West Ham United are bidding to turn the tide of history at Anfield and the
players are up for the challenge
05.03.2008
Alan Curbishley knows his players are eager to put things right and show
some of the defensive resilience that has rightly brought the club plenty of
plaudits this season.
The Hammers have not triumphed at Liverpool since September 1963 but as
shown by January's first home victory against the Reds for nine years -
there is no need to pay too much attention to such statistics. Instead,
closer inspection has been given to the weekend reverse at the hands of
Chelsea, and how senior players like Lucas Neill, Matthew Upson and Freddie
Ljungberg have led the way in picking things up and wanting better next time
out.
"We looked at it with them," he said. "We spoke about it. They can't quite
believe how it went ... the way we have set ourselves out this season gives
us a chance of getting something and - if we get beat, we get beat - but we
didn't give ourselves a chance." Curbishley, who has plenty of striking
options with Carlton Cole, Dean Ashton, Bobby Zamora and Freddie Sears to
choose from, added: "You have got to keep going because at any given stage
the results can turn around."
He continued: "[Chelsea] was unlike us so far this season. It has steeled us
up for what is coming on Wednesday night and on Sunday [against Tottenham
Hotspur]. We knew we were going into a tough week. We have started off
really badly and can we improve on that on Wednesday?" The manager added
that he and the players understood the fan frustration, claiming "we have
got to try and repay all the people that come to watch us and all the ones
that are going up to Anfield".
Mindful that the club is secure in tenth place compared to last season's
relegation battle when the team had half the number of points achieved now
from 27 games, Curbishley added: "The great thing about football is another
game comes along and you can try and compete and win it. When we were having
that terrible time last year, you look forward to the next one when you can
change your fortunes around."
For all the disappointment caused by the weekend result, he knows the club
are only four points off Portsmouth who most neutrals have claimed "have had
a great season". He added: "I should imagine the next three or four games,
or three or four weeks, will decide where we go and we will see what the
results are like ... I did say at the weekend that we do need to pick up the
majority of our games if we are going to challenge these teams above us."
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Zamora firmly in contention - WHUFC
Bobby Zamora had a taste of the action on Saturday and could get more
playing time at Liverpool
05.03.2008
Bobby Zamora is "raring to go" ahead of West Ham United's trip to Liverpool
on Wednesday while youngsters Jack Collison and Freddie Sears are also in
contention.
The 27-year-old Zamora scored in a 2-1 defeat at Anfield last year and would
relish the chance of being involved. He returned to first-team action on
Saturday with a 25-minute run-out off the bench, having previously had three
reserve-team games after six months out with a knee injury. Alan Curbishley
said: "Bobby is OK. We have been a little bit more careful with Bobby, but
he is in the squad and he is raring to go. I was hoping that one or two of
the fringe players would come back in the run-in just to give us some fresh
legs and fresh minds. He is one of them."
Collison, the 19-year-old reserve-team captain, and 18-year-old striker
Sears have been in tremendous form at reserve-team level, having made the
jump from the Under-18s. Both are also youth internationals with energetic
midfielder Collison having scored twice in three competitive games with
Wales Under-21s and Sears forcing his way into the England Under-19 set-up
with two substitute showings.
"I have got no fears of doing it," Alan Curbishley said when asked if he
would be worried about giving his talented youngsters a run-out. "Freddie
Sears and Jack Collison are in the squad because they deserve to be in it
and not just because of the injuries. [Central defender James] Tomkins has
got a slight groin strain from the last reserve game or he would be in it as
well."
The manager added that the trio had all been regularly involved of late with
the travelling squad as a precursor to getting their chance. Collison has
already made his first-team bow as a first-half replacement for Freddie
Ljungberg at Arsenal on New Year's Day and was also an unused substitute for
the Birmingham City home fixture last month. "I have had them with us so if
they do get their chance it is not too unusual," Curbishley said.
Elsewhere, Scott Parker is continuing to train well after his recovery from
a knee injury but will not return until after the Tottenham Hotspur away
game on Sunday. "We think it is a little bit too early," the manager said.
"We will hold him back for the rest of the week." Julien Faubert, hurt by a
challenge from Claude Makelele in the weekend's 4-0 defeat by Chelsea, is
doubtful. "We have got one or two knocks from Saturday - Faubert being one.
We will see what we have got left. It will be a similar squad [to Chelsea]."
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Noble knows what's needed - WHUFC
Mark Noble is well aware that West Ham United have to 'get our heads up' for
the midweek trip to Liverpool
04.03.2008
Mark Noble told WHUTV he expects West Ham United to "stick together" and go
to Liverpool with a positive approach despite the weekend disappointment
against Chelsea.
The 20-year-old midfielder was a tireless performer again on Saturday but,
like his team-mates, found the visitors from west London in imperious mood.
Noble felt the side started brightly but lost any foothold in the game once
Chelsea were awarded a 17th-minute penalty which was converted by Frank
Lampard. Quickfire strikes after that from Joe Cole and Michael Ballack
ended it as a contest before Lampard's dismissal. An Ashley Cole goal in the
second half rounded out a frustrating day.
"We are thoroughly disappointed," Noble said of his 50th first-team
appearance in an interview with the club's online video service. "I felt the
first ten minutes we were in it, we had a couple of half chances." He
explained that the opening goal came about when Chelsea quickly countered a
home attack that was stopped in its tracks by the referee blowing for a
foul. "They went straight down the other end and got a penalty and it was
all downhill from there."
Noble, who played a decisive role with the only goal when West Ham United
last faced Liverpool on 30 January, is more than up for the Anfield trip in
midweek ahead of a trip to Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday. "We have got to
stick together now and get our heads up for Wednesday. We have just got to
go there and do everything we can to put this behind us and get a result. If
we can do that we will go into the Tottenham game confident and then push on
to the end of the season."
The England Under-21 international revealed there was a determination at the
interval on Saturday to do better but agreed it was always an uphill task.
"We knew that. We went in three- nil down at half-time and wanted to come
out and give a good account of ourselves and not make it a drubbing but we
just couldn't get a goal back. All fairness to them, they stuck behind the
ball well with ten men and really made it hard for us."
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Bob, Fred and Jack in, says Al - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 5th March 2008
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley says that Bobby Zamora is 'raring to go' - whilst youngsters
Fred Sears and Jack Collison have also been named in the squad to face
Liverpool at Anfield tonight. Zamora made his first appearance for the first
team since last August as a substitute against Chelsea last Saturday and is
pushing for a place in the starting XI. Meanwhile the two youngsters are
once again named in the travelling party - as they have been for the last
few games. "Wwe've got one or two knocks from Saturday - Faubert being one,"
said Curbishley. "We'll see what we've got left but it'll be a similar
squad.
"Julien played at Fulham and again on Saturday and still doesn't look 100
per cent - and got another knock from Saturday. "Bobby [Zamora] is okay;
we've been a lot more careful with him as he's been out a long while but
he's in the squad and is raring to go. "Freddie Sears and Jack Collison are
in the squad again tomorrow because they deserve to be in it - and not just
because of the injuries. James Tomkins has got a slight groin strain fromt
he last reserve game otherwise he'd be in it as well. "Scott Parker's
trained for a week but we think it's a little bit too early, so we'll hold
him back for the rest of the week."
With regard to the two youngsters, Curbishley added that if required he
would have no qualms about giving them a place in the team. "I've got no
hesitation in doing it," he confirmed. "I was talking to one or two of the
players yesterday about the youngsters - when do they get a chance to play?
It's so tough in the Premier League now as every game is so important. "But
we've got a run-in now of eleven games so we'll see. I'd like to think
[they'll play], I've got no fears of doing it as they've been in the squad.
"I've taken them consistently over the last six weeks and had them with us -
so that if they do get their chance then it's not too ususual."
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Curbishley: it's payback time - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 5th March 2008
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley is in a positive frame of mind ahead of tonight's Premier
League clash with Anfield. The Hammers - fresh from a 4-0 thrashing at the
hands of Chelsea last weekend - need to pick something up from tonight's
game against Liverpool if European aspirations are to be maintained. Despite
West Ham's appalling record on the red side of Stanley Park, Curbishley
feels that his side are capable of breaking the jinx - and says that his
players owe a good performance to the supporters who were left stunned by
Saturday's spineless display. "We go up there a bit embarrassed about the
weekend," said Curbishley in the pre-match press conference. "We understand
the fans disappointment entirely and we've got to try and repay all the ones
that came to watch us and all those who are going up to Anfield. "We spoke
about it yesterday with the players; if you give them sort of quality
players that amount of time on the ball then you are going to get punished -
and we got punished. "But the great thing is that another game is coming up.
It's a tough one but the great thing about football is that the next game
comes along and you can try and compete and win it. Even when we were having
that terrible time last year we looked forward to the next one where you can
change your fortunes around. "We knew we were going into a tough week. We've
started off extremely badly and can we improve on that Wednesday - because
we've got to really. We're going to a top team and we've got to get back to
where we were."
The Hammers are currently tenth in the Premier League - a safe eight points
ahead of eleventh-placed Tottenham, but four points behind ninth-placed
Blackburn albeit with a game in hand. With sixth place likely to be the
lowest position for a UEFA Cup qualifier the Hammers have to somehow
eradicate an eight point margin - and Curbishley says that must start with a
result tonight. "We're still only a couple of points off Portsmouth who
have had a great season, but we just can't seem to catch Portsmouth and
Blackburn at the moment," he added. "So to do that we've got to win some
games and I should imagine the next three or four weeks will decide where we
go. "I'm hoping one or two will come back to give us more impetus. We had a
great run in last year which conincided with keeping a settled team. I know
I said that we do need to win the majoirt of our games if we're to challenge
these teams above us - and if we don't, we'll stay where we are. "There's so
many different permutations; I finished seventh with Charlton and didn't get
in. If we lose [against Liverpool] it may finish us off in terms of Europe -
but our aim is to finish as high as we can. "We're in no-mans-land a bit at
the moment and we need to get some results to change that. We know we've got
to pick some wins up just to stay in there with a shout. I've won there with
Charlton on a few occasions but I don't think that many people have got good
records against the top four teams. "But we go into it with a bit of
determination after what happened to us at the weekend."
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Now there's a surprise - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 4th March 2008
By: Staff Writer
Frank Lampard's red card from Saturday's Premier League fixture has been
rescinded by the FA. A statement released on the FA's website earlier this
afternoon read: "At a Regulatory Commission hearing today, a claim for
wrongful dismissal from Chelsea's Frank Lampard was upheld. "As a result,
Lampard's three match suspension has been withdrawn."
Lampard - who was greeted with a chorus of 'you let your father down' during
Saturday's game - was sent off after tangling with Luis Boa Morte ten
minutes ahead of half time. The former Hammer, who deliberately landed on
top of Boa Morte before twice kicking out was finally sent off for raising
his hands. Hayden Mullins was sent off whilst for playing for West Ham
United for a similar offence during the league game against Liverpool two
years ago.
West Ham's appeal against the sending off was subsequently dismissed by the
FA meaning that Mullins missed the FA Cup Final, the biggest game of his
career.
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Liverpool v West Ham: Preview - Soccernet
With three key matches in seven days, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez could
shuffle his pack for the game against West Ham, where a win will send the
Merseysiders back into fourth place. Liverpool have Newcastle at home on
Saturday and then Inter Milan away in the Champions League next Tuesday.
And although the Spaniard has intimated he will not be rotating as much now
as the season draws to a climax, he could well change the side that won at
Bolton on Sunday. Steve Finnan is definitely out with a groin strain but it
is unlikely he will continue with Jamie Carragher at full-back, so Alvaro
Arbeloa is a likely replacement. Defender Daniel Agger is still recovering
from injury and will play for the reserves until he regains full match
fitness. Victory over the Hammers at Anfield will have to be achieved with
Liverpool once again distracted by another potential takeover - with Dubai
International Capital keen to take control of the club. And the Anfield
chief, who has lived with this turmoil at the club for months, knows
Liverpool must win their long-awaited game in hand over their closest rivals
if they are to gain the confidence boost of a return to fourth place.
Although West Ham are one of only three sides to beat Liverpool in the
league this season, they have not won a league game at Anfield for 44 years.
So, if West Ham follow up last month's 1-0 win over Liverpool at Upton Park
with another triumph on Wednesday, Benitez will have a real crisis on the
field to surmount anything going on off it. But captain Steven Gerrard is
concerned that West Ham, beaten badly 4-0 at home by 10-man Chelsea on
Saturday, will want to hit back. He explained: "As footballers, when you are
on the end of a battering you hurt and you want to put it right straight
away.
"They will come to Anfield hoping to get a good result, and a good result
for them would be a draw.''
Liverpool have waited the entire season for their game in hand to arrive -
and Gerrard is desperate to pick up three points now it has finally arrived.
But he warned: "West Ham have bought some good players after a disappointing
time for them last season. They have got good players and a good manager, so
we have a lot of respect. "We are desperate for the points though, and we
are at Anfield. We have been waiting for this game for a long time, now we
must make it count.''
West Ham could be without midfielder Julien Faubert for the clash. Faubert
took a knock in a challenge with Claude Makelele during the Hammers' 4-0
home defeat by Chelsea at the weekend, and is struggling to be fit for the
trip. If the Frenchman does recover, manager Alan Curbishley is likely to
name an unchanged squad as his team look to keep alive their hopes of
qualifying for next season's UEFA Cup.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gerrard wary of Hammer blow - SSN
And Mascherano hails 'world class' Alonso
By Peter Fraser Last updated: 4th March 2008
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has warned his team-mates that West Ham
will be keen to ease the pain of their 4-0 defeat to Chelsea when they visit
Anfield on Wednesday. The Hammers crashed to a comprehensive defeat to
London rivals Chelsea at Upton Park at the weekend and Gerrard is wary of a
backlash. Liverpool go into the game knowing that three points would see
them overhaul Everton on goal difference in the battle for fourth spot in
the Premier League. However, Gerrard is demanding the Reds do not take their
game in hand for granted as West Ham - who recorded a 1-0 home win over
Liverpool at the end of January - bid to bounce back.
"As footballers, when you are on the end of a battering you hurt and you
want to put it right straight away," Gerrard told Liverpool's official
website.
"They'll come to Anfield hoping to get a good result, and a good result for
them would be a draw. That's what they'll come here to get, but a draw is no
good for us. "We're desperate for the points, and we're at Anfield. We've
been waiting for this game for a long time, now we've got to make it count."
Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano has described his rival for a place in
Liverpool's first-team Xabi Alonso as one of the 'best midfielders in the
world'. Alonso has had limited opportunities at Anfield this season, but he
impressed in a starting role in the 3-1 away win over Bolton on Sunday and
Mascherano - who recently made his loan stay with the Reds permanent -
admits it was a pleasure to play alongside the 26-year-old. "Xabi played
really well against Bolton and I enjoyed playing with him," said Mascherano.
"It was not a surprise that he played well though because he is such a good
player - he is one of the best midfielders in the world. "He was not in the
team but he kept on working hard in training and even though he is a
Champions League winner he still played for the reserves last week and when
his chance came against Bolton he played very well. "Xabi is a very good
passer of the ball and he is also a very intelligent player. It was good to
play with him."
Liverpool 2/5, Draw 3/1, West Ham 11/2
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Hard Day's Night likely lies ahead for West Ham United - The Times
Gary Jacob
The Beatles were basking in their second No1 hit the last time West Ham
United won at Anfield and Alan Curbishley's side faces another Hard Day's
Night when they return tonight. Curbishley has spent the past few days
trying to 'work it out' with his players where things went wrong on
Saturday.
He was left "embarrassed" by the 4-0 defeat against Chelsea, a performance
that was out of character with their spirited battles with the other
top-four sides this season - they have beaten Manchester United and
Liverpool at home, and only narrowly lost away to Chelsea in December.
West Ham have certainly lacked ingenuity and invention and goals this term,
in part because of injuries, but their back five have bonded into a strong
and organised defensive unit. On Saturday, they burst open at the seams.
"The dressing room was not too bad but the players were embarrassed and
stunned," Curbishley said. "I told the players 'that was a horrible 68
minutes left for us [after Chelsea led 3-0]' and it was even harder for the
fans. We have to repay the fans."
West Ham have lost on their six previous visits to Anfield stretching back
to 1999.
Peters and Hurst scored in their 2-1 victory in September 1963, on the last
occasion they won at the stadium when The Beatles were top of the charts
with She Loves You. Curbishley enjoyed a victory at the ground as Charlton
Athletic manager four years ago. "We have got to get back to where we were,"
Curbishley said. "I didn't realise our record against them was so bad.
Reading turned around eight matches with defeats [against Middlesbrough on
Saturday]. We look at Liverpool and ask: 'Why can't we turn it around'. We
have had a lot of criticism, so can we answer it?
Curbishley retains hopes of qualifying for Europe next season, but at the
very least, they would need to close the eight-point gap to Aston Villa in
sixth place. He admitted that defeat tonight could end their chances of the
Uefa Cup and has said that he will not enter the Uefa Intertoto Cup because
he wants to give the players a sizeable break in the summer "It [defeat] may
finish us off," he said. "The ambition for us is to finish as high as we
can. We are in no-man's land."
The remainder of West Ham's season could be shaped by Sunday, after their
stern challenge away to Tottenham Hotspur. Curbishley has said that he does
not want the players' attitude to drop, but there is every danger of that
with nothing significant to compete for. End of season dips from promising
positions were common when he was manager of Charlton Athletic. "We knew we
were going into a tough week and we have started extremely badly," he said.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kia Joorabchian accuses West Ham - Telegraph
By Richard Bright
Last Updated: 3:02am GMT 05/03/2008
West Ham will be accused in the High Court of entering into a deal without
the Premier League's consent in order to get Carlos Tevez to play in the
final three matches of last season. Kia Joorabchian, the player's
representative, makes the accusation in his multimillion-pound compensation
claim lodged at the High Court. It was reported last night that Joorabchian
was claiming payments of £4.5 million and £2.6 million. The money relates to
the transfer of Tevez from his club in Brazil to Upton Park. In his writ,
Joorabchian claims West Ham asked him to act as a broker between them and
the two companies who owned Tevez's rights to ensure the striker could play
against Bolton at the end of last season. That was at a time when West Ham
were fighting against relegation, and the Premier League had asked the club
to terminate the third-party agreement. The two companies, MSI and Just
Sport Inc, refused to cancel the contract and did not want Tevez to play in
case he was injured. It is also alleged that Tevez received a salary and
expenses that exceeded those paid by West Ham. If that money came from a
third party, then it would breach Premier League rules. West Ham have said
they will launch a "vigorous defence" against any accusations.
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West Ham face £7m Tevez claim
Martin Ziegler
Wednesday March 5, 2008
The Guardian
West Ham United are alleged to have struck deals over the future of their
former striker Carlos Tevez last season behind the back of the Premier
League. Kia Joorab-chian, Tevez's agent, is taking the club to court
claiming £7.1m which he says he is owed by West Ham for his role in Tevez's
stay at Upton Park and subsequent move to Manchester United.
In papers lodged with the high court Joorabchian alleges he paid the club
£2m for West Ham to release Tevez's registration for the transfer to Old
Trafford and that West Ham agreed orally to return the money, plus costs,
amounting to £2.6m. He says he has not been paid that money or a further
£4.5m for separate dealings over Tevez. The league had insisted West Ham be
paid when Tevez moved to United. West Ham have said they will mount a
"vigorous" defence of their position and deny Joorabchian's allegations
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Principle? Fairness? Kia Joorabchian's stand still all about making money -
The Times
Martin Samuel
Kia Joorabchian would like it to be known that his lawsuit against West Ham
United is not about money. It is about principle. He has 7.1 million of
them, apparently, and all were accounted for when he finally got around to
filing his particulars of claim at the High Court of Justice, Chancery
Division.
This document arrived at about 4pm yesterday, even though the lawsuit was
served on West Ham United, the defendants, on January 16. The standard
procedure is that the particulars of claim document arrives within one week
of the suit. West Ham got the defence in quicker, on February 28, which must
be a record.
Anyway, the legal machinations are of interest, but not the heart of the
matter. It is the 7.1 that is the choice part. For a case that is not about
money, that is a specific figure to reach. Joorabchian claims that he was
due £4.5 million as a result of conversations with Eggert Magnússon, the
former West Ham chairman, and Scott Duxbury, the chief executive, that
enabled Carlos Tévez to play in important matches at the end of last season,
and a further £2.6 million after more discussions with Duxbury around the
time of Tévez's move to Manchester United in August. Clearly, Joorabchian is
not the sort for rounding things up, or down.
Indeed, why should he be? This does, however, make him different from the
driving forces at Sheffield United, who arrive at the problem of suing West
Ham through the FA by a different route, still brandishing a finely honed
sense of injustice but a less finely honed set of ballpark figures, with
room for manoeuvre in the tens of millions.
Depending on the news source, Sheffield United wish for compensation for
relegation totalling anything from £20 million to £50 million. In contrast
with Joorabchian, the club work only in multiples of ten, not decimal
points. Sheffield United seek £20 million according to a report in a local
newspaper, while £30 million seems the going rate in the national press and
the BBC has set a top-end figure of £50 million. No 7.1s here. These are
broad brushstrokes that are being painted and, of course, this case, too, is
not about money. It is, you will recall, a campaign for fairness. And fifty
million quid.
Saying that the fallout from the Tévez transfer from Corinthians, in Brazil,
to West Ham is not about money is a bit like believing that Middle East
policy is not about oil. It is about nothing if it is not about that. As
Joorabchian has admitted in his legal documents, the only reason West Ham
had an exceptional international forward such as Tévez in the first place —
along with Javier Mascherano, his Argentina team-mate and one of the finest
holding midfield players in world football — is because Joorabchian owned
the players through the companies Just Sports Inc (JSI) and Media Sports
Investments (MSI) and had forged a relationship with the previous West Ham
board over his prospective purchase of the club.
The arrival of Tévez and Mascherano became almost a sweetener, an indication
of what benefits would follow were Joorabchian to take charge and use West
Ham as an outlet for the greatest young talent in South America. From the
beginning, Tévez and Mascherano were little more than chattel. Joorabchian's
business is to own human beings. Is that a matter of principle, too, or is
financial gain his motivation?
The agreement that West Ham wrote to secure the signature of the players did
not bear scrutiny and eight months later, as Tévez's goals were keeping the
club in the top flight, a record fine of £5.5 million was handed out for
breaching contractual regulations. Since then, while there has been much
fine talk of fairness and decency, the ethics of modern football, honesty
and trust, every mention of Tévez's name has come with a price tag attached.
When a Premier League disciplinary commission measured West Ham's crime in
pounds not points — and the club escaped relegation at Sheffield United's
expense on the final day of the season — the haggling began. Each twist in
the tale has been financially motivated, whatever high-minded posturing has
accompanied it. Newspaper moralists may still call for West Ham's
relegation, or the reinstatement of Sheffield United, but no one at the
Yorkshire club has been asking for that for months.
An FA panel will decide next month whether it has the jurisdiction over
Sheffield United's claim and, if it does, it may sit again in June.
Sheffield United could be in Coca-Cola League One by then, unless their form
under Kevin Blackwell, the club's new manager, improves. If reinstatement
was the aim, how is the FA to replay and rearrange the consequences of 12
months of football across three divisions? More to the point, how could a
club who are seventeenth in the Championship cope with a summary elevation
to the Barclays Premier League? That is why Sheffield United, like
Joorabchian, want money, preferably in a settlement on the steps of the
court, obtained if both parties shout loudly enough.
This has been Joorabchian's tactic since last summer. He claims to have a
strong case, one that will send shock waves through football. So why conduct
a campaign of vague insinuation through the media, going back to July, when
he threatened to appear on Sheffield United's side in a High Court hearing.
That did not happen and when West Ham and Joorabchian's companies met in
August, the settlement resulted in £2 million going into the coffers of the
club, in exchange for the release of Tévez's registration, which then
facilitated a move to Manchester United. This forms part of Joorabchian's
claim, with the accusation that West Ham privately agreed to pay back the
money, plus legal fees of £600,000.
However, the question remains, if Joorabchian had so much damning additional
evidence over the Tévez transfer, so many entitlements and fees outstanding
— he was still short of the £4.5 million he says was agreed at the end of
last season, remember — why was this not dealt with, formally, at the time?
Why was nothing put in writing? Joorabchian does seem a very trusting sort
if he is willing to do £7.1 million of business, covering loan fees,
transfer fees, insurance fees and sundry agent's fees, on trust.
Do West Ham come out of this business well? Not at all. They have rejected
Joorabchian's allegations, but the mud will stick. Whatever the court
decides, there will always be the suspicion that the Tévez business from
beginning to end was mired in controversy. Even those who are sympathetic to
men who are forced to negotiate the moral cul-de-sacs of the modern game
feel angered by this. West Ham's regime may have changed twice since Tévez
arrived, but Duxbury remains at the club so they are steered on a day-to-day
basis by a man who may be dragged into court to answer the allegations made
by Joorabchian.
Magnússon, an ally of Björgólfur Gudmundsson, the owner, has sold his
interest and left under a cloud, having been held responsible for some
extravagant business in the transfer market. He was seen as the man left
holding the baby over Tévez when news of the third-party agreements broke,
but his reputation is also sure to take a beating over this. At the moment,
though, it is one man's word against another's, and on neither side is there
a character to which neutrals will warm.
The bottom line. Is it possible that a sharp operator such as Joorabchian
got some foolish statements of intent from former board members at West Ham?
Yes. Does anything exist in writing? Not by the sounds of it. "There were
agreements in place," Joorabchian said last week. "It might have been in
conversations, but it was in front of witnesses."
At this point, then, before hard evidence has to be produced, the most that
can be said is that Joorabchian and West Ham strayed into the legal
quicksand of the gentlemen's agreement; the sort of verbal understanding
that ensured that Tim Howard could not play for Everton against Manchester
United, his former club, and Steve Kabba could not play for Watford against
Sheffield United, his former club, last season despite being signed as
permanent transfers. The Premier League investigated both cases but, with
nothing formally in writing, said that further action could not be taken.
Indeed, because West Ham were attempting to persuade Tévez to stay and would
have needed to have kept lines of communication open with Joorabchian, all
conversations could be classed as the meanderings of pre-contractual
negotiation until an executed document is produced.
The Premier League has no plans to investigate the Tévez transfer further
unless there is watertight evidence that new arrangements contravened
regulations. Something on paper may do it; something murmured over cocktails
at Les Ambassadeurs would not.
The Premier League told West Ham to end all third-party agreements over
Tévez, knowing that this would leave them open to legal action from his
owners, and the club would have to deal with that as best they could. There
is no shock that the fallout has been messy and protracted; indeed, it was
expected.
As for Joorabchian's threat that the whole truth will now come out, the only
surprise concerns the implication that Tévez's owner could not therefore
have disclosed all his evidence to the Premier League panel or the High
Court. If West Ham have been acting as he suggests why has he not broken
ranks until now? What did he have to gain? Particularly when he is so
concerned about matters of principle and not interested for one second in
all that dirty money.
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Hammers owe me £7.1m for Tevez, claims Joorabchian - Daily Mail
By LEE CLAYTON - More by this author »
Last updated at 00:00am on 5th March 2008
West Ham agreed to pay the owner of Carlos Tevez £4.5million to 'make him
available' to play in the final three games of last season, according to
sensational new allegations to be heard in the High Court. Kia Joorabchian
claims that last April, just 24 hours after an original deal had to be torn
up when the Hammers were fined for breaches of Premier League rules, he
reached a new agreement with former club chairman Eggert Magnusson and
executive director Scott Duxbury. Under the deal, he ensured Tevez would not
miss the crucial final games of the season — another clear breach of Premier
League rules. Tevez duly played and his goals kept West Ham in the top
flight. But Joorabchian claims West Ham never honoured the deal. He alleges
they owe him a further £2.6million after a second secret deal was struck
last July to allow the transfer of Tevez to Manchester United. The Premier
League refused to sanction the move unless money was paid directly to West
Ham. According to court papers, Duxbury, 'agreed orally' that, in order to
overcome the difficulty, Joorabchian would pay £2million to satisfy the
Premier League but that the money would be returned to him by January 31
this year. He says he has not been paid. Joorabchian is said to have "tapes,
texts and witnesses" to support the action and Sheffield United, relegated
in West Ham's place, will follow it closely. West Ham deny all the claims.
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West Ham's Parker nearing return
tribalfooball.com - March 04, 2008
West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley has revealed midfielder Scott Parker
will make his playing comeback next week. He told whufc.com: "We will hold
him back for the rest of the week."
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Curbishley hints at surprise West Ham selection tonight
tribalfootball.com - March 04, 2008
West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley has hinted he may spring a selection
surprise tonight at Liverpool. "I have got no fears of doing it," Curbishley
told whufc.com when asked if he would be worried about giving his talented
youngsters a run-out. "Freddie Sears and Jack Collison are in the squad
because they deserve to be in it and not just because of the injuries.
[Central defender James] Tomkins has got a slight groin strain from the last
reserve game or he would be in it as well."
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West Ham boss Curbishley reveals crunch players' meeting
tribalfooball.com - March 04, 2008
West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley has revealed they've held crunch talks
after Saturday's thrashing by Chelsea. Ahead of tonight's trip to Liverpool,
Curbs told whufc.com: "We looked at it with them. We spoke about it. They
can't quite believe how it went ... the way we have set ourselves out this
season gives us a chance of getting something and - if we get beat, we get
beat - but we didn't give ourselves a chance.
"[Chelsea] was unlike us so far this season. It has steeled us up for what
is coming on Wednesday night and on Sunday [against Tottenham Hotspur]. We
knew we were going into a tough week. We have started off really badly and
can we improve on that on Wednesday?" The manager added that he and the
players understood the fan frustration, claiming "we have got to try and
repay all the people that come to watch us and all the ones that are going
up to Anfield".
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Liverpool's Mascherano has nothing to prove to West Ham - Benitez
tribalfooball.com - March 04, 2008
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez doesn't expect any special attention for Javier
Mascherano against his former club West Ham United tonight. Benitez told
liverpoolfc.tv: "I don't think so. Javier is a player who has already shown
the quality he has. I think it will be another important game for him, but
nothing else."
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West Ham face a big challenge at Anfield - The Mirror
By Neil Mcleman 5/03/2008
Alan Curbishley admits West Ham face another Hard Day's Night as they seek
their first win at Anfield since 1963. The Beatles were No.1 with She Loves
You and Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst scored the last time the Hammers
triumphed in front of the Kop. Curbishley wants the "embarrassment" of
Saturday's 4-0 thrashing by Chelsea to inspire West Ham to Get Back into
European contention. "I don't think many people have a good record against
the top four teams - but we go into it with some determination after the
weekend," said Curbishley (inset), whose brother Bill managed The Who.
"'Embarrassed' and 'stunned' are two words we could use and I hope I never
see it again. "It is something we are not going to forget but Liverpool have
got so much quality in their side that on any given day they can hurt
teams."
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Liverpool ace set for £8million Hammers switch? - FansFC.com
07:03 March, 5, 2008
West Ham United Football Club have been linked with a swoop on Anfield. The
Hammers are still very much in the race for a European place next season,
following a campaign which has been made all the more impressive when all
their injuries are considered. Reports claim Alan Curbishley will be handed
a substantial transfer kitty in the region of £30million at the end of the
season, and £8million of this could be heading to Liverpool. It is believed
the Upton Park club have made a striker their priority for when the window
opens, and Curbishley hopes to tempt Peter Crouch to move south to spearhead
his attack.
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Returning Hammers back for finale - TeamTalk
Alan Curbishley believes the return of Scott Parker and Bobby Zamora can
provide West Ham with crucial "impetus" for the rest of the season. Although
neither player is likely to feature in Wednesday night's Premier League
match at Liverpool, both are close to full fitness after long spells on the
sidelines.
The Hammers' season has been notable for the enforced absence of several key
players - with Craig Bellamy, Parker, Zamora and Kieron Dyer just four of
the players who have featured little because of injuries. Curbishley
revealed: "Parker has been training this week, but it is still a little too
early for him - and we have been holding him back. "With the injury
situation, we have had to take more care with some than we have with others.
"Bobby has been out a long while with his knee injury, whereas we had to
push Julien Faubert into the team early after he had come back from his
Achilles problem. "We have had to be more careful with Bobby, but he is
raring to go now. "We hope that one or two of those injured players will
come back into the reckoning, to give us some fresh legs and fresh minds."
Although his team are 10 points adrift of Liverpool with just 11 league
matches still to play, Curbishley continues to harbour hopes of European
football for his team next season. But the former Charlton manager knows
defeat at Anfield - where West Ham have not won since September 1963 - would
virtually extinguish their hopes of qualification for next season's UEFA
Cup. Curbishley admitted: "If Liverpool won, it might finish us off in terms
of breaking into the European places. We're in no man's land - and we need
to change that. There are so many permutations, but it looks this season as
though finishing seventh or even sixth might not be good enough to get into
the UEFA Cup. We are not too far behind Portsmouth, Blackburn and Manchester
City - but we just can't seem to catch them at the moment. "We don't want
the season to peter out. If we lose, we don't seem to go anywhere, and if we
win, we don't seem to go anywhere. The next three or four weeks will decide
our fate."
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