Reserve-team manager Kevin Keen has spoken highly of Bobby Zamora's
all-round midweek contribution
14.02.2008
Kevin Keen has praised "outstanding athlete" Bobby Zamora on WHUTV after his
startling return to competitive action this week.
The reserve-team manager was delighted to be able to name Zamora in his
lineup to face Birmingham City on Tuesday night and even more pleased to see
him notch a second-half hat-trick. "He has been out a long while and it is
good he is back," Keen told WHUTV about the striker's performance in his
first competitive game since 28 August which will have no doubt impressed
manager Alan Curbishley and assistant Mervyn Day.
Keen added: "Bobby is an outstanding athlete. In my opinion he is one of the
best forwards in the Premier League when he is fit and I have told him that
on many occasions. We have just got to be a bit careful as to when we bring
him back. We haven't got a game this weekend and then we play Fulham away
but he could be a real diamond to have in the run-in for Curbs and Mervyn.
He can really turn games, he can score goals - I don't want to speak too
highly of him because he is a big enough character anyway."
The former Hammers midfielder admitted his side had not shown any glimpses
of the second half showing to come when they walked off level pegging at 1-1
on Tuesday. "We came in at half-time a little bit disappointed because we
felt there was a little bit of composure, class and quality lacking in our
play. We tweaked it a little bit and brought Junior [Stanislas] on and I
thought he made a big difference. We played a little bit through midfield
and obviously the three goals from Bobby made it all worthwhile."
Also, noteworthy was the display of Julien Faubert and Jack Collison, with
the former making two of Zamora's goals and also one for the latter, who yet
again showed maturity beyond his 19 years as reserve-team captain. Keen
said: "If you look at Julien's performance, he made three of the four goals
which is not bad going.
"It has been a good year for Jack, he's made his senior debut, he's got into
the Wales Under-21 squad, he's managed to score a few goals and played a lot
of games in the reserves. He is very hard-working, grafting midfield player
who can nick a goal. I hope that between now and the end of the season we
might get to see him a couple of times in the first team. We will have to
wait and see."
Attacking midfielder Stanislas was only named on the bench after Luis Boa
Morte withdrew late on as his wife was giving birth. Despite having trained
fully earlier in the day, Keen felt Stanislas could provide the necessary
spark behind Zamora. "I just felt at half-time we needed a little bit of
quality on the ball. He gave us that - he played half and hour and then I
tugged him off because he had trained in the morning. He did very well."
There was also encouragement for young defenders Jordan Spence and Bondz
N'Gala, with Spence showing some attacking instincts at right-back and
N'Gala imperious alongside James Tomkins in the centre. The final word of
praise though were dedicated to Zamora with Keen urging all to check out his
treble on WHUTV. "If you look at the four goals on the internet they are
high quality goals, that in itself made it worthwhile."
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Neill expects luck to turn - WHUFC
Lucas Neill has spoken of his disappointment at the weekend's result but has
high hopes going forward
13.02.2008
Lucas Neill has told WHUTV West Ham United will be able to put the weekend
setback against Birmingham City behind them and get back to winning ways.
The club captain was involved in the penalty decision that allowed James
McFadden to cancel out Freddie Ljungberg's early goal and ensure the 1-1
draw that meant a point apiece. As McFadden spun past Neill, referee Mark
Clattenburg believed the skipper had impeded the Scottish forward's progress
and pointed to the spot. "It was frustrating for us and frustrating for the
fans," said Neill on WHUTV. "Some said it was a penalty, others said it
wasn't. I am disappointed to be involved.
"The game was almost too easy for the first 15 minutes. We opened them up a
few times and had a few half-chances. We were guilty of what we have been
doing a lot lately which is not punishing teams when we have been dominant.
Although the penalty was soft at the other end it took the wind out of our
sails. It was disappointing that we couldn't get another goal to take the
lead again."
While reflecting on the harsh decision, Neill said the luck would no doubt
go for the team in future. "We will get a chance, a decision that will go
our way in the next couple of weeks that probably people will think we don't
deserve and it will probably even itself out. "It could have been prevented
but we also should have been 2-0 up by then. As it was it was brought them a
bit of belief, a bit of life and gave them the opportunity to hold on to
something. We couldn't rise above it."
Neill sees the weekend draw and the previous 1-0 defeat at Wigan Athletic as
five lost points and, with no game now until Saturday week, is well aware
that things have not gone quite to plan in February. "We have obviously lost
ground, we lost points and what should have been a really exciting month is
starting to look a little bit anti-climactic now. It is definitely two games
that we are going to look back at the end of the season and think we should
have possibly got maximum points."
That said, West Ham United can still possibly move up to ninth spot with a
victory against Fulham next time out and close on the top six or seven -
especially as Neill's former club Blackburn Rovers were defeated 2-0 at
Arsenal on Monday night. "We are all very disappointed but also we had a
good chat about what we are going to do here on in. As we all know last year
we won seven out of nine games so all is not lost yet."
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Form and fitness cheers Zamora - WHUFC
Bobby Zamora was pleased to get three goals but even happier to take another
step forward with his fitness
13.02.2008
Bobby Zamora showed he is closing on a first-team return with a well-taken
hat-trick in a terrific display for the reserves against Birmingham City on
Tuesday night.
The 27-year-old striker has been out since 28 August with a persistent knee
injury that has required many long hours at Chadwell Heath on the road to
recovery. Always among the first to arrive early in the morning at the
training ground, Zamora's hard work with the club's medical staff was put to
the test with a full 90 minutes at the Boleyn Ground. It came after a
behind-closed-doors friendly against Queen's Park Rangers last week in which
he also scored.
"It has been a while," a delighted Zamora said. "To get a full 90 minutes
and score a hat-trick against a good team is nice, having got 65 minutes
last week. They had a lot of pros playing, so to do well was good. We worked
hard and thankfully I scored a few goals," said Zamora, before joking that
the referee would not give him the match ball despite his hat-trick feat. He
also had a word for the fans who were "right behind me", adding: "It was
nice to give them something to cheer, thanks to them for coming out."
It was a cagey first half at the Boleyn Ground, with Zamora involved in the
build-up play to captain Jack Collison's equaliser just before half-time.
The second 45 saw Kevin Keen put Zamora in a lone striking role with the
likes of Kyel Reid and Julien Faubert given licence to get forward at will
along the flanks. It paid dividends. "They had some good players out there
and passed the ball well but we were able to change things around in the
second half and come up right against them," Zamora explained.
All three of Zamora's goals were different. The first on 58 minutes saw neat
control, a quick turn and a blasted effort into the net. The second was a
cute flick from Faubert's low cross to the near post and the third was a
powerful but precise header from another cross by the flying Frenchman on
the right wing. Faubert also came through the full 90 minutes and Zamora
said his team-mate performed "brilliantly".
"He is in exactly the same situation as me," the forward added. "He has had
a few bits and pieces since coming back. He has been sub for the first team
but for him to get another 90 minutes is the main thing. He put in a few
brilliant balls and made my job a lot easier." While naturally delighted
with the goals, Zamora stressed the "main thing was to get the fitness".
He added: "It has been a long time. I don't want to go into the first team
not fully fit and that is the main thing. I don't want to go out and not do
the team justice and not do myself justice really. Making sure I am fit
enough is important. I want to take it slowly, I don't want to break down. I
want to make sure I am 100 per cent before I go back and try and fight for
my place in the first team."
Zamora may well figure next Wednesday when the reserves are again at home,
although at Bishop's Stortford, against Fulham - three days before the
senior sides meet at Craven Cottage. Although rightly cautious about when he
will return, he is still hoping to have his say in first-team affairs before
the end of the season. "It would be nice to make an impact in the first team
for the run-in," he said. "We haven't got it too bad. March is going to be
quite hard but there are plenty of games that are winnable. We have got to
try and push on and do as well as we can."
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Widdowson begins Rotherham spell - WHUFC
Joe Widdowson has left the Boleyn Ground on a month's loan at League Two
outfit Rotherham United
14.02.2008
Promising young left-back Joe Widdowson has begun a one-month loan at League
Two side Rotherham United.
The Academy product travelled up to Millmoor on Tuesday and signed in time
to make his Millers debut in a reserve-team match against Leeds United on
Wednesday. It was to be a difficult first game with a strong visiting side
winning 3-0. Widdowson has been signed by promotion-chasing Rotherham as
cover for their injured defender Stephen Brogan, who broke his leg last
Saturday.
The 18-year-old had previously spent a week with Carlisle United before
Christmas and returned to the Boleyn Ground to re-establish himself in the
youth-team set-up. Notably he helped the U18s beat Arsenal earlier this
month in a 2-0 victory having also earned praise from Kevin Keen for a
strong display at reserve-team level in the 0-0 home draw against Chelsea in
January. Widdowson could make his Rotherham debut away to Wycombe Wanderers
this Saturday.
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West Ham drop out of rich list - BBC
Real top Man Utd in rich league
Manchester United have moved from fourth to second in the list of the
world's richest clubs, as Real Madrid stayed top for the third straight
year. Deloitte's Football Money League, which is based on revenues generated
during 2006/7, was headed by United for eight years until the Spaniards
deposed them.
Chelsea are fourth in Deloitte's table, even though the Blues regularly make
huge losses. Arsenal are fifth. In all, there are seven British clubs in the
top 20 positions. However, three of the four clubs that dropped out of the
list were also British - Manchester City, Rangers, and West Ham United. The
list shows that the game's riches continue to be monopolised by the same
group of clubs, with only one change in the top 10 from the previous season.
Juventus dropped out because they played in the second-tier of Italian
football in 2006/07, their place in the top 10 going to Italian rivals Roma.
WORLD'S WEALTHIEST CLUBS BY REVENUE
1) Real Madrid: £236.2m
2) Man Utd: £212.1m
3) Barcelona: £195.3m
4) Chelsea: £190.5m
5) Arsenal: £177.6m
6) AC Milan: £153m
7) Bayern Munich: £150.3m
8) Liverpool: £133.9m
9) Inter Milan: £131.3m
10) AS Roma: £106.1m
Source: Deloitte: 2006/7
Deloitte's figures take into account income from ticket sales, merchandising
and broadcasting contracts but do not include transfer revenues and does not
calculate profitability. Between them, the collective revenue of the top 20
clubs - which are all European - grew by 11% to £2.5bn in 2006/07, the
highest rate of growth since 2002/03. Real Madrid retained its crown as the
world's wealthiest club, in terms of sales, in a season when it clinched the
Spanish championship under Fabio Capello, and with David Beckham in the
team. Its revenues rose to £236.2m from £202m the year before.
Manchester United moved into second place, leapfrogging Barcelona and
Juventus, thanks to a season in which they won the Premier League and
reached both the Champions League semi-final and FA Cup final. Real saw a
20% increase to take their total revenue, though Manchester United's revenue
grew even more quickly, up from £167.8m to £212m. Dan Jones, of Deloitte's
sports business group, said: "With the new Premier League television deals
now online for the 2007/08 season, Manchester United have the opportunity to
significantly close the gap on Real. "A successful Champions League run may
even see them challenge again for the number one position."
Deloitte says the new TV money could help more English clubs into the top 20
in a year's time. Meanwhile, Arsenal, helped by increased revenues at their
new Emirates Stadium, jumped from ninth place to fifth, while Chelsea's move
up to fourth spot means England are the first country to have three clubs in
the top five. The other British clubs to make it into the list were
Liverpool (8), Tottenham Hotspur (11), Newcastle United (14), and Celtic
(17).
Harry Philp, director of sports finance and advisory firm Hermes Sports
Partners, said: "The top seven or eight clubs tend to usually be the same,
and generally drawn from the big English, Spanish and Italian clubs. "Real
Madrid will have been helped by the very lucrative TV deal that they have,
and the fact that their stadium is pretty much sold out for every game.
"Manchester United have been helped by their success on the field but also
by ticket price increases. "They have also done a lot of renegotiation of
much of its financial arrangements. "Arsenal have clearly benefited from the
move to the Emirates."
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A Bad-ri day at the office - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 13th February 2008
By: Staff Writer
Police are treating as suspicious the death of one of Kia Joorabchian's
alleged backers in his recent takeover bid for West Ham United. 52-year-old
Georgian tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili collapsed and died from a suspected
heart attack in Leatherhead, Surrey yesterday. However Police have referred
the death of Mr Patarkatsishvili, who had previously revealed that he
thought he was the target of an assassination plot, to their Major Crimes
Investigations Unit. Joorabchian has claimed at the time of his takeover bid
that the Georgian, who was living in England in exile having been charged
with plotting a coup in his home country was not involved with his bid to
purchase West Ham United. However multi-millionaire Patarkatsishvili, when
questioned at the time refused to deny any involvement with Joorabchian. "We
have invested in a wonderful football club in Brazil, Corinthians and I have
a couple of football investments I am reluctant to mention; they are in the
process of being finalised," he said in August 2005. "Money has a wonderful
habit of flowing where it feels comfortable. I invest in these clubs with
friends."
Boris Berezovsky, another who was linked with the Hammers bid said today:
"The death of Badri Patarkatsishvili is a terrible tragedy. I have lost my
closest friend. This is a huge loss for all of his family and friends."
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Slow, nice and easy - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 13th February 2008
By: Staff Writer
Bobby Zamora says that he is looking forward to a first team return - but
doesn't want to rush it. The 27-year-old striker has been out of action
since last August but scored a second half hat-trick against Birmingham's
reserves at The Boleyn Ground last night. Having had his first full 90
minutes in six months behind him, Zamora says that he is looking forward to
getting back to first team action. However he issists that he won't make
himself available for selection until he is sure that he is ready to do so.
"It has been a long time," he told whufc.com. "I don't want to go into the
first team and not do myself or the team justice. "Making sure I am fit
enough is important. I want to take it slowly, I don't want to break down. I
want to make sure I am 100 per cent before I go back and try and fight for
my place."
Despite his desire to regain full fitness - with his next opportunity likely
to come against Fulham next week when the reserve teams meet - Zamora feels
that he still has a part to play in this season. "It would be nice to make
an impact in the first team for the run-in," he added. "We have got to try
and push on and do as well as we can."
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Carr's hope for Sears - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 13th February 2008
By: Staff Writer
Tony Carr says he is hopeful that under-18s starlet Fred Sears can make the
grade at first team level. Sears - who was relegated to the bench for the
reserves' 4-1 win over Birmingham last night in order to accommodate the
returning Bobby Zamora - has scored eight times in his last five games for
the youth team and is having an exceptional season, having also represented
England at the same level. Carr - who has nurtured the likes of Joe Cole,
Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick in the past - says that he is hopeful that
Sears can follow in such illustrious footsteps, although was keen to keep a
lid on expectations in the wake of elevated praise from certain quarters in
recent weeks. "I have been in football for too long to hang my hat fully on
players," Carr told whufc.com. "You hope and you bring them along the right
paths but they have to take the opportunities when they come along.
"Freddie's doing that at the moment with us, he has been playing well in
training and in performances for the reserves but certainly for next season
and beyond he has got to replicate that form with us and carry it through to
more senior football. "He is training with the first team on a regular basis
now and working with the senior players is doing him a lot of good.
Obviously he is one that we hope can push on and reproduce his form at a
more senior level. That is the key.
"We have had many a great youth player that can't make that step and Fred
has to show that he can replicate his form in the reserves and then at a
higher level in the future."
The famous Hammers Academy that produced a string of young stars in the late
90s has been relative quiet in recent years, with just Anton Ferdinand and
Mark Noble emerging since the turn of the century to secure a long-term
future in the first team squad. However Sears is just one of a number of
talents in perhaps the best crop of youngsters to emerge from Chadwell Heath
since the famous Cole/Ferdinand/Carrick/Defoe quartet; the likes of Junior
Stanislas, Jack Collison and James Tomkins are also expected to push for
inclusion in the frst team squad within the next 12 to 18 months.
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Neill - All is not lost - SSN
Defender has sights set on a place in Europe
By Peter Fraser Last updated: 13th February 2008
West Ham defender Lucas Neill insists 'all is not lost' in the Hammers'
pursuit of a place in Europe next season. The Hammers lost ground on their
rivals for a place in the Uefa Cup at the weekend as they were held 1-1 at
home to struggling Birmingham as Neill was adjudged to have fouled James
McFadden in the 18-yard area to gift the Blues a penalty equaliser.
Meanwhile, Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester City all recorded victories
to leave West Ham sitting in 10th spot and seven points off their rivals for
a place in the Premier League's top seven. Neill admits it was frustrating
to be held by Birmingham and the Australian international feels the Hammers
must start to 'punish' their opponents. It was frustrating for us and
frustrating for the fans," Neill told West Ham's official website. "Some
said it was a penalty, others said it wasn't. I am disappointed to be
involved. The game was almost too easy for the first 15 minutes. "We were
guilty of what we have been doing a lot lately which is not punishing teams
when we have been dominant."
However, with ninth place Blackburn losing 2-0 to Arsenal on Monday, Neill
insists that the Hammers have not yet given up hope of European football
next term. And Neill is hoping for a repeat performance of last season's
strong finish which saw the Hammers narrowly avoid relegation following a
run of seven wins from nine games. "We have obviously lost ground, we lost
points and what should have been a really exciting month for us is now
starting to look a little bit anti-climatic," Neill added. "We are all very
disappointed but also we had a good chat about what we are going to do here
on in. "As we all know last year we won seven out of nine games so all is
not lost yet."
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Zamora back with a bang - SSN
Hammers hit-man bags a hat-trick on return
By Joe Drabble Last updated: 13th February 2008
Bobby Zamora gave West Ham boss Alan Curbishley a timely fitness reminder
after netting a hat-trick in the reserves' win over Birmingham on Tuesday
night. The former Tottenham striker has been out of action since 28th August
with a persistent knee injury, but could now be closing in on a first-team
return "It has been a while," Zamora told the club's official website. "To
get a full 90 minutes and score a hat-trick against a good team is nice,
having got 65 minutes last week. "We worked hard and thankfully I scored a
few goals. "It was nice to give the fans something to cheer, thanks to them
for coming out."
The fixture provided more good news for Curbishley after new recruit Julien
Faubert also came through 90 minutes with what Zamora described as a
'brilliant' performance. "He is in exactly the same situation as me," Zamora
added. "He has had a few bits and pieces since coming back, but for him to
get another 90 minutes is the main thing. "He put in a few brilliant balls
and made my job a lot easier."
Zamora admitted that although he was pleased with the goals, his ultimate
aim is to make sure he gets back to 100 per cent fitness before he looks any
further ahead. "It has been a long time. I don't want to go into the first
team not fully fit and that is the main thing. "I don't want to go out and
not do the team justice and not do myself justice really. I want to take it
slowly, I don't want to break down. "I want to make sure I am 100 per cent
before I go back and try and fight for my place in the first team."
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Steve Sidwell to quit Chelsea for London rivals West Ham - The Mirror
14/02/2008
Steve Sidwell will quit Chelsea at the end of the season - and sign for West
Ham in a shock £5million deal. Midfield dynamo Sidwell joined the Stamford
Bridge jet set on a free transfer only last summer. But the former Reading
star has had enough of Chelsea after being axed from their Champions League
squad in a snub that marked his card about the future. Hammers boss Alan
Curbishley has been put on alert and is willing to match his lucrative
£3m-a-year contract. Sidwell featured in Avram Grant's side when they were
without their Africa Cup of Nations stars, but has since been quietly
offered around.
Sunderland, Blackburn and Bolton were all interested - but Sidwell's future
is at Upton Park.
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Neill refuses to drop Europe bid for West Ham
tribalfooball.com - February 13, 2008
West Ham defender Lucas Neill insists 'all is not lost' in the Hammers'
pursuit of a place in Europe next season. Neill admits it was frustrating to
be held by Birmingham last weekend and the Australian international feels
the Hammers must start to 'punish' their opponents. It was frustrating for
us and frustrating for the fans," Neill told West Ham's official website. .
"Some said it was a penalty, others said it wasn't. I am disappointed to be
involved. The game was almost too easy for the first 15 minutes. "We were
guilty of what we have been doing a lot lately which is not punishing teams
when we have been dominant." And Neill is hoping for a repeat performance of
last season's strong finish which saw the Hammers narrowly avoid relegation
following a run of seven wins from nine games. "We have obviously lost
ground, we lost points and what should have been a really exciting month for
us is now starting to look a little bit anti-climatic," Neill added. "We are
all very disappointed but also we had a good chat about what we are going to
do here on in.
"As we all know last year we won seven out of nine games so all is not lost
yet."
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Zamora delighted with West Ham hat-trick
tribalfooball.com - February 13, 2008
Fit-again Bobby Zamora was delighted with his hat-trick scored in West Ham's
4-4 reserve-team draw with Birmingham City. "It has been a while," a pleased
Zamora told whufc.com. "To get a full 90 minutes and score a hat-trick
against a good team is nice, having got 65 minutes last week. They had a lot
of pros playing, so to do well was good. We worked hard and thankfully I
scored a few goals."
He added: "It has been a long time. I don't want to go into the first team
not fully fit and that is the main thing. I don't want to go out and not do
the team justice and not do myself justice really. Making sure I am fit
enough is important. I want to take it slowly, I don't want to break down. I
want to make sure I am 100 per cent before I go back and try and fight for
my place in the first team."
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