Germany take Legends honours
WHUFC.com
Germany played spoilsports by defeating England in a special 'The Legends' fixture at the Boleyn Ground on Bank Holiday Monday.
Unfortunately, England were not able to repeat their 1966 FIFA World Cup final success 50 years on as Germany ran out comfortable 7-2 winners - albeit with a squad full of former internationals, while the hosts fielded actors, comedians, football freestylers and Betway competition winner Jason Purewall.
Before all the changes, the opening exchanges were typically competitive as two star-studded squads full of international stars of days gone by took to the hallowed east London turf.
Lifelong Hammer Ray Winstone led a Three Lions side that included West Ham greats the Ferdinand brothers, Dean Ashton, Trevor Sinclair, John Moncur, David James and Teddy Sheringham.
They were joined by former England internationals Peter Beardsley, Graeme Le Saux, Darren Anderton, one-time World Heavyweight champion David Haye, West Ham-supporting YouTube sensation Spencer Owen, actor Damian Lewis and bevvy of top comedians and television presenters.
Germany, led by captain Michael Ballack, took a far more serious approach.
The former Chelsea star brought with him a team full of former internationals, including Euro 96 winners Fredi Bobic and Dieter Eilts, 1997 European Cup winner Jorg Heinrich and the wonderfully-named Jorg 'The Hammer' Albertz.
England started the better of the two sides, but were left to regret spurning a series of presentable chances in the opening 20 minutes.
Anderton saw a well-struck 25-yarder pushed around the post by Jens Lehmann, and another cleared off the line by former Bayer Leverkusen defender Jens Nowotny after rounding the Arsenal legend. Ashton then fired one fierce volley over and saw a second chance disappear when he was robbed by Nowotny as he prepared to shoot.
Germany made the most of those let-offs by scoring twice in the space of nine minutes midway through the first half.
First, former Derby County and Crystal Palace midfielder Marco Reich crossed for Hanno Balitsch to steer past David James on 22, then ex-Hertha Berlin midfielder Marko Rehmer fired home a low right-wing centre from close-range on the half-hour mark.
With a number of meaty tackles flying in on both sides, it was 3-0 a minute before half-time when Balitsch again found space inside the box and fired high past James.
While Winstone handed chances to his whole squad, Ballack retained his starting XI of former senior internationals, and it paid off with two more well-taken goals after the break.
Reich grabbed his third assist of the game on 48 minutes, crossing for David Odonkor to head past James, before the former Borussia Dortmund winger got on the scoresheet himself from substitute Oliver Neuville's pass.
On 65 minutes, Reich collected a square pass from the same player, ex-Bayer Leverkusen man Neuville, and the No16 fired an accurate finish into the bottom right-hand corner to make it 6-0.
Beardsley then went in goal, replicating the role he played for Newcastle United here 30 years ago, and England finally got the goal they deserved then 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Ben Cohen fired home!
Football freestyler Jeremy Lynch then laid on a second for Cohen before Neuville raced clear to make it 7-2 with just seconds remaining.
England: (First half) James, A.Ferdinand, Le Saux (Mack 18), R.Ferdinand, Howey (Brazier 29), Anderton (Moncur 30, Lewis 45), Wingrove, Beardsley, Sinclair (Lynch), Sheringham, Ashton
England: (Second half) James (Beardsley 68), R.Ferdinand (Barry 58), Mack (Richardson 58), Cohen, Whitehall, Strong, Lewis, Sheringham (Howard 58), Lynch (Deayton 58, Lynch 72), Walsh (Purewall 68), Brazier (S.Owen 58)
Germany: Lehmann, Balitsch (Eilts 57), Owomoyela, Nowotny (Odonkor 81) Albertz, Bobic (Neuville 35), Odonkor (Hannwald 72), Ballack (Unger 72), Rehmer (Herget 68), Heinrich, Reich
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Reid pleased with a job well done
WHUFC.com
After securing their seventh win on the road during a record breaking season, Winston Reid was delighted with the Hammers' dominant 3-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion.
The central-defender put in a typically robust performance at the heart of defence to secure a valuable clean sheet, their tenth of the campaign.
Reflecting on a job well done, Reid said: "It was a good performance, apart from the first 20 minutes when we were under pressure. But we came through that period and then played really well.
"The first 20 minutes weren't good enough, but you know when you go away from home that it's going to hard from the start, the crowd are behind them, so it's difficult. But we weathered that storm, fought our way into the game and deserved the victory.
"Added to that, it was nice to get a clean sheet today; we haven't had enough of them over the season."
After an initial spell of pressure from the hosts, the Hammers overpowered their opponents, thanks to a Mark Noble brace after Cheikhou Kouyate's header broke the deadlock.
And it was the Senegalese's opener which Reid believes proved to be crucial. He continued: "Once we got the opening goal I think that was the turning point, Cheik did very well, and had a great game. Then Nobes scoring just before half time was very important, I think that kind of killed the game off."
With just three games remaining, the Hammers remain firmly in the hunt for European football. Having secured a minimum of 59 points, already the Hammers' highest total in the Premier League era, Reid reasoned the Hammers could be even higher up the table.
"We've had too many draws this season, and that has held us back a bit from where we might be in the table. But, we're still up there fighting for Europe and with a few games to go, we are in a good position.
"West Brom are a tough team to come and beat, they are very organised and are a threat from set pieces, which I felt we dealt with well. So we are all very happy."
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Former Hammer declared bankrupt
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 2nd May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Ex-West Ham United captain Lucas Neill has been declared bankrupt - despite career earnings in excess of £20million.
The 38-year-old former right back is being investigated by insolvency experts to determine the extent of his debts, which led to Neill being declared bankrupt (in the UK) back in January.
A spokesman for Begbies Traynor confirmed to news.com.au that the former defender was set for further talks regarding his financial situation soon, when he returns to England.
"Mr Neill is due to be interviewed when he returns to the UK in the coming weeks, at which point the Trustees will be able to obtain the background information required to determine the full scale of Mr Neill's debts," said spokesman Dale Hernon.
"At this early stage of proceedings, it is currently unclear to what extent any funds will be recovered."
Neill spent just under two years at West Ham between 2007 and 2009, having rejected Liverpool's overtures in favour of a bumper £60,000-per-week contract from the club's former Icelandic owners.
He rejected the opportunity to extend his stay at the club when he was offered around £30,000-a-week by then CEO Scott Duxbury in the summer of 2009.
Neill 89 appearances for the Hammers before Joining EVerton on a free transfer; he went to to enjoy spells at Galatasary, Watford and Doncaster before calling a halt to his professional career.
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Former West Ham captain Lucas Neill declared bankrupt despite £20million playing fortune
15:32, 2 MAY 2016 UPDATED 16:08, 2 MAY 2016
BY AARON FLANAGAN
The 38-year-old Australian international will be interviewed when he returns to the United Kingdom in the next couple of weeks
The Mirror
Former West Ham captain Lucas Neill has been declared bankrupt in the UK. The 95-cap Australian international earned a reported 40million AUD (£20million) during his playing career, which also included spells at the likes of Millwall, Blackburn Rovers, Everton and Galatasaray. According to a Daily Telegraph report in Australia, Neill, 38, had been involved in a host of high-profile investments during his playing career. They included a US property portfolio and a coaching business in Sydney. London-based insolvency firm Begbies Traynor have been appointed to the bankruptcy and he is due to be spoken to when he returns to the UK. Dale Hernon of Begbies Traynor said in a statement: "Mr Neill is due to be interviewed when he returns to the UK in the coming weeks, at which point the trustees will be able to obtain the background information required to determine the full scale of Mr Neill's debts. "At this early stage of proceedings, it is currently unclear to what extent any funds will be recovered." Investigations into Neill's finances are expected to drag over the next few months as administrators say it is too early to establish the full extent of the debts. Neill represented Australia at both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
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Kouyate and DG agree this player's time has come
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Cheik Kouyate and co-chairman David Gold are as one - Mark Noble deserves an England call-up.
His two penalties last weekend and another brace this made the point once again that the captain should surely get an outing in the international shirt.
Saturday's fellow goalscorer Kouyate said: "First of all, Mark is a leader. He is our captain and he is constantly pushing us forward and he is always positive.
Having him in our team helps us relax and in the last two games he has scored four goals. He deserves it and I don't see why he shouldn't get a call-up for the national team."
And in an interview with ClaretandHugh DG added: "He's playing the best football of his career and scored a couple of really well taken goals.
"He gets forward, drives the team on and is in terrific form. It's certainly hard to believe that he hasn't been called up by now."
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Former Hammers skipper declared bankrupt
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Former Hammers skipper, Lucas Neill has been declared bankrupt. neill_1463584cNeill, who it's estimated earned close to £21m in a career that included 15 years playing in England, much of it in the Premier League, will be interviewed by executives from an insolvency firm this week as they seek to establish the extent of his debts. But creditors have been warned that the investigation into his bankruptcy could take months, with no indication yet of what money might be recoverable to pay his debts.
Neill made a string of high-profile investments during his career, including a property portfolio in the US and a soccer coaching business in Sydney, Australia.
Neill was dropped by national coach Ange Postecoglou ahead of the 2014 World Cup. In a statement, insolvency firm Begbies Traynor confirmed that Neill would be quizzed on his affairs, having been declared bankrupt in January.
Neill left West Ham in 2009 after failing to agree a new contract with the Hammers. West Ham wanted their £60,000 per week captain to take a hefty 50% pay cut - partly dictated by the new financial reality at the club after the Icelandic banking crash. West Ham reportedly later upped their offer to Neill to £35,000 per week basic plus up to £20,000 in appearances and performance related bonuses per week but he turned them down. He joined Everton on a free transfer but only featured 12 times in a Blue shirt.
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