The ticket office will have an allocation for the prestigious game against
the MLS All-Stars
15.04.2008
West Ham United can confirm the club will receive a ticket allocation for
the 2008 MLS All-Star Game to be played in Toronto, Canada on 24 July.
Prices and selling dates will be revealed shortly. These will be sold
through the ticket office in the normal order - bond holders, season-ticket
holders, members and general sale. Full details, along with information
about the rest of the North American tour, will be published on whufc.com as
soon as finalised.
In the high-profile MLS All-Star Game, the club will take on a selection of
Major League Soccer's best players. These will be chosen from the 14
participating clubs, under the name of the MLS All-Stars and could
potentially feature LA Galaxy and England's David Beckham. The fixture will
be played at BMO Field, home of Toronto FC.
West Ham United and England defender Matthew Upson said: "It is a fantastic
opportunity for us to take on the MLS All-Stars in Canada. Football is huge
over there right now and it will be a really exciting match in front of a
sell-out crowd where we will get to test ourselves against some of the best
MLS players which will serve as great preparation for the new season."
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Freddie is a breath of fresh air which is just what this team needs at the
moment, says Hammers striker Ashton - Daily Mail
Last updated at 12:23pm on 15th April 2008
West Ham striker Dean Ashton has paid tribute to teenage team-mate Freddie
Sears, insisting: "It is enjoyable to play with him. "He is a breath of
fresh air which is just what this team needs at the moment. The likes of him
and James Tomkins just want to go out there and play." The 18-year-old has
yet to start a match for the Hammers but has come on as substitute four
times and scored on his debut against Blackburn. He replaced Bobby Zamora
after 66 minutes against Bolton at the weekend but failed to prevent a 1-0
defeat.
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley was impressed with Bolton's fighting
spirit, which he felt gave them a chance of avoiding relegation. "The first
half was vintage Bolton. We couldn't cope with it," he said. "They deserved
their result and they are still there with a chance of getting themselves
out of it."
A long injury list - exacerbated by Anton Ferdinand's second-minute
hamstring pull - persuaded Curbishley to give 19-year-old Jack Collison his
first Premier League start. The midfielder was somewhat overwhelmed and
lasted 50 minutes before being substituted. Curbishley added: "I feel sorry
for Jack. I felt if we matched up in the middle of the park we could give
Jack a chance to express himself but as soon as the goal went in I felt I
had to change it. "It is disappointing for him but he'll get over it."
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Parker insists Hammers are desperate to end season on a high - Guardian
Series
SCOTT Parker insists that the West Ham players are desperate to turn around
their poor form and end the season on a high note, writes Alex Sexton.
The Irons slumped to a third consecutive defeat at Bolton on Saturday, which
was a sixth loss in the last eight games. That poor run has scuppered any
hopes the club had of challenging for a European spot and put paid to a
previously solid defensive record. But, poor results aside, it is the
lacklustre showings that have left many fans concerned that the team has
already packed up and gone on holiday. Yet Parker disagrees. He said:
"Results haven't been good - albeit at times the performances have been OK -
and we are as eager to change that as much as anyone. "I can assure everyone
that we are trying our hardest to turn things around" - Scott Parker
"I can assure everyone that is involved in and around the club that we are
trying our hardest, trying our best to turn things around." The current form
table - taking into account the last eight league games - would see the
Hammers in 19th place, just above already-relegated Derby County.
Ironically, it the Rams who visit Upton Park for a Premier League clash this
weekend. And Parker is looking for an improved performance and positive
result from the east Londoners. "We are having a bit of a blip and it has
just come at a bad time for us," he said. "But we just need to rally round
and try and pick up a result for the next game."
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Is it not time that this West Ham and Premier League inquiry was put to bed?
- footballfancast.com
Posted by: Rob Facey, today
Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey reacts to the latest developments in
the Carlos Tevez affair and wonders what West Ham are hoping to get out of
this appeal . West Ham have contacted all the Premier League clubs in an
attempt to finish legal proceedings regarding Carlos Tevez's and Javier
Mascherano's transfers last year, reports The Times. They will appear before
the FA arbitration committee in June and have asked all the clubs to admit
they were unaware that any rules had been broken concerning the sensational
transfers in 2006. However, last year they pleaded guilty to a subsection
of the law, which resulted in a financial ban rather than the point
deduction that many were hoping for.
Sheffield United, currently mid table in the Championship, claim that they
have lost in excess of £30m as a result of relegation; a situation they
claim is down to West Ham's breach of the laws. West Ham seem to have
suffered a hangover from the whole affair that overshadowed their great
escape in the Premier League last season and will be hoping for much better
next year given their troubles on and off the pitch this year.
What exactly are West Ham hoping to gain from this appeal; after all, they
have admitted they knowingly broke the rules already? Was the financial
penalty sufficient penalty for West Ham in the first place or did the FA
miss the chance to wield their power? Were they scared of the impact a
points deduction could have on the Premier League? Surely they are unable to
take any further action now, so long after the transfers have taken place?
Is this just sour grapes from Sheffield United, or do they have a case?
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Parker assures West Ham fans: Better next season
tribalfootball.com - April 15, 2008
West Ham United midfielder Scott Parker has assured fans things will improve
next season. Parker said: "Results have not been good but we are eager to
change that as much as anyone. "I can assure everyone who is involved around
the club that we are trying our hardest and are trying our best to turn
things around. "We need to rally around and pick up points in the next
game."
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Dean backs Bolton's escape attempt - ManchesterEveningNews
Trevor Baxter
15/ 4/2008
DEAN Ashton believes Bolton can take their lead from West Ham's great
Premier League escape last season. The Hammers won their last four games,
including victory on the final day at Old Trafford, to avoid dropping into
the Championship. Wanderers also have four matches left after beating
Ashton's side 1-0 at the Reebok last Saturday, including a final fixture of
the campaign at potential champions Chelsea, and the former Crewe striker
said: "We don't envy the position Bolton are in. "No-one thought we could do
it last season. But we did, so it's not out of Bolton's reach. They've got
the players. "The club is all set up for the Premier League. The stadium is
fantastic and it would be a great shame if they went down. But this league
doesn't take any prisoners.
"Bolton are fighting for their lives, but they can still stay up, of course
they can."
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Ljungberg's injury relief - SSN
Swedish ace set to face Rams
Last updated: 15th April 2008
West Ham have been handed a boost with the news that Freddie Ljungberg is
close to a return to action. The Swede has been missing since suffering a
hamstring problem in the 2-1 defeat to Sunderland last month. It was feared
that the injury could sideline Ljungberg for the rest of the season and even
force him to miss this summer's Euro 2008 finals. However, Ljungberg is
close to full fitness and could feature against Derby this weekend. The
former Arsenal man admitted the Hammers' medical team found it difficult to
get to the bottom of the injury. "The injury was a little weird, especially
since it was quite painful," Ljungberg told The Times. It was quite hard for
the medical team to diagnose, but I've been told it was an inflamed nerve.
Luckily, the hamstring is not injured, which is great. "The extra work I put
in this winter, in the gym, is the reason I am in good shape. Despite being
in some pain due to a nerve-root inflammation, the hamstring itself is fine
and there is no sign of a pull or strain."
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Parker issues rallying cry -SSN
Hammers midfielder worried by slump
By Lewis Rutledge Last updated: 15th April 2008
Scott Parker has assured supporters that West Ham are trying their utmost to
finish the season strongly. The Hammers have suffered an alarming slump in
recent weeks and no longer have any chance of qualifying for Europe. They
made a slight recovery after being thumped 4-0 in three successive matches,
but have now lost three in a row again. Parker is desperately unhappy with
West Ham's form but is hoping to get back on track against bottom club Derby
this weekend. The midfielder then hopes to pick up more points in the last
three games of the season to send West Ham into the summer on a high.
"Results have not been good but we are eager to change that as much as
anyone," Parker said in the Daily Mirror. "I can assure everyone who is
involved around the club that we are trying our hardest and are trying our
best to turn things around. "We need to rally around and pick up points in
the next game."
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Midfielder set to move on - Clubcall
20080415 14:36
Chelsea could be set to offload midfielder Steve Sidwell to London rivals
West Ham as the Blues plan wholesale changes. Sidwell arrived at Stamford
Bridge on a free transfer from Premier League rivals Reading last summer,
but he has struggled to settle at the club and has only made 24 appearances
with most coming as a sub. The Blues are now planning a complete overhaul
of their squad in the summer and Sidwell is one of a number of players who
are expected to be ousted. The Hammers are keen to bolster their midfield
options and their boss Alan Curbishley is prepared to pay around £2million
for the former Arsenal youngster. The 25-year-old arrived in West London
with a glowing reputation but has only found the net once in the games he
has played and a sharp exit looks to be on the cards.
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Duo set to face Hammers - TeamTalk
Mile Sterjovski and Marc Edworthy are poised to return to the Derby side for
Saturday's Premier League clash with West Ham at Upton Park. Midfielder
Sterjovski limped out of the 1-0 defeat at Everton nine days ago with an
Achilles injury which led to him missing the 6-0 mauling by Aston Villa at
Pride Park at the weekend. Defender Edworthy, meanwhile, has been out for a
month with a rib injury sustained in his 500th career appearance in a 1-0
home loss to Manchester United in mid-March. But both players are back in
training this week and in with a chance of featuring against the Hammers.
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West Ham youngster takes another big step forward - Guardian Series
WEST Ham youngster and local lad Jordan Spence will get another chance to
show his highly promising potential tonight when he leads out England U18s
for the second time in a friendly with Austria, writes Alex Sexton. The
former Chigwell School pupil is an experienced face in the Three Lions
set-up, having already captained his country at U16 and 17 level. It is all
just another step for the 17-year-old - who has already impressed this
season for both the Irons' Academy and reserve sides - towards his ultimate
goal of breaking into the West Ham first team. "The desire is there to make
the first team and the fact the opportunity is there makes you even hungrier
and gives you that desire to push on," he said. "That is the ambition - to
play first team football anywhere and then play first team football at what
is a huge and massive club with a massive following. "It would just be
awesome but hopefully that is all to come."
The former Chigwell School pupil's drive to reach the top has seen him kept
busy this season, with games coming thick and fast for both club and
country.
But Spence - who is used to success having led England to the final of the
2007 UEFA European U17 Championship last summer - accepts the challenge with
relish. "For the last few months it has been two games a week," he
explained. "I didn't play as many reserve games earlier on in the season as
I am now but we are managing it well and it is enjoyable. "With England, it
is fingers crossed for Austria that it will all go well. It is a slightly
more experimental squad because it is not a competitive year. "We always
look to come away with a positive result."
There is also the prospect that the defender could make the England U19 team
set to travel to Belarus in the summer to play in a four-nation UEFA
qualifying tournament. And the talented centre back believes that tonight,
at Hartlepool FC's Victoria Park, could be his big chance to shine. "We can
look to the U19s and possibly stake a claim to get in that squad," he said.
"I will go with the U18s and certainly do my best to make a good impression.
We will see where it leads me."
Should it indeed lead him into the U19 set up, then Spence could find
himself rubbing shoulders with club mates Freddie Sears, James Tomkins and
Junior Stanislas, who have all made their mark at that level this season.
"That is their age group and I would expect all three of them to be staking
a very big claim to be involved," added Spence. "If I can throw my name in
the hat I will obviously be more than happy."
8:26am today
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A Message for Frank Lampard & Family - West Ham Till I Die
There are times when old enmities go out the window, and this morning is one
of them. Nothing matters more in life than the health of your family, so
Frank Lampard's race to be at his mother's hospital bedside last night -
thereby missing the Wigan game for Chelsea - was not only totally
understandable, but laudable. The Lampards are a very close knit family and
if you've read his autobiography, you will know how close to his mother
Frank is . Mrs Lampard, according to the papers this morning, has conracted
pneumonia and is in a very serious condition.
I hope all readers of this blog will join me in wishing her well and sending
the whole Lampard family our best wishes.
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Ljungberg in line for return on Saturday - Echo News
FREDDIE Ljungberg could make a welcome return for West Ham's home clash with
Derby County after tests revealed that he had not injured his hamstring, as
was originally feared. The Swede was carried off after collapsing in agony
during the closing stages of the Irons' 2-1 defeat at Sunderland on March
29. The initial prognosis suggested Ljungberg had strained his hamstring,
but subsequent scans have revealed that the 30-year-old instead suffered an
inflamed nerve in his leg. "The injury was a little weird, especially since
it was quite painful," said Ljungberg, who had been in decent form before
being sidelined for the Irons back-to-back defeats to Portsmouth and Bolton
Wanderers. "It was quite hard for the medical team to diagnose but I've been
told it was an inflammated nerve. "Thankfully I am getting back to full
fitness very quickly."
Ljungberg's career has been riddled by injuries, but despite being laid low
by a calf injury and a serious migraine since his £3million summer move from
Arsenal, the Sweden captain has managed 26 appearances and two goals for the
Hammers this season. And the midfielder is hopeful of adding to those
statistics by returning to action in Saturday's visit of doomed Derby County
to Upton Park. "Luckily the hamstring is not injured, which is great. It is
likely I will be fully ready this coming week and available for this weekend
game," he revealed. "I am lucky it wasn't a hamstring injury, and I have
been told that the extra work I put in this winter, in the gym, is the
reason I am in good shape."
"Despite being in some pain due to a nerve root inflammation, the hamstring
itself is fine and there is no sign of a pull or strain." Ljungberg has
returned to full training at Chadwell Heath this week.
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Mullins defends West Ham tactics
tribalfootball.com - April 15, 2008
Hayden Mullins has defended West Ham's tactics in the 1-0 defeat away to
Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. The Hammers played with five in midfield and
Mullins insisted: "We've done it for most of the season and it has worked
well for us."
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Can Spurs beat West Ham to 10th and screw their bonuses? - SpursPies.tv
It comes to something when your season is defined by whether you can finish
bottom of the top half of the table. But going into our last four games of
the season, that is only real aim Tottenham have to play for. Tenth place
is the only realistic position we can reach before the campaign ends but to
do that we must leapfrog our big rivals West Ham, currently three points
ahead. Their home defeat to Portsmouth last week was a real bonus for us
along with that defeat to Bolton at the weekend. Unfortunately, our failure
against Middlesbrough to get three points meant we could not take the
advantage and close the gap to just a point. We are now one win behind them
with a goal difference of +6 compared to their -6. But there are a few
reasons why beating them to 10th spot will be even sweeter this campaign.
But can we do it? Few Spurs fans will be able to forget that disastrous end
of season game two years ago that ruined our chance of a 4th place finish
and therefore a spot in the Champions League. Lasagne-gate as it became
known killed off what had been a fantastic season and we've still not had
real revenge against the Hammers for that. Boss Alan Curbishley says that
for his side to finish 10th would be a massive achievement. It is good to
know the Premier League still has one realistic boss within it who knows his
team's place in the footballing hierarchy. How fitting would it be for us to
put the kaibosh on those hopes and plunge them back into the bottom half of
the table. Curbs also revealed that West Ham's bonuses are all geared to a
top 10 finish so that's another superb reason to fight for that 10th spot
and hit their pockets. He said: "Everyone's bonus is geared to us finishing
in the top 10 - including me - so we have no incentive to switch off."
Not finishing in the top 10 for Tottenham is unthinkable, even in a
transitional season. We should be capable of victories against Bolton,
Reading and Wigan and possibly a point at home to Liverpool. The Hammers
have Derby, Newcastle, Man United and Aston Villa left - so on paper our
run-in represents more points surely. If Juande Ramos needs any more
incentive for his players to keep pushing on, after our lacklustre
Middlesbrough performance, destroying West Ham's season has to be enough.
Besides, it'll shut my Hammer-supporting mates up, for which I'll be
eternally grateful.
Came straight to this page? Visit www.spurspies.tv for all the latest news.
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