WHUFC.com
There was good news for Valon Behrami and Matthew Upson ahead of the 2010
FIFA World Cup
06.06.2010
It is believed that the injury which forced Valon Behrami off the pitch
during Switzerland's 1-1 draw with Italy on Saturday will not prove to be
serious. Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has played down concerns over the
West Ham United midfielder's fitness after the 25-year-old suffered a
suspected groin injury shortly before the hour-mark in Geneva.
Behrami, who was earning his 27th cap, went close to scoring midway through
the first half, only to see his goalbound effort deflected over the crossbar
by Gianluca Zambrotta.
Hitzfeld is hopeful that the Hammers player will be ready for action when
the Swiss take on European champions Spain in their opening FIFA World Cup
Group H fixture on 16 June. "Behrami was playing very direct and looked
threatening. I hope it's not serious," said the German-born manager. "He
wanted to continue playing actually. It was the doctor who took him out."
Behrami will be desperate to be involved in South Africa after being
restricted to just two minutes of action at Germany 2006 by a knee injury.
There was also encouraging news from the England camp in Bafokeng, with
Matthew Upson set to return to full training on Monday after missing the
last two days with a high temperature. Fabio Capello's side take on the
local Platinum Stars side on Monday, and the West Ham centre-back will hope
to be involved at some stage, as will club-mate Robert Green. A Football
Association spokesman confirmed: "Matthew is feeling a lot better. He is
working in the gym today and will train tomorrow [Monday]."
England begin their World Cup challenge by facing Jonathan Spector's United
States in Rustenburg on Saturday.
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Stokes happy to be back
WHUFC.com
Academy graduate Tony Stokes is looking for a new club after returning from
a successful spell in Hungary
06.06.2010
Tony Stokes has led an interesting life since leaving West Ham United on
loan in February 2009. The 23-year-old Academy graduate, who made his sole
appearance for the Hammers in a League Cup win at Sheffield Wednesday in
September 2005, swapped London for the Hungarian capital, Budapest, 15
months ago. There, the former reserve-team captain turned out for 20-times
league champions Ujpest FC, initially joining the club on loan before making
his move permanent last summer. Stokes was handed the No6 shirt and quickly
became a regular starter under Scottish manager Willie McStay. However,
after more than 30 appearances in league and cup, the midfielder requested
to have his two-year contract terminated and return to England. While things
may not have worked out in the long-term, the Essex-born player enjoyed his
time in Hungary, helping Ujpest to qualify for the UEFA Europa League, where
he started both legs of the club's second qualifying round defeat by
Romanian giants Steaua Bucharest. "After I left West Ham last year, I went
on loan to the Hungarian team and it went really well. Then, when it came to
the end of the season, my contract had run out at West Ham and they wanted
to keep me. "They were playing in the Europa League, so that attracted me. I
ended up playing in both legs against Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League
last summer.
"We usually got crowds of between seven and eight thousand, but against
Steaua, we got 15,000 at home and then played in front of 25,000 in the
return leg in Romania. That was a great atmosphere to play in. "For our home
games, the supporters were just fantastic and the atmosphere was amazing.
They would do absolutely everything to get a win."
When Stokes arrived at Ujpest, he was able to spend time with Wolverhampton
Wanderers loanee and fellow English speaker Scott Malone. However, with
Malone gone, life became more difficult over the past few months. Despite
missing his friends including West Ham striker Freddie Sears - and family,
Stokes enjoyed his time in a country and with a club he knew nothing about
just two years ago. "It definitely made me grow up. I lived there on my own
and my family and girlfriend couldn't come over that much, so I had to do
everything myself. I grew up that way and it made me a better player as well
- I practised all the time and really enjoyed it out there. "The language
was too hard to learn. There are about 52 letters in the alphabet so I
didn't really know where to start. Luckily, the lads spoke enough English
for me to get by, and we had a couple of other British players last season,
which helped me to settle in."
Having returned home, Stokes was able to turn out for Tony Carr's Academy
All-Stars in the Academy Director's recent Testimonial. Now actively seeking
a new club, he is hoping it will not be the last time he turns out at the
Boleyn Ground. "I played regularly out in Hungary, and I had the No6 shirt,
which was a boost to my confidence. They all wished me luck when I left. I'm
now looking for another club in England and hopefully things will work out
for me. I think I've got a lot to offer, so I just want to show what I can
do at any level and take it from there."
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Dave on Tom
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 6th June 2010
By: Staff Writer
David Sullivan has hailed the arrival of Thomas Hitzlsperger, who signed a
three-year deal with the Hammers yesterday. The Hammers co-chairman, who is
understood to have played a key role in signing the former German
international - who is nicknamed 'Der Hammer' - told whufc.com: "I am
delighted to welcome Thomas to the club. We had to move quickly to secure
his services when he became available, especially as there was
understandably so much interest in him from around Europe and back in
Germany.
"I am especially pleased that he is excited by what we are trying to achieve
here at West Ham. Thomas is a top-quality player who I know the fans will
love - and not just because of his nickname. He is a whole-hearted
midfielder with an eye for a goal who gives everything in every match. "He
is the first of many signings this summer. We are going to sign a mixture of
exciting young talent as well as the very best senior pros who can add real
strength to the squad like Thomas. He is still a young man but has massive
experience."
Hitzlsperger joins Scott Parker, Jack Collison, Valon Behrami, Mark Noble
and Radoslav Kovac as established central midfielders at the club, which has
given rise to speculation regarding the futures of at least one or two.
23-year-old Noble has been linked with a £5million switch to Stoke City,
whilst Behrami continues to be linked with a return to Italy.
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The real reason Benni was axed
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 6th June 2010
By: Staff Writer
Benni McCarthy was axed from the South African World Cup squad after being
caught sneaking female guests back to his hotel room, according to fresh
reports. South African-based news24.com report this morning that the married
West Ham striker was omitted from the national squad not as a result of his
expanding waistline, as initially thought, but after being caught sneaking
unknown females back to his hotel room. Sources close to the squad are
understood to have reported McCarthy's antics to the local press, after CCTV
pictures showed him returning to his room with guests in tow at 4am on the
day following SOuth Africa's final pre-tournament friendly against Columbia.
Bafana manager Carlos Parreira is said to have been so incensed by the
revelation that he immediately axed McCarthy from his squad - along with
goalkeeper Rowen Fernandes, who is thought to have been in cahoots with the
United striker. Following the revelation that McCarthy had been ommitted
from the South African World Cup squad, West Ham are understood to have told
the 32-year-old that he must report back to Chadwell Heath ahead of the rest
of the squad to undertake a longer pre-season programme in order to regain
his fitness. Since joining from Blackburn in January, McCarthy had made just
two Premier League starts. He was later voted Worst Signing of 2009/10 by
readers of KUMB.com.
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Swiss upbeat over Behrami
Midfielder suffers groin injury in Italy draw
Last updated: 6th June 2010
SSN
Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is optimistic Valon Behrami did not suffer
a serious injury during the 1-1 draw with Italy. Behrami was replaced before
the hour mark of Saturday's friendly in Geneva due to a groin problem,
raising concerns over his availability for the World Cup. The West Ham
United midfielder had impressed prior to his withdrawal and Hitzfeld is
hoping the early signs are encouraging."Behrami was playing very direct and
looked threatening. I hope it's not serious," Hitzfeld told a news
conference. "He wanted to continue playing actually. It was the doctor who
took him out."
Hitzfeld revealed a scan on Sunday should confirm whether or not Behrami
will be fit in time for Switzerland's World Cup opener against Spain on 16th
June. Behrami is the latest player to have a question mark placed over his
involvement in the World Cup, with the likes of Didier Drogba, Arjen Robben
and Andrea Pirlo also struggling. England and Germany have lost their
respective captains in Rio Ferdinand and Michael Ballack, while Wilson
Palacios joined the fitness worries on Saturday after the Honduras
midfielder suffered a shin injury against Romania.
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West Ham United set to make bid to sign Everton FC striker Yakubu
Jun 7 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
WEST HAM UNITED are preparing to intensify their efforts to prise striker
Yakubu away from Everton. The Hammers have been linked with an interest in
the Nigeria international for some weeks, with speculation increasing after
Avram Grant was confirmed as new manager at Upton Park. Grant was in charge
of Maccabi Haifa during Yakubu's spell at the Israeli club, and is keen to
be reunited with the forward. Yakubu has struggled to rediscover his top
form after returning to the Everton first team last August after missing
nine months due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, making only 15 starts –
compared to 21 substitute appearances – and scoring just six goals. Everton
manager David Moyes has repeatedly stressed he does not want to let any of
his players leave during the summer transfer window after his team's strong
finish to the campaign. However, with funds once again likely to be limited
and the strikeforce bolstered by the free transfer arrival of Jermaine
Beckford, Moyes may be tempted by an offer of around £6million. West Ham,
who have signed Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger on a free
transfer, value 27-year-old Yakubu at nearer £4m but will look to strike a
compromise deal. Yakubu was on target yesterday for Nigeria in a 3-1 win
over North Korea in a World Cup warm-up friendly in South Africa.
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'DER HAMMER' JOINS THE HAMMERS
News Of the World
By Adam Marshall, 05/06/2010
THOMAS HITZLSPERGER has signed for West Ham after an unhappy stint with
Lazio. The German midfielder is no stranger to the Premier League after
previously representing Aston Villa, where he picked up the nickname 'Der
Hammer' due to his ferocious shooting ability. The Hammers admitted they
were in advanced talks with an international player with over caps to his
name and Hitzlsperger is the man in question. He becomes Avram Grant's first
signing since taking over from Gianfranco Zola after putting pen-to-paper on
a three year contract at Upton Park.
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TRIO PREPARE OFFERS FOR CAMPBELL
Sol has plenty of options
News Of The World
By Aidan Magee, 05/06/2010
SOL CAMPBELL is being lined up for a summer move by West Ham, Newcastle and
Celtic. The former England defender is now a free agent after seeing out
his short-term deal with Arsenal which expired at the end of last season.
Campbell, 35, impressed on his return to Arsenal and showed he could still
perform in the Premier League and even the Champions League. Newcastle boss
Chris Hughton knows Campbell from when they worked together at Tottenham
almost a decade ago, while Avram Grant knows him from his first spell at
Portsmouth before he moved on to manage Chelsea. Celtic will need experience
in defence if they make it into the Champions League and he has already
described a move to the SPL as "a serious option."
All three clubs have tight wage restrictions in place but could entice the
former Arsenal and Spurs skipper with the offer of a coaching role. Campbell
started last season with Notts County but went to Arsenal in January, making
11 appearances and scoring twice. His form even made him an outside bet for
England's World Cup squad.
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World Cup 2010: Switzerland Midfielder Valon Behrami Sustains Groin Injury
The midfielder could miss Switzerland's opener against Spain due to the
knock...
By Stefan Coerts
Jun 6, 2010 3:06:00 PM
Goal.com
World Cup hopefuls Switzerland have received some disturbing news from the
treatment table in the aftermath of their 1-1 international friendly draw
against Italy at the weekend. Head coach Ottmar Hitzfeld will possibly have
to make do without the services of highly rated midfielder Valon Behrami in
the Schweizer Nati's first World Cup game against Spain on 16 June. The West
Ham United star picked up a groin injury during the match and was forced to
leave the pitch around the hour mark due to the knock. It's not yet sure how
long Behrami will be sidelined. "Behrami was playing very direct and looked
threatening. I hope the injury's not too serious. He wanted to continue
playing actually. It was the doctor who took him out," said Hitzfeld on the
after match press conference. Switzerland are paired with Spain, Chile and
Honduras in the group phase of this summer's tournament. The Swiss have a
36,5 percent chance of surviving the group stag, according to the Castrol
Group Predictor.
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West Ham keen to land Everton striker Yakubu - report
6 Jun 2010 11:53:00
Goal.com
Avram Grant looks set to continue his rebuilding project at West Ham United
by adding the signature of Aiyegbeni Yakubu to the signing of former Aston
Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger. Goal.com UK exclusively revealed
Yakubu was set to become one of Grant's first signings once he was confirmed
as Hammers boss. Reports in The Mirror now suggest that The Hammers have
tabled a £4m bid while the Merseyside club are refusing to contemplate
selling their man for any less than £6m. David Moyes will be aware that his
transfer budget for the summer depends on how much money he is able to get
into the club, and this will make him determined to dig his heels in for
extra cash. Yakubu cost £11.25m from Middlesbrough in 2007 but his time at
Goodison Park has been disrupted by injuries and he has only netted nine
times in 35 appearances. West Ham are expected to increase their bid this
week in an effort to land their man.
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