed of hypocrisy Sheffield United. The fact that Morgan is still selected
week in week out, whilst Hume is still recovering from the attack shows
exactly the contempt that that tawdry little club really has for the concept
of "fairness in football."
Equally incredibly, no action was taken against the disgraceful comments of
Sheffield United's assistant boss Sam Ellis, whose statement to the effect
that "too much" was being made of the incident should have seen him up on a
disrepute charge the second the last syllable exited his stupid thick gob.
Quite why the local plod in South Yorkshire failed to get involved in the
affair is also something of a mystery – though they'd presumably have had to
take time off from their hobby of illegally hassling ordinary football
supporters to issue Morgan with the assault or GBH charges the thug so
richly deserves.
Cup-ties are difficult to predict – as the visitors' own exploits last
season proved. Even on paper, our own traditional fallibility against
opposition from lower leagues mean that matches such as this are never as
straightforward as they ought to be. However, I can see Barnsley giving it a
go a bit more than the likes of Stoke City, whose tactics last weekend were
simply appalling. Assuming Bellamy is selected following his suspension his
pace on the counter attack will hopefully prove the difference so this time
I'll plump for a 2-1 win to us to put our ball into Sir Trevor's velvet bag
for the next round.
Enjoy the game and Happy New Year!
Last season: n/a
Danger Man: Macken is one of those irritating players that you know in your
heart of hearts isn't very good but always seems to score, and Campbell-Ryce
is the sort of player that seems to pop up at Cup time to provide a shock.
Look out for: The justice for Iain Hume campaign – website:
http://www.bfcst.org.uk/justiceforhume
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers open to offers
Upton Park outfit prepared to listen to bid for all players
Last updated: 1st January 2009
SSN
West Ham have announced that they are prepared to listen to offers for all
members of their squad during the January transfer window. A number of the
Hammers' star assets have been linked with moves away from Upton Park and
striker Craig Bellamy has already been the subject of a bid from Tottenham
Hotspur. Manchester City are also thought to be keen on Bellamy, while
midfielder Scott Parker and goalkeeper Robert Green are both attracting
interest now the window is open. And with owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson
feeling the pinch in the current worldwide credit crunch, chief executive
Scott Duxbury admits no player in Gianfranco Zola's squad is off-limits. "We
must not be afraid of interest in, or bids for, our leading players,"
Duxbury told the club's official website. "Each approach will be considered
in terms of fee, fitness, form and where the manager thinks the player is in
his career. "We have to consider the will of the player and whether he is
committed to what we are trying to achieve. "A bid may be evaluated by the
manager as allowing him to significantly improve his team."
However, Duxbury insists the club's debts do not mean they must sell this
month. "Players don't have to be sold but it has been clear since the
arrival of Gianfranco that he is keen to have a smaller first-team squad
based on quality over quantity," he added. "As I say, he looks likely to
move on some fringe players in a bid to achieve a smaller squad of players
that he can work closely with on a day to day basis."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson given sale deadline
The pressure on West Ham owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson to sell the club has
increased dramatically with the news that his holding company, Hansa, face
the possibility of being declared insolvent.
Telegraph
By William Gray
Last Updated: 11:37AM GMT 02 Jan 2009
Gudmundsson is keen for a quick sale so he can pay debts of more than £50
million resulting from the collapse of Icelandic bank Landsbanki in which he
had a 41 per cent stake.
Having bought West Ham for £87 million in 2006, Gudmundsson was hoping to
sell on for around three times that amount, but he is struggling to find any
takers in the wake of the credit crunch. A figure of around £125 million
seems more realistic.
The sale has assumed greater urgency because of the March 6 deadline set by
court officials in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik for Hansa to show they
can repay creditors. Failure to do so could result in the company being
declared insolvent and having their assets taken over, including West Ham.
The Premier League have already warned West Ham they will be docked points
if they are placed in administration. "Any club within the division that
suffers an insolvency event will automatically receive a nine-point sporting
sanction," a spokesman said.
A source close to Gudmundsson has said the Icelandic is aware that £250
million is now highly unexpected. It is very difficult to sell any football
club right now, it is hard to maximise value," the source told the Guardian.
"But Mr Gudmundsson will not accept an unsatisfactory amount, he is prepared
to wait for the right offer to come along."
Despite the difficult position the club is in, chief executive, Scott
Duxbury has insisted that the club will not be forced to sell their players
in January, but they have been told that if they want to buy, they must
first eliminate people from the wage list.
We have no intention of selling our best players, nor are we telling the
manager to do so," Duxbury said in a statement on the website.
"It may be that some players are allowed to leave but no one will be going
unless the manager thinks it is in the best interests of his team and it is
right for the club."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham could be deducted points in March
Sport.co.uk
Author: Andrew Allen
Posted on: 02 January 2009 - 11:29 AM
West Ham face the prospect of being deducted nine points after owner
Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson was warned he has until March 6 to sell the club or
risk it being seized by the Icelandic courts in an insolvency hearing.
Gudmundsson has been hit hard after the global credit cruch sent the
Icelandic economy into meltdown.The cash-strapped businessman has been
trying to sell West Ham for months, but has now been told his holding
company Hansa could be stripped of all its assets if a court in Iceland
rules that it cannot repay its creditors.
And that could force the Premier League to enforce its rules regarding
points deductions for clubs going into administration.
A Premier League spokesman confirmed: "Any club within the division that
suffers an insolvency event will automatically receive a nine-point sporting
sanction."
Gudmundsson put West Ham up for sale in order to pay back debts of over
£50million resulting from the crash of Icelandic bank Landsbanki, in which
he held a 41 per cent stake.
The Hammers are currently just five points above the relegation zone after a
mixed first half of the season.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lucas Neill to be Offloaded?
West Ham Till I Die
The hot transfer rumour of the day is that West Ham want to offload Lucas
Neill, even if they don't get a transfer free. Favourite destination appears
to Galatasary and West Ham would even pay part of his wages. I am not sure I
see the Galatasary move as likely, although I certainly wouldn't put up a
fight to keep Neill, who has been a big disappointment since his high
profile move two years ago. One paper speculates that the deal will be done
now but he won't move away until the summer, when he is out of contract.
Other websites are also full of rumours of a double bid from Manchester City
for Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy - a figure of £20 million is being
mentioned. In other news, Joe Widdowson has been sent out on loan to
Grimsby.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manchester boss Hughes to tempt West Ham with new bid for Bellamy and Parker
By Ken Dyer Last updated at 12:26 PM on 02nd January 2009
Daily Mail
Big-spending Manchester City are preparing to test West Ham's resolve by
increasing their bid for both Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker to around
£16million. City, owned by the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, have had a bid of
£14.5m for the pair rejected but will return with an improved offer within
the next few days. Although West Ham are up for sale, chief executive Scott
Duxbury has denied the club will try to cash in on their best players during
the transfer window. But he does admit: 'Each approach will be considered
in terms of fee, fitness, form and where the manager thinks the player is in
his career. Similarly we have to consider whether the player is committed to
what we are trying to achieve. 'It may be we have an offer which makes
perfect sporting sense on all these factors but it will only be accepted if
we have a replacement lined up who will improve the squad.'
It is understood that Bellamy is keen to link up again with his former Wales
boss Mark Hughes at Eastlands. Parker has also expressed a wish to talk to
City, although he is more settled at Upton Park. Gianfranco Zola will be
reluctant to lose Bellamy and Parker but the manager could be placated if he
is allowed to sign adequate replacements. Question marks over the future of
the club's stars come amid reports that owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson has two
months to sell West Ham before his holding company faces the possibility of
being declared insolvent. It is claimed that a court in Reykjavik is set to
decide on 6 March if Hansa can repay creditors or is to be stripped of its
assets - including West Ham. Meanwhile, Kieron Dyer is set to make his
long-awaited first team comeback in tomorrow's FA Cup third round tie
against Barnsley. Dyer, who has been out for 16 months after breaking a leg
in a Carling Cup tie at Bristol Rovers, looks likely to start tomorrow's
match as a substitute and Zola is keen to get the winger on at some stage.
The midfielder, who has been plagued by injury throughout his career, has
played just one behindclosed- doors match but has been training flat out for
several weeks and Zola believes this could be the ideal time to give him
some playing time. Also likely to be on the bench tomorrow is James Tomkins,
who has been recalled from a loan spell at Championship club Derby. 'It was
a good experience,' said the centre-half. 'I played a part in every game but
I am glad to be back.'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham ready to let Lucas Neill leave
West Ham captain Lucas Neill could make a move to Turkish side Galatasaray,
according to reports.
By Telegraph staff
Last Updated: 10:17AM GMT 02 Jan 2009
Neill, 30, who moved to Upton Park from Blackburn Rovers in January 2007,
has six months remaining on his West Ham contract, and the club have
supposedly told Galatasaray the defender can leave if the Turks agree to pay
the final part of his £70,000-per-week deal. Neill, who has made 46
international appearances for Australia, was appointed West Ham captain in
July 2007 following the departure of Nigel Reo-Coker to Aston Villa: he has
scored once in 68 appearances for the side.
However despite the interest it is likely Neill will see out the final
months of his contract and take his time to pick a new club in the summer.
The Australian was the second youngest player – after Harry Kewell – to
represent his national side when he made his debut against Saudi Arabia in
Riyadh in October 1996, aged 18 years and seven months. He competed for
Australia in the 2000 Olympics in Australia, and was a central member of the
team that reached the knockout stages of the 2006 World Cup in Japan and
South Korea under the guidance of Guus Hiddink. Neill conceded the
controversial injury-time penalty against Italy, which Francesco Totti
converted, eliminating Australia from the competition – the first time they
had progressed past the group stage. West Ham's reported willingness to
release their club captain is another sign of the troubles facing the Upton
Park outfit, although chief executive Scott Duxbury has said players don't
need to be sold. He said: "We must not be afraid of interest in, or bids
for, our leading players. "Each approach will be considered in terms of fee,
fitness, form and where the manager thinks the player is in his career. "We
have to consider the will of the player and if he is committed to what we
are trying to achieve."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United Face Administration Threat And Possible Relegation
January 2nd, 2009 By The Gaffer --> Comments
Epltalk.com
In Friday's British newspapers, The Guardian has the scoop that West Ham
United's Icelandic owner has just over two months to sell the club before
his company, Hansa Holdings faces the possibility of being declared
insolvent.
According to Guardian reporter Sachin Nakrani, "Interest has been shown but
[West Ham owner Bjorgolfur] Gudmundsson, who bought the club for £85m in
2006, is struggling to finalise a deal having initially expected to raise
£250m, a figure that is proving unrealistic in the current financial
climate. This is something he needs to overcome by 6 March when, according
to documents seen by the Guardian, court officials will reconvene in
Reykjavik to decide if Hansa is in a position to repay its creditors, or has
to be declared insolvent and subsequently stripped of its assets, including
West Ham."
If the worst possible scenario happens, West Ham would go into
administration and receive an automatic nine point deduction by the Premier
League pushing the Hammers perilously close to the relegation zone.
Now that we're in the January transfer window, you can expect several West
Ham players to be sold. Manager Gianfranco Zola has been told that he has to
sell players before he can buy any, and it looks likely that Craig Bellamy
may be one of the major players to go.
In other news, author and Guardian journalist Jonathan Wilson has written a
wonderful article for The Financial Times about Herbert Chapman, "Football's
first modernist manager." In it, he describes how the Arsenal and
Huddersfield manager was instrumental in becoming the first modern manager
who focused on formations and team tactics.
The Sun newspaper, meanwhile, is reporting that Aston Villa's Ashley Young
and Gabriel Agbonlahor are both heading to the United States for
speed-training sessions with Olympic gold medalist sprinter Michael Johnson,
according to The Sun.
Lastly, the ever dependable Bill Turianski from Billsportsmaps.com has
created a wonderful series of new maps to coincide with this weekend's FA
Cup matches. First, he has a photo gallery featuring Forest Green Rovers
who'll be facing Derby County at home this Saturday. Second, he has a map of
England showing where the lower league clubs that are playing in the FA Cup
this weekend are located in addition to stats on average attendances and
more. To get the complete "picture," read his entire article on the FA Cup.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
French clubs queue for West Ham's Faubert
02.01.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are close to selling Julien Faubert back to France. The
midfielder has PSG, Lyon and Nantes all chasing his signature this month.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham chief Duxbury: Nani has long shopping list
02.01.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United chief Scott Duxbury has revealed technical chief Gianluca
Nani already has a long list of transfer targets - covering every position.
He told whufc.com: "Gianluca Nani and the manager have already identified
potential new players for every single position in the team and are
determined to be one step ahead of the market in the months and years to
come. "Any players coming in will always be viewed as an improvement on the
ones making way."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
