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Tony Stokes and the start of a memorable FA Cup run are the latest to be
featured
07.01.2009
Anniversary
Tony Stokes
Date of birth: 7 January 1987
Club: West Ham United
Popular squad member Tony Stokes is a homegrown Hammer who has made a
significant contribution this season to the reserve-team's success. Captain
of Alex Dyer's side, he has helped the second string climb to third place at
the turn of the year and provides a consistent presence for the mixture of
youngsters coming through and the more established names pushing for
first-team calls.
The versatile Stokes, who can play in midfield or attack, has made one
appearance for the senior side - a League Cup tie at Sheffield Wednesday
back in September 2005 - but was included on the club's pre-season tour of
North America. In recent years, he has had three loan spells away from the
Boleyn Ground - at Rushden and Diamonds, Brighton and Hove Albion and
Stevenage Borough.
Classic match
Norwich City 1-2 West Ham United
FA Cup third round
7 January 2006
Hayden Mullins and Bobby Zamora were on target on what proved the starting
point of a memorable FA Cup campaign. Mullins opened the scoring with a shot
that went in off the post to beat Robert Green in the sixth minute before
Zamora headed the second just before the hour. Norwich pulled one back
through Paul McVeigh's penalty but it was to prove just a consolation in
front of 23,968 fans.
Although Mullins got the ball rolling in the cup, he would miss out on the
final against Liverpool the following May because of suspension. That
Cardiff showpiece saw West Ham United race into a two-goal lead before being
pegged back to 2-2. Paul Konchesky put the Hammers in front only for Steven
Gerrard's last-gasp equaliser that led to extra time and the heartbreak of
defeat on penalties.
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Good times for Mullins
WHUFC.com
Hayden Mullins has spoken of his pride at being named captain amid positive
times at the club
07.01.2009
Hayden Mullins has spoken about how "everything is looking upwards" at West
Ham United as he reflected on the pride of being made captain last time out.
The midfielder was handed the armband in last weekend's 3-0 win against
Barnsley, having been just one of a number of West Ham players who have
impressed since the arrival of Gianfranco Zola in September. The
Reading-born player was quick to pay tribute to the manager's influence both
on and off the pitch, while also thanking 'Mister' for entrusting him with
the captaincy for the visit of Simon Davey's side.
"The manager has come in and freshened a lot of things up," Mullins said, as
he and the rest of the squad looked forward to Newcastle United on Saturday
and the chance to make it six games unbeaten on the road. "Training is
brilliant. We've got a new shape we're working on and a lot of it is coming
off. In the last couple of weeks people have seen the Portsmouth result and
the Stoke result and then the win over Barnsley.
"It's something we're building on. It wasn't quite going for us a couple of
weeks ago but now it's turning round and everything's looking upwards. We're
going higher up in the league and are trying to win as many games as we can
and that's a tribute to the manager.
"[To be captain] was a bit of a shock and a bit of a surprise but it's
always nice to captain the team and I'm just glad he gave me the armband.
There were a couple more options for him but for him to trust me like he
did, I'm very grateful."
Having skippered the Hammers to a victory that set up a fourth round trip to
League One Hartlepool United, the 29-year-old is now setting his sights on a
run to the final. After missing out on the club's appearance in the 2006
final through suspension, the club's second longest-serving player is aiming
to make up for that disappointment by appearing in this year's showpiece at
Wembley.
"I'm very pleased. This is a competition that we've targeted to try and get
as far as we can in. We know that getting to the final is a realistic target
like it proved in 2006 so we're just desperate to get as far as we can in
this competition.
"I think the boys approached it very professionally. It potentially could
have been a banana skin for us. They're a decent side and a team that we
respected. We knew that if we weren't on our game that they would cause us
problems like they did in the first half but we played well, got the goals
at the vital times and that showed in a 3-0 win."
While goals from Herita Ilunga, Mark Noble and Carlton Cole gave the final
scoreline a comfortable appearance, Mullins admitted he and his team-mates
had been pushed hard by the Championship side at the Boleyn Ground. As such,
the defensive midfielder was pleased with how the Hammers matched the Tykes'
workrate before their Premier League class told in the shape of three
well-taken goals.
"It was very important. One thing we knew that they would come here and work
very hard as all the teams in the Championship do. We knew that if we
weren't on our game and we didn't match them there could have been an upset.
We matched their workrate and our football showed in the end which would
always happen if we matched their workrate. We're just happy we're in the
next round."
Another player who has found his best form under Zola is Cole, who has
struck three goals in his last three matches. Mullins himself has been
impressed by the popular striker's efforts, joking that his recent
goalscoring exploits would spare him the inevitable ribbing that is part and
parcel of every dressing room.
"If he keeps scoring he'll be alright. He's got a bit of stick off the boys
lately but everyone likes Carlton. He's a bubbly character and we know how
hard he tries for the team and we let him know he's a valuable member of the
team and if he keeps banging them in he'll be doing very well."
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Etherington set for Stoke switch
BBC.co.uk
Stoke City are close to making West Ham winger Matthew Etherington their
first signing of the January transfer window for an undisclosed fee.
Etherington, who has made 13 Premier League appearances for the Hammers this
season, is expected to sign a three-year deal at the Britannia Stadium. The
27-year-old joined West Ham in 2003 after spells with Peterborough United
and Tottenham Hotspur. Etherington could make his Potters debut against
Liverpool on Saturday. Stoke manager Tony Pulis spent about £20m on 10 new
signings during the summer, in preparation for the club's first season in
the top flight. The Potters are third from bottom in the Premier League,
and Pulis has repeatedly stated his desire to strengthen his squad further
before the transfer deadline on 2 February.
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Hammers seek Ilunga stay
West Ham keen to sign full-back on a permanent basis
By Patrick Haond Last updated: 7th January 2009
SSN
Herita Ilunga's agent claims West Ham are keen to turn his client's loan
switch into a permanent deal. The Congo international joined the Hammers in
September, penning an agreement which is set to run until the end of the
season. However, having impressed the Premier League outfit during his short
time in England, a compromise could now be reached during the January
transfer window. The full-back is believed to have no desire to head back to
Toulouse and West Ham are now investigating the possibility of handing him a
full-time contract before 2nd February. "West Ham really want to sign him,
but I cannot tell you when that may happen," Ilunga's representative Daniel
Striani told Le 10 Sport. The 26-year-old has been a mainstay in Gianfranco
Zola's side in recent weeks and grabbed his first goal for the Hammers
during their 3-0 FA Cup win over Barnsley on Saturday.
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Bolton in Davenport talks
Megson keen to sign Hammers defender
Last updated: 7th January 2009
SSN
Bolton are locked in talks with West Ham over a move for Calum Davenport,
skysports.com understands. West Ham are thought to be willing to offload
Davenport as they look to trim their squad at Upton Park. Davenport has
dropped down the pecking order in Gianfranco Zola's plans and the Italian is
prepared to sell him in order to balance the books The news has alerted
Trotters boss Gary Megson who is keen to bolster his squad for the second
half of the season. Bolton are now thought to have firmed up their interest
in Davenport and are hoping to finalise a deal in the next few days.
Davenport is expected to hold talks with Bolton and undergo a medical in the
next 48 hours ahead of a proposed switch to the Reebok Stadium, and if all
goes to plan he could become Megson's first signing of the transfer window.
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Mullins remains optimistic
Hammers midfielder looks on the bright side
By Chris Burton Last updated: 7th January 2009
SSN
Hayden Mullins insists 'everything is looking upwards' at West Ham despite
the club's much-publicised problems. The global credit crunch has hit the
Hammers hard, with the team's owners financially crippled by the recession.
That has hindered any hopes Gianfranco Zola held of adding to his squad
during the January transfer window. It has also put the future of many of
the club's top stars in doubt, with speculation continuing to link a host of
players with moves away from Upton Park.
However, even with matters off the pitch casting a sizeable shadow, Mullins
insists it is not all doom and gloom in the East End. "The manager has come
in and freshened a lot of things up, training is brilliant," said Mullins,
who was handed the captain's armband for the 3-0 FA Cup win over Barnsley on
Saturday. "We have got a new shape we are working on, and a lot of it is
coming off. "In the last couple of weeks people have seen the Portsmouth
result (4-1 win) and the Stoke result (2-1 win) and then the win over
Barnsley. It is something we are building on."
Mullins added on the club's official website: "It was not quite going for us
a couple of weeks ago. But now it is turning round, and everything is
looking upwards.
"We are going higher up in the league and are trying to win as many games as
we can - and that is a tribute to the manager."
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West Ham to sell Matthew Etherington and Calum Davenport in bid to keep star
players
West Ham are looking to sell a host of fringe players in a bid to retain the
services of Craig Bellamy, Scott Parker and Matthew Upson.
Telegraph
By Giles Mole
Last Updated: 9:22AM GMT 07 Jan 2009
Manager Gianfranco Zola is desperate to hold on to his most valuable assets
as the club attempt to push themselves away from the relegation zone. Zola
has been told there is no money to spend in the January transfer window, and
must raise funds through sales if he is to strengthen his squad. Rival
Premier League clubs are looking to take advantage of West Ham's financial
plight by targeting the likes of Bellamy, Parker and Upson in cut-price
deals. Indeed, Manchester City have reportedly stepped up their pursuit of
Bellamy and Parker. However, the Hammers are adamant they will not weaken
their squad, especially in such a precarious league position, and are
instead planning to raise cash by offloading the likes of Matthew
Etherington and Calum Davenport. Etherington is on the verge of completeing
a £4 million move to Stoke, while £3m-rated Davenport is likely to sign for
Bolton. Julien Faubert, who has been linked with Nantes, Luis Boa Morte and
Nigel Quashie will also be allowed to leave to alleviate pressure on the
club to sell anyone else this month. Along with Bellamy, Parker and Upson,
enquiries have been made regarding Valon Behrami and Robert Green, but they
too are players Zola is loath to part with.
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Milan Considering Lucas Neill Deal
Goal.com
The Rossoneri are in the market for a defender, and the West Ham captain may
be just the right man for the job.
West Ham captain Lucas Neill could be the defender that Milan settle on
during the current transfer window, according to reports in Italy. The
Hammers' sports director, Gianluca Nani has denied the rumour, but sources
have spotted the Australian player in Dubai at Milan's winter training camp.
The Rossoneri have struggled at the back this season, and they have been
linked with a number of defenders as they seem to be attempting to
strengthen their rearguard. Daniel Agger, Philippe Mexes and Sergio Ramos
have all been on Adriano Galliani's wishlist over the last few months, but
all three of those are well taken care of at their respective clubs and are
unwilling to leave. The Rossoneri have managed to capture one of the best
young defensive prospects in Thiago Silva, but the Brazilian is unable to
play for the club until the end of the season due to EU constraints, forcing
the Milan giants to search the market and perhaps swoop for a January
signing to cover for the aging and ailing Milan back line. Thus rumours of
an interest in Neill may not be so far fetched. The 30-year-old's contract
in London will expire next summer and he could be signed as a free agent at
that point, but if Milan are looking for cover at the moment, West Ham may
receive an offer that is too good to refuse.
Peter Pedroncelli, Goal.com
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Pulis set to nab £3m Etherington, with Harewood and Camara also Stoke
targets
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 1:45 PM on 07th January 2009
Daily Mail
Stoke hope to complete the £3million signing of West Ham winger Matthew
Etherington - the first of a hat-trick of new arrivals planned by manager
Tony Pulis to the Britannia Stadium. Pulis also hopes to capture strikers
Marlon Harewood from Aston Villa for £2million plus Wigan's £1million-rated
Henri Camara. Stoke have managed only one goal in their last five games and
Pulis needs more firepower in the side as they battle to stay in the Premier
League. Etherington joined the Hammers five years ago as part of the deal
which took Frederic Kanoute to Tottenham. Under Gianfranco Zola, Etherington
has lost his place in the starting XI and would fill the left-side midfield
role Pulis is looking to strengthen. Harewood's agent Phil Sproson said:
'Stoke are showing an interest in the player but they will have to buy
because Villa won't loan him. 'They are looking to sell him in this window
or in the summer if not, but Marlon's contract runs until the end of next
season and so he's in no hurry from that point of view. 'Villa will listen
to realistic offers, but if someone tries to nick him it will not happen.
It's a case of whoever strikes a deal with Villa first will probably get
him.'
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Hammers Plan Quick Sales
The Sun
Published: Today
WEST HAM are close to easing their financial worries with the sale of
Matthew Etherington to Stoke and Calum Davenport to Bolton. Etherington has
been in the Potteries to discuss personal terms after the clubs agreed a fee
in the region of £3million and the move could be completed later today.
Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola is determined to keep hold of his big-name
stars, including Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker. But the Italian has made no
secret of his wish to trim his squad and neither Etherington or Davenport
are regarded as potential first-team regulars. Davenport had a short run in
the team this season but clashed with Zola after being dropped once James
Collins had returned from injury. Bolton boss Gary Megson has settled on a
£3m fee for the central defender and hopes to have his signature confirmed
in time to make his debut in the weekend clash with Arsenal.
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West Ham's Upson won't consider Man City, Newcastle switch
07.01.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham defender Matthew Upson isn't interested in moving to Manchester
City or Newcastle United. The Mirror says Upson says he will leave West Ham
only for a club in the Champions League - clearing the way for a possible
return to Arsenal.
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Hammers show the door to Davenport
Author: Andrew Allen
Posted on: 07 January 2009 - 11:18
Sport.co.uk
Reports in the Sun claim that Bolton are close to securing a deal for West
Ham's Calum Davenport. Gary Megson has already intimated that he is ready to
spend wisely during the January transfer window as he looks to build on his
side's steady start to the EPL season. 26-year-old Davenport spent three
years at Tottenham Hotspur between 2004-2007 and represented England at
under-21 level before making the move to Upton Park. Despite his pedigree
being somewhat underestimated, the Englishman established himself as an
important squad member for the Hammers. Recent reports, however, intimated
that the player had fallen out with manager Gianfranco Zola and could be
shown the exit door as part of a West Ham's January transfer sales policy.
The East-End side are keen to raise funds as the credit crunch bites and a
fee of £1.5m looks to have been agreed with Bolton.
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West Ham chase Napoli pair/ Transfer gossip
Imscouting.com
07/01/2009
West Ham's sporting director Gianluca Nani is planning a raid on his former
club Brescia for two of the most talented players in Serie B. The agent of
Under-19 German international Savio Nsereko, Patrick Bastianelli, has
claimed that the Brescia attacker could be bought and loaned back to the
Italian club. Bastianelli said: "The sporting director of West Ham is
Gianluca Nani, former sports director of Brescia, who knows very well the
qualities of Savio, we talked about Savio no more than a week ago. In those
talks Gianluca confirmed his will, and that of Zola's, to bring the player
to West Ham." Just days ago Nsereko confirmed that he had received offers
from Napoli, Inter Milan and clubs in the Bundesliga. (For more see here.)
Alongside Nsereko, a report in The Times this morning suggests that it will
be a double swoop by the Hammers who are also interested in Bartosz Salamon,
a 17-year-old central midfielder worth around 1.5 million euros. According
to IMScouting, the 6.3ft Polish player is a very very talented young
midfielder, he's considered the new Marek Hamsik. A true playmaker, with
good pace, excellent technical skills, great vision of the field, and great
passes.
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Stoke close in on Etherington signing
Whydelilah.co.uk
By Martin Spinks | Email to a friend | Digg |
Published: Wednesday 07 Jan 2009
Potters agree fee for West Ham midfielder
STOKE City are close to completing the signing of West Ham winger Matthew
Etherington after agreeing a fee of around £3m for the Welsh international.
The 27-year-old will become City's first capture of the January transfer
window if the deal goes through and fill their long-standing vacancy on the
left of midfield. However, a busy month of transfer activity could also see
Stoke's strike options bolstered by the arrival of £2m Marlon Harewood from
Aston Villa, plus £1m long-term target Henri Camara from Wigan. Etherington
has been at West Ham for five years after moving from Tottenham as part of
the deal which took striker Frederic Kanoute to White Hart Lane.
He began his career at Peterborough before moving to Spurs for £500,000 in
1999. He made 51 appearances at White Hart Lane before his switch to West
Ham to become a mainstay of the side which won promotion after two seasons
in the Championship. He has made 195 appearances for the Hammers, including
13 in the Premier League this season, but has fallen down the pecking order
at Upton Park since the arrival of new manager Gianfranco Zola. Stoke have
been linked with a number of left-wing targets, including Cardiff's Wales
international Joe Ledley. But the capture of Etherington would bring pace,
creativity and top-flight experience to the problem left-sided position. He
could also sign in time for Saturday's home game with league leaders
Liverpool, boosting a City side which has only scored once in their last
five games.
Meanwhile, Stoke have put the feelers out for Harewood, it was confirmed
today, and they could land him for anywhere between £2m and £2.5m. The
29-year-old striker would listen to an offer from Stoke, but the final
decision on his departure would appear to rest with Villa's recruitment of a
replacement striker. Harewood's agent said Stoke, Bolton and Middlesbrough
have all inquired about his availability, while Portsmouth, West Brom and
Celtic are other possible suitors. "Stoke are showing an interest in the
player," Phil Sproson said today, "but they will have to buy because Villa
won't loan him. They are looking to sell him in this window if they can, or
in the summer if not, but Marlon's contract runs until the end of next
season and so he's in no hurry from that point of view. "Villa will listen
to realistic offers, but if someone tries to nick him it will not happen.
It's a case of whoever strikes a deal with Villa first will probably get
him."
Sproson, the former Port Vale favourite now acting as a PFA representative
for players, says Harewood would have no qualms joining a relegation battle
with Stoke.
"Not at all," he asserted. "That's the good thing with Marlon. He will talk
to anybody who show a realistic interest in him and offer him the chance to
stay in the Premier League. "He's not in a fantastic rush to leave Villa,
but he is missing not playing regularly and is at that stage of his career
where he wants to be playing. "But he understands the situation at Villa.
They are a top-five club now and the standard there is unbelievably high.
There are England players in front of him in the team."
Sproson insists his man would be a huge asset to Stoke, despite recent
inactivity, and is simply desperate for a regular run in first-team
football. "He scored 19 goals at West Ham one year and has always looked
dangerous coming off the bench for Villa. He's a big, strong lad and is full
of energy. "He can do it, but he needs to be playing five or six games on
the trot. Then you'll get the best out of him because he's not one of those
who can come in and out of the team and just turn it on. "He's a very
confident player and you saw that when he came on at Gillingham on Sunday
and tried to take the penalty off James Milner." It is not clear whether
Stoke intend to sign Camara and Harewood, or whether the Wigan man is an
alternative to the Villa striker. He was reported to be on his way to Stoke
following Wigan's £4.5m deal for Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega
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West Ham board determined to keep top trio
07.01.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are confident of hanging onto Matthew Upson and Scott
Parker, it has been revealed. A West Ham executive told the Guardian:
"(Gianfranco) Zola, (Gianluca) Nani and [the chief executive] Scott Duxbury
are sure about Upson and Parker but not as certain about (Craig) Bellamy as
he has a strong mind. Parker knows the feeling of being a good player and
staying on the bench at Chelsea." Parker is a big-money target for
Manchester City.
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Gudmundsson may take West Ham off market
07.01.09 | tribalfootball.com
Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson could withdraw West Ham United from the market. An
executive close to the Icelandic businessman said that, although West Ham is
officially for sale as the owner fights to prevent the holding company Hansa
being declared insolvent, the east London club may be withdrawn from the
market if a buyer is not found in "the next six to eight weeks" and other
avenues explored. "We don't need to sell the club – other alternatives in
liaison with our banks can be examined about how else to proceed if we need
to," the source told the Guardian. "We could hold out for a year or two
years. It is important to know we do not need to sell."
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