Daily WHUFC News - 2nd March 2010

Cole ready says Teddy
WHUFC.com
Former England striker Teddy Sheringham considers the fortunes of the club's Three Lions hopefuls
01.03.2010

Teddy Sheringham has spoken exclusively to WHUTV about West Ham United's trio of England hopefuls and their chances of being on the plane to South Africa. The former England striker, who served the club to distinction with 28 goals in 76 league games between 2004 and 2007, is the latest big name to catch up with the WHUTV cameras in recent weeks. Log on now to hear his thoughts including on Carlton Cole's progress since the pair were strike partners in claret and blue.
Sheringham, who also considers Robert Green and Matthew Upson's international ambitions, said: "Carlton has sorted himself out as a person and made sacrifices in his life to realise he wants to be a pro footballer. He is doing very well. "I saw him at first hand for England away to Holland and in other games and he has done himself no harm in the games he has played. It is just about maintaining the performances he has for West Ham and keep getting on the score-sheet."

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Big week for Behrami
WHUFC.com
Valon Behrami may be on international duty this week but he is already prepared for Bolton Wanderers
01.03.2010

Valon Behrami is looking forward to returning to international action in midweek - but insists his priority is on keeping West Ham United in the Barclays Premier League. The Switzerland international is set to be involved in Wednesday's home friendly with fellow 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers Uruguay. If selected, the fixture will mark Behrami's 26th cap for his country since making his debut in a 1-1 2006 World Cup qualifier draw with France on 8 October 2005. However, the 24-year-old will be keeping his focus on Saturday's vital league visit of Bolton Wanderers to the Boleyn Ground, which comes after the 2-0 and 3-0 successes in the last two home matches against Birmingham City and Hull City respectively. "This is a game like the Hull one, against a team on the same level and they are a physical team. We need to win as we are at home and keep playing like we played against Birmingham and Hull. This is a very, very important game."
Behrami is the subject of the main interview in the official matchday programme for Saturday's match. The midfielder talks candidly about his childhood, which saw him move from Kosovo to Switzerland at the age of five, his closness to his family, the forthcoming World Cup finals and enjoying life in London at West Ham United.

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Download the accounts today
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have published the club's accounts for the 2008/09 season for all whufc.com users
01.03.2010

West Ham United are today publishing on whufc.com the club's accounts for the 2008/09 season as part of the new board's determination to keep supporters as informed as possible. The new accounts have been submitted to Companies House after being signed off by independent auditors. Fans wanting to read the 35-page document, before they are available anywhere else, can do so by clicking HERE : http://www.whufc.com/staticFiles/a2/4a/0,,12562~150178,00.pdf

In his chairman's statement, David Sullivan said: "It is a great honour to be reporting to shareholders as joint-chairman of West Ham United with my colleague David Gold, following our acquisition of a 50 per cent shareholding in the company.

"These results testify to the amount of work that has to be done to restore this club to a position of financial strength. Our new board will work ceaselessly to put the club back on a stable financial footing and I believe that it has the expertise and experience to achieve this."

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Behrami braced for Bolton
Hammers ace ready for crunch clash
By Chris Burton Last updated: 1st March 2010
SSN

West Ham to win 2-1 7/1, draw 1-1 6/1 or lose 1-0 9/1
1st Goalscorer - Cole 9/2, McCarthy 11/2 or Noble 16/1

Valon Behrami admits West Ham's meeting with Bolton this weekend is a 'very, very important game'. The Hammers have given themselves breathing space in the battle to beat the drop, opening up a three-point cushion on the drop zone.They are, however, far from assured to be playing Premier League football next season and know there is still a lot of hard work to be done.Back-to-back successes on home soil, over Birmingham and Hull City, have helped their cause considerably and results at Upton Park could go a long way to determining their fate.Next up in the capital are fellow strugglers Bolton on Saturday, with both sides desperate to take something from a crunch contest. A number of those on display will have been away with their respective countries in midweek, including Swiss midfielder Behrami, but the match is already weighing heavy on the mind of many of those set to be involved. "This is a game like the Hull one (a 3-0 win), against a team on the same level and they are a physical team," Behrami told West Ham's official website. "We need to win as we are at home and keep playing like we played against Birmingham (a 2-0 win) and Hull. "This is a very, very important game."

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Sullivan: Hammers planned player fire sale
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
ESPN
March 1, 2010

West Ham United would have been forced to sell £8 million worth of players in January, £16 million in the summer and £20 million if they were relegated had the club not fallen into new hands, co-owner David Sullivan told Soccernet. On the day Portsmouth were due back in court for a Revenue winding up order, having already gone into administration, the true extent of the financial meltdown at Upton Park was disclosed by the club's new co-owner. Sullivan told Soccernet: "The strategy for survival was in place in case there wasn't a takeover, and we were told that it meant that £8 million worth of players had to be sold in January, which would have meant a player like Scott Parker or Carlton Cole going, or maybe even both. "Then in the summer, the club would have needed to sell £16 million worth of players to carry on surviving, having budgeted to finish 10th in the Premier League, but it might have been more like £20 million if they had been relegated. "It would have reached the stage where the club would have had no one left of any consequence, but when people are desperate they had to design desperate measures. "For West Ham it wouldn't have been long before they would have run out of players to sell. Yet Straumer had put in £7.9 million to keep the club afloat on top of all the debts."
When Sullivan and David Gold took over the running of the club in January there were debts of £110 million. Sullivan said: "We have already trimmed that down to £95 million, as we have paid of some of the debts with a few little deals, so slowly we are making some progress. "But we have to look at the situation in realistic terms. This club had lost £20 million, £40 million and £20 million in the last three years and there are another £20 million losses this year. "Ultimately we have to break even, but that is going to take some effort as we are heading for £20 million losses this year again. So, you can see the first big task is to stabilise the club to give it a brighter future. "We came in and bought players, saved the club from being forced to sell players, and now we are quite capable of staying up, and quite capable of surviving."

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Premier League clubs borrowing from money lender
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
ESPN
March 1, 2010

A private individual has loaned three Premier League clubs "tens of millions" as some of the elite have already sold TV revenues and season tickets for forthcoming seasons. Top-flight clubs are turning to a money lender to buy players, pay off debts or simply survive and stave off the kind of predicament that has hit Portsmouth. Peter Storrie revealed to Soccernet that one of the biggest problems was that the banks called in their £40 million loans, and in the recession clubs have turned to this unnamed money lender of some considerable wealth. West Ham co-owner David Sullivan told Soccernet: "A private individual has loaned three Premier League clubs tens of millions. I am not going to name him or say exactly how much he has loaned the clubs, but it is a considerable amount. "A very rich private individual is making these loans based on the clubs' agreed payments from TV income. When we came to West Ham, we found that the club had sold its season tickets for two years in advance. "We are also aware that financial institutions are buying up football debt at big discounts. One such financial institution bought some of the Portsmouth debt, but they are going to have to wait for their money now, if they ever get it all back."
Sullivan, though, does not necessary feel that the Premier League is in the kind of perilous state that has been suggested following Portsmouth's move into administration.
Much is made of the enormous debt at the top end of the Premier League, but Sullivan said: "Arsenal have just posted fantastic figures. Manchester United are the club most quoted as having the biggest debt, but big business does run on debt - look at Marks & Spencer. "Chelsea and Manchester City can be taken out of the equation because their owners are running those clubs as hobbies. "The real pressure is down the bottom, where the lesser clubs fear the financial effects of relegation, when whole income flows are no longer guaranteed if they go down. It creates sheer panic. "That is why I would like to see a full parachute payment for the first season and half for the following two seasons. I have not advocated it, but it makes more sense to me. The fear factor at the bottom has to be addressed, because it is down there that clubs are pushing the financial panic button, and that leaves them wide open to doing things they might not wish to do."

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David Sullivan lifts lid on West Ham's financial plight
Hammers had budgeted to sell £28m worth of players
Sullivan and Gold took over club with £110m debts
James Callow guardian.co.uk, Monday 1 March 2010 16.10 GMT

David Sullivan claims West Ham United would have been forced to sell the majority of their playing staff had he and David Gold not bought the club in January. Now West Ham's joint chairman along with Gold, Sullivan believes the east London club was in such bad financial shape that they would have had to sell £8m worth of players last January, £16m in the summer and £20m if they were relegated to avoid financial ruin. "The strategy for survival was in place in case there wasn't a takeover, and we were told that it meant that £8m worth of players had to be sold in January, which would have meant a player like Scott Parker or Carlton Cole going, or maybe even both," Sullivan told Soccernet.
"Then in the summer, the club would have needed to sell £16m worth of players to carry on surviving, having budgeted to finish 10th in the Premier League, but it might have been more like £20m if they had been relegated. "It would have reached the stage where the club would have had no one left of any consequence, but when people are desperate they had to design desperate measures. "For West Ham it wouldn't have been long before they would have run out of players to sell. Yet [Icelandic bank] Straumur had put in £7.9m to keep the club afloat on top of all the debts."
When Sullivan and Gold took over the running of the club it had debts of £110m. "We have already trimmed that down to £95m," Sullivan said, "as we have paid off some of the debts with a few little deals, so slowly we are making some progress. But we have to look at the situation in realistic terms. This club had lost £20m, £40m and £20m in the last three years and there are another £20m losses this year. "Ultimately we have to break even, but that is going to take some effort as we are heading for £20m losses this year again. So, you can see the first big task is to stabilise the club to give it a brighter future. We came in and bought players, saved the club from being forced to sell players, and now we are quite capable of staying up, and quite capable of surviving."

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West Ham's David Sullivan Petrol Station to King Of Canning!
Date: 1st March 2010 at 5:43 pm |
Transfer Tavern

David Sullivan, West Ham's co-owner, has caused quite a stir during his time with the club. This was mainly because he warned that the players and management would have to take a pay cut even if the club avoids relegation. Sullivan, along with David Gold, bought Birmingham City in 1993 and has been involved in football ever since. So, just how did Sullivan end up where he is today? Let's find out about the man. There are some surprising details along the way…

■David Sullivan was born on the 1st of February in 1949, in Cardiff. He graduated from the Queen Mary's university with a degree in economics. That degree was put to use with a 21 year ownership, from 1986-2007, of the Sunday Sport and Daily Sport.

■Apart from being the joint-chairman of West Ham, he is also a British pornography entrepreneur. Believe it or not, this helped him in the initial stages of his career. After working at a petrol station that paid him £30 a week, he entered the porn market at 21 by producing weekly pictures that and selling photos that earnt him around £800 a week.

■On to the football then. Sullivan happened to buy Birmingham when it was advertised in the Financial Times. He helped to transform the club from being bottom of the second tier in English football to where they are now.

■In 2007, Sullivan seemed to have had enough by stating that he wanted to leave Birmingham. If that had alerted potential buyers, then the news of 2008 alerted the police. He and managing director, Karren Brady, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy which was to do with an alleged corruption in English football. Luckily for the pair, no action was to be taken.

■The long stay as co-owner of Birmingham looked to be taking its toll on him as he blamed previous manager Steve Bruce's player signings for the club's relegation from the Premiership in 2008.

■In January of this year, Sullivan and Gold accquired the 50% stake that was needed to take control of West Ham.

■Amongst Sullivan's other interests, he likes horse racing and with all the money he has it is not surprising to hear that he lives in a house that cost £7.5m to build. He is Britain's 68th richest man.

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West Ham admit to "ill-judged" spending
Fifa.com
(PA) Monday 1 March 2010

The scope of West Ham's "ill-judged" spending over recent seasons has been been revealed in the club's latest accounts, which were published this evening.

West Ham's decision to award injury-plagued striker Dean Ashton a new contract in December 2008 backfired, leaving them liable for a £5.81million payment when he was forced to retire in December. Freddie Ljungberg and Kieron Dyer will have cost the club £34m over the terms of their contracts, having only started a combined total of 32 matches for West Ham since the summer of 2007.

For two years under the ill-fated Icelandic regime, West Ham's wages totalled around 80% of their annual turnover, nearly 20% higher than the Barclays Premier League average. The club's finance director Nick Igoe wrote in the accounts that the club's subsequent on-field performances were unsatisfactory following such major investment.

"It is a truism to observe that a club's playing success (and almost certainly long term financial success) is largely dependent on how wisely it invests its available resources," Igoe wrote in the accounts. "It has to be concluded that many of the group's investment decisions in the last two to three seasons have been ill-judged. Two players who signed in the summer 2007 transfer window, one of whom has since left the club, have started a combined total of 32 games and will have cost the group £34m over the term of their contracts.

"No football club can sustain this level of expenditure on underperforming members of its squad," it continued. "It must be concluded that the investment in the playing squad has not generated an appropriate return, either financially or in terms of performance. It follows that an eighth and 10th place league finish, one Carling Cup last eight and one FA Cup last 16 represent an unsatisfactory return on this expenditure. Clubs with fewer resources and lower levels of expenditure on their squad have achieved a greater level of league and cup success."

The figures also reveal the major belt-tightening programme which West Ham undertook last season in the hope of staving off financial meltdown. The wage bill was reduced. and West Ham made £10.8m from player sales. However, that still accounted for less than a quarter of the transfer expenditure from the previous two seasons.

"2008/09 saw the group take steps to generate essential cash flow by a programme of player sales and wage savings," wrote Igoe. "This comprised a reduction in the size of the playing squad and the trading of certain players for less costly replacements."

The club's turnover was down to £76.1m, due mainly to the collapse of title sponsor XL but the wage bill also dipped. West Ham's losses before tax of £16.2m were not helped by "exceptional expenses" such as the Ashton pay-out - but the figure was still half what it had been the year before.

The club's bank debt of £45m is not considered "excessive" for a company generating £75-80m of annual turnover. But West Ham say the debt "is challenging because it is relatively short term in nature, expiring as it does in August 2011, and has to be viewed alongside other liabilities such as the Sheffield United settlement and net transfer fee creditors of £14.4m."

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West Ham keen on Peterborough keeper Lewis
02.03.10 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United are being linked with Peterborough United goalkeeper Joe Lewis. The Hammers could be in the market for a new No1 if Robert Green gets a move to a top four club. A highly-placed source at Upton Park told the News of the World that claims Manchester City's Joe Hart, currently on loan at Birmingham, will be on his way to West Ham if Green leaves are "the product of a fertile imagination". "That theory came from the fact that the Hammers' current owners took him to St Andrew's," he added. "His name hasn't been mentioned. "Peterborough's Joe Lewis at £3.5million would be a far more realistic proposition."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 2nd March 2010

Wayne Rooney asks England fans not to boo John Terry
International friendly - England v Egypt
Venue: Wembley Stadium Date: Wednesday, 3 March Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Live on ITV1, full commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and online, live
text updates on BBC Sport website.

Wayne Rooney is urging England supporters not to boo John Terry in the
friendly against Egypt on Wednesday. The Manchester United striker wants
fans to show support for Terry, sacked as England captain last month after
allegations of an extra-marital affair. "He [Terry] hasn't got the armband
but he's still a great player and a great leader," said Rooney. Rooney also
said he was fit for the Wembley fixture despite suffering discomfort in his
knee on Sunday. Wednesday's match is England's first since allegations were
made that Chelsea captain Terry had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of
Wayne Bridge - a former team-mate at Stamford Bridge and with England - who
now plays for Manchester City. Terry, 29, was taunted by City fans during
his team's 4-2 home defeat on Saturday, when Bridge refused to shake his
hand before the kick-off. Bridge said last week he no longer wished to play
for England because his position in the squad had become "untenable and
potentially divisive"
However, Rooney said he expected Terry to get "the same as normal" reception
at Wembley on Wednesday. "The squad has been no different since we met up,"
said the striker, who came off the bench to score Manchester United's winner
in their 2-1 Carling Cup final victory over Aston Villa at Wembley on
Sunday. "I've been in the team when a few players have been booed at Wembley
and it's not nice - it doesn't send the right message. "I hope he gets a
good reception. When you are leading up to a World Cup, you want the fans
behind us and giving us their full support because that will be really
important."
Fears of a hostile reception for Terry follow England fans' boos aimed at
his Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard during England's Euro 2008 qualifying
win against Estonia in 2007. Lampard's then team-mate Joe Cole slammed the
fans at the time, saying: "Frank has been one of England's most consistent
players over the years and he has never let England down. "It is not nice to
hear that, it is not nice to hear one of your mates getting that. He doesn't
deserve it."
Rooney, who has scored 28 goals in all competitions for Manchester United
this season, added: "Wayne Bridge is a fantastic player and especially now
with Ashley Cole being injured I'm sure he'd have been the one to take his
place. It's unfortunate but it's his decision and you have to respect it."
The striker suffered a knee problem during Sunday's final but said: "It's
OK. I went for a scan and it's just a bit of bruising. I'll be fit to play."
He added that there had been no disruptions in the run-up to England's final
game before manager Fabio Capello's provisional World Cup squad is
announced, despite the unusual circumstances surrounding preparations.
Meanwhile, Villa's James Milner said he is prepared to play at left-back,
should Capello want him to fill the problem position. "To have Wayne Bridge
available would be great but we'll move on," said Milner. "I've had 15
minutes experience at left-back but that was for England. If I'm asked to
play there I'll do the best job I can - but my best position is further
forward, in central midfield or out wide."
And both Rooney and Milner said Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross, who is in an
England squad for the first time and whose challenge on Aaron Ramsey at the
weekend resulted in a double compound fracture for the Arsenal midfielder,
had been made welcome. "I was with him at United for a couple of years and
he's not that type of player," said Rooney. "I'm sure he'll be OK, he'll be
welcomed into the squad and will be hoping to get a game on Wednesday. "It's
unfortunate but he's got to move on now. He's in the squad at a young age,
it's important for him to get a game and if he does I'm sure he'll do well."

Milner said: "He'll come to terms with it. Hopefully this will give him some
confidence, help get his mind back on football." Rooney had earlier revealed
he knew last Wednesday that he would not start the Carling Cup final but
said it was not because of the knee problem. "I had a little bit of a
stomach bug and the manager was looking for an excuse to leave me out," the
forward said. "When he found out about that it made his mind up. I was still
disappointed but it was the correct decision by the manager." Rooney's
Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand did not join the England camp in
Watford. Instead, he will have further treatment on his back injury in the
hope of being fit for Manchester United's Premier League trip to Wolves on
Saturday.

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Portsmouth are ordered back to court by HMRC

Portsmouth are to return to the High Court on Tuesday after Her Majesty's
Revenue and Customs challenged the club going into voluntary administration.
"We're having to go to court to show that the debenture [debt agreement] is
valid," said administrator Andrew Andronikou, the man running the club.
"We're not unduly worried and expect the administration to proceed."
Pompey's move into administration means HMRC is now ranked below their
football-related creditors in priority. Andronikou will also meet the
Premier League on Tuesday to discuss Pompey's proposed nine-point penalty
for entering administration. The deduction would leave the Hampshire club on
10 points - 14 from safety and virtual certainties for relegation to the
Championship. On Thursday, Andronikou will attend a meeting of Premier
League chairmen to explore whether clubs would consider allowing Portsmouth
to sell players and then take them back on loan for the remainder of the
season. There will also be a discussion of the possibility of television
revenue being forwarded early to the club, who have had four owners this
season and on Friday became the first Premier League club to enter
administration. A Pompey spokesman said: "We don't want to pre-empt anything
or pre-judge what will happen, but hopefully the Premier League and our
fellow Premier League clubs will be as sympathetic as possible to our
situation. "The Premier League have been incredibly understanding and [club
owner] Balram Chainrai would like to place on record his gratitude to chief
executive Richard Scudamore, chairman Sir David Richards, company secretary
and head of football administration Jane Purdon, general secretary Mike
Foster and director of finance and administration Javed Khan."
Meranwhile, Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said Portsmouth's financial woes
should act as a "wake-up call" to the sport's authorities. The game's
governing body had some "very tough questions" to answer about football
finance, the MP told the House of Commons. He urged the Football Association
to adopt the changes to the way the game is run that were recommended by
Lord Burns in 2005. And the minister said more clubs should follow the
example of Exeter City in his constituency - a football club run by its
fans.
"We do think that there remain some very tough questions for the football
authorities to address, given the events at Portsmouth and elsewhere, issues
around debt, around takeovers and strengthening the whole financial
governance of football," he stated.

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Businessman Victor Cattermole hopeful of Pompey deal

New Zealand businessman Victor Cattermole claims his consortium "are still
interested" in buying Portsmouth. Cattermole's Endeavour Plan group was one
of four interested parties unable to agree a deal last week as the
debt-laden club went into administration. But Cattermole said talks had
been reopened with administrator Andrew Andronikou on Monday, and claimed
the chance of a deal "is quite good". "I really don't think the situation is
as bad as people think," he added. Pompey, who have had four owners this
season, became the first Premier League in history to enter administration
on Friday. The club claimed last week that a sale was not possible as none
of the parties had provided the club's chief executive Peter Storrie and
current owner Balram Chainrai with proof that funds were in place. However,
Cattermole contradicted this, saying: "We provided evidence of an offer for
a bank facility of 200m euros (£181m) last Tuesday to Peter Storrie. "That
was obviously not disclosed to any of the media. "We also wrote to them
advising that we were strongly opposed to administration but they had a path
they were on and it didn't matter what we said, that wasn't going to
change," he added. The Premier League is set to deduct the Hampshire club
nine points as a result of administration on Tuesday - which would leave
them 14 points from safety and virtual certainties for relegation to the
Championship. And Cattermole admitted this would be a consideration for his
consortium. "We still have to carry out due diligence and see what is owed,
what is expected to be paid for it and what the value's going to be once the
whole issue of relegation and the nine-point issue is sorted out," he said.
"Obviously if the club gets relegated then a lot of the income in the next
seasons is compromised. The club has to be cheaper because it's been
devalued. "We'll just look at it as a business that's effectively a going
concern and we'll make a decision on value based on what we see and what we
can negotiate."
After seeing his team win 2-1 at Burnley on Saturday, Pompey manager Avram
Grant protested that the points deduction was unjust. "Football should be
decided on the pitch not in the courts, not in the Premier League offices,"
the Israeli said. Andronikou, who has estimated that Pompey's debts will
"bottom at around £78m", said the club aims to challenge the penalty. "The
assumption that there is an automatic deduction of points has never been
tested before but we will do our very best to avoid a deduction," he told
BBC Radio 5 live on Sunday. "Our solicitors believe there may be a slight
opportunity but I don't want to say anything more because that prejudices my
position in achieving it.
"I would say everyone has taken for granted that there will be a deduction
of nine points."

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Neil Warnock is named manager of Queens Park Rangers

Queens Park Rangers have appointed Neil Warnock as their fifth manager this
season after agreeing compensation with Crystal Palace. Warnock, 61, has
joined the Championship club on a three-and-a-half-year contract and
replaces caretaker boss Mick Harford. "This is the perfect time to come in,
with the new chairman and structure in place," he told QPR's website.
"Loftus Road is always a place I love because of the fantastic atmosphere."
QPR chairman Ishan Saksena said Warnock was "always our number one target"
as manager, adding: "He has great experience in English football and a
phenomenal track record." Palace are currently in administration, and
Warnock confirmed to BBC Sheffield last week that the clubs were in talks.
But he said: "There is no way I am going to walk out. If they can agree
compensation then that's different." Rangers are three points off the
Championship relegation places, while Palace went into administration last
month and suffered a subsequent 10-point deduction. It dropped them from
play-off contention in the Championship to a battle against relegation. The
deduction capped a difficult period for Palace during which they were
subject to a transfer embargo and players and staff had their wages delayed.
They also had to sell highly rated leading scorer Victor Moses to Wigan for
a cut-price fee believed to around £2.5m. QPR's turbulent season has also
seen them part company with Flavio Briatore, who stepped down as chairman of
Queens Park Rangers Holdings on 19 February. Warnock, who guided Sheffield
United to the Premier League in 2006, is the west London outfit's 12th
manager in four years.

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Injured Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey in 'good spirits'

John Toshack has revealed his injured Wales star Aaron Ramsey is
"comfortable and in good spirits" in hospital after his horrific double leg
break. The Arsenal teenager had surgery to fix fractures to the tibia and
fibula in his right leg after a challenge by Ryan Shawcross in their 3-1 win
at Stoke. Wales boss Toshack said: "He is as comfortable as can be
expected. "He seemed in surprisingly decent spirits when I spoke to him. We
hope he has a speedy and successful recovery." The Welsh midfielder's double
compound fracture at the Britannia Stadium had echoes of the injury
sustained by Arsenal team-mate Eduardo at Birmingham two years ago. And the
surgeon who operated on Eduardo's injury has offered hope by saying Ramsey
should make a full recovery from the similar setback. The 19-year-old was
stretchered off and taken straight to hospital after the challenge by
Shawcross on Saturday, an incident in which the Stoke defender was sent off.
"It is a horrific injury, it makes you want to vomit," said Toshack. "It is
a sad and unfortunate incident. I saw the aftermath of the injury and I
thought 'oh no.' "I still haven't seen the incident on TV, I have just seen
the disturbing photographs in the newspapers and you can imagine how I felt.
"For anybody it is a sad, sad thing but for a young player like Aaron who
has improved immensely over the last six or seven months. "And the last
couple of games we felt as though we are on the right lines with him, so
this is a big blow for all of us involved with Wales - but the main thing is
the player's welfare at the moment."
Dr Khalid Baloch, who operated on Eduardo, said: "If it's a straightforward
fracture that's been dealt with appropriately with intensive physio then you
stand a good chance of returning back to the previous level of activity. "It
is quite variable, the simplest fractures may heal up in two or three months
and then there is a period of rehabilitation involved - especially with
elite-level athletes. "On the other hand, if it's a very serious injury it
may take many months for the area to heal up and return back to functional
activities. "You've got a time period of anywhere from two or three months
to six months for recovery. If it's a simple fracture then he is more likely
to return to his previous level of activity. "As the injury becomes more
severe then obviously the rehabilitation is much harder and it's harder to
return back to activity. "If you look at the way Ramsey was tackled, it
looks a fairly similar mechanism of injury (to Eduardo). "There are lots of
bones around that area so it's difficult to know whether it's the same bone
that has been injured or not, but the area that's been injured is similar.
"With anyone who breaks the lower part of their leg, what you do is look to
reduce the fragments, or the bone pieces, back to where they should be and
then they are held by screws or plates. "It varies on exactly where the
fracture is but in principle that is what you would do for a fracture around
that area."
Turning to the rehabilitation process, Dr Baloch added: "Initially most
people are trying to get a range of movement back and also try to build up
the muscles around that limb and reduce swelling and discomfort, that is the
early phase of the rehabilitation process. "Beyond that phase there is an
increase in the range of impact activities with gradual progression to
running and then back to sporting activities over a minimum six to 12
months."
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has condemned the tackle on Ramsey as
"horrendous and unacceptable" while he also criticises Stoke's overall
approach. While Arsenal great Bob Wilson has called on football authorities
to act in the wake of Ramsey's horrific injury. He said: "The game has moved
forward but the Football Association and the Premier League are content to
have a brutal side to the game. He added: "In my opinion this is born out of
most managers and coaches facing Arsenal, plus media pundits and even
ex-players, instructing their players to get in their faces. "Arsenal are a
relatively small team. Opposing players are told to shake them up, get in
their faces, tackle hard, bully them. I would defy coaches and managers to
deny that is the case. "The tackle by Ryan Shawcross was at best mistimed,
at worst reckless and desperate."
Former Gunners keeper Wilson, who had a 40-year association with Arsenal,
revealed he had contacted Ramsey after the incident at the Britannia
Stadium. "I was told that he was feeling very little pain following
surgery," said Wilson so I sent a text to Aaron and I received a little
message back saying 'I'm doing OK'. "But it is a career-threatening injury,
a double compound fracture. "In the time I played, Don Howe had a similar
injury, tibia and fibula through the skin, which is obviously horrific, and
he didn't play again.
"Clearly it's a huge setback but I think Aaron will be back. Modern science
will aid that recovery. He's a very, very special talent."
Stoke midfielder Glen Whelan had a first-hand view of the incident, helping
comfort the Arsenal youngster as he lay in agony. "I was just trying to do
what I could to take the lad's mind off it," said Whelan. "The lad held onto
me with the pain he was going through, and I was telling him not to think
about it. He was in a state of shock. "The medical team came on as quickly
as possible, and then you just let them take over. "First and foremost,
everyone hopes the young lad gets back as soon as possible, and at the
standard he plays at, because he looks a terrific player. "I was the next
one in from the tackle, and saw what had gone on. I was just trying to take
the lad's mind off it. "For Shawcross, he was disappointed what has happened
to the boy. "I have not seen the tackle again but when I first saw it, I do
not think it was a dirty tackle - maybe a bit late but no more. "I do not
think anyone goes into a tackle looking to break a leg or injure a player,
but there is fine line between being hard and being dirty. "The two players
could go in for that tackle 100 times again and nothing would happen.
Hopefully this was just a one-off."
Ramsey joined Arsenal in June, 2008, as a highly rated 17-year-old for £5m
from Cardiff City. He has made 29 appearances in all competitions this
season, scoring four times.

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Group considers United bid
Financiers in secret meeting to discuss potential takeover offer
Last updated: 1st March 2010

Sky News sources understand leading city financiers have met to discuss a
potential takeover bid for Premier League champions Manchester United.
Representatives from law firm Freshfields and investment bank Goldman Sachs,
among others, are understood to have been involved in the secret meeting.
Informally known as 'the Red Knights', the group held talks regarding a
potential offer to buy out the Glazer family, who are unpopular with United
fans. The mammoth debts at Old Trafford have recently sparked a green and
gold protest from supporters as the fans call on the Glazers to leave the
club. A £500million bonds issue has been used to help refinance the debts,
and Sky sources understand the Glazers are not looking to sell. However,
Keith Harris, who has been involved with the group considering a potential
takeover, recently called on supporters to start boycotting matches in an
attempt to force the Glazers' hand. Harris said last week: "Turning up to
games 10 minutes late and things like that just doesn't do the job.
"The green and gold protest is fabulous, a symbolic and significant message
to the owners. It is like the white handkerchiefs in Spain. But that won't
force the Glazers to sell to us. "However, if enough people - and I am
talking about thousands - stop turning up to matches and do not renew their
tickets, then that does it. The supporters have to hurt the Glazers in their
pockets. "They have to be prepared to take the pain of not watching their
club in order to achieve a long-term gain. Supporters have to be galvanised
to say, 'We will not come. We will not buy programmes and merchandise'.
"It's a big ask, it's a risk, but that is what must happen. The Glazers are
thick-skinned and seem impervious to protest. They will not be impervious to
enormous drops in their revenue. "I would not talk about this if I didn't
have full confidence in our ability to raise the money to do this. I never
talk publicly unless I have confidence. Getting the money together is the
easy bit. "But we can't make an offer until the Glazers are placed in a
position where they are forced to consider it."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 1st March 2010

Eyjolfsson still learning
WHUFC.com
Major dates for club and country keep coming along for Holmar Orn
Eyjolfsson, who is still only 19
28.02.2010

Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson's education in Belgium continued on Sunday night with
his most high-profile date yet - a home match with European giants RSC
Anderlecht. The 19-year-old centre-back, who left West Ham United on loan
back in January, played the full 90 minutes for KSV Roeselare as they went
down 2-1 to the runaway league leaders, earning a yellow card in the 77th
minute. Eyjolfsson will know his loan side's survival hopes rest on their
form against fellow relegation strugglers as they bid to lift themselves at
least one place above 15th spot - the relegation/promotion play-off in the
Belgian top flight. The 1-1 draw at home to mid-table KRC Genk last
Wednesday will have helped their cause and they are just a point behind KSC
Lokeren OV. However, Roeselare will need to be at their best when they go to
another heavyweight side in Club Brugge KV on 14 March. They then face a
two-legged tie on 19 and 21 March against KSV Cercle Brugge for a first-ever
place in the Belgian Cup final. Eyjolfsson has a big date before all of that
when he joins up with Iceland Under-21s for Tuesday's trip to Germany - a
crunch match in their 2011 UEFA European U21 Championship qualification
programme. Iceland have won four of their first five Group 5 matches and are
just three points behind section leaders Czech Republic. Meanwhile, Freddie
Sears and Frank Nouble - the club's two other players out on loan - both had
quiet weekends. Sears was an unused substitute for Coventry City as they won
2-1 against Scunthorpe United to move within three points of the
Championship play-offs while second-placed West Bromwich Albion had no need
to call Nouble off the bench as they kept promotion hopes alive with a 3-1
victory against Derby County.

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Benni McCarthy eager to win World Cup call
Published 05:00 28/02/10 By Marc Isaacs
The Mirror

West Ham striker Benni McCarthy is ready to end his dispute with South
Africa and force his way back into contention for the World Cup this summer.
McCarthy, 32, has been frozen out of the international game after falling
out with the country's former coach Joel Santana. But the former Blackburn
striker is ready to settle his differences and challenge for a place in
Carlos Alberto Parreira's squad. McCarthy is South Africa's record scorer
with 32 goals and hopes an impressive spell with new club West Ham can help
secure a place in the squad. McCarthy said: "South Africa will get the
benefit of me doing well for West Ham. If the club is playing fantastic,
then everything will be perfect.
"After that I can go back to the national team and concentrate on trying to
do my best for my country."

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Frank Nouble wants to get himself and West Bromwich Albion on the road to
success
Feb 28 2010 by Andy Walker, Sunday Mercury

FRANK Nouble is determined to get the Baggies on the road to Premier League
football, as he bids to target promotion and pass his driving test by the
summer. The 18-year-old, on loan from West Ham, can only look on with envy
at the top of the range motors that fill the car park at Albion's Great Barr
training ground. Nouble's only hope of getting behind the wheel is alongside
an experienced driver and with 'L' plates slapped across the car. For the
time being, the Londoner is relying on taxis and lifts off team-mates. But
he hopes that he can celebrate Albion's promotion, and West Ham's Premier
League survival, at the end of the season by going out cruising. "I've had
my theory test a couple of times now but I haven't passed it so hopefully it
will be third time lucky," said Nouble. "I'm getting around thanks to lifts
off team-mates or I have a cousin back in London who lives near me and when
he's not doing much he can help me out with lifts. "It's frustrating when
you see the training ground car park full but I'm not exactly old, I've just
turned 18 so I've got a lot of time to get through my driving test. "I'm
hoping to get it by the summer, hopefully I'll be driving by the end of the
season. Then I'll have a lot of free time to go driving around in the
summer."
This is not only Nouble's first experience of living outside of the capital,
it's the first time the forward has moved out of his parents' Lewisham home.
And Nouble admits that football is the only thing that is helping keep the
pangs of homesickness away. "It's good here at West Brom, everybody around
here has been very welcoming and have made me feel at home. "I know the
assistant manager Eddie Newton already from my young days at Chelsea so I
feel at ease. "Being outside London was quite a big thing for me."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 28th February 2010

Internationals ready for action
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's band of internationals are readying themselves for a busy
week of friendly action
27.02.2010

West Ham United may have a free weekend, but the club's international stars
are set for a busy week of action across the globe. Robert Green, Matthew
Upson and Carlton Cole have all been included in England's 24-man squad for
the friendly international with Egypt at Wembley on Wednesday evening. The
match is a vital one for Fabio Capello as the Three Lions step up their
preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.

Jack Collison has been included in the Wales squad for a friendly with
Sweden at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea on the same night, while Danny
Gabbidon has stayed behind as he works on his recovery from a hamstring
injury. Similarly Guille Franco will not go with Mexico for their match in
Pasadena, California against New Zealand.

Jonathan Spector is in the United States squad for a friendly showdown with
fellow World Cup qualifiers the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Remaining in
mainland Europe, Valon Behrami has been called into the Switzerland squad
for their home friendly with Uruguay in St Gallen.

At age-group level, James Tomkins is expected to start for Stuart Pearce's
England Under-21 side as they take on Greece in a potentially vital UEFA
European U21 Championship qualifier in Doncaster on Wednesday. Victory for
England at the Keepmoat Stadium will take them above their visitors into
first place in Group Nine.

Frank Nouble, on loan at Coca-Cola Championship high-fliers West Bromwich
Albion, has been named in England's U19 squad for a friendly meeting with
the Netherlands in Waalwijk on Tuesday evening.

Fabio Daprela has been included in Switzerland's U19 squad for a two-day
training camp and friendly international meeting with Poland in Renens on
Wednesday.

Reserve-team midfielder Daniel Kearns will link up with Republic of Ireland
U19s for the first time since switching his international allegiance from
Northern Ireland.

The Belfast-born 18-year-old previously represented Northern Ireland at U16,
U17 and U18 level, but will join in with the Republic squad for a five-day
training camp at Bisham Abbey in Buckinghamshire between 28 February and 4
March.

Finally, Academy right-back Filip Modelski has been called into the Poland
U18 squad for a training camp in Warsaw between 7-12 March. The camp will
act as preparation for Poland's UEFA European U17 Championship qualifiers
against Belgium (17 March), hosts Northern Ireland (19 March) and Spain (22
March).

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KUMB.com on Facebook
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 27th February 2010
By: Staff Writer

You can now keep up with the latest news from Knees up Mother Brown via
Facebook. For those who use the premier social networking site, you may find
the new KUMB.com group page right here
(http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=351133824973 ). To become a member,
simply send a request to join via the above link and you will be added to
our members list by return.

About Facebook
(from Wikipedia)

Facebook is a social networking website that is operated and privately owned
by Facebook, Inc. Since September 2006, anyone over the age of 13 with a
valid e-mail address (and not residing in one of the countries where it is
banned) can become a Facebook user. Users can add friends and send them
messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about
themselves.

Additionally, users can join networks organized by city, workplace, and
school or college. The website's name stems from the colloquial name of
books given at the start of the academic year by university administrations
in the US with the intention of helping students to get to know each other
better.

Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook with his college roommates and fellow
computer science students Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes
while he was a student at Harvard University.

The website's membership was initially limited by the founders to Harvard
students, but was expanded to other colleges. It later expanded further to
include (potentially) any university student, then high school students,
and, finally, to anyone aged 13 and over. The website currently has more
than 400 million active users worldwide.

The original concept for Facebook was borrowed from a product produced by
Zuckerberg's prep school Phillips Exeter Academy which for decades published
and distributed a printed manual of all students and faculty, unofficially
called the "face book".

A January 2009 compete.com study ranked Facebook as the most used social
network by worldwide monthly active users, followed by MySpace.
Entertainment Weekly put it on its end-of-the-decade 'best-of' list, saying,
"How on earth did we stalk our exes, remember our co-workers' birthdays, bug
our friends, and play a rousing game of Scrabulous before Facebook?"

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Noble backs Cole for World Cup
Midfielder believes goals are vital in battle to beat the drop
By Peter Fraser Last updated: 26th February 2010
SSN

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble has backed club colleague Carlton Cole to
earn a place in England's squad for the 2010 World Cup. The powerful striker
has enjoyed an excellent season and has scored nine Premier League goals for
a struggling Hammers side, despite spending almost two months on the
sidelines with a knee injury. England manager Fabio Capello is due to name
his squad for next week's friendly with Egypt on Saturday evening and Cole
will be in contention for a place in the party. The Hammers are not in
action this weekend, but Noble believes his team-mate's improvement since
his 2006 arrival from Chelsea should still have done enough to impress ahead
of Wednesday's friendly and this summer's World Cup. "He just seems to get
better all the time," the midfielder told skysports.com when asked about
Cole. "The difference between him now and when he first came to the club (is
massive). "We knew he had loads of ability, but, I do not know why, he just
wasn't showing it. "Now, he is one of the best forwards in the country. He
is fantastic for us and I'm sure he will continue to be. I'm sure a seat on
the plane to South Africa will be his."
West Ham are battling relegation and the goals of Cole will prove a major
factor in determining whether Gianfranco Zola's side survive or slip into
the Championship. New owners David Gold and David Sullivan agreed that as
many attacking options as possible were required following their takeover in
January. And as a result, Ilan, Benni McCarthy and Mido all arrived in the
winter transfer window to leave Noble delighted with his club's offensive
armoury. "When the new owners came in they said, 'we need bodies, we need
strikers'," he said. "Now we are lovely for strikers. We have probably got
too many now, but that is what you need when you are in the position we are
in. "You need firepower. You need to be able pluck something off the bench
or from somewhere to give us a helping hand."

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Sullivan concerned about integrity of results
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
ESPN
February 27, 2010

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan is deeply concerned about the validity,
credibility and authenticity of the rest of Portsmouth's Premier League
results now the club are in administration. Gold raised first raised his
concerns last weekend, and he even suggested he would loan Pompey £10
million to save them from the administrator. Sullivan is hoping, even
expecting, the Pompey players to be highly motivated against one of the
Hammers' relegation rivals Burnley this weekend. But he is also aware that
the situation could bring a negative effect. Sullivan told Soccernet: "I
hope Portsmouth don't cave in for the rest of the season, starting with
Burnley. I hope they rally rather than cave in. The players surely have a
big incentive, being in the shop window and hoping that a club will want to
sign them. They will want to show what they are made of. That is self
preservation, and greed. "However, it is equally true to say that they have
a ready made excuse if they don't do well. The truth is that they are
effectively relegated. Even if they won every game from now until the end of
the seasons it might not be good enough with those nine points deducted.
"The concern for a club like West Ham is that when you look at their run in
they are playing all the lowly teams, and it is easy to see why we should be
concerned."
West Ham, though, stand more to lose if the club went into liquidation and
couldn't fulfill their fixtures. Sullivan said: "We have four points to lose
if that happened which would reshape the league at the bottom, it would also
affect the league at the top." The Premier League will ensure, though, look
set to ensure that Pompey are able to fulfill their fixtures this season -
which would avoid the need to expunge their record.

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WEST HAM: Hammers trio make England squad
9:20pm Saturday 27th February 2010
Guardian Series

WEST HAM'S Carlton Cole has been included in England's squad to face Egypt
at Wembley on Wednesday. Robert Green and Matthew Upson were also announced
in Fabio Capello's squad of 23 for the final audition before the World Cup
in South Africa this summer. The surprise selection was the inclusion of
Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross. The Potters man joins John Terry, Wes
Brown, Joleon Lescott and Upson as the centre-back options for England.
However, Shawcross will do well to focus his mind on the task after he left
the field in tears having been sent off for a reckless challenge on
Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey, which left the young Welshman with a broken leg in
Saturday's late kick-off.

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West Ham upset with FA over Ashton compo dismissal
27.02.10 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United are upset over the FA's dismissal of Dean Ashton's compo
claim. The Daily Mail says there is considerable upset at West Ham that the
FA have used a loophole to reject Ashton's personal claim over the
career-ending ankle injury he suffered while training with England. The
retired striker won't receive compensation because the incident happened
more than three years ago. The Hammers are pursuing their own £7m insurance
claim against the FA, which doesn't have the same time restrictions. But the
FA stance is that Ashton came back from the injury to play a full season for
West Ham.

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Son of a gun Moncur impresses on West Ham reserves debut
26.02.10 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United reserves coach Alex Dyer was delighted with George Moncur's
performance on debut in their victory over Chelsea. Moncur is the son of
former Hammers favourite John Moncur and is a midfielder like his Dad. Dyer
told whufc.com: "Young George Moncur made his debut for the reserves and he
was excellent in midfield as was Jordan Spence at right-back. He was
breaking up and down the wing and he defended like a proper defender should
do."

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GREEN LIGHT FOR HAMMERS KEEPER EXIT
News Of The World
By Hugh Southon, 27/02/2010

WEST HAM will not stand in Robert Green's way if any of the Premier League's
top four move in on the England goalkeeper. Green has a year left on his
contract at the end of this season and could be offered a small rise on his
current deal. But a highly-placed source at Upton Park revealed: "We have no
rigid policy on Robert except that if any of the top four came in and he
wanted to move we would allow him to. "We may be in the business of offering
increases to our very best players despite the well publicised cost-cutting
exercise. "But we would expect plenty of interest in him and wouldn't stand
in his way if he wanted to advance himself." Speculation that Manchester
City's Joe Hart, currently on loan at Birmingham, will be on his way to West
Ham if Green leaves are "the product of a fertile imagination" according to
the Hammers source. "That theory came from the fact that the Hammers'
current owners took him to St Andrew's," he added. "His name hasn't been
mentioned. "Peterborough's Joe Lewis at £3.5million would be a far more
realistic proposition."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 26th February 2010

Specs feeling confident
WHUFC.com
Jonathan Spector has told WHUTV how West Ham United will be fully prepared
to face Bolton Wanderers
25.02.2010

Jonathan Spector has told WHUTV that West Ham United have not lost the
confidence they built up in beating Birmingham City and Hull City. Spector
was part of the Hammers side beaten 3-0 at Manchester United - the club that
brought him to England as a teenager - on Tuesday evening, but insists
Gianfranco Zola's team had their moments against the Barclays Premier League
champions. After a midweek international friendly engagement with the
Netherlands in Amsterdam, the 23-year-old will return to the Boleyn Ground
for next Saturday's vital league visit of Bolton Wanderers. "Obviously
Manchester United are a great side. They're champions for a reason and they
showed that. The chances they created, they finished, and that was the
difference really. I'm disappointed to lose after the two wins we had on the
bounce. "I think we matched them until they scored. The first goal was some
really good football, so it's hard to really fault anyone. They scored some
good goals and it is tough when we didn't keep the ball as well as we would
like to. "We still played well at times and are still confident. We came up
against a great side. I saw their last few home games had been three, four
and five-nil wins, so it's no shame, but we're still disappointed."

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Reserves win delights Dyer
WHUFC.com
George Moncur and Jordan Spence both shone in an impressive home success
against Chelsea
25.02.2010

Alex Dyer was delighted to see the reserves grind out a 2-1 victory against
Chelsea on Wednesday night despite extremely difficult conditions at
Woodside Park. Prior to the match there were concerns the Bishop's Stortford
pitch would not hold up to the torrential rain across Essex but the fears
proved unfounded. Goals in each half from Anthony Edgar and Olly Lee won it
for the home side, who also coped well with Manuel da Costa's second-half
red card for violent conduct. "First of all, I have to give credit to
Bishop's Stortford," said Dyer. "They played on the pitch the night before
and it was in doubt a little bit. The groundsman has worked miracles. The
boys got on the pitch and went out with the right attitude. It rained a lot
and there were strong winds but the boys had the right attitude from the
start. "They got the ball down when they could. We gave them instructions
that if you can't play you have got to hit the ball long and put the ball
into areas where we can turn them and get up the pitch a little bit. When it
was time, we got the ball down and played."
Dyer paid tribute to his namesake Kieron, who like Marek Stech, Fabio
Daprela, Junior Stanislas and Da Costa had all travelled with the first team
to Manchester United the night before. Chelsea gave away a lot in terms of
senior experience but had the benefit of being an established unit that had
come through the youth ranks. "It was a great performance all-round. The
boys worked hard. It was a good performance from the senior lads who came
in. Kieron played an hour and he was excellent. Fabio came in and led the
team well as captain. "It was good to see. Young George Moncur made his
debut for the reserves and he was excellent in midfield as was Jordan Spence
at right-back. He was breaking up and down the wing and he defended like a
proper defender should do."

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Tomkins willing to learn
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins has vowed to improve after coming up against an in-form Wayne
Rooney on Wednesday
24.02.2010

James Tomkins has vowed to work even harder on his game after coming up an
in-form Wayne Rooney. The Manchester United and England striker was in
scintillating form at Old Trafford, scoring twice in the Red Devils' 3-0
victory to take his season's tally to 27 goals. However, the 24-year-old
could have added to his tally had it not been for a number of important
challenges from England Under-21 defender Tomkins - the reigning SBOBET
Player of the Month for January. "Sometimes you can't do anything to stop
him," admitted the 20-year-old. "For a young lad, he is a clever player.
It's hard to imagine that he's still so young. We'll look at the video and
try to improve, because we need to try and do better next time."
Rooney benefitted from one marvellous piece of play to open the scoring on
37 minutes, heading home Antonio Valencia's first-time volleyed cross.
Tomkins admitted that the goal put an end to a bright opening from the
Hammers on Tuesday that had seen Valon Behrami and Alessandro Diamanti go
close to giving Gianfranco Zola's side the lead.
"Obviously we were playing against world-class players. I thought we started
off really well against them, but their first goal was very good. The
first-time cross killed us.
"The difference was in and around the box, and that's why they have paid the
prices they have for the world-class players they have got. They pass the
ball around and keep the ball nicely, and it makes you think what you can
improve on. You look at them and see how you can become a better player."
With the trip to Old Trafford now behind them, West Ham will prepare for the
visit of Bolton Wanderers to the Boleyn Ground a week on Saturday.
"Tuesday's was the sort of game where the pressure is off because you're not
expected to win, so we're looking to the next game now. "We were on a good
run before that game and the lads showed in glimpses what we can do. We'll
look to the next game and try to be more of an attacking threat as well.
Bolton will present us with a different proposition and a different style of
play. "We've got some very important games at home coming up and the Bolton
one is a massive one. Hopefully we can get the fans behind us and get back
to winning ways again."
Before Bolton's visit on Saturday 6 March, however, Tomkins has England's
UEFA 2011 European U21 Championship qualifier with Greece to look forward
to. Stuart Pearce's side take on the Greeks at Doncaster Rovers' Keepmoat
Stadium home on Wednesday 3 March knowing a win would take them above their
opponents to the top of the Group Nine table. "That's my next game and I'll
be concentrating on it. It's a massive game against Greece and if we win
that we'll be in good shape. It's us and Greece who are looking like the
strongest teams in our group and, if we can beat them, we'll be in a very
good position."

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The KUMB.com Q&A: Neil Humphreys
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 25th February 2010
By: Staff Writer

Earlier this week KUMB.com met up with author Neil Humphreys for a chat.

In our latest KUMB Q&A, Humphreys - the author of new book Match Fixer,
which is based on a fictional former member of the West Ham United academy -
tells about about the book and his love for the Hammers, amongst many other
things.

To read the interview, click here.

Neil Humphreys - biography

Neil Humphreys grew up in Dagenham, England. After attending Parsloes
Primary School, Mayesbrook Comprehensive School (now renamed the Sydney
Russell School) and then Manchester University he briefly became a
stockbroker before moving to Singapore in the mid 1990s. There he found work
as a speech and drama teacher before moving into journalism, working as a
sports reporter for the Straits Times.

Eager for a wider audience he wrote his first book, Notes From An Even
Smaller Island (Singapore through a young Brit's eyes) in 2001 before
joining Today newspaper for whom he compiled a weekly column. The column was
the source of much of his second book, Scribbles From the Same Island which
was published in 2003.

After a decade in Singapore, Humphreys moved to Australia - but before doing
so penned the final part of the trilogy, Final Notes From A Great Island: A
Farewell Tour of Singapore. He now writes for the Straits Times, Young
Parents, Challenge magazine, Changi Class, Practical Parenting and
Ex-Hammers, amongst various other publications.

In 2007, Complete Notes From Singapore was released. In 2008, his first
three books were re-released across South-east Asia and also in Australia
and the UK. In 2008, Be My Baby: On the Road to fatherhood was released and
became a best-seller in Singapore and Malaysia.

In January 2010, his debut novel, Match Fixer, was released. The book is the
first of Humpreys' books to be launched in both the UK (February) and
Australia (April/May).

Match Fixer Testimonials

"Wickedly close to the bone. seems more like fact than fiction." - Jason
Dasey, South China Morning Post columnist and host of FourFourTwo
(Malaysia).

"Having played in the Malaysian League as a foreign professional for five
years, during which time I was exposed first hand to the greed, lies and
scandals that is match fixing, I can say that without a doubt that Neil
Humphreys has written a book that is as close to the real thing as possible.
Compelling reading, I couldn't put it down." - Scott Ollerenshaw, former
Socceroo.

"Knowing Singapore rather well, and now that I find myself working in the
game, I think Match Fixer has an intriguing insider's perspective of both
worlds. It's an engrossing look at the Asian football scene." - Nick Leeson,
Galway United CEO and author of Rogue Trader.

"Being an old West Ham boy who grew up in East London and played in
Malaysia, it's clear to me that Neil Humphreys knows this world. Match Fixer
paints a vivid picture-colourful, exciting and unpredictable. It really is a
fascinating book." - Tony Cottee, former England, West Ham, Everton and
Selangor striker.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers confirm Nani exit
Change in ownership leads to technical director's departure
Last updated: 25th February 2010

West Ham United have confirmed Gianluca Nani has left his position as
technical director at Upton Park. The former Brescia coach had spent the
past two years with the Premier League club and had a further 12 months to
run on his contract. However, following the takeover of David Sullivan and
David Gold, the Hammers have decided to part company with Nani. Sullivan
told the club's official website: "I would like to thank Gianluca for his
contribution to the club and we all wish him well. "With the club heading
in a new direction since David Gold and I took charge last month, it was
felt the time was right for all parties to move on in an amicable way."
Nani said: "Today, in agreement with the owners of the club, I have resolved
my contract with West Ham United. "I would like to take this opportunity to
thank everyone who worked alongside me in this wonderful adventure - the
staff, Gianfranco Zola and the players. "A special thank you also to the
fans who have always supported us and whose warmth and dedication gave me a
passion for this club which will forever remain with me. "Finally, I wish
the owners the best possible success in the future."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Can the West Ham influence win the World Cup for England once again?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 25th February 2010
By: Carole Paul

There will always be an inextricable link between West Ham United and
England's triumphant 1966 World Cup winning team.

Lest we forget, West Ham players provided all four goals for England on that
fateful Wembley day, and the Jules Rimet trophy was lifted by the Hammer's
third representative in the England XI.

Bobby Moore held the World Cup aloft after Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters'
goals had taken the 1966 final to extra-time. Hurst then scored one of the
most controversial goals in football history before completing his hat-trick
to the accompaniment of one of the most well-loved commentary lines of all
time.

"Some people are on the pitch. They think it's all over...it is now."

As England complete their final preparations for the South Africa - their
eleventh attempt to regain the World Cup - the West Ham influence will once
again be conspicuous. Of the 23 man squad Fabio Capello is likely to select
for the 2010 tournament, nine players will either be current or ex West Ham
regulars.

These West Ham alumni give England's squad a well-rounded and strong
appearance. According to bookmakers Paddy Power who offer a range of World
Cup odds England are 11/2 third favourites to triumph in South Africa.

With current West Ham stopper Robert Green and ex-Hammers keeper David James
competing for the number one jersey, there is a strong chance the first name
on Capello's team sheet will have West Ham connections. Three of the back
four could also boast Hammers links as Rio Ferdinand and Glen Johnson both
featured for the Irons, as does current defensive stalwart Matthew Upson.

Rio Ferdinand has been one of West Ham's must successful modern day exports.
A strong and reliable centre back Ferdinand moved to Leeds in November 2000
for two seasons at Elland Road. The former Hammer of the Year then moved on
to Manchester United where he has gone on to win numerous Premier League
titles and captain the side to Champions League success in 2008. After an
injury hit start to the season, with a wealth of talent and experience, we
should expect Rio Ferdinand to be one of England's bright stars at this
summer's world cup if he stays fit.

The trio of Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick once sat alongside
one another in the West Ham midfield and all will hope to feature in South
Africa. And, up front, the recent goal scoring exploits of Jermain Defoe
might well hand the ex-Hammers hit man a starting berth alongside Wayne
Rooney against the USA on 12th June.

Frank Lampard was always destined for success after breaking into the team
at Upton Park in 1996. With over 100 Premier League goals to his name,
Lampard has been one of the top players in the top flight of English
football over the last decade. His great vision and passing will make him
one of England's danger men in the summer as well has his ability to shoot
from long distance. Some critics have questioned Lampard's performances for
England, but a brace against Croatia in England's 5-1 qualifying group
victory will be remembered fondly.

Jermain Defoe has been a goal scoring threat for every club he has been at.
His pace and finishing puts fear into the opposition. Defoe often goes large
spells of games without a touch of the ball, but can hurt teams in a matter
of seconds. Whether beating the offside trap, finding space in the penalty
area or running at defenders with the ball, Jermain Defoe is giving Fabio
Capello a message this season to start him in South Africa. He has scored
more Premier League goals this season than any previous, helped with a
hat-trick over Hull City and 5 at Wigan Athletic already this season.

With a number of ex-West Ham players likely to be selected for the England
squad this summer, they have a number of current players also competing for
positions in Fabio Capello's final squad. Goalkeeper Robert Green, defender
Matthew Upson, and striker Carlton Cole are all hoping to catch the coach's
between now and the selection deadline day in May, despite the Hammers
spending most of their time towards the bottom of the Premier League table.

Trevor Sinclair was the last West Ham player to represent England in the
World Cup after the Irons had no representatives in the England squad for
Germany '06. In 2002, Sinclair came on for Owen Hargreaves in England's
second game against Argentina and started the remainder of England's games
in the tournament.

After John Terry's recent dismissal as England captain, the armband is once
again the property of a central defender with West Ham connections. Can Rio
Ferdinand emulate the great Bobby Moore and lift the World Cup trophy for
England in 2010?

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tragedy Yes, but Hold the Farce!
West Ham Till I Die

History Repeats itself: 'the first time as tragedy, the second time as
farce' (Karl Marx)

During the course of this turbulent season there have been comparisons made
with the tragic relegation of 2002-03. And high tragedy it most certainly
was, as the club was demoted with a record 42 points and then subsequently
suffered the loss of a unique generation of top class youngsters.

Sports journalist Martin Samuels recently drew upon this comparison in his
Daily Mail column . In a peice on the misfortunes of the club since the
2006 Icelandic takeover, he made an unfavourable comparison between the
strength of our current squad and that relegated in 2002-03. Samuels,
raising the spectre of a repeat, then went on to suggest that on the (then)
current form of the team we might only accrue a total of 33 points for the
season!

More recently, Zola has postulated that a 10 or 11 points tally from our
remaining fixtures may well be sufficient to guarantee PL survival. That
means that we would be looking at winning a total of 37/38 points, which is
more than possible. However, Zola does add the caveat that if the PL
fixture list throws up further improbable results, like the Wolves double
over Spurs, that could mean that 40 points may be required and the club must
strive to reach and even surpass that safety target.

So, if we accept the less optimistic 40 point target, where are the
additional 13 points going to come from? As we all know, we are fortunate
to have a run of winnable home games with Bolton, Wolves, Stoke City,
Sunderland, Wigan and Man City. We must set a target of securing 13 out of
18 points at Upton Park. That means 4 wins and a draw from Bolton, Wolves,
Wigan, Sunderland and Stoke city. So, admittedly there is not much margin
for error there! Lets hope that they have acquired the winning habit at
home, after the back-to-back Brum-Hull wins, and this continues to the end
of the season.

If there are slip ups, then we will obviously need to win additional points
from the other fixtures. These are more likely to come from Man City at
home or Fulham or Everton away. Of these, a win and a draw or even two
draws are more likely from the Man City and Fulham fixtures. Everton
should be a real possibility, but they seem to have had a bit of a jinx over
us in recent years, who knows if that will come to a timely end? Whatever,
lets hope that we are safe before the final home match with Man City, as
that is a potentially gut wrenching, last day, experience that can all very
well do without!

That leaves Chelski, Arsenal and Liverpool away. None of these are exactly
happy hunting grounds for us, although we probably have the best recent away
record against the gooners! We have shown both this season and last that
we can compete with Chelski on a good day. However, can they afford to slip
up against us, as they battle Man Utd, in the run in for the PL title? As
for Liverpool, they are not the force that they once were, but it has been
47 long years since we last won there, 1-2, courtesy of a Geoff Hurst
winner. This would definitely be a great season to break that particular
historical hoodoo!!

So, that is my overall appraisal of where the points might be accrued. Of
course being West Ham, they are just as likely to turn the odds completely
upside down and drop home points and gain more than expected away from home!
The best case scenerio is that the easier 37/38 point target will prove
sufficient and we can afford to drop a few more points then I have
estimated. What would really be nice is a 40 plus points total and a
comfortable 11th or 12th place finish. COYI!

Whatever the eventual combination of points won, I do anticipate that we
will achieve safety this season. I do not believe for one moment that the
tragedy of the relegation of 2002-03 will be repeated as farce in 2009-10.
Arguably, we have too much in the locker and enough winnable games to
prevent this particular peice of club history repeating itself!

SJ. Chandos.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Nani's Exit - Pro or Contra?
West Ham Till I Die

It has been confirmed by the club that Nani has left his post as Technical
Director by 'mutual consent.' It had been strongly suggested, for some
considerable time, that this might happen as part of the ongoing
cost-cutting measures at the club. A clear indicator was the way in which
David Sullivan took personal control of the transfer negotiations in the
January transfer window.

I think that Nani's role at the club split opinion amongst Hammers fans.
Some emphasised the recruitment of Behrami, Ilunga, Daprela, Diamanti and
Franco as clear evidence of his value to the club. They also pointed to the
recent flow of promising overseas youngsters like Ferriera and Sanchez in to
the Academy as further evidence of added value. In contrast others have
been disappointed with the acquisitions, were worried by an alleged recent
over-emphasis upon the Italian/overseas market and cited the acquisition of
Nsereko as the ultimate costly mistake.

As with most things in life, the assessment of achievement and ultimate
value is a balance sheet of perceived successes and failures. Based on such
an analysis should we be pro or contra the deletion of Nani's post at the
club? Should we acknowledge that the radically changing circumstances at
the club (particularly the worsening financial situation) fatally undermined
the scope of what Nani could achieve in the role? Is it the right move for
the club or a short-sighted measure? More to the point, what arrangement is
likely to replace his post and will it ultimately improve the club's
recruitment policy and track record?

SJ. Chandos.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 25th February 2010

Reserves 2-1 Chelsea
WHUFC.com
24.02.2010

West Ham United v Chelsea
Barclays Premier Reserve League South
Woodside Park, Bishop's Stortford FC
Wednesday 24 February 2010
Kick-off: 7pm
Referee: A Davies

Final score: 2-1

There goes the full-time whistle and it is a well-deserved victory for Alex
Dyer's men. Goals from Anthony Edgar and Olly Lee proved enough on a night
when Manuel da Costa picked up a red card and automatic three-match
suspension for an off-the-ball incident. Kieron Dyer got a welcome hour
under his belt while the likes of Jordan Spence and George Moncur did well
in difficult conditions.

90min - N'Gala stays firm as Mitrovic looks set to latch on to a ball over
the top. The defender read that situation well. We are playing three minutes
of added time.

89min - Another yellow card. This time Abdulla's late challenge on Mitrovic
sees him punished.

87min - Edgar earns a corner but it is to be his last contribution. Subuola
is coming on for the No11. The new arrival makes an instant impact and wins
another corner.

86min - Stech claims a high cross from McEachran. Danny Subuola is about to
come on.

83min - Mellis was so close their to an equaliser. He did well to connect
with a fierce low cross from the left but could not divert his effort on
target. Moncur is off to be replaced by Danny Kearns.

81min - Moncur does brilliantly to stop Ben Morgan. The No10, still only 16,
has been lively tonight and is one of the better performers.

78min - Edgar is the next to be booked for kicking the ball away. Chelsea
meanwhile have a chance to play a free-kick into the penalty area. Gokhan
Tore tries to collect the forward pass but it runs out of play.

76min - Chelsea are trying to pick up the pace with their substitutes
working hard. Lee nearly plays his team into trouble with a back-pass that
holds up on the sodden turf but Stech just about clears in time.

73min - Well played N'Gala. He just stepped in front of Mitrovic to deny the
Chelsea No9 after a low cross into the box had the home defence in trouble.
Ofori-Twumasi is off for the visitors in their final change.

71min - Gokhan Tore is coming on for Chelsea. The man to be replaced is
Lalkovic.

68min - The Hammers have had to reorganise since going down to ten men.
Spence has moved into the middle with Lee at right-back.

66min - Da Costa is then shown a straight red for stepping in too strongly
when the Chelsea players took exception to the tackle. The defender was not
the only one who appeared to be pushing and shoving but is the only man
dismissed. Wearen is also booked for his part in the proceedings.

65min - West Ham are making their exoerience count. An eight-pass move is
only broken down by a last-ditch tackle. Mellis then surges forward and is
brought down by Edgar.

62min - Only a saving tackle from Magnay denies Abdulla a chance to make it
3-1. Corner to West Ham.

59min - Dyer's night is over. Eoin Wearen is on in his place after a solid
hour from the West Ham No7.

58min - Olly Lee does brilliantly to convert from close range after a fine
raking cross by Spence. The No2 had surged up the right flank to meet an
Edgar ball out wide before whipping into the near post for Lee to poke home.
A good goal that.

57min - Dyer is just beaten to the ball by Lalkovic, who then senses a
chance to shoot. His curled effort has Stech worried but it drifts just past
the post.

55min - Dyer does well before freeing Moncur. He slips it to Da Costa, up
from the back, who has a go from distance but it is a tame effort in truth
that goes well wide.

54min - A late challenge by Ofori-Twumasi on Stanislas leaves the No8 flat
on the floor. That sums up the second half so far.

52min - Neither side has really threatened in this half.

49min - Dyer finds Edgar with a precise pass. The Hammers goalscorer than
surges past one challenge but is then stopped by a second. The ball comes
out to Spence who gets forward again on the right wing but his low cross
comes to nothing.

48min - It has been scrappy in the opening minutes, although thankfully the
rain has eased off. It is still coming down but is more of a trickle than a
torrent.

46min - Chelsea get us under way with Nikki Ahamed on for Nemanja Matic.

Half-time - 1-1

45min - We are playing one minute of added time. It has been a fairly even
first half although the Hammers have had the better of the opportunities and
will feel they should be in front.

43min - Mellis tries his luck with a long-range shot but Stech watches it
bobble wide. Looks like it might be honours even at half-time. A talking to
and a yellow card for Clifford, Daprela was too quick for him and drew
another foul from the No7.

42min - Dyer has kept things ticking over at the heart of the midfield, with
Moncur using the opportunity to play in a more advanced position.

40min - Great play by Daprela turns Clifford inside out before he slips the
ball through to Abdulla. He gets to the byline and crosses but the visitors
scramble the ball away. Abdulla then has a go when the ball falls to him
again but it does not trouble Taylor.

39min - Da Costa is relishing this battle with the Chelsea No9 Mitrovic. He
wins the ball and then spreads the play neatly to Daprela on the opposite
flank.

36min - Da Costa thumps the ball away after a Chelsea attack and in so doing
takes a whack from Mitrovic. The Portuguese defender was not happy at that.
N'Gala is then penalised for a foul on Mellis, giving the Blues the chance
to send a free-kick into the box. Josh McEachran takes it but Mitrovic
cannot convert at the back post and the ball runs behind.

34min - Mellis is just flagged offside after Lalkovic thought he had beaten
the Hammers' offside trip.

33min - Edgar and Daprela combine well before Stanislas is sent free into
the box again. Another cross and another clearance, this time to Moncur
whose 20-yarder is deflected wide. Edgar then has a go with a shot that hits
the side-netting.

32min - Olly Lee's raking pass gives Moncur space to the right of the
penalty area before he is fouled. Stanislas takes the free-kick and is close
to picking out Daprela before Chelsea get the ball away.

30min - N'Gala blocks from Lalkovic after Dyer had been out-muscled by two
Chelsea forwards.

28min - N'Gala shows his strength to tidy up after Chelsea looked like
building something in midfield. The defender was not going to lose in that
battle.

27min - Moncur is fouled by Clifford. Da Costa took exception to the tackle
and is being spoken to the referee for something he said in response.

26min - Spence is down after a terrific run down the right wing saw him
reach the corner and cross into the six-yard box. It looks like he clattered
into an advertising hoarding but he is given the all-clear to continue after
about 30 seconds of treatment.

25min - Mitrovic goes down claiming a blow in the face from N'Gala. There
appeared very little contact and the referee waves play on.

22min - Now Mellis has a go from long range. This time the shot is well wide
of Stech's right-hand post.

21min - Clifford tests Stech with a 25-yearder but Stech is able to save
comfortably.

18min - GOAL!- Marko Mitrovic converts from close range after good work from
Milan Lalkovic had worked an opening on the left wing before crossing low in
front of Marek Stech. The Czech keeper could do little to prevent the goal.

16min - Carl Magnay fouls Abdulla. From the resulting free-kick, Dyer plays
a slide-rule pass down the left wing for Stanislas. He does brilliantly to
cut into the box before zipping a low centre into the area that only just
evades Abdulla. Lovely stuff.

15min - Daprela and Edgar show some neat footwork before Conor Clifford
closes out the Hammers spell of possession. The home side are on top.

13min - Da Cosa steps into save a corner and then shows neat footwork to set
the Hammers away. A lovely flowing move sees the ball worked out to the
right wing before running out of play. The groundstaff have done a great job
to get the game on but this weather is making things difficult.

10min - Stanislas tracks back to help Daprela on the left wing but his
clearance goes for a Chelsea corner. Mellis takes but Jordan Spence is able
to head clear.

9min - N'Gala does well to block Jacob Melis off just as the Chelsea No10
looked to have worked an opening in the penalty area. Marek Stech then
collects before being fouled. The rain, meanwhile, continues to pelt down
here.

7min - Alex Dyer will be pleased with the start his team have made,
especially as they possess more experience than their visitors in terms of
Premier League know-how. Manuel da Costa and Junior Stanislas are the others
on view to have played in the top flight while skipper Daprela played in the
FA Cup third-round tie with Arsenal.

5min - GOAL! - Edgar races clear again and shoots low. Rhys Taylor manages
to save but spills the ball into the path of the on-rushing Edgar who makes
no mistake at the second atttempt.

3min - Dyer surges forward and splits the Chelsea defence with a diagonal
pass. Chelsea are able to clear through Seth Ofori-Twumasi. Chelsea counter
and a mis-placed clearance from Bondz N'Gala nearly gifts the visitors an
opportunity before the Hammers recover.

2min - Edgar races through but the assistant referee's flag is up already.
Kieron Dyer is easily th emost experienced performer on view with the
England man in a deep-lying central midfield position.

1min - Ahmed Abdulla and Anthony Edgar get us under way. The Hammers are
captained by Fabio Daprela this evening, fresh from his appearance on the
bench for the first team last night at Old Trafford.

Kick-off

Good evening and welcome to Woodside Park for tonight's Barclays Premier
Reserve League South fixture.

Alex Dyer's side will be looking to secure their first win since beating
Stoke City 5-2 here back on 24 November - exactly three months ago. In that
time, West Ham United's reserves have contested just three matches, losing
out to Birmingham City and Arsenal before drawing with Portsmouth on 20
January.

The Hammers will be boosted tonight by the presence of England midfielder
Kieron Dyer, who scored twice in the victory over Stoke. The 31-year-old
came through 15 minutes as a substitute for the first team at Manchester
United on Tuesday - his first appearance since 15 December at Bolton
Wanderers.

A number of other first-team squad members will line up alongside Dyer,
including goalkeeper Marek Stech, defenders Manuel da Costa, Fabio Daprela
and Bondz N'Gala and midfielder Junior Stanislas.

At the other end of the spectrum, 16-year-old first-year scholar George
Moncur - the son of former Hammers midfielder John - will make his
competitive debut at reserve-team level. Fellow scholar Ahmed Abdulla is
also named in the starting lineup.

With Chelsea's first team in UEFA Champions League action against
Internazionale this evening, the Blues have named a young team. Included is
highly-rated striker Marko Mitrovic, who netted a hat-trick in Chelsea's
thrilling 4-3 Academy League victory over West Ham on 23 January.

West Ham United reserves: Stech, Spence, N'Gala, Da Costa (sent off 66),
Daprela, Dyer (Wearen 59), Lee, Moncur (Kearns 83), Stanislas, Abdulla,
Edgar (Subuola 87)
Subs: Cowler, Brown

Chelsea reserves: Taylor, Ofori-Twumasi, Gordon, McEachran, Bridcutt,
Magnay, Clifford, Matic (Ahamed 46), Lalkovic (Tore 71), Mellis, Mitrovic
Subs: Sebek, Philliskirk, Sala,

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Olympic stadium plan angers Kelly Sotherton
BBC.co.uk

Olympic and world heptathlon bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton has hit out at
West Ham's plans to take over the Olympic stadium after the 2012 Games. New
Hammers owners David Sullivan and David Gold want to leave Upton Park and
lease the newly built stadium in nearby Stratford as the club's new home.
However, Sotherton insists the stadium should remain an athletics venue.
"The legacy should be athletics. It's out of order that football think they
can just come and have it," she said. "We don't have a national athletics
stadium and we need one. We lost our last big stadium to Manchester City in
2002 after a great Commonwealth Games and the fear is now that we'll lose
another one to football. "I'm a massive fan of football and a big Arsenal
fan, but at the end of the day it's our stadium and I think the legacy is to
enable us to stage future world and commonwealth championships - who knows,
maybe another Olympics. "To have an Olympic stadium turned into a football
stadium by a club struggling near the foot of the Premier League, it's out
of order."
West Ham's plans have already met opposition from outside the world of
football, with Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, ex-London mayor Ken
Livingstone and UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner among those speaking out
against the move. One of the arguments is that London would not have won the
2012 Games had the Olympic committee heard that the stadium would be turned
into a football ground. Sullivan and Gold remain unperturbed, though, and
are confident a deal can be struck. Gold believes the deterioration of the
specialist athletics track at Crystal Palace provides an example that an
athletics stadium, in itself, is unsustainable. However, Sotherton told BBC
Five Live: "Of course athletics can't use it every week, but I'm sure uses
can be found for it in the off-season - rock concerts for example. "We just
don't have a stadium that replicates the size and grandeur of an Olympic
stadium. It's something the sport desperately needs."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
His name is Luca, he's been shown the door
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 24th February 2010
By: Staff Writer

Technical director Gianluca Nani has been fired by West Ham United's new
owners, according to reports. The Italian was brought in to assist Alan
Curbishley in the summer of 2008, with his main role being that of chief
scout. However his position (and salary of some £300,000) was considered
surplus to requirements by new joint owners David Sullivan and David Gold,
who are understood to have dismissed the Italian last weekend. Nani, who
joined the club from Serie B outfit Brescia, where he was general manager,
was brought in to West Ham in order to discover the best young talent from
around Europe. However shortly after his arrival the club's financial
situation changed for the worst and Nani was forced instead to hunt around
the bargain bins for free transfers, virtually rendering his position
untenable. Commenting on his arrival at West Ham back in March 2008, Nani
said: "I know that the academy at West Ham is the best in England and maybe
the world, but I think we are in a global market now. If we try to find
players from abroad it doesn't mean that we have to break the best Academy
in England. "We have to improve the English players too because the fans
like to recognise English players. Because we have this power, this capacity
here at West Ham we have to push all the time to find English players
without losing the chance to bring in the best foreign players.
"We have to follow this tradition, we have to keep alive, we have to push -
but it doesn't mean that we have to lose the possibility to get in a player
like Kaka, or Adriano - why not? It'll be a profit for the club, bringing
players from abroad."

Signed by Nani - the good, bad and the ugly

Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson - nominal fee. Currently on loan at Belgian Jupiter
League side KSV Roeselare.

Valon Behrami - £5million, Lazio. First team regular.

David Di Michele - loan signing for the 08/09 season, now playing for Lecce
(officially on loan from Torino).

Walter Lopez - free transfer, barely featured under Gianfranco Zola. Now
playing for Nani's former club Brescia.

Diego Tristan - spent a year at West Ham before being released. Now playing
in the Spanish second division for Cadiz CF.

Savio Nsereko - Nani's biggest flop. Signed with a fanfare for a fee said to
be worth up to £9million, left without a whimper. Sold to Fiorentina, who
have loaned him to Bologna.

Peter Kurucz - Young 'keeper who is currently the understudy to Rob Green.

Luis Jimenez - A huge flop. Sent back to Inter halfway through his loan
spell.

Herita Ilunga - An excellent first season but has failed to match that
performance this term.

Frank Nouble - The first - and only - home grown played signed during Nani's
reign. Currently on loan at WBA.

Fabio Daprela - Promising full back who impressed on his first team debut
against Arsenal in the FA Cup last month.

Radoslav Kovac - Initially signed on loan before making the move permanent
(in a £2million deal). Finally beginning to show signs of his pedigree.

Alessandro Diamanti - Hailed by some as the new Di Canio, said to cost
£5.7million from Livorno.

Manuel Da Costa - Young centre half signed in a swap deal plus cash with
Savio. A regular substitute.

Guillermo Franco - Free transfer and one of the few to make an impression on
the first team

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kelly slams Hammers bid
The Sun
By NICK KING
Published: Today

KELLY SOTHERTON has slammed West Ham's bid to move into the Olympic Stadium
after the 2012 Games, insisting Great Britain needs a world-class athletics
venue. New Hammers owners David Gold and David Sullivan have revealed their
hopes of turning the east London club into a major force depend on moving to
a bigger stadium than Upton Park. But Sotherton, an Olympic bronze medallist
in the heptathlon in 2004, has backed officials who insist the new arena's
main use must be for athletics. Sotherton said: "We don't have a national
athletics stadium and we need one. "We lost our last big stadium to
Manchester City in 2002 after the Commonwealth Games and the fear is that
we'll lose another one to football. "I'm a big Arsenal fan but it's our
stadium and I think the legacy is to enable us to stage future
championships."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Technical director Gianluca Nani leaves West Ham
Gary Jacob
The Times

Gianluca Nani has been dismissed as technical director of West Ham United.
The Italian was given his notice on Thursday, nearly two years since he was
appointed after holding a similar role at Brescia. Nani was the first person
to hold the post at Upton Park, but David Sullivan, the joint-chairman, has
taken a more hands-on role regarding transfers since the recent change in
club's ownership. Nani won praise for signing Valon Behrami but was
criticised for some of his others transfers, including Savio, who cost about
£5 million and left after six months, last summer. Nani had three years left
on his deal.

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West Ham axe technical director Nani as cost-cutting continues - Exclusive
Published 22:45 24/02/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror

Gianluca Nani is set to leave West Ham in the next 24 hours as the latest
victim of the Hammers' cost-cutting which already wiped £15million off the
club's huge debt. Nani, 47, was brought in as the Hammers' sporting and
technical director in June 2008 on a lucrative three-year contract. And the
Italian is very close to compatriot Gianfranco Zola after helping recruit
him as boss. But new West-Ham joint chairman David Sullivan is desperate to
reduce the Upton Park club's debt further from £95m after inheriting debts
of £110m last month. MirrorFootball revealed last October the club was £100m
in debt but Sullivan has taken drastic action since becoming joint chairman
with David Gold. And hands-on Sullivan, who is helping draw up the club's
summer transfer targets, feels West Ham can do without Nani. The Hammers'
legal team have now reached a settlement for the rest of his contract and an
announcement of Nani's exit is due imminently. Former Birmingham co-owner
Sullivan maintains Nani's departure will not affect his relationship with
Zola, which he claims is fine. Sullivan speaks to Zola only once or twice a
week and has always deliberately avoided visiting the training ground for
fear of encroaching on managers.
Sullivan also feels Zola has been normal with him despite his controversial
blast at the club's players before the Birmingham game when he proposed
shock pay-cuts. Meanwhile, Sullivan is looking for British co-investors to
buy out Straumur's remaining 50 per cent stake in West Ham by the end of the
season. Otherwise Sullivan and Gold will increase their shareholding in the
club and inject more money after paying £50million for 50 per cent last
month.

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Olympic medallist attacks West Ham's stadium bid
Published 22:45 24/02/10 By MirrorFootball
The Miorror

Kelly Sotherton has hit out at West Ham's bid to take over the Olympic
Stadium after the 2012 Games, insisting Great Britain needs a world-class
athletics venue. The Hammers, under new co-owners David Gold and David
Sullivan and vice-chairman Karren Brady, have expressed interest in
relocating from Upton Park to the 80,000-capacity arena in Stratford but
have found their overtures played down by Olympics chiefs. Olympics minister
Tessa Jowell and London 2012 chief Lord Coe insist keeping the stadium as a
grand prix athletics stadium was one of the reasons London's bid for the
Games was successful. And Sotherton, Olympic bronze medallist in the
heptathlon in 2004, is adamant the arena's primary use must be for track and
field. "We don't have a national athletics stadium and we need one," she
told BBC Radio Five Live. "We lost our last big stadium to Manchester City
in 2002 after a great Commonwealth Games and the fear is now that we'll lose
another one to football. "I'm a massive fan of football and a big Arsenal
fan, but at the end of the day it's our stadium and I think the legacy is to
enable us to stage future world and commonwealth championships - who knows,
maybe another Olympics."

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Nighty Night Nani
Posted by Billy Blagg
ESPN

Hey-ho whadda I tell ya? The inevitable happened today as Technical Director
Gianluca Nani left West Ham by 'mutual consent'.

This announcement, following the departure of Scott Duxbury some weeks ago,
was safetly predicted by me on the day Gold and Sullivan took over at Upton
Park and I can only assume that Gianfranco Zola may well now be considering
his future at the club; Nani was largely responsible for Zola coming to the
club and there must be little doubt the Italian's power base has now
shifted.

Gianluca Nani had been at the Boleyn Ground for the past two years since
joining from Brescia Calcio in his native Italy. Nani, along with Duxbury,
had big visions for the club and backed by the Icelandic owners before the
banking collapse that plunged the Hammers into the mire, the Italian set-up
changing the fortunes of the East End club by trying to run things along
more european lines. With Nani's vision of 'the project', the club set about
ensuring that future of the club by developing further West Ham's already
impressive youth policy and aligning it by bringing in players scouted from
abroad to provide a more professional platform on which to build success.

Most of Nani's plans seemed to be working well - the purchase of Valon
Berhami perhaps the highlight - but the world banking crisis saw the club
brought to its knees as the owners became virtually bankrupt. The sale of
the club to David's Gold and Sullivan - who have 'projects' of their own -
was bound to bring the new owners into conflict with Nani. Sadly, as is the
way with these things, Nani's legacy would seem to be the purchase of the
virtually unknown Savio Nseresko with some of the money obtained from
selling Craig Bellamy to Manchester City during the transfer window of
2008/09.

West Ham were well-placed for a Europa League spot at the time and, though
the Bellamy sale was seen as good business, the purchase of Savio proved a
costly mistake; the young player 'earmarked for the future' rarely featured
for the Hammers and was sold to Fiorentina in embarrasing circumstances
after appearing in only ten games - only one of which he started! With the
loss of Bellamy and no effective replacement, West Ham's end of season fell
away allowing Fulham to grap the Euro spot. What actually happened with
Savio is still a puzzling mystery.

After the announcement, West Ham United chairman David Sullivan was quoted
as saying: "I would like to thank Gianluca for his contribution to the club
and we all wish him well. With the club heading in a new direction (sic)
since David Gold and I took charge last month, it was felt the time was
right for all parties to move on in an amicable way."

Nani said: "Today, in agreement with the owners of the club, I have resolved
my contract with West Ham United. I would like to take this opportunity to
thank everyone who worked alongside me in this wonderful adventure - the
staff, Gianfranco Zola and the players.

"A special thank you also to the fans who have always supported us and whose
warmth and dedication gave me a passion for this club which will forever
remain with me. Finally, I wish the owners the best possible success in the
future."

For those wondering where the 'Project' is going now, I think we can all be
assured that it has been swept away to be replaced with the new vision of
Gold and Sullivan. Expect Neil Warnock to manage the club next season while
the hotel is turned into a brothel and the matchday programme introduces
tits on page 3 and a swingers section at the back.

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RESERVE REPORT: WEST HAM 2 CHELSEA 1
Posted on: Wed 24 Feb 2010
Chelseafc.com

Chelsea's second string succumbed to an experienced West Ham side in
difficult conditions tonight. The reserves came back from a one-goal deficit
to equalise in torrential rain, thanks to a Marko Mitrovic (pictured)
strike, before conceding the winning goal during the second half. The Blues
were without several reserve regulars while West Ham fielded five players
that travelled to Old Trafford only yesterday evening, including Keiron Dyer
and Junior Stanislas. The last time these two teams met Chelsea secured a
4-1 win thanks to goals from Alex, Daniel Sturridge and a Fabio Borini
brace. None of those players featured in tonight's fixture. Instead the
side, which began in a Christmas tree formation, included Josh McEachran,
Conor Clifford and Nemanja Matic in midfield. Jacob Mellis and Milan
Lalkovic sat behind Mitrovic, who led the attack in his first start for the
reserves. The defence included Nana Ofori-Twumasi, who started brightly for
the Blues. First he broke down the right flank and launched a cross for
Matic before tracking back and intercepting a dangerous through ball into
the Chelsea box. But it took only four minutes for the hosts to take the
lead when Anthony Edgar sprinted beyond the back line. He sent one shot
towards Rhys Taylor, which the keeper parried away, before following up on
the loose ball and calmly slotting home. Chelsea retaliated to the opener
with a succession of corners, all without end product. The pressure was
building for West Ham but they kept calm and organised, catching Chelsea on
the counter-attack. It took until the 20th minute for Mitrovic to equalise
on his starting debut. Lalkovic collected off Mellis and dribbled down the
left side before sending a cross towards the near post where Mitrovic tipped
over the line.
West Ham came back with a couple of chances, but neither George Moncur's
drive at the near post or Ahmed Abdulla's sliding shot found the net. The
first half ended a goal apiece and there was one change before the second
got under way. Apart from the rain, which finally stopped, Matic made way
for Nikki Ahamed in midfield. West Ham had the better of the first 10
minutes following the restart, although neither side threatened either goal.
It took until the hour mark for a real chance to be created. Lalkovic stole
possession from Dyer in midfield and sent a 30 yard shot curling inches past
the post. Only a minute later, West Ham made it two. This time it was Olly
Lee, who cut inside of Liam Bridcutt to tap home a clinical Jordan Spence
cross. An unfortunate situation followed when Mellis was fouled and a
scuffle ensued. It ended with Manuel da Costa earning a red after hitting
out at our number 10, right in front of the referee. Chelsea's best chance
to equalise once more came when substitute Gokhan Tore sent a ball skimming
across the face of goal. Unfortunately a sliding Mellis knocked the ball
wide from close range. It was a tough encounter for a young reserve side,
facing an experienced West Ham team, but overall an impressive performance
from Chelsea's second string.

Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Rhys Taylor; Nana Ofori-Twumasi, Liam Bridcutt, Carl
Magnay, Ben Gordon; Nemanja Matic (Nikki Ahamed H-T), Conor Clifford, Josh
McEachran; Jacob Mellis, Milan Lalkovic (Gokhan Tore 71); Marko Mitrovic.

West Ham (4-4-2): Peter Kurucz; Jordan Spence, Fabio Daprela, Olly Lee,
Bondz N'Gala; Manuel da Costa, Kieron Dyer (Eoin Wearen 62), Junior
Stanislas, Ahmed Abdulla; George Moncur (Daniel Kearns 82), Anthony Edgar
(Danny Subuola 87).

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WEST HAM RES 2-1 CHELSEA RES – BLUES DEFEATED IN TOUGH BATTLE
By Philip Rolfe • on February 24, 2010 • 367 views
Cfcnet.co.uk

With attentions firmly turned elsewhere on a Champions League Wednesday, it
would have been easy to forget that Chelsea's Reserves were in midweek
action with a rescheduled fixture away to West Ham. A young and makeshift
team battled hard in poor conditions throughout but ultimately fell short to
a goal in either half from the hosts.

With Jeffrey Bruma, Gael Kakuta and Fabio Borini in Milan on Champions
League duty and Jacopo Sala only a sub after an achilles injury, Steve
Holland's options were reduced somewhat. Liam Bridcutt was forced to drop
back into central defence, which meant a midfield start for Josh McEachran.
Mitrovic started his first game at this level alongside Milan Lalkovic. The
hosts featured Kieron Dyer, fresh from a first team outing at Old Trafford
24 hours previous, and there was also room for Junior Stanislas and Manuel
Da Costa, whilst George Moncur also debuted in the reserves.

In heavy rain on a pitch which had only been cleared for action earlier in
the afternoon, Chelsea started sluggishly and found themselves a goal behind
inside five minutes. The pacy Anthony Edgar – cousin of Jermain Defoe – sped
clear of the visiting defence and found himself faced with Rhys Taylor. The
Welsh stopper denied him initially, but couldn't hold the effort, and Edgar
was able to continue and tuck the ball into the back of the net. It was a
goal to reflect the early stages of the match, and the more experienced
Hammers were enjoying domination over their younger counterparts.

Not that it would last very long. Against the run of play, Chelsea equalised
after 18 minutes. In a rare foray forwards, Lalkovic found some space on the
left side to work an opening which allowed him to send a cross into a
teasing area. Marek Stech was unable to intercept and Mitrovic was available
to clean up and level the scores with his 14th of the season in all
competitions. It brought about a boost in confidence from Chelsea and they
began to resemble a football team for the first time. Conor Clifford and
Jacob Mellis both chanced their arm from distance in conditions which would
test Stech, but ultimately the Czech Republic youth international was not
worried by either effort.

With the scores tied and the rain slightly relenting, the game settled into
something of a battle, with no major goalmouth action. Mitrovic was
revelling in a battle with towering West Ham centre-backs N'Gala and Da
Silva, whilst Clifford saw his name taken by referee Williams for a late
tackle on Fabio Daprela. Both goalscorers found opportunities to give their
teams an advantage as the game ticked towards half time but Edgar couldn't
meet a Stanislas cross, whilst Mitrovic struggled to get purchase on a far
post effort created by McEachran. The scores would remain level at half
time, and there was no real indication at this point which way the game was
likely to swing.

Nikki Ahamed was introduced at the start of the second half, replacing
Nemanja Matic (who, of course, is not registered for European duty) in
midfield. The second period opened up very slowly and without incident until
Jordan Spence put in a dangerous cross from the right which found nobody. Da
Costa tried a shot from distance which fell tamely wide and it summed up the
match up to that point. Lalkovic beat Dyer to the ball and threatened Stech
from distance with an effort which drifted wide, but it was West Ham who
would re-take the lead on the hour through one of their famous young sons.

Spence got forward again from right back and spun a dangerous ball across
the face of goal. Chelsea were unable to defend it and Oliver Lee, son of
former England and Newcastle midfielder Robert, tucked the ball away neatly
at the far post. On the balance of play they probably deserved it but it was
a little harsh on Chelsea after they had fought their way back into the
game. Carl Magnay had to make a last-ditch challenge minutes later to deny
Ahmed Abdulla the chance to make it three, and almost certainly put the game
to bed.

However, with 25 minutes remaining, Chelsea were given a way back into the
match. A tough tackle from Manuel Da Costa was followed by a reaction from
Chelsea and the typical handbags ensued. Da Costa would be shown a straight
red card, leaving the hosts to play the final quarter with a man down.
Spence moved to centre back with Lee to right back, and Holland threw Gokhan
Tore and Jacopo Sala on for Lalkovic and Ofori-Twumasi to try and seize the
initiative. The pace definitely picked up, with Mitrovic causing worry and a
clearance from N'Gala to prevent a goalscoring opportunity, and the hosts
were firmly penned back as the game was set for a grandstand finish.

Chelsea kept up the tempo and caused problems, with both Edgar and Abdulla
picking up a yellow card, but despite their best efforts the home side kept
turning them away. N'Gala was a colossal presence in the resistance, keeping
Mitrovic at bay as Holland's boys looked to their Swedish striker as a focal
point. They couldn't find the goal to take a point back South with them, but
can take heart from a battling performance in tricky conditions. It's a
disappointing result, but Mitrovic scoring on his full reserve debut and
McEachran looking decent in a congested midfield will be the points to take
away from this one.

Team: Taylor, Ofori-Twumasi (Sala 73), Magnay, Bridcutt (c), Gordon,
Clifford, Matic (Ahamed 45), McEachran, Mellis, Lalkovic (Gokhan Tore 71),
Mitrovic

Goals: Mitrovic '18
Booked: Clifford '41

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David Sullivan a little too 'busy' for West Ham fans?
Date: 24th February 2010 at 4:32 pm
Author: Sefa Atay

How many times do we hear managers complaining about owners who are a little
too involved? As a manager, the last thing you want is to have an owner who
begins to draw too much attention to your club. Especially if, in the case
of West Ham, you are involved in a fight to remain in the Premier League.

The arrival of David's Gold and Sullivan brought some much needed cash to
Gianfranco Zola and his West Ham side. However, despite some impressive
dealings in the January transfer window, Hammer's fans may be getting
slightly tired of the constant comments of David Sullivan.

As if publicly claiming responsibility for the team's win over Birmingham
wasn't enough, Sullivan has also been questioning whether Zola is 'too nice'
to be a good manager. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Sullivan said "Of all
the managers I've dealt with he is the nicest. The question is 'Is he too
nice?' Ossie Ardiles was the nicest guy you could meet but look what he did
to Tottenham. Time will tell. Zola will prove himself over the next few
games."

Instead of the dreaded vote of confidence, it seems Zola has been given the
vote of 'un-confidence'.

In the past month, Sullivan has also announced that he is losing sleep over
the club's league position and described their financial situation as
'disastrous'. Not exactly the best way to propel the team towards Premier
League safety.

As I write this, West Ham have just suffered a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
Hardly a surprising result given the circumstances but it is the games that
follow that will determine the Hammers' fate. Over the next matches, West
Ham host fellow relegation battlers Bolton and Wolves with games away at the
Emirates and Stanford Bridge lodged between. Six points is a bare minimum
and a point in the two away games could prove to be crucial.

Key to this will be confidence and possibly a vow of silence from Sullivan.
As a player, how would you feel if you see the club chairman criticising the
manager? Confused? Unsettled? Or both? A point that the owners should really
take on board.

In my opinion, West Ham will be safe. They have enough talent in their team
to survive this season and, with a bit of investment, they can possibly push
on for Europe next year. However, the future of Gianfranco Zola will not be
so safe after another disappointing season.

If the recent comments are anything to go by, Sullivan's search for a new
manager may already have begun.

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Manchester United defeat angers Zola
11:28am Wednesday 24th February 2010
Guardian Series

IT SPEAKS volumes for the rapid transformation West Ham have enjoyed in the
space of two weeks that their manager Gianfranco Zola expects his players to
go to Old Trafford and come away with something to show for their efforts.
The 3-0 scoreline flattered the defending Premier League champions on
Tuesday evening, as the Hammers more than matched their illustrious hosts
for much of the game. However, for a man so quick to praise his players in
the face of adversity, Zola was critical of his players' performance and
called on them to 'refocus' immediately for a more important game against
fellow relegation rivals Bolton next week. "I'm not very pleased to be
honest," said the Italian. "I think that we were okay until they scored the
first goal and, after that, we should have done more. "I was expecting more
but it's not easy to play against Manchester United when you're 1-0 down.
They don't make it easy for you to come back but we've got no excuses. "We
have to do much better than this and refocus straight away because an
important game for us is coming up next week, it's as simple as that."
While many will have drawn positives from West Ham's ability to frustrate
United for much of the first half, as well as trying to impose their
attacking brand of football, Zola saw only room for improvement. Two
convincing victories over Birmingham City and Hull City in their previous
home games has seen the Irons muscle their way up the league, to the point
they are now one of the favourites to avoid the drop. And, perhaps believing
that his side are still occupying a false position in 13th, Zola clearly
wanted to make something of a statement at the Theatre of Dreams. As it was,
King Midas intervened. Wayne Rooney, hailed by the Hammers boss as the 'man
with the golden touch', nodded his 26th and 27th goals of the season from
two Antonio Valencia crosses either side of the break to set United on their
way. Michael Owen then came off the bench and made it three with a smart
finish. Rooney was earlier denied his hat-trick by defender Julien Faubert,
who tracked back well to clear off the line.

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£32m + £30.75m + £17m (Plus mega salaries) = Extra Class
West Ham Till I Die

Mmmm …. I must admit that my feelings were mixed at the final whistle at
Old Trafford. Whilst naturally disappointed with a 3-0 reverse, I was
actually not displeased with the Hammer's overall performance. I have
attended many matches against Man Utd at Old Trafford over recent decades
and I can assure you that there have been many far worse performances.

It was an expansive Hammers display, but with a crucial lack in the final
third. We had lots of possession, we passed and moved well and created a
number of decent chances. But ultimately there was no final product. On
another night Carlton Cole could well have had an hattrick, but on each
occasion he was just behind the play or his reactions were not quick enough.
Diamanti tested Foster with one of his speculative long range efforts and a
truly wicked left foot drive. While Upson ballooned the ball over the bar
from about 4 foot out! So, no one can deny that we had our chances!

At the other end we were undone by two peices of sheer class, with Berbatov
(£30.75m), Valencia (£17m) and Rooney (£32m) combining beautifully to carve
us open. That's the extra class that expenditure in the region of c.£80m
(plus mega salaries), on three top quality forwards, secures you! Without
labouring the point, West Ham can only dream of laying out that sort of
money on three players. If we could then perhaps our current ambitions
would be very much higher this season (ie. Champions League rather than
avoiding relegation). A unpalatable fact of PL life that should be made,
but not dwelt upon for too long! So, lets move on.

Before the match I had feared that Man Utd would get at our full-backs.
However, all things considered I thought Faubert and Spector did reasonably
well. Yes, Valencia's class told on the right hand side, but Spector did
everything that he could under very difficult circumstances. Personally, I
think Zola should have seen the writing on the wall after the first goal and
done some 'outside of the box' tactical switches. He could have brought
Daprela in on the left and had him double up with Spector to counter
Valencia's threat. Daprela could also have been given the licence, whilst
we were in possession, to get forward, provide extra width on the left and
get at Gary Neville. This would then have allowed Diamanti to come inside
and support Cole through the middle. I feel that this might have worked
better than just substituting Franco for Mido.

If the first two Man Utd goals were just pure class, the third was very
unfortunate from our perspective. Noble was down injured, Faubert lost
posession in a dangerous position and Owen cruelly punished us with a
clinical finish. Yes, 9 times out of 10 the ref would have stopped play to
address Noble's injury, but that is the typical of the way that key
refereeing decisions that have gone against us this season!

At the end of the day, we were beaten by a team who are the reigning PL
Champions and regulars in the Champions League (winning it twice in recent
years). They are a top class act, even minus Ronaldo and Tevez. But there
were still some promising signs for us here, such as the quality of our
overall play, the chances we created and the very good performances of a
number of our players, particularly Tomkins, Kovac, Faubert and Behrami.
This should not be lost in a sea change of opinion from over-optimism to
excessive, negative criticism.

Like Zola, we should accept that they had too much for us, learn from it and
move our focus firmly back to beating Bolton on Saturday week. Yes, we
also have Chelski, Arsenal and Liverpool away fixtures coming up. If we get
a point or two from those matches than I will be very happy, because they
will effectively be a bonus. For me the important thing is to be positive
and give class opposition a real contest. And of course, in the process,
defend our advantage of having a superior goal difference over the teams
down at the bottom of the PL table.

However, our fate will ultimately be decided against the likes of Bolton,
Stoke City, Wigan and Wolves at home. And we have more than enough 'extra
class' of our own to beat opposition of that ilk!

SJ. Chandos.

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