Despite defeat in their first game at the U19 finals, James Tomkins expects
England to recover
17.07.2008
James Tomkins said England are determined to get back to winning ways
against Italy tonight at the European Under-19 Championship.
The young West Ham United defender said the 2-0 defeat at the hands of the
host nation Czech Republic earlier in the week had only served to add more
incentive to the Young Lions as they prepare for their second of three group
games. "It was disappointing for us on Monday, losing like that," said
Tomkins - who played the whole 90 minutes alongside club team-mate Freddie
Sears.
"But that match has gone now and we are just focusing on trying to beat
Italy. We know we have to win it, so that it what we will be going all out
to do."
Tomkins said the Czech team were perhaps a bit more stronger physically and
were a littler older than some of the England players. That said, nothing
should be taken away from the victors and he believed there were positives
to learn for England.
"Because of a few injuries, we have had to field some of the younger lads
who have not had much experience and that might have told. But that's not an
excuse, we will just learn from both the positives we had, especially in the
first half, where we looked solid and had a few chances ourselves as well as
the mistakes we made and put that into good force against Italy in our next
match."
He added: "Italy will be another tough one, but we just know we have to win
it and that's all we are thinking about." Tomkins said he was enjoying the
responsibility of being vice-captain in the side and that he and Freddie
were benefiting from the football they are getting under their belts before
the new domestic season begins.
"It was good to be chosen for vice-captain, but I am just doing my bit like
all the others, in that anything I do, will be to help the team win. Myself
and Freddie are enjoying the football and I am sure this will only help to
make us sharp and ready for the new season with West Ham." England conclusde
their Group B campaign against Greece on Sunday.
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Dev fired up for friendly - WHUFC
A true club legend, Alan Devonshire will be on the opposite side this
evening
17.07.2008
Alan Devonshire said he cannot wait for the visit of his old club to his
Hampton and Richmond Borough tonight, in their first pre-season friendly.
Former midfielder Devonshire - who made over 400 league and cup appearances
in the claret and blue between 1976 and 1990 and is still a firm fans'
favourite today, is delighted that Alan Curbishley is bringing his side to
the Beveree Stadium.
"I am really looking forward to it and so are our players. It will be our
first pre-season game as well, so to have this against West Ham is great. I
think it will be a competitive game and it will give our players the chance
to play against some of the best players in the Premier League. It will also
help us financially. There is a lot of interest from our own supporters, but
I have also heard there are many West Ham fans coming down to see the match,
so that will be good."
Devonshire explained how the match came about and said he was pleased when
his former team-mate Curbishley said yes to his invitation. "Myself and Alan
go back a long way, we both played at West Ham together in our early days
and I have kept in touch with him ever since. When he took over at West Ham,
I thought of asking him, but it was busy time back then and so I waited a
while.
"I put the idea to him last season and he said yes, so I was really pleased.
I am sure he will bring as strong a squad as possible, so we are really
looking forward to it." Devonshire became manager of Hampton in 2003 and in
that time, has seen them rise from the Ryman Division One South to the brink
of the Conference before narrowly losing in a play-off at the end of last
season.
He said he enjoys his role now as a manager and has high hopes for the
season ahead. "We have had six training sessions now, we are only a
part-time team, but we have a few young players who I feel will do well this
season. We had a few leave us this summer, they have gone to bigger clubs
where there is a bit more money. At our level, we are limited in that
situation, so that is why a match like this against West Ham is so important
to us financially as well."
Devonshire said his memories of being at West Ham United will never leave
him and the 52-year-old is looking forward to seeing the supporters - of
whom he always had a good rapport with in his playing days at the Boleyn
Ground. "The West Ham fans were just brilliant - I can't describe them any
other way. I think though, they might get a shock when they see me now -
Some of them still think I have long dark hair and a moustache, but I am
much different these days," he laughs.
"I had a terrific time at the club and the supporters were always second to
none, I still think they are and that will never change. West Ham coming
here tonight to play us, means so much to me, it really does."
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Hammers to make summer signings - BBC
By Simon Austin
West Ham plan to buy new players this summer despite a desire to trim their
squad, BBC Sport understands. The Hammers sold Bobby Zamora and John Pantsil
to Fulham on Wednesday and want to get their 41-man squad down to a more
manageable 26 or 27 players. "We effectively have four teams on the payroll
- that is far too big a squad," a senior club source told BBC Sport. "We
will be signing players and have specific requirements. We don't have to
sell before we buy necessarily." West Ham have one of the biggest first-team
squads in the Premier League and a wage bill approaching £50m a year.
Chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson is determined to make the club "self
sustaining" and has made trimming salaries a key aim for manager Alan
Curbishley and chief executive Scott Duxbury this summer. There has also
been a focus on improving training and medical facilities in an attempt to
improve the club's record with injuries. Several new appointments have been
made to the medical staff and the club is in the final stages of purchasing
land for a new training complex in Romford, Essex. "We are trying to make
the best of the know-how and expertise that we have at the club," the source
said. "The aim is to have first-class medical and training facilities, to
rival those at the biggest European clubs. "At best, we managed to field six
or seven of our first team at any one time last season. Just imagine how
well we could have done had the likes of Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy, Julien
Faubert and Dean Ashton available all season. "We have to try and keep these
players fit. We also have a lot of good young players coming through, such
as Freddie Sears and James Tomkins.
"The optimum squad size is probably about 26 or 27 players. Our squad has
become so big for a couple of reasons - the relegation battle we had in
2006/7 and the spate of injuries of 2007/8."
When Gudmundsson bought the Hammers in 2006, he laid out a five-year plan
that, he hoped, would ultimately culminate in qualification for the
Champions League. West Ham finished 10th last season and the target for the
coming season will be to challenge for a Uefa Cup spot.
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Silly Or Sensible Season? - West Ham Online
Alex V - Thu Jul 17 2008
It's an important time for West Ham - squads are being shaken up all over
the country, and we have entered the busiest fortnight of transfer activity
in the year. But one thing is absolutely clear - if you're basing your
appraisal of West Ham on silly season rumours, then you're asking for
trouble.
In Redknapp's day nothing that the club did could stay out of the papers,
because they'd just ring him up and he'd tell them what we're doing. Also
the Standard obviously had a strong link with Terry Brown, so much of the
gossip printed there seemed to come direct from the chairman.
But at the moment, there's nothing that you can trust in the papers - nobody
seems to have the inside scoop on what is going on within West Ham. You can
see that in the strange mixture of rumours surrounding the club - one minute
we're offering £12m for Andy Johnson (a pretty ancient rumour), the next we
are scrabbling around looking for bargain basement buys because of some
mythical financial crisis. Often we are linked with players who, a few years
ago, might seem like the West Ham sort, but seem to make no sense with the
current squad (Harper, Carr).
At the same time, many rumours might well be true but just misinterpreted.
Maybe Curbs did enquire if Andy Johnson is available - doesn't mean he's
planning to buy him, but maybe he's thinking if Bellamy gets crocked again
and he can't get his other targets he needs an alternative plan. If good
offers come in for our midfielders and we cash in, then why not consider
James Harper as a potential back-up on the cheap? If Curbs is doing his job
right, then in my opinion he should be dipping his toe into the marketplace
and exploring every route open to him - I would be annoyed if he hadn't
considered the players who are clearly available. Who he eventually decides
to buy is another matter entirely.
There is absolutely no genuine evidence of a financial crisis at the club.
It's a rumour that has been going around the papers, which obviously even
the players will read - Bobby Zamora mentioned it after his transfer this
week. I just can't see where any serious crisis could possibly come from -
regardless of the private problems of the chairman, there is the small
matter of the £25m plus that flows into the club each season from TV alone.
So I wouldn't go losing any sleep over that issue.
The real question is one of strategy - what is the best path to improving
the club? In an earlier article this Summer my opinion was that to move
forward West Ham needed to concentrate not on name signings to appease the
support, but in sorting out the infrastructure at the club and being
progressive. And that seems to be exactly what the club seem to be doing -
new facilities, a new director of football, some significant improvements to
medical treatment of injuries, and investment in younger players for the
future (two 17 year olds in so far this Summer).
I suspect Curbs was told to trim the squad this Summer and indeed he may not
have relished the prospect. But this could be interpreted as mere
cost-cutting or it could be interpreted as the best plan to move the club
forward in the long-term. I simply don't see how we can develop James
Tomkins if he is the 8th-choice central defender in the squad - we need to
clear paths for new signings and younger players. And that does mean selling
players who may be of Premiership standard if they don't fit the long-term
plan.
I would consider it a significant gamble to enter the season with only 4
strikers - forwards change matches from the bench, and in Sears we have a
relatively untested option that may or may not come off for us in the long
term. I think it was the sale of backup striker Paulo Wanchope that may have
cost Harry Redknapp his job at West Ham, and lack of strikers also was key
in our relegation under Roeder soon after. I'd be nervous going into the
season with the current set of forwards.
If West Ham get to the start of the season without any of our first eleven
being sold I will be delighted. I don't see what we gain by selling Lucas
Neill, even if some observers think his form was patchy last season - who
replaces him in the current squad, and if we invest in a new right-back
don't we still need Neill as cover? I still don't understand why we would
want to sell Anton Ferdinand, so I hope that rumours around his future are
untrue. Even McCartney, of whom I'm not the biggest fan, cannot be sold
under any circumstances, whatever offer Sunderland or others come up with.
At the moment all the genuine information seems good from the club. West Ham
were close to a significant signing this week, but we may have to wait a
little longer for news now. But there's plenty of evidence that the club are
getting their act together off the pitch - pub side no longer. I see young
players to get excited about - 3 are starring in the European Under-19s at
the moment. And the nucleus of the first-team squad has been kept together -
we have continuity on our side. All is well I think.
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Obua to play for West Ham Tonight - Cmon Yu Irons
July 17, 2008
According to a major media source in South Africa, David Obua gets a chance
to impress West Ham United tonight.
The Article reads as Follows: Obua (24), is in the Hammers side to play
Hampton and Richmond FC, a Conference side in a pre-season match at Beveree
Stadium. This will be the Uganda international's final chance to impress and
seal a dream move to West Ham. Obua, who has spent the last eight days at
Upton Park undergoing trials, has impressed the East London coaching staff.
"Now we want to gauge his match fitness and temperament," a source
monitoring his stay in London told KickOff.com. The Ugandan is a free agent
after his contract with Chiefs ended on June 30. However, Obua will not be
part of the West Ham squad that embarks on a pre-season tour of the USA and
Canada on Friday for two matches against Columbus Crew (July20) and the
MSL-All Stars (July24). He will rejoin the team after its 10-day tour of
USA. "He is good on the ball, but we need to test him in the game. Although
it is a pre-season game, it is sold out and it will possibly bring out the
best in him," one of West Ham's coaching staff reportedly told Julian
Ferdinand, the patron of Proline Soccer Academy, Uganda yesterday. Julian,
who is also the father of two English Premiership stars Anton (West Ham) and
Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), reportedly offered some pep talk to Obua.
Obua has won over 20 caps for Uganda and was top scorer for the side with
five goals during in MTN Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers for 2008
KickOff.com
make of it what you want but we are to believe that Obua has signed with us
and was awaiting a medical to finalise his contract.
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Bajner delight at Hammers move - Setanta
by Alex Livie, 17 July 2008
Balint Bajner has expressed delight at winning a move to West Ham, having
impressed during a trial in East London. The teenager claims The Hammers and
Romanian second division outfit Liberty Arad have agreed on a deal and he
will move to Upton Park following the European Under-19 Championship.
The deal could prove to be a notable coup for West Ham as Italian giants
Inter and Lazio also had their sights trained on the 17-year-old. "I'm very
happy, but I want to focus on the European Championship at the moment," said
Bajner. "My dream came true with this transfer. "I was on trial at Lazio and
Inter Milan, but in May I had the chance to go to West Ham. "In my trial we
played a friendly game against Preston and we won 5-1. I scored twice and
had two assists. After this Liberty and West Ham agreed about my transfer."
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New signing confirmed and more on the way?? - Bubbles In The Air
Thursday 17 Jul 2008 11:06:00 by Tony Watson
West Ham have completed the signing of 17 year old striker Balint Bajner.
The young striker trained with the Hammers at the tail end of last season
and has managed to impress management enough to win a contract with the
club. He also had trials with Lazio and Inter Milan but explained his final
decision was the down to the lure of English football. '"I was on trial at
Lazio and Inter Milan, but in May I had the chance to go to West Ham. "The
atmosphere and conditions were great at all the places, but English football
had the biggest affect on me. The Hammers have agreed a fee with his club
Liberty Arad from the Romanian second division and he will join up with the
rest of the squad after the U19 European Championships.
This is the second signing of the summer with 17 year old with Icelandic
defender Holmar Orn Eyjolffson being the first. Meanwhile, there are strong
rumours circulating Upton Park that a big name signing is imminent. Despite
Bobby Zamora's claim that the Hammers are cash strapped - news of a big
signing is expected to break at some point next week.
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More Press Hysteria - Cmon Yu Irons
July 17, 2008
I gave up reading newspapers years ago when it became apparent that they are
more than happy to twist things that are said to ever mote greater lengths.
Probably the first example I remember was when a friend of my brothers was
interviewed by a London evening paper. At the time he had just turned
professional with Chelsea and during the interview he was asked what his
hopes were for the future. Not suprisingly he replied he wanted to break
into the first team. The papers lead headline for the story? "Move over
Butch Wilkins" the article then went on to paint a picture that made this
poor lad sound like the most arrogant piece of work ever. It was totally
unlike the boy who was one of the nicest kids you could wish to meet (apart
from signing for Chelsea) Sadly he never got beyond a couple of reserve team
outings.
Now the latest, Bobby Zamora joins Fulham and is asked if he expects any
more players to be sold. His answer was
"I don't really know the ins and outs of what the club need to do but it is
a possibility. "I understand West Ham need some money but how much is
anyone's guess."
In other words, he doesn't know. The papers can't print that because it
doesn't grab the attention so instead of "Bobby Zamora doesn't know if any
more West Ham players will be sold" we get
"Hammers may need to sell players to raise cash, warns Zamora" - The Daily
Mail
"ZAMORA EXPECTS MORE DEPARTURES" - Sporting Life
"Zamora hints at more Hammers sales" - Setanta Sports
"West Ham need a lot mora" - The Sun which goes on "BOBBY ZAMORA says West
Ham's money worries will lead to other big names following him through the
Upton Park exit."
NO HE DIDN'T, he said he doesn't know!!
God they make me sick!
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'Obua handed chance with Hammers' - Football365.co.za
Media reports in Uganda claim David Obua is on trial with English Premier
League club West Ham. The 24-year-old is a free agent after his contract
with Kaizer Chiefs expired at the end of June. Obua was being tracked by
Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb, but the Cranes skipper could make a dream move
to Upton Park if he impresses. The Daily Monitor claims Obua will be
included in the Hammers' team that 'takes on Richmond FC in front of a
sell-out crowd at Beveree Stadium'.
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Behrami In, Neill Out And Dangerous Undercurrents - The West Ham Process
07.17.08 | 4 Comments
For Hammers fans, it has pretty much been agreed that this is a frustrating
transfer window. Beyond the rumours (which have been particularly fruitful
this year), there appears to be a potentially dangerous undercurrent flowing
through the ranks. It has been said by a guy called Mark Driscoll that in a
city, culture is born. Everything 'downstream' (ie society) of the city
subsequently inherits it's culture.This is going somewhere I promise. What I
can see happening at Upton Park at the minute is that at the very top, in
the boardroom (ie in the City) something is stirring. I don't think we will
ever truly know the root of the waves, but I'm pretty sure it has something
to do with the Tevez case. Let's say 99% sure.
It is clear that the current flowing out of the city (the Boardroom) is
being inherited by everything downstream…and I think it does mean that
Curbishley's hand is being forced. (This is me trying to defend Curb's
here!) Worst case scenario, we lose the Sheff Utd Mash-Up. We, and BG are
out of pocket by a substantial sum of money….it means therefore that not a
single penny is available for transfers unless we sell certain individuals
to lowly clubs such as Fulham in order to raise funds.
I'm not trying to be a doom merchant here…more of a reality merchant. The
thing is, Zamora has even said it himself. That we need to sell more
players:
Football is a business now and selling players is part of it." Asked if he
expected more players to be sold off, Zamora said: "I don't really know the
ins and outs of what the club need to do but it is a possibility. "I
understand West Ham need some money but how much is anyone's guess."
If however the money raised from selling two legends is to be used to bring
somebody else in, then it would appear that that person is to be Valon
Behrami. He is reportedly having a medical at the club this week, and we
would be getting him at a fraction of the price. Potentially good business
as he is a good player. As he plays in a similar (if not the same) role as
Lucas Neill, this rumour fuels further the possibility of Neill being
re-united with Mark Hughes at Manchester City. I guess the point to this
whole post is that although it has been a pretty painfully boring and
uneventful transfer window thus far, the reality check is that we may just
need the money. BG may just be playing his cards right at the minute just
incase Sheff Utd do get their hands on anymore money they don't deserve.
Onto more exciting things. We are playing an actual game tonight! I am
personally looking forward to watching this. Yes, it is only Hampton and
Richmond Borough but we are going to get a chance to see how the side are
shaping up. How they look injury and fitness wise. And, on a positive note,
it has been rumoured that David Obua, who has been on trial at West Ham for
the last 8 days, is going to get a game tonight. We will see. So let's take
hope. Next year is a new year. We have 'new' players to see even if we
haven't signed anyone in some respects.
I think patience is the key.
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AJ deal warning for Hammers - Clubcall
20080717 13:53
West Ham could be priced out of a move for £9m-rated Everton striker Andy
Johnson after Bobby Zamora's cash warning. Wigan manager Steve Bruce has
been given the go-ahead to launch a big-money bid for Johnson with Toffees
chairman Bill Kenwright and manager David Moyes set to sell the England
international.
But the Latics could have a fight on their hands with Fulham thought to be
preparing a bid of their own, while Sunderland and the Hammers are also in
the hunt.
However, Zamora, who joined Fulham this week, has hinted at more player
sales by the Upton Park outfit rather than major arrivals.
He said: "I understand that they need the money, but how much is anyone's
guess."
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West Ham sign Hungarian starlet(AFP) Thursday 17 July 2008 - FIFA.com
West Ham signed Hungarian starlet Balint Bajner from Romanian club Liberty
Arad for an undisclosed fee on Thursday. Bajner, 17, impressed West Ham
manager Alan Curbishley during a trial at the end of last season and the
Premier League club moved quickly to snap him up despite interest from Lazio
and Inter Milan. "My dream came true with this transfer. I was on trial at
Lazio and Inter Milan, but in May I had the chance to go to West Ham,"
Bajner said.
"The atmosphere and conditions were great at all the places, but English
football had the biggest affect on me. "In my trial we played a friendly
game against Preston and we won 5-1. I scored twice and had two assists.
After this Liberty and West Ham agreed about my transfer."
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