Sunday, January 31

Daily WHUFC News - 31st January 2010

West Ham United 0-0 Blackburn
30.01.2010

West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 30 January 2010
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Peter Walton

Final score - West Ham United 0-0 Blackburn Rovers

94 mins - Into the final minute and Faubert wins a corner on the right.
Diamanti races across and curls the ball into the box. Blackburn clear and
Diamanti falls to the ground under a challenge. Referee Walton puts the
whistle to his mouth, but he blows for full-time rather than a free-kick.

92 mins - A long, raking pass from Upson finds Parker inside the box, but
his low cross is too close to Robinson at the near post. Blackburn break and
Green has to be alert to clear the danger on the edge of his own penalty
area.

90 mins - We're going to have at least four more minutes.

89 mins - On the plus-side, it looks like West Ham are going to k,eep
another clean sheet. Also, as results elsewhere stand, West Ham will climb
one place to 15th.

86 mins - Good defending there as Upson heads Pedersen's cross clear under
pressure from Hoilett at the far post.

85 mins - Diouf is replaced by Hoilett for the final few minutes. Parker
links up with Sears and drives past two defenders before poking the ball
across the six-yard box, but there is nobody there to supply the finishing
touch.

82 mins - It might be West Ham's as Sears wins a corner down the right.
Diamanti takes it short to Noble, who works it back to the taker. Diamanti
curls the ball in and it hits a leg before bouncing to Collison, whose shot
is also blocked. Finally, Noble and Diamanti combine again, and his shot is
well gathered by Robinson.

81 mins - Into the final ten minutes and this is anyone's game.

78 mins - Nouble is replaced by Sears. The young man scored two goals in his
first reserve-team game back from his loan spell at Crystal Palace. Can he
add to it with his second goal at senior level?

77 mins - Robinson is the goalkeeper to shine this time, doing well to tip
over Diamanti's rapier-like free-kick. The resulting corner is headed
straight to Collison by Samba, but the Wales midfielder's shot is deflected
wide.

75 mins - Another good chance for Rovers. N'Zonzi fires horribly over the
top from ten yards. Seconds later, Roberts passes up and even better chance,
beating Tomkins before shooting too close to Green. Put simply, he should
have scored.

73 mins - Green has to be at his best to keep out a rasping shot from
Pedersen. Spector takes the safety-first option and heads behind. The corner
drops to Givet, whose shot hits Noble and is cleared off the line by the
alert Cole.

71 mins - The Hammers are back on top here as Nelsen hacks Cole's downward
header out for a throw. Blackburn make a change, replacing Kalinic with
Jason Roberts.

70 mins - Scott Parker is the second West Ham substitute to enter the fray,
replacing Behrami.

68 mins - Nouble gets the wrong side of Nelsen, who appears to tug at the
young forward. Nouble stays on his feet, though, and wins a corner off the
New Zealand defender. Diamanti curls the ball in and Robinson claims it
above the jumping Tomkins.

67 mins - Cole wins a corner and the ball is worked back to taker Diamanti,
The Italian's second ball hits a defender before Tomkins's stabbed effort is
deflected over the top. The second corner is too high and flies harmlessly
over everybody.

65 mins - Blackburn are playing quite well, all of a sudden, as Diouf wins
another corner down the right. Pedersen trots across and takes it
left-footed, and Cole is there to head clear at the near post.

61 mins - Kalinic shows good strength to hold off two West Ham players
before going to ground under a challenge from Faubert. He won the ball, to
be fair. Blackburn get the ball in the box and it breaks to Chimbonda, whose
shot is absolutely nowhere near the goal.

59 mins - Cole is up top with Nouble, with Diamanti wide on the right,
Collison wide on the left and Noble joining Behrami in central midfield.

58 mins - Time for Cole to enter, with Kovac the man to make way. That can
only mean a switch to a 4-4-2 formation, with Cole joining Nouble up front.
Blackburn also make a change, replacing Emerton with Republic of Ireland
midfielder Keith Andrews.

56 mins - West Ham have spent the last few minutes camped in the Blackburn
half. Twice Diamanti crossed and Blackburn cleared before the attack petered
out with Spector heading too close to Robinson.

53 mins - It looks like Cole will be on soon as Zola calls the big man back
to the bench.

52 mins - Away from the ball, Spector goes down under a challenge from
N'Zonzi. The South African claims the American had walked into his shoulder.
Replays are inconclusive. Spector, who had a good first half, receives some
treatment.

50 mins - Blackburn win a rather fortunate corner off Noble. Diouf crosses
and Kovac heads clear.

48 mins - Tomkins is penalised for a foul on Kalinic. That looked a bit
soft. Diouf curls the ball in, it flicks of Kovac's head and Givet heads it
well wide.

46 mins - The second half is underway with West Ham now attacking the Bobby
Moore Stand end. No changes for either side at the interval.

Half-time score - West Ham United 0-0 Blackburn Rovers

46 mins - After exactly a minute of added time, referee Walton brings the
first half to a close. Will we see Cole emerge after half-time?

45 mins - To be fair to Sam Allardyce's team, they have come into it in the
last ten minutes or so. Chimbonda and Diouf combine down the right, but the
latter's cross is mis-hit and bounces straight through to Green.

43 mins - Pedersen did fancy it! He steps up and curls a shot over the
four-man wall and it pings back off the crossbar!

42 mins - Behrami loses his footing 25 yards out and brings down Pedersen.
The Norwegian will fancy this set piece.

40 mins - Faubert brings down Diouf wide on the left. That will give
Blackburn the chance to send Nelsen and Samba forward. Pedersen delivers the
ball low and Tomkins clears well at the near post.

38 mins - Matthew Upson does well to head the ball clear to Diamanti, who
turns and drives forward. Emerton decides to stop him by any means and pulls
the Italian back. He is rewarded with a yellow card.

35 mins - Diouf wins a corner off Behrami. That is Blackburn's first of the
game. Pedersen curls the ball and it looks like it might dip under the
crossbar until Green intervenes. A shot apiece then. Pedersen takes his
second corner and curls it into the side-netting at the near post.

32 mins - At present, the statistics read no shots on or off target for
either side. Behrami tries to change that by romping down the right wing
before being brought down by Nelsen. Diamanti whips in the free-kick and
Robinson can only punch it behind at his near post. Diamanti's resulting
corner is cleared by Samba.

29 mins - Blackburn almost get lucky from a Pedersen free-kick. The ball
bounced back to the Norwegian and he headed it over the home back four as
they came out. Kalinic looked like having a second to get his shot off, but
he fell to the ground and the chance was lost.

28 mins - Spector goes on a superb 60-yard run, beating two Blackburn
defenders before being challenged as he entered the box. Great stuff.

26 mins - Cole swaps places with Stanislas on the touchline. The sight of
the England man is again welcomed by the Boleyn Ground faithful. I'm sure we
will see Cole on the pitch later in the game...

24 mins - Spector finds Diamanti wide on the right. The Italian cuts outside
Olsson before crossing low, forcing Nelsen to poke the ball behind for a
corner. The ball is curled in, but the visitors clear with ease.

21 mins - Parker, Stanislas and Sears are sent out for a run along the
touchline, and receive a nice cheer from the fans for their troubles. On the
pitch, Nelsen makes an important challenge to stop Collison going clear into
the Rovers box.

20 mins - Faubert picks up a pass from Noble near the halfway line before
surging past N'Zonzi. He finds Kovac with a raking pass, but the Czech is in
an offside position.

19 mins - Pedersen launches another throw into the box, where Samba flicks
on, but the ball bounces harmlessly wide of the far post.

18 mins - When Blackburn do get the ball forward, it is invariably a long
ball or clearance towards Kalinic, who is getting no joy out of Upson and
Tomkins. West Ham, in contrast, are knocking the ball around confidently.

16 mins - Blackburn are carrying no attacking threat whatsoever. They
literally cannot get out of their own half at present.

14 mins - Superb ball in from Faubert, but it's just too far in front of the
sliding Kovac. That was a teasing cross, and Samba did well to divert the
ball wide of his own far post. Noble's corner is punched clear by Robinson.
That really was a magnificent ball in by Faubert.

11 mins - West Ham are seeing plenty of the ball. Blackburn are leaving
Kalinic up on his own and he's not had a sniff of the ball yet. Jonathan
Spector is showing plenty of endeavour down the left flank.

8 mins - Diamanti wins the ball back near the touchline and curls a cross
over that is just too high for Behrami. Faubert picks up the loose ball wide
on the right and launches the ball into the box, but Behrami cannot direct
his header on target. Encouraging signs for the hosts, however.

7 mins - Behrami turns in the midfield and tries to release the rampaging
Faubert, but the ball skips off the turf and behind for a goal kick. Nice
idea from the Swiss, there.

5 mins - Spector blocks Diouf's cross out for a throw-in. Pedersen hurls the
ball long into the six-yard box, where Green is there to claim.

4 mins - Absolutely no sign of the snow that has ravaged the north east this
morning. Aside from a few clouds, it's a beautiful winter's day here in east
London.

3 mins - Not a lot to report in the early going, aside from a Martin Olsson
cross headed clear by Radoslav Kovac.

3pm - Gianfranco Zola gives his players a last-minute roar of encouragement.
West Ham kick-off towards the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand.

2.59pm - There is a buzz about the place this afternoon as Mr Sullivan and
Mr Gold prepare to watch their first home match as owners of the club they
support. West Ham's players look focused on the job in hand. A win could
lift the home side to 13th in the table and further away from the
bottom-three.

2.57pm - The teams are in the tunnel as the PA system belts out a succession
of traditional East End tunes. On the touchline, machines blow pretty
bubbles in the air. The stadium is filling up nicely, as you would expect
for an important Premier League game. Here come the two teams...

2.56pm - The new chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold take their seats in
the West Stand. Both have big smiles on their faces and are joined by their
families, and who can blame them? Mr Gold, who grew up just a few yards from
the Boleyn Ground, is sporting a claret scarf as he chats with England
goalkeeper coach Ray Clemence.

2.55pm - There are a few familiar faces back at the Boleyn Ground for this
afternoon's game. Martin Peters, Phil Parkes, George Parris, Mark Ward and
Keith Rowland are all in the stands. Rowland, I am reliably informed, has
been given the afternoon off coaching non-league Aveley to attend the match.
Aveley travel to Sutton United this afternoon...

2.50pm - Looking at the two teams, it looks like both sides will be lining
up with a 4-5-1 formation. Frank Nouble will lead the line for West Ham,
while Croatia international Nikola Kalinic will do likewise for Rovers. The
22-year-old has scored three goals in his last two games, having netted
three in his opening 19 appearances for Blackburn.

2.45pm - The Scandinavian Hammers are in town today, with a 40-odd strong
group from across Norway and Sweden attending today's game. The chairman,
Gjermund Holt, is joined by a pair of youngsters from the supporters' club
on the touchline for a quick interview.

2.25pm - The two teams shared a goalless draw at Ewood Park in their first
meeting in August, but last season's match at the Boleyn Ground was a
different story as the Hammers ran out 4-1 winners against Paul Ince's side
in August.

2.15pm - West Ham will be looking for their eleventh straight home win
against Blackburn today, while at the same time trying to maintain their
unbeaten start to their 2010 Premier League campaign. The players will be
making their way out for their warm-up in five minutes and the home support
will no doubt be delighted to see Cole, Parker and Ilunga out on the pitch
with their team-mates once more.

West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola has named an unchanged side from the
one that drew 1-1 at Portsmouth for Saturday's Barclays Premier League visit
of Blackburn Rovers.

However, the big news comes from the substitutes' bench, where Herita Ilunga
and Scott Parker have both returned from hamstring injuries to take their
place among Zola's replacements. The duo come in for Fabio Daprela and the
departed Luis Jimenez, whose loan spell from Italian club Internazionale has
ended.

For Blackburn, Christopher Samba returns from suspension to take his place
in the starting XI. David Hoilett is the man to drop to the bench.

The Hammers go into today's match unbeaten in their last 14 home meetings
with Blackburn. Should Zola's side triumph, the result would make their
eleventh consecutive victory over the 1994/95 Premier League champions.
Indeed, Rovers' last win at the Boleyn Ground came way back in April 1994.

West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Spector, Diamanti, Noble,
Kovac (Cole 58), Behrami (Parker 70), Collison, Nouble (Sears 78)
Subs: Stech, Da Costa, Ilunga, Stanislas

Blackburn Rovers: Robinson, Chimbonda, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Emerton Andrews
58), N'Zonzi, Olsson, Pedersen, Diouf (Hoilett 84), Kalinic (Roberts 71)
Subs: Brown, Salgado, Reid, Di Santo

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Goalless at the Boleyn
WHUFC.com
West Ham United maintained their unbeaten league start to 2010 with a 0-0
draw with Blackburn Rovers
30.01.2010

West Ham United and Blackburn Rovers shared their second goalless draw of
the season at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday afternoon. In a match of few
chances, it was the two goalkeepers who will been most pleased with their
afternoon's efforts, as both made key second-half stops to ensure the spoils
were shared. Before kick-off, there was a typically warm east-end welcome
for the club's new chairmen and suitably, the first home game under the new
owners got underway in fine afternoon sunshine, which was mirrored by a
bright start from the hosts. But for all their possession and endeavour
Gianfranco Zola's side could only trouble Paul Robinson once, when a fierce
Alessandro Diamanti free-kick forced a tip over from the Blackburn No1. As
the half wore on, however, the Hammers had their own England international
goalkeeper to thank for keeping the score level as Robert Green pushed
Morten Gamst Pedersen's goalbound corner over the bar. After Brett Emerton
was booked for pulling back Diamanti, Rovers were to come even closer to
taking the lead as Pedersen was felled by Behrami 25 yards out. The
Norwegian international nearly followed up his stunning midweek strike
against Wigan Athletic with another, as he curled the subsequent free-kick
against Green's crossbar.

Gianfranco Zola had handed the task of picking up an eleventh straight home
win over Rovers to the same eleven players that started the 0-0 draw at
Portsmouth in midweek. The big story, though, was the return of Herita
Ilunga and Scott Parker to the bench following their recoveries from
hamstring injuries. Carlton Cole was also on the bench again following his
successful comeback from a knee injury and the game was not an hour old when
Zola chose to introduce him to the action in place of Radosalv Kovac. After
hitting the bar in the first half, Pedersen was next denied by the
acrobatics of Green in the second, as he brilliantly tipped a 20-yard drive
from the midfielder away from the top corner. The Hammers then had Cole to
thank for hacking Gael Givet's close-range shot off the line. The game was
quickly becoming a battle of the two England hopefuls between the sticks.
Green was almost singlehandedly keeping West Ham in the game as he
brilliantly stopped substitute Jason Roberts' shot from eight yards out. The
save drew a huge round of applause from the majority of the 33,093 crowd and
they were almost cheering even louder shortly after as Robinson had to be at
his best to tip Diamanti's 30-yard set-piece over the bar. Zola threw on
Freddie Sears and Parker in place of Nouble and Behrami as they went all out
for the win but, after four minutes of added time, they had to settle for
their third straight Premier League draw. The point stretches their unbeaten
run against the Lancastrians to seven matches. A trip to Blackburn's local
rivals Burnley follows next for Zola's side, who move up a place to 15th in
the Premier League table.

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Zola demanding more
WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola is looking for more quality in the final third from West Ham
United
30.01.2010

Gianfranco Zola is looking for greater application in the final third of the
pitch following the 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers. The Hammers competed for
much of the match, particularly in the first half, but struggled to create
many clear-cut openings against a strong and physical Blackburn team. But,
with other results going in their favour, the point moved the Hammers up
another place to 15th in the Premier League table. There were further
positives with the likely arrival of South Africa striker Benni McCarthy and
the appearance off the bench of Carlton Cole and Scott Parker. Next week's
trip to Burnley could also see Kieron Dyer and Herita Ilunga in contention
to play but it was Blackburn that occupied the manager's thoughts on
Saturday night. "I was expecting us to create a little more quality but we
were not able to do that," he said. "The difficulties of the game, like the
tension, caught us a little bit and we couldn't express the quality that we
needed to break them down. We knew they would come here to defend with a lot
of players and so they did. "When they come here to do that you need extra
quality. You have to be good at taking your player on and putting your right
ball in the box. I don't think we played a good game, but considering the
circumstances and looking at the other results we step up the table which is
a good thing for us. "Everyone knows it was an important game that we had to
win. Sometimes when you are too nervous you can't express yourself at the
best and that was the case today."
The Hammers' third straight draw in the league maintains their unbeaten
start to 2010 but Zola said the steady improvement in form still had a way
to go to rival last season's surge up the table. "In the last six games we
have only one defeat so is getting better but slower than last year. Why I
don't know, as the difficulties this year are even bigger than last year.
I'm not finding excuses but we could have done better and we will do
better."
Although there were no goals to lift the Boleyn Ground crowd, the welcome
sight of Ilunga, Parker and Cole returning to the substitutes' bench will
have no doubt warmed them on a chilly January afternoon. Parker and Cole
were introduced in the second half as Zola chased all three points. "The
crowd were worried as well, everybody was frightened. I was expecting us to
lift them a bit more but it wasn't the case. It will be there the next time.
"I knew Scott and Carlton were not 100 per cent fit and it wouldn't be wise
to do play them from the start. I thought it would be better to have them
coming in late in the game where they could change the game. The quest for
greater quality could be boosted by McCarthy, who Zola revealed is set to
formally arrive at the club this Monday. "Benni McCarthy looks like it is
done which should be a good thing for us," he said. "I don't know the terms
but it looks like the deal is done. "He will be a threat in the last third.
He is a type of player that will score goals. He will be a big help for us."

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West Ham 0 - 0 Blackburn
By Jamie Lillywhite
BBC.co.uk

West Ham remain in trouble with only goal difference keeping them clear of
the relegation zone as a dour encounter at Upton Park ended in stalemate.
Morten Gamst Pedersen's free-kick hitting the bar was the only moment of
note in an abject first half. Hammers substitute Carlton Cole made a key
impact on his own goal-line when he hooked Gael Givet's effort clear. Rovers
substitute Jason Roberts had the chance of the game but shot straight at
Robert Green when through. David Gold and David Sullivan took their seats in
the directors' box at Upton Park for the first time at the helm of their
beloved club and received a rousing cheer when fans were asked by the public
address announcer to celebrate the Irons being "back under West Ham
ownership."
Having confirmed the signing of Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy, Gold had
earlier assured fans that no enforced sales would take place, despite the
club being £110m in arrears. The new owners were soon no doubt wondering how
they could inject some creative new talent into the playing staff on such
limited resources as the low quality of the match flattened the atmosphere.
The Hammers started with no shortage of endeavour, and a teasing Julien
Faubert cross was steered narrowly wide of his own net by Chris Samba.
However, their lack of cutting edge was highlighted by Valon Behrami's wild
swipe, which was closer to making contact with a team-mate than the ball.
Alessandro Diamanti looked the one player capable of inspiration, his right
foot barely making contact with the ball but his skilful left hinting at
menace cutting in from the right. Diamanti's firmly struck right-wing
free-kick knocked Paul Robinson off balance as he punched clear, but a
desperate half saw the ball more in the air than played neatly along the
turf.
Having offered little in terms of attacking threat, Blackburn might have
stolen the lead in the closing stages of the half when Pedersen's curling
23-yard free-kick cannoned off the top of the bar, but the whistle for
half-time brought merciful relief. The famous West Ham songs continued from
the patient home contingent after the interval but on the pitch the standard
of play remained horribly untidy. Finally, with 15 minutes remaining, the
match kicked into gear, and Blackburn exerted some pressure on the home side
when Martin Olsson's curling shot towards the top corner was tipped away by
Green. From the resulting corner, Givet squeezed a low shot that deflected
up towards the centre of goal - possibly off a West Ham hand - but Cole
acrobatically cleared.
In a rare passage of end-to-end excitement, Robinson pushed away another
sweetly struck long-range effort from Diamanti. The Hammers pressed again
and Scott Parker, another second half substitution, weaved his way down the
left flank and centred invitingly across goal but there was no-one to finish
the move. Gold and Sullivan will know that finding that missing ingredient
could be vital in their battle against the drop. Blackburn, who remain
without a victory at Upton Park since April 1994, conceded 14 goals in their
first three league visits to London this season, but their seventh point out
of a possible nine in the last three league matches puts them in a
comfortable mid-table position.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola: "It wasn't a nice game. The tension got to
us and we couldn't produce. "When you play teams like that you need to
produce something extra."

West Ham joint-owner David Gold: "In an ideal world we'd like to bring in
one more (player), then we've got to get on with the business of retaining
our Premier League status.
"I'm very confident we can turn this around. It's extremely difficult and
the only way we're going to get out of it is to be a single unit - players,
staff and - most of all - the fans."

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce: "We're bitterly disappointed we haven't
grabbed all three points. "Our plan was to see what West Ham had to offer
and nullify it but what we weren't doing was causing enough problems with
the ball. "In the second half we started to outplay them and was a mixture
of poor finishing, good saves and what should have been a definite penalty
for us wasn't, because if he has not handballed it, it was in. "That aside,
we have had enough chances to put the ball in the net more than once, and we
failed to do that."

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West Ham striker Zavon Hines set to miss rest of season
BBC.co.uk

West Ham striker Zavon Hines is likely to miss the rest of the season after
undergoing knee surgery. The 21-year-old, who has not played since 5
December, scored twice in 15 first-team appearances this season. "I am just
looking to work as hard as I can to get back," the England under-21 player
told the club's website. West Ham say they hope to wrap up a loan deal for
Blackburn forward Benni McCarthy and the signing of an unnamed Brazilian
striker on Monday. Manager Gianfranco Zola acknowledged the absence of Hines
was a blow for a side which has only scored twice in their last five
matches. "It is a real pity for us to have lost Zavon," said Zola. "He is
still young and hopefully his recovery will go well."

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Faubert goes beyond call of duty
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 31st January 2010
By: Staff Writer

Full-back Julien Faubert went into today's game with Blackburn nursing a
secret heartache after his mother passed away just 48 hours earlier. The
26-year-old received the sad news on Thursday and flew back to France
immediately. Despite remaining in France on Friday, Faubert insisted upon
returning to England to feature for West Ham in today's goalless draw with
Blackburn. Faubert - who sported a black armband during today's game, in
which he was one of United's better performers, in memory of his mother - is
set to return to France later this weekend. The Frenchman's decision to play
echoes that of team mate Jack Collison, who insisted on featuring against
Millwall in the Carling Cup earlier in the season having lost his father
just days before.

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Zola - We need McCarthy magic
Hammers boss says co-owners will give club stability
By Hayley Paterson Last updated: 30th January 2010
SSN

Gianfranco Zola believes Benni McCarthy will provide the firepower West Ham
need following a goalless draw against Blackburn. The 32-year-old striker is
on the verge of a £2.5million move from Blackburn to the Hammers, who left
Upton Park on Saturday frustrated at having not taken all three points. The
Hammers - playing in front of co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold at
home for the first time since their successful takeover - had plenty of
possession but lacked a finishing touch despite a second-half introduction
of fit-again England striker Carlton Cole. Zola hopes the imminent arrival
of the McCarthy can add the cutting edge upfront which was lacking in his
side's latest Premier League fixture. "It looks like it is done and next
week he (McCarthy) should be coming to train with us," the Hammers boss
said. "I do not know the terms yet, but they have told me the deal is done.
"He should be available for the next game. Benni will be a threat in the
last third. "He is a player who can score goals and he will be a very good
help for us."
The Italian also said Hammers fans Sullivan and Gold will provide the club
with the stability they need to stay in the Premier League. "They have given
us stability and maybe some more players to strengthen the team, and that is
a good thing," said Zola. West Ham failed to get out of first gear against
Rovers and on another day could have lost. Just before the break, Morten
Gamst Pedersen's 25-yard free-kick crashed against the crossbar and then
substitute Jason Roberts failed to beat Robert Green when clean through with
15 minutes left. Zola said: "I was expecting us to create a bit more
quality, but we were not able to do that. "The tension caught us a little
bit, everybody was nervous and we could not express the quality we needed to
break them down. "But I take it as a good day, because this point means we
step up the table."

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Allardyce - We deserved to win
Rovers boss rues missed chances
By Hayley Paterson Last updated: 30th January 2010
SSN

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce believes his side can feel somewhat hard done
by at not leaving Upton Park with all three points. In a game lacking
clinical finishing, West Ham rode their luck when Morten Gamst Pedersen saw
his free-kick cannon back off the woodwork and then with 15 minutes to
spare, substitute Jason Roberts failed to beat Rob Green from close range.
Allardyce also thought Green pulled off a brilliant save to deny Martin
Olsson's bullet effort and then claimed Mark Noble handled in the area to
deflect a Gael Givet strike which Carlton Cole eventually cleared off the
line. "We are disappointed we have not turned a very, very good second-half
performance into a victory," the Rovers chief said. "We had the free-kick
which hit the bar, and then Jason Roberts' chance, Martin Olsson's drive is
going in the top corner and Robert Green has saved it, then there is the
penalty. "The handball on the line is just one of those things you hope the
referee would spot, but he has not been able to. "What should have been a
definite penalty for us wasn't, because if he has not handballed it, it was
in. "That aside, we have had enough chances to put the ball in the net more
than once, and we failed to do that." The point has arguably stalled Rovers'
progress, given they were coming off the back of an impressive 2-0 victory
against Fulham earlier in the month. "We feel a little hard done by, but in
the main we should have been a bit more clinical in front of goal - then we
would have won," Allardyce added. "It was a satisfying performance again,
but not the right result."

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Hammers and Rovers all square
Both teams denied penalties in quiet affair
By Hayley Paterson Last updated: 30th January 2010
SSN

Moment of the match: Pedersen's free-kick which crashed off the bar just
imuntes before half-time could have changed the game around.
Attempt of the match: Roberts had a glorious chance to win the game when he
was one-on-one with Rob Green, but his effort lacked pace, power and
direction.
Save of the match: Robinson had to stretch his limbs when a Diamanti
free-kick troubled and had him scrambling across his goal, but he managed to
tip it over.
Talking point: With West Ham lacking that clinical edge upfront, will the
new co-owners be digging deep for more quality strikers?
Man of the match: Pedersen probably saw most of the ball and looked
dangerous at times.

Upton Park saw a goalless draw ensue as few chances were created by either
West Ham or Blackburn as the two sides shared the spoils. Morten Gamst
Pedersen came the closest for the visitors when he saw his curling free-kick
cannon off the bar in the first-half. Substitute Jason Roberts, who has been
linked with a move to Upton Park, could have put Rovers ahead late on when
he side-stepped James Tomkins and found himself one-on-one with Rob Green.
However the striker's effort was tame and the England goalkeeper gathered
well. The Hammers had good possession and seemed to step up a gear when
long-term absentee Carlton Cole came off the bench and added another
dimension and strength up front to trouble Rovers at times. Frank Nouble
could have had a penalty when Ryan Nelsen tugged at his shirt in the box,
but the 18-year-old stayed on his feet and could not regain his momentum to
have a strike on goal. Blackburn's Christopher Samba also went down in the
box earlier on, but nothing was given. West Ham began a new era of Upton
Park as new co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold watched from the stands
for the first time since their successful takeover. However their
performance failed to merit new beginnings as neither side looked likely to
break the deadlock in a quiet game. The home side could have found
themselves behind just before half-time when Gamst Pedersen's 25-yard
free-kick crashed against the crossbar and then substitute Roberts failed to
beat Green when clean through with 15 minutes left.
Sullivan and Gold have been working hard to bring in new talent ahead of
Monday's transfer deadline, with a deal for Rovers striker Benni McCarthy
expected to be concluded shortly - something on this afternoon's evidence
which cannot come soon enough.
The Hammers started the day out of the relegation zone only on goal
difference and faced a Rovers side who had won back-to-back league games
despite their Carling Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa. However, the
hosts slowly built some pressure, with Valon Behrami almost getting on the
end of a decent cross by Alessandro Diamanti from the left channel.
Christopher Samba diverted a dangerous ball into the six-yard box from the
right wing behind as West Ham pressed again. Jack Collison and Behrami then
got in each other's way as a loose ball presented itself just inside the
18-yard area. The home side continued to have the better possession, but
lacked a decisive pass. In a rare moment of action at the other end, Nikola
Kalinic went down under pressure from Jonathan Spector, but referee Peter
Walton waved away half-hearted penalty appeals.
West Ham had another chance to send the ball into the Rovers danger area
when Nelsen fouled Behrami wide on the right channel. Diamanti whipped in
the resulting free-kick goalwards and Paul Robinson punched clear at his
near post. After 35 minutes, an in-swinging corner from Pedersen had Hammers
'keeper Green backpedalling to tip the ball over.
Just before half-time, Rovers came within inches of going ahead when Behrami
tripped Pedersen around 25 yards out. The midfielder took the shot himself
and was unfortunate to see his effort crash off the crossbar with Green
beaten. There was little action in the opening exchanges of the second half,
and just before the hour mark, West Ham made a change when Cole - returning
for the first time since November following a knee injury - replaced
Radoslav Kovac. The visitors had a chance to deliver a decent ball into the
West Ham box after Julien Faubert brought down Kalinic. However in a game
littered with poor deliveries, Pedersen failed to clear the wall and when
the ball fell to Pascal Chimbonda, the defender lashed his volley well wide.
The introduction of Cole gave the Hammers fresh impetus, and they forced a
succession of corners, but yet again they came to nothing. Rovers injected
some fresh legs into their attack as Roberts replaced Kalinic. A scramble in
the box saw Green push Pedersen's goal-bound drive away and Cole was back to
clear Gael Givet's shot off the line after it appeared to hit Mark Noble on
the arm. Roberts should have beaten Green when shrugging off James Tomkins
just inside the penalty area, only to then, 12 yards out, shoot too close to
the England goalkeeper. At the other end, Robinson tipped Diamanti's 25-yard
free-kick over. Substitute Scott Parker also rolled the ball invitingly
across the six-yard box after a decent surge forward, but there was no-one
on hand for what would have been a tap in.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vinny's Blackburn Report
Vinny - Sat Jan 30 2010
West Ham Online

West Ham United 0 Blackburn Rovers 0

West Ham and Blackburn played out a dismal goalless draw at Upton Park in
yet another disappointing result and one which does little to ease any
relegation worries.

This game was arguably the worst spectacle I have witnessed this season
although the reverse fixture at Ewood Park was not much better. It seems
that playing Blackburn brings out the ultimate worst in our football.

This should have been a game were we took all three points. It cannot be
seen as anything other than a terrible result. The whole performance was
disappointing with the tactics from the beginning looking all wrong.

Most of the fans would have thought we would come out in the second half and
look a lot brighter and maybe even create some chances but if there was
anyone likely to score it was Blackburn who should have taken at least one
of their golden chances.

Our passing was generally poor, there was a lack of movement from the
midfield, players such as Diamanti and Collison went missing for large
periods of the games and others such as Noble and Behrami just huffed and
puffed running themselves into the ground in the process.

Going forward we offered nothing with Frank Nouble isolated and looking well
out of his depth with the best player on the pitch Christopher Samba winning
everything.

The new owners must know that a couple of strikers are an absolute necessity
to get in by next Saturday's encounter with Burnley as we cannot continue to
play the way we are playing.

Gianfranco Zola made no changes to the side who only came away with a point
at bottom club Portsmouth last Tuesday evening.

This was a surprise given the amount of talk about players returning. Those
players suggested to return to the fold were available but on the
substitutes bench. Carlton Cole, Scott Parker and Herita Ilunga were all
included in the eighteen man squad but obviously not deemed fit enough to
start.

It does beg the question that if they were fit enough to be on the bench
then surely they were fit enough to start? I was always under the impression
that you should start with your best team but maybe that is an old way of
looking at things now.

The formation we began with is bordering on upsetting me every time I see
it. I'm frustrated before the ball has even been kicked. What gets to me is
that Zola trains with the players all week and gets paid for it yet unlike
me (and many others) we can see that one upfront does not work for us, has
not worked for us, and will never work for West Ham.

The game started as it meant to go on with a truly boring opening fifteen
minutes. The first real moment of the game came when Julien Faubert whipped
in a quite fantastic cross (which I would think is why we purchased him for
all that money) for Blackburn defender Samba to get to the ball first and
nearly divert it into his own net but it went just wide.

The next chance came from a dead ball situation which saw Diamanti take a
free kick from what looked a very difficult angle and former Spurs keeper
Paul Robinson in somewhat unorthodox fashion punched the ball wide for a
corner.

We should have done a lot better as Collison burst into the area but lost
possession and as the ball came out to Berhami who looked as though he may
get a strike in on goal Collison got in his way and he ended up taking a
wild swipe at the ball.

With a few moments of the first half remaining Blackburn won a free kick and
this was taken by Pederson who hit a curling effort at goal which crashed
off the cross bar.

It is difficult to recall such a poor first half although last season at
home to West Brom was pretty bad. This though seemed to hit home a little
more due to our current plight and the threat of relegation still looming
large.

With this being the first home game since the David Gold and David Sullivan
takeover Upton Park should have been an atmospheric wonder for everyone to
behold. Instead it was flat and tense just like the performance from the
players and the 33,093 (with Blackburn bringing just the four fans) would
have been left wondering when things are going to take a turn for the
better.

The hope would have been that at half time we would bring on a couple of new
faces and really take the game to what must be said was a very poor
Blackburn team. In fact watching Blackburn and seeing that tonight as I
write this they are 10th in the Premiership does make me question just how
shit this league is. It also makes me question how bad have we been this
season if they can be that high in the league playing that type of football.

Our untidy football continued in the second half as we made no changes to
our shape or personnel. I would conclude that Zola must have thought we
doing well? It is that sort of thing which worries me about Zola because
surely he must be able to see that we had nothing in the first period to
hurt Blackburn with and hoping for some 'magic' from the erratic Diamanti is
not really a game plan.

Only twelve minutes of the second half had gone when Zola finally woke up
and realise something needed to change and he took off Kovac (who prior to
his removal had given the ball away at least twice to the increase the
gathering frustration of the home support) and replaced him with Carlton
Cole.

This incredibly saw us go to 4-4-2. Yes, you read correct folks.

Trouble was in midfield Diamanti, Collison and Behrami offered us so little.
Only Noble looked a little adventurous going forward as he put in his second
consecutive impressive display.

Blackburn were a bit like a stupid dog that you keep going to hit but never
do and eventually they worked this out and started to bite back and they
could sense that maybe they could nick all three points.

Martin Olsson cut inside and hit a curling effort at goal but Robert Green
was on hand to make a brilliant save to tip wide for a corner.

From the resulting corner Blackburn so very nearly took the lead with both
teams scrapping for the ball in the area. Givet managed to turn and hit the
ball at goal for it to deflect and just as it was about to go over the line
Carlton Cole managed to clear it of the line.

Blackburn's best chance of the game then came soon after as a long and
hopeful ball saw James Tomkins get himself into a complete mess and let
Jason Roberts in on goal but the shot was easily saved by Green. It should
have been a goal and although Green was equal to it, I have to point out it
was a terrible and weak finish.

At the other end it was very quiet although Diamanti saw his low drive at
goal saved easily by Robinson. Zola made his second change of the day with
the ineffective Behrami coming off for Scott Parker.

Parker showed some great determination and skill to get round the back of
the Blackburn defence only for his ball across goal to evade everyone. I say
evade everyone but no one was actually there. This send frustration levels
through the roof of Upton Park as everyone sensed that we could be here till
midnight and still not score.

Frank Nouble was the third player to be taken off with Freddie Sears
replacing him with just over ten minutes to go.

The game continued to fizzle out with only a free kick from Diamanti which
was well saved by Robinson causing the away side any real problems.
Boo's rang out at the final whistle more in frustration than anything else.
This was a game we had all identified as a 'must win' and once again we have
failed to do so. Just four wins in twenty three games is an appalling
record.

Player Reviews

Robert Green
I keep pointing out his kicking simply because his kicking is fucking awful.
It never seems to go where it is intended. As for his overall performance,
he made two or three really top saves as he continues to show what a good
shot stopper he is.

Jonathan Spector
This bloke always gives it his all and this was apparent once again. He does
lack the ability at times and playing as a left back is quite clearly
difficult for him. He did have one run in the first half where he went from
his own half into the opposition area. I thought he was going to score the
goal of the season and we would know these years as the "Spector Years".
Sadly this wasn't to be.

Matthew Upson
The positive from this game is that we have kept another clean sheet. Upson
played very well again today and I can't help but be impressed on how
commanding he was in the air. He was rarely caught in possession and his
distribution was decent.

James Tomkins
Found it a little more difficult but on the whole I thought he put in a very
good showing. Yes, he did make a near fatal mistake which Roberts let him
off the hook for but he is continuing to learn and he is cementing his
position as a starter once again.


Julian Faubert
Believe it or not but in the first half I saw him make two excellent passes.
Don't laugh or turn your nose up at that. It is true. I was there. I saw it
happen. Actually I thought Faubert had a pretty good game today given that
he was given no help at all from Diamanti. He was strong and worked hard
throughout.

Jack Collison
I am not familiar with magic but I would love to know where Jack Collison
disappeared to in the second half because I can't recall him doing anything.
My issue with him is just this because far to many times he just drifts out
of games. He struggles to make an impact on the left wing and although there
were moments in the first half where I thought he was beginning to get a
hold on the game this just disintegrated and I am left wondering what
happened to his second half performance.

Radoslav Kovac
Never got to grips with the game and his passing seemed to be at an all time
low. I was surprised he even got to come out for the second half.

Mark Noble
With Parker not starting Noble is given that holding midfielders role and I
have to say I am impressed at what I see. He was our only player who really
looked capable of making anything happen (I do not count Diamanti's blind
passes as 'creative') and my faith in Mark Noble is being brought back.

Valon Berhami
He works hard, but then he always has worked hard. What he was able to do
last season is make things happen but I saw little of that today. He ran
himself into the ground, often kept the ball for too long and was correctly
taken off given his ineffectiveness. Last season he played on the right and
was great, this season he is playing in the middle and is not. You make your
own conclusions.

Alessandro Diamanti
He is just not a right winger. He was very poor in my opinion despite a
couple of shots from free kicks. You cannot keep a player on just because
you think he may score one of his free kicks (which I may add since being at
the club he has score no free kicks). Not involved in the game other than
giving away silly free kicks.

Frank Nouble
Way out of his depth in this one. Fair enough, Samba is a fierce opponent
(how I would love to have him at West Ham) but Nouble looked quite lost.
What Nouble seems to want to do is get the ball at his feet, turn and run
with pace and power. Unfortunately with our slow passing game this is never
going to happen.

Subs Used

Carlton Cole (on for Kovac 57 mins)
Not sure why he wasn't just brought on at half time (or why he didn't even
start). His biggest impact was actually at the other end when he cleared
Givet's goal bound shot off the line. Expecting him to start against
Burnley.

Scott Parker (on for Behrami 70 mins)
Great to see our player of the season back from injury. Got a good run out,
nearly made a goal and will be a big plus for the next game.

Freddie Sears (on for Nouble 78 mins)
Saw a bit of the ball and was doing his best to try and make things happen
but little came off for him.

Subs Not Used: Stech, Da Costa, Stanislas, Ilunga

Bookings: None

Man Of The Match: Mark Noble

Attendance: 33,093

Overall

No doubt about it, this was a poor performance and a terrible result. We
should have been winning this game and the players out on that pitch I felt
were good enough to break down Blackburn.

We say we need creativity but last season Collison, Noble and Berhami were
all part of the midfield four which did so well.

Up front we have problems but I would think Diamanti is better than Di
Michele. So although we need new personnel do take a moment to think about
how we have largely the same players yet have not been able to play the same
football or grind out the same sort of results as last season.

Surely this is something the management team have failed to get out of the
players. I just do not think that we are getting the very best from players
we currently have. We know there is more - we saw it last season.

Next Game - Burnley (a)

I am still trying to work out how I will get there given the trains are
costing millions. This is a game against a side who are down the wrong end
of the table just as we are. To come away with a loss is unacceptable. To
come away with a draw is unacceptable. Only a win will do. You will have
noticed that drawing games do little to take us away from danger.

By next week we should have one new striker in Benni McCarthy who will
hopefully help bolster our weak and tepid strike force. But if the midfield
do not learn how to create then could have Fernando Torres up front and it
will make no difference.

Zola's View

"I was expecting us to create a little more quality but we were not able to
do that,"

"The difficulties of the game, like the tension, caught us a little bit and
we couldn't express the quality that we needed to break them down. We knew
they would come here to defend with a lot of players and so they did.

"When they come here to do that you need extra quality. You have to be good
at taking your player on and putting your right ball in the box. I don't
think we played a good game, but considering the circumstances and looking
at the other results we step up the table which is a good thing for us.

"Everyone knows it was an important game that we had to win. Sometimes when
you are too nervous you can't express yourself at the best and that was the
case today."

"In the last six games we have only one defeat so is getting better but
slower than last year. Why I don't know, as the difficulties this year are
even bigger than last year. I'm not finding excuses but we could have done
better and we will do better."

"The crowd were worried as well, everybody was frightened. I was expecting
us to lift them a bit more but it wasn't the case. It will be there the next
time.

"I knew Scott and Carlton were not 100 per cent fit and it wouldn't be wise
to do play them from the start. I thought it would be better to have them
coming in late in the game where they could change the game.

"Benni McCarthy looks like it is done which should be a good thing for us,"

"I don't know the terms but it looks like the deal is done.

"He will be a threat in the last third. He is a type of player that will
score goals. He will be a big help for us."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 0 Blackburn 0
The Sun
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GIANFRANCO ZOLA claims Benni McCarthy can solve West Ham's lack of
firepower. The Hammers - playing in front of co-owners David Sullivan and
David Gold - wasted ample possession, even after the second-half arrival of
fit-again England striker Carlton Cole. Zola said of Blackburn frontman
McCarthy: "It looks like it is done and next week he should be coming to
train with us. "I do not know the terms yet, but they have told me the deal
is done. He should be available for the next game. "Benni will be a threat
in the last third. He is a player who can score goals and he will be a very
good help for us."
Zola insists the Hammers takeover can take the struggling club to a new
level. He added: "They have given us stability and maybe some more players
to strengthen the team, and that is a good thing." The Upton Park chief
admitted, though, that his side must improve quickly. He said: "I was
expecting us to create a bit more quality, but we were not able to do that.
"The tension caught us a little bit. Everybody was nervous and we could not
express the quality we needed to break them down. "But I take it as a good
day, because this point means we step up the table."
Rovers boss Sam Allardyce bemoaned the visitors' fortune, including Mark
Noble escaping unpunished after appearing to handle Gael Givet's shot before
it was cleared off the line. Allardyce said: "We are disappointed we have
not turned a very, very good second-half performance into a victory. "We had
the free-kick which hit the bar, and then Jason Roberts' chance, Martin
Olsson's drive is going in the top corner and Robert Green has saved it,
then there is the penalty. "The handball on the line is just one of those
things you hope the referee would spot, but he has not been able to. "What
should have been a definite penalty for us wasn't, because if he has not
handballed it, it was in. "That aside, we have had enough chances to put the
ball in the net more than once, and we failed to do that. "We feel a little
hard done by, but in the main we should have been a bit more clinical in
front of goal and would have won. "It was a satisfying performance again,
but not the right result."
Nonetheless, a dull first half highlighted why both the Hammers and
Blackburn are in the lower half of the table. And although the game came to
life after the interval, neither side deserved anything more than a share of
the spoils. The Hammers started the day clear of the relegation zone on goal
difference alone and faced a Blackburn side boasting back-to-back league
wins. But it was the hosts who slowly built some pressure, with Valon
Behrami almost getting on the end of a decent cross by Alessandro Diamanti.
Christopher Samba then diverted a dangerous ball into the six-yard box
behind as West Ham pressed again. In a rare moment of action at the other
end, Nikola Kalinic went down under pressure from Jonathan Spector, but
referee Peter Walton waved away half-hearted penalty appeals. And it was
Rovers who nearly broke the deadlock after 35 minutes, an inswinging corner
from Pedersen leaving Green backpedalling to tip the ball over.
Just before half-time, the visitors came even closer to going ahead. Valon
Behrami tripped Pedersen and the midfielder took the resulting set-piece
himself, only to see it crash off the woodwork with Green beaten. There was
little action in the opening exchanges of the second half, prompting Zola to
introduce Cole before the hour mark in place of Radoslav Kovac. But it was
the visitors who had the next chance to deliver a decent ball into the box
after Julien Faubert brought down Kalinic. Pedersen, though, failed to clear
the wall and eventually Pascal Chimbonda drilled his angled shot well wide.
Cole gradually began to find his feet and West Ham forced a succession of
corners, but yet again they came to nothing. Rovers injected some fresh legs
into their attack as Roberts replaced Kalinic, before Green pushed
Pedersen's goal-bound drive away and Cole was back to clear Givet's shot off
the line. Roberts should then have beaten Green after shrugging off James
Tomkins, only to shoot too close to the keeper. At the other end, Paul
Robinson tipped Diamanti's 25-yard free-kick over before no-one was on hand
to tap home Scott Parker's ball across the six-yard box. And the missed
opportunity summed up exactly why the Hammers have aged Zola so dramatically
this season.

West Ham: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Spector, Collison, Noble, Kovac
(Cole 57), Behrami (Parker 70), Diamanti, Nouble (Sears 78). Subs Not Used:
Stech, Da Costa, Ilunga, Stanislas.

Blackburn: Robinson, Chimbonda, Samba, Nelsen, Olsson, Diouf (Hoilett 83),
Emerton (Andrews 58), Givet, Nzonzi, Pedersen, Kalinic (Roberts 71). Subs
Not Used: Brown, Reid, Di Santo, Salgado.

Booked: Emerton.

Att: 33,093

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
New owners but same old problems for West Ham
West Ham 0 Blackburn 0
The TImes
(Daniel Hambury/PA)

Nick Townsend at Upton Park Recommend? AN AFTERNOON of rheumy-eyed
sentimentality for the two Davids who have, as they put it, "finally come
home". Yet the foreboding reality will have dawned on Gold and Sullivan well
before the end of this game that their acquisition is in a more perilous
state than they possibly dared imagine.

With ownership of West Ham having passed from Eggert Magnusson, under whom
the business crumbled, and Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, to men who have thrived
in the adult entertainment business, one anticipated that the Hammers would,
dare one suggest it, rise to the occasion.

Not a hint of it; Gianfranco Zola's men were fortunate to escape with a
point. The West Ham manager pointed afterwards to one defeat in six league
games, but a more pertinent sequence is one win in nine. Zola admitted:
"There was tension around the game. When you are too nervous you don't
express yourself."

Zola at least has Carlton Cole back after a lengthy hiatus with a knee
injury. The striker was unleashed from the bench for the last half-hour.
With Zola spurned by Eidur Gudjohnsen, who belatedly switched his allegiance
to Spurs, there should be another striking option available with Benni
McCarthy set to sign for the Hammers today. "It looks like it's done," Zola
said of the reported £2.5m purchase of the South Africa player, who will
join them from Blackburn Rovers.

Forward power was decidedly missing in the Hammers' performance. While
Champions League contention is the long-term target as the owners dedicate
themselves to reducing the club's £110m debts, there exists a short-term
danger of relegation to the Championship.

That was all too evident in a barren first period. Half an hour had passed
before Alessandro Diamanti's volley warmed Paul Robinson's hands. At the
other end, Morten Gamst Pedersen smashed a free kick against Robert Green's
crossbar.

After the interval, with Cole and Scott Parker joining the fray, the tempo
increased and both goalkeepers had to demonstrate their international
pedigree. Martin Olsson forced Green to make a splendid save. From the
resulting corner, Gael Givet's shot struck Mark Noble on the hand before
Cole cleared off the line. "If he hadn't handballed it, that's a goal," Sam
Allardyce, the Blackburn manager, said. "I hoped the referee would have
spotted it."

Star man: Christopher Samba (Blackburn)

Yellow card: Blackburn: Emerton

Referee: P Walton

Attendance: 33,093

West Ham: Green 7, Faubert 6, Tomkins 6, Upson 7, Spector 5, Collison 6,
Noble 7, Kovac 6 (Cole 57min, 6), Behrami 5 (Parker 69min, 6), Diamanti 6,
Nouble 6 (Sears 77min)

Blackburn: Robinson 7, Chimbonda 6, Samba 8, Nelsen 7, Olsson 6, Diouf 6
(Hoilet 83min), Emerton 6 (Andrews 57min, 5), Givet, Nzonzi 5, Pedersen 6,
Kalinic 5 (Roberts 70min)

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
DYER'S GET FIT OR GET OUT STUNNER
Hammers chiefs get tough on midfielder
News Of The World
By Rob Shepherd, 30/01/2010

WEST HAM'S Kieron Dyer has been given a month to prove his fitness or face
being forced into retirement. Hammers new owners David Sullivan and David
Gold have embarked on a severe cost-cutting regime. The main focus has been
on reducing club debts but they are also viewing player excesses. It is felt
that the time has come for Dyer to prove he can still perform or face being
offered a severance package. Midfielder Dyer, 31, has made just 18
appearances since a £6million move from Newcastle 2½-years ago. The former
England player is on £60,000 a week and each outing has effectively cost the
club around £460,000. Dyer has 18 months of his contract to run but a
verdict on his future is expected in three weeks. This season every time
Dyer has returned to action he has rapidly broken down again. If the player
was paid up until the end of the season then an insurance package could save
the club £2m. Only two months ago striker Dean Ashton was forced to accept a
retirement deal after losing a two-year battle against crippling injury.
West Ham's owners have already revealed a tough streak by suspending
£20,000-a-week defender Calum Davenport's wages. Although the player is back
in training after a stabbing incident, he faces assault charges. The PFA and
Premier League are currently investigating if West Ham are in the right to
have stopped paying the player prior to a court case. Behind the scenes the
cost cutting continues with the departure of chief executive Scott Duxbury
last week. Technical director Gianluca Nani is set to follow out of the door
next week. Meanwhile, West Ham continue to chase at least one more striker
before tomorrow's transfer deadline having set up the signing of Benni
McCarthy from Blackburn last week. Stoke's Dave Kitson and James Beattie are
now on their radar as well as former Spurs striker Mido but they still hope
to beat Sunderland for the services of Manchester City's Benjani.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
HAMMERS ATTEMPT TO LAND HUTTON
News Of The World
By Marc Isaacs, 30/01/2010

WEST HAM hope to seal a loan move for Tottenham defender Alan Hutton.
Hutton, 25, has failed to cement a regular first-team place and is desperate
to get his career back on track. The Hammers failed to bring in a
replacement for Lucas Neill when he left the club last summer and Julien
Faubert has been playing out of position at right back.
Gianfranco Zola has money at his disposal to bring in new faces and is
hoping to agree a move for Hutton before the transfer window closes on
Monday. Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp admits he is willing to let the
Scotland international go on loan to another Premier League club. Spurs boss
Harry Redknapp said: "Alan is a good player and he needs to play. So if he
wanted to go out, it's something that could happen. "I have had one or two
people ask about Alan. "Up until now, I have said I don't want to loan him
but, if he really wants to, I wouldn't stand in his way." The two clubs fell
out over Eidur Gudjohnsen but could still do business.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Saturday, January 30

Daily WHUFC News - II 30th January 2010

Youth Cup date set
WHUFC.com
The date for the FA Youth Cup fifth-round tie with Newcastle United has been
confirmed
30.01.2010

The FA Youth Cup tie with Newcastle United at the Boleyn Ground has been set
for Wednesday 3 February with ticket prices mirroring those in the fourth
round. Adult tickets will cost £3 and juniors £1, with all tickets being
sold from the cash turnstiles on the night. Entrance to the Boleyn Ground
will be through the West Stand lower only. The Hammers won through to the
last-16 for the first time since 2006 by beating Queens Park Rangers 3-0.
Colombia-born Cristian Montano scored a brace, while England Under-17
striker Robert Hall got the other. West Ham have won the FA Youth Cup three
times since its inception in 1953, lifting the trophy in 1963, 1981 and
1999, when the Hammers secured a record 9-0 aggregative victory over
Coventry City in the final. Newcastle United reached the fifth round
courtesy of a 3-1 victory at Reading on 13 January. The match will kick-off
at 7pm with cash turnstiles opening an hour before kick-off. Fans are
advised to arrive in plenty of time to get tickets before the start of the
game.

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Hines working hard
WHUFC.com
He may be facing a lay-off but Zavon Hines is refusing to be too downbeat as
he works on his rehab
29.01.2010

Zavon Hines is determined to come back stronger after undergoing surgery on
a knee injury. The England Under-21 striker has not played since the 5
December visit of Manchester United because of his injury and has now
undergone an operation that will probably keep him out for the rest of the
season. Hines has already begun his rehab work and is focused fully on
returning as soon as possible. He said: "The operation went well. I was told
to rest first of all and now I am able to do a few small things like
strengthening work, just do things slowly and at a steady pace. Take it day
by day. "It is nice to get the operation over and done with and now I am
just looking to work as hard as I can to get back. It is important I take it
one thing at a time. "I feel I am doing well, the staff at West Ham will
help me do what I have to do. The most important thing is doing everything
right, so I don't get any other problems and can come back even stronger
than before. "There is no pressure on me with a target for coming back,
which is good as it means I can just get on with my rehab work and work
hard, concentrating on what I have to do day by day. Obviously I want to be
playing, but I know I have to do all my rehab work properly and it will be
as long as it takes really."
Still only 21, Hines had enjoyed a strong start to the season, making 15
appearances in total and more than contributing to the cause. He plans to
cheer on his team-mates for the rest of the season although acknowledges
that his work at Chadwell Heath will have to come first. "I will come to
games when I can, it all depends on what work I have to do," he said. "I had
a good start to the season and enjoyed getting in the first team. Obviously
with players back and any new additions to the squad that means more
competition for places, but that is fine. "It just makes you want to work
even harder, it is also a good thing all round for the club as well. For
now, I am just concentrating on what I have to do and making sure that when
I get back, I am raring to go."
Gianfranco Zola has also wished his young forward well. "It is a real pity
for us to have lost Zavon," he said. "He was doing very well and giving us
some freshness, something different. "I think his rehab is going very well
and hopefully he will be back as soon as he can. He is a player that can
give us satisfaction for the future. He is still young and hopefully his
recovery will go well."

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Get shirty for under a tenner
WHUFC.com
The club stores are offering official replica shirts for just £9.99
30.01.2010

With 16 vital Barclays Premier League games still to go, the West Ham United
club stores are offering you the chance to get your hands on the official
2009/10 replica shirt for under a tenner. Both the Lakeside and Stadium Club
Stores have a limited number of home and away shirts on sale for just £9.99.
This superb offer covers adults and kids' shirts and is available at both
stores today. What is more, if you are looking to kit out your football team
out in the Hammers colours, you can get eleven home or away shirts for
£99.99. There are also savings of up to 50 per cent off selected other lines
across the stores.

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Gold: McCarthy announcement imminent
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 30th January 2010
By: Staff Writer

David Gold has revealed that Benni McCarthy's arrival at West Ham is set to
be confirmed later today. Gold, speaking to the BBC's Football Focus this
lunchtime ahead of the clash with McCarthy's former club Birmingham, said:
"It's very close; hopefully we should hear more this afternoon." On other
possible arrivals, Gold added: "We set out at the very beginning targetting
four or five players, knowing that at least we'd get one. "But we were
always hoping for two and that still might be the case. But we are running
out of time."
Gold also backed comments made by Gianfranco Zola in yesterday's pre-match
press conference criticising Eidur Gudjohnsen for rejecting a move to West
Ham. "That was very disapppinting, it was quite upsetting," said Gold, who
is rumoured to have sent Gudjohnsen's new club Tottenham a bill for putting
up the Icelandic international and his entourage during their stay in London
at West Ham's considerable expense last week.

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David Gold on Alex McLeish and Matthew Upson
Jan 30 2010 By Colin Tattum
BirminghamMail.net

DAVID Gold has reflected on Matthew Upson's controversial Blues departure,
having been reunited with the England defender at West Ham. Former Blues
owners Gold and David Sullivan are back in the Premier League and proving
that their brief break from the game hasn't dampened their colourful and
forthright opinions. Follow Birmingham City v Tottenham live with Colin
Tattum from 2.30pm - click here to join in Along with Karren Brady, now
vice-chairman at Upton Park, the former St Andrew's supremos have already
blasted 'Mr Egghead' for West Ham's financial mess, made a karma warning
towards Spurs over the transfer of Eidur Gudjohnsen and suggested a barmy
name change. It's as if the entertaining trio never went away. So it was
always inevitable that the subject of a certain Mr Upson would be addressed.
Upson left Blues for West Ham on the final day of the 2007 January transfer
window for an initial fee of £6 million. However, it certainly wasn't an
amicable exit. Despite his public defiance, former boss Steve Bruce was made
to look silly when Upson was sold behind his back. While, by that stage, the
player himself was eager to leave having grown frustrated with certain
aspects of the club. Now, having returned to his East London roots, Gold has
spoken about the centre-half's departure from Blues under a cloud three
years ago and insisted that it was a win-win situation for all involved.
"It's great to see my old player, Matthew Upson, back fit and raring to go,"
said Gold, who has also hinted that he is willing to offer the player a new
contract once West Ham's finances are sorted. "He was pleased to see me as I
suppose we were both winners (from the move to West Ham). He got a great
deal and went to a super club in West Ham, it's undeniable that it was a
bigger club and it enhanced his reputation and chance to play for England.
"All of that was great and, of course, we got great money for the deal."
Gold has also risked the wrath of his Chinese successors at St Andrew's, and
added extra spice to Blues' trip to Upton Park in 11 days' time, by
reiterating his belief that Alex McLeish will be snapped up by a top Premier
League club. The 73-year-old continued: "Yes, I think he (McLeish) will
eventually be a top-four manager. We all know that it's all about timing but
if the moment is right, I promise you that he will end up at one of the big
clubs." On the subject of McLeish's recent handy work in guiding Blues into
the top half of the Premier League, Gold added: "It's great that their
fantastic unbeaten run came with the players that myself and David Sullivan
had helped bring to the club. "I'm glad to see that I've left Birmingham
City after almost 17 years with the club doing so well."

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West Ham boss Zola: Injury wrecked Jimenez chance
30.01.10 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola says injury thwarted Luis Jimenez's
chances at Upton Park. The on-loan Inter Milan attacker has left the Hammers
to sign with Parma.
Zola told whufc.com: "We wish Luis Jimenez all the success. It is very
unfortunate that he didn't have the satisfaction here with us that we were
expecting. Jimmy is a good player and he was unlucky that when his form was
picking up, he got injured. "That didn't allow him to get the rhythm of the
English game and accustomed to this championship. He is a wonderful boy and
it was a pleasure to have him. We all wish him well for the future."

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West Ham prospect Nouble delighted with personal progress
30.01.10 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United teenager Frank Nouble says he's surprised himself by his
progress this season. A free transfer from Chelsea, Nouble has found himself
leading the Hammers line this season. "I've done a lot of one-on-one
sessions with the manager, which is good," Nouble told West Ham's matchday
programme. "When the manager shows an interest in you, you always feel
positive. I've also been watching videos with him after training of myself
and top players like Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres. He played in my
position and is a legend and a great player, and I love having people like
him around me. "When the manager is talking to me personally, he talks about
me concentrating on what I can improve on. If there is stuff that I can work
on in training and then apply them in a game, then the manager wants me to
do that - technical aspects, heading and stuff like that. You've got to play
without fear and want to try to do things."

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West Ham boss Zola confident of big things from new signing McCarthy
30.01.10 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola has no doubts former Blackburn Rovers
striker Benni McCarthy will deliver. Despite McCarthy's lack of Premier
League action - only seven starts all campaign - Zola is convinced he can
rouse the forward to a season-saving display for the Hammers and book his
ticket to the World Cup. Zola said: "It shouldn't be a big problem. The
quality is there, that's what we are looking for. The rest is down to me and
my staff to get the best out of him. I have no worries about that. He is
determined to do well, to prove himself, and that is a great assurance for
us."
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has been scathing about the player's failure
to turn up for training and Zola said: "I understand Benni and Sam have
different opinions. I don't know the reasons and I don't want to know. "But
I think I know Blackburn wanted to sell him - that's the bottom line. If
Benni McCarthy is leaving it is probably because he wasn't playing there and
didn't feel appreciated. That's probably the reason why he is leaving. It
doesn't mean I want to get involved in the row between the two. "I will help
him very much to get to the World Cup. We are going to give him the chance
because if I help him, he will help us. He has the qualities to be a World
Cup player and to give West Ham a big boost. So we will co-operate with
this."

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West Ham boss Zola saddened by Duxbury resignation
30.01.10 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola is disappointed by Scott Duxbury's
resignation yesterday. Zola revealed his regret at the departure of chief
executive Duxbury, who brought the little Italian to Upton Park in September
2008 as the replacement for Alan Curbishley. Zola said: "We were expecting
changes. I'm more sad than surprised."
Though Zola has lost an ally, he insisted that his passion for the club and
the players remains strong, saying: "I'll keep my commitment and do my best
to get the team safe. That is my target and my priority."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 30th January 2010

Zola looking for Rovers returns
WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola could have Herita Ilunga, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole back
for the visit of Blackburn Rovers
29.01.2010


Gianfranco Zola wants West Ham United to make a winning return to home soil
after a couple of tricky away games got their 2010 Barclays Premier League
schedule underway.
Zola's side play host to Sam Allardyce's Blackburn Rovers on Saturday hoping
to maintain their unbeaten league start to the calendar year, following
draws at Aston Villa and Portsmouth. The task of picking up a sixth win in
eight league matches against Rovers could be made easier by the return of
Herita Ilunga and Scott Parker to his matchday squad. "Those two games were
two games people were afraid of. The first one especially against Villa was
a difficult one and the second one at Portsmouth was one of those games you
couldn't lose. "We did very well considering we had a few problems and it's
a pity we didn't have more than one point. It's a kind of positiveness that
is growing up with this team. We are getting stability on the pitch and off
it. We have some players who are coming back from injuries who will give us
an extra help."
Rovers have lost on their last ten visits to the Boleyn Ground and their
attempts to make it eleventh-time lucky could be harmed by Carlton Cole's
push for a place in the starting XI following his successful return from
injury at Portsmouth. "Carlton came on for 20 minutes the other day and
looked very good and hopefully on Saturday he will play more than that. It
is good that things are coming together and hopefully we will be pushing up
soon. "I haven't decided yet on whether he will start and I wouldn't say as
I don't want to give Big Sam any advantages! We will see what to do on
Saturday."
Zola is aware of the threat the Blackburn possess, however, and will be all
too aware that they will be going for their third consecutive Premier League
win. "They are tough opponents and they work very hard. They will be
fighting and I am expecting a difficult game. In the Premier League it is
always the same story. "You go to Portsmouth and you have to fight hard to
get something from the game. I am expecting the same on Saturday."
Should Cole not quite be ready for a full 90 minutes, then the West Ham
manager knows he can call on Frank Nouble once more, who has offered a
pleasant "surprise" with his efforts in a lone-striking role. "I see Frank
Nouble doing very well. He has played the last two games and has got better
and better and that is a good option for me. "It is quite surprising as
nobody expected him to do such a good job. We are considering it but have
not decided yet."
Saturday starts a run of five consecutive fixtures against teams from
outside the top eight, and a win for the Hammers could potentially lift them
up to 13th in the Premier League table. A trip to Blackburn's Lancashire
neighbours Burnley follows and Zola knows two positive results could have a
major impact on the outlook for the rest of the season. "When you are at the
bottom, it is quite difficult. The table is quite close so if you pick up a
couple of victories in the next few games then maybe you find yourself in
the middle of the table. "That position is good as I could find myself in
the middle of the table with two victories. It will be down to focus and
getting a couple of results and will form a positive cycle."
The West Ham United manger, who wished former CEO Scott Duxbury well
following his departure from the club, has formed a strong bond with the
club's new chairmen and is only looking forward with optimism. "I have a
commitment to the club and the players. I love the club and the players that
I am working with, so I will keep my commitment to get this team safe. That
is my target and priority. "I am getting on with the new owners very well.
They have their own mentality and their own way to work. They are respecting
my wishes, they are close to me and that is the perfect way. We are all
working trying to make this club successful and we are on the right way."
Zola also confirmed that Luis Jimenez was set to return to Italy and a deal
for South Africa striker Benni McCarthy is "very close". "The biggest thing
is that we are not selling anybody. All the best players are here and we
have players coming back from injury and that is the best buy for the club.
It is great news for us."
When asked about interest in former team-mate Eidur Gudjohnsen, who had been
linked with a move to the Boleyn Ground before his Friday switch to
Tottenham Hotspur, Zola explained that he expects people to behave in the
same way as he does. "I keep saying that when I am dealing with people I
expect that people in front of me to behave in a certain way - with respect.
That wasn't the case so we move on. We have a lot of things that we can
achieve and we can achieve them anyway."

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Jimenez departs
WHUFC.com
Luis Jimenez has gone back to Italy and looks set to leave Internazionale
for a new loan spell at Parma
29.01.2010

Luis Jimenez looks set to join Parma after his six-month loan from Serie A
rivals Internazionale ended on Friday night. Jimenez headed back to Milan on
Wednesday after saying his farewells to his Hammers team-mates after Tuesday
night's 1-1 draw at Portsmouth, where he was an unused substitute. The
25-year-old looks set to move on immediately to Parma, after they expressed
an interest in taking him on loan for the rest of the seaon. The Chilean
midfielder had joined West Ham on a season-long deal back in July and made
his full debut the following month in the first Premier League game of the
season at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He went on to make seven starts for the
club, with five appearances from the bench. He scored from the penalty spot
in the 5-3 victory against Burnley in November. Gianfranco Zola said: "We
wish Luis Jimenez all the success. It is very unfortunate that he didn't
have the satisfication here with us that we were expecting. Jimmy is a good
player and he was unlucky that when his form was picking up, he got injured.
"That didn't allow him to get the rhythm of the English game and accustomed
to this championship. He is a wonderful boy and it was a pleasure to have
him. We all wish him well for the future."

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U18s postponed
WHUFC.com
The Under-18s' game with Charlton has been postponed
29.01.2010

West Ham United's Under-18s' game with Charlton Athletic scheduled for
Saturday 30 January has been postponed. Tony Carr's side will now next be in
action in Wednesday night's Boleyn Ground FA Youth Cup tie with Newcastle
United. whufc.com will have details or the rearranged dated for the Charlton
fixture once they are confirmed.

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Fernandes courted by seven clubs
By Frank Keogh
BBC.co.uk

Seven clubs have asked businessman Tony Fernandes to consider a takeover
after he failed to seize control at West Ham. Three Premier League sides are
among those to have contacted the Malaysian millionaire after he lost out to
David Gold and David Sullivan at Upton Park. But Fernandes is unlikely to
invest in any club, including the Hammers.
"I love West Ham but there's clearly got to be one boss and I am not
considering being a minor partner," the Lotus F1 team boss told BBC Sport.
Fernandes, a supporter for 35 years, said he would find it difficult to own
another club. "It's hard. I kind of love West Ham very much and I can't
imagine supporting anyone else," he said in his first interview since Gold
and Sullivan took charge on 19 January. "I've been approached in the past
anyway, but the West Ham news has probably pushed me to the front in terms
of ownership."
Along with the two Davids, finance firm Intermarket and Italian Massimo
Cellini, the 45-year-old Fernandes was one of four parties interested in
owning West Ham. He said he offered fresh ideas and complete backing for
manager Gianfranco Zola and assistant Steve Clarke. "I don't want to say
too much right now as I still may use those ideas at another club," said
Fernandes. "I've been offered many clubs in the last week."
He said seven clubs in total had been offered to him, including three in the
Premier League. One of these is thought to be cash-strapped Portsmouth,
although he declined to give identities. Fernandes thought he was on the
brink of sealing a deal for West Ham and flew his business partner in from
Kuala Lumpur as negotiations continued late into the night of Monday, 18
January. "We were looking to take Zola out on the Tuesday and they suddenly
called us and said 'we've sold'," he said. "My partner, poor guy, got off a
13-hour flight and did a turnaround. He was in the UK for an hour."
The stumbling block appeared to be that Fernandes was seeking 100%
ownership, while Gold and Sullivan offered a controlling 50%. "I think we
just ran out of time. I wanted to be in total control of the club," said
Fernandes, who is based in Malaysia but makes regular trips to Lotus HQ in
Norfolk. "I think they were just unsure whether I would complete in the
expected time. "We were in a bit of shock, to be honest. We thought we had
it. I was pretty confident they would go with us."
After taking over, Sullivan revealed West Ham had run up debts of £110m.
Cost-cutting is expected at the east London club and chief executive Scott
Duxbury announced his resignation on Friday. "We would have removed a lot of
the debt and given the club a new lease of life," said Fernandes, who said
he had been boosted by an estimated 10,000 messages of support from West Ham
fans. "I talked to Scott about that already and to Nick (Igoe), the
financial director, and certainly savings were on the cards."
Fernandes said he had been relishing the prospect of working with Zola, who
guided West Ham to ninth in the Premier League in his first season but sees
his side flirting with the relegation zone this campaign. "I've got very
close with the management, the players and the coaching staff over the last
year, and I'm a big believer in Zola and I'm a big believer in giving people
a chance," he said.
Sullivan and Gold have a four-year option to buy the remaining 50% from
Icelandic bank Straumur, although they have urged Fernandes to invest in the
club. While not ruling out being involved at some stage, Fernandes said it
was unlikely in the short-term. "We've talked on the phone and SMS'd (sent
text messages) a few times, but it hasn't really progressed from there. I
think it would be a long shot to be honest but let's see - never say never,"
he said. "You've got to be totally aligned with someone to be a partner. "Of
course, it would be a fantastic thing to be involved with West Ham, and I
never close any doors."
Fernandes said he would have developed West Ham gradually, altered admission
prices, investigated the benefits of moving from Upton Park to the new
Olympic Stadium and introduced global marketing and cross-promotion of the
West Ham and Lotus brands. After what he called "phenomenal diligence", he
admitted to being surprised at the extent of the club's financial turmoil.
"It's very typical of current financial excesses. There were some player
transactions that looked very odd to me," he said. In recent years, he has
been to an average of about 10 West Ham games a season, but admitted he will
find it difficult to attend his next match. "It would feel a bit odd going
there at the moment, when you come so close to owning a club," he said. "I
came there to see a club which was not in a great position. "My expertise is
to take an asset which is not being treated very well, to give it some love
and care, and move it on."
Under the new owners, Fernandes believes the club he calls an "unpolished
diamond" can still sparkle. "The squad needs strengthening up front, but has
a fantastic midfield," he said. "It's a good squad. The new owners must
believe in the squad, and it will perform. There's no need to chop and
change too many things and to start panicking."
And he expects the days of Premier League big spending to be curtailed in
the near future. "Like Formula One, there needs to be a reality check,
eventually even the billionaires need a reality check," he added.

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Zola unhappy with Gudjohnsen
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 29th January 2010
By: Staff Writer

Gianfranco Zola has expressed his disappointment at Eidur Gudjohnsen's
decision to reject a move to West Ham United. The Icelandic international
completed a loan move to neighbours Tottenham this morning - four days after
undergoing a medical with the Irons ahead of a proposed move. Zola, clearly
disappointed by his former team-mate's decision has instead managed to land
Blackburn's Benni McCarthy - although still found time to criticise
Gudjohnsen for messing him around during this morning's pre-match press
conference. "I'm not very happy about it," he said. "I thought the deal was
going through and that is why I am disappointed. I was expecting something
different from the player, if I am honest, but it's okay. That's football
and sometimes you have to accept things like this. "It's time to look
forward now and I will get on with it as I always do - but I am not the
happiest man in the world about what happened. I don't want to say any more
though, it's not worth it."
Unsurprisingly Spurs boss Harry Redknapp - who is off to court shortly to
answer charges of tax evasion - insisted that he and his club had done
everything by the book. "Before West Ham's takeover we were hot on the trail
of Eidur," he said. "This is his decision. "I get on well with David
Sullivan and I wouldn't have wanted Eidur to fall out with Zola and Clarke,
but Eidur called me back and told me it was his decision. He wanted to come
to Tottenham."
On the capture of McCarthy - who will not be available to start against his
former club Blackburn at the Boleyn tomorrow - Zola added: "He's a quality
player, a good goalscorer and also very good at linking the play. He was one
of our main targets and it is good that the club has been able to sign him."

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Zola hits out at Gudjohnsen
Hammers boss believes former team-mate did not act with respect
Last updated: 29th January 2010
SSN

Gianfranco Zola has hit out at former team-mate Eidur Gudjohnsen, accusing
him of a lack of respect. The West Ham boss thought he had secured the
31-year-old's signature this week but Spurs swooped late to sign the player.
Gudjohnsen is believed to have agreed terms on a loan move to Upton Park and
undergone a medical, and Zola is upset by the actions of his former
team-mate, whom he played alongside between 2000 and 2003 at Chelsea. Zola
said: "I am disappointed with Spurs and disappointed with Gudjohnsen. I was
expecting good behaviour from him. "They keep telling me that football has
got like this right now and I keep saying that when I'm dealing with people,
I always expect for the people that I have got in front me to behave in a
certain way - with respect. "Okay, that wasn't the case here. But we move
on. We have a lot of things to achieve here this season and we can still
achieve them anyway."
Zola has made the signing of at least one striker his priority as the
January transfer window draws to a close. He says the club are closing in on
signing Benni McCarthy from Blackburn, but remained tight-lipped on other
targets, such as Egypt striker Mido. Commenting on the move for McCarthy,
Zola said: "The deal is not done yet but it's very close.
"He is a player who will fit in with our philosophy very much. Hopefully it
will be all right." He added: "Mido and others are names that are
circulating but as far as I'm concerned, Benni is the only one close to us.
"He's the only one I want to talk about. I am sure the club will be linked
to many names but Benni is the real target for us."
The Hammers have lost just one of their last five league games to move up to
fifth from bottom in the top-flight and Zola believes the club are now
getting stability both on and off the pitch after the takeover by David
Sullivan and David Gold. He added: "This team is getting a kind of
possessiveness and we are getting stability on and off the pitch, which is
good news. "The owners have their own mentality, their own way of working,
but they are respecting my wishes. "They are working close to me and that is
the best way. We're all working to make this club successful." Zola also
confirmed forward Luis Jimenez is set to leave the club and return to
Italian football.

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Redknapp - Eidur chose Spurs
Spurs boss denies any wrongdoing over transfer
By James Riach Last updated: 29th January 2010
SSN

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has denied pinching Eidur Gudjohnsen from
under the nose of West Ham. The 31-year-old forward's move to White Hart
Lane was confirmed on Friday, despite the Iceland international having had a
medical with the Hammers earlier in the week. Gudjohnsen moves to North
London on loan from Monaco until the end of the season, making him the fifth
striker in Spurs' first-team squad alongside Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch,
Robbie Keane and Roman Pavlyuchenko. But Redknapp insists he put no pressure
on the former Bolton, Chelsea and Barcelona star when he was considering his
next step. "He's joined us and he's a player we've always admired," he said.
"He's a player we have been chasing for a couple of weeks. "West Ham came in
but before the takeover we were hot on the trail of Eidur and had contact
with his people.
"He can play several positions. He's a fantastic footballer, a clever
footballer."
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has already expressed his disappointment at
how Spurs handled themselves in the transfer market, although Redknapp
denies any wrongdoing. He added: "It was his decision. I rang him. I left a
message saying 'Eidur, if you are down the road with West Ham, (manager,
Gianfranco) Zola and (assistant) Steve Clarke are friends of yours. Don't
fall out with them.' I get on great with David Sullivan and I don't want any
hassle with him either. "But he (Eidur) came back and said 'It's my choice.
I want to come to Tottenham.' "He can play several positions. He had a great
spell in midfield with Chelsea. "He gives you options with your system. You
don't play at Barcelona and in the Champions League unless you are a top
player."

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Eider let us down
The Sun

WEST HAM will hit Tottenham with a £5,000 bill as the war over Eidur
Gudjohnsen rages on. The furious Hammers want their money back for putting
up the 31-year-old striker in a plush London hotel and paying for a medical
before he snubbed them for a last-minute move to Spurs. Boss Gianfranco Zola
was fuming at his his former Chelsea team-mate. He declared: "I was
disappointed with Eidur and Spurs. I expect people to behave with respect.
He didn't. "I wasn't expecting this to happen. "I am 'bitter and twisted' I
think you say in England. "Spurs are doing their job, I guess. With four
strikers they obviously need another, though I don't know why. I was
expecting Eidur to come to us. But I don't want to have a war with him."
West Ham's new co-owner David Sullivan said: "We didn't just put the player
up in a hotel, it was his whole entourage. "It's an issue of morality. I
suppose Tottenham have not broken any rules but to kick a team when it is
down is not sporting in my mind. "We're fed up of being pushed around and
paying for everything, so we're sending them a bill."
At least Benni McCarthy will sign a 2½-year Hammers deal on Monday, after
the FA gave the OK to his visa. Blackburn will collect a transfer fee of
around £2.25million.

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Karren Brady's Football Diary
The Sun
KARREN BRADY - First lady of football

THE first lady of football and new vice-chair of West Ham casts an admiring
glance back at former club Birmingham, talks Cup shocks and 'private'
phonecalls, laments diving and double standards and eyes a silver lining to
the clouds surrounding the Hammers and fellow crisis club Crystal Palace.

Saturday, January 23
IT'S still Christmas in Brum - as every face I see seems to be smiling.
Villa and Blues are now in the FA Cup fifth round and both are chasing a
top-six place in the Premier League. I expected Villa but Blues? Had someone
suggested that they'd go 15 matches unbeaten, I'd have called for brain
tests. The win at Everton is terrific and surely it was further evidence of
one of football's greatest truths: find your best team and stick to it.
Seven Blues players have played 18 or more games this season and Alex
McLeish has been able to name his first-choice squad for half their matches
at least, pointing to his other secret. He must have been blessed by the
patron saint of medicine, St Luke, he's had so few injured players. Rotation
blowtation, I say. Keep a winning team.

Sunday, January 24
LONG time since three of the Big Four went out at this stage of the Cup and
the risk taken by Arsene Wenger in picking a weakened team at Stoke is
underlined by a 3-1 defeat and compounded by a draw at Villa. Gently
pondering on this, I take a call from an ageing Premier League director who
feels he is enough of a friend to ask my advice on penis surgery. Honestly,
don't ask! But what the heck, I'm more worried about my bunions. Still, the
poor chap sounds as if he needs help so I give him the details of a
Championship chairman who is a cosmetic surgeon. I insist he doesn't say
"Karren Brady sent me!"

Monday, January 25
REAL MADRID'S Ronaldo says that when he was in England he was taught not to
cheat by diving. This must confirm stories about the decline in our
standards of education because he should have an A-star A-level in it. If
you think Ronaldo is a bit cheeky, take this from Peterborough chairman
Darragh MacAnthony, who says: "Team spirit from the last two years has
nearly been destroyed by greed, skullduggery, tapping-up and disloyalty from
within." His flashing blade is blunted by the fact he has been condemned as
a property businessman in Cyprus by a tribunal that reported "misleading
business practices and unfulfilled promises" - so he knows what he's talking
about.

Tuesday, January 26
WEST HAM draw 1-1 at Portsmouth and it could be worse. We could be Crystal
Palace. Free-scoring teams are seldom relegated and that's why we are
looking for a striker who can provide a consistent threat alongside Carlton
Cole. But this isn't as easy as it seems when your club is at the foot of
the table. Palace have serious financial problems and today are forced into
administration, losing 10 points in the process. Suddenly for them, outside
hopes of promotion become a battle against relegation. While it's true that
Palace owner Simon Jordan and our directors fell out long ago, he has lost a
fortune on the club he loves and has my respect for his scorching integrity.
Something else: if there is one boss I'd want when the boat is holed and the
water pumps have failed, he has him in Neil Warnock.

Wednesday, January 27
MY suspicion is that Jordan has not realised until far too late that all's
fair in love and football. Take the case of Eidur Gudjohnsen. Yesterday he
had a medical, settled terms and we put him up in a hotel before signing him
from Monaco today. Then I get a call that he could be going to Spurs
instead. So I call their chairman Daniel Levy on instant ring-back. Daniel
always does, because we're friends. Except that this time he doesn't and the
sound of silence speaks volumes. I then call the Icelander's agent who tells
me that if Spurs' offer isn't good enough 'We will call you back'. Very kind
of him. Is Daniel my brother any longer? Hello, Daniel, are you there?

Thursday, January 28
NOW here's a way to improve football finance if the idea catches on. In
China, it's reported that players have paid to play in games, as much as
£18,000 to turn out in one team. We have all watched matches when this fraud
seems more than credible but I can't see a collection by the Red Lion bar
clientele to pay for Fat Freddie's place in Chelsea's midfield actually
working.
Back in the real world, when Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger criticises other
teams, as he did after the 0-0 draw at Villa, does he mean to be offensive?
Villa manager Martin O'Neill thinks so, describing Wenger's comment that his
opponents used "a very long-ball game" as "an appalling insult." Sometimes
there's more fun in the Press conference than on the field.

Friday, January 29
I'M beginning to feel there's something special about my new club and the
staff who work there. West Ham people are family in a know-what-I-mean way
that has to be unique. This is London's working class club. I'm not a good
sleeper and sometimes get up in the night and send emails to staff. At 4am
on Sunday morning I was surprised to have one back. I ask him why he isn't
asleep. "I live at the club," he said. I've met that sort of dedication
before so I'm very positive about the future at Upton Park.

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Scott McDonald may join Celtic Park exodusGraham Spiers
The tImes
McDonald is the top scorer at Celtic this season

Celtic are willing to accept £3.5 million from West Ham United if Scott
McDonald, the striker, decides, as seems likely, that he wishes to follow
Danny Fox and Stephen McManus out of the Celtic Park door before the January
transfer window closes on Monday. The deals to take McManus on loan to
Middlesbrough and Fox to Burnley for a fee of £2 million were both concluded
yesterday, while Tony Mowbray, the Celtic manager, fended off further
questions about his job security. Mowbray is poised to sign two new players
before the window closes. Asked about the likelihood of landing more players
to add to the four he has already signed this month, Mowbray said: "I think
so, I hope so. We are working hard behind the scenes and things are pretty
close now in one or two cases."
When questioned about McDonald's place at his club, the Celtic manager was
forced to deny that a rift had developed between himself and the Australia
striker. Yet Mowbray did concede that McDonald could leave. "Do I want Scott
McDonald here? Yes, because he is our top goalscorer," Mowbray said. "There
have never been cross words between me and Scott. I don't think he has ever
felt unappreciated here with me. But I think he knows what his strengths and
weaknesses are as a player. "Scott and I get on fine, but he understands
what my job is — it is to try to build a squad. If Scott is still here next
week, I'll be delighted. If he is not, then I hope there will be reasons for
that which will become evident."
Mowbray insisted that, as peculiar as the sale of Fox is after he bought the
player just six months ago, the money raised will help him to sign two new
players. "When I first arrived at Celtic there were some very obvious holes
that needed filling, and I tried to do that quickly," he said. "Danny has
done well for Celtic, yet now I find myself prioritising, and the money I
receive for Danny will be spent elsewhere to strengthen the team."

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Gianfranco Zola 'bitter' as Eidur Gudjohnsen joins SpursGary Jacob
The Times

Gianfranco Zola could not hide his anger and disappointment yesterday after
he discovered that friendship means nothing in football. The West Ham United
manager believed that he had captured Eidur Gudjohnsen but was left stunned
by his former team-mate's decision to move on loan to Tottenham Hotspur from
Monaco until the end of the season.
Zola, normally so measured in his responses, was at a loss to explain why
Gudjohnsen chose to compete with as many as four other strikers at White
Hart Lane. The Iceland forward had completed a medical at Upton Park this
week and West Ham had agreed to pay part of his £100,000-a-week wages, an
offer that was broadly matched by Tottenham. "We are a little twisted,
turned and bitter," Zola said. "We are disappointed with Tottenham and
Gudjohnsen. I was expecting a different decision. I expect people in front
of me to behave in a certain way — with respect. "OK, that was not the
case, but we move on. I don't want to start a war with Eidur but I will be
honest in front of him. Our life does not depend on him. Spurs probably need
a striker more than us."
Zola expects Benni McCarthy's work permit issues to be resolved and rejected
accusations that the forward is past his best at 32. Sam Allardyce, the
Blackburn Rovers manager, has made reference to McCarthy's fitness and
fluctuating weight. "Benni didn't feel that he was appreciated," Zola said.
"He has qualities to give the club a boost."
Zola plans to meet David Gold and David Sullivan, the joint chairmen, in the
next month to suggest changes to and seek assurances on his backroom staff.
Sullivan has earmarked several areas to cut costs, including the medical
team. Scott Duxbury resigned as chief executive yesterday and Nick Igoe, the
finance director, and Gianluca Nani, the technical director, are expected to
depart. The changes may leave Zola exposed because the officials have been
his allies. "I am sad to see Scott go as I worked very well with him," Zola
said. "Hopefully there won't be too many cutbacks as the system is working
well. They [the chairmen] know that the players, management and people
concerned with the team are the main asset for a club. There are things I
want to change but we are talking about people still working here and I
don't want to put them in a difficult position."

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Rafa tracking West Ham defender
The Mirror

Liverpool are interested in West Ham youngster James Tomkins. Rafa Benitez
in particular has been monitoring the progress of the highly-rated
20-year-old, who was drafted into the Hammers youth academy after being
spotted playing for his local Sunday League side. The 6ft 3in central
defender made his debut two years ago in the club's 1-1 draw with Everton.
Although his mistake in that game allowed Yakubu to score, injuries in the
team allowed him to get a run in the side and Tomkins eventually claimed the
Young Hammer of the Year award. He was recalled from a loan spell last
season at Derby and handed a long-term contract extension after managing to
claim a regular first-team place in the West Ham side. He was recently named
Man of the Match by Sky Sports after the Hammers kept their first clean
sheet of the year away to Aston Villa on January 17.

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Upson ordered to sign new deal or leave West Ham
Published 23:00 29/01/10 By John Cross
The Mirror

West Ham captain Matt Upson has been told to sign a new deal - or be sold.
Upson, 30, has just 18 months left on his £60,000-a-week contract and West
Ham's new owners David Gold and David Sullivan do not want him running down
his contract and leaving on a free transfer. England defender Upson has
insisted he is committed to West Ham despite interest from Manchester City
and Tottenham but Gold and Sullivan are anxious to discover his intentions
in case any last minute offers come in.

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JULIAN DICKS : THE FANS HAVE WEST HAM BACK
Daily Express
Saturday January 30,2010
By John Dillon

DAVID SULLIVAN and David Gold are not the first to take the journey from
Birmingham City to make West Ham their proud cause. Julian Dicks took the
same trip in 1988, became an Iron-hard idol of the Boleyn Ground and once
was fined two weeks' wages for publicly lashing the directors for trying to
fleece the fans. As Upton Park prepares for the first home match since
Sullivan and Gold's takeover against Blackburn today, Dicks – The Terminator
– celebrates the idea that the people have their club back. Dicks is
scathing about the Icelandic bankers who took the Hammers close to ruin, but
also has bigger worries of his own, attempting to save from relegation the
non-League club which has become a mini-West Ham. In charge of Grays
Athletic, the struggling Blue Square Conference South team, Dicks has former
Hammer Kenny Brown as his assistant, John Moncur as the chairman and ev en
this week handed a debut on loan to Andrea Zola, son of West Ham manager
Gianfranco. The vice-chairman is renowned claret-and-blue blood Andy
Swallow. Surprisingly, Zola junior is a 19-year-old left-back rather than an
attacking sorcerer in the style of his brilliant father, but Dicks says: "He
has a great football brain and you can't teach that. It's in the genes. And
he can get stuck in and put himself about a bit, too. "He was in the
reserves at West Ham but he wants to play every week so he has come to us
for a while and looks impressive."
There is an irony in all these old Hammers being gathered together at Grays
to fight for survival on the pitch while the wider football community of
east London and Essex is breathing a big sigh of relief. Sullivan and Gold
are sure to get a fabulous welcome after their purchase of 50 per cent of
West Ham rescued the club from the anxious limbo-land of being held in stock
by a crumbling finance house in Reykjavik. Dicks, who played 262 times in
two spells as the most fearsome left-back in the game, is delighted that
after all the trouble, the boardroom has ended up in the hands of two shrewd
businessmen who support the club, bucking all the trends of the modern
Premier League. "Sullivan and Gold are real West Ham supporters and we know
that because they have been saying it for years, not just recently for
public consumption," said Dicks. "What did we have when the Icelandics were
in charge? Some bloke who came in and made a lot of noise, told everyone he
was a West Ham supporter and delivered nothing but trouble. I spent 11 years
with West Ham, the best part of my life. But last season I went back and
they wouldn't even let me in. It didn't feel like my club any more. "Yet the
supporters are fantastic. They are what West Ham are really about, and I'm
sure those fans are delighted that they've got their club back from the
brink in this way. "They are not daft there. They realise they're probably
never going to win the Premier League title, but they love a good cup run
and they love the club and that is very important. It was always a fantastic
place to play, even when I was with Birmingham. And the fans were so good to
me I get goosebumps just talking about it now. "I have to say, though, that
Upton Park has lost a bit of its atmosphere, which I guess is a sign of the
times. And I don't like the idea of any move to the Olympic stadium, either.
It just doesn't feel right."
What has happened at West Ham is important at a time when the supporters of
the biggest clubs in the land – Manchester United and Liverpool – are in
rebellion against their absent foreign ownerships.Today's match could be
seen as a celebration merely of the fact that a Premier League club has been
returned to the hands of Englishmen. There will be changes but the hope is
that there will be care for the soul of the club, too. Dicks has his own
special place in that folk history after famously speaking out against the
Bond Scheme the club attempted to introduce to finance a new stand. It
prompted protests and pitch invasions and was an early warning of the
trouble to come for fans everywhere, but it failed. "Basically, they were
asking people to pay £975 on top of ticket prices to watch rubbish
football," recalls Dicks. "I thought it was wrong and I said so."
Dicks is being just as uncompromising in the way he runs Grays, which has
had its own turbulent history, with many managerial changes, and slumped to
another big defeat, 4-1, in Zola junior's debut at Kidderminster Harriers
last Tuesday. "We're bringing in a lot of new players because basically, a
lot of those we had just didn't want to work hard enough," said Dicks. "It
was embarrassing sometimes, yet they were on good money. That's why we're
second from bottom. But now things are changing. We're going to make a fight
of it."

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West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers: Match Preview
KUMB.com

Filed: Friday, 29th January 2010
By: Preview Percy
We asked a number of highly respected football writers to give us their
views on this weekend's match. The fact that we've got Preview Percy again
should tell you how many responded....

Next we entertain Blackburn Rovers in a 3pm Saturday kick-off. Nice.

Rovers have had an undistinguished league season so far. They currently lie
in 11th place with 27 points from their 23 games so far which leaves them 5
places and 7 points ahead of us, though we do have a game in hand. Their
pre-Christmas form gave the Ewood faithful some cause for concern and they
went ten games without a win between beating Bolton 2-0 at the Reebok on 22
November and their defeat of Fulham at home on 17 January. Since then
they've gone on to beat Wigan 2-1 to ease any thoughts of relegation for the
time being.

Their season has, of course, been punctuated by their excursions into the
League Cup where their run came to an unceremonious end in that 6-4 defeat
at Villa Park. Sam Allardyce was, of course, fuming at the perceived
injustice of it all, blaming ref Martin Atkinson for failing to spot a push
in the build-up to Villa's first. Of course this is not unusual for
Allardyce who clearly played truant from charm school, and, in interviews,
he puts one in mind of Morrissey on tranquilisers, though I expect that
Allardyce writes better lyrics.

They're not the best of travellers it should be said. Of their seven wins
thus far only one has come on the road, that being the aforementioned win at
Bolton. Of their remaining ten away matches to date the have lost 8 and
drawn two, the draws coming at Wigan.

The visiting 'keeper this week is Paul Robinson whose promising early career
at Leeds took a down turn when he ended up at Spurs. His form has improved a
bit since moving north though on those occasions I've seen them on the box
there have often been some of those "moments" that were sadly all too
familiar to those of us who like to watch England.

In defence last time out they went with Frenchmen Gael Givet and Pascal
Chimbonda, Kiwi Ryan Nelsen and Swede Martin Olsson. In midfield they went
with the Australo-Franco-Norwegian combination of Emerton, Nzonzi and
Pedersen with Senegalese spitter Diouf, Croatian Kalinic and Canadian
Hoilett providing the strike force. Clearly the job of academy boss at Ewood
is not the most time consuming these days.

One player who won't be appearing for the opposition this week will be
Bennie (or Benedict to give him his full name) McCarthy. Of course he won't
be playing for us either, having not signed on the dotted line at the time
of writing. Allardyce put the delay down to a "work permit situation" – it
would appear that the system automatically rejects any South African
applications that don't contain the words "bar work" so they have to be
input manually. The delay is expected to be sorted out by the weekend which
will be conveniently too late for his inclusion to face his old club. Of
course Allardyce, being Allardyce, couldn't resist a dig at his soon to be
erstwhile employee, suggesting that McCarthy's move was purely about the
money. Yeah, right. After all who in their right mind would want to leave a
pure footballing side such as Blackburn what with them having such a
happy-go-lucky cheerful chappie in charge and all. Ah well there's no
accounting for taste is there Sam?

"And what of us?" I hear you ask. Well the new "Gold-en" era (sorry!)
started with a draw at Pompey that could well have been a win but for a bit
of profligacy in front of goal and a superb outing from their 'keeper who,
it appears, may be next on his way out from Fratton Park. Oh and an assault
on Tomkins that was missed by a referee standing three yards away, looking
straight at it. Tomkins appears to have recovered from the double vision
that the assault occasioned and he should be fit to partner Upson in the
defence.

Scott Parker faces a test on his hamstring, which will have Kovac looking
over his shoulder (if he can pull himself away from the mirror for long
enough. Herita Ilunga is also close to a return and, if fit, he is likely to
replace Spector at left back.

The most welcome sight though will probably be Carlton Cole who will, at the
very least, be on the bench, though some sources suggest that a start may be
on the cards this time round. If that is the case young Nouble will take
Carlton's place on the racing car seats.

This match is likely to represent something of a clash of styles. Who can
forget the long-ball assault up at Ewood last season? I don't particularly
have a problem with that as such – but then again I don't support Blackburn.
I'd have been more worried by Fat Sam's statistical analysis of that mach
which he used to prove that they were a passing side. The "analysis" came in
response to newspaper reports of the match which noted the home side's
reliance on hoofing it long. That'll be the London-centric press moaning
again eh Sam?

There are good reasons for optimism about the place at the moment. The
ownership situation has finally been resolved, this being the first home
match under the new ownership. The injury list is beginning to get shorter
and Cole's return will also give the place a boost. We're unbeaten in two
and, as mentioned, the visitors struggle a bit outside of Lancashire. So
this time out I'll predict a 3-1 win to us as we edge our way towards
mid-table respectability.

Enjoy the game!

Last season: Won 4-1 Goals from Davenport, Samba (og) and injury time
efforts from Cole and Bellamy saw us end up with a comfortable-looking
scoreline that owed much to Green's second half penalty save at 2-1

Referee: Peter Walton – did our home match against Man Utd. Didn't upset
Fergie which is all that matters really isn't it.

Danger Man: Nikola Kalinic – has taken a while to settle but two goals in
his last three games suggests that he may be coming into a spot of form.

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West Ham v BLACKBURN: Chris Samba back from suspension for trip to capital
By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 6:31 PM on 29th January 2010
Daily Mail

Blackburn's new signing Yildiray Basturk will not be in the squad for the
trip to West Ham as he is not match fit. Chris Samba returns from suspension
but David Dunn (calf) misses out. Midfielder Vince Grella is back in
training following a thigh strain but unlikely to be included in the squad.

Team (from): Robinson, Olsson, Chimbonda, Samba Nelsen, Salgado, Pedersen,
Givet, Nzonzi, Hoilett, Andrews, Emerton, Dunn, Di Santo, Diouf, Kalinic,
Jones, Brown, Reid, Roberts.

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola welcomes back midfielder Scott Parker and
left-back Herita Ilunga for the Barclays Premier League match against
Blackburn at Upton Park.
Both players have recovered from hamstring injuries and should return to the
starting line-up for the Hammers. Fit-again England striker Carlton Cole
could start after playing the last 17 minutes in the 1-1 draw with
Portsmouth in midweek but Danny Gabbidon, Guillermo Franco, Kieron Dyer (all
hamstring), Zavon Hines and Luis Boa Morte (both knee) again miss out.

Team (from): Green, Kurucz, Faubert, Da Costa, Upson, Tomkins, Daprela,
Spector, Ilunga, Kovac, Noble, Parker, Collison, Behrami, Payne, Diamanti,
Stanislas, Nouble, Sears, Cole.

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