Tuesday, June 23

Daily WHUFC News - 23rd June 2009

Tomkins takes his chance
WHUFC.com
West Ham United defender James Tomkins got a full 90 minutes for England
U21s against Germany
22.06.2009

James Tomkins turned in an assured display on his first competitive start
for England as they drew 1-1 with Germany at the UEFA European Under-21
Championship on Monday night.

The point gained in Halmstad means the Young Lions top Group B, with Germany
finishing two points adrift in second. Spain's 2-0 win against Finland
proved academic as they had depended on an third straight England victory to
have any chance of progress. The selection of 20-year-old Tomkins came as
Stuart Pearce made a number of changes including resting captain Mark Noble
before Friday's semi-final in Gothenburg with either Italy, Sweden, Serbia
or Belarus - with Group A to be finalised on Tuesday.

Germany took the lead through Gonzalo Castro on five minutes but Jack
Rodwell equalised with a header on 29 minutes. Tomkins was winning his third
cap at this level, having played at every age group for England before this
month. It was his third successive Monday night action. He made his U21
debut on 8 June in a 7-0 friendly win against Azerbaijan before the Young
Lions departed for the finals in Sweden and then figured late off the bench
on a week ago in a 2-1 opening-day victory against Finland.

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Premier clubs on a Gud thing By Darren Lewis 23/06/2009
The Mirror
EXCLUSIVE: Football Spy

Fulham, Aston Villa, Everton and West Ham are among a string of clubs that
have enquired about Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen. The Icelandic
international, 30, is free to move on after Barca last night confirmed they
are willing to listen to offers for him. It is believed the Champions League
winners would take as little as £4million but are also prepared to use him
as a makeweight to land any prospective targets. Fulham, Villa and Everton,
could offer the former Bolton player firstteam football and the chance to
play in Europe. At West Ham he'd link up with old Chelsea pals Gianfranco
Zola and Steve Clarke.

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Owen to leave Newcastle... West Ham interested... Surely not?!?
By Ho Lee Smoke Monday 22 Jun 2009 22:09:00
UptonSparks.com

ptonsparks is back after a heavy weekend away. Just coming out of a hangover
our eyes alighted on the headline and a snatch of copy. Owen to leave
Newcastle... West Ham interested...
What! Now I know Michael has had more than his day and ten years or so ago
he was the next big thing, but this news didn't exactly fill us with joy. In
fact the opposite sentiment was true. So you can imagine our relief when it
turns out the Newcastle refugee West Ham are really interested in appears to
be centre half Steve Taylor instead.
We say 'relieved'. Less underwhelmed is probably nearer the mark. We have to
say that there are few from that Geordie shower we think would be fit to
grace the Boleyn Ground next season. Sebastien Bassong looks like he had
something about him in the chaos, but after that we're struggling. If Steven
Taylor is the answer, we're not sure we like the question.

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West Ham United Striker Carlton Cole Wins Award For Posing Starkers
A fund-raising photoshoot has prompted Cole's friends to ask the tall
forward if he was "doing porn"...
22 Jun 2009 15:30:51
Goal.com

West Ham United striker and England hopeful Carlton Cole, credited for one
of the goals of the season as he rounded off a swift on-the-floor one-touch
movement against Wigan Athletic, stripped off for a charity fund-raiser and
has become the latest recipient of the 'Cosmopolitan/Joop! Thrill Centrefold
of the Year'. Cole posed alongside 20 other men in order to raise the
profile of the 'Everyman' campaign; a male cancer charity. Cole picked up
his award at the Orchid bar in London, and told the club's official website,
"I'm a little bit embarrassed as everyone can see me naked, but it's a good
look and for a good cause and I'd do it again if I had to. "My mates said
'What the hell are you doing, is this porn or something?' but there were
loads of celebrities involved and it was for a good cause. "Hopefully it's
created awareness for testicular cancer and that you need to get yourself
checked out. That's the main thing. The rest of it was just a bit of fun
really."

Alan Dawson, Goal.com

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French full-back not eager for England
by Joseph Caron Dawe , 22 June 2009
setanta.co.uk

Toulouse full back Albin Ebondo has cast doubt over a possible summer move
to The Premier League after declaring his happiness with life at the French
outfit. Twenty-five-year-old Ebondo has been linked with West Ham and
Newcastle in the past year, with the relegated Magpies believed to have come
close to acquiring his services while Joe Kinnear was in charge. The Hammers
were also reported to have made an enquiry for the former France Under-21
international. Despite a tough season which was marred by injury and
suspension, Ebondo opted to remain in the south of France and work hard to
regain his place in Alain Casanova's team. It is a decision the player feels
has been vindicated by his return to form at Stade Municipal, and Ebondo
claims a new contract has already been discussed by the board. "I feel good
here," he was quoted as saying by French site 20minutes.fr. "But last season
was difficult. "I met my superiors before I started my three-week vacation.
They told me they want to keep me and extend my contract, and I now expect
them to come back to me with a concrete proposal."

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