Saturday, May 30

Daily WHUFC News - 30th may 2009

Monday reveal for away kit
WHUFC.com
Return to whufc.com this coming Monday to be among the first to see the
brand new 2009/10 away kit
29.05.2009

Fans will get their first glimpse of the brand new West Ham United away kit
for the 2009/10 season when it is unveiled via whufc.com from 9am on Monday
1 June.

The club stores and the official online Megastore are already reporting a
brisk trade with supporters eager to make sure they will get the kit first
and fastest when it is launched on Thursday 18 June. Those wanting to follow
suit - perhaps in time for that all-important summer holiday - can order it
from the Stadium and Lakeside club stores or online. To pre-order, click
here.

Fans who cannot wait that long to get a taste of next season can already buy
selected items from the new 2009/10 Umbro Training Range, which was launched
earlier this month by Matthew Upson, Junior Stanislas and Mark Noble.
Remember, return to whufc.com this coming Monday to be among the very first
to see the new kit including video of Robert Green, Jack Collison and
Carlton Cole.

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Boa buoyed by backing
WHUFC.com
A strong end to the season saw Luis Boa Morte garner plenty of praise for
his hard work and dedication
29.05.2009

Luis Boa Morte has spoken about his happiness at the reception given to him
by the supporters after his strong showing at the end of the 2008/09 season.

The Portugal forward regularly heard his name sung as he played a pivotal
role in the latter half of the campaign. He started the last nine matches
and earned an assist for Carlton Cole's goal as the club finished the
campaign with a 2-1 defeat of Middlesbrough. "Of course it is a good buzz to
hear your name, it makes you feel happy," he told whufc.com. "I just hope
things keep going like this."

The 31-year-old acknowledged that he has not always enjoyed unanimous
support from the Hammers faithful but refused to dwell on the past. "It has
been a difficult marriage with the supporters but things have been working
out and that is the most important thing. Now it is up to the club to do
what they want to do with me. I have got a year left and we will see where
this will take us."

Before all of that is a recall to the Portugal squad for an international
get-together in Lisbon this week, with coach Carlos Queiroz having run the
rule over Boa Morte when he attended the Middlesbrough match. However, the
No13 was not too fazed by knowing who was in the stands.

"The national-team manager was at the last game but it didn't influence me,"
he said. "I just try to play the same whoever is watching and give my all. I
always do that because West Ham are the ones that look after me all season
so I just have to make sure I deliver for them.

"I just need to keep going, working hard and do what I have to do and
hopefully I will get the national-team reward but the first thing is to get
my reward at the end of the week by being picked by the gaffer and playing
for the fans."

Boa Morte earned the last of his 26 full international caps in Portugal's
2-1 FIFA 2006 World Cup Group D victory over Mexico in Gelsenkirchen,
Germany, on 21 June 2006. Quieroz's squad travel to Tirana to face Albania
on Saturday 6 June before flying to Tallinn to take on Estonia in a friendly
international on Wednesday 10 June.

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HAMMER BLOW IN GREEN DEAL
30th May 2009 By Duncan Wright
The Daily Star

ROB Green has turned down the offer of a new contract at West Ham. Green has
been locked in talks with the Hammers over the past few months aimed at
tying him to a long-term contract at Upton Park. But England star Green has
snubbed the initial offer put on the table and believes he deserves a deal
which would rank him among the highest paid at the club. Green is one of the
worst-paid senior players at the club, having still been locked in to the
initial contract he signed when he moved to the club in 2006. He still has
two years left to run on that deal and had hoped his excellent form over the
past two years would be rewarded with a lucrative contract worth £50,000 a
week. The 29-year-old keeper is aware that other clubs in the Premier League
have been watching him over the last season, with Tottenham and Arsenal both
keeping close tabs. But though there is interest from outside, Green is not
snubbing the terms on offer in a bid to force a transfer. He wants West Ham
to increase their current terms, which are around £35,000 a week, and
instead put him in line with Scott Parker and Lucas Neill as one of the
best- paid players at Upton Park. Green is expected to be Fabio Capello's
preferred choice to play in goal for England in their World Cup qual-ifying
matches against Kazakhtsan and Andorra next month. And he feels his status
as one of the best keepers in the top flight should be rewarded with a deal
which reflects it. Boss Gianfranco Zola will be desperate to ensure an
agreement will be reached as he plans to build on his first six months at
the club. He sees Green, Neill, Parker, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole as
the spine of the side, which he hopes will be able to sustain a genuine
challenge for a top-six finish next season.

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West Ham assistant boss Clarke enters into Celtic equation
By PETER JARDINE and NEIL ASHTON
Last updated at 1:07 AM on 30th May 2009
Daily Mail

Steve Clarke last night emerged as a new candidate for the Celtic manager's
job. Sportsmail understands the highly-regarded West Ham assistant manager
would be keen on a move to Parkhead. Celtic are assessing their options
after the sudden departure of Gordon Strachan and Owen Coyle's decision to
remain with newly-promoted Burnley. Now 45-year-old Clarke could come under
consideration, with his former mentor at Chelsea, Inter Milan boss Jose
Mourinho, sure to give the former St Mirren and Scotland defender a glowing
reference. Mourinho's forceful personality helped persuade Watford to
appoint Brendan Rodgers earlier this season and he rates his former Scottish
sidekick at Stamford Bridge highly. Clarke, who grew up as a Celtic
supporter and won eight full Scotland caps, only recently signed a new
contract at Upton Park as No2 to Gianfranco Zola but has always nurtured
ambitions to become a manager in his own right.
Whether Celtic would regard his vast experience in England at Newcastle and
as Mourinho's assistant as enough to fill the top post at Parkhead remains
to be seen.
Irishman David O'Leary is another contender, with the former Leeds and Aston
Villa manager anxious to be considered by Dermot Desmond and chief executive
Peter Lawwell. O'Leary, who worked with former Celtic captain Roy Aitken at
both English clubs, insisted last night that he has had no contact from
Celtic or any third party as yet about succeeding Strachan. 'I've not heard
anything from anyone about the Celtic vacancy,' claimed O'Leary. The likes
of Tony Mowbray, Steve Coppell and Alan Curbishley were still being
mentioned as possibles yesterday by sources in the south. Mark McGhee and
Craig Levein also continue to carry some support with their knowledge of the
SPL, the current Celtic squad and an ability to work within a tight budget.
Celtic midfielder Barry Robson, speaking yesterday as the club promoted
tomorrow's Tommy Burns Tribute match, said: 'Peter Lawwell has brought the
debt right down, the club's run very smoothly now and it's a great football
club. Any manager, I'm sure, would love to come and manage this football
club. 'The new man will need to have a big personality and he'll need to be
strong, that's for sure. It's a huge club and I think it's a big ask to be a
manager of a club this size as well. 'I can hear all the names getting
bandied about and I don't know who will be the manager.'

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Season Analysis: Valon Behrami
Performance Analysis
West Ham Till I Die

When I saw Valon Behrami play his first game for West Ham my heart sank. He
was all gangly and seemed to run about the pitch aimlessly. How wrong I was.
He proved to be the lynchpin of our revival under Zola and displayed an
absolutely awesome workrate. He's also a tough tackler and great going
forward. I'd say he was our buy of the season and I have little doubt that
if he hadn't got injured he would have won Hammer of the Year by a country
mile. When he returns from injury next season he will be one of the first
names on the teamsheet. The man stands a real chance of becoming a West Ham
legend if he plays his cards right. I am told that within days of his injury
he was at Chadwell Heath all hours of the day doing everything he could to
get back to full fitness. He was there before other players arrived for
training and was always the last one to leave.
Strengths:
Workrate, tackling, leadership

Weaknesses:
Er, none that I can think of apart from a lack of goals!

Marks

Consistency 9
Workrate 10
Skill 8
Speed 8
Value to team 9
Leadership 9
Teamwork 9
Ever presence 7
Discipline 7
Season overall 9

TOTAL 85

Stay Or Go
Absolutely stay. There were rumours of a return to Italy, or even a move to
Chelsea, but his injury will have put paid to that.

Transfer Value: £8 million at least

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United legend: West Ham star would be a Noble buy
Sport.co.uk
Author: Ben Moss
Posted on: 29 May 2009 - 16:37

Tottenham and Portsmouth legend Teddy Sheringham believes his old club
Manchester United should buy West Ham's Mark Noble. Speaking to
FootballTalentspotter.com, Sheringham was asked who he thought might fill
the alleged hole in Manchester United's midfield. Surprisingly the former
England international suggested his old teammate at Upton Park, Mark Noble.
Sheringham said: "Mark Noble always been a top player and he's only a young
lad so he's still got room for improvement." "He wants to work and wants to
get better. I enjoyed playing with him when I was at West Ham and he seems
to just keep getting better." "I think he could step up and surprise
everyone over the next couple of years." Following Manchester United's
abysmal performance in the Champions League final, and the poor showing of
Anderson and Michael Carrick, many have been calling for wholesale changes
in United's engine room. Reports this morning also intimated that Paul
Scholes may be considering a move to Stoke City, which would only heighten
United's supposed desire for a new midfielder.

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Super Mario?
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 29th May 2009
By: Staff Writer

Inter star Mario Balotelli has told the Italian media that he is not averse
to trying his luck abroad. The Hammers had initially sought to take the
18-year-old rising star on loan during the January transfer window but a
deal was unable to be concluded at the time. Now Balotelli - who has found
himself kicking his heels on the bench in Milan of late - says that he feels
the time may be right to try his luck outside of Italy. Taking to
Tottusport, he said: "I am delighted to be at Inter and I have not though
about leaving. But if in future the club agree [to let me leave] - and there
is a strong team that wants me - I would be glad to go abroad to try a new
experience."
With regards to United's initial interest, he added: "I was in contact with
Zola, but in the end I can say that it went well here."
KUMB understand that the club are set to renew their interest in a number of
players that were being targeted during the January transfer window. Along
with Balotelli, other players such as Sergei Homei - who travelled to London
in January but was unable to conclude a deal - are likely to be on the radar
once again, with the club of the opinion that better value is to be had
during the summer months.

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Zola set to complete Balotelli loan deal
Sport.co.uk
Author: Nigel Brown
Posted on: 29 May 2009 - 14:07

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola is close to securing a year long loan deal
for Inter Milan starlet Mario Balotelli according to reports in Italy.The
youngster failed to hold down a regular first team slot in Jose Mourinho's
team of stars, and the 'Special One' is eager worried about halting the
Italian's development. Reports suggest that Mourinho is keen to loan
Balotelli to Zola, as the pint-sized Italian legend has previously coached
the young talent when he was manager of Italy's U-21'S. Balotelli, 18, said:
"There were times when I wanted to play and I would have joined a smaller
side in a foreign league rather than sitting around on the bench here. "But
that's just normal and it's part of who I am. If I don't get to play then I
want to leave. "If the club agrees and a big team want me in the future then
I would be happy to move abroad and try something different."

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West Ham's Jack Collison sticking with Wales
Jack Collison, who has enjoyed a magnificent first season at West Ham, has
said he will stay loyal to Wales and not jump ship to England.
Telegraph
By John Ley
Last Updated: 9:45AM BST 29 May 2009

The Watford-born player is eligible for Wales through his grandfather, who
was born in Bedwellty, and has already won four senior caps. But all four
have been friendlies and, technically, the 20-year-old could switch
allegiances. Wales are still reeling from the defection of Rhys Williams,
who left the Wales set-up - after representing their U21 team on 10 occasion
- for his native Australia, exposing the Fifa loophole that allows
dual-qualified youngsters to switch allegiances. Penalty spot kick conundrum
for Wales against Finland in CardiffBut Collison is set to end speculation
by playing in the World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan next week, and
said: "There was nothing in suggestions that I could decide to play for
England, certainly not from me. "Next weekend I can put an end to all that
speculation by pulling on a red shirt and playing for Wales in my first
competitive international. Then it will be over, I will have made it clear
who I want to play for. "I'm very proud to play for Wales. My mum's side are
very proud I chose to play for Wales and so am I."

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West Ham find loophole in ownership dilemma
29.05.09 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United have extended their ownership dilemma. The Guardian says
West Ham have engineered another three months in which to close the
Icelandic bank Straumur's takeover of the club. Directors want the deal
complete before signing off the accounts, which were due on 27 June. But by
shortening their accounting period last Wednesday – for the second time –
they have again used a legal loophole that permits the accounts to be filed
three months later, on 22 August. West Ham's owner, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson,
has revealed his debts to be £300m and Straumur, one of his creditors,
believes it is poised to take control of the club within days.

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Agent insists no West Ham offer for Djemba-Djemba
30.05.09 | tribalfootball.com

The agent of Odense midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba insists no offer from West
Ham has arrived for the former Manchester United man. "Neither Odense nor I
know anything about any offers," Charles Collymore told Bold. "There are a
lot of rumours about Eric, but that is to be expected. "He has had a good
season with Odense and has regained his place with the national team and,
for the first time in a long time, he seems happy. "I would be lying if I
said that Eric would not like to play for a bigger club, like those he has
played for in the past, but Odense have really helped him and been good for
him. "If someone comes in with a good offer that suits both Odense and Eric,
that's great, but, if not, Eric is happy at Odense."

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Salvatore Bocchetti close to West Ham move
30.05.09 | tribalfootball.com

Genoa defender Salvatore Bocchetti is close to a deal with West Ham United.
Bocchetti worked with West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola as part of the Italy U21
squad last year.

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West Ham's Boa Morte wins Portugal recall
30.05.09 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United winger Luis Boa Morte has been rewarded for his late season
form with a recall to Carlos Queiroz's Portugal squad. Boa Morte, 31, said:
"I'll do all I can to respond to this vote of confidence. It is great to
return."

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West Ham No2 Clarke emerges as top Celtic choice
30.05.09 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United assistant boss Steve Clarke is a target for Celtic. The Sun
says only recently signed a new four-year deal. But the Hoops will pull out
all the stops to get him after Gordon Strachan stepped down this week. And
Clarke, 45, is keen to, one day, take charge of a top team after years in
the shadows.

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