Thursday, January 21

Daily WHUFC News - II 21st January 2010

Dyer delighted by comeback
WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer's reserves recovered from a goal down to earn a share of the
spoils against Portsmouth
20.01.2010

West Ham United reserve-team manager Alex Dyer was encouraged by his team's
second-half performance in Wednesday's 1-1 Barclays Premier Reserve League
South draw with Portsmouth. The Hammers went in a goal down at the break
courtesy of Gael Nlundulu's strike four minutes before half-time. Following
a constructive teamtalk from Dyer, however, Jordan Spence levelled matters
with a deflected header shortly before the hour-mark. With the likes of
Junior Stanislas, Fabio Daprela, Manuel da Costa and Freddie Sears in
action, the home side dominated the final stages at Bishop's Stortford FC's
Woodside Park. So, while a point lifted West Ham into sixth place in the
standings, the manager believes his side played well enough to earn all
three. "We started off quite slow, but as the game went on we got better. I
was disappointed with the way we conceded the goal, but I honestly thought
it was a free-kick [for a foul]. We switched off and he got the wrong side
of Fabio and he finished it quite nicely. "We had a chat at half-time and
sorted a few things out and I thought the second half was a lot better. We
pressed the ball high up and deservedly got our goal, even if it was a
deflection. I thought we should have gone on and won the game. "I didn't
raise my voice or anything, I just pointed out a few things. I thought we
could do a lot better on the ball and we had to find some kind of end
product. Defensively, we needed to stay more compact because they wanted to
play little balls through the gaps. If we could stay nice and compact, we
could stifle them a bit, which I think we did in the second half."
Alongside the first-team squad members on display, full-backs Spence and
Davide Ferrari were in impressive form, while first-year professional Olly
Lee completed his first 90 minutes since returning from a debilitating bout
of glandular fever. "The full-backs got forward a lot more and delivered
some good crosses in. Davide should have scored, Olly did well and should
have scored with a header near the end. It was just that little bit of
quality in the final-third that we lacked. "Olly's energy level was a lot
better. He's been out ill for a long time and he did well to complete the 90
minutes. It's a credit to him. "Overall I was happy with the performance,
but I'd have liked to have got the three points."
With no league game until they play host to Chelsea on 23 February, Dyer is
eager for his players to maintain their match-fitness during the gap in the
fixture list. Accordingly, the manager is aiming to arrange a series of
friendly matches to be played over the coming month. Dyer adopted a similar
approach before Christmas, sending his team out against Norwich City, Grays
Athletic and Polish club Arka Gdynia. "I'll get the lads in for training,
but I intend to arrange some friendlies. I'd like to play against some good,
footballing sides and also to get some trialists in. I just want to get us
games every week. "It's difficult because the first team are playing next
week [at Portsmouth] and the youth team are doing well and playing regularly
as well, so numbers may be an issue. We'll get some triallists in and use
the players who are not getting games. "The boys need games for a lot of
reasons at this time of the season, but mainly for their fitness levels.
We'll train hard every day, but you need an end product in the shape of
playing games. They enjoy playing and I'm hoping we can get three or four
games over the next few weeks."

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Brown buoyed on WHUTV
WHUFC.com
Jordan Brown was all smiles after captaining the U18s to an FA Youth Cup win
against QPR
21.01.2010

Victorious Under-18s captain Jordan Brown told WHUTV of his delight at
reaching the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup. Tony Carr's side eventually
overcame Queens Park Rangers 3-0, but the game was not as straightforward as
the scoreline might suggest. "We were lucky as it took us a little while to
get going," Brown said. "Even when we were 2-0 up, we weren't really passing
the ball and moving it. Even in the changing room Tony said we didn't play
that well."

Luckily for the Hammers, they could call on two in-form strikers in the
shape of Robert Hall and Cristian Montano to see them through their tricky
spot. Montano's brace sandwiched a superb Hall free-kick right on the stroke
of half-time. "That's why they're in the team because they can score goals
and Cristian did it again at the end when we needed them. "They are both
good. They prefer the ball to feet or in behind and there was a few times it
went in the air and that is no good for them but when the ball is on the
floor they can do damage."

The win sets up another Boleyn Ground tie for the youngsters in the last 16,
with Newcastle this time providing the opposition. whufc.com will have
fixture and ticketing information for the tie in due course.

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Zola joins Grays
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 21st January 2010
By: Staff Writer

Andrea Zola - son of Hammers boss Gianfranco - has joined Julian Dicks'
Grays Athletic on a month's loan. The 18-year-old midfielder is set to make
his debut at the New Rec this weekend according to a spokesman for Grays,
who said: "Julian is delighted to be given the opportunity to work closely
with one of the up and coming young players at West Ham. "Andrea is a great
young player and Julian hopes he can do all he can to help the player
develop into a fantastic left-back. Julian would like to thank Gianfranco
for allowing Andrea this opportunity and looks forward to linking up closely
with West Ham in the future."
Dicks' - who recently placed his entire first team up for sale in response
to a string of poor results - has brought in no less than eight new faces
ahead of this week's clash with title-chasing Oxford United. Grays - who are
currently just one place form the bottom of the Blue Square Premier League -
are six points adrift of safety at present. You can see Zola in action at
the New Rec this Saturday, 23rd January.

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Hammers enter Ruud chase
West Ham keen on Dutch striker
Last updated: 21st January 2010
SSN

West Ham have joined the race to sign Ruud van Nistelrooy, skysports.com
understands. The Dutch ace is currently on the fringes of the first-team
squad at Real Madrid and is now considering his options. A host of clubs are
now eager to land the 33-year-old former Manchester United striker.
Tottenham and Liverpool are both said to be keen to take Van Nistelrooy on
loan, but his main concern is regular first-team football with one eye on
the World Cup finals this summer. Stoke are another option for the prolific
forward, and they are reported to be ready to pay £2million to sign him on a
permanent deal. Now West Ham have joined the bidding and have made their
interest known with the player's represenatives. The Hammers, now under new
ownership following David Gold and David Sullivan's takeover, are being
linked with a host of strikers with Benni McCarthy and Robbie Keane also
said to be on Gianfranco Zola's wanted list.

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Zola set for Grays switch
Zola happy to loan out son
Last updated: 21st January 2010
SSN

Skysports.com understands West Ham youngster Andrea Zola - son of Hammers
boss Gianfranco - is set to join Grays Athletic on loan. Zola junior
followed his father to West Ham from Cagliari Calcio and he has caught the
eye at Upton Park. The 18-year-old has appeared for the club's reserves and
he is tipped for a big future in the game. West Ham are happy to loan out
Zola so that he gain some valuable first-team experience and Grays boss
Julian Dicks has used his Hammers connections to bring him to the Blue
Square Premier side. Agent James Anderson, who brokered the deal, revealed
Dicks is more than happy to have lured Zola to Grays and hopes he can help
the young left-back improve his game. "Julian is delighted to be given the
opportunity to work closely with one of the up and coming young players at
West Ham," Anderson told skysports.com. "Andrea is a great young player and
Julian hopes he can do all he can to help the player develop into a
fantastic left-back. "Julian would like to thank Gianfranco for allowing
Andrea this opportunity and looks forward to linking up closely with West
Ham in the future"

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Fernandes considers investing
Air Asia boss could yet plough money into West Ham
Last updated: 21st January 2010
SSN

Tony Fernandes has not ruled out investing in West Ham under David Sullivan
and David Gold's regime. The former Birmingham owners beat the AirAsia
supremo in the race to take control at Upton Park earlier this week.
Fernandes, a Hammers fan, was disappointed to miss out on a deal for the
club, who he had big plans for. "I see West Ham as the unpolished diamond of
the Premier League," Fernandes told the Daily Telegraph. "It should be a
larger and more successful club than it is and so, when the chance came
around again to buy it, I felt I could do it and fulfil an ambition. "I have
faith in [manager Gianfranco] Zola and the management team. It wasn't their
fault the club are in the predicament they are in and I genuinely believe
Zola will be one of the managerial greats. I made no promises except West
Ham would never again be in the situation it finds itself in now."
Fernandes has since been invited to invest by Sullivan, with up to 50 per
cent of the club still available, and he admits he will hold talks. "I would
have to see whether they share the same vision, otherwise it could be a
calamity for the club," he said. "You can only have one leader, one
strategy. But I'm never one to say no to anything, especially as I'm very
passionate about the club. "On the positive side the club has a new owner
and it has ended the uncertainty."

Meanwhile, former West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson, blamed by many for the
club's dire financial predicament, insists he was not at fault. "There was
much criticism about wages when we signed (Freddie) Ljungberg, Matthew
Upson, Lucas Neill, Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker," he told The Sun. "Does
anyone honestly think I did that on my own? That I did it without the full
knowledge and support of the owner, the chief executive and the manager Alan
Curbishley? Of course not. "And people have quickly forgotten we managed to
maintain our Premier League status in that first year - and that was a
miracle. Things could have got a lot worse had the club dropped into the
Championship. "Most of it was down to the manager and the team but I like to
think I played some part in it, giving the club belief. I was always
positive and we never gave up. "And everybody was aware of the deals we were
doing, it wasn't just down to me. "Some players will be a success and others
will not, whenever you make a signing. It happens at every club. Look at
Andriy Shevchenko and Chelsea for example. "If people are blaming me, so be
it. But I know better and am still proud of my time at West Ham United.
"Maybe I wasn't told the right things about the club when I went there.
"Maybe I was led to believe there was more money available than there was. I
was told that there was a lot of money to do things."

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West Ham set sights on Luke Young and Benni McCarthy
Ken Dyer and Matthew Beard
21.01.10
Evening Standard

West Ham have enquired about Aston Villa defender Luke Young. The
Harlow-born former England international has failed to secure a regular
first-team spot at Villa Park this season and would favour a move back to
London. He began his career at Tottenham before joining Charlton in 2001 and
made 187 appearances for the south London club before moving to
Middlesbrough and then Villa. The Hammers also want two strikers in this
transfer window and new chairman David Sullivan has asked Blackburn about
Benni McCarthy's availability. Speculation linking Everton striker Jo to
Upton Park has subsided following the Brazilian's likely move to Turkish
club Galatasaray. Sullivan, who has already said he intends keeping both
England defender Matthew Upson and midfield star Scott Parker, has also been
bracing himself for offers from Italy for highly-rated Swiss international
Valon Behrami but, as yet, there have been no firm bids. Meanwhile, former
Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman is set to play a key role in West
Ham's proposed move from Upton Park to the Olympic stadium. Edelman was
recently appointed to the board of the Olympic Park Legacy Company and he
has been handed a remit to help find a post-2012 tenant for the
80,000-capacity stadium in Stratford. Edelman, who quit Arsenal in May 2008,
masterminded the Gunners' move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium which was
built by Sir Robert McAlpine, the construction company running the Olympic
stadium project. He is expected to become an ally of OPLC chief executive
Andrew Altman if talks about the move progress with West Ham's new owners
Sullivan and David Gold. Sullivan has expressed an interest in renting the
stadium from the Government.

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West Ham's Zola set for Grays switch... Gianfranco's left-back son Andrea
poised for loan deal
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 12:38 PM on 21st January 2010
Daily Mail

West Ham have agreed to let Zola join non league strugglers Grays Atheltic.
But Hammers fans should not fear the worst: it's manager Gianfranco's young
son, Andrea, leaving Upton Park on loan for another relegation battle!
Andrea, 18, has spent this term learning his trade in the reserves but the
aspiring left back has now been handed the opportunity to work under one of
the Barclays Premier League club's all-time heroes and finest full-backs,
Julian Dicks. Dicks was appointed boss of the Conference outfit last
September by another former Hammers favourite John Moncur, who is chairman
at the Essex club, and has been as equally hard-hitting on the touchline as
he was, often infamously, on the pitch. The former Liverpool star, nicknamed
'The Terminator', even transfer listed his entire first team squad after the
team slipped into the drop zone of the Blue Square Premier! But Grays are
hoping the signing of Zola's son will help them in their fight to avoid the
drop and develop Andrea into a future West Ham star. Julian is delighted to
be given the opportunity to work closely with one of the up and coming young
players at West Ham,' agent James Anderson told Sky Sports, after brokering
the short-term deal.
'Andrea is a great young player and Julian hopes he can do all he can to
help the player develop into a fantastic left-back. 'Julian would like to
thank Gianfranco for allowing Andrea this opportunity and looks forward to
linking up closely with West Ham in the future' Meanwhile, former West Ham
flop Savio has left Fiorentina to join Italian rivals Bologna on loan. The
German youth international, 20, managed just one start during his brief
spell in east London and was sold during last summer's transfer window as
part of an exchange deal for Portuguese defender Manuel Da Costa, after
struggling to adapt to life in English football following his club record
£9million arrival from Brescia last year.

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Former West Ham owner Eggert Magnusson hits back after David Sullivan
criticism
Former West Ham owner Eggert Magnusson has lept to his own defence after
being accused by David Sullivan of leaving the club "on its knees"
financially.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Telegraph staff
Published: 10:44AM GMT 21 Jan 2010

Former West Ham owner Eggert Magnusson says his time at the club instilled
belief and staved off the threat of relegation . Sullivan, who with
co-chairman David Gold has taken over 50 per cent ownership of a club with
debts in excess of £100m, branded the former regime "crazy" for handing out
huge contracts to players that risked the financial health of the club. The
£80,000-a-week deal for 30-year-old Freddie Ljungberg in particular was
singled out by Sullivan, prompting Magnusson to speak publicly for the first
time since he left West Ham two years ago to defend himself against
accusations of negligence. "There was much criticism about wages when we
signed Ljungberg, Matthew Upson, Lucas Neill, Craig Bellamy and Scott
Parker," Magnusson told the Sun newspaper. "Does anyone honestly think I did
that on my own? That I did it without the full knowledge and support of the
owner, the chief executive and the manager Alan Curbishley? Of course not.
"And people have quickly forgotten we managed to maintain our Premier League
status in that first year – and that was a miracle. "Things could have got a
lot worse had the club dropped into the Championship. "Most of it was down
to the manager and the team but I like to think I played some part in it,
giving the club belief. I was always positive and we never gave up. "And
everybody was aware of the deals we were doing, it wasn't just down to me.
"Some players will be a success and others will not, whenever you make a
signing. It happens at every club. Look at Andrei Shevchenko and Chelsea for
example. "If people are blaming me, so be it. But I know better and am still
proud of my time at West Ham United. Maybe I wasn't told the right things
about the club when I went there. "Maybe I was led to believe there was more
money available than there was. I was told that there was a lot of money to
do things. "I still think West Ham may have made a mistake letting Neill
leave. He was a superb right-back and a great character in the dressing
room. "And look at Bellamy. He is playing pretty well at Manchester City and
look how much West Ham made as profit out of that transfer."
Sullivan suggested in an interview that Magnusson had tried to become
involved with the club again during the recent takeover and that the former
Birmingham owner dismissed such a notion immediately. However, Magnusson
disputes that description of events. "I have never spoken to David Sullivan
in my life," he said. "I telephoned David Gold some time ago because I had
an investor who I thought might have been interested in the club. "Karren
Brady called me back and we had a discussion about it but that was it. But I
don't even know David Sullivan. "I know David Gold and I really like him. I
even sent him a text message last Friday wishing good luck with his bid to
buy West Ham. "I really believe that he and Sullivan are the best people to
be in control of West Ham right now. They have their own money, it's not
paper money or loans from banks." "I love the club. They are real football
people and they have real football fans."

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West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola given funds to buy defender and two
strikers
New West Ham owner David Sullivan has promised to free up funds for manager
Gianfranco Zola to buy a defender and two much needed strikers before the
end of the January transfer window.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Telegraph staff
Published: 9:33AM GMT 21 Jan 2010

West Ham will likely move for Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy
during this transfer window. After meeting Zola and his assistant, Steve
Clarke, Sullivan and co-chairman David Gold, who have acquired 50 per cent
of the club, have promised the Italian £8m to spend. "I was hugely impressed
with Gianfranco and Steve," Sullivan told the London Evening Standard.
Sullivan takes control of West Ham "It is so great to meet a man who wants
to work with us and make the team better. He has a 'can-do' attitude, but
with a pragmatic approach. He's a really nice guy. I believe he can be a
great manager. "We agreed we need at least one striker by the Portsmouth
match and the second by the end of the window."
Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy is thought to be a likely signing.
The player almost joined West Ham five years ago when he made the switch
from Porto to Blackburn.
Gold said: "He would be a good acquisition, if that could be achieved. It's
possible, but all strikers that are available as we speak are possible." Of
equal significance to West Ham supporters is the news that a number of their
better players will not be leaving Upton Park. Before Sullivan and Gold
joined the club there were genuine fears that one or more of Matthew Upson,
Carlton Cole, Robert Green and Scott Parker would be moved on to balance the
books. Such a possibility no longer exists, insist the new ownership team.
"Matthew is the captain and his return to the team in recent weeks has
coincided with improved performances," said Sullivan. "And we all agreed
that Scott, despite a lot of interest, is going nowhere. He is a wonderful
player, the heartbeat of the team. Despite the difficult times, he has
always been up for the challenge, always fighting for the badge."
Sullivan will have a hands on role in transfer negotiations, casting doubt
over the future of technical director Gianluca Nani. Karren Brady's
appointment as vice-chairman returns the full complement of the former
Birmingham City management now in East London, though she will be paid
directly by Sullivan and Gold rather than the club. The pair will not take a
salary as they seek to cut costs and reduce the staggering levels of debt
they inherited in the deal. "We are fully behind the manager, but I do not
want to go into all staff," Sullivan said. "There may be some changes at
some level, we are going to look at all sorts of things. We do not rush into
decisions. There has to be some savings here. This is a club haemorrhaging
money. "There may have to be economies, and there is no point saying
otherwise. To put things in perspective, I will be earning nothing, David
will be earning nothing. "We are personally paying Karren's wages for the
next 12 months so she is not a burden to the club at all. We are not coming
here with baggage which will cost the club money, we are all going to make a
contribution at zero cost to the club."

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Tony Fernandes flies home from failed West Ham bid with mixed feelings
Asian businessman Tony Fernandes has spoken about his sadness in failing to
take control of West Ham United.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 8:00AM GMT 21 Jan 2010

Tony Fernandes's love of West Ham could not swing a takeover for him . He
also said that he needed to buy the club outright to make it a success. In
an interview with Telegraph Sport, Fernandes also revealed that he had tried
to buy West Ham before the Icelandic takeover in 2006 and had also had
discussions a year ago when "the price they were asking was ridiculous".

Sport on television Fernandes said he would consider David Sullivan's offer
to take the remaining 50 per cent stake in West Ham — and had already
received a text from the vice-chairman Karren Brady asking him to invest –
but feared that he was unlikely to accept. "I can't be a sleeping partner,"
he said. "You only have one leader, one strategy."

The 43-year-old entrepreneur, and chief executive of Air Asia, flew back to
Malaysia immediately after being informed that he had lost out to Sullivan
to become the club's owner on Monday night. Although he believes West Ham
are in a parlous state, after the botched Icelandic ownership, he put
forward a plan, to be executed over three years, to turn the club around and
was confident he could do so. However, key to his proposals was gaining full
control and buying out the failed Icelandic bank, Straumur, which still owns
50 per cent of the club and hopes, therefore, to gain a bigger return for
its shareholders. Fernandes, who is believed to be worth £400million, has
also been angered by suggestions that he failed to demonstrate that he has
the funding for the deal. "The money is with Olswangs [the solicitors] and
I'd like to see anyone disprove that," he said.

"I would have completely re-financed the club so that it did not have to
sell on its young talent again," Fernandes explained. "To do that I would
have needed to get to grips with the balance sheet. But I could not do that
by working with a bank that was effectively in liquidation. I put forward a
very detailed plan and explained why I needed 100 per cent control. But we
just ran out of time. Straumur said they had to sell on that day [Monday]
but we needed another five or six hours. I thought we had done it. "If you
were buying another club, for example, it would be more straight-forward.
You would put in your bid, do the due diligence, complete the deal. With
West Ham there was Straumur to deal with, who are working under Chapter 11
receivership, and you have a bunch of banks. The owners were bankrupt and
the asset itself was, really, insolvent. There were the owners, the people
who own the owners, and the banks. It therefore became evident to me, having
started with a negotiation over taking 50 per cent, that the only way to
make the club successful would be to gain 100 per cent. Otherwise it was too
complicated."

Fernandes outlined five points in his plan although, understandably, he did
not go into too much detail as he does not want it in the public domain.
After all, he may eventually become involved in West Ham.

However he said he would have:

1) Fixed the balance sheet, which would involve paying down the debt and
"reworking the asset structure of the club".

2) Invested in Rush Green, the new training ground, very quickly and
reworked the scouting system to take a more "French" approach by running an
academy on a "European basis".

3) Brought in new revenues "from a variety of ideas". He revealed one of
these would have been to use technology and social networking sites to make
West Ham more accessible around the world.

4) Created partnerships with Formula One (he is team principal of Lotus) to
generate money, eg from sponsorship, which would benefit both sides.

Fernandes added: "I see West Ham as the unpolished diamond of the Premier
League. It should be a larger and more successful club than it is and so,
when the chance came around again to buy it, I felt I could do it and fulfil
an ambition. "I have faith in [manager Gianfranco] Zola and the management
team. It wasn't their fault the club are in the predicament they are in and
I genuinely believe Zola will be one of the managerial greats. I made no
promises except West Ham would never again be in the situation it finds
itself in now."
Fernandes said that Sullivan had put forward a professional bid and he
wished him success. Asked about whether he would invest, he said: "I would
have to see whether they share the same vision, otherwise it could be a
calamity for the club. You can only have one leader, one strategy. But I'm
never one to say no to anything, especially as I'm very passionate about the
club. On the positive side the club has a new owner and it has ended the
uncertainty."

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West Ham battle Tottenham and Stoke as race hots up for Real Madrid star
Ruud van Nistelrooy
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 1:58 PM on 21st January 2010
Daily Mail

West Ham United have joined the race to sign Ruud van Nistelrooy from Real
Madrid. Sportsmail first revealed that Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp
is keen to add the Holland striker once a buyer is found for Roman
Pavlyuchenko. And Stoke City have also made a bid - believed to be about
£2million - for the former Manchester United star.
Van Nistelrooy and his agent Rodger Linse held talks with Madrid officials
on Wednesday. The Spanish giants will not stand in the 33-year-old's way if
he can find an acceptable off. Van Nistelrooy is keen to play regular
football in the run-up to the World Cup, but he will almost certainly have
to take a pay cut on his current £100,000 a week wages.
Spurs interest in the summer foundered over his salary and concerns about a
long-running knee injury. The one-time PSV Eindhoven hot-shot's contract
runs out at the end of the season and Madrid will consider either loan or
permanent offers. West Ham hope to sign two strikers and made inquiries
after David Sullivan and David Gold completed their takeover of the
relegation-threatened club. Van Nistelrooy has already rejected the
possibility of going to Galatasaray.

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Gianfranco Zola makes good impression on new West Ham owners
Gary Jacob
The Times

Gianfranco Zola has been reassured about his future as West Ham United
manager after meeting the club's new joint-owners yesterday for the second
time. Zola introduced David Sullivan and David Gold, who have paid £50
million for a 50 per cent stake in the club, to his players before
continuing discussions that started during a two-hour meeting on Tuesday
night. The Italian spelt out his side's deficiencies and named players he
would like to sign for the battle against relegation from the Barclays
Premier League. Sullivan has taken charge of transfers from Gianluca Nani,
the club's technical director, and is willing to spend during the transfer
window. "I was very impressed with Gianfranco and Steve [Clarke, the
first-team coach]," Sullivan said. "Gianfranco is measured and charming to
work with and I am sure that I am going to get on with him. He has a
'can-do' attitude, but with a pragmatic approach. He can be a great
manager."
West Ham finished ninth last season, but have been let down by mistakes
during this campaign and have struggled with injuries to such an extent that
Zola was forced to field Frank Nouble, an inexperienced forward, against
Aston Villa on Sunday. "We are working to sort out the difficulties," Zola
said. "The owners have been very positive straightaway."
The manager wants two strikers — one of whom he hopes to have in place for
the Premier League match away to Portsmouth on Tuesday — and a right back,
probably Luke Young, of Aston Villa. However, the club have been told to
increase their £1.25 million bid for Benni McCarthy, the South Africa
forward who wants to leave Blackburn Rovers because of a lack of first-team
opportunities.
Sullivan has been discussing the feasibility of renting the Olympic Stadium
after the 2012 Games and officials from West Ham and the Premier League have
visited the site in recent weeks. UK Athletics has said that it would
welcome talks with the club but has stipulated that the running track must
remain, as have the Greater London Authority and the Government, to honour a
pledge made by Lord Coe during the bid.
Sullivan is against that, but there are other problems, such as the question
of who pays for the redevelopment of the stadium. The cost of reducing the
80,000-seat capacity to about 50,000 seats after the Games could be £100
million, although about £38 million of that will come from the Olympic Park
Legacy Company.

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Hammers enter Ruud race
The Sun

WEST HAM are set to battle Tottenham and Stoke for Real Madrid striker Ruud
van Nistelrooy. The ex-Manchester United star is ready to quit the Bernabeu
during the January transfer window after falling out of favour. And after
the takeover by David Sullivan and David Gold this week, the Hammers are the
latest club to be linked with Van Nistelrooy.
The new owners are desperate to bolster West Ham's firepower and have handed
boss Gianfranco Zola the transfer kitty to bring in a new hitman. According
to reports in Spain, that will be Van Nistelrooy although Blackburn's Benni
McCarthy is also on Zola's radar. Turkish side Galatasaray are keen on the
Dutchman, who scored 150 goals in 219 games in the Premier League for
United.

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Zola joins race for van Nistelrooy
Published 09:49 21/01/10 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror

Gianfranco Zola has joined the race to bring Ruud van Nistelrooy back to the
Premier League. The ex-Manchester United star is ready to quit the Bernabeu
during the January transfer window after falling out of favour. And West Ham
boss Zola has been promised two strikers by the new owners Davis Gold and
David Sullivan. Despite his age, Van NIstelrooy, 34, has a formidable goals
record both in England and Spain. He joins Blackburn's Benni McCarthy and
Monaco's Eidur Gudjohnsen on Zola's shortlist. The Italian wants to bring in
two of the three players and believe they have already made significant
progress in doing so. Turkish side Galatasaray are keen on Van Nistelrooy,
who scored 150 goals in 219 games in the Premier League for United.

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Zamora set for shock Fulham return this weekend to boost West Ham transfer
chances
Published 10:46 21/01/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror

Bobby Zamora is set to make a shock return to the Fulham squad this weekend
- boosting his World Cup prospects and chances of an £8million transfer.
England hopeful Zamora, 29, was ruled out for at least a month when he
injured his shoulder at Stoke on January 5. The in-form uncapped forward was
diagnosed with a dislocated collarbone in the televised defeat. But Zamora's
injury did not require surgery and he hopes to be on the bench this weekend
when Fulham visit Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup. And Zamora expects to
definitely be back for Fulham's next top-flight game against his old club
Spurs on Tuesday. It is a massive boost to Roy Hodgson's side who crashed to
defeat at lowly Blackburn without their talisman. Zamora has scored 11 goals
this term to prompt claims the Barking-born star could gate-crash England's
World Cup squad. His heroics have generated interest from former club West
Ham and Birmingham. And if Zamora resumes his fine form before the end of
the month he could be on the move for £8m. Fulham almost sold ex-Hammers ace
Zamora last summer to Hull for £5m but the forward could not agree personal
terms.

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Ex-Tottenham and West Ham striker Freddie Kanoute calls time on his Mali
career
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 1:59 PM on 21st January 2010
Daily Mail

Former Tottenham and West Ham striker Fredi Kanoute has retired from
international football following Mali's exit from the African Nations Cup on
Monday. The Sevilla forward, who scored 23 goals in 38 appearances since his
debut in 2004, confirmed his decision after Mali beat Malawi 3-1 - a victory
that was meaningless as the Eagles bowed out of the competition.
FREDDIE KANOUTE FACTS AND FIGURES
West Ham (2000-2003): 33 goals/92 apps
Spurs (2003-05): 21 goals/73 apps

'That's life,' said Kanoute. 'I'm sorry I couldn't succeed in helping my
team go further at the Nations Cup, which now marks my retirement.' The
32-year-old scored twice in Angola - in the 4-4 draw against the hosts in
the opening game and in the win over the Flames - and was already back in
Spain with his club late last night. The French-born forward, who resumed
training with Sevilla today, continued: 'I can't find the words to describe
how upset I am, it really hurts me. After we were knocked out in 2008 we
really wanted to do well here. 'For my last appearance in this competition I
wanted to go as far as possible. We will now take stock of our team,' the
2007 African Footballer of the Year added.

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West Ham set to seal Eidur Gudjohnsen deal
January 21st, 2010 | Author: Paul Harper
Aboutaball.co.uk

West Ham United are believed to be close to sealing a deal to secure the
services of Icelandic forward Eidur Gudjohnsen from Monaco. The 31 year-old
has been on the radar at Upton Park for some time, having played alongside
current Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola at Chelsea, but the Premier League club
failed in an attempt to snap him up last summer when he left Barcelona to
move to France.

Gudjohnsen has failed to settle in the French principality after joining AS
Monaco just last August. He hasn't scored a single goal in his nine
appearances for Les Rouges et Blanc so far, and is now set to up sticks once
more and team up again with Zola in a return to the Premier League after
four years away from England's top flight.

Zola is a keen admirer of Gudjohnsen after enjoying a successful spell
together at Stamford Bridge. In their three seasons together up front for
the Blues, they shared the princely sum of 79 goals.

Zola has been desperately trying to get another striker through the doors of
Upton Park for some time as they look for the perfect partner for current
top goalscorer Carlton Cole. A lack of funds denied the Italian from getting
his man last summer, but following the club's takeover this week by David
Gold and David Sullivan, he has been given funds to spend in the transfer
market and looks set to bag his number one target.

The Hammers are also looking to conclude a deal for 32-year-old Blackburn
Rovers striker Benni McCarthy. The South African has been on the fringes of
Sam Allardyce's side so far this season and seems set to leave Ewood Park
during the January transfer window.

The Cape Town-born forward is hoping for more regular first-team football in
a bid to secure a place in the Bafana Bafana squad for this summer's World
Cup finals which take place in his homeland. Blackburn are said to be
looking for a fee in the region of £2.5 million for the striker, who is also
being tracked by Turkish club Galatasaray.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 21st January 2010

Reserves 1-1 Portsmouth
All the team news and action as it happened as Alex Dyer's reserves drew 1-1 with Portsmouth
20.01.2010

West Ham United reserves v Portsmouth reserves
Barclays Premier Reserve League South
Wednesday 20 January 2010
Woodside Park, Bishop's Stortford FC
Kick-off: 7pm
Referee: M.McLaughlin


Final score - West Ham United reserves 1-1 Portsmouth reserves

93 mins - The game is over. A point for Alex Dyer's side, who will return to action with a home fixture against Chelsea on Tuesday 23 February. Just a reminder that the U18s travel to Chelsea on Saturday morning. With the first team not in action, supporters can travel to the Blues' training ground to watch the fixture, with kick-off at 11am. A point lifts the reserves above Birmingham City into sixth in the table, while Portsmouth have closed the gap on second-placed Arsenal to three points with a game in-hand still to play. That's all from Woodside Park tonight, but keep a close eye on whufc.com for Alex Dyer's exclusive reaction to Wednesday's game.

91 mins - We're going to have at least two added minutes for West Ham to find a winning goal. Pompey look like they have settled for a draw. So close from Olly Lee, who got the ball on to his right foot before testing O'Brien. The goalkeeper had to be at his best to turn that ball around the post. From the resulting corner, Da Costa rises high, but the Portsmouth defence holds firm.

90 mins - West Ham are in the ascendancy as the game enters its final minute. Kearns wins another corner. He takes the kick himself, and again Pompey head clear. West Ham pick up possession again, and Edgar shoots into the side-netting.

88 mins - Ferrari gets forward again and wins a corner. Kearns's delivery to the near post is easily headed clear.

86 mins - That was probably West Ham's chance to win the game. Sears got free down the left, latching on to Edgar's pass before crossing towards the unmarked Lee. The midfielder arrived late, but could only plant his header firmly into the midriff of O'Brien. Either side of him and it would have been a goal. Pompey break quickly and Ritchie forces Kurucz into a save low down.

85 mins - Good from Ferrari again as he beats two men to get deep inside the Portsmouth penalty area, only for his cross towards Subuola to be cleared.

83 mins - West Ham make their second substitution, with Spence being replaced by Tony Brookes.

81 mins - Pompey make their third and final change. No16 Carl Walshe is on for No4 Billy Goddard. Walshe will play up front.

80 mins - Nlundulu again. This time, Spence had vacated his right-back berth to go on the attack before West Ham lost possession. Nlundulu again cut on to his left foot before forcing a smart low save from Kurucz.

76 mins - Sowah has recovered from his knock and scampers down the left before finding Nlundulu. The goalscorer cuts inside on to his left foot and shoots, but it slices well wide of the far post. It actually seems to be getting warmer here, either that or my hands are getting used to the cold!

74 mins - Good run from Spence down the right, but his cross is just too high for Sears to get his head to. Portsmouth break, but Daprela does well to snuff out the danger.

69 mins - Very close to a second goal for West Ham. Sears latches on to a pass from Subuola before appearing to lose possession inside the penalty area. He pokes the ball out to Kearns, though, but the winger can only shoot over under pressure from the sliding Sowah. The left-back appears to be injured in making his tackle and needs some attention.

68 mins - Nadir Ciftci and Ellis Martin are on for Subotic and Williamson.

67 mins - Portsmouth are going to make some changes here. They've only named three substitutes, and it looks like two of them are going to be in action soon.

66 mins - A second booking for a Hammers player. Edgar loses possession and, seconds later, brings down Matt Ritchie near the corner flag. He is then shown a yellow card for his troubles. Bopp crosses and Kurucz gets up well to punch the ball well clear of the danger area.

65 mins - West Ham win another corner. Edgar takes it in Stanislas's absence, but Daprela can only head his dipping delivery over the crossbar.

64 mins - It's all got a bit lively out there, with some challenges flying in from both sets of players. West Ham make their first change, bringing on U18 forward Danny Subuola for Stanislas.

60 mins - West Ham have really upped their game here. First, Kearns tests O'Brien with a well-struck shot, then Stanislas launches a low drive inches wide from about 25 yards out. They look the favourites to nick a winner, do Alex Dyer's team.

59 mins - The general concensus is that Spence DID score that goal! If he did, his reaction was very understated, indeed.

58 mins - GOAL! The ball is whipped in by Stanislas and appears to hit Portsmouth defender Ryan before flying into the top corner. There is some confusion over the identity of the scorer, as no West Ham player seems to celebrate. The stadium announcer gives the goal to Spence, who raises his arm in reaction. I don't think it was the Hammer who got the decisive touch, though.

58 mins - Sears wins a corner down the right flank. No sign of any changes for either side just yet.

55 mins - Portsmouth come within a lick of paint of doubling their advantage. Subotic robs Da Costa before beating the Portugal defender and Spence and cutting the ball into the six-yard box where Daprela controls and appears to kick the ball against his own post before Kurucz pounces on it.

54 mins - West Ham have been better since the interval. Their passing and movement have been much more incisive and it is paying dividends. Sears goes close, clipping a cross over the head of the scrambling O'Brien, only for the ball to float wide of the far post.

50 mins - That would have been a truly outstanding goal from Ferrari, who literally carried the ball 40 yards into the Portsmouth penalty area before seeing his shot blocked by O'Brien. The Italian is a threat going forward, with two good feet and the ability to beat his man, as was illustrated there.

48 mins - Subotic has good feet for a big man, and forces Da Costa into conceding a corner. Bopp curls the ball in and Da Costa heads clear.

47 mins - It was the same at the Boleyn Ground last night, when the likes of Stanislas, Frank Nouble, Mark Noble and James Tomkins all watched Tony Carr's U18s reach the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup. A date for their home tie against Newcastle United has yet to be set. Keep an eye on whufc.com for details.

46 mins - Zavon Hines is among the few brave souls who have turned out to support the reserves this evening. Good work, sir. He is wrapped up warm against the cold. Sensible lad.

No changes from either manager at the break. Portsmouth will get us back underway.

Half-time score - West Ham United reserves 0-1 Portsmouth reserves

46 mins - So close to a second for Portsmouth as Subotic dances around Kurucz, only to see his shot miraculously deflected behind for a corner. The flag-kick is cleared and, soon after, the half-time whistle is blown. Join us again for the second half in around 15 minutes.

45 mins - Edgar finds Stanislas rampaging through the middle, only for the winger to be flagged for offside. It would not have mattered, as Stanislas screws his shot out of the stadium. We're going to have one minute of added time.

43 mins - Payne starts a move deep inside his own half before spreading the play wide to Kearns. He finds Spence, who curls in a cross from deep, but O'Brien is there to claim the high ball ahead of Sears.

41 mins - GOAL! Absolutely out of nowhere, Portsmouth take the lead through Nlundulu. The midfielder took the ball and got free of Da Costa before slotting past Kurucz from just inside the penalty area. Edgar is shown the yellow card before the Hammers re-start the game, presumably for dissent.

37 mins - Thomas Kilbey strides forward through the midfield for the away team, only to slice his left-foot shot well wide from 25 yards.

36 mins - Payne wins the ball well in midfield and tries to lift a clever pass over the top for Stanislas - who has swapped flanks with Edgar, incidentally - but it is cut out. Seconds later, Payne shoots from long range and the ball takes a nick off Sears, only to roll into the arms of O'Brien.

33 mins - A chance for Portsmouth in the shape of a free-kick just outside the penalty area. Referee McLaughlin tried to play an advantage when Lennard Sowah was fouled, but brought play back when none resulted. From the set piece, Billy Goddard got his head to the ball for the visitors, but could only send the ball looping gently into the hands of Kurucz.

31 mins - West Ham's centre-backs have enjoyed a fairly comfortable evening so far, as most of Pompey's attacking play has come down the flanks.

28 mins - Both sides are really cancelling each other out here. If West Ham are to break the deadlock, Edgar looks the likeliest creator.

24 mins - It really is eerily quiet here at the moment, with only the sound of plans arriving at nearby Stansted Airport breaking the silence. To use a well-worn cliche, this game needs a goal. Badly.

21 mins - Good patient build-up play from the home side sees them work the ball from one side of the pitch to the other before winning a throw-in deep in Portsmouth territory. West Ham keep the pressure on and Ferrari looks to have got in behind the defence, only to be denied by the assistant referee's flag for offside.

19 mins - Aside from that flurry of shots early on, we have not seen much goalmouth action to warm us up here. Just as I type, Edgar curls in a dipping shot from 20 yards straight at O'Brien.

15 mins - Edgar wins a free-kick five yards outside the Pompey penalty area wide on the right. Stanislas lifts the ball in but it is too close to O'Brien.

12 mins - Sears looks really lively up front. The forward is running the channels well and looking to latch on to any through balls that are sent his way. Sears was all smiles after notching two penalties against Arsenal last week, on what was his first reserve-team appearance of the season.

11 mins - First-team coach Steve Clarke, Academy Director Tony Carr and goalkeeper coach Ludek Miklosko are all here to watch the game. A number of the players on view will be hoping to be involved when the Hammers travel to Fratton Park to take on the same opposition in the Barclays Premier League in six days' time.

8 mins - A long punt forward is mis-controlled by Da Costa as he attempts to help it back to Kurucz. The goalkeeper rushes out smartly to smash the ball upfield.

7 mins - It's all happening here. Ferrari gives the ball away deep in West Ham territory and it is fed to the towering Daniel Subotic. The big striker gets the ball on to his left foot and forces Kurucz into a diving save.

5 mins - Oooh! Close to the opening goal for Sears, who worked himself a shooting chance and stung O'Brien's palms with a well-struck shot that the goalkeeper could only help over the top. From the resulting Stanislas corner, Daprela heads powerfully over from six yards.

3 mins - Gael Nlundulu works a bit of space inside the penalty area, but his shot is weak and an easy catch for Kurucz.

2 mins - The home side have possession in the early stages, with Stanislas spreading play wide right to Edgar. He finds Ferrari, whose low cross hits Perry Ryan and loops into the arms of goalkeeper Liam O'Brien.

7pm - We're off and running here at Woodside Park as West Ham kick-off...

6.57pm - Here come the two sides. Portsmouth are in white shirts, blue shirts and blue socks. West Ham are sporting claret shirts, white shorts and claret socks.

6.55pm - Both teams are back in their respective dressing rooms here at Woodside Park, with kick-off rapidly approaching. Following last night's FA Youth Cup victory over Queens Park Rangers, West Ham are looking for a second win in the space of 24 hours.


Good evening and welcome to a chilly Woodside Park, Bishop's Stortford, for what should be an exciting Barclays Premier Reserve League South fixture. Tonight's game will see West Ham United go for their first victory of 2010 against an inexperienced Portsmouth.

While Alex Dyer has named seven players with Barclays Premier League playing time under their belts in his starting XI, Pompey boss Guy Whittingham has a team without a single first-team appearance for the south coast club between them.

The Hammers have Hungary Under-21 goalkeeper Peter Kurucz between the sticks, with a multi-national back-four of former England U19 captain Jordan Spence, Portugal U23 Manuel da Costa, Switzerland U19 and Italian Davide Ferrari at left-back.

Northern Ireland U17 winger Daniel Kearns is joined by first-year professional Olly Lee and Josh Payne in midfield, with the lively Junior Stanislas and Anthony Edgar supporting striker Freddie Sears up front. Sears will be looking to carry on where he left off eight days ago, when he scored twice in a 4-2 reserve-team defeat by Arsenal at the Boleyn Ground.

For Portsmouth, Frenchman Gael Nlundulu scored in the reverse fixture in September, which ended in a 3-0 win for Whittingham's men. Centre-back Mike Williamson joined the club from Watford last summer.

Seventh-placed West Ham can close the gap on third-placed Portsmouth to a single point with victory on a chilly evening on the Essex/Herts border.

West Ham United reserves: Kurucz, Spence (Brookes 83), Da Costa, Daprela, Ferrari, Kearns, Lee, Payne, Edgar, Stanislas (Subuola 64), Sears
Subs: Mehmet, McNaughton, Purdy

Portsmouth reserves: O'Brien, Gregory, Ryan, Williamson (Martin 68), Sowah, Bopp, Kilbey, Goddard (Walshe 81), Nlundulu, Subotic (Ciftci 68) Ritchie
Unused subs: None

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Good day at Chadwell Heath
WHUFC.com
David Gold and David Sullivan have been to Chadwell Heath for the first time since taking charge
20.01.2010

Gianfranco Zola has welcomed joint chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan to West Ham United after they paid a visit to Chadwell Heath to meet the first-team squad. The club's new owners received a warm response from the playing and coaching staff when they gathered after training on Wednesday. Captain Matthew Upson led the squad into the meeting and was able to renew acquaintances first forged at Birmingham City during the informal introductions. For Mr Gold it was a return to familiar surroundings, having been to Chadwell Heath as a young player himself. While Tuesday's confirmation at the Boleyn Ground of his joint ownership of the club he has supported all his life was a memorable day, Wednesday's trip to the training ground was equally satisfying. "I am hugely excited still," said the joint chairman. "Part of that was getting to meet everyone down here today and getting a feel for the place. It is good to meet the players, I think that it is important that they can put faces to names and have contact when needed. It is about bringing everybody together. "The relationship between the board and the management is vital. Then it branches out to the rest of the staff. I was very impressed with the manager, he is measured, charming to work with and I am sure I am going to get along with him just fine. "Also when we talk about ownership, we have to remind ourselves that it is the fans that own the heart and soul of this club. It is not just them but it is their fathers and grandfathers before them. "
Having had another positive meeting with the joint chairmen, Zola explained how pleased he was to have the club's ownership situation resolved. He and Steve Clarke had also had two hours of talks the previous evening and came away from them in an upbeat mood. "I welcome the new chairmen to the club," the manager said. "It has been a good day. They have been very positive straight away and we have already begun working on what we need. We are going to find the players we need to help us. They know what the difficulties are and are working hard to sort them out. "We have spoken for so long about stability and the possibility of keeping our players so it has been very good to get things sorted out. The meeting last night went well and I am looking forward to the next match. "The players are positive as well and it was a good meeting with them today. They are really happy that we have what we have been looking for and now it is down to us to do our jobs."

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More Portsmouth tickets available
WHUFC.com
The club have been handed an additional 400 tickets for Tuesday's game at Portsmouth
20.01.2010

West Ham United have been allocated an extra 400 tickets for Tuesday evening's Barclays Premier League away game at Portsmouth.

The Hammers had sold all of their 1900 tickets but an extra 400 will now be available on general sale. Please note that the deadline for postal bookings is 3pm on Friday 22 January. These can be made by calling 0871 222 2700 and choosing option 3. After this time, tickets will be available from the West Stand ticket office until Monday 25 January at 5pm.

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Eggy passes the buck
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 21st January 2010
By: Staff Writer

Eggert Magnusson has hit back at claims made by David Sullivan after West Ham's new owner suggested he was largely responsible for the clubs £110million debts. Sullivan blasted Magnusson - who he referred to as Mr Egbertsson - during yesterday's press conference at the Boleyn Ground, when he criticised the former Chairman for the reckless spending spree that cost the club millions. But Magnusson - who, despite the criticism, fully supports Sullivan and Gold's acquisition of the club - refused to accept responsibility, blaming instead his former partner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson who held the purse strings.
"Maybe I wasn't told the right things about the club when I went there," he told the Sun. "Maybe I was led to believe there was more money available than there was; I was told that there was a lot of money to do things. And everybody was aware of the deals we were doing, it wasn't just down to me. "Does anyone honestly think I did that on my own? That I did it without the full knowledge and support of the owner, the chief executive and the manager Alan Curbishley? Of course not. If people are blaming me, so be it. But I know better and am still proud of my time at West Ham United."
Magnusson, a fans' favourite during his two-year stint in East London, added: "I love the club. They are real football people and they have real football fans," before wishing his successors the best of luck in turning around the club's fortunes. "I know David Gold and I really like him," he said. ""I even sent him a text message last Friday wishing good luck with his bid to buy West Ham. I really believe that he and Sullivan are the best people to be in control of West Ham right now. "They have their own money - it's not loans from banks."

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Hammers target McCarthy
Gold hints at move for Rovers ace
Last updated: 20th January 2010
SSN

Sky Sports News understands West Ham are hoping to sign Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy to bolster their attacking options. The Hammers are keen to add to their forward ranks with the club short of options in attack and McCarthy is the latest name on their radar McCarthy's future at Blackburn has been the subject of intense speculation for some time with the player failing to hold down a regular spot in the side under Sam Allardyce. The 32-year-old is thought to be keen on a move away from Ewood Park as he searches for regular first-team action to boost his chances of playing in this summer's World Cup with South Africa. West Ham joint-chairman David Gold has admitted McCarthy is one of their targets to bring to Upton Park before the close of the transfer window. Asked about the club's interest in McCarthy, Gold told Sky Sports News: "Yeah I think that he would be a good acquisition if that can be achieved. "It is possible but all strikers that are available as we speak are possible. "It is a question of can we do business."

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Busy, busy, busy
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 21st January 2010
By: Staff Writer

West Ham are being linked with a whole host of strikers just 48 hours after new owners David Sullivan and David Gold revealed their plans to spend during transfer window.
Since the two Davids sat down with the managerial team of Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clark on Monday evening speculation regarding possible targets has been, understandably, rife. With the club understood to be prioritising the striker, right back and back-up goalkeeper roles it's no surprise West Ham are this morning being linked to practically every Premier League striker not an automatic starter for their club. The Mirror run with a story hinting at a move for Manchester City's Benjani, although that one seems unlikely as the player rejected a deadline day move to East London in the last transfer window. Benni McCarthy is mentioned just about everywhere, as you would expect following David Gold's admission yesterday lunchtime that he is a player that would 'be of interest'. The Express have dipped their hand in the tombola and drawn Tottenham's Robbie Keane, calling an alleged approach 'audacious business'... West Ham are said to have offered to take the Irish striker on loan for the remainder of the season, an offer it is further claimed that Tottenham rebuffed. Right back Alan Hutton is also mooted as a possible target by the same source. We told you last night about a rumour that emerged here on the KUMB.com forums claiming that Eidur Gudjohnsen was set to sign on loan for the rest of the season. Since that revelation the story has been repeated in the Icelandic press and in passing by today's Daily Mirror and Express. Elsewhere on the forums a Northern-based source cited Everton-via-Manchester City's Brazilian forward Jo, which just about covers all possible angles for this particular round-up.

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Hammers linked with Gudjohnsen - again
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 20th January 2010
By: Staff Writer

West Ham are once again being linked with a move for Monaco striker Eidur Gudjohnsen. The Icelandic striker was close to joining the Hammers under the Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson regime but opted instead to remain in Barcelona, for whom he was playing at the time. However fresh speculation suggests that the Hammers are looking to take Gudjohnsen on loan for the remainder of the season - with sources in Iceland claiming that the 31-year-old will be flying to London tomorrow morning in order to enter talks with West Ham. Any such deal is likely to be on a loan basis with view to a permanent deal at the end of the season. Gudjohnsen, who joined Monaco on a two-year deal from Barca last summer has failed to make an impact at the Stade Louis II and has been linked with a number of clubs in recent weeks - including fellow Premier League side Blackburn, from whom West Ham are currently looking to sign Benni McCarthy.

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Davids Gold and Sullivan delight in Hammers horror
Self-styled Stanley Baldwin has taken on the West Ham messiah role and seems to have introduced his own dress code
Guardian.co.uk

West Ham United's new joint owner David Sullivan arrives at Upton Park in a blue Rolls-Royce and dons his claret smoking jacket. Photograph: Adam Davy/Empics

It makes no commercial sense for anyone to buy this club, explained David Sullivan of West Ham on Tuesday, having done just that with his chum David Gold – a man who has long pulled off the staggering feat of partnering with someone to whom he could be compared as "the nice one". As if to underline his descent into ostentatious insanity, Sullivan swept into Upton Park wearing what appeared to be Ian Wright's smoking jacket from the Chicken Tonight advert (YouTube it), although inevitably his status as one of our premier jazz mag-nates saw the garment draw comparisons with Hugh Hefner.

Somehow, though, the echo of that other smoking jacket aficionado Noël Coward feels most appropriate. It's not so much Sullivan's debonair charm – though that is undisputed – more his decision to use the pair's first press conference to position himself as an engaging raconteur. His tale was of the sensationally dire straits in which he and Gold had found West Ham.

"It's amazing that two other people wanted to buy it," he told hacks. "Every stone you turn is a negative to the cash flow and viability of the club …" On and on it went, till you could be forgiven for thinking Sullivan was talking dahn the pahnd, as our Cardiff-born Cockney would doubtless have it.

Clearly the 16 years at Birmingham prevent us from seeing the two Davids as naive plonkers in the Mike Ashley mould. And yet the mad altruist pose they seem to have adopted is similarly unconvincing. Or rather, unconvincing to most. It never ceases to amaze how willingly some people will accept whatever a new owner promises in the aftermath of purchase, in contravention of all logic. When Sven‑Goran Eriksson took charge at Notts County he immediately spoke not just of taking the club to the Champions League, but winning the thing, and there will have been those this week who swallowed Sullivan's and Gold's "Champions League in seven years" line, despite the fact they had just painstakingly itemised a financial dystopia, and offered no glimpse of how they could possibly ever compete with the breed of Premier League owners spending money on which they expect no cash return. Rather like hypnosis, this sort of schtick only works if you want it to happen to you. The only people who succumb are those irrationally conditioned to suspend their disbelief rather than to consider the worst. Which is to say, most of us, were it our football club.

Only in such a delirious atmosphere could Sullivan possibly dare to style himself as a slightly eccentric, twinkly uncle. "I've got a dodgy heart and David's 73," he declared. "But … maybe we'll beat the odds." God bless you, Tiny Tim. But let's not forget this is the same chap who was once caught on camera attempting to solicit an interview with Cilla Black, whose husband was suffering from what turned out to be terminal cancer, and when Cilla declined the then Sport proprietor left an answerphone message saying he would be forced "to resort to things which aren't very nice for you and aren't very nice for us".

Inevitably, the Sullivan-Gold ability to engage the public is not to all tastes. As the Crystal Palace chairman, Simon Jordan, once memorably observed: "If I see another David Gold interview on the poor East End Jewish boy done good I'll impale myself on one of his dildos." I trust Simon has an arsenal of the things to hand, then, as we look to be in for a run of them.


Even for the serial optimists, the alarm bells might have rung at the point Sullivan announced that they'd be asking investors including Tony Fernandes, whose bid for West Ham they beat, to take on a minority stake in the club. "If you imagine a government of national unity in national crisis," football's Stanley Baldwin explained, by now presumably just floating this stuff for a dare, "this is the board equivalent of that."

Mm. It is worth remembering that Sullivan once said of the acquisition of Birmingham that "what was pleasing was that everything was so badly run that we could only improve it", and he seems to be encouraging people to think of West Ham in similar terms. Eventually, of course, that messiah complex modulated to an open distaste for Birmingham supporters' aspirations. "It's like when you've been with the same bird for years but you think Miss World is around the corner," he came to rail. "Well, she isn't." Come come, David. That smoking jacket was clearly the evening-wear round. We await the swimwear with interest.

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BRADY AND CO WILL RULE WITH AN IRON HAND
Daily Express
Thursday January 21,2010
By Graham Taylor

SO David Sullivan and David Gold have made their dreams come true by forking out £50million to take control of debt-ridden West Ham United. Some dream.

But if you compare Birmingham now with the same club 16 years ago when they and Karren Brady became involved, there may be some justification for believing that West Ham have been rescued. It might be worth Gianfranco Zola contacting the many Birmingham managers who were employed during their reign at St Andrews to get some indication of what daily life was like working with Brady, a woman who entered what was – and still is – a predominately male world, but who can more than hold her own.

She is vice-chairman and I expect redundancies in many parts of the club, with cost-cutting a high priority.

Both Sullivan and Gold have long admitted their love for West Ham. On taking over, Sullivan said: "No one in their right mind would buy this club, but even though we are not in our right minds, we are fans." But that should not belie the fact that they are business people. Sullivan has also been quoted as saying: "We are going to have to wheel and deal, which we are good at."

I expect all player transfers to be conducted by all or one of the governing three of Sullivan, Gold and Brady. It is the way the game has moved.

Managers have become more like head coaches as wealthy, powerful owners take charge and want the final say in many aspects of their business. The advantage that West Ham have is that the new owners are English, they have experience of running a professional club and understand the culture of football in this country and what it means to the ordinary man in the street, who over the last decade feels the game has been taken from him.

I have yet to witness a club takeover where the new owners state that the interests of the supporters will be at the top of the agenda. And by that I mean the cost of tickets, the cost of food and drink in the stadiums, the state of the toilets and whatever else it takes to make the supporter feel that he belongs to that club and that the club cares about him.

Most foreign owners have little or no understanding of what the heartbeat of our game is all about. Surely that accusation cannot be levelled now at West Ham. Naturally, winning games has to be at the top of the agenda, and holding on to Premier League status.

But the business of paying transfer fees, players' salaries and agents' commissions for what can in many cases turn out to be average players has to be handled with care. Do not under-estimate Brady's role in this. She is good and keen, but she is also capable of being bad and mean – attributes you must have in today's financially motivated football world.

Rumours were circulating that one Premier League club would go bust and that it wasn't Portsmouth. Most people would have opted for West Ham. That is not the case – for now. It rests with Sullivan, Gold and Brady to deliver the goods.

They and the club are made for one another.

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GIANFRANCO ZOLA MOVES FOR ROBBIE KEANE
Daily Express
Thursday January 21,2010
By Gideon Brooks

WEST Ham have attempted some audacious business in what remains of the transfer window with an initial inquiry to lure Tottenham's Robbie Keane to Upton Park. The Hammers' new owners David Gold and David Sullivan met manager Gianfranco Zola and assistant Steve Clarke at Sullivan's Essex home on Tuesday night to discuss squad reinforcements. While the inquiry for Keane, to bring him on loan until the end of the season, is said to have been rebuffed by Spurs, Zola is believed to have been given an £8million kitty to bolster his squad which is bulging with midfielders and short up front. The club have identified two strikers and a defender on their wish-list. While Keane looks to have been priced out of their early calculations, sifting through an enormous number of players who were offered to the club is going to be no easy task. On taking over control on Tuesday, Sullivan indicated that loan deals would be the order of the day. One name is Blackburn's Benni McCarthy, who is struggling to get into Sam Allardyce's calculations but could be available for a cut-price figure of around £1.7million. Gold said: "He would be a good acquisition if that could be achieved. So it's a possibility, but all strikers that are available are possibilities."
Eidur Gudjohnsen, currently at Monaco but well known to Zola from their days at Chelsea, is also a possible target as well as defender Alan Hutton who is struggling to get a regular first-team outing at Spurs. Sullivan stressed to Zola that while he would conduct the transfer business and hopes to have a new striker for the clash at Portsmouth on Tuesday, he will not impose unwanted players on his manager. Both he and Gold are giving their full backing to Zola and Clarke. "I was hugely impressed with Gianfranco and Steve. It's so great to meet a man who wants to work with us and make the team better," said Sullivan. "He has a 'can-do' attitude but with a pragmatic approach. "We agreed we need at least one striker quickly and the second by the end of the window." Sullivan and Gold made it clear to Zola that he has no need to sell anyone before the end of January, including their top stars Matthew Upson, Scott Parker and goalkeeper Robert Green.

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West Ham make Van Nistelrooy approach
January 21, 2010 | Transfer gossip
IMScouting.com

Ruud Van Nistelrooy West Ham have approached Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy over a move to Upton Park, according to Spanish publication AS. Reports in recent days suggested that Tottenham have been in discussions with the Real Madrid striker, while Van Nistelrooy's agent dismissed rumours that he would join Turkish giants Galatasaray.
Now it is claimed in AS, that Van Nistelrooy's agent Rodger Linse has been approached by West Ham whose new co-owner David Sullivan made clear yesterday that signing a striker is his priority for the Hammers. AS reports that West Ham are the third English club to make a move for the 33 year-old striker, the others being Stoke City and Tottenham who they claim do not have sufficient funds to secure a move. Van Nistelrooy, who returned from a long term knee injury in September, has made just two appearances in the Spanish Primera Division and Champions League for Real Madrid this season. His contract at the Bernabeu expires at the end of this season but he is eager for playing time to ensure he secures a place in the Dutch World Cup squad.

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Zola a 'relieved man' after takeover says Gold
Published 23:00 20/01/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror

David Gold insists West Ham's takeover has left Gianfranco Zola a "relieved" man after holding crunch talks with the club's manager. Gold and business partner David Sullivan have both invested £25million each for a controlling 50 per cent stake in the Premier League strugglers. The pair's arrival has ended months of uncertainty at the crisis club, which has debts of an astonishing £100million. The Essex-based tycoons have pledged to keep the Hammers' star names like Matthew Upson and support Zola with funds for new players. Sullivan and Gold visited the club's training ground yesterday to meet the squad. And Sullivan also hosted a dinner at his Birch Hall mansion in Theydon Bois on Tuesday night to meet Zola and assistant Steve Clarke. Gold, 73, revealed: "It went very well. It was the first time I have met Franco and Steve. "I was very impressed with both of them. You could see the relief on their faces that at long last they had someone to share their issues. "I said: 'what can we do and how can we help'? "Franco said: 'I am not sure, I have never been asked that question before'. "But you could see Steve Clarke and Franco Zola look at each other and it was clearly a boost for them. "When we left after a couple of hours there was a bounce in everybody's step and we are on our way. "Morale was low - not just with the players and management, but also with the staff at the club. "There have been great difficulties at the football club. They feel like they are on this ship which has no rudder and no captain. "But that is no longer the case and together we can escape relegation."
The Hammers moved out of the drop zone on goal difference with a dogged 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on Sunday. Gold watched the game live on TV before he was confirmed as West Ham's joint-chairman with Sullivan at Tuesday's press conference. And Gold is desperate to help the Hammers - who he grew up supporting and played for as a youngster - avoid relegation. "I feel great, it is daunting but I feel full of optimism," added Gold, who considers Upson "a pal" from their time at Birmingham. "The important thing is the players and the management structure have been completely segregated from the football club. "The first thing we have to do is make sure everybody understands that we are in this together. "That is the owner, the players, the management and the board. "It has been fragmented. I feel sorry for the players and the management. "It has been made very difficult but I hope everyone is looking forward positively now."

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Shelling out gave club belief
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today

EGGERT MAGNUSSON has hit back at claims he plunged West Ham into financial meltdown. The former Hammers chairman finally broke his silence more than two years after leaving. New owner David Sullivan labelled Eggy's stint at the helm as "crazy" for shelling out over-the-top wages to over-the-hill players - leaving the club "on its knees". Sullivan has inherited debts of £110million after getting the keys to Upton Park this week. He singled out Magnusson's deal for Freddie Ljungberg, who signed for West Ham on a reported £80,000-a-week deal at the age of 30. But Icelandic biscuit baron Magnusson, 62, said: "There was much criticism about wages when we signed Ljungberg, Matthew Upson, Lucas Neill, Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker. "Does anyone honestly think I did that on my own? That I did it without the full knowledge and support of the owner, the chief executive and the manager Alan Curbishley? Of course not. "And people have quickly forgotten we managed to maintain our Premier League status in that first year - and that was a miracle. "Things could have got a lot worse had the club dropped into the Championship. "Most of it was down to the manager and the team but I like to think I played some part in it, giving the club belief. I was always positive and we never gave up. "And everybody was aware of the deals we were doing, it wasn't just down to me.
"Some players will be a success and others will not, whenever you make a signing. "It happens at every club. Look at Andriy Shevchenko and Chelsea for example. "If people are blaming me, so be it. But I know better and am still proud of my time at West Ham United. "Maybe I wasn't told the right things about the club when I went there. "Maybe I was led to believe there was more money available than there was. I was told that there was a lot of money to do things. "I still think West Ham may have made a mistake letting Neill leave. He was a superb right-back and a great character in the dressing room. "And look at Bellamy. He is playing pretty well at Manchester City and look how much West Ham made as profit out of that transfer."
Eggy served under now-skint Icelandic banker Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson after his £85million Hammers buyout in December 2006. He stepped down just a year later with West Ham in mid-table - but with mounting financial woes at the club and elsewhere in football. Magnusson has been forced to abandon his own action to reclaim around £1m in unpaid wages from Gudmundsson. Swede Ljungberg became the highest-paid player in West Ham's history but played just 25 games, scoring two goals. Parker - on around £50,000- a-week - was voted Hammer of the Year last season. Sullivan has confirmed SunSport's exclusive story that Magnusson tried to get involved with West Ham again and insists he laughed it off. But Magnusson said: "I have never spoken to David Sullivan in my life. "I telephoned David Gold some time ago because I had an investor who I thought might have been interested in the club. "Karren Brady called me back and we had a discussion about it but that was it. But I don't even know David Sullivan. "I know David Gold and I really like him. "I even sent him a text message last Friday wishing good luck with his bid to buy West Ham. "I really believe that he and Sullivan are the best people to be in control of West Ham right now. "They have their own money, it's not paper money or loans from banks."
Magnusson insists he still has a soft spot for West Ham. And he added: "I love the club. They are real football people and they have real football fans."

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Benni to get ball rolling
The Sun

WEST HAM have made a £1.25million bid for Benni McCarthy. The Blackburn and South Africa striker, 32, has made no secret of his desire to leave Ewood Park. And he could become the first signing under new Hammers owners David Sullivan and David Gold. West Ham are also interested in unsettled Manchester City hitman Benjani and James Beattie, who is keen to leave Stoke. Upton Park chief Gianfranco Zola is desperate for attackers following yesterday's £56.5m takeover. But, in a further development, Tony Fernandes will snub Sullivan's offer to join the board. Malaysian Hammers fan Fernandes was the big loser when his £100m takeover failed. He revealed on his Twitter page: "I've had many offers - but will take a breather from football."

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Time to accentuate the positives at West Ham
The Times Online

Anybody monitoring events at West Ham over the past 18 months would be wise to consider a few basic points.

First, as David Sullivan pointed out yesterday, the club was in dire financial straits (it still is) and reducing the wage bill had to be an imperative. With this in mind, the wage bill was slashed and some £30m profit was made over three transfer windows.

Mistakes were made - Savio Nsereko is one obvious one - but there were many more hits than misses. Think of all the kids from the youth team who made the grade: Jack Collison, Zavon Hines, Freddy Sears, Mark Tomkins, Junior Stanislas ... (And, no, it's not all solely down to Tony Carr and the academy - a brilliant academy can produce great players, it still takes a club with foresight to actually play them in the first team).

Think of some of the guys brought in on the cheap who nevertheless have made big contributions: Herita Ilunga, Radoslav Kovac, Valon Behrami and Guille Franco cost around £10m between them.

Think of the fact that the previous regime had, in their wisdom, agreed to pay nearly half a million pounds a week to Lucas Neill, Luis Boa Morte, Nigel Quashie, Richard Wright, Freddy Ljungberg, Nobby Solano, Julien Faubert and Kieron Dyer.

Think of where this club might have been if the putative starting midfield four of Behrami, Mark Noble, Scott Parker and Collison had - between them - not missed more than a quarter of West Ham's league starts this year.

Think of Carlton Cole, newly minted England centre forward, sidelined for two months. Think of Dean Ashton, forced to retire though injury. Think of Dyer, the highest earner at the club, who has started just four league games for West Ham since joining in the summer of 2007. Think of Calum Davenport, victimised by a senseless knife attack.

The fact of the matter is that West Ham have punched way, way above their weight since June 2008. The new owners would do well to remember that.

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