Freddie Ljungberg has his sights set on Greece this evening and has given
his latest thoughts to whufc.com
10.06.2008
Freddie Ljungberg has taken time out from preparing for tonight's Euro 2008
qualifer against Greece in Salzburg to update whufc.com with his latest
thoughts on the competition. The West Ham United midfielder will captain the
Scandinavian nation for the Group D fixture and is set to play with a
protective device throughout the competition after suffering a rib injury
towards the end of the 2007/08 Premier League campaign. After playing at
Euro 2000 and 2004, Ljungberg is determined in Austria to get his hat-trick
of finals appearances off to a flier.
whufc.com: How are you feeling about your own and Sweden's chances?
Ljungberg: We feel great about our chances. Personally I am ready for the
tournament both mentally and physically and I think we have a strong chance
this year.
whufc.com: Sweden play Greece first?those opponents showed last time that
anything is possible. Can Sweden win it?
Ljungberg: You just said it! Anything is possible. If we can perform well in
our group and reach the final stages then it really is one game at a time.
We have a strong team that is capable of beating big teams like Portugal,
Germany, Italy and Spain. As I said I feel ready and I'm confident the team
is ready - it could be our year.
whufc.com: No other player from the club is involved. Do you feel proud to
represent West Ham United in a major finals as well as Sweden?
Ljungberg: Extremely proud. It's great to think that Sweden might be
receiving some extra support from English fans this year because I play for
West Ham. I am really sorry England didn't make the finals this year,
especially with the strong presence that English teams had in the Champions
League. It is unfortunate. Hopefully I and the Sweden team will give the
West Ham fans in England something to cheer for.
whufc.com: Have you got a message for any fans wondering which team to
support at the tournament?
Ljungberg: I think it will be a wonderful tournament and there will be an
awful lot of great football to see so my message would be to watch it and
enjoy it. I don't think you have to follow a particular team to enjoy a
tournament like this, it's just a great opportunity to enjoy football. But
of course, I would be honoured if our fans cheers for Sweden.
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Future is bright for Dev - WHUFC
Alan Devonshire was the talk of the Derby at the weekend but football still
remains his true focus
10.06.2008
Alan Devonshire is getting back down to club business after a busy week in
the sporting spotlight and also cannot wait to see West Ham United flying
again next season.
The club legend, now the manager of ambitious non-league outfit Hampton and
Richmond Borough, was the talk of the national press and TV over the weekend
with a namesake horse running in the Derby. Devonshire was joined by Ray
Winstone and Tony Cottee amongst others at Epsom racecourse as the guest of
owner Russell Trew and described having a horse named after him as a "right
privilege". Although outsider Alan Devonshire failed to make a sustained
impact in the race, Dev the man is still on track in football circles.
He just missed out on guiding Hampton to the Conference - the top tier of
non-league football - at the end of last season with the team going down 2-0
to Eastbourne Borough in the 2007/08 play-off final. "I was bitterly
disappointed for the team," Devonshire said. "We played really well but
missed a few chances and to win games you have got to score." The
52-year-old was also rueful about the referee's failure to award what seemed
a certain penalty. "It would have changed the game but at the end of the day
they have scored two goals. We just have to take it on the chin and go again
next year."
Unbowed by the experience, the former England international has been busy
this summer strengthening his squad and is confident the team can compete
for automatic promotion next season, claiming "it is looking rosy for the
club". He feels similarly about West Ham United, suggesting that all
concerned "would have taken tenth place before the start of the season".
That said he, along with everyone else connected to the club, expects more
next time around. "Now they will try and progress and finish fifth or sixth
next season. That will probably be the target."
Devonshire is still a frequent visitor to the Boleyn Ground and has enjoyed
seeing more players coming through the academy as he believed the club
"needs younger legs in certain areas". As a winger of old though, who made
446 appearances in claret and blue between 1976 and 1990, he naturally
expects the key to success though to be the form of flair players like Craig
Bellamy and Kieron Dyer. "They need to get the players fit - especially the
pace players. Bellamy and Dyer haven't been fit and you need that pace to
make a difference in the side. They can make a difference."
* West Ham United will kick off their 2008/09 pre-season programme away to
Hampton and Richmond Borough on Thursday 17 July. Click here for more
information about the summer schedule.
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Hypocrites back in court - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 10th June 2008
By: Staff Writer
Day two of the Sheffield United arbitration case kicks off later this
morning. The hearing reconvenes later today with the Blades promising to
present fresh evidence which, they claim, will give their case a massive
boost. The hearing - which is expected to last all week - began yesterday
with representatives of Sheffield United outlining their case. The
arbitration panel consists of former MCC president Lord Griffiths, former
High Court judge Sir Anthony Colman and QC Robert Englehart. The
Championship outfit are seeking damages from West Ham United after they
failed to secure enough points to avoid relegation from the Premier League
at the end of the 2006/07 season. They claim that the Hammers should be
forced to pay compensation for fielding Carlos Tevez, whose transfer was
found to have contravened a Premier League edict regarding third party
ownership. Sheffield United were later charged with hypocrisy after details
of the transfer of Steve Kabba to Watford emerged. The striker was
prevented from playing against his old club three months after moving to
Vicarage Road due to a clause in his contract; a clear case of third party
interference. A verdict is not expected until late June/early July.
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Curbs in Royals raid? - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 10th June 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are being linked with a move for Reading midfielder James Harper.
The 27-year-old former Arsenal trainee was part of the Reading squad
relegated at the end of last season and is therefore available at a
knockdown fee. Several media sources have claimed that Alan Curbishley is
keeping tabs on the player, who is also said to be interesting Middlesbrough
and newly-promoted Stoke City. The Chelmsford-born player joined Reading on
a free transfer in 20001 having failed to make the breakthrough at Highbury.
Since then he has made almost 300 appearances for the Royals, including 41
appearances last season from which he also scored six goals. Harper is the
second Reading player to be linked with a move to West Ham since the end of
last season; Romford-born full-back Nicky Shorey has also been heavily
linked with a return to the South East.
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Spurs swap deal mooted - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 10th June 2008
By: Staff Writer
Anton Ferdinand could be on his way to Tottenham in a swap deal for Aaron
Lennon. Fresh rumours this morning suggest that Spurs are set to capture
long-term target Ferdinand, who Alan Curbishley is thought to be prepared to
sell. However the latest twist suggests that England winger Lennon - who
joined Spurs from Leeds three years ago - could be coming from North to East
London in exchange. Curbishley is said to be keen on a number of Tottenham
players including midfielders Tom Huddlestone, Lennon and striker Darren
Bent. But with veteran Nobby Solano on his way out and doubts over the
long-term fitness of both Freddie Ljungberg and Julien Faubert, rumours that
Lennon could be on his way to West Ham may not be wide of the mark.
Elsewhere the Daily Mail is linking West Ham with 21-year-old Uruguayan
striker Edison Cavani. The striker scored five goals in his debut season for
Palermo last term.
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Cavani move green light - Setanta
by Adam Marshall, 10 June 2008
Palermo have confirmed that Edison Cavani could be allowed to leave on loan.
The Uruguayan is reportedly a target for West Ham, although Torino are one
of a number of teams keen to keep him in Italy. The South American forward
is tipped for a bright future in the game but Palermo president Maurizio
Zamparini has conceded a temporary switch may be in everybody's best
interests. "I am considering whether Cavani can go to speak with another
club," he told Studio Sport. "If he was to find little space at Palermo.
"But, in the future, Cavani is destined to become one of the best players in
Europe." Torino, who are also tracking Manchester City's Valeri Bojinov, are
keen to start talks with the 21-year-old.
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Hammers set to let Ferdinand depart for Spurs - Guardian Series
ANTON Ferdinand is reportedly on the verge of joining Spurs. The West Ham
defender is rumoured to have been on Spurs' wanted list for some time and,
according to the Daily Mail, he is now all set to move across London from
Upton Park to White Hart Lane for £6million. Ferdinand has made over 150
appearances for the club since making his full debut against Preston in
August 2003. But his progress has been hampered by a host of off the field
problems and a series of niggling injuries. And, with six first team
centre-backs on the books and following the emergence of highly-promising
youngster James Tomkins, the Irons could look to cash in on their current
longest-serving player.
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Spurs close in on £6m deal for West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand to patch up
defence - Daily Mail
Last updated at 11:01am on 10.06.08
Tottenham have stepped up their interest in West Ham defender Anton
Ferdinand and are on the verge of sealing a £6million deal. The 22-year-old,
who has been on Spurs sporting director Damien Comolli's wanted list for the
past two years, has told friends he is planning to make the switch. He
scores goals too: defender Anton Ferdinand turned striker with this goal
against brother Rio and Manchester United Spurs are desperate to strengthen
their defence because of captain Ledley King's injury problems and they have
set their sights on Ferdinand after another target, Richard Dunne, indicated
he will stay at Manchester City. Ferdinand has been a member of West Ham's
first-team squad for five years and was hugely impressive in his first
season in the Premier League in 2005-06. Although his form has been more
inconsistent since, Spurs are convinced he can thrive alongside Jonathan
Woodgate as a central defensive partnership. West Ham have previously
indicated they are willing to listen to offers for Ferdinand with manager
Alan Curbishley under pressure to cut the Upton Park wage bill this summer.
The move will be another sign of Spurs' active work in the transfer market,
having already secured Luka Modric and agreed a deal with Barcelona for
Giovani dos Santos, while John Bostock will join from Crystal Palace once
his fee is decided by a tribunal.
However, Spurs look likely to miss out on another Spanish swoop after Alvaro
Negredo, of Almeria, admitted he was not interested in a move to England.
The 22-year-old, who finished as the Spanish club's top-scorer last season
with 13 goals, said: "I don't think the time has come to make the step to
the Premier League."
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West Ham to try again for Everton's Johnson
tribalfootball.com - June 10, 2008
West Ham United are set to move for Everton striker Andy Johnson. The Times
says the Hammers, who had a £16 million bid for Johnson rejected last
summer, have rekindled their interest in the Everton forward.
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No Spurs move for Ferdinand - metro.co.uk
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Speculation: Anton Ferdinand Tottenham have no plans to raid London
neighbours West Ham for Anton Ferdinand, Metro understands. Widespread media
speculation on Tuesday claimed the White Hart Lane club were on the verge of
completing a £6million move for the 22-year-old. Spurs are reported to be in
the market for a new cnetr-half, and Ferdinand was reported to have topped
Spurs sporting director Damien Comolli's shopping list. However, Metro
understands stories saying a move for Ferdinand is imminent are wide of the
mark.
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Hammers back in court over Tevez Affair - Guardian Series
JUDGES could order West Ham to pay damages if Sheffield United's arbitration
case against the club - which starts today - is successful. The Championship
club is seeking up to £50million in compensation relating to their
relegation from the Premier League in 2007, on the grounds that the Hammers
fielded an ineligible player in Carlos Tevez. A previous arbitration case
against the Premier League was lost by the Bramall Lane club last year, and
they will this time have their case heard by the Football Association. It
was claimed at the time that West Ham should have been relegated instead of
fined £5.5million for breaching rules on third-party ownership of players,
but this notion was dismissed. If they are unsuccessful again it is unlikely
they will proceed with their protests any further. The trial will be heard
be a three-man panel and is likely to last until Friday, with the findings
to be made public at the end of the month. The Blades are hopeful that
Tevez's agent and co-owner Kia Joorabchian will present evidence to the
panel proving that the striker should not have allowed to play for West Ham.
The Argentine striker played a key role in his team's efforts to avoid the
drop that season, including grabbing the goal that clinched victory over
Manchester United to ensure the east Londoners' survival on the last day of
the campaign. He later joined the Old Trafford outfit on loan for which West
Ham received £2million from Media Sports Investment, Joorabchian's company.
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Tottenham refute claims that they are interested in West Ham's Anton
Ferdinand - Telegraph
By Telegraph staff
Last Updated: 3:34pm BST 10/06/2008
Tottenham have rejected as fantasy suggestions that they were last night on
the verge of signing West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand. Despite widespread
speculation that the club were lining up a £6 million deal with West Ham for
the defender in an attempt to bolster the defensive line-up at White Hart
Lane, a Spurs spokesman today stressed that the reports were wide of the
mark. The 22-year-old has been sporadically linked with Spurs over the past
few weeks, but rumours that he had primed friends of a move to the North
London club prompted claims of an imminent transfer. Spurs are looking to
ensure that their defence is not weakened by injury next season, especially
in light of Ledley King's prolonged absences from the game. West Ham, keen
to cut their wage bill, are understood to be open to offers for the player,
and as Richard Dunne, the Manchester City defender and Spurs target, is
looking like staying at Eastlands, Ferdinand looked like an option.
Ferdinand has seen regular first-team action for the past five years, and
while his form of late has been inconsistent, Spurs were suspected to be
lining him up as a partner for Jonathan Woodgate in the centre of defence.
Meanwhile, head coach Juande Ramos has spoken of his excitement on signing
Giovani Dos Santos. The 19-year-old former Barcelona midfielder completed
his move to the club today. "If Giovani progresses as we hope, he will be a
much more magnificent player than he already is. This is a kid with a lot of
potential," Ramos said.
"For us, it is a very exciting signing because he has excellent quality, he
operates well in different positions and, above all, is technically very
good. "He will definitely enrich this side as he offers something different,
especially when playing attacking football."
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