Monday, March 23

Daily WHUFC News - 23rd March 2009

Trio called by England
WHUFC.com
Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole are all back in the England
squad
22.03.2009

Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole have all retained their place
in the England squad after Fabio Capello named his selection for the matches
on 28 March and 1 April.

The West Ham United trio all did well as second-half substitutes in the 2-0
friendly defeat by Spain on 11 February, Green and Upson coming on at
half-time before Cole entered the fray for his first cap on 75 minutes. It
was Green's second international appearance and Upson's 13th outing in a
Three Lions shirt.

England take on Slovakia at Wembley in a friendly this Saturday afternoon
before returning to the national stadium on Wednesday week for the FIFA
World Cup qualifier against Ukraine. England have four wins from four at the
top of qualifying Group 6, five points more than Ukraine who have a game in
hand, and are in the driving seat for an automatic place at the 2010 finals
in South Africa.

The trio head a strong Hammers contingent on England duty, with Robert Hall,
Jordan Spence, James Tomkins, Freddie Sears and Mark Noble also earning
national-team recognition.

Noble has been called into the England Under-21 squad for the upcoming
friendlies away to Norway on Friday 27 March before returning home to take
on France at Nottingham Forest's City Ground on Tuesday 31 March.

Both matches will act as warm-up games ahead of this summer's UEFA European
Under-21 Championship finals in Sweden. There, Noble and his team-mates will
face Finland, Spain and Germany as they seek to lift the trophy for the
third time in England's history and for the first time since 1984.

Central defender Tomkins and striker Sears will both make their bow at
Under-20 level in a friendly against Italy at Queens Park Rangers' Loftus
Road home on Tuesday 31 March. The pair are among nine players in Noel
Blake's squad who represented England at the UEFA European Under-19
Championship in Czech Republic last summer and could feature at this
summer's FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt.

Central defender Spence, who is enjoying a successful loan spell at League
One outfit Leyton Orient, has been named in Brian Eastick's Under-19 squad
for a friendly international against Czech Republic at Walsall on Wednesday
25 March. Spence, 19, and his colleagues will use the match as preparation
for May's UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite Qualifying Round, when
they will host Scotland, Slovakia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in a bid to reach
the finals in Ukraine in July.

Finally, youth team striker Hall is in Kenny Swain's Under-16 squad for the
prestigious Montaigu Tournament in France in early April. England will take
on Russia on Wednesday 8 April before facing the United Arab Emirates 24
hours later. Swain's youngsters conclude their group stage matches against
the Ivory Coast on Saturday 11 April. Should they top their group, England
will face either France, Australia, Germany or Mali in the final on Monday
13 April.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Trio named
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 22nd March 2009
By: Staff Writer

Fabio Capello has once again called up three Hammers to his latest England
squad. Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole - who made his full
debut in England's last match against Spain - are back in the 24-man squad
to face Slovakia and Ukraine at Wembley in the next fortnight. However there
was to be no return to the international scene for United's in-form
midfielder Scott Parker, who will be disappointed to miss out after
featuring heavily in West Ham's good recent run of form. Capello's England
face Slovakia at Wembley in a friendly next Saturday before taking on the
Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier four days later.

Full England squad

Ben Foster, Robert Green, David James; Leighton Baines, Ashley Cole, Rio
Ferdinand, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, Joleon Lescott, John
Terry, Matthew Upson; Gareth Barry, David Beckham, Michael Carrick, Stewart
Downing, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, Shaun Wright-Phillips;
Carlton Cole, Peter Crouch, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vinny's Blackburn Report
Vinny - Sun Mar 22 2009
West Ham Online
Blackburn Rovers 1 West Ham United 1

West Ham remain unbeaten in four games after picking up yet another point on
the road this time at Ewood Park against struggling Blackburn Rovers. It was
a fair result as Blackburn bombarded our goal and it was no surprise to see
them finally get the goal they had been looking for. For us, with our
depleted squad this has to be considered a good result. Blackburn were
physically stronger and played a brand of football which caused us all types
of problems and of course they can be criticised for this but when you are
at the bottom you have to pick up results by any means necessary.

Gianfranco Zola has obviously attempted to install this ethos of playing
good football along the floor but when the team has squad members coming in
who are of inferior quality it makes this very difficult. It was no surprise
to me that our more experienced players were the ones who looked excellent
and Lucas Neill especially was outstanding.

Zola made three changes to side who were held by West Bromwich Albion last
week. In defence Matthew Upson had not recovered from the injury he
sustained in that last match and he was replaced by Jonathan Spector who
went to right back with Lucas Neill going into the middle alongside James
Tomkins.

In midfield Savio was out with an injury and was replaced by Luis Boa Morte.
The Portuguese winger started on the right hand side with Noble given the
freedom to float around the midfield.

Up front, Freddie Sears was dropped to the bench in favour of Diego Tristan
who was making his first start for the club.

Blackburn manager Sam Alladyce had said before the game that he wanted to
get at us from the very beginning and that is what they did. In fact the
opening stages of the game showed exactly what Blackburn's plan was and even
at that point I couldn't help thinking that without Collins and Upson how
were we going to cope?

The hosts should have taken the lead when a flick on from the excellent
Christopher Samba was made a hash of by Jonathan Spector who somehow managed
to let the ball go through to Benni McCarthy who should have done better
with his left foot shot which went flying into the wonderful travelling West
Ham supporters.

As the half progressed it was clear to see that we were here to counter
attack and with Boa Morte, Di Michele and Noble all looking to get forward
to support Tristan this did look as though we could exploit some of the
Blackburn weaknesses.

A cross from Ryan Nelson saw Robert Green only able to punch as far as
Morton Gamst Pederson but the shot was charged down by Spector.

Two shots for us were soon to follow with Scott Parker seeing his wild
effort go well wide and a nice sweeping move (similar to that for the goal
at Wigan) resulted in Di Michele hitting a shot which was easily saved by
the keeper.

It was certainly end to end stuff and with our quality on the break you
always sensed that we could score despite Blackburn looking to get the ball
into the area at every attempt. Lucas Neill was just about holding things
together at the back with a number of interceptions and blocks.

Blackburn thought they had taken the lead around the half hour mark when the
ball was put in the net by El Hadji Diouf but was ruled out for offside
(which has since been proven correct). It had come from a long throw which
was again flicked on by Samba which found the Senegalese forward inside the
six yard box but he was almost certainly in an offside position.

The ball would soon be in the net for real just a few minutes later but it
would be this away side who would take the lead.
There were no surprises in the build up to the goal as we swept forward in
numbers on a counter attack. It was Noble who picked up the ball and ran for
many yards unchallenged as he played the ball through to Boa Morte who cut
the ball back to Tristan. The striker could not get a shot in on goal so
knocked it back to Noble who with the outside of his boot curled his shot
past Robinson.

It was an beautiful finished from a player who had started the move and he
showed wonderful technique to curl the ball in.

We managed to see the half out and go in at the break in front. I don't
think there would have been many West Ham fans who thought we were going out
unscathed especially that we were just hanging on at times but if we could
use possession correctly we may be able to hurt them further,

Unfortunately this was not to be as we never got going in the second half
which was credit to Blackburn who were all over us from the very beginning
of the first half. How they only managed to score one goal was the only
shock of the second half.

The most disappointing thing from our point of view was the terrible waste
of possession. Everyone was guilty of this as we made our own problems time
and time again with poor passes which would just lead to us being put under
more pressure.

There was only about five minutes of the second half on the clock when
Blackburn equalised. The goal came from substitute Keith Andrews who rifled
the ball into the back of the net after we had failed to clear the ball.

Blackburn had quite clearly got the bit between their teeth and looked the
only side likely to get another goal. The siege had begun and Roberts had a
shot which was well blocked by Noble and soon after another chance presented
itself Pederson fired a right foot volley wide of the goal.

We were struggling and it was hard watching for the West Ham fans who were
watching their side unable to get out of their own half.

Diouf again thought he had scored as the ball ended up in the back of the
net again but the goal was again disallowed for offside. This had come when
a shot when Green did really well to keep out the shot from Roberts and
Diouf was on hand to dispatch the rebound only for the linesman's flag to
save us once again.

With the goal looking inevitable our defensive duo of Neill and Tomkins were
putting their bodies on the line to keep things level. A superb block from
Tomkins from McCarthy's volley kept things at bay.

Zola made two changes which for me saved us from defeat in bringing on Lopez
and Dyer in place of Boa Morte and Di Michele.

These changes slowed the game down and we were able to break with a bit more
pace. I feel that we would not have been able to suffer a last ten minutes
of pressure and these changes seemed to help make sure that this did not
happen.

In fact the final controversy was at the Blackburn end when a certain
penalty was waved away by referee Chris Foy. It same when Samba mis-
controlled the ball only for Dyer to nip in and race shoulder to shoulder
with Samba into the area only for Dyer to be bundled over.

Fans and players all looked towards the ref only for him to wave our appeals
away. For me it had to be a penalty and having looked at it on TV I still
think it should have been given.

There were to be no real late scares and we were able to see out any danger
for a share of the spoils. This wasn't a great performance but with the
players available to us this has to be considered a good result.

Player Ratings

Robert Green
Was unable to keep his fourth clean sheet in a row but will be happy with
his performance. He made a few good saves and fumbled little from crosses.

Jonathan Spector
I do not want to appear to be picking on him but without a doubt he was our
worst player today. He mis-judges the flight of the ball time and time
again. His reluctance to clear the ball early led to him being boxed in and
having to kick it out for throw. He just does not look like a Premiership
player and to be honest, he never has.

Lucas Neill
Our man of the match. Up against his former club he was superb and kept us
going at times. This was a captains performance. A performance that was
needed when the side were looking on the rope and he was there to make that
tackle or interception to save us.

James Tomkins
This was a performance which showed that he can really dig in. He was
strong, and was able to match up to the strength of Roberts. It was one of
those coming of age performances where he showed that he is not only a
player of technical ability but one who can do the gritty jobs just as well.

Herita Ilunga
A few misplaced passes and headers aside this was a solid performance from
Ilunga. There was not much chance for him to get forward and in fairness to
Ilunga and Spector they were given little protection from Di Michele and Boa
Morte.

Luis Boa Morte
A typical performance from Boa Morte. His work rate was excellent and he ran
after everything he could but when on the ball his final pass was really
poor and this is what makes him a very average player. He has to do better
in the final third.

Radoslav Kovac
On the most part he was tidy and was one of the few players who could
actually stand up against the physical presence Blackburn possessed. Like
most of our players in the second half he was wasteful in possession. He is
a very one dimensional player but with better attacking players in front of
him he can work well.

Scott Parker
After his outstanding performances of recent weeks I think Parker will be a
little disappointed in his showing simply because of the amount of misplaced
passes. He patrolled the midfield well and continued to play at his usual
100mph.

Mark Noble
His first half performance was a joy to behold as he had the freedom to get
forward with Kovac and Parker protecting the defence. The second half saw
him in more defensive duties but overall this game proved that he is a
centre midfielder and not one who should be deployed on the wing.

David Di Michele
Never in the game. In the second half I forgot he was even playing.

Diego Tristan
Never the player he once was and he never will be. Worked as hard as he
could but he is so slow and needs too much time on the ball.

Subs Used

Walter Lopez (on for Boa Morte 79 mins)
Still unsure at what type of player Lopez is but he came on and got stuck in
and he looks quite decent.

Kieron Dyer (on for Di Michele 82 mins)
Very impressive when he came on as he gave us a real outlet which took the
pressure off the defence. Should have been awarded a penalty and with the
two week break hopefully (and I say that with little optimism) he should be
starting the next game.

Josh Payne (on for Tristan 90 mins)
On for his debut. He hardly got a touch of the ball but it is all good
experience for the youngster.


Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Sears, N'Gala, Stanislas.

Overall

Although frustrating that we were not in the game as an attacking force
during the second half it is hard to be too angry due to the standard of
side we are able to put out at the moment. The injuries to key players in
Upson, Behrami, Collison, Collins and with Cole being suspended were always
going to hurt us.

With what we have got I think we have done really well and although
finishing in 7th place is going to be very difficult with the fixtures we
have coming up it is still something I feel we can achieve.

Next up is Sunderland in two weeks time. I expect to have Upson and Collins
back and of course Carlton Cole will walk straight back into the side.
Hopefully Kieron Dyer will be able to make a start and suddenly things are
looking up.

To have any chance of making Europe we have to beat Sunderland which is
arguably our least difficult fixture remaining. Europe though would involve
us winning either at home to Chelsea or Liverpool or away at Tottenham or
Villa.

Our season still has a lot left to play for.


The Feelings of Franco

"We were really, really good but we had to do that because they were putting
so many big bodies in the box. It is very difficult when they create
confusion when they keep booming balls in there and it is not easy for
anybody. We were excellent. We didn't have, in the second half, that extra
physical strength that might have allowed us to cause them a few more
problems.

"Honestly, after the first half, in the second half they gave everything. It
was one of those games, I tell you, that both sides could have won and I'm
pleased with the way my team played."

"It was a very good goal. I must confess I didn't expect it because I
thought he was crossing the ball. It was a very good goal and good movement.
There was another good move in the first half when Boa Morte put Tristan
through on the right and offside has been given. I'm not sure. I'll have to
check that one. At the end, I think the result was right.

"We played some very good football in the first half, especially in
transition. That was what I was looking for in the second half as well but
obviously it wasn't easy so we couldn't do that. The first half was
excellent."

[On Blackburn's style] "What can I say? It's certainly not my style or type
of football but I do respect it. I believe that Sam is going to do well
here. Since he came he's brought some very good points to the club. It's
certainly not my idea but I respect it. I understand that in football not
all the teams can play in the same way. I think not all the managers have
the same ideas. I am one of the managers who likes to see differences in
football. I don't like to only see one way to play because it's not reality.
In Italy we say you can get to Rome in different ways. The important thing
is to get to Rome.


Att: 21,672

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Our performance yesterday, Allardyce, and the future
Yarmouth - Sun Mar 22 2009
West Ham Online

Watching the Irons is a joy again. Disappointed that we couldn't turn WBA
over and we lost our advantage to Blackburn, but all things considered we're
playing good football the WH way and really building for the future.

If we as fans don't get ahead of ourselves and realise that right now we are
a good bet at a top ten club and are improving month on month, before long
we're gonna be a cracking side.

Zola and Clarke just may well be the best thing that has happened to the
club for fcukin years, and I honestly think if we had Cole (whom I slagged a
lot early doors) up front against WBA and Blackburn we'd have won both
games. Cole's improved leaps and bounds under Zola, he'll never be a
consistent scorer but leads the line very well and when / if Ashton returns
who is a natural finisher I think they'll turn in a lot of goals.

Neill was outstanding yesterday, Tomkins too. F*ck knows where Kovac came
from but what an engine and appetite for the game he's got, Ilunga just
continues to be invaluable for us, real class, and Parker's starting to
become a hell of a player again. Noble's gonna be a steady, not great,
player for us and given Di Michele, Tristan and Boa Morte were f*ckin pants
I think we're all disappointed to only come away with a draw.

BUT – I'd rather us get relegated than play like Blackburn. Sam Allardyce
for England manager ? Don't make me laugh. For Blackburn, read Bolton when
he was in charge. F*ckin great Northern monkeys running after a long ball
punted up from a gorilla at the back or everybody packing the box for the
long throw specialist hoping to get a lucky bounce.

Utter, utter garbage

If Cole had been upfront to hold the ball, and we had Dyer, (great to see
him back again), Sears or Ashton feeding off him we'd have won by a cricket
score. That's the best bit about our future. When all fit, we'll have a
f*ckin great little side and push very hard for a top 6 place regularly.

It'll be hard to drop Kovac when the other midfield lads are fit, but this
squad is starting to resemble a bloody good side under a bloody good
managerial partnership.

What's next ? Some really great players wanting to come join the Iron's
because of Zola's style of playing ? F*ckin too frighteningly good to dream
about !!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Neill antics a sad indictment on the modern game
6:20am Monday 23rd March 2009
By Chris Flanagan
Lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

Chris Flanagan's sports blog: When Lucas Neill went down clutching his face
in a vain attempt to get his former team-mate Jason Roberts sent off on
Saturday, it should have been seen as an act of betrayal. In fact, it was a
depressingly commonplace occurrence. Neill, you will recall, was once a
popular member of the Blackburn Rovers team. During five-and-a-half years at
Ewood, he displayed no shortage of defensive talent. Indeed, when he
returned to East Lancashire with West Ham United at the weekend, that talent
did not appear to have deserted him.
When it came to throwing his body in the way of a goal-bound shot, the
Australian had no fear. Last time I checked, Neill was 6ft 1in tall and 12st
7lbs in weight. Hardly Shaun Wright-Phillips in terms of stature. But, as
Roberts attempted to fend him off during the opening stages of Saturday's
game, the most innocent of arms appeared to send Neill flying to the ground
in a nanosecond of agony. The contact was minimal and the intention to harm
non-existent. The use of the arms to shield the ball is something Roberts
has built his bustling career upon. Yet Neill, who angered so many at Ewood
with the nature of his departure to those Champions League certainties West
Ham two seasons ago, saw fit to go to ground. The only thing that might have
legitimately prompted such crumbling of the knees would have been Roberts
whispering in his ear: 'I see Liverpool are doing well at the moment.'
Seconds later, when it became clear that referee Chris Foy had no intention
of showing Roberts a card, Neill's pain resided rapidly. He got back on his
feet and got on with the game.
One wonders why he did not feel capable of doing that in the first place.
It was an incident that these days collects little headlines, because so
many players across the Premier League are prepared to put their reputations
at stake in an attempt to win an unfair advantage over their opponents.
Neill is a fine player and should not need to do such things, in the same
way that Cristiano Ronaldo would be far more universally appreciated if he
resisted the temptation to fall over every time an opponent attempted to
tackle him.
After Morten Gamst Pedersen's delayed fall to earth at the Emirates last
week, Rovers boss Sam Allardyce said: "Players feel they are being denied
what is due them and start wondering if there is any point trying to stay on
their feet." He is probably right, but we have reached an increasingly sad
state of affairs. Even if a foul has been committed, referees should be
allowed to book players for exaggerating contact – if only that possibility
didn't open a Pandora's box in terms of judging what is an appropriate
reaction to a foul. There seems no way out of this predicament, apart from a
reliance upon the players themselves to take responsibility for their own
actions.
And when that is the case, it becomes apparent that there really is little
hope.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
EURO DREAM DRIVES HAMMERS' ZOLA
The Mirror
By David Mcdonnell 23/03/2009

Gianfranco Zola bucked the trend of bosses who see the UEFA Cup as a burden
and revealed his desperation to take West Ham into Europe. While Aston
Villa's Martin O'Neill and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp fielded weakened
sides and were happy to go out of Europe, Zola wants UEFA Cup football.
O'Neill sacrificed Villa's European hopes to enhance their chances of a
Champions League spot, while Redknapp did the same to boost Spurs's chances
of survival. But after watching his side claim a hard-earned point to
consolidate seventh spot, Zola outlined his desire to claim a European
place. "It would be a massive achievement but all my pleasure would be for
the players," said Zola (right). "You see them once a week and I see them
every day and the way they work is unbelievable. They deserve to get the
reward and getting to Europe would be a big achievement. "I know how
important it is to play in Europe. But what disappoints managers right now
is the formula. It's wrong. You should play a one game knock-out not a
league."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham undone by Christopher Samba beating
Blackburn 1 West Ham 1
Gary Jacob at Ewood Park
TheTimes

Some things in the game come and go — such as Liverpool's majestic dominance
— but others will stay uncomfortably the same. Just as for all their
new-found wealth, City will for ever be known as the second team in
Manchester, so Sam Allardyce's sides will revert to familiar, harrowing
type. The Blackburn Rovers manager had changed to a more pleasing style with
some reward, but when needs must in the face of a relegation battle, he can
ask for an aerial assault to match the best.

Timidity and admiration were replaced by aggression and smothering after the
break as West Ham United were pinned firmly back, battered and bruised.
Morten Gamst Pedersen, a nimble winger, was hurling balls deep into the box
for Christopher Samba to contort his 6ft 5in powerful frame and lead
defenders on a merry dance. A striker until the age of 17, he once scored 18
goals in a season for the Sedan youth team in France. "This player will
strike fear throughout the league with his aerial power," Allardyce said. "I
am going to use it to its absolute maximum because it's something we will be
renowned for. The opposition will worry. He'll not only be known as a great
defender but someone who makes opportunities for us." Samba said: "The
manager wants me to scare teams with my personality."

Blackburn equalised, through Keith Andrews, from another of Pedersen's
throws, and now lie one place outside the relegation zone. West Ham invited
pressure but it shows the strides that they have taken that they never
crumbled under the pressure. Robert Green pulled off a fantastic low save
from Samba, and Lucas Neill's leadership and organisation were outstanding
on his return to Ewood Park.

Mark Noble's goal opened the scoring and ended a brilliant move. "People are
commenting on our passing, but, as importantly, we stood up when we got
bombarded," Noble said.

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): P Robinson 5 — A Ooijer 5 (sub: K Andrews, 46min
7), C Samba 6, R Nelsen 5, G Givet 5 — E-H Diouf 5, A Mokoena 5, S Warnock
6, M G Pedersen 5 — B McCarthy 5, J Roberts 7. Substitutes not used: J
Brown, Tugay Kerimoglu, D Dunn, Z Khizanishvili, C Villanueva, K Treacy.
Booked: Nelsen, Mokoena. Next: Tottenham Hotspur (h).

West Ham United (4-2-1-2-1): R Green 6 — J Spector 5, J Tomkins 7, L Neill
7, H Ilunga 6 — S Parker 5, R Kovac 5 — M Noble 6 — D Di Michele 4 (sub: J
Payne, 90), L Boa Morte 4 (sub: W López, 79) — D Tristán 4 (sub: K Dyer,
82). Substitutes not used: J Lastuvka, F Sears, B N'Gala, J Stanislas.
Booked: Parker. Next: Sunderland (h).

Referee: C Foy Attendance: 21,672

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
SHEFFIELD UNITED: I may fight on over Tevez affair says Warnock
Sheffield Star
Published Date: 22 March 2009
By Lee Sobot

Former Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock has explained why he may be
pursuing a personal compensation claim against West Ham over the Carlos
Tevez affair.
The Blades and West Ham settled out of court this week with the Hammers
agreeing to pay their rivals an undisclosed fee following the Sheffield
club's relegation in 2007.
West Ham were fined £5.5m by the Premier League for failing to fully
disclosADVERTISEMENTe the terms of the deal that brought Tevez and
Argentinian compatriot Javier Mascherano to England. The Blades claim
Tevez's goals kept the Hammers in the top flight at their expense, with
Warnock resigning three days after their relegation. The 60-year-old, now
manager of Crystal Palace, said: "I'll be looking into this now. I just
wanted to see the club's case out of the way first. "As far as I'm
concerned, I should still be a Premier League manager. And I think the
players have a case, too." Referring to the settlement, Warnock, pictured
below, added: "It justifies what we've said all along. We've had a lot of
people criticise us for taking it this far – but that's what justice is all
about. "However, this still doesn't make it right for me or the United fans
– or for anyone else involved." Warnock reiterated his view that Premier
League chief executive Richard Scudamore should have resigned over the
affair and claims that a bigger club would have been treated differently. He
claimed: "If it had been a big club, the truth would have come out earlier
and it would have been sorted." Warnock also believes the Blades could have
established themselves as a solid Premier League team had it not been for
the Tevez saga. He added: "We had high hopes of taking the club forward by
our first summer, spending the money to keep us up there like one or two
other clubs have done."
Meanwhile, Michael Tonge is also considering a bid for compensation over the
Tevez saga, according to comments attributed to the Stoke midfielder. The
25-year-old was relegated from the Premier League with Sheffield United two
years ago. Tonge, who moved to Stoke earlier this season, said: "I'm not
taking it upon myself to make a claim, but might consider joining one." A
joint investigation by the Premier League and Football Association into the
Tevez and Mascherano signings is ongoing. Meanwhile, United's crucial trip
to Championship promotion rivals Burnley has been put back two days until
Monday, April 20 to enable the game to be shown on Sky Sports.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Noble delighted with strike
23.03.09 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United midfielder Mark Noble was delighted with his goal in their
1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers. Noble marked his 100th appearance for the
Hammers with an exquisite finish off the outside of his right foot and it
was just as well because they were pinned back for long periods before
escaping with another point in their quest for a European place. Noble said:
"To try and do that was the only option I had. One out of 50 comes off and
this one did. "Maybe six months ago we would have lost that game. So it
shows we are determined. If we can carry on, I'm sure we will sit in seventh
place at the end of the season."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Please donate to my run for charity
http://www.justgiving.com/peter-robinson
http://www.justgiving.com/peter-robinson1

Thank You so much to those who have already contributed