Wednesday, February 4

Daily WHUFC News - II 4th February 2009

Green proud of team
WHUFC.com
Robert Green believes the togetherness within the squad has helped make it
three clean sheets in a row
04.02.2009

After more than playing his part in helping West Ham United keep three clean
sheets in a row in early December, Robert Green has been slightly less busy
when building up his current trio of consecutive shut-outs.

Bar a brilliant reflex save in the 2-0 win at Hartlepool United and a 58th
minute stop from Jimmy Bullard in the 2-0 victory against Hull City, the
goalkeeper has enjoyed superb protection from those in front of him. Such
was the strength and resilience shown by his team-mates in Sunday's game at
Arsenal, Green only had to make routine catches and clearances despite the
home side seeing more of the ball.

"it's a tremendous effort by everyone and it shows if you don't concede
goals you're not going to lose games," Green said. "The main thing is we
keep going and keep the momentum going in the team and everybody is really
encouraged by our recent run of form. We're playing as a team everyone in
the team is a happy camper and everyone is playing well."

The 29-year-old Green will face another test when the might of Manchester
United visit the Boleyn Ground on Sunday, but Green is, understandably,
optimistic about the Hammers chances of making it nine games unbeaten.
"Confidence is good. The lads will get a rest before that game and Upton
Park will be rocking. They're [Manchester United] are on a tremendous run of
form but we're not doing too bad either. It's competitive so it should make
it a great game."

The draw at the Emirates demonstrated another side to Gianfranco Zola's
team, after they had impressed so much when going forward in recent weeks.
Although Green was happy to pick up the point in north London, he says the
players were disappointed not to have created more going forward. He said:
"We took 20 minutes to get going really, but after a while we started to
play. Going to Arsenal and getting a point is pleasing. I think we could
have done more on the ball but we defended well and we limited their chances
when they attacked."

"We'd have taken a point at the start but we're disappointed we didn't do
ourselves justice in the footballing sense and the lads feel that.
Disappointed is not really the word as we're walking off the pitch saying
"Tremendous point" but we feel we could have played more football."

New signing Savio got his second taste of the Barclays Premier League and
Green was impressed with the new No10's attitude in what could have been a
daunting occasion. "Everyone was working hard and when Savio came on he was
working hard and chasing. I'm sure it's a bit different from Brescia as
running out at the Emirates is a bit different from playing in Serie B. I'm
sure he knows he's still got a lot to learn but he's very young and I think
he knows he's not the finished product just yet."

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Important travel news
WHUFC.com
Fans planning to travel to Sunday's game with Manchester United by tube
should be aware of planned closures
04.02.2009

Fans planning to come to Sunday's game with Manchester United on the
Underground could have their travel disrupted by planned engineering works
on the network.

The District Line is closed between Embankment and Upminster in both
directions, the Circle line is completely closed and the Jubilee Line is
closed between Stratford and Green Park in both directions, meaning the
Hammersmith and City Line is the only line running to the Boleyn Ground.

Any fans travelling from London Euston will need to walk from the main line
station to Euston Square Underground Station and get the Hammersmith and
City line direct to the stadium.

For journey planning and more information visit the TFL website

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Brabrook tips Hammers
WHUFC.com
Former West Ham United hero Peter Brabrook wants to get one over old pal Sir
Bobby Charlton on Sunday
02.02.2009

West Ham United hero Peter Brabrook believes his old side can upset the odds
and beat Manchester United on Sunday.

If anyone knows how to get one over the Red Devils, it is the former Hammers
winger, who tasted victory on five of the nine occasions he lined up against
them. The most famous of those successes came in March 1964, when Brabrook
was part of the West Ham United side that beat Manchester United 3-1 at
Hillsborough to reach the FA Cup final.

Some 45 years on and the Greenwich-born player believes his former club can
recreate history this weekend - ending Sir Alex Ferguson's team's run of 12
consecutive Premier League clean sheets in the process.

"To be fair to Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke, they have done really well
since they came in and the team is playing good football. They have got the
players organised and teams are finding it hard to break us down and score
against us at the moment.

"Full marks to both of them because we have drawn with Liverpool, Chelsea
and now Arsenal away from home and I would not rule us out getting a result
against Manchester United on Sunday. We normally do well against them at
home and have beaten them at the Boleyn Ground the last two seasons. The way
we're playing, I would not be surprised if we did it again."

Brabrook, who roomed with Manchester United star Sir Bobby Charlton during
England's trip to the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, is hoping to be at the
stadium on Sunday to meet his former team-mate and honour the memory of
ex-West Ham United and England legend Bobby Moore, who he lined up alongside
as the Hammers lifted the FA Cup in 1964 and European Cup Winners' Cup a
year later.

Sunday's match will see the club raise the profile of the Bobby Moore Fund
for Cancer Research UK, the charity founded following the death of England's
1966 World Cup-winning captain. Moore, who made his debut against Manchester
United on 8 September 1958, died after battling bowel cancer in February
1993.

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Dalla Bona holds Hammers talks
Italian free agent hoping for Zola reunion
By Nadia Carminati Last updated: 4th February 2009
SSN

Former Chelsea midfielder Sam Dalla Bona has held talks with Gianfranco Zola
about the possibility of training with West Ham. The Italian is a free agent
after recently leaving Napoli and he has approached ex-Stamford Bridge
team-mate Zola. Dalla Bona - who made 55 appearances for Chelsea between
1999 and 2002 - has revealed that he was approached by Serie B side
Triestina on winter transfer deadline day, but he remains keen to return to
the Premier League. And the 27-year-old has confirmed that he has discussed
the possibility of linking up with Zola, who is set to approach the Hammers
hierarchy regarding the subject. "In the last hours of the transfer window,
Triestina did approach me, but I have another idea in mind," he told
Gazzetta dello Sport. "I spoke with Zola and I asked him about the
possibility of training with West Ham because free agents have until March
to find a new club. "Zola told me he will ask the officials. I wait for an
answer."

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Former Chelsea star Dalla Bona hoping to team up with Zola again at West Ham
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 3:24 PM on 04th February 2009
Daily Mail

Former Chelsea midfielder Sam Dalla Bona has approached Gianfranco Zola
about the possibility of training with West Ham. The 27-year-old Italian is
a free agent after recently leaving Napoli and he has contacted ex-Stamford
Bridge team-mate Zola about a return to London. Dalla Bona - who made 55
appearances for Chelsea between 1999 and 2002 - was approached by Serie B
side Triestina on transfer deadline day, but favoured a return to the
Premier League.
And the 27-year-old has confirmed that he has discussed the possibility of
linking up with Zola. 'In the last hours of the transfer window, Triestina
did approach me, but I have another idea in mind,' he told Gazzetta dello
Sport. 'I spoke with Zola and I asked him about the possibility of training
with West Ham because free agents have until March to find a new club. 'Zola
told me he will ask the officials. I wait for an answer.'

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Curbishley's fear for Hammers
by Kirk Blows. Wednesday, 04 February 2009
thelondonpaper.com

ALAN CURBISHLEY believes West Ham may regret allowing so many players to
leave Upton Park in the January transfer window. The Hammers held on to most
of their top stars despite constant speculation that the current financial
climate would force big-money sales. But the wage bill was still heavily
reduced, with nine members of the first-team squad leaving and only Savio
Nsereko and Radoslav Kovac being added to it. Craig Bellamy, Matthew
Etherington and Hayden Mullins were sold for a total of £17m, while Lee
Bowyer, Julien Faubert, Calum Davenport, Nigel Quashie, Kyel Reid and Jimmy
Walker have been loaned out. And former boss Curbishley, who quit the club
earlier in the season after disputing player sales, believes the Hammers
could be left short if they suffer injuries. Curbishley told Sky Sports
News: "I don't think they could have let any more players go. "Quite a lot
of the fringe players have left and I think it's left them a little bit
short.
"They seem to be having the luck I never had regarding injuries, they have a
settled side and they are playing well. "But a few injuries here and there
can change all that."
Chief executive Scott Duxbury revealed the Hammers had been hoping to add
more players to the squad before Monday's deadline. Panathinaikos defender
Bryce Moon and Dinamo Bucharest's Sergiu Homei were both linked with moves
to Upton Park. And Duxbury said: "We'd been looking at a couple of the
manager's targets but a deal couldn't be concluded."

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Tottenham sorry to miss out on 'not very nice' Craig Bellamy
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Metro.co.uk

Tottenham assistant coach Tim Sherwood has revealed the club were keen to
sign Craig Bellamy, 'because he is not very nice'. Former Liverpool and
Celtic striker Bellamy left West Ham during the January transfer window to
join Manchester City in a deal believed to be worth £14million. However,
Sherwood insists bad-boy Bellamy may have been just what the club needed to
stir things up in the dressing room at White Hart Lane. 'That's why we tried
so hard to get Craig Bellamy because we've lots of nice guys at the club
and, no disrespect, but Craig Bellamy is not very nice,' said Sherwood. 'The
guy is a winner and he'll let people know if they are not pulling their
weight.'

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Sam's The Man for the Hammers
Published: Today

EX-CHELSEA star Sam Dalla Bona is on trial with West Ham. The Italian
midfielder, 27, is a free agent after he was released by Napoli. And he
hopes to earn a contract with the Hammers by impressing boss Gianfranco Zola
who he played with at the Blues. He said: "In the last hours of the transfer
window, Triestina did approach me but I have another idea in mind. "I spoke
with Zola and I asked him about the possibility of training with West Ham
because free agents have until March to find a new club. "Zola told me he
will ask the officials. I wait for an answer."

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No more Freddie Ljungbergs
They once typified the excesses of modern football, but West Ham are now a
much leaner operation – as their dealings in the January transfer window
have shown.
By Jason Burt
Independent.co.uk

After nine years at Arsenal, Freddie Ljungberg signed for West Ham for £1.5m
in July 2007 on a four year contract, in the middle of the former chairman
Eggert Magnusson's spending spree

There is a document at West Ham United called the Football Project. It
could, alternatively, be entitled the Freddie Ljungberg Legacy as it was
drawn up with the fallout from the midfielder's ill-fated, hugely expensive
move from Arsenal to Upton Park in mind. Its author is the club's chief
executive, Scott Duxbury, and it is the template by which West Ham have
rebuilt themselves, overhauling everything from their scouting network,
medical facilities – to reduce a crippling injury list – coaching and the
way they buy and sell players.

In Duxbury's words, it was an end to the "haphazard way of spending money"
and the start of a model of working that would lead to the club being
self-sufficient, not reliant on a wealthy benefactor and certainly not – as
had been predicted following the Carlos Tevez saga, the financial travails
of its owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson and the fallout from the departure of
manager Alan Curbishley – in the business of conducting a fire sale in the
January transfer window. If anything, the window is a relief for West Ham as
it means they can provide concrete evidence that they are not in crisis.

Clubs have been circling, with bids and inquiries received for Craig
Bellamy, Scott Parker, Matthew Upson, Valon Behrami and others. Duxbury
insists that the only players that will be allowed to go are those on a list
agreed by the manager Gianfranco Zola and the technical director Gianluca
Nani, such as Matthew Etherington (who has joined Stoke) and Calum Davenport
(whose move to Bolton fell through but is likely to move anyway).

Having said which, Duxbury says they are not afraid to sell. Everyone has a
price and Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on the £15m valuation for
Bellamy. But he expects Parker and Upson to stay and insists there there is
now a crucial difference. West Ham will now sell only when they are ready
and point to the record of Manchester United. They are one of the best
selling clubs in the world. David Beckham is moved on, but only when they
have Cristiano Ronaldo – younger, cheaper, better – to slot in. They sell on
their terms and that is West Ham's goal and one of the goals of the Football
Project.

The first step was the recruitment of Nani from the Italian club Brescia.
Duxbury interviewed Leonardo, Milan's technical director, and Franco
Baldini, with the latter declining the role because he was due to become
England's general manager following Fabio Capello's appointment. But Baldini
recommended Nani. With the Italian on board, West Ham then implemented a
plan to reduce their first-team squad to a "core" of 20 players plus
goalkeepers, with the reserve team a place for young, up-and-coming talents,
rather than older players returning to fitness. The average age of the
reserves would be 18 and they would play the same style of football as the
first team so they could slot straight in when needed.

To do this required an improved network of scouts and, certainly, a better
medical department. Injuries had to be prevented. So West Ham again raided
Serie A – this time taking Marco Cesarini and Giorgio Gasparini from Milan's
medical lab. The latter is famed for working with Filippo Inzaghi, who
overcame serious knee problems and is still playing at the age of 38. It is
no coincidence that West Ham's injury record is now vastly improved.

This was all done with Curbishley as manager but when he walked out,
claiming he had been undermined over transfers, it did give West Ham the
opportunity to recruit a different style of manager. A coach. Duxbury came
close to appointing Roberto Donadoni but then, in Rome, met Zola. He read
through the Football Project and found it chimed with his own ambition.
"He's got an incredible reputation as a winner and he wouldn't do anything
to risk that so he agreed to join on the basis of the Football Project,"
Duxbury said.

"He believed it was the way to achieve success and it's what excites him.
What's lost in football is that people think the only way to be successful
is to buy great players, but why can't you coach them into great players?
Take Freddie Sears and let Zola work with and teach him how to be a striker.
If you buy Kaka you defeat the object, you buy success. We want to create
it."

To that end, Zola also made clear he didn't want a big squad. The final part
of the personnel was the recruitment of Steve Clarke from Chelsea to give
Zola support, especially with defensive coaching, and to bring his knowledge
of working with Jose Mourinho and add experience. It is why West Ham paid
substantial compensation for the Scot.

Duxbury, Nani, Zola and – sometimes – Clarke meet on a daily basis away from
Chadwell Heath, West Ham's training ground, to discuss and appraise the
squad, what the aims and targets should be. At the training ground, there is
no talk of contracts, money, business, just coaching, tactics, fitness. The
players know not to ask Zola about contracts and the manager doesn't deal
with agents. That business is taken care of by Nani and Duxbury.

West Ham believe their project is working. Performances are better, results
improving. "This isn't new," Duxbury said. "What's new is putting together
all the different parts with a clear structure – scouting, medical,
business, coaching – so that they are separate but work together.

"The club has a bad history of being seen as a selling club. We don't have
to sell but we shouldn't be afraid to sell. But only on our terms. You
constantly re-evaluate the squad. So if a bid comes in we appraise it: how
old is the player, what's his worth, what's his worth to the team, and have
we identified a better player in his position? If the answer is yes, then we
do it. If no, then we don't. But the final decision rests with the manager."


West Ham may be sold. Gudmundsson is looking for a buyer but he maintains
that, despite his financial problems, he doesn't need to sell. And the
presentations that are being made, to potential owners, are on the basis of
the Football Project continuing.

Case study 1 How not to do it:

After nine years at Arsenal, Freddie Ljungberg signed for West Ham for £1.5m
in July 2007 on a four-year contract, in the middle of the former chairman
Eggert Magnusson's spending spree. He earned an astonishing £85,000 a week,
a significant increase in his Arsenal wages despite being 30 when he was
signed. There was also surprise that West Ham paid a fee when it was
believed he could leave for free. Ljungberg struggled and made just 25
appearances for West Ham, plagued by injuries and poor form, and was
eventually paid off, receiving 50 per cent of the remainder of his contract,
which amounted to around £3m. He has since signed for the MLS team Seattle
Sounders.

Case study 2 How to do it

The 27-year-old left-back George McCartney had probably his best ever season
in the last campaign, playing all 38 Premier League games following his
arrival from Sunderland in exchange for Clive Clarke plus £600,000 in the
summer of 2006. But he made it clear he wanted to return to Sunderland last
August and was eventually sold for £6m. West Ham signed the little-known
Congolese defender Herita Ilunga from Toulouse on loan as his replacement.
The club were fiercely criticised for the sale of McCartney and arrival of
Ilunga. A year younger than McCartney, Ilunga has been a major success and
is set to sign a deal, with West Ham taking up an option to buy him for
£1.5m in the summer.

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Faubert: Say that you love me
Setanta.co.uk
by Laurent Picard , 04 February 2009

Real Madrid's most surprising signing in history, Julien Faubert, has
declared that he deserves more credit from the fans. The West Ham defender
remains under contract with the East London club, but he will finish the
season in Spain with the mighty Real Madrid. Eyebrows were raised when the
Frenchman's move to the Spanish capital was announced, and the man himself
has said he would like football fans, especially the French ones, to be
happy for him. But the versatile player is determined to prove his doubters
wrong. Faubert told L'Equipe: "That's the French mentality: instead of being
happy for me, because there's a new French player at Real Madrid, they
prefer to criticise my move. "C'est la vie. I know people are waiting for me
to make a mistake, but I am a very proud person and I'm going to do anything
to make things turn my way." Despite the fact he is on loan to the Santiago
Bernabeu, Faubert believes that Los Merengues, whose chairman was recently
forced into resigning, have long term plans for him. He added: "This proves
that the club have a long term project. It also proves that a team such as
Real don't take a player on impulse or to please him."

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West Ham v Manchester United preview
10:50am Wednesday 4th February 2009
Guardian Series

West Ham v Manchester United
(Premier League)
Sunday, February 8, 4pm

LAST MEETING: Manchester United 2-0 West Ham (29-10-08) A first-half brace
from Ronaldo was enough to see the Premier League champions past the Hammers
last time out.

LAST TIME AT EMIRATES: West Ham 2-1 Manchester United (29-12-07) Ronaldo had
threatened to spoil West Ham's day with an early goal, but a late
intervention from defensive duo Anton Ferdinand and Matthew Upson saw the
Irons steal all three points.

HEAD TO HEAD: West Ham 41 wins, Manchester United 51 wins, 24 draws

FORM: United have soared back to the top of the table after a run of 12
league games without defeat. That run has coincided with a record-breaking
achievement by Edwin Van Der Sar, who has usurped Petr Cech for going the
most minutes without conceding a league goal – which now stands at 1,122
minutes.

DANGER MAN: While Ronaldo will no doubt be watched carefully by West Ham's
markers, it is Dimitar Berbatov who has hit form at just the right time for
United, with three goals in his last four games helping steer his side into
the last 16 of the FA Cup, as well as earning three valuable points at
Bolton.

FUN FACT: Actor and comedian Steve Coogan is a Red Devil at heart. But the
Alan Partridge star will be hoping there's nothing funny about United's
performance at Upton Park.

PREDICTION: West Ham 1 Manchester United 2

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Race yob banned after abusing West Ham star
Sunderlandecho.co.uk
Philip Dobson
Published Date: 04 February 2009

A racist yob has been banned from every football ground in the country for
screaming sickening abuse at a black Premiership star. Philip Dobson, of
Tees Street, Horden, made vile comments and gestures towards West Ham
United's Julien Faubert's – telling him to "go back home" during
Hartlepool's recent fourth round FA cup clash. Magistrates slammed his
behaviour as having "no place in society" and banned him from going to any
games for three years. Dobson, 27, singled out French midfielder Faubert
because of his colour in front of families and children during the match at
Victoria Park on January 24 which attracted Hartlepool's biggest crowd for
years and was screened live on TV. Hartlepool Magistrates' Court heard how
police in the ground first noticed Dobson, who had been drinking, goading
the West Ham fans from the Camerons stand. But his anger spilled over as
Pool went behind towards the end of the first half and targeted Faubert.
Faubert, 25, who has since joined Real Madrid on loan, twice came under
racist onslaughts by Dobson when he had the ball in front of the stand.
Prosecutor Zennett Begham said: "There were women and children in close
vicinity of where the defendant was."
Under the order, Dobson, who admitted racially aggravated behaviour, is
banned from any football game in England and Wales until December 1, 2012.
Barry Gray, defending, said: "He made these comments and he is sorry for
them. He accepts they were racially aggravated and feels extremely ashamed
of his actions to the unfortunate Mr Faubert, who was defending the West Ham
goal a little too well for Hartlepool." Dobson was also fined £100 and must
pay £60 costs and a £15 surcharge.

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West Ham chief Duxbury happy they held onto stars
04.02.09 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United chief Scott Duxbury is pleased they survived the winter
market with only Craig Bellamy leaving for Manchester City. Duxbury said: "I
am pleased we have kept our key players. "It is clear we have a committed
squad and we are excited to see what they can realise in the rest of the
season and beyond. "The addition of Savio and Radoslav Kovac in this window
underlined that we wanted to focus on players who could challenge for a
first-team place."

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Zola in swoop for Dalla Bona
Sport.co.uk
Author: Andrew Allen
Posted on: 04 February 2009 - 3:04 PM

Former Chelsea midfielder Sam Dalla Bona has held talks with West Ham
manager Gianfranco Zola about a possible move to Upton Park. The Italian is
a free agent after leaving Napoli and has until March to find a new club.
Dalla Bona, who made 55 appearances for Chelsea between 1999 and 2002, says
he is awaiting Zola's answer. The 27-year-old was approached by Serie B
minnows Triestina on transfer deadline day but he shunned their advances in
a bid to secure a return to the Premier League. And Zola is set to ask the
Hammers' board about the possibility of bringing the former Chelsea
midfielder to the club. "In the last hours of the transfer window, Triestina
did approach me, but I have another idea in mind," Dalla Bona told Gazzetta
dello Sport. "I spoke with Zola and I asked him about the possibility of
training with West Ham because free agents have until March to find a new
club. Zola told me he will ask the officials. I wait for an answer."

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Daily WHUFC News - 4th February 2009

Parker wins FA Cup award
WHUFC.com
Scott Parker has been named the FA Cup player of the round after the support
of West Ham United fans
03.02.2009

Scott Parker has been named the E.ON Player of the Round award after his
man-of-the-match display against Hartlepool United.

The midfielder, who captained the team at Victoria Park, was instrumental in
the 2-0 away performance that took the team through to a fifth-round meeting
with Middlesbrough on 14 February. Subject to West Ham United being
involved, Parker will receive VIP hospitality for himself and a guest at the
FA Cup final on Saturday 30 May 2009. The winner of each award will also be
presented with a commemorative trophy.

Parker beat four rivals - Swansea City goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos,
Doncaster Rovers shot-stopper Neil Sullivan, Kettering Town forward Craig
Westcarr and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack - to claim the prize and won
50 per cent of the vote. The five names had been selected by a panel which
includes Mark Clemmit of Radio Five Live, Howard Wheatcroft of the Daily
Star, past FA Cup hero Ricky George, ITV pundit Andy Townsend and E.ON
Managing Director Graham Bartlett.

The E.ON Player of the Round award is presented to the outstanding player at
each stage of competition, starting from the first round qualifying all the
way to the semi-final.

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Reserve fixture postponed
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's midweek trip to Stoke City has fallen victim to the recent
inclement weather
03.02.2009

West Ham United's Barclays Premier Reserve League South fixture at Stoke
City, scheduled for Wednesday evening, has been postponed.

The match, which was set to take place at the Britannia Stadium, will now be
re-arranged and could be played as early as next week. Hammers reserve team
manager Alex Dyer said he and his players had been looking forward to taking
on the Potters, but admitted the cold snap had made preparation difficult.

"It is a bit of a blow that the game was called-off but the snow has made
for a difficult week. On Monday it was hard for most of the lads to get in
to train. I texted and rang around but if they couldn't get in then fair
enough. A number of the lads came in on Tuesday and we trained indoors and
we're hoping to train now for the rest of the week up until the first-team
game at Manchester United on Sunday. We're also trying to re-arrange the
Stoke game for next week and should know something later on Tuesday."

Dyer's side are currently third in the table, four point

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Neill to face Japan
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's captain is ready to help Australia in their bid to reach
the 2010 FIFA World Cup
03.02.2009

Lucas Neill has been named in a 22-man Australia squad for their 2010 FIFA
World Cup Asian qualifier round four match against Japan in Yokohama on
Wednesday 11 February.

The 30-year-old West Ham United and Socceroos captain is expected to win his
47th cap for Pim Verbeek's side at the Yokohama International Stadium.
Australia go into the match sitting top of Asian Group A, two points ahead
of their hosts.

Australia have won all three of their group matches so far, beating
Uzbekistan (1-0), Qatar (4-0) and Bahrain (1-0) without conceding a goal.
Japan have won in Bahrain and Qatar but drew at home with Uzbekistan in
their opening three fixtures.

Of the other sides in Australia's group, Uzbekistan host Bahrain in Tashkent
on 11 February, while Qatar have a bye.

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Hammers make fourth signing
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 3rd February 2009
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United have snapped up young Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Kurucz on
loan for the rest of the season. The 20-year-old stopper agreed the switch
ahead of last night's 5pm deadline and becomes United's fourth signing of
the transfer window following Nsereko Savio, Radoslav Kovac and Herita
Ilunga, whose loan deal has been made permanent. Kurucz, who stands 6'4"
tall is not expected to be involved with Gianfranco Zola's first team squad
upon his arrival and will instead start with Alex Dyer's reserve squad,
where he will be closely monitored. Robert Green and Jan Lastuvka will
therefore remain as the club's two first-choice goalkeepers. The deal was
confirmed by Kurucz's current club, Ujpest FC on their website this morning.
A statement said: "Ujpest and West Ham United have today reached an
agreement for the talented goalkeeper. "The 20-year-old player has a
contract to the end of the season with the Premier League club, which has
the option to purchase. If West Ham exercise this right, Peter will join for
a further four years."
Unfortunately the Hammers failed to land any further transfer targets prior
to the winter window's closure last night despite holding discussions with a
number of players and agents throughout the course of the day. Mooted deals
with Panathinaikos' Bryce Moon and Dinamo Bucharest's Sergui Homei fell
through after the club failed to complete them by the 5pm deadline. However
attempts to sign one - or possibly both - later in the season have not been
discounted.

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Thumbs-up from fans
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 3rd February 2009
By: Staff Writer

KUMB.com readers have unanimously backed the club's January transfer window
dealings.

96% of voters in a KUMB poll have today declared themselves 'happy' at the
club's January business - with just 4% saying they were 'disappointed' at
the outcome.

The poll, which you can see here has thus far resulted in 30% of voters
declaring themselves to be 'delighted' at the outcome of the winter window.
Another 66% said they were 'reasonably happy' following the arrival of
Nsereko Savio, Radoslav Kovac and the permanent signing of left-back Herita
Ilunga - along with the sale of several squad players.

Less than 4% of voters have so far said they were 'disappointed' - a result
that represents a massive sea-change in opinion amongst supporters who
panned the Board at the conclusion of the last transfer window following the
departure of former manager Alan Curbishley plus players Anton Ferdinand and
George McCartney.

Despite the massive endorsement a number of posters still expressed
concerns, the most common of which related to the failure to sign an
experienced striker to replace Craig Bellamy or provide cover for the
departing Julien Faubert and Calum Davenport.

Additionally, some believe that the current first team squad is now lacking
depth whilst others have pointed to what appears to be, on paper at least,
another transfer window trading surplus and questioned why those funds were
not fully reinvested in the squad.

In, out, shake it all about - West Ham United's January dealings
(All transfer fee values best estimates where undisclosed)

Arrivals: 4 - Nsereko Savio (£5m+clauses); Radoslav Kovac (loan with option
to buy); Peter Kurucz (loan with option to buy); Herita Ilunga (£1.5m).
Total estimated expenditure: £6.5m+clauses.

Departures: 8 - Craig Bellamy (£14m); Matthew Etherington (£2m); Hayden
Mullins (£1m); Julien Faubert (£1.5m loan with option to buy); Calum
Davenport (loan with option to buy); Nigel Quashie (loan); Lee Bowyer (loan
until end of contract); Joe Widdowson (loan). Total estimated receipts:
£18.5m.

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The transfer window post mortem
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 3rd February 2009
By: Paul Turner

If there is anything to be learnt from the summer transfer window is that we
should all give West Ham 24 hours after the window closes to announce any
done deals. That time it was the deals for David Di Michele and Illunga that
were announced late, the excuse being put down to waiting for clearance from
the pro per authorities.

As I type this it is seven hours after the 'close' of the January transfer
window. I use inverted commas because due to the adverse weather the Premier
League managed to get an extension to the window that only comes into effect
if both clubs emailed the league and showed that a fee had been agreed and
that the weather had played its part in stopping things going through before
5pm.

I don't understand why some people leave it right to the end, as if you
wanted someone then you would have gotten it done a while ago. Anyway, in a
time of RIP articles in the Mirror newspaper and general doom and gloom from
Fleet Street's finest we can now take stock of what has gone on and look to
the end of the season with the current squad of player we have. It seems a
bit strange to say this but:

West Ham have done (to a degree) what they said they would.

That might seem at odds with conventional thinking but hear me out. West Ham
have said they would move on players who were not getting first team chances
on a regular basis, cut the squad number and look for quality and youth over
quantity. We have not sold Parker, Green or Upson. We have replaced when
needed (apart from the cover on the right in Faubert's replacement) and
signed a guy who is listed as promising in Savio.

Those who did not want to be at the club (Bellamy, Davenport, Faubert) are
gone and we can properly replace in a more settled environment in the
summer. Some might point out that we have too many loan deals both in and
out of the club but I see this as all football clubs dealing with the
current financial environment in which people are taking a longer, harder
look at players before going the full hog and buying the player outright.

We got Illunga in on loan, had a look and liked what we saw so much he was
given a permanent contract. It is a prudent way to act and ensures that Zola
and Clarke have time to work with the player and see if they fit in with the
grand scheme of things, or the football project that has long been mooted by
Scott Duxbury.

I, like many others do not know what the bulk of this football project text
actually says but somewhere there might be a phrase about not selling to
Tottenham anymore if Mr Duxbury's comments to Sky Sports News are to be
taken as gospel. Our recent transfer dealings may very well be the board's
way of dressing up a dressing down of the overall playing staff but to me
its part of the project and the results are not due in now until May.

The poll running at the moment on the KUMB.com forums asks people which of
four statements people most agree with, with regards to West Ham United's
dealings in the transfer window. The majority of responders have plumped, so
far, for the answer 'I'm reasonably happy'. As alluded before with the
failure to provide a reasonable cover for Faubert's departure, there are
some aspects of the squad that in future will need looking at like our
forwards and wingers if they are needed for particular game situations and
formations but overall the mood is one of quite confidence that we can push
up the league, keep getting good results and that we have not lost the vast
bulk of our better players.

With every game between now and the end of the season important to this
club's ambitions of success, be it in the cup or through as high a league
finish as possible I feel that with the close of the January transfer window
and the clubs dealings we have given ourselves a decent platform for
advancing (which could have been a lot worse if you believed the
speculation, but on the other hand could have been a bit better). Sounds
like the story of West Ham really.

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Success and conservatism: the manager's dilemma
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 3rd February 2009
By: John Simkin

In his book "The Mackericks: English Football When Flair Wore Flares"
(1994), Rob Steen suggested that winning the World Cup in 1966 was the worst
thing that could have happened to English football because "it established
deep in the English footballing consciousness the notion that the
functionality of Alf Ramsay's side was the only way to achieve success".
Steen was making the important point that the problem with success is that
it breeds conservatism.

In his brilliant book, "Inverting the Pyramid: A History of Football
Tactics" (2008), Jonathan Wilson argues that really great managers in the
past never allowed themselves to become conservative football managers.
Wilson provides a short-list of these managers that includes two Scotsman,
Bill Shankly and Alex Ferguson. It is no coincidence that these two great
managers were brought up in working-class areas by parents who were active
socialists. They grew up in a tradition that believed in the need for
permanent revolution. The same could also be said of Brian Clough, another
manager who constantly reminded people of his socialist beliefs.

The main point about great managers is that they are never satisfied with
success. This is what gives Ferguson such an advantage over Arsene Wenger,
who sticks rigidly to a formula that in the past brought success. Ferguson
carefully analyzes every match and even when his club is winning easily, he
will still make changes if he observes a weakness in his team. The vast
majority of managers cannot do this. They will only replace players when
their individual mistakes have resulted in the team dropping points. In
other words, the great manager takes pre-emptive action.

There is no doubt that Zola and Clarke have done a great job so far at the
club. Since losing to Sp*rs on 8th December, West Ham's form has been very
consistent, winning six, drawing three and losing only once (rather
unluckily against Aston Villa). It has been a tremendous effort when you
consider the quality of the players in the team. I would argue that if you
studied the squads of all the premiership clubs, West Ham is the most
over-achieving side in the league. In the language of an Ofsted inspection,
Zola and Clarke are providing "added-value".

Despite this good run I have observed two serious problems that needed to be
addressed in the transfer window. First of all, in every game, the
opposition targets Lucas Neill as the team's weak-link. This could be seen
in the game against Arsenal on Saturday. Samir Nasri causing a great deal of
panic in the opening stages with his pace down the left flank. Valon Behrami
did what he could to help Neill but there is little he can do when the
full-back gives the ball away, as he does on numerous occasions. This
problem is reflected in the statistics. So far this season Neill has an
average rating of 6.10. This is the lowest rating of any first-team regular.
There is nothing new in this. Last season Neill had an averaging rating of
6.06, also the worst figure anyone who played over 30 games.

The problem for Zola is that the only squad member who he has so far
considered to play at right-back other than Neill, is Julian Faubert, who
has an average rating of 5.65 this season. As there has been talk for
sometime that Faubert would leave during the transfer window, it is strange
that the club has not lined-up anyone to take his place. It seems that the
club had been talking to Bryce Moon and Radiu Homei, but Scott Duxbury
failed to conclude either deal. As both players have struggled to get in
their club's first-team, it is hard to see how they would have added much to
the current squad.

The second problem concerns the first-team pool of players. It has often
been said that one way you can accurately judge a team is by looking at the
quality on the bench. On Saturday, the West Ham bench consisted of Lastuvka,
Lopez, Savio, Boa Morte, Spector, Tristan and Sears. It is hard to think of
any other Premier League side that has a weaker group of players waiting to
be called into the first-team.

I am sure that Zola and Clarke have identified these two problems. The only
answer is that West Ham does not have any money to buy or take players on
loan. It would seem that they do not think enough of Lopez or Spector to
start them in games or even bring them on as substitutes. One possibility is
to coach Tomkins to play in this position. Last season Curbishley had
Tomkins playing at full-back in a couple of reserve games.

I believe that Zola has already done enough this season to suggest that he
has the potential to be extremely successful in this terribly difficult
profession. However, he has so far been very lucky with injuries. The
quality of the current squad means that Zola has no chance this season to
show that he has the potential to reach the standards of managers such as
Shankly, Clough and Ferguson.

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Hammers snap up Hungarian
Goalkeeper joins on loan
By Juha Pal Last updated: 3rd February 2009
SSN

West Ham have signed goalkeeper Peter Kurucz on loan from Ujpest FC,
according to the Hungarian club. The Hammers have been monitoring Kurucz
since Ujpest played two games in England in January. They have now moved to
secure the 20-year-old on loan until the end of the season. West Ham also
have the option to sign Kurucz on a permanent deal in the summer. Kurucz is
unlikely to challenge West Ham's first-choice keeper Robert Green but will
be keen to gain experience in England. Ujpest also allowed defender Zoltan
Liptak to link up with Southampton on loan during the transfer window.

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Spring here for Sheffield, again, as FA stay quiet
Martin Samuels
Daily Mail

Well, a week has passed and the Football Association still do not appear in
a position to rule on the legality of Matthew Spring's transfer from Luton
Town to Charlton Athletic, which included a third party agreement saying he
could not play in the FA Cup against Sheffield United, where he had been on
loan.
In the meantime, Charlton did find a team that Spring is allowed to play
against, Crystal Palace, who are Sheffield United's rivals for promotion,
and he helpfully scored the only goal of the game.

It was Charlton's first league win since October 4 and afterwards, Phil
Parkinson, the Charlton manager, was generous in his praise for Kevin
Blackwell,manager of Sheffield United, whose help facilitated Spring's deal.
Charlton's Matthew Spring scored the winner against Crystal Palace last
week
'We had a gentleman's agreement with Kev that we wouldn't play him if we met
in the FA Cup,' he said.

'I see it that he was fresh for tonight, so I thank Kev for putting in that
agreement.'
One problem.

As nice as it was of Kev to insert an agreement in Spring's transfer, Kev is
not an employee of Luton Town, the selling club holding his registration, or
Charlton Athletic, the buying club now in possession of it.
This makes him what is known as a third party. Fact.
And Parkinson has admitted that by taking Spring out of the FA Cup tie, in
his opinion it left the player fresher for a match against a team that is
rivalling Sheffield United for promotion.

As explained last week, the Football League have no rules governing third
party influence, but the FA do.
So why the delay? Or have the governing body mysteriously lost their
appetite for such matters?

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Gianfranco Zola hails how West Ham survived the transfer window
The Mirror
By Football Spy 3/02/2009

Gianfranco Zola has said he is "proud" that his West Ham side have survived
the transfer window with "personality and style". Although Craig Bellamy
went to Manchester City for £14m, the feared fire sale of top players did
not happen as five fringe players were loaned out or sold. "It hasn't been
simple and all the stories in the newspapers did affect the players," Zola
said. "But every morning I wake up with the idea that we are stronger than
our problems. "I am proud to have come through so much confusion, and we
have done so with personality and style." He added: "Things are falling into
place, but the credit goes to the players who have always worked hard even
when we weren't getting any points."

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Real Madrid chief Mijatovic fuming over shock Faubert deal
By Ken Dyer Last updated at 2:17 PM on 03rd February 2009
Daily Mail

Julien Faubert's surprise move from West Ham to Real Madrid on loan has
provoked a furore at the Spanish club. Faubert is one of eight players who
have departed Upton Park during the January transfer window but manager
Gianfranco Zola will be happy that only one, Craig Bellamy, was a big-name
player.
Faubert's late move to the Bernabeu was a surprise and it has now emerged
that the club's sporting director, former Yugoslav international Predrag
Mijatovic, is fuming at the temporary deal. Mijatovic believes that Faubert,
who never managed to command a regular first-team spot at West Ham, Is not
good enough to play for the Spanish giants. Mijatovic's main quarrel is said
to be with Real's technical secretary, Miguel Angel Portugal, who
masterminded the deal. The transfer deadline day ended quietly for West Ham
with only Calum Davenport going out on loan to Sunderland. They were looking
possibly at signing South African defender Bryce Moon over from
Panathinaikos but a deal was not possible and Upton Park officials insisted
they were under no pressure if terms could not be agreed. Zola will breathe
a sigh of relief that the window has now closed and, with the exception of
Bellamy, he has been as good as his word and managed to keep all his
high-profile players.

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Man Utd stars Rooney, Evra back for West Ham date
04.02.09 | tribalfootball.com

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney could make his comeback on Sunday
against West Ham. The indications are that Rooney is nearing full fitness
again after a five-match absence with a hamstring injury. The England
striker suffered the setback in the victory against Wigan three weeks ago.
But he could be in line to face the Hammers on Sunday, providing he puts in
the minutes on the training ground in the coming days. French defender
Patrice Evra is also set to be fit for the trip to Upton Park, following an
ankle injury suffered against Chelsea a month ago. Nani is another player
who could come into contention, after suffering a groin injury against Derby
in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg victory.

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