A lively first month in English football has seen Walter Lopez quickly
settle into his new footballing life
03.10.2008
Walter Lopez is ready to be patient for another crack at the West Ham United
first team after a solid midweek reserve-team run-out.
The 22-year-old left-back turned in an energetic display on his first-team
bow against Watford in the Carling Cup last month. He followed that up with
an encouraging showing in the 4-3 reserves win against West Bromwich Albion
on Tuesday in front of the watching Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke. As
well as some forceful runs up the flank, his header paved the way for
Freddie Sears' last-gasp winner.
"It was a good game and I enjoyed it very much. It was a good experience. My
favourite thing is to attack and get forward from the back," the three-times
capped Uruguayan international said. "We got the win and it was important
for the team and also very important for me to play. I need to show what I
can do as I am looking to break into the first team. My hope is to do this
in the next months.
"I really like it here at West Ham and in London. My family are here now and
I am very happy to have this chance," added the new recruit. Lopez is aware
that he and the others on show have to stake their claim for the senior side
but also understands he faces a battle to dislodge the experienced Herita
Ilunga at left-back. "The first team are doing very well. There are top
players in the team. I need to show that I can win a place."
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All the odds for Bolton - WHUFC
Ahead of Sunday's visit of Bolton Wanderers, here's what on offer from
online sports betting partner Jaxx
03.10.2008
Bolton Wanderers have traditionally been awkward opponents for West Ham
United, who will be out to record their fourth consecutive home win when the
sides meet at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday.
The Hammers have beaten the Trotters just three times in their last 13
Premier League meetings and are considered 4/5 shots to hand Bolton their
fifth defeat in seven league matches. Wanderers have scored just once on
their travels this term and have lost all three games, conceding five goals
in total. They are 4/1 to earn their second win of the season, while the
draw is available at 9/4.
The club's online sports betting partner highlighted a few trends for last
week's trip to Fulham and several of those paid off. Looking back at
previous meetings for Sunday's game, Bolton have scored the last goal in the
game on the last five meetings with West Ham United, and seven times in
eight games. They are 8/5 to do so again. The Hammers have scored in all
seven previous meetings at the Boleyn Ground and are 13/5 to draw a blank.
JAXX offer half-time/full-time betting on all games. The Hammers have led
five times at half-time, winning three times and drawing twice. The odds for
Gianfranco Zola's side to be leading at half-time and full time are 9/5,
while it is 14/1 for a West Ham half-time lead with the final outcome being
a draw. A draw at half-time and a Bolton victory at the final whistle is
available at 8/1.
If Bolton are leading at the interval, watch out! In their 14 Premier League
meetings, Bolton have led on five previous occasions at the break and have
gone on to win them all. They are 21/4 to be in front at the interval and
hold on for the victory this time around. In only four of those 14 fixtures
have the sides gone in for the half-time break all-square and none of those
games have ended in a draw. Interestingly, neither side has managed to
overcome a half-time deficit and gone on to win.
JAXX also offer odds on the half-time result. It is 6/4 for the Hammers to
be leading at the break, the draw is 9/10 and a Bolton advantage is
available at 13/4. Four of the last six meetings have yielded three or more
goals in total and the odds for more than 2.5 goals to be scored on Sunday
are 17/20.
Early goals and late goals have been a feature in the teams' respective
league games this season and that might be worth bearing in mind. JAXX offer
first and last-goal-time betting. In their combined 12 league games this
season, the first goal has been scored between the first and 15th minute on
no less than six occasions. The odds for that happening are 9/5. In seven
games, the last goal has been scored between the 76th and 90th minute. The
odds on that occurring are 21/20.
Don't forget, JAXX offer a plethora of markets for every West Ham United
game. There are also a number of exclusive Season Specials.
And that's not all. Register with JAXX, place your first bet and you will
get a FREE matching bet to the value of your own stake, up to £25. For
example, if your first bet is £25, it will be doubled and you will get
another £25 to bet absolutely free! Your free bet will be credited to your
account within 48 hours of placing your first bet with JAXX. Log on to
jaxx.com for more details.
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West Ham Utd v Bolton: preview - KUMB
Filed: Friday, 3rd October 2008
By: Preview Percy
Our first home Sunday fixture of the current campaign pitches us up against
Bolton Wanderers in a re-run of the 1923 FA Cup Final that even I am too
young to remember.
Man of the match that day was a white horse called Billy that cleared the
overspill crowd from the brand new Wembley pitch, thus ensuring that future
Cup Finals would be all-ticket forever after. Calling it the "White Horse"
final always seemed a bit harsh on the PC in the saddle to me – as if the
horse would have done the job without PC George Scorey's assistance. Still
it was the start of a tradition – as the late Stan Mortensen might have
attested having been the only player to score a hat-trick in a Cup Final
that became universally known as "The Matthews Final".
More topically, Wanderers were much in the news last week for being on the
receiving end of a dodgy penalty awarded for to the home side by Rob Styles.
Quite why a dodgy penalty awarded to the home side at that venue should be
newsworthy eludes me – especially in view of the identity of the ref. Let's
face it it's not exactly a rare occurrence is it? Still "worst decision
ever" has a nice ring to it if you're a headline writer. Watford might beg
to differ though, though to be fair to journos "Worst decision ever. In the
Premiership. This week." does lack a certain snappiness as headlines go.
Wanderers boss Gary Megson was quite red in the face about the whole affair.
Megson took over the reins at the Reebok just under a year ago, having spent
a whole six weeks as manager of Leicester City. Megson arrived in the wake
of a fairly disastrous spell at the wheel by Sammy "Offside You Idiot
Thomas" Lee. Prior to that Sam Allardyce was in charge. Allardyce is
credited with bringing in all the scientific stuff that they have at the
Reebok, including pro-zone and any number of analysts and ologists. Sadly
none of them came to the conclusion that football is "The Beautiful Game"
and they are still, eighteen months after Allardyce's departure, rightly or
wrongly, more noted for the "robust" nature of their football rather than
for being pleasing to the eye. Allardyce of course spent the later months of
his tenure telling everyone within earshot that he was going to sue the BBC
for libel over the Panorama "Bung" programme before the deadline for doing
so passed quietly away with no lawsuits materialising.
Megson kept Bolton up last season with 16th place being confirmed on the
last day of the season. A section of the Reebok support was less than happy
with the situation though, especially given Allardyce's habit of obtaining
top ten finishes. Mutterings about the management still persist, especially
in view of the Trotters' indifferent start to the season which sees them
hovering just outside the relegation zone on goal difference. Their one win
to date came on the opening day of the season against fellow strugglers
Stoke and their only other point came in a 0-0 draw at home to West Brom.
Otherwise Fulham, Arsenal, Man Utd and even Newcastle have picked up maximum
points from their encounters. Still, they are above Spurs, but then again,
who isn't? Reports suggest that they had a decent second half at the
Emirates but their efforts were overshadowed by a number of poor challenges,
notably that of Davies on Clichy which was probably more deserving of red
than yellow. Similar challenges were also the norm at Old Trafford last
weekend, though it was a well-timed effort from Samuel that caught all the
headlines from yet another Styles brainstorm.
In goal the visitors will start with Jaaskelainen, a 'keeper who has the
annoying habit of playing well against us more often than not. The central
defensive pairing last weekend was comprised of former Villa youngster Gary
Cahill and ex (amongst others) Newcastle and Portsmouth stopper Andy O'Brien
who, between them, will make it an interesting afternoon for Carlton Cole if
nothing else. The unusually-named Danny Shittu and Joey O'Brien have also
featured this term and, in the absence of any injury news as I trawl the
interweb it appears that Megson may still be searcing for the right blend at
the back. On the left flank they have been playing another former Villa man,
the also unusually-named – and luckless - Jlloyd Samuel with Icelandic
international Gretar Steinsson picking up the right. Matt Taylor has been
injured of late but may be close to a return having made the racing car
seats at Old Trafford.
Bolton have favoured a five-man midfield of late, with Ricardo Gardner
taking up the left having pushed up from left-back since the start of last
season. Former Arsenal kid Muamba is preferred in the middle alongside Gavin
McCann with the aforementioned Kevin Davies on the right. Kevin Nolan has
the "just behind the main striker " role and, against Man Utd at least,
Swedish international Johan Elmander had the lone striker role, though it is
not apparently unknown for Elmander to play on the right of midfield with
Davies moving up front. Matt Taylor has been injured of late but may be
close to a return. Portuguese U21 striker Ricardo Vaz Te has featured only
from the bench this season having spent almost all of last term injured and
Heidar Helgusson is another striker available to Megson.
As for us, Bellamy's lively appearance from the bench last week may mean a
long-awaited start for the Welsh international and, if that is the case,
DiMichele is likely to be the one to drop to the bench. However, Zola may
elect to give Bellamy another week or so before risking a start in which
case DiMichele, who had an ineffective match at Craven Cottage, will get
another chance at the Boleyn, Otherwise I'd expect us to remain unchanged as
the players continue to grow into the 4-3-2-1 system that has been adopted
since the new management arrived. We are likely to see some robust
challenges and we'll need to see Etherington reacting like he did last week
to the assault on him by Konchesky, whose foul turned Matty into a man
possessed. In the past Matty has perhaps had a tendency to hide after a
kicking and I don't see the opposition doing him too many favours this
weekend, so last week's reaction was a welcome sight. Mark Noble will need
to keep his discipline in the middle as well. As mentioned, Carlton Cole
will be relishing the battle up front and we are likely to be in for an
interesting clash of styles.
This will be a match in which a decent start will go a long way to settling
matters and we'll need to impose our passing game on the match early on.
However, confidence is high after two consecutive wins and, with a number of
players clearly enjoying themselves a lot more under the current regime,
I'll take us to win 3-1 to send the players – and supporters – into the
international break with smiles on our faces.
Enjoy the match – and the break!
Last Season: 1-1 - a severely depleted Hammers side failed to capitalise on
McCartney's wonder strike and missed a number of good chances before
conceding a late equaliser to Nolan.
Danger man: Mike Dean – one day the Premiership's worst ref will tell us
exactly why he felt it necessary to ruin so many matches – ours more than
most. Presumably in an expensive ghost-written book. We won't be buying it,
we just wish he'd go away and start writing it now.
Look out for: Bolton Fans – not usually noted for turning up in numbers,
there may be more of them than normal since the club is laying on free
coaches. Score 10 bonus points for spotting a White Horse – with an
additional 10 if you're sober at the time.
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West Ham v Bolton - BBC
Venue: Upton Park Date: Sunday, 5 October Kick-off: 1330 BST
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live &
highlights on Match of the Day 2
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BIG-MATCH FACTS
West Ham are seeking a third consecutive win to maintain Gianfranco Zola's
100% Premier League start as Hammers' manager; Bolton are aiming to end a
three-match losing run.
This match pits the strongest "home" club in the Premier League with the
weakest "away" club; the Hammers have a 100% winning record at Upton Park,
the Trotters have a 100% losing record away from the Reebok.
Bolton have won only one of their last 16 Premier League games against
London clubs; that victory being 1-0 over West Ham on 12 April 2008.
The Hammers have only won one of the last eight Premier League meetings with
Bolton; a 3-1 triumph on 5 May 2007 when Carlos Tevez scored twice.
Conversely, the East London club have lost only one home league match
against the Trotters since 1964.
Distance between the clubs: 231 miles (371 kilometres)
CLUB FORM
WEST HAM UNITED
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 5th 12 points
2008-09 Premier League performance
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League
fixtures)
1. Victory will result in the clubs' best ever points return after the seven
matches of a Premier League season.
2. Not managed more than two successive Premier League victories in 44
outings, since ending the 2006-07 season with four wins. That sequence
included a 3-1 home win over Bolton.
3. Won all three home league games with an aggregate of 9-3, and not lost at
Upton Park in six since a 0-1 defeat to Portsmouth on 8 April.
4. Not kept a clean sheet in any game in any competition this season.
5. On the longest current run by any club in the Premier League of 18
matches since a clean sheet; the 0-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage on 23
February being the most recent.
6. Won their last five home Premier League matches against North-West clubs,
and lost one of eight against clubs from the region; 0-2 against Everton on
15 December 2007.
Fixtures
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BOLTON WANDERERS
Club stats
Going into the weekend: 17th 4 points
2008-09 Premier League performance
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League
fixtures)
1. Not won in six league and cup games since opening the season with a 3-1
home victory over Stoke; one draw, five defeats.
2. Lost the last three Premier League matches; their longest losing run
since five successive defeats between 9 February and 19 March.
3. Won nine of 34 Premier League matches under Gary Megson.
4. Need to score once to total 400 Premier League goals all-time.
5. This is their 175th away game in Premier League history.
6. Lost the last three away league games and not won in five since a 0-1
triumph over Middlesbrough at the Riverside on 19 April; their only maximum
in 10 on the road.
7. Lost both league fixtures so far this season against London clubs; away
to Fulham and home to Arsenal.
8. Not won in 10 Premier League visits to London, since a 0-1 eclipse of
Watford on 3 February 2007; their only maximum in 16 top-flight games in the
capital.
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
WEST HAM UNITED
Squad profiles
Lee BOWYER is a double shy of 50 career Premier League goals (Leeds,
Newcastle and West Ham).
If selected:-
Dean ASHTON will be making his 250th career league appearance (Crewe,
Norwich and West Ham).
Hayden MULLINS will be making his 200th appearance in a West Ham shirt.
James COLLINS will be making his 100th career league appearance (Cardiff and
West Ham).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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BOLTON WANDERERS
Squad profiles
Kevin DAVIES has scored Bolton's only away league goal this season.
If he scores:-
Matthew TAYLOR will reach 50 club career goals (Luton, Portsmouth and
Bolton).
If selected:-
Andy O'BRIEN will be making his 50th appearance in a Bolton shirt.
HEAD TO HEAD
The 1-2 triumph on 27 August 2005 is Bolton's only maximum at Upton Park in
the Premier League. Kevin Nolan and Ivan Campo were their scorers.
There has never been a goalless draw in a league game between these clubs.
Bolton have scored in each of their last 11 Premier League matches against
West Ham.
Home and away
League (inc PL): West Ham 18 wins, Bolton 24, Draws 8
Prem: West Ham 5 wins, Bolton 6, Draws 3
at West Ham only
League (inc PL): West Ham 15 wins, Bolton 6, Draws 4
Prem: West Ham 4 wins, Bolton 1, Draws 2
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
West Ham United 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
4 November 2007 - Ref: Peter Walton
West Ham scorer: McCartney 20
Bolton scorer: Nolan 90
REFEREE
Mike Dean (Wirral)
Premier League referees' table
Mike Dean's 2008-09 Premier League card count
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Bolton consider Tevez action - SSN
Gartside awaits outcome of Blades hearing
Last updated: 3rd October 2008
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside has admitted the Trotters could be the next
club to launch action against West Ham in the Carlos Tevez affair. Sheffield
United are embroiled in a lengthy battle against the Hammers in the wake of
their relegation from the Premier League in 2007, when Tevez played a key
role in the Upton Park club's survival. The Premier League found West Ham
guilty of breaching league rules over the transfers of Tevez and Javier
Mascherano, fining them £5.5million in April last year, but electing not to
dock any points. The Blades continued their fight and an independent FA
tribunal recently ruled in their favour on the matter, with West Ham now
facing a compensation bill reported to be in the region of £30million. West
Ham are planning to appeal the latest ruling, with Gartside admitting that
he will watch the outcome of the case with interest.
Bolton were beaten by West Ham towards the end of the 2006/07 season, a
result which Gartside claims affected their final standing in the table and
the amount of prize money they received. He told the Daily Mirror: "There is
an argument to say we can claim three points from West Ham. "We went down
there and lost 3-1, Tevez scored two and it cost us £700,000 because that
was one place in the league. "If Sheffield United are successful and get a
claim, then why shouldn't we? "It will make two or three clubs look at it
and say they have lost income."
Bolton finished the 2006/07 season in seventh place, two points adrift of
Everton in sixth, but with a vastly inferior goal difference.
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Whelan calls for Hammers action - SSN
Wigan chairman remains full supportive of Blades' position
Last updated: 3rd October 2008
Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan believes the Premier League need to take
a stand against West Ham United, and has suggested points could be docked.
With the Carlos Tevez affair continuing to rumble on, Whelan remains firmly
in Sheffield United's corner on the issue. West Ham, who have already been
fined over the signings of Tevez and Javier Mascherano, have now been
ordered to pay damages to Sheffield United. The Blades were relegated on the
final day of the 2006/07 after losing at home to Wigan and Whelan feels the
matter can no longer be swept under the carpet. "We played Sheffield United
at Bramall Lane and had we drawn or lost, we'd have been in their situation
right now," Whelan told Sky Sports News.
"From the very start I've been on (Blades chairman) Kevin McCabe's side and
I spoke to him only this week to congratulate him on his success and I want
him to get any amount of money he feels they've lost. "I would also like the
Premier League to stand up and do what is necessary. "We're not having clubs
telling us lies, I'm sorry it can't be done and they can't brush it under
the carpet, which I think has been the policy, that can't be so. "It has to
be on the agenda at the next Premier League meeting and it has got to be
discussed. "If West Ham are found to have done things wrong twice without
disclosing it, then the Premier League have got to be seen to stand up and
take the necessary action. "If it's points deducted, if it's a fine or
whatever they've got to do, they must let democracy rule here."
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I didn't nobble manager, insists Neill - smh.com.au
Email Printer friendly version Normal font Large font Alex Brown in London
October 4, 2008
AUSTRALIA and West Ham captain Lucas Neill is adamant his heated exchange
with Alan Curbishley played no role in the manager's departure from Upton
Park last month.
Neill's clash with Curbishley after West Ham's 4-1 victory over Blackburn
attracted much attention in the British press, with some reports suggesting
the spat - along with disagreements over the sale of key players by club
owner, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson - drove Curbishley to quit the East London
club four days later.
While confirming "one or two verbals" did take place after the Blackburn
game, Neill denied the row prompted Curbishley to leave West Ham.
"We talked openly and honestly," Neill told the Herald yesterday. "It was a
high-pressure game. We won, and emotions were quite high. We had one or two
verbals at each other, and that was it. We shook hands straight after and it
was forgotten about. It just happened that it occurred right before he
handed in his resignation. I don't think it went any way towards that.
"We had the full squad supporting Curbishley. I'm not really allowed to talk
about Curbishley, but everyone had his full backing, and that's why we went
out and won 4-1 that day. People are barking up the wrong tree there. He
made a decision based on his own motives."
Curbishley's departure is just one of a number of controversies to have
engulfed West Ham this season. The capitulation of the club's major sponsor,
travel company XL, and a £30 million ($68m) compensation claim from
Sheffield United over the Carlos Tevez affair has attracted more coverage
than team's bright start to the Premier League season - four wins from six
fixtures, for fifth place overall. Neill, as captain, is striving not to
allow the controversies, and the arrival of a new manager in Gianfranco
Zola, to distract the team. But that, he says, is not always easy in the
high-profile, high-pressure world of top-flight English football.
"The only place you are safe as a player is on the training pitch, because
all you think about is training and playing," he said. "We leave the other
stuff for people at board level to work out. The people I feel most sorry
for are the fans. They're here forever, we're only here for a career. We
obviously love the club, and they have a sentimental attachment, too. They
get involved in those affairs, whereas we try to keep a clear mind. The only
thing we can do is try and win. We can try and keep the football right, even
if a few things aren't going right off the pitch."
Neill acknowledged the arrival of a new manager can have a destabilising
effect on a team, but credited Zola with imbuing the team with enthusiasm
and new ideas over the past fortnight. West Ham have won both league games
since the Italian's arrival, showcasing a more attacking and free-flowing
style than under the more conservative stewardship of Curbishley.
"There are two ways it can go," Neill said. "On the one hand, everyone gets
into a nice routine with one manager and then there's the unsettling aspect
of a new guy coming in and trying to work out what's right and wrong again.
But a change of manager also freshens everyone up and gives everyone a bit
of a boost, because they know they need to go a bit harder to impress.
You've all got to start with a clean slate and win the favouritism of the
manager. That's good, because it brings the intensity up."
Neill will lead the Hammers against Bolton on Sunday before returning to
Australia before the Socceroos' World Cup qualifier against Qatar in
Brisbane on October 15. "The only thing we've got to be careful [of] is that
we've beaten [Qatar] twice before, so we can't take that as a given," he
said. "They will be coming over knowing they have to do better than the last
few games."
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Breaking news: Blades chief breaks silence on Tevez affair - YorkshirePost
Published Date: 03 October 2008
By Rob Waugh
SHEFFIELD United chairman Kevin McCabe is calling on the Premier League to
reinvestigate West Ham over the Carlos Tevez affair in the light of last
week's arbitration findings. Breaking his silence on the dramatic legal
victory, McCabe told the Yorkshire Post that the Premier League should be
true to its word to reopen the case if further evidence of the Hammers'
breaching League rules emerged. After the FA arbitration found West Ham had
breached rules over the third party agreement with Tevez's 'owners' for a
second time, McCabe said: "What are they going to do about it? The Premier
League should adhere to what it said. They should reinvestigate." The Blades
chairman would not comment on what an appropriate penalty for West Ham would
be but still remains angry the only "justice" available to United is
financial compensation in the region of £30m instead of reinstatement to the
Premier League. In May last year, after West Ham were fined £5.5m over the
secret third party agreement, the Premier League said the London club would
face further action if there was any suspicion the Hammers had breached
undertakings to tear up the offending third party agreement. The FA
arbitration found that West Ham had privately assured Tevez's 'owners',
represented by Kia Joorabchian, the club would continue to abide by the
agreement despite the opposite undertaking to the Premier League
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West Ham keen on Fiorentina striker Osvaldo
03.10.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are eyeing Fiorentina striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo. The
young Argentine's agent confirmed yesterday that a Premiership club was
preparing an offer for the young Argentine. Florence sources say West Ham
chief Gianluca Nani is keen to bring Osvaldo to London in January.
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Gudmundsson insists West Ham finances are safe
03.10.08 | tribalfootball.com
Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson insists West Ham United won't be affected by
Iceland's banking troubles. The Telegraph says Hammers owner Gudmundsson has
reassured fellow directors that the club's finances will not be affected by
Iceland's troubled banking sector. It follows the announcement earlier this
week that Straumur-Burdaras, the investment bank, has agreed a $537 million
(£300 million) deal to buy assets from Gudmundsson's Landsbanki, Iceland's
oldest and second-largest bank.
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Bolton's Gartside continuing Tevez money-grabbing shame - Daily Mail
Last updated at 1:07 PM on 03rd October 2008
Bolton are set to confirm that the Premier League have no shame when it
comes to money. Chairman Phil Gartside admitted his club are considering
legal action against West Ham for compensation after the Carlos Tevez
affair. If Sheffield United can get money out of the Upton Park club, he
suggested Bolton would also sue for the £700,000 in prize money Bolton might
have received if Tevez hadn't scored against them last season and they had
finished one place higher in the Premier League.
That would be impossible to prove and the whole concept is ridiculous,
highlighting the farcical consequences of the latest judgement against West
Ham. Just how desperate and money-grabbing has the sport become?
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Zola is fashioning his West Ham side in the style of Scala - Daily Mail
By Ken Dyer
Last updated at 1:45 PM on 03rd October 2008
So far so good for Gianfranco Zola at West Ham, with two wins out of two in
the Premier League and just that hiccup in the Carling Cup at Watford. Zola,
though, has been in football long enough to know management is no walk in
the park. There could be trouble just around the next corner, even against
Bolton at Upton Park on Sunday. With that in mind, the new West Ham manager
will undoubtedly lean on his experienced assistant Steve Clarke this weekend
and over the coming
months. The Sardinian could even give his old mate Diego Maradona a ring. He
was the Argentine great's understudy at Napoli and the two became good
friends.
'He spoke to me a lot,' recalled Zola. 'He is a lovely, simple guy and was
always making suggestions and giving advice to the younger players.'
If he wants any tips on management, however, Zola has plenty of
possibilities to choose from. Among those he could turn to are the
beleaguered Newcastle director of football, Dennis Wise, Gianluca Vialli or
perhaps two of his former managers, Ruud Gullit - who signed him for Chelsea
- or Claudio Ranieri, who has twice managed Zola, first at Napoli and then
at Stamford Bridge. Ask Zola which manager has left the biggest impression
on him, though, and the name he reveals has a much lower profile in this
country. 'I've been lucky enough to have played under some fantastic
managers and I have learned a lot from all of them,' he said. 'But,
probably, the one which had the most influence on me was Nevio Scala, my
manager at Parma. 'We had a team there who used to play very good football
and Scala was the architect of that style of play at the club. He made this
team play the best football in Italy and it was a marvellous, enjoyable
experience.'
Scala has a mightily impressive CV. Now 60, he began managing at Vicenza and
moved on to Reggiana before taking over from Arrigo Sacchi as Parma coach in
1989.
Zola, the club's most gifted player, was in his element under Scala as Parma
won the European Cup-Winners' Cup in 1992, the UEFA Cup three years later
and the European Super Cup in 1997. By that time Zola had joined Gullit in
West London but he has never forgotten the management skills of Scala.
Leaving soon after that Super Cup triumph, Scala went on his travels but
wherever he went, success invariably followed. He was in charge of Borussia
Dortmund when they won the World Club championship; Turkish club Besiktas
when they qualified for the Champions League and Shakhtar Donetsk when they
lifted their first ever Ukranian League title.
Scala's most recent job was at Spartak Moscow four years ago, but he will
always be revered by Zola who is trying to employ a similar brand of
management technique at Upton Park. Zola played his football with a smile on
his face and he wants his West Ham team to do the same. 'I want them to
enjoy their football,' he said. 'I will never criticise them for wanting to
do the right thing with the ball. 'Of course there is pressure, but you must
enjoy what you're doing to get the best out of yourself.'
So far most things on the pitch have gone swimmingly for Zola. But he will
always remember the lessons of the two men who taught him so much -
Maradona, the player, and especially the maestro manager, Nevio Scala.
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Trotters chief wants Hammers points - Echo
12:51pm Friday 3rd October 2008
BOLTON Chairman Phil Gartside wants three points from fixture with West Ham
and a win this weekend as well. He believes the Wanderers should be
compensated for losing a match in which Carlos Tevez had a big influence and
will look to sue the Hammers if the Blades bid is successful. Gartside said:
"There is an argument to say we can claim three points from West Ham. "We
went down there and lost 3-1, Tevez scored two, and it cost us £700,000
because that was one place in the league." "If Sheffield United are
successful and get a claim, then why shouldn't we?" "It will make two or
three clubs look at it and say they have lost income." Bolton travel to
Upton Park on Sunday with the Irons looking for their third league win in a
row.
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Gartside has just made a laughing stock of Bolton - CmonYuIrons
3 October 2008
Phil Gartside is without doubt a very sad little character for claiming his
teams defeat to West Ham in the 2006/07 season cost his club £700,000 in the
end of league standing. West Ham United will of course dispute this case and
hopefully make the Bolton chairman look like the idiot that he is.
Phil Gartsides said: "There is an argument to say we can claim three points
from West Ham," "We went down there and lost 3-1, Tevez scored two and it
cost us £700,000 because that was one place in the league."If Sheffield
United are successful and get a claim then why shouldn't we?"
Bolton finished 7th in the league that season with a total of 56 points and
that is 2 points behind Everton, now lets take Tevez out of the picture, the
score stands at 1-1!! which gives Bolton 1 extra point, still finishing in
7th place. What grounds does this Idiot have for claiming 3 points. I guess
Bolton must need the publicity, it is just a shame they never get it from
the games they play. Sunday's match against Bolton will prove the kind of
silly damage he has caused his club with such a pathetic claim.
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Bolton Fans show disgust at Gartside's Claim - CmonYuIrons
3 October 2008 119 views No Comment
For those who read the earlier post on COYI today stating that Gartside is
an absolute idiot for his claims that West Ham robbed Bolton of 3 points for
fielding Tevez in the season 2006/07 game at Upton park will have noticed
the commenst made from various Bolton fans showing their disgust at
gartside.
1 Comment from Richie B says:
I have been a bolton fan all my life, and I have to totally agree with all
the other comments. Cartside is an absolute disgrace to the club and the
term "football". Scores should be settled on the pitch, and not in
boardrooms/courts where greedy chairmen look for any excuses to line their
pockets with even more money. Goes to show what poor character Gartside has
as he is now considering selling the club to overseas investment, even
though he has spent all his "professional" life ridiculing foreign
investment. Let's hope we do are talking on the pitch this weekend, and have
a good game for once. It is good to see that the Bolton fans have far more
intelligence than their chairman, and that football is for the fans and not
the courts.
West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers should prove to be a great match and a
win for either club will be more beneficial than a measly £700,000 would
ever do.
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The Worms Have Started Crawling Out Already - Football365
Posted 03/10/08 12:03EmailPrintSave
"There is an argument to say we can claim three points from West Ham. "We
went down there and lost 3-1, Tevez scored two and it cost us £700,000
because that was one place in the league. It will make two or three clubs
look at it and say they have lost income. "If Sheffield United are
successful and get a claim, then why shouldn't we?" - Phil Gartside,
chairman of Bolton Wanderers Football Club.
Well, why shouldn't they?
The surprise is that Bolton are the first and that it's taken a whole week
for the full implications of last Wednesday's judgement against West Ham to
raise its greedy head. If Sheffield United are due to receive £30m in
compensation because the ineligible Carlos Tevez was judged to be worth
three points to the Hammers then why shouldn't Bolton have a go as well? Why
shouldn't we all? Here's an idea that is bound to appeal to a lawyer
somewhere: every supporter who watched a match involving Carlos Tevez in the
spring of 2006 to sue West Ham for fraud. Well, why not? Because if Bolton
can, why shouldn't we?
For this is the ghastly, corrupting can of worms that the independent
tribunal tore open when they reached their conclusion that Tevez was worth
an additional three points to the Hammers eighteen months ago - a conclusion
not reached upon fact or any basis on law but - and this is absolutely true
- based upon a headline in The Daily Telegraph and Gary Lineker's summing-up
of West Ham's final-day win over ManYoo for Match of the Day. Never mind the
evidence, let's call in the experts.
F365 has no great sympathy for West Ham, who clearly flouted the rules, but
it is a frightening exercise of justice when a judgement of such
far-reaching consequence and expense can rely on such capricious and
subjective evidence. Never mind the notion that a single player has been
deemed more critical to the outcome of a match than the other 21
professionals he shared a pitch with, apparently multi-million-pound
judgements can be meted out on the basis of newspaper headlines and flippant
farewells.
Yet it is the wider consequence - now about to be demonstrated by a
cash-hungry Bolton - of that judgement that should make football shudder.
Law is written by precedent and in declaring that West Ham's survival was
secured by the work of a single player the Independent Tribunal has laid
down a frightening precedent that threatens to override the fundamental
principle that results are sacrosanct. Bolton may be the first, but they
will not be the last club to test the boundaries of the ruling.
Nor, in such ligitious times, may the precedent be limited to the effect of
ineligible players. What West Ham have been found guilty of is essentially
cheating. So, if, say, a player cheats to win a penalty what is to stop any
club suffering as a consequence from pursuing legal redress? After all, if
Sheffield United are successful and get a claim, then why shouldn't everyone
else.
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Bolton want Tevez affair compensation - Setanta
by Jo Carter, 03 October 2008
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside has admitted he is considering action against
West Ham. West Ham were fined £5.5 million last April for breaching league
rules over the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. And an
independent FA tribunal has since ruled that The Hammers must pay damages in
the region of £30 million to Sheffield United. West Ham are planning to
appeal the ruling against them, and Gartside admits that should The Blades
be successful, Bolton may well follow them into taking legal action. "There
is an argument to say we can claim three points from West Ham," Gartside
told the Daily Mirror. "We went down there and lost 3-1, Tevez scored two
and it cost us £700,000 because that was one place in the league. "If
Sheffield United are successful and get a claim then why shouldn't we?"
Meanwhile, Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan is calling for The Premier
League to take action against West Ham over the Carlos Tevez affair. Wigan
beat Sheffield United on the last day of the 2006/07 season, condemning The
Blades to relegation. "We played Sheffield United at Bramall Lane and, had
we drawn or lost, we'd have been in their situation right now," said Whelan.
"I would like the Premier League to stand up and do what is necessary.
"We're not having clubs telling us lies, I'm sorry it can't be done and they
can't brush it under the carpet, which I think has been the policy, that
can't be so. "If West Ham are found to have done things wrong twice without
disclosing it, then The Premier League have got to be seen to stand up and
take the necessary action. He added on Sky Sports News: "If it's points
deducted, if it's a fine or whatever they've got to do, they must let
democracy rule here."
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West Ham striker Sears reaping the benefits of striking practice with Zola -
Daily Mail
By Ken Dyer
Last updated at 11:03 AM on 03rd October 2008
Freddie Sears is already reaping the benefits of some one-on-one tuition
from Gianfranco Zola. The 18-year-old striker starred for West Ham's
reserves in midweek scoring all of their goals in a 4-3 win over West Brom.
And he revealed: 'The manager helps out everyone but for me we're pretty
similar physique-wise so he said, "you've just to believe that every time
you get the ball you're the best player on the ball". 'In training we've
done individual stuff with him and he's taken me aside to do some shooting.
It's good because he's been one of the top players out there.' The youngster
will have to settle for a place on the bench against Bolton on Sunday as
Zola is set to stick with the team that beat Fulham. Another teenager James
Tomkins, 19, is back in training following injury, while fellow defender
James Collins is also close to full fitness after playing several reserve
team matches.
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Phil Gartside Should Keep his Trap Shut - Vital Football
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside has been holding forth on all manner of
subjects lately, including foreign ownership, transfer policy and the
structure of the Premier League. So it is no surprise that he has chosen to
embroil his club in the never ending Carlos Tevez affair. 'There is an
argument to say we can claim three points from West Ham,` he told the Bolton
News. 'We went down there and lost 3-1, Tevez scored two, and it cost us
£700,000 because that was one place in the league. 'If Sheffield United are
successful and get a claim, then the players are successful, why shouldn`t
we?`
Yes Phil, there is an argument. It`s just not a very good one. Bolton
finished two points behind Everton, but they also lost to West Ham, a
fortnight before. If the Wanderers were successful in garnering another
three points, then Everton would surely be too, leaving the league positions
unchanged. Gartside also appears to be implying that Bolton would have won
the game at West Ham if Tevez had been unavailable for selection. That
doesn`t hold water either given the team`s performances at the time. From
January 2007 until the end of the season, the Whites had only four league
wins, all against clubs in the bottom six, and they were conceding an
average of two goals a game. Seventeen games. Seventeen points. Relegation
form.
The next six games are vital and will shape Bolton`s season. The chairman
would do better to concentrate his mind on them. The matter of Carlos Tevez
is between West Ham, Sheffield United, The Premier League and a lot of
lawyers. It should be left that way.
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Chairman BG - Everything will be fine - Echo
10:41am Friday 3rd October 2008
By Rob Pritchard »
WEST Ham United chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson has insisted that the club's
off-field issues will not affect the Irons' progress on the pitch. In a rare
statement to the club's supporters, the Icelandic banking billionaire
expressed his delight at the Hammers' form under new manager Gianfranco
Zola. Gudmundsson, who has seen his fortune dwindle in recent months due to
problems in Iceland's economy, has also reassured the club's directors that
the worldwide financial crisis would not be allowed to affect West Ham's
spending power. Landsbanki, the Icelandic bank Gudmundsson has chaired since
2003, sold £300million worth of its assets to investment bank
Straumur-Burdaras. But n the statement, posted on the club's official
website, the 67-year-old said: "As I am sure our fans will agree, Gianfranco
Zola has made an excellent start and I am very pleased with his appointment.
"The work done by the club's CEO Scott Duxbury and the board to bring
Gianfranco and Steve Clarke to the club and to implement a new technical and
medical infrastructure should be applauded. "It is clear to see that the
first-team squad under the new manager should remain focused on the task in
hand and determined to achieve the success that will move the club forward."
Gudmundsson's praise for Duxbury would appear to strengthen the position of
the chief executive, whose role had been called into question following the
success of Sheffield United's £30million compensation claim over the Carlos
Tevez affair. The club has also published a statement of its own insisting
that the Tevez legal battle will not be allowed to affect the players'
performances. "Our position is that this matter is in the hands of our
lawyers and will be dealt with efficiently without disruption the
first-team," the statement said. "This will allow the management to
concentrate solely on moving West Ham United forward and delivering on-field
success."
This will come as a relieft to new first-team manager Zola, who admitted
that he was not aware of Sheffield United's compensation claim when he took
control at Upton Park a month ago. The statement also said that the Irons
hope to sign a multi-million pound deal with a new principal sponsor next
week following the collapse of former partners XL last month.
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EXCLUSIVE: Birthday boy Nani tips Behrami for top - Echo
8:30am Friday 3rd October 2008
By Rob Pritchard »
GIANLUCA Nani can be forgiven for having enjoyed his 46th birthday. Since
being installed as West Ham United's first-ever technical director in June,
things have gone rather well for the Italian talent-spotter, who turned a
year older on Wednesday. While the Irons' off-field problems have mounted in
recent weeks – the acrimonious resignation of Alan Curbishley being followed
by the success of Sheffield United's £30million compensation claim over the
Carlos Tevez affair – Nani's own star has risen. Not only was the former
Brescia man involved heavily in the appointment of Gianfranco Zola as the
club's new manager, but three of his new signings have already made a splash
at Upton Park. Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami, Congolese left-back Herita
Ilunga and Italian forward David Di Michele have all impressed, despite
being almost completely unknown to Hammers' supporters before their
arrivals. "Ilunga and Behrami have done really well. They have the
characteristics to play English football," Nani told the Echo. "They are
intelligent players who know their jobs. "Ilunga originally came from the
fine youth set-up at Rennes in France so he knows his game while Behrami,
for me, is one of the best midfielders in Europe. "Di Michele too, I think,
can do a good job. "We are really happy about these players."
Nani is also delighted with his relationship with new boss Zola, whose own
impact at the Boleyn Ground has been immediate. Curbishley's conservative
tactics have disappeared overnight as the ex-Chelsea star attempts to turn
the Irons into an entertaining, attacking Premier League force to be
reckoned with. Off the pitch, too, Nani revealed that the Sardinian has
embraced their partnership. "Alan did a good job, but this is a different
way" the Rome-born technical director said, diplomatically.
"Gianfranco likes to work a lot with the ball and with the ball on the
pitch. He has also changed the system. "It doesn't mean one is better than
the other, just that they do their jobs differently. "Gianfranco was a great
player and always tried to play in the right way. He's trying to bring this
philosophy as a manager too by playing offensive football. I'm really happy
about that. "He also likes to work with the young players, which I also like
a lot. It is always nice to find a talented young player, develop his
potential and then you end up with a champion in your team. "This has to be
our philosophy. West Ham is famous for bringing through these players, so we
will try to continue doing that job."
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Appiah denies high wages claim - TeamTalk
Ghana captain Stephen Appiah has dismissed reports claiming his high wage
demands are putting off interested clubs from a potential deal. The
27-year-old, who is clubless after leaving Turkish giants Fenerbahce during
the summer, has been linked with a host of English Premier League clubs
including Arsenal, Blackburn, Portsmouth and West Ham. However, he is still
struggling to find work amid speculation that he is pricing himself out of
the market. But the former Udinese, Parma and Juventus midfielder says that
these claims are unfound and a deal with a new employer is imminent. "We are
still talking to the clubs involved but the reports that I have high
financial demands are not true at all," Appiah told ww.ghanasoccernet.com.
"The deals from all the clubs are reasonable, but the most important thing
is that I must consider many factors before I make my choice."
Appiah has endured a tough 10 months after a recurring knee injury late last
year forced him to miss the African Nations Cup in his homeland and he
admits that the setback is making him think long and hard about his future.
He continued: "I have been through a lot in the past one year so when I make
a decision I must make sure it is the right decision and that takes time. "I
shouldn't be in a rush to sign deals. I must look at the offers with a
critical eye because when I sign for a club I want to stay there for long
and build a relationship with the club. "Money is not everything. Happiness
is important for me. I also want to return to action soon."
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Hammers 'should be hit with 15-point deduction' - YorkshirePost.co.uk
03 October 2008
By Rob Waugh
THE chairman of Wigan Athletic has thrown down the gauntlet to the Premier
League over the Carlos Tevez affair by calling for West Ham to be deducted
"a minimum 15 points" in the wake of last week's arbitration judgment
against the London club. Dave Whelan also launched a stinging attack on the
Premier League for their "diabolical" handling of the saga for which he said
League chairman Sir Dave Richards "should carry the can". He also accused
the Premier League of wanting to push the FA ADVERTISEMENTarbitration
findings – which included West Ham breaching League rules a second time –
"under the table". Whelan, who is delighted the arbitration found in
Sheffield United's favour, said: "The Premier League must act in a fair and
proper manner and be seen to be acting in a fair and proper manner.
"I think it's a big decision for the Premier League at the next meeting.
They can't wash their hands of it. It would appear to me they want to push
it under the table, but they can't – it's an injustice of the highest order.
"Now it's come out, they should give them (West Ham) a minimum 15 points
deduction, but I don't think the Premier League have got the bottle to do
it."
The Premier League declined to comment last night though it is understood
any decision on disciplinary action against West Ham will only be taken at
the conclusion of the arbitration's hearings to decide damages for the
Blades, who are claiming at least £30m. The League is due to meet later this
month with Whelan promising the matter will be raised if it is not on the
agenda. West Ham also declined to comment, but did confirm the club had
lodged an appeal against the findings with the Court of Arbitration for
Sport (CAS) yesterday afternoon. The Blades are not commenting on the latest
developments though it is known they have no intention of agreeing with West
Ham's request to go to CAS, a stance which undermines the chances of the
case being heard. Whelan also called for a "complete reinvestigation" of the
handling of the Tevez affair, following further revelations in the
arbitration's judgment. It concluded that West Ham had breached Premier
League rules for a second time, after the original disciplinary finding in
April 2007 on the secret third-party agreement. After being fined £5.5m but
avoiding a points deduction, West Ham were told they could only play Tevez
in the critical last few games of the season if they tore up the offending
third-party agreement the club had with the Argentinian's 'owners',
represented by Kia Joorabchian.
The Hammers publicly agreed and Tevez played a crucial role in West Ham
staving off relegation by finishing three points above Sheffield United. But
the arbitration panel found that West Ham privately reassured Joorabchian
that the club would continue to abide by the third-party agreement,
irrespective of what the Premier League was told. With the potential
prospect of further Premier League disciplinary action against West Ham,
Whelan also questioned the Hammers' appointment of Maurice Watkins, a high
profile sports lawyer with a close association with the Premier League, to
fight the arbitration's findings. Watkins is a member of the Premier League
Legal Working Party and the Premier League's representative on the
Association of European Union Premier Professional Leagues. But the lawyer,
who is also a director of Manchester United, said there was no conflict of
interest. "As a practising solicitor you have to be very careful there's
absolutely no conflict," he said. "We have never previously advised the
Premier League, Sheffield United or West Ham for that matter on any of the
previous hearings."
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