WHUFC.com
Junior Stanislas is still on a high after ending the season with a great
goal and a personal award
02.06.2009
Junior Stanislas could be forgiven for still wearing a broad smile after
signing off a memorable debut Barclays Premier League season with a
final-day winner against relegated Middlesbrough.
The 19-year-old ended any hopes Boro had of beating the drop when his
58th-minute shot crept under the arms of goalkeeper Brad Jones to put the
Hammers 2-1 up. It was the final word on a hugely positive campaign and
summed up the club's optimism for the future.
"I don't know if it was a rocket or I hit it from 35 yards but it was nice
for me to score and even better for the team to win to end the season on a
high," said the south London-born player. "It was good football and a good
strike but the goalkeeper probably should have done better with it but
thankfully he didn't and it has gone in."
Stanislas, who was righly recognised for his progress this season with the
Doris Bell most improved player award, has enjoyed a fantastic six months,
going on loan to League One Southend United, where he starred in two FA Cup
third round ties against Barclays Premier League side Chelsea, before
returning to the Boleyn Ground in January.
Back at Chadwell Heath, the talented wideman impressed manager Gianfranco
Zola, scoring on his full West Ham debut in the 2-0 home win over Sunderland
on 4 April. He went on to make nine first-team appearances and, having made
his mark, the youngster admitted he cannot wait for the 2009/10 season to
start - when he could also represent England at the FIFA U20 World Cup in
Egypt.
"Obviously I'm delighted," he added. "Going to Southend has probably helped
me and I've come back and been training with the boys. They've made me feel
welcome and I've been progressing and improving. It's been nice.
"I'm disappointed that the season has finished now, to be honest. Obviously
the boys who have been playing all season need a break so it'll be nice for
us all to come back next season."
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Specs set for Costa Rica
WHUFC.com
In the only international being played on Wednesday, Jonathan Spector has
high hopes with the US
02.06.2009
Jonathan Spector is with the United States in Costa Rica preparing for
Wednesday night's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The West Ham United defender, still only 23, is part of a 24-man squad
looking for a victory that would move the US four points clear of their
hosts in CONCACAF qualifying for next summer's finals ahead of a home
qualifier with Honduras on 6 June in Chicago.
With several of his international team-mates still involved in the Major
League Soccer season last weekend, it is thought Spector could play a
significant part. His chances have also been furthered by a groin injury
suffered by usual right-back Frankie Hejduk.
The Costa Rica fixture was brought forward from 10 June because of the US
involvement in the FIFA Confederations Cup which will see them depart for
South Africa on 8 June. Spector will hope to be involved in that tournament,
having seen injury cost him a place at the 2006 World Cup and 2008 Olympics.
He has been capped 12 times by his country.
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England trio train again
WHUFC.com
Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole have once more been working
hard with Fabio Capello
02.06.2009
West Ham United's Three Lions had their second day of training with the rest
of the England squad at London Colney. Matthew Upson, Carlton Cole and
Robert Green were put through their paces under the watchful eye of coach
Fabio Capello on another day of glorious sunshine. Upson will have been
particularly out to impress, with the news that former Hammer Rio Ferdinand
has been forced to pull out from the FIFA World Cup qualifier against
Kazakhstan on Saturday with a calf injury. Ferdinand could still recover in
time to face Andorra on Wednesday four days later, but Bolton Wanderers'
Gary Cahill has been drafted in as extra cover. West Ham's No15 excelled the
last time Ferdinand was injured, coming in to the side for the World Cup
qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus in October. England beat
Kazakhstan 5-1 and they will be hoping for similar fortune on Saturday. If
Upson is selected in Almaty at the weekend, he could link up with club-mate
Robert Green, who is in the running to claim the No1 jersey with usual first
choice David James ruled out through injury. Should Green be selected he
would be making his third appearance for England. Cole is expected to battle
it out with Emile Heskey, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe to win the right to
partner Wayne Rooney up front. The 25-year-old would win his third cap for
his country if selected, all of which would have come this year. England
have made a flying start to their qualification campaign, with a 100 per
cent record from the first five games leaving them five points clear at the
top of qualifying Group 6.
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Collison's history lesson
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison has been ruled out of Wales' World Cup qualifier in Azerbaijan
with a knee injury
02.06.2009
Jack Collison has been ruled out of Wales' 2010 FIFA World Cup Group 4
qualifier in Azerbaijan on Saturday with a minor knee problem.
Wales manager John Toshack and the player himself had been hopeful he would
shake off the knock he suffered during last Friday's international friendly
victory over Estonia in Llanelli. However, Collison was withdrawn from the
squad as a precaution on Tuesday afternoon and will not travel to
Azerbaijan.
Collison confirmed to the club on Tuesday evening that his withdrawal was
simply related to the knee knock and that it was best to rest for a few days
rather than travel on a long flight to Baku. He added that he was still
aiming to be involved when pre-season training begins in early July.
The 20-year-old had been eager to earn his sixth senior cap for his country
in Baku, a city with historical links to West Ham United. Wales will take on
the Azerbaijanis at the Tofik Bakhramov Stadium - a ground named in honour
of the linesman who gave Geoff Hurst's famous second goal during the 1966
FIFA World Cup final at Wembley.
Bakhramov was born in the Azerbaijani capital in November 1926 and shot to
fame when he flagged to award Hurst's 101st minute goal, which gave England
a 3-2 lead against West Germany. The stadium was renamed in his honour
following his death at the age of 68 in October 1993.
Collison learned of the link between the stadium and West Ham from
goalkeeper Robert Green, who was part of Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad when
England visited Baku for a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier in October 2004.
"I don't know much about Azerbaijan to be honest with you," said the
20-year-old, who has five caps. "I spoke to Greeny and he gave me a great
fact. He said that outside their stadium they have a statue of the 'Russian
linesman' who gave the goal for England so that was nice of him."
Wales' chances of reaching next summer's tournament in South Africa are
remote, with John Toshack's side having picked up just six points from their
opening six fixtures.
The Welsh sit fourth in the six-team group, six points behind second-placed
Russia and ten adrift of leaders Germany. Azerbaijan are already out of the
running, having gathered just one point from four matches so far.
Regardless of their current struggles, Collison believes that with promising
young players such as Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey and Cardiff City's Joe Ledley
coming through, good times could be just around the corner.
Wales came agonisingly close to reaching their first major finals since the
senior side qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 1958 when their Under-21
side - containing Collison and Ramsey - pushed England all the way before
going down to a 5-4 UEFA European Championship play-off defeat in October.
West Ham's Young Player of the Year, one of eight Academy graduates to
represent the first-team in 2008/09, can see similarities between club and
country.
"It's very similar to West Ham in that there are a lot of young, very
talented players who are all coming through at a similar sort of time.
International level is a great experience for all these young players and
we'll look to gel as a team and, if we don't qualify this time, maybe we'll
stand a really good chance of qualifying for the Euros [in Poland and
Ukraine in 2012].
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Hoisted by one's own petard
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 2nd June 2009
By: Staff Writer
Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace have been fined £20,000 and deducted a point
for fielding an ineligible player in their recent fixture against Sheffield
United. Former Blades manager Warnock - who recently outlined plans to sue
West Ham United as a result of the Carlos Tevez affair - fielded on loan Rui
Fonte as a second half substitute in the game which ended up 0-0. However
Fonte, on loan from Arsenal was (unlike Carlos Tevez) ineligible to play as
his loan spell had already expired. The Football League's independent
Football Disciplinary Commission fined the Eagles one point whilst also
fining the club £20,000 (£15,000 of which is suspended for a year). Talking
about West Ham's world record £5.5million fine last year and his own mooted
compensation claim, Warnock - who has led Palace to 5th and 15th placed
finishes in the Championship since leaving Bramall Lane - said: "As far as
I'm concerned, I should still be a Premier League manager. We have wanted
the truth to come out all the way along the line.
"When wrongs have been done against you, you fight for your cause."
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Agent on impasse
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 2nd June 2009
By: Staff Writer
Lucas Neill's agent has revealed why his client has rejected West Ham
United's fresh contract offer. The former Millwall and Blackburn full-back
is out of contract this month having spent the last two-and-a-half years in
East London. Agent Darren Jackson, speaking on behalf of the current Hammers
club captain told the Mail: "The last offer was declined because Lucas
didn't feel it reflected his value as a player and captain. [But]
negotiations have been amicable and we hope we can still reach an agreement.
"The door remains open for West Ham and Lucas. Obviously the longer it goes
on, the more likely it's not going to happen. "There has been other interest
from clubs in England and in Europe but it's still very early stages. Lucas
is hopeful something can be agreed with West Ham."
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Thoughts on Lucas Neill?
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 3rd June 2009
By: Thomas Rooney
West Ham skipper Lucas Neill has been the subject of much speculation since
the Premier League season ended. His contract expires at the end of this
month and it seems far from certain that he will be lining up for Gianfranco
Zola next season.
The latest news on this is that Neill has rejected the terms of a new
contract offer from the club. However, his agent has said that staying at
Upton Park is still a possibility for the Australian. Darren Jackson admits
that other clubs are interested in Neill's services though.
As for why the latest offer was rejected, Jackson revealed to Sky Sports
News that Neill didn't believe that the terms offered 'reflected his value
as a player and captain'. So basically, Neill is after more money from West
Ham. This is what it comes down to. As obvious as it sounds, it needed to be
pointed out!
Jackson went on to say that the 'door remains open' for the defender and
West Ham to make a deal. He also revealed that the player himself is
'hopeful' something can be agreed with his current club.
Overall, it comes down to how much West Ham value Lucas Neill. If they
believe he is an integral part of the team that cannot be replaced, they
need to consider offering him what he wants.
On the other hand, if they think that at 31-years-old he would be suitably
replaced by a younger defender, they will just have to let him go. There is
no point forking out a ridiculous amount of money each week to a player that
isn't indispensible.
Which side of the fence do you sit on? Should West Ham give Neill what he
wants or should they tell him to look for the type of deal he wants
elsewhere? Personally, I'm leaning towards the latter. As much as he is a
valuable part of the team, I don't think that Zola and co should be taken
for a ride.
If Neill really wants to play for West Ham, he will accept what was put on
the table. It is naive to suggest that players should play for the passion
rather than the money though I suppose. If another club comes in with a lot
more money, Neill will push his West Ham commitments to one side. I'm sure
of that.
Speaking of other clubs coming in for Neill, it has been reported today that
Manchester City are interested in him. This would make sense really. Mark
Hughes managed Neill at Blackburn and let's face it; the richest club in the
world are likely to attract the Hammers captain aren't they? Like Craig
Bellamy, Neill could end up giving in to the 'project' at Eastlands.
I want your opinion though. Where do you stand on this situation? Would
Neill be a big loss? Should Zola fight hard to keep him? Let me know.
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England poised to go Green: West Ham's Robert Green set to be Fabio
Capello's number one
By Matt Lawton Chief Football Correspondent
Last updated at 7:57 AM on 03rd June 2009
Daily Mail
Robert Green is expected to make his full England debut against Kazakhstan
on Saturday. Fabio Capello has not made a final decision on his goalkeeper
for the World Cup qualifier but, in the absence of the injured David James,
the England coach is leaning heavily towards Green. Capello recalled Paul
Robinson to the squad, as well as Scott Carson, for the World Cup double
header against Kazakhstan and Andorra but the Italian is ready to reward
Green for a fine season with West Ham. Capello sprung one surprise by
calling up defender Gary Cahill as a replacement for the injured Rio
Ferdinand. Phil Jagielka is also missing through injury so Cahill gets his
chance to shine after impressing with Bolton this season. 'I was at home and
I got a phone call from the FA saying that they wanted me in the squad,'
Cahill told Bolton's official website. 'I've had to get a few tools together
- the boots and shin pads - and now I'm really looking forward to the
opportunity. I've had a good season and I've worked really hard. I've been
in the provisional squad twice before and then this third time so I'm
obviously delighted to get the call.' Cahill joined up with the squad on
Tuesday afternoon and they fly to Almaty on Wednesday. But the withdrawal of
Ferdinand, who is suffering with the calf problem that almost forced him to
miss last week's Champions League final, causes Capello yet more concern
about the reliability of his key centre halves. Only in five of Capello's 14
England training camps have both John Terry and Ferdinand been on the pitch
and their susceptibility to injury will worry the England manager a year
before the World Cup - particularly when there is no obvious understudy for
either player.
Ledley King, whose call-up in March caused some controversy, continues to
battle on with a chronic knee problem, while Matthew Upson and Joleon
Lescott - both in the squad this week - are not considered top-class
internationals.
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Man City, West Ham watching Liverpool's Benayoun
03.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
Yossi Benayoun is considering his future at Liverpool. The Daily Mail says
Rafa Benitez is facing a fight to hang on to Benayoun after the Liverpool
midfielder claimed he had received approaches from clubs in England and
Spain. Manchester City and Benayoun's former club West Ham have been
monitoring his impact on Liverpool's hunt for honours over the past few
months, while Atletico Madrid and Villarreal have been tracking him ever
since his header stunned their city rivals at the Bernabeu at the end of
February. It is understood that, after just turning 29, he feels there is
one more big pay day to come and that an offer of contract talks at Anfield
would be enough to banish any thoughts of moving on.
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Capello to give West Ham keeper Green full England debut
03.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United goalkeeper Robert Green is set for a full England debut. The
Daily Mail says Green is expected to make his full England debut against
Kazakhstan on Saturday. Fabio Capello has not made a final decision on his
goalkeeper for the World Cup qualifier but, in the absence of the injured
David James, the England coach is leaning heavily towards Green. Capello
recalled Paul Robinson to the squad, as well as Scott Carson, for the World
Cup double header against Kazakhstan and Andorra but the Italian is ready to
reward Green for a fine season with West Ham.
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Stanislas delighted with West Ham breakthrough
03.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
Junior Stanislas was delighted to finish the season in West Ham United's
midfield. The youngster told whufc.com: "Obviously I'm delighted. "Going to
Southend has probably helped me and I've come back and been training with
the boys. They've made me feel welcome and I've been progressing and
improving. It's been nice. "I'm disappointed that the season has finished
now, to be honest. Obviously the boys who have been playing all season need
a break so it'll be nice for us all to come back next season."
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Cole: I can't watch
Sport.co.uk
Author: Andrew Allen
Posted on: 03 June 2009 - 7:47 AM
Carlton Cole says he still cannot bring himself to watch his Wembley debut
after taking the lead role in his very own England video nasty. The
twice-capped West Ham striker limped out of the 4-0 friendly win over
Slovakia in March after suffering a groin injury - just 19 minutes after
coming on as substitute.Cole was forced to sit out for two months of the
season following the setback and his presence at Upton Park was sorely
missed as the Hammers failed to steal the final Europa League spot. And
despite having plenty of time to reflect on his misfortune, Cole says he has
been unable to bring himself to watch replays of the moment his season was
halted. "I've never watched a replay of the incident," said Cole. "I
already knew what I had done wrong as I had the niggling groin strain from
before. "I thought that I could run it off but I went to strike the ball
with power and it snapped and it was one of those ones that I had to get
over quickly. "Thankfully I have come back quickly as usually it can take
three to four months and it has taken me two months to recover, so I am
happy with my progress and the medical team at the club have been excellent.
"I was determined to get back as soon as possible, with West Ham in mind. It
was only two days ago that someone mentioned that I could be going with
England and I said "No, I am not expecting that".
England face Kazakhstan on Saturday before hosting minnows Andorra next
Wednesday as they look to extend their five-point lead at the top of Group
Six. And Cole says the togetherness of the current squad under Capello has
given the team a new sense of self-belief going into the World Cup
Qualifiers. He added: "Fabio is always mingling with the players and has
kept everyone settled. "Players want to do well for him. It is a team
spirit, a team set-up and that is why they call it Team England."
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Season Analysis: Kieron Dyer
Performance Analysis
West Ham Till I Die
We have only seen flashes of Kieron Dyer this season, but enough to know
that a fully fit Kieron Dyer is a very exciting prospect indeed. He doesn't
seem to have lost any of his lightning speed. But his injury record is still
a real worry. In two seasons with us he has only appeared a handful of
times. It's not his fault, and he needs to be given a real chance before any
decision can be made about his long term future.
Strengths:
Speed, dribbling.
Weaknesses:
Injury prone, lifestyle.
Marks
Consistency 2
Workrate 8
Skill 9
Speed 9
Value to team 4
Leadership 4
Teamwork 4
Ever presence 2
Discipline 5
Season overall 3
TOTAL 50
Stay Or Go
Stay, on the premise that he deserves a chance.
Transfer Value: £3 million
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COLLISON ADDS TO WALES WOE
Posted 02/06/09 15:27
Football365
Wales boss John Toshack has suffered another savage blow with the loss of
West Ham midfielder Jack Collison from his depleted squad. It means that
four players have been forced to withdraw from the party that travels to
Azerbaijan in 24 hours. It leaves Toshack with a squad of just 19 for the
trip to Baku for Saturday's World Cup qualifier, including three
goalkeepers. The only addition to the travelling party has been Swansea
winger Shaun MacDonald, 20. The loss of Collison is just another blow to
Toshack's plans. When the squad re-assembled at their Slough hotel near
Heathrow on Monday, the 20-year-old's knee injury - aggravated against
Estonia on Friday - received a thorough examination by the Wales medical
team. It was decided that he would travel to Baku, and that Toshack would
consider his fitness after more treatment. But on Tuesday morning Collison
trained with the Wales squad at Bisham Abbey, and afterwards it was decided
that he would not be fit enough to travel.
Football Association of Wales spokesman Ceri Stennett said: "A
five-hour-plus flight would certainly not have helped Jack's knee, and it
was clear after training that there was no point taking a risk with him."
Toshack had already been reeling from the loss of Gareth Bale, Ched Evans
and Sam Ricketts on Monday. Tottenham defender Bale had, it is believed,
picked up a cartilage injury following an accident while he was at home with
his parents in Cardiff on Sunday. The injury had not been sustained in
Friday's 1-0 friendly international victory over Estonia at Llanelli, where
Bale had played on the left of midfield and produced one of his best
displays for Wales in winning his 20th cap. Hot on the heels of that blow,
Manchester City youngster Ched Evans pulled out following a scan on a back
injury he received against Estonia. Then Hull defender Ricketts withdrew
with a back problem that had kept him out of the Estonia game, amid hopes
that he would be fit to face Azerbaijan. Wales searched for replacements,
but the vast majority of potential call-ups had not been in training since
the beginning of May while others were already on holiday. It means that
MacDonald, who has 18 under-21 caps and spent half of last season on loan at
Yeovil, was the only player who could be found at such short notice to be
added to the party. This fixture has been problematic for Wales after
several weeks of visa problems, and coming as it does more than a month
after the majority of their players from Football League clubs had stopped
training. Toshack said: "Generally I have been very pleased with the placing
of our fixtures in this group, but when you have six teams in a meeting all
wanting their own way, sometimes you have to accept something that is not
what you want. "Frankly, playing in the first week of June falls into that
category, it was the game we were always worried about."
The loss of Collison also throws up what Wales believe is little more than a
minor problem. He has yet to play a competitive international for the Welsh
after five previous caps. That means the Watford-born midfielder can still
qualify for England, and he had said this week that by "pulling on a red
shirt in Baku I will end that situation once and for all and show my
allegiance". However, Collison will play against Russia in September in the
next World Cup qualifier, and he insists he is determined to end any
speculation about his international future by committing himself to Wales.
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Benayoun threatens to quit Anfield as Manchester City lead hunt to sign
Liverpool star
By John Edwards
Last updated at 12:56 PM on 02nd June 2009
Daily Mail
Rafa Benitez is facing a fight to hang on to Yossi Benayoun after the
Liverpool midfielder claimed he had received approaches from clubs in
England and Spain. Benayoun established himself as an increasingly integral
part of Benitez's squad last season, scoring crucial late winners at Real
Madrid and Fulham to keep alive Liverpool's Champions' League and Barclays
Premier League hopes. He also bagged a double in the 4-4 draw with Arsenal
at Anfield. But his future looks to be in the balance after he admitted: 'I
have had some offers, so maybe I need to do some talking with Liverpool.'
Manchester City and Benayoun's former club West Ham have been monitoring his
impact on Liverpool's hunt for honours over the past few months, while
Atletico Madrid have been tracking him ever since his header stunned their
city rivals at the Bernabeu at the end of February. It is understood that,
after just turning 29, he feels there is one more big pay day to come and
that an offer of contract talks at Anfield would be enough to banish any
thoughts of moving on.
Benayoun is halfway through a four-year deal, and Benitez must decide
whether to reward his improved form, and end uncertainty over his future, by
presenting him with the long-term deal he is looking for. Speaking on
Israeli radio, Benayoun said: 'This has been the best season of my career. I
have played a lot of games and scored some important goals, and I am very
happy with that. 'At the moment, I am a Liverpool player, and unless
something surprising happens, I will remain one. But after such a good
season, I have had some offers from England and Spain. You have to give that
some consideration, so there will probably be some discussions with
Liverpool. 'I have had a great two years at Anfield and enjoyed every
minute. I have long since accepted that, with one or two notable exceptions,
there is no such thing as an automatic choice at Liverpool. 'Unless you are
Steven Gerrard, you are going to sit out one or two games, but that is no
problem. Stevie is exceptional, and the rest of us accept that. 'The good
thing is, I have been playing more, and I hope it continues that way. To be
honest, it could be Real Madrid knocking on my door, and I would still
rather stay at Liverpool four more years.'
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Agent confirms English contact with Gudjohnsen
Sport.co.uk
Author: Andrew Allen
Posted on: 02 June 2009 - 11:21
The father and agent of Barcelona attacker Eider Gudjohnsen claims that the
Icelandic international is seriously considering a move away from the Nou
Camp having fallen down the pecking order under Pep Guardiola. The former
Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea star has been linked in recent months with a
return to the Premier League with West Ham United, Everton and Aston Villa
thought to be among his suitors. Arnor Gudjohnsen has now stressed that
contact has also been made with sides in Greece, Turkey and Russia as the
30-year-old weighs up his options. Speaking to French publication
Aujourd'hui Sport, he made clear that he was yet to hear from Ligue 1 giants
Lyon despite rumours surfacing on the continent. "Eidur is seriously
studying the possibility of a summer departure," the player's father stated.
"We have contacts with English clubs, but also with Greek, Turkish and
Russian. We have not met with any French club yet. "However, if a big club
like Bordeaux, Lyon or Marseille show an interest, Eidur would obviously be
attracted."
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West Ham captain Lucas Neill could still be a Hammer next season
Defender's agent Darren Jackson says talks with West Ham over new contract
still ongoing despite press reports linking him to Olympiakos and
Galatasaray
The London Paper
by: Philip Duncan
2 June 2009
WEST HAM skipper Lucas Neill could remain at Upton Park next season after
his agent admitted the defender was "hopeful" a new deal could be thrashed
out. It had been reported that Neill might have played his last game for the
club after rejecting the terms of a new contract. The defender's current
deal expires at the end of June and it is thought the Australian was
unwilling to take a 50% pay cut as the Hammers board look to balance the
books. Recent press reports have already linked him to Manchester City,
Olympiakos, and Galatasaray. But according to the player's agent, Darren
Jackson, Neill, 31, is keen to stay at Upton Park. Jackson said: "The last
offer was declined because Lucas didn't feel it reflected his value as a
player and captain. "Negotiations have been amicable and we hope we can
still reach an agreement. The door remains open for West Ham and Lucas.
Obviously the longer it goes on, the more likely it's not going to happen.
"There has been other interest from clubs in England and in Europe but it's
still very early stages. Lucas is hopeful something can be agreed with West
Ham."
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FA Cup final 2009: Ex-con and former Everton winger Mark Ward delivers
warning to football's superstars
Telegraph
By Jim White
Published: 9:19PM BST 29 May 2009
Mark Ward was invited to Wembley as a guest of the Everton former players'
network to watch the club he loves in the FA Cup final. But he turned down
the chance to sit with his old team mates in the hospitality seats and will
instead watch events unfold on television back home in Liverpool. He came
out of prison only a fortnight ago and, with his movements circumscribed by
the terms of his parole, it is, he says, easier not to travel. "Basically,
if I break the conditions of me licence, I'm back inside for the rest of me
sentence," he says. "And I tell you what, after what I went through, I'm not
going back."
Top 10 Cup final goals Other footballers have served time: George Best, Tony
Adams, Joey Barton have all tasted life behind bars. But they were out after
a few weeks. Following conviction for his part in a cocaine ring in 2005,
Ward's was no short stay. "After being on remand, you finally get the
sentence sheet shoved under the cell door and they give it you broken down
into days," he says. "I got eight years, so it's like 3,000-odd days. Some
clever person said: 'you'll serve four years Mark, do you know how many
hours that is? It's 35,000'. I sat on me bed just thinking about that
figure. Mind it was one hour less by the time I'd finally got me head round
it."
Until that point, Ward had never been much detained with thoughts of the
future. As a successful player in the mid nineties, he lived for the moment.
At West Ham, Manchester City, Everton and Birmingham, the bustling,
energetic, aggressive little winger, fit as a butcher's dog, always won the
supporters' affections. And off the pitch, brought up as he was in the most
modest of Merseyside circumstances, he enjoyed the rewards that came with
the job. "I was never clever with my money, never planned for what come
next," he says. "I just missed out on the big money. My best deal was two
grand a week. Which is good, I admit. But then you have the lifestyle, the
car, the big house, the holidays. So you spend the lot. It doesn't last. And
you gamble. I regret quite a lot in my life, obviously. But I tell that's
the footballer's real disease my self-esteem was shot, right there. I lost a
fortune, chucked it away."
When age began to compromise his ability, after he had tried his hand in the
lower leagues, after a brief, unlucky tenure as manager of Altrincham, he
found himself approaching his forties unemployed, bereft, adrift. "I spoke
to someone at the PFA the other day and they give me a frightening
statistic: 70 per cent of players get divorced within three years of
retiring," he says. "When you finish, if you don't find a new niche, there's
this massive void where the game once was. You really struggle through life
without football. I started to drink, basically I wasn't a nice person to be
around and my wife got the brunt of it, so she left. This is no excuse, I'm
just explaining where I was."
Broke, suffering from a neurological complaint and temporarily estranged
from his family, Ward was soon keeping bad company. "I've met a lot of
criminals, from where I come from, I've know them all me life. They always
want to associate with footballers, so when you're out, you meet them. It'll
be happening now, even to the big superstars. They'll be mixing with
criminals. And I've met a few I shouldn't have done."
One of them offered to help him out of his bind. If Ward rented a house for
him to store what he referred to as "a stash", he would pay him £400 a week.
"I'll regret the day I said I'd do it for the rest of my life," he says.
"But I was at such a low ebb, not long out of hospital, really down on me
luck, to be honest, I don't know if I'd have turned him down if I'd known
what it was for."
What it was for soon became apparent. When the police were tipped off about
odd comings and goings at the house, they discovered over £1million worth of
cocaine stored there. Their first piece of investigation was to find out who
had rented it. The name on the lease was Mark Ward. Taken into custody, his
hopes of a deal disappeared the moment he refused to reveal who it was who
had asked him to take on the place. "I didn't disclose it to protect my
family," he says. "At the end of the day, it was a common sense decision.
These were dangerous people."
So, the former Everton star swapped Goodison Park for Walton Prison.
Geographically it may not be far, but emotionally, for a man who had never
been on the wrong side of the law, it was the longest journey. "OK, I know
drugs are evil and I was part of the chain, but for me the real victims of
my crime were my family," he says. "I'd shamed them. It destroyed them.
Jeez, that first visit, when I saw my daughter across the visitors' room and
I realised how I'd let her down: I never want to feel that bad again."
Rumours had reached his family that he was being bullied inside. But Ward
says he never had any problem beyond a bit of name calling. "I think a
background as footballer did help me," he says. "The all-male environment of
the dressing room, the banter, there's no quarter given. So you learn to be
mentally strong. That's what you need to be inside. When me ex-manager
Howard Kendall came to visit me he said: 'you're looking good son, but I
expected that of you. You were a survivor'."
Besides, through football he was already acquainted with several of his
fellow prisoners. "The lad I was banged up with at Walton I played under-12s
with. And John Ryan was in there. He played for Oldham, then Keegan signed
him for Newcastle. I was exercising in the yard one day and I heard this
voice giving it "hey, Wardy lad". I couldn't see anyone, then I realised it
was coming out of a window. 'Who's that?' I said. He said 'it's Rhino, John
Ryan, ex-Newcastle'.
"I said: 'what the f*** are you doing in here?' And he said: 'never mind
what the f*** am I doing in here, what the f*** are you doing in here?'"
Despite, or perhaps because of, his celebrity, Ward maintained a low profile
inside. He concentrated on two things: getting fit (he now boasts the
physique of the hardened gym bunny) and writing down his experiences in book
form. "That really helped me," he says of his writing. "When you're banged
up for 23 hours a day, you do a lot of thinking, a lot of regretting. And
writing it all down helped get me head straight."
The 100,000 words of his life story that he wrote on prison paper have just
been published. This is no ordinary footballer's autobiography. After
hitting rock bottom, Ward felt under no obligation to hide anything. As in
his conversation, he is honest, direct, unrelenting in his self-analysis.
The tales of prison life, of turning out for the lags' team, of smuggling in
mobile phone simcards in unexpected anatomical places, mingle with a
no-holds-barred account of his time as a player. Back then, especially after
a few drinks, his scrapes and scraps were prodigious: he was capable of
finding a fight in an empty room. Once while at Everton, he was engaged in a
little well-lubricated karaoke on stage at a charity event, when the
comedian Stan Boardman tried to relieve him of the microphone. Ward took
exception to his intervention and the pair ended up brawling in the drum
kit. "I remember afterwards I was in a club and Kenny Lynch comes up to me
and says: 'you've done something everyone's wanted to do for years, son, you
put Stan Boardman on his arse'," he says, grinning widely at the memory.
Ward will need his reserves of good humour over the coming months. Inside,
he says, he found that the discipline gave a structure to his life. But on
release, he has discovered what many an ex-con does, that the real world is
a scary place, moving at breakneck speed. What's more, in desperate need of
paid employment, he is faced with just about the worst economic times in
which to look for a job. I dunno if anyone in football will take a chance on
me," he says. "But I think I've got a lot to offer. For me, prison worked.
I've changed. Whatever I do, I'll knuckle down and give it 100 per cent. And
I think I can teach people through my experience. I think I've got a lot to
give."
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Crouch backs West Ham's Green for England role
02.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch is confident West Ham United goalkeeper
Robert Green is up to replacing injured England No1 David James in their
looming World Cup qualifiers. Crouch said: "I played with Robert in the
Under-21s and he's a fantastic keeper. I'm lucky enough to have worked with
David James day in day out and I know how good he is. "Him being injured has
given other keepers an opportunity and Robert Green is a fantastic
understudy. It's been difficult for him to get into the England set-up but
if given the chance I don't think he'll let anyone down."
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Wolves go for West Ham winger Reid
02.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United winger Kyel Reid is wanted by Premiership new-boys Wolves.
The Times says Wolves have expressed an interest in the permanent signing of
Reid, the midfield player who was on loan from West Ham United this season.
Reid, 21, has been released from Upton Park, where he made his debut two
years ago.
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Cardiff to bid for West Ham defender Collins
02.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
James Collins is considering his future at West Ham United. The Times says
Cardiff City are pursuing Collins, 25, the West Ham defender who was wanted
by West Bromwich Albion last summer.
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