WHUFC.com
Jack Collison capped a memorable 12 months by being named Young Player of the Year
27.05.2009
Four years ago, Jack Collison watched on in horror as Cambridge United's 35-year stay in the Football League ended with a goalless home draw with Notts County.
Then 16, Collison's time at the Abbey Stadium would come to an end a short time later when the relegated U's took the decision to disband their youth team, leaving the young midfielder to find a new club.
Collison received a number of offers before opting to join West Ham United's famous Academy and work under the watchful eye of Academy Director Tony Carr and his staff.
After two-and-a-half years of hard work, Collison made his first-team debut for the Hammers at Arsenal on New Year's Day 2008.
While he would make just one further appearance in 2007/08, the teenager's potential was such that he was handed his first full cap for Wales against Iceland in May last year.
This season has seen Collison take his game to a whole new level under the guidance of manager Gianfranco Zola and first-team coaches Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen.
After forcing his way into Zola's thinking following an impressive appearance as a substitute at Manchester United in October, the now-20-year-old went on to make 24 appearances in all competitions, scoring the first of his three goals for the club on his home debut against Everton on 8 November.
In December, his undoubted ability was rewarded in the shape of a new five-year contract.
Collison is understandably proud of his achievements over the past year, crowned when he received the Young Player of the Award following Sunday's Barclays Premier League victory over Middlesbrough at the Boleyn Ground.
"It's been a massive 12 months for me," said the modest midfielder. "I think I've really progressed as a player and have just really enjoyed my time playing in the team, learning new things and getting the opportunity to play.
"I definitely have to pinch myself sometimes, especially on days like Sunday when I won the Young Hammer of the Year award. Just getting the opportunity to play week-in, week-out in the Premier League is brilliant and I'm really enjoying it."
Having secured a regular place in Zola's team, Collison is now aiming to make further improvements to his game to ensure he remains in the starting eleven at the start of the 2009/10 campaign.
"I'm still fairly young and I'm fairly new in the team as well so I'm going to keep learning things on the training ground and by playing against new players. Obviously the manager wants me to improve as well so I'm going to take bits and bobs and try to keep progressing."
While Collison's own contribution to West Ham's ninth-place finish was great, he was quick to point to the performances of his team-mates during what was a hugely encouraging season.
"It was a real squad effort this year. It wasn't just the starting eleven. We've had injuries and people have been and out of the team.
"I think Scottie Parker fully deserved the Hammer of the Year award. Also the likes of Matty Upson, Herita [Ilunga] and [Robert] Greeny did well so, like I said, it was a real squad effort."
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Zola powered by experience
WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola has praised the positive example his older heads have set this season
24.05.2009
Gianfranco Zola has praised Scott Parker for being named Hammer of the Year but admitted that any number of West Ham United players would have deserved the accolade.
The manager was glowing in his praise for his midfield general, who was man of the match in several of the club's most impressive performances this campaign. "He has been terrific for us," said Zola of the England international who just pipped Robert Green to the coveted award.. "The way he plays on the pitch is so important.
"It was difficult to pick a player of the year because so many deserved it. Matthew Upson was brilliant as was Herita Ilunga. It has been a year where the level of performances has been high from everybody."
When pushed on who he would have chosen if it were up to him, Zola added: "I don't know! I think it has been very close. I think Herita Ilunga and Matthew Upson along with Scott Parker and Valon Behrami as well before he got injured was up there. If it was possible I would have shared it between all of them."
The manager was particularly glowing in praise for the older members of his squad and the way they helped his talented youngsters to develop.
"Experience is vital. This is the project. The idea is to have a team where you have four or five experienced players and put around them talented players so they can grow up and make a team alive and fresh. That's what I want and those experienced players have been really important. They were always out there spreading the right messages. They have been really terrific for me."
Such contributions have rightly fuelled his optimism for the coming campaign, with the manager keen to stress the importance of pre-season in making sure he has a squad that can cope with the demands placed on them.
"I am very much looking forward for next season because I will have the possibility to make a few adjustments in the squad and start with the team from the beginning. I am sure it will make a big difference for us."
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Great Scott
WHUFC.com
The 2009/10 Hammer of the Year has been speaking about being named the top player by supporters
26.05.2009
Scott Parker has been speaking with pride about being named Hammer of the Year after a tremendous 2008/09 season in the claret and blue.
The 28-year-old midfielder made 32 appearances in all competitions and, although a groin injury kept him out of the run-in, he left a lasting impression on the Hammers faithful for his poised passing and box-to-box play.
Parker, who is having ongoing treatment to be back for pre-season training in July, collected his award on the Boleyn Ground pitch after the 2-1 win against Middlesbrough and then, accompanied by his three sons, joined team-mates for a post-match 'thank you' to fans.
"It is fantastic," he told WHUTV. "It is a great achievement for me personally and I am honoured to have won. It is particularly pleasing to have won an award voted by your own fans. It is a great achievement for me and I am absolutely ecstatic.
"It is pleasing if people think I am putting in hard work and giving my all. I don't know that myself because that is just the way I play. I understand I have an attitude to my game that the West Ham fans seem to like."
Parker picked up a host of awards on the final day of the season from various worldwide supporters' groups and was also singled out by the fans who attend the Castle and Premier Suite as their top player of the campaign. The Hammer of the Year was the ultimate accolade though and the midfielder was keen to praise others.
"I would not have won it, or done well this season, without my team-mates and the support of the manager. Everyone this year has been fantastic. There were many candidates. I am sure it was a close decision but I am over the moon that it is me."
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'It's been a great season'
WHUFC.com
The manager was delighted to see his team sign off with a victory at home to Middlesbrough
24.05.2009
Gianfranco Zola is pledging to come back stronger next season after seeing his side confirm ninth place for the 2008/09 campaign with a 2-1 home win that confirmed Middlesbrough's relegation.
Carlton Cole had given Zola's side the lead in 34th minute only for Middlesbrough to equalise through Gary O'Neil eight minutes after half time. The Hammers were not perturbed and continued to press and got their reward when Junior Stanislas scored the game's decisive goal.
Having signed off on his first season in charge, the manager is planning a deserved short break before getting back down to business and preparing for a busy pre-season, his first since joining the club with the aim of taking the club forward.
"We're really looking forward to next season. Last year we came tenth. This year we're ninth, so we achieved what we wanted.
"There was a moment in the season when we were hoping for something more. We were very unlucky not to get there. Two points behind seventh place ... in different circumstances, we could easily have been seventh. But that's football. I'm really happy with the team. It's been a great season.
"It was important to conclude the season with a nice result in front of our supporters. I'm sorry for the other club, the other team, who got relegated. But it was important to get the three points."
The manager had plenty of plaudits for his players including Cole who made it ten for the season with his first start since 4 March. He then won the whufc.com Goal of the Season for his strike that night at Wigan Athletic and finished the evening with a recall for England.
"He's made a difference for us all season in crucial moments," Zola added. "It's impressive the way he's made a difference for us."
While full of positives for his team, Zola had words of comfort for his opposite number Gareth Southgate who is contemplating Championship football with his charges. The manager hoped he would bounce back at the earliest opportunity. "I wish so very, very much," he said. "It's really tough. I'm sure he will bounce back straight away. He's a good manager, and I wish him all the best."
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Trio earn England call
WHUFC.com
Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole have all been called up by Fabio Capello
24.05.2009
West Ham United trio Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole have all been included in Fabio Capello's England squad for next month's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra.
England are five points clear of Croatia at the top of UEFA qualifying Group 6, having won all five of their fixtures so far. All three Hammers have a chance to add to their haul of caps when the Three Lions travel 3,500 miles to Almaty to take on the Kazakhs on Saturday 6 June.
England return to the friendlier confines of Wembley for the visit of minnows Andorra, who have failed to muster a single point and scored just one goal in the five qualifiers they have contested to this point, on Wednesday 10 June.
Goalkeeper Green will be eager to earn his third cap and first start for his country after injuries ruled out Portsmouth's David James and Manchester United's Ben Foster, both of whom were in Capello's matchday 18 for the 2-1 victory over Ukraine at Wembley on 1 April.
The 29-year-old stopper has been in consistently impressive form this season, keeping nine Barclays Premier League clean sheets for the Hammers.
The 2008/09 Hammer of the Year runner-up, who made his England debut as a substitute in the friendly against Colombia in Boston in June 2005, last appeared for his country as a half-time replacement for James in the 2-1 friendly defeat by Spain in Seville on 11 February this year.
Upson has been a regular member of Capello's squads since the Italian took charge in early 2008, scoring his first goal for his country in the 2-1 friendly win over Germany at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on 19 November.
The central defender, who made his debut in the 2-1 friendly victory over South Africa in Durban in May 2003, has 14 caps in total.
Striker Cole has enjoyed a superb season at the Boleyn Ground, scoring 12 goals in all competitions.
The 25-year-old has flourished under the guidance of Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke, who he had previously worked alongside during the early part of his career at Chelsea.
Cole's fine form in 2008/09 earned him an England debut as a 76th-minute substitute in the 2-0 defeat by Spain in February.
The forward's second and most recent appearance for his country came in the 4-0 friendly win over Slovakia at Wembley on 28 March, but Cole's afternoon was ruined as he suffered a groin injury.
However, he is now fully fit and will hope to earn his third and fourth caps next month, making his competitive bow in an England shirt in the process.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Scott Carson (West Bromwich Albion), Robert Green (West Ham United), Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers)
Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Manchester City), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Gary Neville (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham United)
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), David Beckham (AC Milan), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
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Jack in Wales squad
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison has been named in the Wales squad for the upcoming fixtures against Estonia and Azerbaijan
22.05.2009
West Ham United midfielder Jack Collison has been named in the Wales squad for his country's two upcoming internationals.
John Toshack's side will take on Estonia in a friendly at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday 29 May before heading to Baku for their must-win 2010 FIFA World Cup UEFA Group 4 qualifier against Azerbaijan on Saturday 6 June.
Collison, 20, has won four caps for Wales since making his debut against Iceland last summer.
However, he was forced to miss the 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeats to Finland and Germany on 28 March and 1 April after suffering a dislocated kneecap in West Ham's 1-0 win at Wigan Athletic on 4 March.
Central defenders James Collins and Danny Gabbidon have both been left out of the 22-man squad. Collins has a calf strain while Gabbidon will not be risked, despite returning to full training this week after 18 months out injured.
Wales must beat Azerbaijan to have any chance of reaching next summer's tournament in South Africa. Toshack's men lie fourth in Group 4 with six points from six matches, six points adrift of second-placed Russia and ten points behind leaders Germany.
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Parker named Hammer of the Year
WHUFC.com
All-action midfielder Scott Parker has won the Hammer of the Year award for the 2008/09 season
24.05.2009
Scott Parker has been voted Hammer of the Year for 2008/09 by the club's supporters.
The dynamic midfielder picked up his award, sponsored for the first time this season by Vantis Business Recovery Services, following Sunday's 2-1 Barclays Premier League victory over Middlesbrough at the Boleyn Ground.
England international Parker, who received his award from West Ham United Supporters' Club representative Gary Osborne, has been a revelation this term, scoring one goal in 32 league and cup appearances.
He was voted whufc.com player of the month an unprecedented three times in a row for his performances throughout January, February and March.
The 28-year-old was also presented with the E.ON Player of the Round award for his performance in the FA Cup fourth round win at Hartlepool United and an assortment of man-of-the-match awards following West Ham's live televised fixtures.
More than 10,000 fans voted in the poll which sees Parker become the 34th West Ham United great to pick up the prestigious trophy and the eleventh different winner in the last eleven seasons.
Robert Green, who won the award last season, was voted runner-up this time around, with Matthew Upson and Herita Ilunga also receiving a large amount of support.
Jack Collison picked up the Young Player of the Year award after being chosen by Academy Director Tony Carr. The Wales international only made his first appearance of the season at the end of October when he came on as a half-time substitute against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The 20-year-old quickly settled in and scored on his home debut against Everton on 8 November and has gone on to make 29 appearances for the club in all competitions, despite suffering a dislocated kneecap at the end of March.
Junior Stanislas collected the Doris Bell award on the pitch. The 19-year-old made an instant impact this season, scoring on his full home debut against Sunderland on 4 March and netting his second goal for the club in Sunday's final day win over Middlesbrough.
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Get the new away kit
WHUFC.com
The new away kit for the 2009/10 season is available to pre-order online today
24.05.2009
Fans wanting to be one of the first to sport the brand new West Ham United away kit for next season can pre-order it from either of the club stores or the official online Megastore today.
The new strip will be launched on Thursday 18 June, but supporters eager to get their shirt early can either order it in the Stadium or Lakeside Club stores or online. To pre-order your kit click here.
Fans who cannot wait that long to get a taste of next season can buy the new 2009/10 Umbro Training Range, which is available to buy from the club stores.
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First one out
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 26th May 2009
By: Staff Writer
Jan Lastuvka has returned to Shaktar after his loan spell at West Ham came to an end. The reserve keeper made just one appearance for the Hammers during his season-long loan, that coming in the 1-0 Carling Cup defeat at Watford back in September. Talking to CTK, he cited the failure to reach agreement on a permanent fee between the two clubs as reason for his departure. "We have discussed it with [Gianfranco] Zola," said Lastuvka. "He said that he would have liked to have me in his squad next season, but the club cannot afford to pay so much for me. "I will not comment on the fee, but it is very high if you consider the fact that I basically didn't play all year. "I have a contract [with Shaktar] so I will return there and see what intentions they have with me. So far we have not discussed my future. It is up in the air regarding where I will be playing next season."
Gianfranco Zola is also likely to say goodbye to fellow on-loan stars David Di Michele and Radoslav Kovac, both of whom have failed to impress sufficiently during their stay in London. Diego Tristan, whose one year contract also expires within the next few weeks is also unlikely to be offered a new deal.
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KUMB Awards XII
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 25th May 2009
By: Staff Writer
Now the season is finally over, voting is open for the 12th annual KUMB.com awards.
This year marks the 12th successive season in which KUMB have conducted an online poll for Hammers fans to vote in a series of categories ranging from Player of the Year to Hackett of the Year (our unique award dedicated to Keith Hackett, the referee of West Ham's 1990 semi-final FA Cup game against Nottingham Forest).
Once again there are 10 categories in which to cast your votes; please note that you may also vote for your runner-up in the main Player of the Year category.
Additionally, you can review all ten nominees for the Goal of the Season award in this video (38.5mb, click on the 'Click here to start download' link).
To submit your votes, please complete the entry form here. The full list of nominees are as follows:
Player of the Season
All first team squad members.
Young Player of the Season (21 or under)
Jack Collison
Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson
Robert Hall
Zavon Hines
Bondz N'Gala
Savio Nsereko
Josh Payne
Fred Sears
Jordan Spence
Junior Stanislas
James Tomkins
Best Signing/Worst Signing (two seperate categories)
Valon Behrami
David Di Michele
Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson
Herita Ilunga
Radoslav Kovac
Peter Kurucz
Jan Lastuvka
Walter Lopez
Savio Nsereko
Diego Tristan
Most Improved Player
All first team squad members.
Most Memorable Match
West Ham Utd 4 Blackburn 1 (30th August)
West Ham Utd 3 Newcastle Utd 1 (20th September)
Fulham 1 West Ham Utd 2 (27th September)
Liverpool 0 West Ham Utd 0 (1st December)
Chelsea 1 West Ham Utd 1 (14th December)
Portsmouth 1 West Ham Utd 4 (26th December)
West Ham Utd 2 Stoke 1 (28th December)
West Ham Utd 2 Hull City 0 (28th January)
Arsenal 0 West Ham Utd 0 (31st January)
Wigan 0 West Ham Utd 1 (4th March)
Goal of the Season
(new video featuring all 10 nominees here)
Dean Ashton v Wigan (16th August)
David Di Michele v Newcastle (20th September)
Jack Collison v Everton (8th November)
Craig Bellamy v Newcastle (10th January)
Carlton Cole v Newcastle (10th January)
Carlton Cole v Wigan (4th March)
Mark Noble v Blackburn (21st March)
Junior Stanislas v Sunderland (4th April)
Diego Tristan v Stoke (2nd May)
Radoslav Kovac v Everton (16th May)
Worst Player of the Year
All first team squad members.
Greatest Disappointment
The Board's decision to settle out of court with Sheffield United
The Lord Griffiths/FA panel ruling in favour of Sheffield United
The failure to effectively replace Craig Bellamy in the January transfer window
The extensive injury list - again
Going out of the FA Cup to Middlesbrough
Failure to secure 7th spot in the Premier League
Losing to Tottenham - twice
Losing Dean Ashton for another season
The Board's treatment of Alan Curbishley
Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson's financial situation
Hackett of the Year
Craig Bellamy (former Hammers striker who jumped ship in January)
Scott Duxbury (Hammers CEO)
Lord Griffiths (Presider of the FA Panel that saw fit to rule in Sheffield United's favour)
Oliver Holt (Mirror journalist and public voice of Neil Warnock)
Frank Lampard Jnr (yes, him)
Kevin McCabe (Chairman of Sheffield United responsible for the £25million pay-out for the Carlos Tevez affair)
Ian McGarry (Sun journalist and writer of Frank Lampard's autobiography)
Harry Redknapp (ex-Hammers boss now at Tottenham)
John Terry (persistent whinger)
Neil Warnock (Crystal Palace manager who made noises about suing WHU in the wake of the Griffiths ruling)
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Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cheroo
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 25th May 2009
By: Staff Writer
Burnley wrapped up a great weekend for the claret and blue after they beat Sheffield United 1-0 in this afternoon's Championship play-off final.
The Clarets, led by manager Own Coyle (pictured) won a place in next season's Premier League thanks to Wade Elliot's 13th minute goal at Wembley, adding to earlier wins for West Ham United, Aston Villa and Scunthorpe. It will be the famous old club's first appearance in the top flight for 33 years.
The irony of having a Premier League berth snatched away from them by a team wearing claret and blue will surely not be lost on desperately disappointed Blades fans, who now face a double-whammy with the potential loss of manager Kevin Blackwell who refused to be drawn on his future after the game.
Scunthorpe (aka 'The Iron') got the ball rolling for the claret and blues yesterday afternoon in the League One play-off final with a 3-2 win over Millwall, who had led 2-1 until the closing minutes courtesy of a brace from former Hammer Gary Alexander.
The Hammers later confirmed Middlesbrough's relegation from the Premier League with a 2-1 win at the Boleyn whilst Villa sent Newcastle United down with a 1-0 win at Villa Park.
Odds on all four claret and blue sides winning at the weekend were around 40-1; congratulations if you came up trumps.
How they saw it: the club's official reports
Wade Elliott sent 36,000 Burnley fans into ectasy at Wembley, after his stunning strike saw Burnley promoted.
Owen Coyle's side had numerous chances to extend their advantage, but they managed to hold out to claim a place in the top flight after a 33-year absence.
It was billed as one of the biggest matches in the club's history, and Nigel Adkins' side duly delivered in what will go down as a play-off classic.
Scunthorpe can once more look forward to pitting their wits against some of the big names of English football, including those who got relegated from the Premiership this season.
Villa finished with a flourish and condemned Newcastle United to relegation from the Barclays Premier League.
It was an emotionally charged afternoon at Villa Park with retiring club captain Martin Laursen receiving a rousing send-off. The Toon Army played their part in raising the roof as they were desperate to inspire their team to a great escape, however they were silenced by Damien Duff's 38th minute own goal.
Despite a third-placed finish and a courageous battle at the new Wembley Stadium, the Blades will be playing in the Coca-Cola Championship again next season.
The heartbreak was confirmed shortly before 5pm when referee Mike Dean blew the final whistle making it three Play-Off Final defeats out of three for the Blades.
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Trio named
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 24th May 2009
By: Staff riter
Rob Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole have all been named in the England squad to face Kazakhstan and Andorra in the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The Hammers threesome have been named by England coach Fabio Capello for the two games which take place in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Saturday, 6th June and at Wembley four days later.
Green is considered by many as the likely choice to replace Capello's regular number one David James, who is unavailable due to injury. The former Norwich goalkeeper, who is set for contract talks with view to an improved contract at West Ham this summer has two international caps to his name so far.
Upson, Capello's current first choice reserve centre half has now featured 14 times for his country, whilst Cole, like Green, has two caps - both won this year.
Full England squad
Scott Carson (West Bromwich Albion), Robert Green (West Ham United), Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers); Wayne Bridge (Manchester City), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Gary Neville (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham United); Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), David Beckham (AC Milan loan from LA Galaxy), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa); Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth), Jermain Defoe (T*ttenham Hotspur), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).
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Lastuvka leaves Hammers
Czech keeper too costly
By Vasek Kadlec Last updated: 26th May 2009
SSN
Jan Lastuvka has been forced to leave West Ham as a result of Shakhtar Donetsk's inflated demands. The Czech keeper joined the Hammers on a season-long loan deal last summer and was keen to turn that agreement into a permanent move. However, the Premier League outfit are unwilling to match the valuation placed on his head by his parent club. "We have discussed it with coach (Gianfranco) Zola," he told CTK. "He said that he would have liked to have me in his squad next season, but the club cannot afford to pay so much for me."
Reports suggest Shakhtar are demanding around 3million euros (£2.6m), but Lastuvka is staying tight-lipped. "I will not comment on the fee, but it is very high if you consider the fact that I basically didn't play all year," he added. The 26-year-old, who failed to make a Premier League appearance for the Hammers, will now head back to Ukraine, where he is likely to be sidelined once again due to quota rules regarding foreign players. "I have a contract there, so I will return there and see what intentions they have with me," he said. "So far we have not discussed my future. It is up in the air regarding where I will be playing next season."
Meanwhile, West Ham look like facing a similar situation regarding Lastuvka's Czech compatriot Radoslav Kovac. The Hammers have an option to buy the midfielder, following his arrival at Upton Park as a loan star in January, but feel Spartak Moscow are demanding too much for the 29-year-old.
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Green likely to get England chance as West Ham finish on a high
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 26th May 2009
By: Thomas Rooney
For some time now, I have moaned about Robert Green not getting a fair chance to represent England. Regardless of his form, the former Norwich City man has so often been overlooked for a place in the national team.
However, with David James and Ben Foster ruled out with injuries, it seems that Green will finally get his chance for England in a competitive international game. The West Ham keeper was named along with Paul Roblinson and Scott Carson for the World Cup qualifying games against Kazakhstan and Andorra.
Despite Robinson and Carson having more international experience though, Green's second half appearance against Spain in England's last game suggests that he is the man Capello will go for in these crucial qualifying games.
This would be nothing short of what he deserves. Green has been fantastic for West Ham this season and has shown that he has the ability to cope at the highest level. The fact that he has only made one appearance for England – back in 2005 – doesn't seem quite right to me considering his form and I am glad that international recognition is finally heading his way again.
Green's latest action though, as we know, was to help West Ham to a final day victory over relegated Middlesbrough. The Hammers' 2-1 victory – thanks to goals from Carlton Cole and Junior Stanislas – ended Gareth Southgate's hopes of keeping Middlesbrough in the Premier League.
From West Ham's point of view though, the impact that the result had on Middlesbrough was irrelevant. It was all about finishing a relatively successful season on a high and they did exactly that. Considering there was lots of talk of relegation during Gianfranco Zola's first couple of months, finishing 9th in the league is very respectable.
It is disappointing that 7th place proved a step too far for the Hammers, but nevertheless, there have been encouraging signs. If the playing squad can be retained and then added to over the summer, Zola's men should be a force to be reckoned with. They have played some decent football in the last six months and have looked like a team that are on the up.
What should be the target for next year though? Well, as long as West Ham are competing inside the top ten, there can't be too many complaints. Outside of the top four, there isn't a huge amount between several teams. At a push, you could argue that the Hammers should aim for a top six place next season.
In reality though, another top ten finish perhaps combined with a cup run should be enough to keep everyone happy. I suppose it all depends on what the squad looks like at the end of the summer. Zola has admitted that he is 'really looking forward' to the next campaign though, so I suppose we should all join him in being optimistic! Bear this in mind when you place your Premier League bet at the start of next season!
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That Was The Season That Was - Part 1
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 26th May 2009
By: Gordon Thrower
So farewell 2008/09 then. How was it for you? KUMB took a bleary-eyed and exhausted look back at the season. Part one covers August-October 2008......
August 2008
Jan Lastuvka arrives on loan from Shaktar Donetsk who cope with the disappointment of losing the Czech 'keeper by going on to win the last UEFA Cup.
Kieron Dyer's comeback from injury is put back by six weeks.
Craig Bellamy gets injured and upsets an Ipswich supporter by referring to her as a "****ing Ipswich prostitute." Apparently she was from Felixstowe.
Fans are unimpressed as Ben Thatcher is given a trial as a footballer rather than as the accused. Freddie Ljungberg is asked not to come back, a fat cheque sweetening his disappointment.
Nigeria call up Carlton Cole replacing him with Ronaldo when it transpires that he isn't actually eligible.
Keeper Rob Green moans about not being offered a new contract, forgetting that he'd agreed to discuss it at the end of the season.
The season finally opens, and the only new boy in the side, Valon Behrami, chalks up an assist as a lacklustre Hammers hold on to beat Wigan 2-1. Dean Ashton scores a brace but limps off with a calf injury.
The club announces that a bid for Anton Ferdinand from Sunderland has been accepted, a deal that has major repercussions a bit later on.
Mark Noble sees red as a poor display at Eastlands sees us lose 3-0 to Manchester City. Carlton Cole's turn to get injured after half an hour.
Anton Ferdinand signs for Sunderland and denies having turned down an improved contract.
Results, improve with consecutive 4-1 wins over Macclesfield and a Paul Ince-led Blackburn. Bellamy is on the scoresheet and Green saves a spot-kick. Ince struggles on until December before being sacked. Nobody is upset.
The transfer window closes with the departure of George McCartney who, following another statement from the board, denies having submitted a transfer request. Some 19 hours after the window has shut the club remembers it has signed two players on loan: Herita Ilunga comes in at left-back from Tolouse and striker David Di Michele arrives from Torino. The official explanation for the delay is that international clearance hasn't arrived – though wags suggested that they were waiting to tell Curbishley first.
September 2008
Curbishley resigns citing "irreconcilable" differences between him and the board over transfer policy. He later goes on to take legal action against the club for constructive dismissal.
Slaven Bilic and Harry Redknapp are early front-runners in the betting over Curbishley's replacement. Paulo Di Canio throws his hat into the ring but few consider him seriously.
A shortlist of 6 arises, including Bilic, Gerard Houllier, Roberto Donadoni, Roberto Mancini, Gianfranco Zola and an unnamed mystery 6th person.
Free agent Walter Lopez arrives from Uruguay without knowing who his new manager is to be. He spends the season as back-up to Ilunga.
The managerial shortlist is whittled down as Michael Laudrup – the previously un-named mystery man – heads off to Moscow. The remaining three still in contention are said to be Bilic, Donadoni and Zola.
Eventually Gianfranco Zola is named as manager. Concerns that fans may be worried about his Chelsea connections are soon quelled. As one fan put it: "You can't blame the man for wanting to better himself". Steve Clarke is another to go up in the world as he joins Zola to become assistant manager at the Boleyn.
Meanwhile all is not well with the club's sponsors. The XL holiday group enters administration owing millions to thousands of holidaymakers – including your correspondent. If anyone from ATOL is reading this, any time you want to send me that cheque for £400 will be fine.
Kevin Keen (still aged 12) is officially in charge at West Brom where all is going well until a dreadful penalty decision lets the home side back into the match which they go on to win 3-2. The team turn out in shirts with claret patches clumsily covering the erstwhile sponsor's logo.
The Zola era proper starts with a 3-1 home win over Newcastle. Dean Ashton has picked up a knock and misses the win. The claret patches have been replaced by shirt numbers amidst calls for Hammers to adopt the logo of the Bobby Moore Fund charity. The club cite a responsibility to secure the best financial package for not using the charity's logo.
In a decision described in legal circles as "insane" Lord Griffiths decides, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that Carlos Tevez alone was responsible for the great escape. Clearly the concept of contributory negligence hadn't reached his lordship who amazingly is still allowed out in public. Never has the old adage that if you repeat a lie often enough people will believe it been better exemplified.
Meanwhile, away from hypocrisy, Dean Ashton is confirmed as a long-term absentee as more surgery is required on that troublesome ankle. Carlton Cole becomes the latest footballer to be arrested for drink driving and faces the wrath of Zola who administers a club fine with the words "I may be nice but I'm not stupid". Rumours that Cole wakes up with a horse's head in his bed later in the week are not confirmed but he has behaved himself ever since.
On the pitch Hammers travel to Craven Cottage and dispatch 10 man Fulham 2-1 with goals from a suitably-chastened Cole and Matty Etherington.
October 2008
The month starts with the arrival of another free-agent on trial in the form of Diego Tristan, a former team-mate of ex-Hammer Lionel Scaloni at Deportivo La Corunna who released him in 2006. Unsuccessful spells at Mallorca and Livorno had ended amidst rumours of booze and a lack of fitness. The ideal person to give Carlton Cole a lift to training then.
Club owner BG is said to have turned down a bid for the club from an un-named source amidst rumours of serious financial problems following the collapse of the Icelandic economy.
Two uncharacteristic errors from Rob Green and a sadly predictable one from Mike Dean gift the visitors all three points as Bolton emerge 3-1 victors.
BG's week gets worse as the Icelandic government is forced to take control of Landesbanki, the bank in which the chairman holds a 40% stake which now turns out to be worth less than I have down the back of the sofa at the moment.
Hammers try to take the ridiculous Griffiths decision to the Court For Arbitration in Sport, pointing out, not unreasonably that since McCabe has been able to make dozens of appeals until he found someone stupid enough to agree with him, natural justice demands that the same courtesy be afforded to the Hammers. Meanwhile, the papers suggest that McCabe is likely to up his claim to a possible £50m, a figure likened to claiming for a Rolex on your holiday insurance having lost a plastic Casio.
Tristan finally signs following an extended trial but doesn't feature as high-flying new-boys Hull take all three points at the KC stadium with a 1-0 victory.
Somebody called Nigel Quashie signed for Birmingham on a month's loan. No, me neither.
The run of bad results continues with a 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal, the second coming in stoppage time as the team went all out in search of the equaliser. Carlton Cole receives a late red card for a challenge that scarcely merited a free-kick as another referee fails to honour his part in the "FA's Respect campaign".
More court news as it is suggested that a number of Sheffield United players are considering legal action against the club over the relegation. It later transpires that many of them were actually on loan elsewhere at the time. Even more laughable, Phil Jagielka, whose handball would have sent us down had everything else gone to plan, and who had earned a move to Everton, a salary rise and a place in the England squad as a result of Sheffield United's relegation, was also being linked with law suits. No hypocrisy there then.
The month ends with another defeat, this time a weakened side devoid of Cole and Ashton goes down 2-0 to eventual champions Man Utd. The result sees the team slide worryingly into the lower half of the table where only a few points separate Europe from the drop zone.
….and there's still no sign of Dyer……..
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West Ham talks at crucial stage
BBC.co.uk
West Ham's future could be decided as early as Wednesday as talks continue over the sale of the club. Chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson has debts of £300m, which has led to him putting West Ham up for sale. BBC sports editor Mihir Bose says this could be a crucial week for the Premier League outfit. He said: "If the right price is offered at meetings between interested parties and the board then a decision on a sale could be reached this Wednesday." Bose added: "If an amount cannot be agreed then the creditors of Hansa - West Ham's holding company - will effectively take over the club and wait for a better time to sell the Hammers." Gudmundsson bought West Ham for £85m in November 2006 but his business has been affected by the economic crisis. Landsbanki, the Icelandic bank in which he was the biggest shareholder, went into receivership in October last year while his holding company, Hansa, has gone into voluntary liquidation. Gudmundsson's creditors are thought to be keen to cash in on one of his few remaining assets. A consortium of creditors led by Icelandic bank Straumur - which is itself in financial difficulties - is in talks about taking over West Ham. The Hammers, guided by former Chelsea striker Gianfranco Zola, finished ninth in the Premier League - missing out on a place in the Europa League.
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West Ham insolvent as long ago as May 2008? Have the books been cooked?
The Games Gone Crazy
Today is a day I have been looking forward to for 6 months. Not because it is the end of season but because today is the day our club is due to file its annual accounts for the period to end of May 2008. Yes, that's the year's accounts to end of 2007/8 season which were due to be filed at the end of November 2008!
Our board took a decision to delay that filing for some strange reason and used a little known rule designed to help companies changing their accounting year, to take a 3 months delay. We changed our accounting period by a cynical 3 days from 31st May 2008 to 28th May 2008 which meant the accounts did not have to be filed until 28th February 2009.
For some unknown reason at 28th February 2009 we changed our accounting year again from ending 28th May 2008 to 25th May 2008! Still following this? It meant our revised date allowed us to file another 3 months late on 25th May 2009.
That's why I was looking forward to finding out what had happened with our club's finances during BG's failing business empire's rapid decline. Yes you've guessed it! We have now changed our accounting period a third time and the year ended May 2008 now finishes on 22nd May giving us yet another 3 months delay in filing to 22nd August 2009! That's 1 year and 9 months after the year to May 2008 finished and 9 months overdue.
BG does not want us to see what has happened to the club's finances! Why? There are three possibilities I can think of:-
1) We made a huge profit and BG does not want our creditors to get their hands on it!
2) BG put our club finances in his bank Landsbanki which has failed and is hoping we'll get something back from the Iceland government before the fans find out.
3) BG has taken a lot of money out West Ham to bolster up his failed empire and doesn't fancy being strung up by fans when it comes out.
4) We were technically insolvent at the end of May 2008. By deferring filing our accounts by 9 months it gives the club time to make a profit in the current financial year and get us out of having to go into administration.
Does anyone else have a suggestion why?
Billbansky
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West Ham United involved in new court claim
27 May, 09 | England | Legal
It looks like English West Ham United could be forced to endure additional court time, following a request to pay a six-figure sum to Samson Sport Consultancy. Last month, the agency suggested that West Ham United owed unpaid commission in the amount of GBP 115,000, after Samson Sport Consultancy put the club in contact with sponsor SBOBET. The demand came before high court in April, based on two unpaid invoices of GBP 50,000 plus VAT, as reported by The Guardian. Club lawyer Roger Thompson received notice of the January and March invoices, which have accrued more than GBP 1,700 in interest charges to date. While West Ham has yet to file a defence, Berwin Leighton Paisner Vanessa Barnett indicated that BLP's betting and gaming team works with the club and SBOBET, further noting that they were able to sum the matter up 'in short order' as a result of the demise of West Ham's prior sponsor. Although GBP 115,000 will not break the bank at West Ham, it is believed that the club may be embarrassed by the situation, thanks to their recent court involvement with Sheffield United. The club managed to settle the claim with Sheffield United outside of the court room for GBP 25 million, however, speculation has suggested that West Ham could be linked with other legal issues.
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West Ham United Sensation Savio Nsereko Can Now Turn Out For Uganda
A change of law in Uganda will allow Nsereko to turn out for his native country if he so chooses.
25 May 2009 13:20:09
Goal.com
The Ugandan Parliament last week finally passed a new law that allows for dual citizenship, thus opening a door for many Ugandans who had taken on another nationality to grab the chance of representing their motherland. The Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control (Amendment) Bill 2008 now only awaits the Presidential seal before it becomes law and will provide an opportunity for any of the country's sons and daughters to don the colours of their motherland. One such prospect is sensational West Ham United midfielder Savio Nsereko. The youngster played for Uganda at junior level before he left for Germany, where he took citizenship. Faced with the option of renouncing his German citizenship for a Ugandan passport, the midfielder abandoned the idea. While turning out for Germany last year during the European Under-19 Championships, the youngster exhibited flair and awesome quality, leading him to be tagged as one of the foremost emerging talents on the European stage. Aside from the change of the law, Uganda will have to convince the youngster to play for his motherland in future competitions as he is yet to play for the German senior side. This may prove difficult because of Uganda's relatively lowly standing on football's ladder, making World Cup or even African Nations Cup qualification somewhat unlikely. By sticking with Germany, it will be a matter of time before he stars in the European Championships or even the World Cup, assuming he can break into the side.
James Momanyi, Goal.com
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Sheffield United To Launch New Legal Action
The Games Gone Crazy
Following their failure to secure promotion to the Premiership via the backdoor of the play offs, Sheffield United are investigating the possibility of new legal actions to compensate for their extended stay in the Championship. The £20m already agreed with West Ham was designed to compensate for the initial demotion and a further season's stay outside of the Premiership; however, with today's failure to secure a return to the land of milk and honey, the Sheffield United board are now pursuing new legal avenues.
A source close to the club said: "West Ham are ultimately responsible for today's defeat. We were stripped of a number of our key players following relegation who would undoubtedly have secured victory for us today. The settlement agreed out of court may be regarded as binding as far as West Ham are concerned but we believe otherwise."
But West Ham are not the only club sweating on a legal ruling. The source continued: "We are seeking to overturn the decision to promote Burnley. It seems self evident that the team promoted should be the one that ends up with the most points over a season. We finished above Burnley and the playoffs are an illogical contrivance. We will be using the precedent of the Premiership to prove our case. Chelsea are not in a play off with Villa for a place in the Champions League are they? Chelsea have qualified based on their league position. What holds for the Premiership should apply to the teams seeking promotion to the Premiership. We are confident of proving this point in a court of law."
The scorer of the winning goal, Wade Elliot, is also in the frame. The source continued: "We are investigating a third party agreement in relation to Mr Elliot. If our information is correct, it appears that Mr Elliot is either married or committed to a member of the female sex. We have a sworn affidavit which states that, in the event of his partner giving birth on the day of a game, Mr Elliot would be deselected from the team. This is clearly a Third Party Agreement in breach of FA rules."
Referee Mike Dean also faces a compensation claim. Controversy centres on the decision to send off Jamie Ward for a "deliberate hand ball" and the failure to award two penalties to Sheffield United. The spokesman said: "Ward was seeking a hypothetical advantage when handling the ball. To exact punishment for a hypothetical is absurd. The failure to award the penalties is clearly a dereliction of duty on the part of Dean. He is a cheating bastard, end of. We will make him pay!"
The final plank in the legal action centres on Burnley's club colours. The spokesman finished by saying: "It has not escaped our attention that Burnley wear claret and blue. Our lawyers have investigated the precedent of the Tollpuddle Martyrs and it is self evident that there is an illegal secret association here. Tevez may not have played for Burnley today but he was there in spirit. We are confident that, not only will we be compensated and promoted to the Premiership, but West Ham will be transported to Australia. Their captain, Lucas Neill, will help them settle somewhere in the Outback."
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West Ham face court again over dispute surrounding agency fees• Agency claiming six-figure commission from sponsorship deal
West Ham have yet to file a defence
Matt Scott The Guardian, Tuesday 26 May 2009 Article history
After a season overshadowed by courtroom battles West Ham United could find themselves in court yet again. This time the Hammers have been hit with a six-figure demand by an agency claiming to have put the club into contact with its title sponsor, SBOBET.
Samson Sport Consultancy lodged its £115,000 demand at the high court on 24 April over what it alleges is unpaid "commission due to it from West Ham for the introduction by Samson to West Ham of Celton Manx Ltd, trading as SBOBET, as a sponsor".
Two unpaid invoices dated 12 January and 2 March, each for £50,000 plus VAT, were sent to the club's in-house lawyer, Roger Thompson, in respect of "agency commission: WHUFC and SBOBET principle partnership". The consultancy would also charge interest, currently running at more than £1,700.
West Ham have yet to file a defence but Vanessa Barnett, of the law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner, said: "BLP's betting and gaming team have an existing relationship with both West Ham United and SBOBET. We were able to make the introduction and finalise this in short order following the insolvency of West Ham's previous sponsor."
For a club whose turnover is expected to have approached £100m a year the sum demanded is hardly significant but it will come as an embarrassment, given the litany of litigation it has recently faced. After settling Sheffield United's claim against them with a £25m out-of-court agreement, there has been talk of other claims. Among those reportedly taking legal advice were Blades players and Leeds United in respect of performance clauses in the contracts of players sold to Bramall Lane.
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Noble plea to Zola
Sport.co.uk
Author: Andrew Allen
Posted on: 26 May 2009 - 8:27 AM
Mark Noble has backed Gianfranco Zola to turn West Ham into a "force to be reckoned with" and create his own east London dynasty. The Hammers were forced to settle for a ninth-place finish after seeing their dreams of European football fade towards the end of the season.But midfielder Noble says the Italian's revolution has already transformed the club's fortunes and is now aiming for another crack at securing a place in Europe when the new season starts in August. "Some of the football we've played this year has been fantastic and we're just a little bit away from the likes of Aston Villa and Everton," said Noble. "When we have those players back I'm sure we'll be a force to be reckoned with. "Off the field we get on so well as a team. We go out together and do so much stuff that is would be a shame to lose any of that. "I'm pretty sure the club will do their best to keep our best players and really crack on to get that European place next year. "It would be great for the club to play in Europe again. It just seems that this year, even though we only finished ninth, some of the football we played and some of the results we've had have been fantastic. "If we can add a little to that I'm sure we can go one step further. The manager had a go at me when he first came when I said it would take a couple of years to build the team. "You see the likes of Everton and David Moyes finally doing what they should be doing. Hopefully the manager and the backroom staff stay and we can push on."
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West Ham Confirm Plans To Loan Out Freddie Sears
The Hammers starlet looks almost certain to be spending next season away in order to get some regular game-time under his belt...
26 May 2009 10:01:35
Goal.com
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola agrees with top-rated youngster Freddie Sears' assessment that he would be well served by a loan move at this stage of his development.
Zola has always been keen to stress how much he rates the 19-year-old striker, yet only used him sparingly in their ultimately failed bid to bring European football to Upton Park next season. Sears, who famously scored a late winner on his debut against Blackburn Rovers, has been positively pulling at the leash ever since and feels he needs more than the seven starts he has commanded this term in order to accelerate his growth as a player. "I think that the right thing to do for him will be to go on loan to play," Zola said the club's official website. "He has worked hard here but has not been playing enough, sometimes ten minutes, sometimes a full game. "Probably he never got what he wanted. He has improved as a player but he needs to play regularly. "Unfortunately here it is difficult for him. Next season he will have the possibility of going on loan and to prove himself. "Then he will come back here as we believe that he is an important player for us in future."
Derek Wanner, Goal.com
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Hammers keeper to return to Ukraine
by Joseph Caron Dawe , 26 May 2009
setanta.co.uk
Goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka will leave West Ham upon the completion of his year-long loan from Shakhtar Donetsk. The Czech joined The Hammers from the Uefa Cup winners last summer with hopes of turning his stay into a permanent one, but has made just one appearance in his time in East London in the Carling Cup. The Ukrainian outfit appear to have priced him out of a permanent switch to Upton Park after Lastuvka revealed West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola had talked over the matter with him.
We have discussed it with coach Zola," Lastuvka told CTK. "He said that he would have liked to have me in his squad next season, but the club cannot afford to pay so much for me." Shakhtar are reportedly holding out for a transfer fee of around €3 million (£2.6m), although the former Fulham loanee is refusing to confirm just how much he is being valued at. "I will not comment on the fee, but it is very high if you consider the fact that I basically didn't play all year," he continued. "I have a contract there [at Shakhtar], so I will return there and see what intentions they have with me. "So far we have not discussed my future. It is up in the air regarding where I will be playing next season."
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Zola confident of keeping Neill and Upson at West Ham
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 3:14 PM on 26th May 2009
Daily Mail
Gianfranco Zola believes Lucas Neill will still be at Upton Park next season, despite West Ham captain's reluctance to take a pay cut on his golden £60,000 a week contract.
The 31-year-old Australia international is at the end of his current deal and has attracted interest from Newcastle and Olympiakos, where former Toon star Temuri Ketsbaia has pitched up as manager. West Ham will undoubtedly want to save cash, but boss Zola is keen to hold on to the former Blackburn defender. 'There will be meetings in the next few days with Neill,' said the former Chelsea player. "I am confident something positive will happen.' Zola is also desperate to keep Matthew Upson, who has forced his way into Fabio Capello's England set-up after an impressive season that saw the Hammers fall just short of qualifying for Europe. Zola said: 'Matthew looks to me that he's very happy here and he wants to stay and so it shouldn't be an issue for us.'
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No tears for another season without Sheffield United, but who will they blame this time?
By Hatchet Man
Last updated at 10:13 AM on 26th May 2009
Daily Mail
Sheffield United are facing their third successive season in the Championship after losing to Burnley in the play-off final. Good. After two years of parachute money and two failed promotion bids, it is where they belong and even the best lawyers in the country would struggle to argue otherwise. This is the club who acted like the only victims when they went down because West Ham broke the rules over Carlos Tevez. It was utter rubbish of course. The game was hard done-by, the Premier League were shamefully soft and everybody lost. Even if West Ham had been relegated because of their misdemeanours, Sheffield United deserved to go with them because they weren't good enough. They have stayed down for the same reason and if they still can't get out of the Championship next season with the advantage they have from the Tevez money they won through the courts, they have no one to blame but themselves.
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West Ham's Parker delighted with fans award
27.05.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United midfielder Scott Parker is delighted to be named Hammer of the Year by fans. "It is fantastic," he told WHUTV. "It is a great achievement for me personally and I am honoured to have won. It is particularly pleasing to have won an award voted by your own fans. It is a great achievement for me and I am absolutely ecstatic. "It is pleasing if people think I am putting in hard work and giving my all. I don't know that myself because that is just the way I play. I understand I have an attitude to my game that the West Ham fans seem to like."
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Zola excited about first West Ham preseason
27.05.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola is excited about the prospect of a first preseason as a Premiership manager. He said: "I am very much looking forward for next season because I will have the possibility to make a few adjustments in the squad and start with the team from the beginning. "I am sure it will make a big difference for us."
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