Filed: Wednesday, 2nd July 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's clash with the MLS AllStars is being broadcast live by
Setanta Sports. The Hammers meet the AllStars in Toronto on Thursday, 24th
July. Setanta confirmed earlier today that they will be showing the game,
which kicks off at 2:00pm GMT (7:00pm EDT), live. West Ham will be playing
two fixtures on their North American tour; the other being against Columbus
Crew four days prior to the AllStars clash. Keep an eye on KUMB.com for
further pre-season friendly details.
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Croatian fancies West Ham move - Setanta
by Ben Blackmore, 02 July 2008
West Ham could be on the verge of signing Croatian hotshot Josip Tadic after
the striker admitted he would love to move to Upton Park. Tadic, a
20-year-old goal-getter, is tipped to move to West Ham by numerous reports
in Croatia. Currently plying his trade for Dinamo Zagreb, Tadic has also
played for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. His current contract runs until
2011, but the youngster admits it would be an honour to play for Alan
Curbishley's men.
"I don't know what to say, I'm very surprised. In a positive way of course,"
he was quoted as saying in the Croatian press. "It would be nice to play for
the club for which Slaven Bilic and Igor Stimac once played."
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Gudjohnsen link persists - Newham Recorder
02 July 2008
EIDUR GUDJOHNSEN and Kevin Doyle seem to be the names in the frame as West
Ham look to bolster their forward options for the new season. The Icelandic
international striker has been linked with the Hammers for over a year now,
but with Spanish giants Barcelona now stating that he is surplus to
requirements, the link is becoming stronger. Added to that, the
29-year-old's links to West Ham's Icelandic owner may be enough to get him
to Upton Park for around £5million. Doyle meanwhile, would be a little more
expensive at around £7million. The 24-year-old, who has 17 caps and five
goals for Northern Ireland, wants to continue playing Premier League
football and that would mean a move away from relegated Reading. The striker
scored just six goals for the Royals last season, and though Gudjohnsen
managed even less for Barcelona, he may be a better bet, though they may
face competition from Spurs.
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Gabbidon watched by Premier League newboys - Newham Recorder
02 July 2008
WHILE rumours persist that Aston Villa are about to launch a bid for West
Ham centre half Anton Ferdinand, there was some more worrying news doing the
rounds this week. Ferdinand would command a price of around £8million to
prise him away from Upton Park, but stories that the Hammers could lose
Danny Gabbidon for a knock down price of just £2million, would have alarmed
many supporters. This is the time of year when West Ham fans are hoping to
see rumours of players coming into the club, not leaving it, and though one
or two names are in the pipeline to arrive, nothing concrete has happened
yet. Premiership new boys Stoke City are said to be sniffing around the
Welsh international centre back, who for the second season running, missed
much of the campaign through injury. When he was fully fit and playing
alongside Matty Upson, he looked to have returned to the sort of form that
earned him the Hammer of the Year award back in 2005-06. But the 28-year-old
former Cardiff City man made just 11 starts last season and only 22 the
previous campaign as injuries took their toll. In fact, Gabbidon hasn't
played since the Carling Cup quarter-final clash with Everton last December
when his mix-up with Robert Green eventually lost them the tie. An abdominal
injury has ruled him out since then, but if he is fit then it is little
wonder that Stoke City would be interested in his services. When Alan Pardew
splashed out a joint £3million for both James Collins and Gabbidon from the
Bluebirds at the start of the 2005-06 season, there were many who worried
that they would not have the experience to cut it in the top flight. But
Gabbidon made the centre half spot his own during that first season and with
Ferdinand (right) alongside him, they helped West Ham to ninth place in the
Premier League as well as the FA Cup Final. Now it seems that both could be
out of the exit door at Upton Park, and while few would be heartbroken over
the departure of Ferdinand, there would be many sad to see Gabbidon leave.
If both are to depart, it would certainly create a big hole in the West Ham
defence, with an Icelandic under-21 international centre half one of the
favourites to be brought in. Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson impressed while on trial
at West Ham back in February and the 17-year-old, who plays his football for
HK Kopavogur in Iceland, seems set to be the club's first signing of the
summer.
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Is Neill worth a new contract? - Newham Recorder
02 July 2008
HAD YOU asked any West Ham fan that question before the start of last
season, then the answer would have been a resounding yes! ... writes DAVE
EVANS. As West Ham completed their 'Great Escape' on the last day of 2006-07
with victory at Old Trafford against champions Manchester United, it was
goalscorer Carlos Tevez who received most of the plaudits. But Hammers fans
knew that the little Argentinian was not the only reason behind their team's
miraculous survival. Mark Noble played his part in midfield, but it was
former Blackburn Rovers full back Lucas Neill who pulled the demoralised
side together and got them playing as a team again. It was Neill who acted
as the captain on the field in those last 10 games as Nigel Reo-Coker sulked
his way to an inevitable transfer. Without Neill there would have been no
escape from the disaster of relegation. However, last season was a very
different story. The 31-year-old missed much of pre-season as he was playing
for Australia in the Asia Cup in Thailand and Vietnam. That seemed to affect
his fitness going into the start of the new season, and in truth, he never
got near to the heights of form he had reached the previous season. West Ham
boss Alan Curbishley had felt confident enough in the Aussie international
to make him the captain of the Hammers, and Neill humbly accepted the honour
previously bestowed on such legends as Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds. But what
was needed after the disruptive influence of Reo-Coker in the role, was
someone who would lead from the front and show a fine example to the rest of
his team. Unfortunately, that did not always happen. Strangely, Neill was
unpredictable all season.
In some matches he showed an air of petulance, arguing with the referee over
almost every decision that went against West Ham in a way that went well
beyond his remit as an enquiring captain. His lack of pace was shown up on
more than one occasion as well, with Manchester City winger Martin Petrov
embarrassing the Hammers right back on more than one occasion at Upton Park
during the FA Cup tie in January. There is no doubt that the West Ham
defender has a touch of class, and that at his very best he is as good as
any full back in the Premier League. But the fans never saw anything like
his best last term and that has to be taken into consideration when the
prospect of a new contract rears its head for the Aussie, who has 31
international caps to his name.
Neill received a barrage of criticism when he signed for West Ham in January
2007, with many pundits describing him as a football mercenary. He left UEFA
Cup side Blackburn Rovers and turned down Champions League outfit Liverpool
to join relegation-haunted West Ham, reputedly for a weekly wage of around
£55,000. But it was more than the money. He felt he had reached the end of
his time at Ewood Park and he was never guaranteed a place in the side at
Anfield, while Upton Park represented a move to London and a huge challenge
in trying to keep the team in the Premier League. He signed a two-and-a-half
year contract, and such is the vagaries of football, it seems that West Ham
need to offer him an improved deal, or risk losing the player for nothing at
the end of next season, when Neill is contemplating returning down under.
Which once again begs the question, is he worth a new contract?
His agent Paddy Dominguez is in no doubt: "It doesn't make sense that a
manager who brought Lucas to the club and has installed him as captain would
look to sell him," he insisted. "It would be very strange. Lucas'
relationship with Alan Curbishley is good and he is relishing the role of
captain."
It certainly wouldn't make any sense, had you not witnessed some of Neil's
performances from last season. But there remains some huge question marks
over Neill's form and with West Ham tightening their belts and looking to
cut their wage bill, a new and improved contract for Neill may not be top of
the Hammers' priorities. There are plenty of other leaders in the West Ham
ranks. Scott Parker was captain of Newcastle, while Freddie Ljungberg and
Craig Bellamy have captained their countries, but where the problems may lie
is in replacing Neill at right back. John Pantsil showed last season that he
is no right back, while Jonathan Spector demonstrated that right back was
his best position, but he is nowhere near the standards of Neill yet,
however off form the Aussie may be. West Ham have been linked with former
Spurs and Newcastle right back Stephen Carr, but he is somewhat injury
prone, which really leaves the club in a quandary. What West Ham would like
to see is the Lucas Neill who first arrived at Upton Park with such
ebullience and class. A repeat of last season's Neill, and he may well be
out of the exit door.
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Croatian ace Tadic fancies West Ham move
By Ian Ferris - July 02, 2008
West Ham could be on the verge of signing Croatian hotshot Josip Tadic after
the striker admitted he would love to move to Upton Park. Tadic, a
20-year-old goal-getter, is tipped to move to West Ham by numerous reports
in Croatia. Currently plying his trade for Dinamo Zagreb, Tadic has also
played for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. The youngster admits it would
be an honour to play for Alan Curbishley's outfit."I don't know what to say,
I'm very surprised. In a positive way of course," he was quoted as saying in
the Croatian press. "It would be nice to play for the club for which Slaven
Bilic and Igor Stimac once played."
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Tottenham and West Ham keepers on Aston Villa shortlist - caughtoffside.com
by stressterclose
While Spurs might be more than happy to let Paul Robinson leave the club,
perhaps the same can't be said for West Ham, who surely regard Robert Green
as one of their key players in the squad.
The former Norwich keeper has been a very consistent performer for the
Hammers over the past couple of seasons, and Aston Villa would surely have
their work cut out if they tried to snare him from the Boleyn Ground this
summer. West Ham aren't exactly a selling club these days and would probably
have the same ambitions as their Midlands rivals next season. Nevertheless,
The Guardian report that the player's on the shortlist.
Although Green remains tied to a long-term deal at West Ham, he is known to
be frustrated that his impressive performances last term, when he was named
supporters' player of the year and earned a recall to the England squad,
have not been rewarded with an improved contract to bring his salary in line
with many of his team-mates. With no talks currently planned between the
club and the player, Villa would appear to be in a strong position to entice
Green to the Midlands.
It's English keepers all the way for Martin O'Neill, with Scott Carson
spending last season on loan from Liverpool and now Robinson and Green in
the offing. I'm sure most Villa fans would prefer the latter in goal for
them next season, but is the Spurs shot-stopper the likelier option?
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owse > Home / lucas neill, west ham / Waste of Money Waste of Money - Cmon
Yu Irons
July 1, 2008
According to Paddy Domingue, the Agent of Lucas Neill, the West Ham Skipper
and Defender will be leaving Upton Park and England next summer and finish
his career in Australia. There was media coverage only recently that Lucas
was involved in building a new Soccer club in Australia, His Agent told the
Media: "As far as Lucas is concerned, he has a huge emotional attachment to
this. When he eventually quits Europe he'll come back here (to Australia) to
play for the franchise," Dominguez told Setanta. "As far as Lucas is
concerned, he is determined to put something back into the game in this
country. "Lucas has shown with his player scholarship scheme in the Manly
district that he wants to make a significant contribution. He wants to leave
a lasting legacy for Australian soccer. "I can tell you that some of the
names we are dealing with at the moment will blow your mind. But the real
aim of the club is to develop and foster local football. "Our charter is to
have, within three or four years of our existence, a starting line-up made
up of at least eight local players. That's the dream, that's the intention."
If West ham are to make a better future for themselves, then they have to
avoid wasting money on signings like Lucas Neill in the future.
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Toon Target Heading To West Ham! - Newcastle Mad
By Nu Mad Wednesday, 2nd July 2008
Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen has ruled out a move to Newcastle saying
he wants a move to London, and according to Spanish press reports, he will
be a West Ham player next season. The former Chelsea star looks to be on
his way from the Catalan giants, despite the fact his contract does not run
out for another two years, after a season of struggling to maintain a
regular first team place. Barcelona new coach Josep Guardiola says he can
leave for a fee "around the £5m mark". West Ham boss Alan Curbishley is hot
favourite for the striker's signiture, but Harry Redknapp wants to take him
to Portsmouth.
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