Although competition for places is fierce, James Collins is ready to add his
name to the first-team mix
02.10.2008
James Collins is getting closer to his first-team return after coming
through a tough reserve-team outing in midweek.
The Wales defender was captain for the 4-3 win against West Bromwich Albion
on Tuesday in his first competitive game since a knee injury suffered back
in January and both he and Calum Davenport performed particularly well at
the back. Although the visitors scored three times - either side of a
spectacular long-range effort, the first and third goals were a freak
deflection and harshly-awarded penalty - Collins was a sturdy presence and
weighed in with some timely tackles.
The man who played a key role in the 2006/07 survival fight, said:
"Everything's fine. I'm just happy to have got some more minutes under my
belt. I felt a bit stiff and a bit tired towards the end so I came off as a
bit of a precaution. It's what I need. It's just nice to be back on the
pitch. I can build on that now. It's my first 70 minutes in eight months so
now I can just look forward to the next game."
Being named skipper for the night was an added bonus. "It was strange being
captain in my first game back but before the game [coach] Alex Dyer came up
to me and asked me. It's always nice to captain West Ham so I'll take it at
any level."
Gianfranco Zola was an interested observer for Tuesday night's contest and
the 25-year-old Collins has enjoyed working for the new manager. He said:
"It's brilliant. Since the first day he came in it gave all the boys such a
lift. You can see that the football we're playing at the minute is like
football we've never played before. The boys have risen to the challenge.
We've got two wins in the Premier League already under him and long may that
continue."
Although called up by Wales for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers at home
to Liechtenstein on Saturday week and then away to Germany the following
Wednesday, it remains to be seen if Collins will first take part in another
West Ham United reserve game away to Fulham on Tuesday night. "Because I've
been out for so long I don't want to come straight back in and start
steaming into things."
He recognises that he faces a battle to get back into the first-team with
Matthew Upson, Lucas Neill and Davenport all impressing this season, James
Tomkins is back in full training and Danny Gabbidon is making good progress
again with his long-standing abdominal problem. "It's always good to have
competition for places," Collins said. "It keeps everyone on their toes.
"Training is really sharp at the moment so everyone has got to be on the top
of their game to get in the team," he added. "That can only be healthy for
West Ham." Collins revealed he never doubted that he would be able to make a
return, claiming: "The surgeon who did my knee is top drawer. A couple of
years before, Jimmy Walker did his knee in the play-off final a lot worse
than mine and the same surgeon did his operation and he's come back. I knew
I had the best surgeon around doing my operation and I'm feeling fitter and
stronger than ever."
Collins is only focused on the future. "I signed a new contract last summer
so I can see myself at West Ham for a long time," he said. "I've always said
it's a great club and they've been great to me since me and Danny both came
from Cardiff City. I've always enjoyed it here, I love living in London and
it's a great football club to be at at the moment. Hopefully it will
continue for a long time."
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Hall ready for Young Lions bow - WHUFC
Tony Carr has spoken about Robert Hall who is in line to make his
international debut on TV this Friday
02.10.2008
West Ham United fans may get a first look at promising young striker Robert
Hall on Friday night when England take on Northern Ireland in Ballymena.
The Under-16 contest is the first game of the 2008 Sky Sports Victory
Shield, and will be shown live by the broadcaster from 7.40pm. Still only
14, Hall has been with the club since he was seven and proved to be a
prolific goal scorer as he has progressed through the Academy ranks. Hall
will be following in the footsteps of other West Ham United products to have
featured in the Shield including Trevor Brooking, Joe Cole and current U19
international Jordan Spence.
Academy director Tony Carr said: "Robert follows a long list of young
strikers we have produced over the years and we wish him every success in
his first international against Northern Ireland. I hope England do well and
Robert shows how good he is on the international stage. We have got high
hopes for him as a promising young player for the future."
The Victory Shield sees England, winners of the last seven editions and
managed by Kenny Swain, take on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in a
mini-league format with the team who finish top of the group lifting the
trophy. England will next be in action against Wales in Llanelli on 31
October before concluding the round-robin tournament on 29 November against
Scotland.
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Takeover bid rejected - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 2nd October 2008
By: Staff Writer
An unnamed party have made a fresh bid to buy West Ham United FC, according
to reports. The club's current owner, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson is said to have
received a bid to purchase the club within the last few days, according to a
snippet in today's Guardian. Gudmundsson is understood to have rejected the
bid instantly, whilst insisting that the club he purchased nearly two years
ago for £85million was not for sale. The identity of the bidders remains
unknown but a number of syndicates, some of which are based in the Middle
East have been sniffing around a number of Premier League clubs of late. The
Dubai Investment Capital Group, who were heavily linked with a bid for
Liverpool recently have been looking at alternative propositions in the
capital, whilst Indian billionaire Anil Ambani was also linked with a bid
for Newcastle United.
* A new book covering the 2006 Icelandic takeover of West Ham United is due
to hit the shelves soon. 'The Truth Behind The West Ham United Takeover', by
former Hammer Tony Cottee will be published later this year.
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View From The Opposition - Bolton Wanderers - WHO
Vinny - Thu Oct 2 2008
Bolton are next up at Upton Park as Gianfranco Zola looks to make it three
wins out of three in the league.
Richard McCormick at http://www.bolton.vitalfootball.co.uk has kindly
answered a few questions in this weeks View from the opposition
How do you feel your season is going so far?
It's worrying. The performance against West Brom at home was dismal and the
one at Fulham even worse. There's a serious lack of creativity in midfield
and there is no one who moves the ball around more slowly than we do.
What are your hopes for the season?
Things might improve as the season progresses, but at the moment, survival
is the aim. The next six games are key.
Who is your most dangerous player?
We haven't seen much of him, but Johan Elmander seems to be the real deal.
He has a scoring record of one in three and links up the attacking play
well. On the odd occasion that we mount an attack that is.
Who is the weakest?
Take your pick. There's a serious lack of mobility in midfield. Yes, fat boy
Nolan, we mean you. Jlloyd Samuel has improved defensively, but going
forward he gets to the half-way line, forgets why he went there and then
loses possession. He needs tethering to a goal post.
Gary Megson was not the fans choice, have you warmed to him now?
Some have. Most haven't. He comes across as a decent enough individual, but
his ability to motivate the team is in question and his tactics are
relentlessly negative.
Are Bolton supporters bored of their club being tagged with a "long ball"
style of football? Is this warrented?
We're used to it now. When the tag was first applied it was inaccurate and
unfair. We had the likes of Fernando Hierro, Jay Jay Okocha and Youri
Djorkaeff. Not exactly cloggers where they? These days we can't complain
about being labelled that way. Sam Allardyce retreated into his comfort zone
in his latter days, Sammy Lee tried to change things and got sacked for this
troubles, and Megson claimed on joining, that he couldn't teach us to
attack. He wasn't lying.
What do you make of West Ham so far this season?
Good at home, although the scoreline against Blackburn was flattering. Away
from the Boleyn you seem suspect in defence.
Any West Ham players which concern you?
I came down for the game when we lost to Carlos Tevez. Mark Noble looked
impressive that day and scored a cracker of a goal. But West Ham seem to be
solid and not spectacular these days, rather than having any stand out
performers.
How many Bolton fans will be making the trip to Upton Park?
With a Sunday lunchtime kick off and the match televised, you'd normally be
looking at four people and a dog. After giving it some thought, the dog
would probably decide to stay in the pub. But the club have put on free
travel for this, so I'll guess at 500.
Bolton are not a side which we get many points out of. What is your
prediction for the game?
West Ham win. It could go one of two ways. Bolton stick ten men behind the
ball and concede late on. Or West Ham score early and have fun playing on
the break. We don't do confidence these days.
Many thanks again to Richard McCormick at
http://www.bolton.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Hammers win first round in £30m Tevez legal fight - Daily Mail
Last updated at 10:48 AM on 02nd October 2008
West Ham have been boosted by a delay in the outcome of Sheffield United's
£30million damages claim against them over argentina star Carlos Tevez. The
independent arbitration tribunal that ruled in favour of Sheffield United
were due to meet today to set the timetable for deciding the level of
compensation but West Ham have convinced them to adjourn the start of the
hearing until February. The Hammers successfully argued they needed more
time to prepare their defence.
They are also preparing an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport,
which is expected to arrive in Lausanne within 48 hours, but a court
spokesman says it is unlikely to hear the case without United's consent.
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FA feeling the Premier League backlash over Blades war - Daily Mail
Last updated at 12:24 AM on 02nd October 2008
The Sheffield United-West Ham compensation fiasco has sparked a new
acrimonious round of claim and counter claim between the warring FA and
Barclays Premier League. The PL, furious with the FA for allowing United to
go to the arbitration tribunal that ruled in their favour, potentially to
the tune of £30million, are pointing the finger at a Soho Square individual
as well as blaming the FA for the appointment of 85-year-old Lord Griffiths
to chair the tribunal that reached such a controversial decision.
The PL say Griffiths was on the FA list of QCs given to the clubs. They are
also blaming Simon Johnson, acting chief operating officer for the 2018
World Cup bid, as the FA man mainly responsible for allowing the Blades to
use the FA arbitration process after the PL and a court case had ruled the
matter closed. Johnson had been vocal on the matter at management meetings,
claim the PL. The FA vigorously dispute both allegations. They say Lord
Griffiths was not even among their QC recommendations but was the agreed
choice of law firms representing the clubs. They also state that Johnson was
not involved in the decision-making process and Jonathan Hall, head of
governance, had signed the letter informing the PL about Sheffield United's
go-ahead. Lord Griffiths has agreed to adjourn today's directions hearing -
aimed at laying out the timetable to decide compensation.
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West Ham v Bolton: Hammers Inflict More Capital Punishment on the Trotters?
- NewFootballPools.com
Bolton travel to Upton Park this weekend aiming to end their London hoodoo
after failing to win any of their last 15 Premier League trips to the
capital. Unfortunately for Gary Megson he faces a West Ham side growing in
confidence under new manager Gianfranco Zola.
The Hammers have won their first two League matches under the little Italian
and already have a strong home record. After all, West Ham are unbeaten in
their last six home matches, scored at least two goals in each of those
matches and have won all three so far this season. Therefore, it doesn't
look good for a Bolton side that has lost all 3 of its matches on the road
this season and conceded 5 goals in the process.
The Trotters have failed to score in 3 of their 6 League games this season
but should fancy their chances of grabbing a goal against a Hammers side
that has gone 18 games without a League clean-sheet. Bolton have also scored
in the last 11 against West Ham with Kevin Davies usually enjoying these
clashes. In fact, only Everton and Villa (6 goals) have been on the wrong
end of more Davies goals than the Irons (5 goals).
If West Ham can master Bolton's set-piece threat then they should have too
much for a Trotters side low on confidence. However, this is easier said
than done as 4 of Megson's side's 5 goals have come from set plays. Despite
this I would back the home side to continue their good home form with a win
on Premier 10 and Footy 15.
Pundit's Pick: Wanderers Win-less Run in London Continues (HOME WIN)
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Hammers legal battle set to rumble on - Echo
9:10am Thursday 2nd October 2008
SHEFFIELD United's compensation claim against West Ham United over the
Carlos Tevez affair will be delayed until 2009. The Blades want £30million
in damages after being relegated from the Premier League at the end of the
2006/07 season - a claim upheld by an independent tribunal last month. A
three-man panel agreed that Tevez, who had been signed on an illegal
"third-party" contract, played an influential role in keeping West Ham in
the Premier League at the Yorkshire side's expense. However, with the
Hammers due to submit an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
in Switzerland on Thursday and considering a High Court action, it will be
months until the situation is resolved. The tribunal's chairman, Lord
Griffiths, is due to make directions at a hearing on Thursday laying out a
timetable to decide the final compensation figure, but the Irons are
expected to ask for a postponement. A decision over the final amount the
Londoners will have to stump up is now unlikely to be made until next
February, but that period could be shortened if the Blades refuse to give
CAS the go-ahead to arbitrate in the case. A West Ham spokesman insisted
that the Irons' latest move was motivated by a feeling that the ruling could
open a can of worms that would see the courts involved in a wide variety of
football-related disputes. The spokesman said: "We do believe that the
arbitration panel's ruling needs to be reviewed by a court which can help
resolve the outstanding issues in this case. "This is not about the issue of
damages - the current ruling has major implications for English football.
"West Ham will continue to look at the available options for further action
and we do believe that Sheffield United should join us in a hearing at the
Court of Arbitration."
The Blades' chairman Kevin McCabe refused to comment on West Ham's call,
saying only: "If that is what they are saying, then that's their
prerogative. We will not be commenting."
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Irons youngsters look to bounce back at Portsmouth - Echo
11:24am Thursday 2nd October 2008
By Rob Pritchard »
West Ham United's youth team will be hoping to bounce back from two straight
defeats when they head to Portsmouth on Saturday (11am). Tony Carr's side
have lost to Birmingham City (2-0) and Arsenal (2-1) in their previous two
FA Premier Academy League fixtures. Carr will be without striker Freddie
Sears, who is expected to be in the first-team squad after his four-goal
show for the reserves in mid-week. However, full-back Anthony Edgar and
striker Balint Bajner, who both featured in the 4-3 reserve win over West
Bromwich Albion, will be on duty.
Meanwhile, Irons teenager Robert Hall will be in the England Under-16 squad
in Friday's Victory Shield clash with Northern Ireland in Ballymena.
Southend High School pupil Josh Rees, who is with Arsenal, is also in the
England selection. The match will be screened live by SKY Sports, with
kick-off at 7.40pm.
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Striker Cole revelling in new formation - Echo
11:11am Thursday 2nd October 2008
By Rob Pritchard »
UNDER Alan Curbishley, West Ham United's players appeared hesitant,
restricted and scared to take the risk that could win a game for their team.
Under new manager Gianfranco Zola those same players, bar one or two new
additions, are playing with a freedom and confidence that is a joy to
behold. The Hammers are quite clearly enjoying themselves again. The
transformation in just a few weeks has been staggering, and much of it can
be put down to the innovative 4-3-2-1 formation the Italian has introduced
since his arrival three short weeks ago. Zola's system – a variation on the
"Christmas Tree" formation – sees two free-roaming attackers playing off a
main striker, a defensive midfielder instructed to protect and supplement
his back-four and full-backs with licence to get forward. The tactics have
given Matty Etherington and Mark Noble, in particular, new leases of life.
But the player who appears to have benefitted most from the change is
striker Carlton Cole. Putting aside the 24-year-old's off-field issues – he
was fined after being arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and later
bailed after being stopped at 4.25am in Central London last week – the
forward has led the line superbly in recent weeks. In each of Zola's two
Premier League victories, the former England Under-21 man has been to the
fore, leading the new boss to tip him for full international honours. And
Cole puts his new-found form down, in part, to the Irons' liberating new
style of play. "It does suit me," he admitted. "We've got some good players
in good positions, we're not the finished article by any means, in the
positioning or the formation as it is new to us. "Last season we played a
bit with it, but it was more a 4-5-1, but this is a bit more offensive. You
would think away from home, we might go 4-5-1 anyway, but we stuck at it
4-3-3 and got the result. "I like playing in this sort of role, holding the
ball up. I played that way at Chelsea when I was young and I've been used to
it, I played like that for England Under-21s as well so I can adapt to
playing that way."
Cole's chance to impress came after England striker Dean Ashton was ruled
out with an ankle injury suffered in training. Subsequent arthroscopic
surgery has revealed that the former Norwich City man will be out until
January at the earliest, handing the Croydon-born player an opportunity to
stake his claim for a long run in Zola's team. But the player himself
admitted to having mixed emotions about Ashton's absence. "It's not good
news for the club," he conceded. "I really rate Ashton as a player, he is a
great man to play with. "I'm so disappointed for him, but that opens doors
for me and hopefully I can get some games under my belt and keep improving
and this is a nice build for me."
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West Ham v Bolton preview - WestHam Blog.com
The generosity of the fixture list for the Hammers early on in the season is
coming to a close, with Bolton at home this weekend probably being the last
banker. Following that we have Hull away (no longer a banker) and face
Arsenal and Liverpool, although knowing the Hammers we will probably mess up
against Bolton and Hull and get the points against the others!
Either way, certainly no need to ring the changes for the game this Sunday.
We have got ourselves into a rhythm of nice football and the formation is
clearly paying off, and will do so more at home than away. Guess the only
question would be if Bellamy is fit enough to replace Di Michele – I suspect
not and therefore would imagine we go out with
Green
Illunga – Upson – Neill – Faubert
Parker – Noble – Behrami
Etherington – Di Michele
Cole
Bench – Lastuvska, Sears, LBM, Bellamy, Collins, Bowyer, Mullins
Like I said in an earlier post, I'd still like to see a more defensive
minded right back. Also, for those who have not seen Illunga as yet, look
out for him, he is a quality player. Overall, this is a strong team and a
difficult formation to play against, as it tends to drag opposing defenders
out of position. Clarke and Zola have got this one spot on.
Bolton themselves are a turgid, stubborn side who I cannot say I have a lot
of time for, more so since they helped send us down rather gleefully a few
seasons back. They'll come down and park a bus in front of us and hope that
Kevin Davies nicks one. But if we play to our ability, we should see them
comfortably off the park. I predict an early Carlton Cole goal to put us
1-0, followed by 70 minutes of tension, then sub Sears comes on and finishes
it off for a 2-0 victory for the Hammers.
Coral will give you 6/1 for that, as usual you can click below for a free
£10 bet.
As a reminder, the game is on Sky on Sunday, kick off 1.30pm. The game will
also be available in Sky High Definition. Come on you Irons!
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