WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole joined Gianfranco Zola at a session for competition-winners at
Barclays HQ in Canary Wharf
29.04.2009
Carlton Cole is edging ever closer to a return but he took some time out
from his hard work on the training pitch to join Gianfranco Zola and Tony
Gale in a question and answer session at Barclays Bank headquarters in
London.
The sight of Cole pounding the pitches at Chadwell Heath has been a welcome
one as the England striker works back to fitness after the groin injury he
picked up playing for England at the end of March. Cole has made good
progress and, all being well, could make a return to full training as early
as next week.
There has been further good news with midfielder Jack Collison joining full
training as expected with the rest of the first-team squad on Wednesday
exactly eight weeks since he suffered a dislocated kneecap in the game
against Wigan on 4 March. That game was also Cole's last in the claret and
blue and he is relishing the chance to be back in the spotlight.
Barclays, the sponsors of the Premier League, selected competition winners
to quiz the forward and his manager about all things football - from
management tips to who is the greatest player they have ever played against.
There was particular attention from the audience on Cole's transition this
year from promising player to England international.
Cole spoke at length about how Zola has helped him to develop since arriving
last September. "I went into this pre-season thinking that if all of our
players are fit then I might not get another look in," he said. "It just so
happens that a few other players were unavailable and I got another run in
the team again.
"When Gianfranco came in I was already playing so it was easier for me to
adapt to his style and the way he wants to play as I was really fit because
I was already playing. He has helped me go on to the next level as that's
all I needed really was someone to guide me and keep me on track like I
should have done a long time ago."
Fans are soon to start voting for their whufc.com Goal of the Season
alongside the Hammer of the Year poll, and Cole's winner at Wigan in March
is expected to feature strongly. The 25-year-old Cole explained how that
strike summed up what Zola has been trying to instil in his players.
"My best goal was in the Wigan game when I got sent off and it made goal of
the month for the BBC. It was a great team goal and it shows what we have
been trying to work on in training every day and the style of football the
manager wants to portray.
"It signified everything we were working towards. So that is my most
memorable goal of the season and my career so far."
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Specs feeling fit
WHUFC.com
Jonathan Spector has thanked the West Ham United's medical staff after
returning from injury
29.04.2009
Jonathan Spector has paid tribute to West Ham United's medical staff and
team-mate Matthew Upson after suffering a serious injury in the recent
Premier League victory over Sunderland.
The United States international was out training with his team-mates in the
sunshine at Chadwell Heath on Wednesday, but his outlook was slightly less
bright a little over three weeks ago when he swallowed his tongue following
a sickening clash of heads with Black Cats centre-back Tal Ben Haim during
the Hammers' 2-0 win at the Boleyn Ground. Spector suffered concussion
immediately, landing heavily on the turf and jarring his shoulder in the
process.
With his tongue blocking his airway, Spector was unable to breathe but,
thanks to the quick-thinking expertise of medical officer Ges Steinbergs,
physio George Cooper and team-mate Upson, he was able to make a full and
rapid recovery.
"I don't remember the incident itself. I went up for a header and there was
a clash of heads with one of the Sunderland players," said the 23-year-old.
"There was nothing in it, just two players going up for the ball and I came
off a little bit worse than he did.
"I suffered concussion before I hit the ground and then I landed awkwardly
and got a little bit of a shoulder problem from that on top of the
concussion. I also swallowed my tongue as I bit my tongue on the impact. I
wasn't getting any oxygen so I started getting a little bit of a fit. Ges
and George the physio did a really good job and helped me get some oxygen
into my lungs.
"They were not able to pull my tongue out again as I'd clenched my jaw so
they ended up putting a tube through my nose and down my throat to help me
get the oxygen that way. That was the best solution. I was fortunate that it
happened here where we have qualified and good medical staff."
Steinbergs joined West Ham's No18 in the ambulance on the way to hospital,
but things could have been far more serious if he had ripped the tube that
enabled him to breathe out of his nose. Thankfully, the friendly voice of
Upson helped to reassure and calm the defender.
The news of his recovery came as a relief not just to Spector and everyone
associated with West Ham, but also his family members back in his home city
of Chicago.
"I spent a night in the hospital just for observation. Once I started
getting oxygen then everything was fine. Once I came to, I tried to rip
everything off me but I wasn't really aware of my surroundings and I don't
remember it. It was actually Matt Upson who came over and talked to me and
calmed me down a little bit.
"My first memory is of being in the ambulance on the way to the hospital and
of Ges being in it with me. They explained what had happened and from then
on I was ok. My folks saw it on television and they were obviously concerned
but Ges spoke to them when I was at the hospital and explained everything to
them."
The American has suffered injury heartache in the past, missing the 2006
World Cup with a dislocated shoulder and last year's Beijing Olympic Games
with a serious hip problem that required surgery and kept him out of action
for six months.
Spector was back on the substitutes' bench for the visit of Chelsea to east
London on Saturday and, despite not being called upon by manager Gianfranco
Zola, he was clearly both relieved and delighted to be back to full fitness.
"It's been a difficult season what with getting injured at the end of last
season and missing the first half with a hip problem. I was fit and getting
back into the side and getting a run of games and then this happened. It's
just a minor setback, though."
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Clarke commits to Hammers
Scot joins Zola in signing new West Ham deal
Last updated: 28th April 2009
SSN
Steve Clarke has joined Gianfranco Zola in committing his long-term future
to West Ham by signing a new four-year contract. Hammers boss Zola has
repeatedly spoken of the pivotal role first team coach Clarke has played in
the club's success this season, in what has been an encouraging debut
campaign for the Italian. Clarke is a revered figure on the training ground
after previously establishing himself as a key tactician in Chelsea's
backroom staff under a number of managers, who were all united in singing
his praises. Zola put pen-to-paper on his contract at the weekend and now
Clarke has followed suit in striking an accord with the club's board. Clarke
is confident the club are heading in the right direction but is refusing to
rest on his laurels as he looks to make further improvements next season. "I
am delighted," he told the club's official website. "I have had a great
time since I came here. We have done OK. There is a lot more still to be
done and the contract reflects that. "It is a long-term contract and what
Gianfranco and myself and the rest of the coaching staff look forward to is
improving things and working hard every year to make things better and
better at this football club. "The manager and his staff have to be close
and they have to believe in the same things. That is what we do and we try
and give that message to the players and so far it has been OK."
Hammers chief executive Scott Duxbury was equally delighted with the deal as
he added: "Everyone knows how hard we worked to bring Steve here alongside
Gianfranco last September and we have been rewarded for that effort. "He is
a major part of what we are trying to achieve and the respect he has at all
levels of the club is clear to see. "Like Gianfranco, Steve is a winner and
someone who is used to success. We are all very confident that he can help
move West Ham United to the next level by passing on his knowledge and
expertise to the experienced internationals we have in the squad as well as
our hugely talented youngsters."
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Mariners eye defender deal
Town want Widdowson stay
Last updated: 29th April 2009
SSN
Grimsby chairman John Fenty has revealed the club will hold talks with
on-loan defender Joe Widdowson at the end of the season. The 20-year-old
West Ham starlet is one of several players, including Peter Sweeney and
Barry Conlon, that the club want to keep at Blundell Park. Grimsby are now
hoping he will remain beyond this summer. "Joe is a great lad around the
building, he's a good character," Fenty told Grimsby's official website.
"The feeling is that he wants to be here and we have now got to sit down
with him. The end of the season is coming and we'll be doing that.
"Ultimately these judgements are for the manager to make. We can all rant
and rave about individual players but when all is said and done the manager
will decide what he wants here and we'll look to support him as best we
can."
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View from the Opposition - Stoke City FC
One McAvennieeeeee - Thu Apr 30 2009
West Ham Online
This week West Ham United visit the Britannia Stadium to play Stoke City.
This is our first game at the stadium since the vital 1-0 victory back in
the 2004-05 promotion season. We lost 7th spot to Fulham last week after
another London derby defeat, this time to Chelsea and if we have any
ambition to regain the place, this will be seen as a must win game. Stoke
are very good at home though and this will be a tough ask.
Answering our questions this week we have 'Youthster' from www.oatcake.co.uk
Q. Most pundits thought you'd stay up for three seasons, Autumn, Winter and
Spring but it looks like you may have proved them wrong. How has your season
been?
A. Ha! Actually, at the start of the season I was predicting Hull and the
Baggies to go down and looking to where the third team would come from
(apart from us!) - I thought Fulham, so shows what I know. I'm pleased to
see that Newcastle are doing their best to keep the neutrals happy though.
So, I have to say that our season has exceeded all my expectations (note
that I'm not tempting fate by saying that we're safe, but...!)
Q. Apart from grey skies and greyer streets, what should we expect when
visiting The Britannia?
A. For years the general view on The Brit was that it was a bit of soul-less
meccano stadium, and to be fair after having been brought up going to the
Victoria Ground through some of the 'glory years' (not much glory actually,
but we DID win the League Cup) I'd have said that was fair. This season
though has seen the place really come to life, and we do create a good
atmosphere - this has been one of the highs of the season for me. You
should, though, expect to be cold - only one corner built in, perched on a
hill above the incinerator, the wind whistles through...the chairman seems
to want to keep it this way, so we don't all go soft! As to grey streets,
you can talk! The walk along Green Street to your place from Upton Park tube
hardly brings to mind the sunny boulevards of The Riviera, does it?
Q. Who doesn't deserve a place in your starting line up?
A. I don't go in for player-bashing, if I can help it...but I can't help it
- Richard Cresswell. If you see him lining up against you on Saturday,
you'll have got off to a good start. To be fair, he's a decent Championship
striker and he always works hard (which is why Pulis picks him) but how he
got a start at Fulham last weekend is beyond me. I'll always be grateful to
him for his goals last season though...
Q. Who should we look out for?
A. James Beattie has been a revelation - he also works hard but is clearly a
Premiership striker, with a point to prove now he's back there. I reckon we
have one of the best centre back pairings in the division in Abdy Faye and
Ryan Shawcross. If they're on form (as they are most weeks) you'll be lucky
to get a sniff.
Q. What is your view of West Ham this season?
A. Zola has been a big surprise to me - I really didn't expect him to do
well for you, but it has clearly worked. You must be pleased about the new
deal him and Clarke have signed...if contracts were worth anything, that is.
Q. And our fans?
A. I've always enjoyed games at your place, and you do get a good atmosphere
going usually. The one enjoyed most in recent years was the one when we won
1-0 and it was Gerry Taggart's first game for us - not only did we win
(against the odds) but my kid was our mascot, so I...errr, I mean she got to
meet the players. :-)
Q.You have had plenty of negative press about the way you play football, is
this fair
A. No
Q. At our match earlier in the season you were time wasting after 15mins, do
you think these kind of tactics could be the reason behind the 'boring
football' tag.
A. I suppose I'd better qualify the answer from the last question! This is
where you'll see the difference - at home we are a decent side who don't
simply rely on the long-ball (we'll use it sometimes, but who doesn't).
We'll actually attack at home - too often away we have tried to shut games
down and kill them, without really trying threaten at all...it's only when
we've conceded away that we'll change things, often too late.
Q. What was your view of the Fuller/Griffin embarrassment that day – the
Chelsea fan we interviewed last week suggested it wasn't just an on the
field bust up?
A. Embarrassment is right, to be fair. The Chelsea fan might well have a
point and there has been plenty of speculation about what was really behind
it - I've no idea what it was though. But you've only got to look at the
fact that Griffin, the club captain, has hardly featured at all since,
despite being the slappee (errr, that would make Fuller a slapper, and I'm
not going to say that to his face). The upside is that it has given young
full-back Andy Wilkinson his chance, and he's done well.
Q.What are your hopes for next season?
A. Consolidation, and at least an attempt to win some away games.
Q. If you could take one player from our team who would you choose?
A. I'd say Upson, although our defence is pretty solid as it is.
Q. If you could change one rule in football what would it be?
A. Allowed to score straight from a throw-in.
Q. Next week we will be interviewing a Liverpool fan – What would you like
us to ask him on your behalf?
A. Do they think they'll manage to beat us next year, and will Rafa fall for
Fergie's cack... AGAIN.
Q. How has Matthew Etherington done since joining, I mean on the pitch not
at the bookies?
A. Given that our chairman owns Bet365, you can see why Ethers was keen on
joining. Actually he's done well for the most part, although the stupid
sending off and suspension wasn't good. It's great to have a real winger
playing...first for a while.
Q. Do you prefer winning most games in the championship or struggling in
most games in the Prem?
A. This season has been excellent, and I really wouldn't trade it for a
promotion season. Some of the results have been awesome...you don't get to
beat Arsenal playing in the Championship...
Q. What are your favourite crisps?
A. Walkers Builder's breakfast are remarkably realistic.
Q.If you had just lost to Port Vale at home, how would the Stoke fans take
to Tony Pulis high fiving and cuddling all the Port Vale players at the end
of the game?
A. Long gone are the days when the Vale were anything like rivals...I
wouldn't be surprised to see them in the Blue Square after next season.
Suppose I should feel sorry for their fans, but they've never had that many
anyway. There WAS a time when the derby games were good, though. As to the
actual question - what sort of warped world do you live in?!? Even Zola
would never do that when you play Chelsea...oh, he just did! ;-)
Q. Match Prediction?
3-1 Stoke win, Beattie (2), Shawcross.
Many thanks to Youthster for answering our questions.
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West Ham's David Di Michele Has No Intention Of Returning To Italy
The striker is content in London, and therefore is not thinking about a
return to his homeland.
30 Apr 2009 01:58:31
Goal.com
David Di Michele is currently on loan from Torino at West Ham United,
playing in the English Premier League. The 33-year-old joined the Hammers at
the commencement of the season, and he has gone on to score four times in 25
appearances during his first venture outside Italy in his 15-year
professional career. Gianfranco Zola's men do have the option of buying him
outright at the conclusion of this season, a possibility that they are
evaluating at present. The latest reports from the Daily Express suggest
that the English club may very well keep their Italian veteran, as both the
player and the club are pleased with the current situation, meaning that Di
Michele should get his wish of remaining in the Premier League. Meanwhile,
the forward's Serie A club could really do with him at the moment, as they
are languishing in 17th position, just one point above the drop zone with
five rounds remaining this season.
Adrian Del Monte, Goal.com
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Spector: Hammers doctors saved my life
by Ben Blackmore , 29 April 2009
setanta.co.uk
Jonathan Spector has revealed the West Ham medical team are responsible for
saving his life. Spector suffered a nasty clash of heads with Tal Ben Haim
during the recent 2-0 victory over Sunderland, which instantly knocked him
unconscious. Upon impact with the ground, Spector swallowed his tongue
whilst his jaw clamped down – making it impossible to unblock his airway.
However, West Ham's quick-thinking duo of Ges Steinbergs and George Cooper
came up with a live-saving solution, and Spector admits he owes them
everything. "I don't remember the incident itself. I went up for a header
and there was a clash of heads with one of the Sunderland players," the
23-year-old told West Ham's official website. "I suffered concussion before
I hit the ground and then I landed awkwardly and got a little bit of a
shoulder problem from that on top of the concussion. I also swallowed my
tongue as I bit my tongue on the impact. I wasn't getting any oxygen so I
started getting a little bit of a fit. "Ges and George the physio did a
really good job and helped me get some oxygen into my lungs. "They were not
able to pull my tongue out again as I'd clenched my jaw so they ended up
putting a tube through my nose and down my throat to help me get the oxygen
that way. That was the best solution. I was fortunate that it happened here
where we have qualified and good medical staff."
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Former West Ham star writes autobiography in prison
April 29th, 2009 · 2 Comments
The Spoiler
During a career that spanned through the eighties and nineties, Mark Ward
notched up an enviable list of achievements: he played in Wembley cup
finals, scored in Merseyside derbies for his hometown club Everton, and came
within a few points of winning the league with the lauded West Ham team of
1986. Stuart Pearce once singled him out as the trickiest opponent he ever
face, and after a game at Nottingham Forest, Brian Clough declared: "Take
Ward to the [1986] World Cup."
After being relieved of his duties as Altrincham player/manager in 2001,
however, Ward's fortunes took a turn for the worse. Playing in an era where
professionals weren't set up for life with ridiculous pay packages (his
biggest contract earned him £2,000 per week), Ward was getting by on
handouts and income support. After accepting an offer to rent out a house in
his name and hand over the keys to a third party who would pay him a weekly
wage, Ward found himself on the wrong side of the police, who raided the
property and found 4kg (or £645,000 worth) of cocaine.
After pleading guilty to intent to supply, Ward began an eight year sentence
in 2005 at Liverpool's Walton prison, housed in the "lifer's" wing thanks to
overcrowding.
Knowing that his sentence could have been halved if he had agreed to name
the folks for whom he rented the "drug factory" house, Ward kept quiet and
spent a little more time surrounded by gangs, fights, cockroaches, scams and
suicides.
During the last four years in prison, Ward has used his time productively,
detailing his rise to glory and subsequent fall from grace in Right Wing to
B-wing…Premier League to Prison. He recalls a friendship with one of
Birmingham's biggest drug dealers (which ended when he shot was dead in a
pub), and how cocaine took away his career, his marriage and his freedom.
The Spoiler has no idea if the book is any good - it's released tomorrow and
we haven't read it - but it has all the hallmarks of a decent page turner.
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West Ham fans in fresh swipe at Chelsea captain John Terry
Londonpaper.co.uk
by: James Masters
29 April 2009
WEST HAM fans have hit back at Chelsea pair John Terry and Frank Lampard
following the ugly scenes at Upton Park last Saturday. Both players were
highly critical of the abuse they received during the fiery London derby
with the England duo claiming supporters overstepped the mark. But Graeme
Howlett, editor of fans' website Knees Up Mother Brown, says Terry's
constant moaning about the behaviour of the West Ham supporters smacks of
hypocrisy. He said: "It's a little rich for Mr Terry to go crying to the
press in response to crowd chants when he was himself fined by his club for
making insensitive comments to American tourists the day after 9/11, along
with a certain Mr Lampard. "It's a little rich for Mr Terry to go crying to
the press" "The majority of supporters engaging in chanting during
Saturday's game were raising the issue of Mr Terry's mother's police record
and Mr Lampard's extra-marital business - fair game, one would have thought,
not unusual and certainly nothing nasty or malicious as has been claimed.
"The few who were foolish enough to start a chant referring to the recent
death of Mr Lampard's mother - who, let's not forget, was an Eastender and
the wife of a Hammers legend - were soon drowned out by boos from the rest
of the disapproving supporters. And rightly so. "As for Mr Terry's comment
that Chelsea took all three points and 'you can't buy that', perhaps he
should be reminded that his club's owner has invested somewhere in the
region of £500m on playing staff during his tenure."
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STARS OF THE FUTURE: Junior Stanislas
Junior Stanislas is going to be a senior success at West Ham
By Ian Clarkson April 29, 2009
Givemefootball.co.uk
West Ham fans are celebrating after the club tied down starlet Junior
Stanislas to a new four-year contract. The England Under 19 and Under 20
international bagged his first senior goal for the club against Sunderland
earlier this month, which was his first full start for the club. Stanislas
has made a habit of scoring goals on his debuts as he netted two for
Southend whilst on loan this season against Luton in the FA Cup. He has
exploded onto the scene this year along with teammates James Tomkins and
Freddie Sears as West Ham have pushed themselves into the top half of the
table under Gianfranco Zola. The jet-heeled wide player will terrorise
defenders and his introduction played a huge part in England Under 19s 2-0
victory over Italy last month. England's assistant manager Noel Blake
praised the impact of Stanislas and predicted a bright future for the
prodigious talent. "Junior came on for the second half at a time when we
needed to quicken up a little bit and Junior added a new dimension to the
team," said Blake. "He can play centrally or he can play wide and give that
little bit of spark. He got into good scoring positions and only a last
ditch tackle stopped him scoring."
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West Ham's Spector hails club medical staff
30.04.09 | Andrew Slevison
West Ham's Jonathan Spector has thanked the club's medical staff for saving
his life after a recent on-field incident. Spector was involved in a clash
of heads with Sunderland's Tal Ben Haim and was knocked unconscious. Whilst
on the ground, Spector swallowed his tongue and with his jaw shut tight
could not take in any air and was in a serious situation. However, West Ham
doctors Ges Steinbergs and George Cooper were able to diffuse the situation
by getting air into Spector's lungs. "I don't remember the incident itself.
I went up for a header and there was a clash of heads with one of the
Sunderland players," the 23-year-old told West Ham's official website.
"I suffered concussion before I hit the ground and then I landed awkwardly
and got a little bit of a shoulder problem from that on top of the
concussion. I also swallowed my tongue as I bit my tongue on the impact. I
wasn't getting any oxygen so I started getting a little bit of a fit. "Ges
and George the physio did a really good job and helped me get some oxygen
into my lungs. "They were not able to pull my tongue out again as I'd
clenched my jaw so they ended up putting a tube through my nose and down my
throat to help me get the oxygen that way. That was the best solution. I was
fortunate that it happened here where we have qualified and good medical
staff."
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Cristain Montano winning West Ham admirers
30.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United youth boss Tony Carr is delighted with the recent goal
scoring form of young Colombian striker Cristain Montano. Carr told
whufc.com: "Cristian has come good over the last half-dozen games of the
season. He has predominantly been a left-sided player for us but I've
gambled and put him up front as a striker and he's grown in confidence.
"He's a handful. He's big, he's strong and he's quick and if he can improve
his control at times and his finishing ratio he could do very, very well.
There's plenty of time for us to improve those sides of his game."
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West Ham striker Cole: I thought I'd be reserve this season
30.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United striker Carlton Cole admits his game has come on
leaps-and-bounds this season under new gaffer Gianfranco Zola. "I went into
this pre-season thinking that if all of our players are fit then I might not
get another look in," he told whufc.com. "It just so happens that a few
other players were unavailable and I got another run in the team again.
"When Gianfranco came in I was already playing so it was easier for me to
adapt to his style and the way he wants to play as I was really fit because
I was already playing. He has helped me go on to the next level as that's
all I needed really was someone to guide me and keep me on track like I
should have done a long time ago."
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