West Ham United have responded to allegations made against officials of the
Club by Kia Joorabchian
05.03.2008
West Ham United totally refutes all of the allegations made against
officials of the Club by Kia Joorabchian. Those allegations, and the
financial claims which accompany them, are wholly without foundation.
Mr Joorabchian appears to be confusing demands that he has made on the Club
with the notion that they were ever agreed. They were not and no agreements
of the kind alleged were ever concluded. Discussions did take place at
various times with Mr Joorabchian, as a representative of MSI and JSI, with
regard to the future of Carlos Tevez with West Ham United after the end of
the 2006/07 season but they were unsuccessful and therefore no agreement was
possible.
Moreover, Mr Joorabchian has omitted to recognise that a full and final
settlement with West Ham United was concluded when he agreed to settle all
outstanding claims against the Club on behalf of his companies MSI and JSI
in August of last year.
In short, these matters have already been the subject of the court process
and as far as the Club is concerned fully disposed of. Nevertheless the Club
is quite prepared to resolve them further via a full Court hearing if
necessary.
Threats and allegations are easy to make but the Court process decides
cases, and will decide this case, on the basis of real evidence and a proper
consideration of the facts. That is why West Ham United has no doubt that Mr
Joorabchian's claim will, in due course, be dismissed.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool too strong at Anfield - WHUFC
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard were in imperious form to see off West
Ham United on Wednesday
05.03.2008
Liverpool 4-0 West Ham United
A Fernando Torres hat-trick and another from Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool a
4-0 home victory and left West Ham United still looking for a first win at
Anfield since 1963.
The Spain striker struck his first two from Dirk Kuyt crosses before
slotting in a late third in a strong finish that saw Gerrard also get in on
the act to return the Reds to the top four. Alan Curbishley's tenth-placed
side had won 1-0 in the previous meeting back at the Boleyn Ground at the
end of January but found Rafael Benitez's men in irresistible form on a
chilly evening on Merseyside.
The visitors only change in a 4-5-1 formation saw Nolberto Solano in for the
injured Julien Faubert with Carlton Cole as the lone striker supported from
the left and right by Luis Boa Morte and Freddie Ljungberg. After six
minutes of home pressure, it was Cole who created the first opportunity for
the visitors. His flick found Mark Noble but he did not connect cleanly. A
minute later Kuyt nodded back a John Arne Riise cross for Torres but his
header was off target.
Liverpool had sounded a warning and 60 seconds later were in front. Kuyt's
right-wing cross was met by Torres on the penalty spot and he swept the ball
beyond the diving Robert Green. Liverpool then poured forward for a second.
Javier Mascherano tried his luck from distance only for the goalbound shot
to be deflected wide. The Hammers could have been level though in the 12th
minute when Hayden Mullins split the Reds defence and Boa Morte burst
through. He rounded Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal but Xabi Alonso got
back to clear.
Mascherano had another dig from distance just after the quarter-hour mark,
moments after a terrific Matthew Upson block had denied Steven Gerrard. Cole
got a half-chance on 20 minutes, after Boa Morte's bright play, but was
denied by Jamie Carragher just as he let fly to the left of goal. Up the
other end, Gerrard nearly picked out Carragher on 26 minutes but the
defender was just unable to reach the captain's free-kick.
As the half-hour approached, Gerrard - this time from a corner- found Martin
Skrtel at the near post and his flicked header only just cleared Green's
crossbar. Liverpool were still in the ascendancy, with Gerrard everywhere in
midfield and he nearly squeezed the ball in on 37 minutes with a stabbed
effort towards goal that Green saved.
Cole earned his eighth booking of the season soon afterwards for an aerial
challenge on Alonso. Just before the break, only an Upson intervention
denied the marauding Riise before Mascherano made it a hat-trick of misses
from long-range. Gerrard picked up where he left on in the second half,
fizzing a teasing ball across the box.
Mascherano fouled Boa Morte in the 50th minute which allowed Solano to test
Reina with a lofted shot. Within seconds, Liverpool launched a counterattack
that saw Solano back in a defensive position to cut out a Ryan Babel cross
that was destined for Kuyt. Babel was a lively presence and was soon testing
Green with a fierce low shot that the goalkeeper did well to smother. On the
hour mark, Liverpool made it two when Kuyt again picked out Torres, who
headed in from a central position.
Within three minutes of that hammer blow, Matthew Upson had to go off to be
replaced by Jonathan Spector - the same time as Yossi Benayoun entered for
Kuyt. Torres nearly had a third on 66 minutes, heading against the post from
Gerrard's whipped cross. That was the cue for Bobby Zamora and Dean Ashton
to enter the fray for the final 20 minutes but it was always going to be an
uphill task as Liverpool sent on Jermaine Pennant for Babel.
Ashton teed up Noble for a half chance with ten minutes to play but 20
seconds later Torres was able to complete his hat-trick by slotting the ball
under Green. He was immediately substituted to much acclaim, with England
striker Peter Crouch coming on in his place. It was 4-0 almost immediately
with Gerrard allowed to run to the edge of the penalty area before flashing
in a shot beyond Green that completed a miserable night on Merseyside.
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Upson (Spector 63), McCartney,
Solano (Ashton 69), Mullins, Noble, Ljungberg, Boa Morte, Cole (Zamora 69)
Subs: Wright, Pantsil
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Riise, Babel (Pennant 76),
Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Kuyt (Benayoun 63), Torres (Crouch 82)
Subs: Itandje, Hyypia
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Curbs expecting a response - WHUFC
Having seen two straight 4-0 defeats by top-four sides, Alan Curbishley
wants a quick upturn in fortune
06.03.2008
Alan Curbishley is looking to his squad to still "finish the season
strongly" after coming up short for the second time in a week against
Champions League-standard sides.
West Ham United were undone by a Fernando Torres hat-trick and a wonder
strike from Steven Gerrard at Anfield on Wednesday but, for all the hosts'
brilliance, Curbishley expected better having watched his side lose by the
same margin at home to Chelsea on Saturday. "We made no impression on
Liverpool at all in any area of the pitch," he said. "We were second best
for the second time in four days. I knew they were going to be tough games
but I didn't expect those performances.
"We have let ourselves down but we have got to move on to the next game [at
Tottenham Hotspur] on Sunday and we have got to try and get ourselves back
on track. We have played two top sides and they have demonstrated why they
are top sides. Their finishing has been clinical and they have looked
stronger all over the park. It is something we have got to think on."
Curbishley and his players held a post-match meeting in the Anfield dressing
room and said there was a determination to put things right. "We did have a
discussion about why we think it hasn't happened. I have got to see if I get
a response on Sunday. I have got a good bunch of lads. We find ourselves in
a situation where if we can finish the season strongly it bodes well for
next year."
Reflecting on making "no impression at all" on "two Champions League sides"
and the "disappointment" felt, he said: "It is very difficult when you play
against the top sides because they have got players that can just change a
game in an instant. It has also been the personnel that have been available
... I have had to do what I think is right. The club is sitting tenth, there
are a few other clubs that would like to be sitting there."
Curbishley confirmed that Matthew Upson had picked up a calf strain -
meaning his replacement Jonathan Spector may have to start there against
Tottenham on Sunday should the ever-present miss out. With the chance to
move eleven points clear of their north London rivals, the expectation is
still for a positive end to a difficult week. "It makes it a big game for us
on Sunday ... we shouldn't take [our position] for granted. There are ten
other clubs that would like to be where we are at the moment.
"We don't want the season to drift. We are in a bit of no-man's land at the
moment. If we get a result we don't seem to go anywhere and if we don't get
a result we don't seem to go anywhere. But we have got the run-in. In the
last six games we have played Liverpool twice and Chelsea. That has been
tough but we have now got to attack the opposition we have left and pick
some points up."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool 4-0 West Ham
By Paul Fletcher
Fernando Torres scored a hat-trick as Liverpool won their game in hand to
move above Everton and into fourth place in the Premier League. Torres
superbly finished Dirk Kuyt's low cross from 12 yards and struck after the
break with a header following another cross from the Dutchman. The Spain
striker hit the post with a diving header before netting his third with a
low finish from a tight angle. Steven Gerrard scored the fourth with a
spectacular long-range effort. It was a crucial win for the home team in the
context of the scramble for fourth spot - and with it a place in next
season's Champions League. Until they scored the decisive second goal it was
a far from scintillating performance by Liverpool, who at times lacked
urgency and were wasteful from set pieces. But West Ham, defeated 4-0 by
Chelsea on Saturday, rarely looked as though they would force their way back
into the contest after Torres struck early on. By the time Alan Curbishley
introduced Dean Ashton and Bobby Zamora after 69 minutes the game had gone -
and it was the home team who added to their tally with two late goals.
Liverpool started with a real sense of purpose and should have scored even
before Torres' eighth-minute opener. John Arne Riise, recalled to the team,
crossed from the left and Kuyt headed the ball back across goal to Torres,
who missed the target from six yards. The Spaniard soon made amends with his
16th goal in the Premier League. Torres got across Anton Ferdinand and
showed superb technique to drill home Kuyt's low cross from the right. The
goal marked the end of Liverpool's early dominance, with West Ham gradually
feeling their way into the contest.
Pepe Reina charged from his goal after the ball was slipped through to Luis
Boa Morte and the West Ham striker eased past the Liverpool keeper before
shooting from a tight angle. The ball seemed to be heading goalwards before
a superb sliding effort from Alvaro Arbeloa diverted it out for a corner.
The game went through a dour, chanceless phase, before Liverpool pushed for
a second goal in the period before half-time. Martin Skrtel narrowly missed
with a header at the near post while Gerrard toe-poked a cross from Ryan
Babel towards the bottom corner of the West Ham goal that produced an
excellent low save from Robert Green. Liverpool forced the first good effort
of the second half, with a superb disguised pass from Gerrard creating an
opening for Babel, who forced a decent save from Green. But it was mediocre
fare, with errant passes and niggling fouls upsetting the flow of the game.
Torres brought the contest back to life with his precise header into the top
corner, but in truth the West Ham marking was dreadful and the striker was
under no pressure as he extended his team's lead. And having established a
two-goal cushion, Liverpool took complete control. Torres met a superb cross
from Gerrard with a diving header that rebounded off the woodwork. But he
completed his third hat-trick for Liverpool after easily skipping past Lucas
Neill and passing the ball into the net. Gerrard finished the scoring with
his spectacular strike after the Hammers defence backed off and allowed him
to run at goal.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez: At the end I was really pleased with the
performance of the team. "Torres is on fire and that is good for him and
fantastic for the team. "We now have a really important game game against
Newcastle and we have to make sure we get three points."
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley (whose team lost 4-1 to Chelsea on Saturday):
"We made no impression on Liverpool at all. "It's the second time in four
days we've played a top side and we knew it would be a tough game but we did
not expect this. We have let ourselves down."
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Riise, Gerrard, Mascherano,
Alonso, Babel (Pennant 76), Kuyt (Benayoun 63), Torres (Crouch 82).
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Hyypia.
Goals: Torres 8, 61, 81, Gerrard 83.
West Ham: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Upson (Spector 63), McCartney, Solano
(Ashton 69), Noble, Mullins, Ljungberg, Boa Morte, Cole (Zamora 69).
Subs Not Used: Wright, Pantsil.
Booked: Cole, Neill, Noble.
Att: 42,954
Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Liverpool's Fernando Torres on 9.14
(on 90 minutes).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We've let ourselves down - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 6th March 2008
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley admitted that his team were simply not good enough at
Anfield last night. West Ham suffered a second successive 4-0 drubbing, the
latest at the hands of Liverpool meaning that his side have now conceded
eight goals inside a week without reply. But whilst confessing that he was
'very disappointed' Curbishley says that his immediate task is to lift the
team ahead of the weekend's big derby against Tottenham. "In the last two
games we have played two top sides and made no impression against them," he
said. "We knew it would be a tough game but we did not expect this. We have
let ourselves down. "Liverpool deserved their result. They were too strong,
too sharp and we have got to get on with it. We knew it was going to be
tough and to let in goals very early it is always going to be very
difficult. "We are very disappointed and we have got to pick ourselves up
for the next game."
Curbishley - who was once again pilloried by the travelling fans who chanted
'boring, boring West Ham' in response to his decision to persist with a lone
striker - also called upon his team to 'get back to basics', whilst
insisting that United's season is still alive. ""We never looked like
picking up anything up from the last two games and we have lost our way a
little bit. We weren't good enough," he said. "We go to Spurs on Sunday and
that is another tough game. Bit if we can pick something up there we will be
back on track."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Put up or shut up - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 6th March 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United FC have hit back at Kia Joorabchian, telling the agent that
he has no evidence to support his demands for £7m.
Joorabchian served a writ on the club last month claiming that he was owed
two payments relating to the transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javi Mascherano
totalling just over £7m, before hinting that he had evidence in the form of
text messages and recordings of telephone messages to support his claims.
But the club hit back at Joorbachian last night, telling the former MSI
front man that his claims were groundless and doomed to failure. A statement
released on whufc.com ahead of West Ham 4-0 thrashing at Liverpool last
night read:
"West Ham United totally refutes all of the allegations made against
officials of the Club by Kia Joorabchian. Those allegations, and the
financial claims which accompany them, are wholly without foundation.
"Mr Joorabchian appears to be confusing demands that he has made on the Club
with the notion that they were ever agreed. They were not and no agreements
of the kind alleged were ever concluded.
"Discussions did take place at various times with Mr Joorabchian, as a
representative of MSI and JSI, with regard to the future of Carlos Tevez
with West Ham United after the end of the 2006/07 season but they were
unsuccessful and therefore no agreement was possible.
"Moreover, Mr Joorabchian has omitted to recognise that a full and final
settlement with West Ham United was concluded when he agreed to settle all
outstanding claims against the Club on behalf of his companies MSI and JSI
in August of last year," the statement added.
"In short, these matters have already been the subject of the court process
and as far as the Club is concerned fully disposed of. Nevertheless the Club
is quite prepared to resolve them further via a full Court hearing if
necessary.
"Threats and allegations are easy to make but the Court process decides
cases, and will decide this case, on the basis of real evidence and a proper
consideration of the facts. That is why West Ham United has no doubt that Mr
Joorabchian's claim will, in due course, be dismissed."
Joorabchian has used contacts in the media - notably at the Daily Express
and Daily Mirror - to spread rumours suggesting that he had evidence to
support his claims. But given that much of it is likely to be inadmissible
in court due to the nature in which it was obtained West Ham clearly feel
that they have no case to answer.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool 4 West Ham Utd 0 - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 5th March 2008
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley's West Ham United were humiliated for the second time inside
four days after a shambolic performance at Anfield tonight.
On Saturday a diabolical first half saw the Hammers three down at the break
against Chelsea. Tonight it was the second 45 that proved to be equally
damaging as the Hammers went down with barely a whimper against a Liverpool
side chasing a Champions League place.
Alan Curbishley said that his players had been left 'embarrassed' by their
performance against Chelsea and promised that a repeat performance would not
occur tonight. However his words proved to be hollow as the home side
inflicted a defeat as damaging as that sustained on Saturday afternoon.
As if the four goals conceded weren't bad enough West Ham's impotence in
front of goal continues to be a huge worry. United have scored just 31 goals
in 28 games and managed just two efforts on goal tonight - one less than in
Saturday's thrashing.
The writing was on the wall after just eight minutes when Liverpool opened
the scoring with what was only their second effort on goal of the night. A
Dirk Kuyt cross from wide right took a deflection off George McCartney
before being turned home by Fernando Torres who had left Anton Ferdinand
rooted to the spot.
West Ham briefly threatened to get back in the game when Luis Boa Morte had
what turned out to be United's best chance of the night when he rounded Pepe
Reina before firing narrowly over the bar.
However that was as good as it got for the Hammers and they spent much of
the remainder of the first half on the back foot. Indeed, Curbishley's side
were perhaps slightly fortunate to go into the break with a full quota of
eleven men as captain Lucas Neill could count himself lucky to get away with
a deliberate hand-ball inside the area seven minutes ahead of the break.
Liverpool came out after the break determined to put the game beyond any
doubt, and Rob Green had to be on his best form to prevent efforts from
Skrtel and Babel registering. However a second goal was inevitable and it
came on the hour mark from Torres who again latched onto a Kuyt cross - this
time with his head.
At this point the Hammers simply switched off, and it was anyone's guess
what the final score would be. In the end Liverpool managed to add just two
more; Torres completed his hat-trick nine minutes from time before Gerrard
added a fourth two minutes later. But for a poor start to the half West Ham
could have been going home with an even heavier defeat to contemplate.
Once again the under-fire Alan Curbishley bore the brunt of the travelling
fans' discontent; chants of 'you don't know what you're doing' and 'boring,
boring West Ham' rang out from the away enclave leaving the beleagured
Curbishley in no doubt what those who had forked out several hundred pounds
in the last week only to be rewarded by two absolutely dire performances
thought of him and his woeful team.
To add insult to injury West Ham's impressive +8 goal difference has been
whittled away in the space of just four days. How Curbishley picks his
players up for this weekend's big London derby against Tottenham - or at
least makes them look interested - is anyone's guess.
Match Facts
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Riise, Skrtel, Carragher, Gerrard, Mascherano,
Alonso, Babel (Pennant 76), Kuyt (Benayoun 63), Torres (Crouch 82).
Subs not used: Itandje, Hyypia.
Goals: Torres (8, 60, 81), Gerrard (83).
West Ham United: Green, Neill, McCartney, Ferdinand, Upson (Spector 63),
Noble, Mullins, Solano (Ashton 69), Ljungberg, Boa Morte, Cole (Zamora 69).
Subs not used: Wright, Paintsil.
Booked: Cole (40), Neill (55), Noble (87).
Referee: S.Bennett.
Attendance: 42,954.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Torres treble nails Hammers - SSN
Reds move above Everton on goal difference after easy win
Last updated: 5th March 2008
Liverpool moved up to fourth spot above Everton with a 4-0 thumping of West
Ham at Anfield. Fernando Torres was the star of the show with a superb
hat-trick to take his tally to the season to 24 goals with Steven Gerrard
grabbing the other goal with a stunning strike from the edge of the box.
Torres broke the deadlock after just eight minutes when he swept home Dirk
Kuyt's cross with a brilliant finish. The Spaniard doubled the lead just
past the hour mark when he headed home Kuyt's cross and he completed his
hat-trick with a cool finish nine minutes from time. Gerrard put the seal on
a fine night for Rafa Benitez's men with a trademark shot into the top
corner from the edge of the box on 83 minutes. The win lifts Liverpool above
Everton on goal difference in the race to finish fourth, while the defeat
was West Ham's second 4-0 loss in four days.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers refute claims - SSN
Hammers say claims are "wholly without foundation"
Last updated: 5th March 2008
West Ham have dismissed allegations and compensation claims made by Carlos
Tevez's advisor Kia Joorabchian. He has alleged that the Hammers entered
into private agreements without the Premier League's knowledge to ensure
Tevez would be available to play in the final three matches of last season.
Joorabchian has also claimed in papers lodged with the High Court that West
Ham owe him a total of £7.1million, which he asserts should have been paid
by 31st January. But the Hammers have dismissed both his allegations and
compensation claims. In a statement released on Wednesday, the club said:
"West Ham United totally refute all of the allegations made against
officials of the club by Kia Joorabchian. "Those allegations, and the
financial claims which accompany them, are wholly without foundation.
No agreements
"Mr Joorabchian appears to be confusing demands that he has made on the club
with the notion that they were ever agreed. They were not and no agreements
of the kind alleged were ever concluded. "In short, these matters have
already been the subject of the court process and as far as the club are
concerned fully disposed of. Nevertheless the club are quite prepared to
resolve them further via a full court hearing if necessary. "Threats and
allegations are easy to make but the court process decides cases, and will
decide this case, on the basis of real evidence and a proper consideration
of the facts. "That is why West Ham United have no doubt that Mr
Joorabchian's claim will, in due course, be dismissed."
The Hammers were fined £5.5million for breaching Premier League ownership
rules when they signed Tevez but the Argentina striker was allowed to play
on after the club convinced authorities that all third-party arrangements
had been torn up. However, Joorabchian claims West Ham asked him to broker
an agreement with the two companies who own Tevez's economic rights - Media
Sports Investment and Just Sports Inc - to ensure the striker could play in
the final matches of last season. It is claimed MSI and JSI were not keen on
Tevez playing in case he was injured, although the player himself was
desperate to help West Ham survive.
Alleged
Joorabchian has also alleged that he paid West Ham £2million to release
Tevez's registration so he could join Manchester United - but he also claims
West Ham had agreed to repay that money. If either allegation is proved, it
could mean West Ham were acting contrary to undertakings they had given to
the Premier League over Tevez's status at the club. But West Ham insist the
only talks they held with Joorabchian were over extending Tevez's stay at
the club. The club statement added: "Discussions did take place at various
times with Mr Joorabchian, as a representative of MSI and JSI, with regard
to the future of Carlos Tevez with West Ham United after the end of the
2006-07 season - but they were unsuccessful and therefore no agreement was
possible.
"Moreover, Mr Joorabchian has omitted to recognise that a full and final
settlement with West Ham United was concluded when he agreed to settle all
outstanding claims against the Club on behalf of his companies MSI and JSI
in August of last year."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Curbs laments heavy defeat - SSN
Hammers boss unhappy after Reds defeat
Last updated: 5th March 2008
West Ham chief Alan Curbishley had no complaints with his side's 4-0 defeat
to Liverpool on Wednesday night. The Hammers fell to their second heavy
defeat in four days after losing 4-0 at home to Chelsea last weekend.
Curbishley felt his players were never at the races at Anfield as Liverpool
gained revenge for their defeat at Upton Park earlier in the season. "In the
last two games we have played two top,top sides and made no impression
against them," Curbishley told Sky Sports. "Liverpool deserve their result
tonight. We are very disappointed and we have got to pick ourselves up for
the next game. "They were too strong, too sharp and better and we have got
to get on with it. "We knew it was going to be tought and to let in goals
very early it is always going to be very difficult. "We never looked like
picking up anything up from the last two games and we have lost our way a
little bit. "We weren't good enough in the last two games and the players
need to get back to basics. "We go to Spurs on Sunday and that is another
tough game. If we can pick something up there we will be back on track."
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