West Ham United fans could see Jonathan Spector up against Dean Ashton at Wembley on 28 May
21.05.2008
Jonathan Spector has been named in the 22-man United States squad to play England in an international friendly at Wembley next Wednesday.
The young defender could be up against club-mate Dean Ashton who is in line for his England debut. The US are playing three friendlies - including a trip to Spain and a home match against Argentina - before taking on Barbados over two matches next month in the latest leg of their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign. Spector, 22, has played nine times for his country and is also due to represent them at the Beijing Olympics this August.
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Specs named - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 21st May 2008
By: Staff Writer
Jonathan Spector has been named in the USA squad to face England at Wembley next week. The 22-year-old full back is in the party to face Fabio Capello's England side and could come up against United team-mate Dean Ashton, who was selected in Capello's initial 30-man squad earlier this month.
Spector was signed by Alan Pardew from Manchester United in the summer of 2006 after making just two starts for the current Premier League champions. He made 28 appearances for the Hammers last season, scoring just the one goal - the third goal of a 5-0 thrashing of Derby County at Pride Park last November.
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Shorey set for Royals departure - SSN
Reading cannot afford to keep full-back
By Chris Burton Last updated: 21st May 2008
Reading have confirmed that they will listen to offers for wantaway full-back Nicky Shorey. The Royals have been forced to accept that relegation from the Premier League will make it impossible for them to persuade the England international to stay. West Ham, Aston Villa and Newcastle are all believed to be interested in acquiring the left-back, with the Hammers having chased his signature for some time. Reading's chief executive Nigel Howe admits that the club will be forced to slash their wage bill over the summer; a situation which will undoubtedly lead to the departure of some of their biggest assets. "Nicky Shorey and a few others will be looked at as potential people to leave," said Howe. "Nicky has made it clear for a long time that he hasn't been too happy at the club. "Well, let's hope that somebody comes in with a good offer."
Royals boss Steve Coppell, who reiterated his intention to remain at the club on Tuesday, has also been warned that he will be operating on a tight budget in the Championship next season. "What we have said to Steve is that if he trades well it should release enough funds to go forward," Howe told the Reading Evening Post. "But he won't have money unless he sells. At the moment we are just trying to balance the budget. "The concern is to keep as many of the core squad together. But Steve does want to reduce the squad so he is expecting to receive offers for players. "If Steve wants to keep all the players on the same salaries, there won't be the release of funds. If he reduces the wage bill, he will have funds. "Even though we get the £11million parachute we have still got very highly paid players - even with the reduction in wages - so I think we will have to budget for a small loss. "Salaries have to be at the middle range and some in the upper range for the Championship."
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Reading put Nicky Shorey up for sale - Times Online and Agencies
Reading will listen to offers for Nicky Shorey, the England full back, as they adapt their finances to the Coca-Cola Championship. Shorey, who has been with the club for seven years, has been linked with moves to West Ham United, Aston Villa and Newcastle United.
The £11 million parachute payment will ease the burden of Reading's relegation from the Premier League but Nigel Howe, the club's chief executive, said they need to cut the wage bill, too. "Nicky Shorey and a few others will be looked at as potential people to leave," Howe said. "Nicky has made it clear for a long time that he hasn't been too happy at the club. Well, let's hope that somebody comes in with a good offer."
Steve Coppell, the manager, is thought to have accepted a £500,000 pay-cut to remain at the club. "We have said to Steve that, if he trades well, it should release enough funds to go forward," Howe said. "But he won't have money unless he sells. At the moment we are just trying to balance the budget.
"The concern is to keep as many of the core squad together. But Steve does want to reduce the squad so he is expecting to receive offers for players. If Steve wants to keep all the players on the same salaries, there won't be the release of funds. If he reduces the wage bill, he will have funds.
"Even though we get the £11m parachute we have still got very highly paid players - even with the reduction in wages - so we will have to budget for a small loss. Salaries have to be at the middle range and some in the upper range for the Championship."
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Thursday's rumours - Shorey to West Ham?
Josh Widdicombe guardian.co.uk,
Thursday May 22 2008
Shorey to leave Reading? Yes, this really was the best we could do.
So, first up it is bad news for Reading fans, who will no longer get to see the silky skills of Ibrahima Sonko week-in week-out. It seems he has fallen out with Steve Coppell and will be seeking pastures new, specifically those of West Brom or Stoke for a cost of £3m. And on top of that Nicky Shorey won't be angling long balls down the left flank at the Madjeski next season, that is unless West Ham are drawn away to Reading in the Cup, after he makes his £5m move to Upton Park.
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Lanzafame: I Want West Ham, Not Palermo - goal.com
Amauri's proposed transfer to Juventus may be set for yet another hitch after one of the pawns in the deal, Davide Lanzafame, stated that he would prefer to join West Ham instead of Palermo. Amauri's supposed move to Turin has become something of an exhausting soap-opera, with almost every day their being a new twist and turn. Negotiations have been on-going for several weeks now, but it seemed earlier in the week that a deal had finally be agreed upon, which would have seen Juve pay €12 million as well as hand over Antonio Nocerino and half of Davide Lanzafame's contract. However the 21-year-old Lanzafame, who is regarded as one of Italy's brightest young talents, and has even been compared by some to Man Utd's Cristiano Ronaldo, has revealed that he would favour a season-long loan move to English side West Ham instead. "Palermo and West Ham are both huge clubs," stated the striker. "But at my age I think it would be beneficial to have an experience abroad, which would enhance me not only as a footballer, but also from a linguistic and lifestyle point of view." West Ham would like to have the youngster in their squad next season to offer competition to the likes of Dean Ashton, Bobby Zamora, and Carlton Cole.
Gianni Wilson
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Redknapp: No Northeast clubs wanted Man Utd's Carrick
tribalfootball.com - May 21, 2008
Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has revealed how West Ham United managed to land Michael Carrick as a junior - because no club in the Northeast wanted to sign the Geordie! Carrick won the Champions League last night with Manchester United and Redknapp told the Daily Mail: "We brought him down to West Ham from the north east at an early age. The clubs up there didn't want him. "He grew beyond his strength in those early days. He suddenly went from 5ft 6ins to 6ft 1in. He was like a beanpole, no strength, growing pains, problems with his knees. "He knew what he wanted to do but couldn't get around the pitch to do it. It was a case of waiting for him to develop and fill out. Eventually he did and now he looks some player, a super passer of a ball."
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Sports experts deliver injury assessment report to West Ham
tribalfootball.com - May 21, 2008
Experts from Roehampton University's Sports Performance Assessment have handed West Ham United their recommendations after a study on the club's injury problems. The team investigated all aspects of the club, from diets to the training pitches. They also conducted medical tests and interviewed players, management and staff. SPARC director and physiologist Jackie Dabinett then presented the findings to the club's board last week. "We did a full audit of all sport science and sports medicine practices at the club as well as the training and match facilities," Dabinett told the Basildon Echo. "We interviewed 15 players and all of the coaching staff from the groundsman to the manager. We also did some on the spot checks of, for example, players' urine concentration prior to training on one of the days. "A presentation of the main findings was made to the board on the Friday of the week that we were there and a full report was sent to the club last Friday. "We are not in a position to disclose the findings but there are a number of recommendations, that if acted upon, should reduce the likelihood of injury in the future and also enhance performance."
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Sunderland go for West Ham's Boa Morte
tribalfootball.com - May 21, 2008
Sunderland are moving for unhappy West Ham winger Luis Boa Morte. Black Cats boss Roy Keane is said to be ready to throw the Portugal international a Premier League lifeline by taking him to the Stadium of Light.
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