WHUFC.com
A message has been sent to West Ham United fans from midfielder Jack
Collison
27.08.2009
Jack Collison has spoken for the first time about the "incredible" support
he has received from West Ham United fans following the death of his father.
The Welsh international midfielder bravely asked to play in the Carling Cup
tie against Millwall on Tuesday night despite losing his dad 48 hours
earlier in a tragic road accident on Sunday. Such was the emotion at the end
of the 3-1 win, Collison remained on the pitch for five minutes to applaud
the supporters for giving him the strength to play.
Collison, who had members of his family watching as he played the full 120
minutes, was clearly overcome and was consoled by team-mates and backroom
staff, with first-team coach Steve Clarke accompanying him back to the
dressing room. Still only 20, Collison has been widely praised by all
sections of the media for his courage and commitment.
Speaking to whufc.com, he said: "I just want to thank our fans for their
tremendous support at what is such a difficult time for me and my family. It
was incredible. It is something I will never ever forget and I will be
trying my best to repay them on the pitch in all our matches."
West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola was full of praise for his young
midfielder. "He told me straight away that he wanted to play," he said. "He
wanted to be here and I just decided that he had to play. He made himself
available. He showed what kind of boy he is. Not many would have done that."
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Youngsters impress Cole
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole has praised his young team-mates for their match-winning
Carling Cup displays
26.08.2009
Carlton Cole has expressed his admiration for his young West Ham United
team-mates after Tuesday's Carling Cup second-round victory over Millwall.
Junior Stanislas, 19, scored twice, while substitute Zavon Hines, 20, added
the third goal in a 3-1 victory at the Boleyn Ground, while 17-year-old
Frank Nouble also played an influential role in the Hammers' extra-time
success. Cole was full of praise for the trio, revealing that he had told
Jamaican Hines that he would score after manager Gianfranco Zola sent him on
as a half-time substitute. "It's funny because, when Zavon Hines came on to
the field at half-time, I said he was going to notch. I told him 'Listen,
you're going to notch today'. I put him in once and he just screwed it wide.
He finally got his goal. I was a bit aggravated that he didn't square it to
me but he got the goal and I was so happy! "He came up to me after the game
and said 'Thanks for having belief in me' and I'm just happy. He's always
got my faith because I know what he can do. In China, he scored a nice goal
against Beijing and that's what the boy can do."
Stanislas had already scored twice when Hines struck, converting Julien
Faubert's 87th-minute cross to send the game into extra-time before
converting a penalty seven minutes into the extra half-hour. Cole said the
poise shown by both Stanislas and Nouble, who played a part in West Ham's
equaliser, was testament to the skills of manager Zola and first-team coach
Steve Clarke. "Frank Nouble, when he came on, was brilliant. He was powerful
and is a talent for the future as well. Obviously, working with Franco and
Steve, he's going to improve and get better. It's funny to see that he's
only 17 as well. Playing in such a turbulent match like that must have been
intimidating for all the young boys coming on, but they did brilliantly.
"Junior Stanislas, as well, is a great talent. He's playing for England
Under-21s as well so I've got so much admiration for him. He's coming
through and scored a winning-goal penalty. He showed so much guts wanting to
take it as well. I explained to him.I have so much admiration for these
young boys. I've never seen anything like it. That's the kind of thing we've
got going here, and it's obviously down to the manager and just shows you
how much the young boys want to play for him."
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Tomkins and Stanislas called
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will have a real interest in the England U21 squad to face
FYR Macedonia and Greece
28.08.2009
James Tomkins and Junior Stanislas are in line for further England
recognition after being named along with Freddie Sears in the latest
Under-21 squad. The trio, who all featured in the goalless friendly draw in
the Netherlands earlier this month, will be with Stuart Pearce's squad when
they take the first step towards the 2011 UEFA European U21 Championship in
Denmark. The Young Lions begin their Group 9 qualifiers against FYR
Macedonia in Prilep on Friday 4 September before heading to Athens to take
on Greece four days later.
"The opportunity to have the players together for ten days gives us the
chance to take a look at them a lot closer in training," former Hammers
defender Pearce told TheFA.com. "The Holland trip was vital for us to begin
the start of another two-year cycle and see one or two new players before
the competitive games begin.
"What we have to do as a squad is hit the ground running next week. We have
two very tough qualifiers to start the campaign, both away from home, and we
need to make sure we pick up as many points as we can."
Tomkins helped England to reach the 2009 UEFA Euro final and has four caps
to his name, while Stanislas and Sears, who is on loan at Crystal Palace and
played in their 2-0 Carling Cup defeat by Manchester City on Thursday night,
earned their debuts in the Dutch draw in Groningen.
Club-mate Mark Noble has gone beyond the qualification age for the U21s and
the midfielder will continue to push hard for senior recognition under Fabio
Capello. Centre-back Jordan Spence, who helped loan club Scunthorpe United
to a 2-1 defeat of Swansea City in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night, is a
regular at U20 level.
Jack Collison will also be on U21 duty on Friday 4 September after dropping
down to help Wales in their qualifier against Italy in Swansea. He could
still be promoted back to the senior squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifier
against Russia in Cardiff on Wednesday 9 September in which victory is vital
for John Toshack's men to have any chance of reaching the finals in South
Africa next year.
Elsewhere, Academy striker Danny Purdy is in the Republic of Ireland
Under-17 squad to compete in an eight-nation friendly tournament in Poland
from Monday to Friday next week.
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Lee looking forward
WHUFC.com
Olly Lee was in bouyant mood after being named in Gianfranco Zola's squad
for the first time
27.08.2009
Olly Lee has spoken of his delight at being named in Gianfranco Zola's
matchday squad for the first time. The 18-year-old midfielder was named
among the substitutes for Tuesday's 3-1 Carling Cup second-round win over
Millwall at the Boleyn Ground. Lee, who signed his first professional
contract with the club in the summer, revealed that he had found out he was
in the squad from assistant kit manager Pete Williams. The son of former
Hammers and England midfielder Robert Lee was on his way out of the club's
Chadwell Heath training ground when Williams instructed him to check the
squadlist pinned to the club noticeboard, handing him a welcome, if
unexpected, surprise.
"It was nice to get the call and be on the bench and just be around the
atmosphere of a West Ham versus Millwall derby," Lee told WHUTV. "It was
nice to be involved, even though I didn't get on. "I had actually gone in
and done a weight session and Pete Williams told me that I was in the squad.
I didn't even know. The kitman told me to look on the board and I saw my
name up there, so I was delighted. "The manager said that if I got on, I
should just do my best. Obviously, I didn't get on, but it was good game and
a good result."
While Lee was not called into action against the Lions, he has completed two
full matches this week at reserve and youth team level. On Wednesday, he
helped Alex Dyer's reserves to a 2-0 friendly success against Dagenham and
Redbridge. Last Saturday, Lee played the full 90 minutes as the Under-18s
opened the FA Premier Academy League season with a 2-1 win at Everton. The
youngster expects Tony Carr's side to have an impressive season. Lee is also
eager for the new Barclays Premier Reserve League South season to begin with
a trip to Aston Villa on 1 September - a game he intends to start. "It was a
good run out for me [against Dagenham and Redbridge]. It was the second 90
minutes I've had this week as I played for the Under-18s on Saturday. It was
good to get more game-time and I feel a lot sharper now and I'm looking
forward to Aston Villa.
"The lads played well on Saturday. They're a good bunch of boys at that
level. Tony has got a good side there, so they should do well this season.
It was nice to be in there and help them out. "I want to get into the
reserves, playing every game, hopefully, and see if we can push on."
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Let's get some perspective
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 27th August 2009
By: Kevin Mousley
Kevin Mousley presents his view of Tuesday evening's events.....
My frantic monitoring of West Ham's attempts to sign strikers for the coming
season has been rudely interrupted by an outburst of media outrage.
Apparently there was a bit of a ruck outside Upton Park on Tuesday night.
Now I believe in all but a handful of situations violence is distasteful,
unnecessary and counter productive but rather than believing I was
witnessing civilisation as we know it collapsing before our very eyes, I
greeted the pitch invasions as they happened with nothing more than a weary
sigh.
Predictably planet football went into an overdrive of simplistic moralising.
Let's look at the facts. A bunch of numbskulls, no doubt raised on the
fantasies of their equally dumb dads, with their fake or wildly embellished
memories of punch-ups a plenty against rival 'firms' in the 70's and 80's,
were gifted an opportunity to live out their malevolent dreams by the
Carling Cup draw.
What happened; well one caller to 5 Lives' phone in on the affair- he was
called Ahmed so I assumed he was no mutton head boot boy - said it was the
best atmosphere at Upton Park for years. He said his 17 year old daughter
had been exhilarated by the experience of being inside a passion doused
Upton Park and coming away with a win.
Granted no one in their right mind wants to go to football with a roulette
chance that you'll get your head caved in. As I read it no 'innocent
bystander' did. There was a stabbing, which is poor but I have no idea how
this came about and judging by the reports I have read, nor has anyone else.
Inside the ground there was a lot of name calling and pelting between two
small sections of the crowd and then there was the ludicrous sight of dick
heads prancing around the pitch, belly akimbo, like Stavros Flatley while
loitering around the edges were some malnourished looking berks, fist
waving, blood pumping like a group of extras from the 70's horror flick the
Wicker Man (check it out).
Some twit I know had been on his Facebook site looking forward to meeting up
with 'the Millwall'. The net and the grapevines were awash with such sad
playground nonsense. So, it was not a surprise and the clubs were expecting
trouble, consequently, I read today, police presence was tripled.
Actually if a couple of hundred members of so called 'firms' are determined
to have a battle in a warren of terraced streets then the entire
establishment of the Met wouldn't have stopped them.
For all the dramatic photos in the papers and video clips there were 13
arrests. Most of the pitch invaders were so dim it slipped their minds that
their mugs will be so easily identifiable there will mostly likely never
experience the inside of the ground again. The cops have so much footage of
people who were fighting outside the ground there should be plenty of
evidence to lift them and bring them to court.
Even so, apparently our World Cup bid may be on the rocks, never mind that
in Italy they have been killing themselves on the terraces and that we have
a better record on public order at football matches than almost anywhere
else in the world. If anything has bollixed our chances of hosting the big
one, it is the media's over reaction which led the Times of India, among
other foreign press, to talk about the 'Horrific Violence' surrounding the
game. Now, sure, it was not pretty but horrific?
And then there is Harry; good ol Harry the master of the under statement;
"if they ever meet in the league then the game should be played behind
closed doors because the human cost of these kind of disturbances is just
too high to bear any longer."
So, what is he going to call for next? That every town and city centre be
closed and booze banned because of the violence, vomit and arrests every
weekend. That cutlers be banned and we eat with our fingers because of the
truly horrific consequences of their wares being used to slaughter young
people on the streets of London and elsewhere, that we abandon our cars and
take to a horse and carriage to stop 2500 people being killed on our roads
each and every year or than we ban relations between men and women because
of the violent passion that they sometimes provoke.
Even the normally excellent and tempered Martin Samuel declared it was West
Ham's fault and regretted taking his kids. He let slip that he'd told them
it was time to experience 'a proper football match'. Now I am not aware that
West Ham v Millwall clashes in the past have been noted for the quality of
their football; so what did he mean?
Well I am assuming passion. Trouble with passion is that it ain't easy to
control that's why we call it passion. Occasionally it spills over.
Oh yeah then there was Henry Winter in the Telegraph .. oh don't let's go
there…
In recent years West Ham, in common with all the other football clubs, have
spent millions to design hooliganism out of our stadia; priced the tickets
to ensure a certain clientele and put in seating and cameras so miscreants
so minded to violence can be identified and expelled.
The events of Tuesday night were, if not a one off, close to it. All the
evidence suggests that these violet outbursts are sporadic, pathetic hurrahs
of rage expressed by a diminishing group of yahoos whose day is long gone
because the opportunity for casual football related violence – bar the
vagaries of a fixture computer – simply does not exist these days.
Now can we get back to where our next striker is coming from?
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Now pass the blame and don't blame me
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 27th August 2009
By: Staff Writer
Violence erupted outside the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday night as West Ham and
Millwall fans clashed in the streets having been given the opportunity to
meet once again courtesy of the Carling Cup second round draw.
Since then we've been treated to a series of examples of 'buck-passing' by
the authorities for scenes that have been referred to as 'the worst in more
than 30 years'.
Of course, some West Ham supporters and some Millwall supporters are far
from angels - and thus has it ever been. However Tuesday night's events were
mostly avoidable - whilst the reactions of those who are culpable for
failing to prevent it escalating, predictable.
Less than 48 hours after the draw was made on August 12th, the Football
League inexplicably slashed Millwall's ticket allocation from some 3,500 to
1,500. This decision was immediately attacked by the club's managing
director Andy Ambler who warned: "Our concern is that a large number of
Lions fans without tickets for the Millwall section will travel the short
distance to Upton Park in any case and attempt to see the game any way they
can. It would seem to us to be far more sensible to give as many Millwall
supporters the chance to watch the match safely and securely within the
visitors' section at the ground."
Unsurprisingly, this is exactly what happened. Groups of ticketless Millwall
fans and West Ham fans clashed around the stadium both before, during and
after the game - and sadly, at least one of those individuals ended up in
hospital with knife wounds (a deplorable act regardless of who was
responsible). Would this have been prevented had the Football League not
interfered with Millwall's allocation?
Why of course not, according to the FL's chief operating officer Andy
Williamson who was in no mood to accept any responsibility for the
disturbances when he said:
"We utterly deplore the violence that took place at the match between West
Ham United and Millwall. Such behaviour has no place in the game and we will
work with all the relevant authorities to ensure that those behind it are
held to account. Football has made huge progress in the last 30 years in the
management of football matches and the whole game must continue to
demonstrate that such behaviour will not be tolerated."
It was a similar story with the Metropolitan Police too. Whilst it should be
stressed that these figures remain unconfirmed, reports put the initial
police presence on the night at around 350 - a figure less than half that
which had policed West Ham's lunchtime clash with Tottenham 48 hours
earlier!
If this was indeed the case, what on Earth were the Met thinking? West Ham v
Tottenham, whilst carrying a little added edge in recent years doesn't even
come close to the first visit from Millwall in five years. Additionally, the
Spurs game was an early Sunday kick off, as opposed to a Tuesday evening
where some fans had made the most of the opportunity to drink all day long.
Clearly the Police presence was entirely ineffective, as illustrated by a
BBC reporter situated on Green Street who described how those officers
present failed to keep rivals fans apart as a melee erupted outside the
Queens pub. It was a similar story inside the stadium, as the Met were too
stretched to prevent Hammers followers from running on to the pitch towards
the end of the game.
This was naturally a surprise to all those who had been told in a statement
prior to the game: "The MPS has a great deal of experience in policing high
profile football matches in London. We will continue to liaise with both
clubs and an appropriate policing plan will be in place for the match."
Well it quite clearly wasn't - and many of those who live or work around the
stadium and were affected as a result would like to know why.
But once again the PR machines rumbled into life in response to the night's
events. Chief Superintendent Steve Wisbey fended off criticism when he
informed us that: "We are committed to providing a safe and trouble free
environment for fans who attend matches to support their teams. Incidents of
this nature at a match are thankfully rare." Despite the rhetoric, it's a
view unlikely to be shared by those who found themselves in and amongst the
two sets of fans as a result of the woefully inadequate Police numbers.
Elsewhere we saw the Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe condemning
supporters of the two clubs whilst delivering the same tired lines as those
also keen to avert any responsibility for the night's events. "We have made
great progress in the past 20 years in tackling football hooliganism in this
country and we will not tolerate any return to the dark days of the 70s and
80s when it plagued the game," he bleated. "We will never be complacent in
the fight against football violence."
Well we can only assume Sutcliffe had his fingers crossed when he made that
statement given his and his department's apparent lack of involvement prior
to the match itself and subsequent public outcry.
You may be wondering why I have thus far largely ignored the events that
occurred inside the stadium. The reason is simple - despite a plethora of
reports to the contrary, there were virtually no unusual levels of violence
during the game. Yes a handful of the 24,000 fans present clashed with
stewards and yes, a few more were arrested by Police. But this happens at
virtually every game at the Boleyn, and at almost every other ground around
the country to varying degrees week in, week out. To pretend otherwise helps
nobody.
Those individuals who ran onto the pitch were not hooligans, nor yobs as
claimed by a tabloid that shall remain nameless. The vast majority of them
ran on to celebrate the goals and then the final whistle. Misguided,
foolish, idiotic even - but violent thugs? Not in a million years. Let's be
honest, most of those caught on camera look as if they'd run a mile in the
event of a proper confrontation (excusing those who look like they'd have
trouble running 100 yards, let alone a mile).
However even the BBC fell into the trap of using footage of this to describe
the events that occurred outside the stadium - whilst the Mail followed a
similar path. However the award for the most laughable example of reporting
came from Sky Sports who had a reporter literally scouring the streets of E6
for pieces of wood and broken bottles that 'may have been used in the
violence last night'.
Obviously without the presence of supporters from the two clubs none of this
would have happened - this cannot and should not be disregarded. But for the
Police, the Government and the Football Association/Football League to pass
the buck having failed so spectacularly to act accordingly - especially in a
fixture that has carried bad blood for more than a century and that anyone
could see was a recipe for disaster - is a clear failing of their public
duties and for that, the likes of Andy Williamson, Chief Superintendent
Steve Wisbey and Gerry Sutcliffe should be held entirely responsible.
A little perspective: arrest numbers at recent major events
Number of arrests at Glastonbury, 2009: 116
Number of arrests on the opening day of last year's Notting Hill Carnival:
98
Number of arrests at the G20 protests, London, April 2009: 32
Number of arrests during West Ham Utd v Millwall, August 2009: 13
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Football stab man 'tried to flee'
BBC.co.uk
The man who was stabbed at the West Ham versus Millwall Carling Cup match
was attacked after becoming separated from his sons as rival fans chased
them. The 43-year-old Millwall supporter, who is in a stable condition, was
targeted by West Ham fans after arriving at the wrong gate at Upton Park,
east London. Police said: "The victim was subjected to a brutal and
sustained attack as he and his family tried to flee." Fourteen people were
arrested as fights raged around the ground for hours. A police spokesman
said the stabbing victim was one of 10 family members who had gone to watch
the game.
As the group tried to reach the correct part of the ground they were
approached by a gang of West Ham supporters who followed them along Tudor
Road. It was then that the victim and his sons, aged 17 and 18, were
separated from the rest of the family and attacked by the gang who punched
and kicked them. "The victim was further separated from his sons and
continued to be attacked by the group, receiving a single stab wound to the
chest," the spokesman said. The man was found collapsed near the Priory Road
bus garage by his sons.
Det Insp Lee Barnard, from the Newham violent crime unit, said: "This
incident was not a pre-arranged act of violence between two sets of rival
supporters; this was an innocent family man who was subjected to a senseless
attack by people intent on causing violence. "If not for the swift
intervention of paramedics, the man would have lost his life." About 200
riot police and at least 20 mounted officers were deployed to contain
violence between the fans. Nine people have been charged over incidents
related to the game. Charges cover offences such as breaching a football
banning order, assaulting a police officer and other public order offences.
The events brought widespread condemnation from football bosses and
politicians.
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Jackett - No room for racism
Lions boss condemns fans who racially abused Price and Cole
By Richard Bailey Last updated: 27th August 2009
SSN
Kenny Jackett has condemned the fans who racially abused his striker Jason
Price and West Ham frontman Carlton Cole during the Carling Cup clash on
Tuesday. Trouble flared before the match and several pitch invasions from
Hammers fans marred a 3-1 win for the Premier League side. To make matters
worse Price and Cole have revealed since that they both suffered racist
abuse from opposition fans. England international Cole has simply shrugged
off the matter but Lions boss Jackett declares that there is no room for
such behaviour in the game. "There were two allegations of racial abuse
during that game," he told Sky Sports News. "One was against Jason Price, my
centre-forward, and one against Carlton Cole and we don't want to see those
types of things. "We are dead against it at Millwall and it's just a zero
tolerance for either player, there's one on each side there, there is no
place for it in the game whatsoever."
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West Ham: cowardly fans prefer safety in numbers
TimesOnline
When I started reading news reports of the trouble at the Millwall game, my
first thought, being contrary, was to go against the grain, and write about
violence at football being a fact of life, and accepted as normal by
longstanding fans, even if it appals newcomers to the game.
I was going to say that journalists who describe these troublemakers as
having come for a fight first, and the football match second got it exactly
right: the football does come second. It did come second, long after the
tribal rivalries were established. I was even thinking about saying
something stupid like I miss the old days, when menace gave football
spectating its own 'extreme sports' edge.
But the more I see the footage on TV, and the more I read eyewitness
reports, the more I remember how it really was in the old days, and what
football hooliganism is really all about: cowardice. For all the
mythological stories of small bands of wild heroes "taking the away end"
what we all actually saw was a variety of acts of anti-bravery.
It was never man-to-man, it was always gangs - chasing or running away, but
always attacking in numbers. All my memories of individuals are of a man not
acting, but shouting "come on!" partly to goad his enemy but also in the
hope of raising support for his proposed violence from fellow fans, using
loyalty to a football club as a cause, an excuse for aggression.
Watch a film about football hooliganism and you might be tricked into
thinking it was a robust, manly, dangerous pursuit. But I only remember
vicious assaults by large numbers on lone opponents, or passers-by, or
houses, shops, cars, whatever was handy, like a series of mass tantrums.
And watching that mass of men, hanging back in a knot for safety, then
lurching forward to aim swift punches and kicks against stewards before
retreating again into the mass, I remembered that there was nothing to be
nostalgic about. It wasn't a golden age, it was the stone age, and I'm glad
it's gone.
Those fat, shirtless, middle-aged men lumbering on to the pitch, all pleased
with themselves, like bolshy toddlers. Those are the same men, unemployed
again and bored, who got together and organised the English Defence League,
a loose fraternity of crude men looking for excuses to punch people.
Gentrification is a sad thing, and something to be resisted if it damages
the soul of a place or a thing. But gentrification hasn't hurt the soul of
football. It's still there, as strong as ever, and it will still be there
long after dilettantes and parvenus like me have given up on the game. What
Tuesday night proved, once and for all, is that the soul of football never
had anything to do with violence.
Douglas Carter
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West Ham join forces with police to find troublemakersGary Jacob
The Times
West Ham United and the police intensified their search last night for the
culprits of the trouble at the Carling Cup tie with Millwall.
The club met the authorities yesterday to begin identifying supporters who
rioted outside Upton Park on Tuesday, others who invaded the pitch and those
that may have thrown objects at rival fans. A man was also stabbed during
fighting outside the ground.
West Ham claim to have been praised by police for their handling of the away
fans inside the stadium, but others have criticised the perceived slow
response of the stewards and police officers when skirmishes broke out in
the second half.
Police have asked media organisations for images and videos that could help
their task, believing that the violence was planned.
West Ham, who won 3-1 to reach the third round, also claim to have received
information by phone and e-mail from from supporters admitting their guilt
and others naming offenders. Fans who ran on to the pitch face a life ban,
but West Ham need to ascertain the reasons for each being on pitch. Some
could argue against the ban on the grounds that they feared being crushed by
supporters from behind.
Nine people have been charged and face being handed football banning orders,
while four more have been bailed to return in October. The club will meet
football authorities next week to pool and discuss information with a view
to preventing a similar situation. Millwall, who play Brighton & Hove Albion
at home in Coca-Cola League One tonight, are looking for fans that may have
ripped up seats or caused damage to a toilet.
Simon Hughes, a Millwall fan and MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey,
blamed West Ham fans and the decision by the police to limit tickets for
away fans. He has written to Gerry Sutcliffe, the Sports Minister, and Sir
Paul Stephenson, the Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police.
"Any inquiry \ look into all decisions about ticketing," Hughes wrote. "I
understand that there were concerns about the policing before the match and
the stewarding and policing inside the ground. It is important that there is
an investigation into how West Ham fans were on the pitch. Millwall tell me
that, quite wrongly in my view, they were not properly involved in the
planning for the policing and I am concerned about this."
The FA is looking into claims that Carlton Cole, the West Ham forward, and
Jason Price, his Millwall counterpart, suffered racial abuse. Millwall were
not going to publicise the incident, but felt they had to after being
accused themselves. "The majority of decent fans who behaved themselves have
been tarred with the same brush as those who made racist comments and
invaded the pitch," Kenny Jackett, the Millwall manager, said.
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West Ham United agree deal to sign Alessandro Diamanti for £6m from Livorno
West Ham United will announce the £6 million signing of Alessandro Diamanti
later this morning. The deal for the 26 year-old represents a significant
coup for the Premier League club and it is hoped he will solve their striker
crisis.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 7:30AM BST 28 Aug 2009
Diamanti has agreed a five-year contract although it remains to be seen
whether he will be eligible to be included for Saturday's league match away
to Blackburn Rovers.
Manager Gianfranco Zola intends to play Diamanti along with Luis Jimenez
behind West Ham's main striker Carlton Cole. Collison's tears heap shame on
West Ham fans A free-kick specialist, rated as one of the best in Italy,
Diamanti starred in Livorno's campaign last season in which they
successfully won promotion back to Serie A through the play-offs. West Ham
regard him as the kind of talismanic player who could make the same impact
as Paolo Di Canio. Indeed headlines in Italy have accused West Ham of
"stealing" the player because of the fee involved. Diamanti was tipped to
make a significant impact in Serie A this season and had previously
attracted interest from Inter Milan. However Zola, who has tracked him for
some time, has made it clear to Diamanti how much he wanted to sign him.
West Ham still hope to try to sell defender James Collins before the
transfer window closes next Tuesday and there is genuine interest from Aston
Villa in the central defender.
It is understood that Villa manager Martin O'Neill, who on Thursday agreed a
deal to sign Richard Dunne from Manchester City, wants to buy two
centre-halves. West Ham need to raise funds in the transfer market to help
balance their books but have worked out a deal with their bankers allowing
them to purchase Diamanti. There remains interest in signing Bordeaux's
Marouane Chamakh, and a £7 million transfer is in place, but it now appears
unlikely he will sign this summer. The Moroccan, who has given conflicting
messages over his future, is in the final year of his contract and is open
to negotiate a pre-contract arrangement from next January.
Meanwhile, West Ham held a two-hour meeting on Thursday with the
Metropolitan Police as the operation to identify supporters who caused
trouble at Tuesday's Carling Cup tie against Millwall swung into action.
There have already been a number of fans who have come forward to identify
themselves in the hope of escaping the severest punishments while the police
and club are gathering evidence from other supporters. A meeting of the
Safety Advisory Group – which includes the police, Newham Council and the
football authorities – will convene next week to plan the inquiry into what
happened on the evening. West Ham have reiterated, as they did in the
immediate aftermath of the match, that guilty supporters will be handed life
bans. The Football Association will also concentrate on seeking to root out
the perpetrators rather than punish the clubs unless it is proved West Ham
have been negligent in the security arrangements, which is unlikely.
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West Ham and Millwall hooligans were middle-aged 'Green Street' fantasists
It will be an unusual experience for the magistrates sitting in judgment on
the hooligans arrested during Tuesday's Battle of Upton Park: half those in
the dock will be more senior in years than the members of the bench.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jim White
Published: 7:30AM BST 28 Aug 2009
Talk about old enough to know better, the "general" filmed organising the
West Ham lines was of such vintage, the only surprise was he didn't turn out
in his Chelsea Pensioners' uniform. As for the bloke with the vast
middle-aged spread who led the charge on to the pitch, the next time he
chants that Hammers' new full-back is not fit to wear the shirt he will
clearly be speaking from experience: he must have been unable to find a
shirt to fit in years.
Sport on television What an unholy spectacle it was at Upton Park:
middle-aged nostalgists joining with junior hangers-on to act out their
collective "Green Street" fantasies.
You can hear them now, standing at the bar parroting actor Danny Dyer,
waxing lyrical about how it was all "well naughty" and how you've got to
give it to the rival firm, they was well game. This is what we should not
forget in the reaction to the incident: those involved were having the time
of their lives.
The analysis of sociologists that has filled the airwaves since Tuesday, all
the talk of bored youngsters reacting to the crushing disappointment of
unemployment, could not be further from the truth.
Most of those posturing, preening and posing are doing perfectly fine: this
weekend they'll probably be taking in a round of golf at their local club
before heading to the match, their pockets cheerfully lined with readies.
They must be doing all right, they are the ones who have survived football's
exponential price increases, who have managed to stay the course.
Fans like this have never stopped going to football. You can see the like
every week at the game, frothing at the mouth at the referee who has just
given a foul against their midfield enforcer, or shrieking at their own
centre forward to get stuck in.
One of their kind was there at a recent game at Chelsea, when Manchester
United's Rio Ferdinand swore at the linesman right in front of the Stamford
Bridge family stand. The man stood up, jowls wobbling and, fuelled by
righteous indignation, yelled: "Have some respect, there's kids in here
Ferdinand you ------- ----."
But Tuesday night did not signal a return to the days when such observations
were accompanied by widescale violence. What has happened at football is
that the critical mass required for serious disruption has been almost
entirely squeezed from the system.
In part it is about better policing, better stadiums and better
intelligence. But mainly it is about season tickets and the ease with which
clubs can remove them from miscreants. No addict wants to lose their access
to their addiction. So they conform to the rules, restrict their vitriol to
the verbal and their fisticuffs to pre-arranged meets well away from the
prying eyes of CCTV cameras.
As this was a first round Carling Cup tie there was no need for season
tickets. So it created the conditions for a perfect hooligan storm. A
history of rivalry, easily available tickets, a hot summer night: suddenly
there was the opportunity for those who have long pined for the chance to
misbehave to gather in substantial numbers.
No doubt those involved will have characterised it as the downtrodden
old-style fan re-asserting himself, kicking against deadening
corporatisation of the game, providing themselves with a bit of
authenticity. It was nothing of the sort: it was the pathetic
self-indulgence of middle-aged fantasists.
But, without being complacent, football need not worry that its carefully
rebuilt image is about to be compromised. Much as some would like it to
signal such a thing, this is not the start of something widespread, the
return of the ugly game. Modern football simply cannot allow that to happen.
It has the power to stop it. And it will.
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Search for Striker(s) Nears Its Conclusion
West Ham Till I Die
The only positive thing about this week has been that the frenzy of transfer
speculation which happened on Monday and Tuesday has stopped, and the club
have been able to pursue various targets while the press have fried their
other fish.
It is always frustrating for us fans when we don't get minute by minute
updates but actually I think at this stage in the cycle no news really can
mean good news. We just have to sit tight and have a little faith.Yes, it
makes us nervous that we are only five days away from the deadline, but it
wouldn't be West Ham if things didn't go to the wire.
In case you've forgotten the players we are being most heavily linked to are
Allessandro Diamanti, Goran Pandev, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Marouane Chamakh. I
don't think it is necessarily one from those four. We really do need four
strikers. I am totally confident that at least one of those four will be
tied up very shortly, and hopefully a second will follow. I wouldn't rule
out a third loan signing, either.
But it is clear that a player is going to be sold, and James Collins is the
most likely player to go unless a stupid bid comes in for Matthew Upson.
Just because Villa have signed Richard Dunne, it does not mean their
interest in Collins will have waned. They've always needed two central
defenders. Even with Davenport out of action, we're still OK in those
positions with Spector and Kovac being able to cover if necessary.
So brace yourselves. I think we may be in for an exciting weekend!
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Cole 'monkey' taunts investigated by FA
By Adrian Curtis
Independent.co.uk
Friday, 28 August 2009
The West Ham striker Carlton Cole's insistence that he was racially abused
by Millwall fans is being dealt with as part of the Football Association's
wider investigation into the violence that shamed English football on
Tuesday night. Cole claims to have been the victim of racist "monkey" taunts
from Millwall fans, while Jason Price was also reportedly targeted by home
fans during the Carling Cup tie between both clubs at the Boleyn Ground on
Tuesday. The FA are aware of Cole's allegations and they will be looked at
amid their thorough investigation into the events of the night. In the
meantime, football's Kick It Out organisation believes the game will have
suffered another "depressing development" if racist chanting allegations
against both players are proven.
The tie, which West Ham won 3-1, was marred by three pitch invasions with
fans also confronting police inside and outside the ground. One man was also
stabbed as fighting between rival fans took place outside the stadium. But
the game's equality and inclusion organisation insists that if the racist
allegations are true then it will heap more misery on the game's reputation.
Lord Herman Ouseley, founder and chair of Kick It Out, said: "If there were
racist chants being directed at any of the players involved, then it's a
depressing development on an already shameful night. "Football in this
country has come a long way in recent history. Our vying for the World Cup
bid is a prime example. "Incidents like this, however, demonstrate the work
still to be done," he added. "With the help of our partners, and the fans,
we're determined to continue making football a racism-free environment."
Cole's allegations have yet to be proven as both the police and the football
authorities investigate the appalling scenes that marred the cup tie which
West Ham won 3-1.
Meanwhile, former West Ham defender Julian Dicks felt the actions of the
so-called fans tarnished the name of his old club. Dicks said: "I thought it
was absolutely disgraceful. I know West Ham and Millwall fans have
grievances but it wasn't a nice thing to watch. It was pretty sickening to
see."
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Birmingham City's co-owners busy looking for a new club
Sullivan and Gold expect to be back within the year
West Ham, Cardiff and Norwich City on the hit-list
Stuart James The Guardian, Thursday 27 August 2009
David Sullivan and David Gold are to hold exploratory talks with a number of
clubs with a view to returning to football within 12 months of Carson
Yeung's ongoing takeover at Birmingham City. The club's co-owners have
genuine interest in West Ham United but other opportunities are also being
investigated including at Football League level, where Cardiff City and
Norwich City have emerged as attractive alternatives. It is understood that
Sullivan would be willing to meet with West Ham's owners to discuss becoming
involved at Upton Park although he is believed to share Gold's concerns
about the £150m cost of taking over the Premier League club. With better
potential returns to be found further down the ladder, Sullivan is looking
into the possibility of investing in his hometown club Cardiff City, as well
as Norwich, whom he also holds in high regard.
The 60-year-old, who is worth around £450m according to the Sunday Times
Rich List, has stressed that nothing will be taken further until Yeung's
takeover is completed but assuming that deal is confirmed next month, he is
certain he will return to football. "I have always said if and when I leave
Birmingham I will be at another club within 12 months because I love
football," said Sullivan. "It is part of my life and part of my kids' life."
Sullivan, who is looking at the possibilities of buying both with and
without Gold, maintains that the decision to sell to Yeung is the right one
because of the board's strained relationship with the fans as well as the
financial rewards. "I think for the shareholders and supporters of
Birmingham this is a very good deal," added Sullivan. "It's like a marriage
that is gone wrong and needs a change. This is a deal that works for
everybody."
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Surgery success for stab victim Calum Davenport but doubts remain over
defender's career
By Sportsmail Reporter
Daily Mail
Last updated at 2:29 AM on 28th August 2009
West Ham defender Calum Davenport has been told the surgery to repair artery
damage in his left thigh caused by a knife attack last weekend has been a
success. The 26-year-old underwent surgery at Bedford Hospital where was
admitted to intensive care following the incident last Saturday.t is not yet
known whether he will be able to play again. The former Coventry and
Tottenham player's mother Kim Stupple, 49, is also said to be in a stable
condition. Davenport's sister's boyfriend, Worrell Whitehurst, 25, from
Derby, was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent at Bedford
Magistrates Court on Monday.
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West Ham wait to hear over sanctions following Millwall clash
28.08.09 | Ian Ferris
On Wednesday the Football Association launched an investigation into the
violence involving West Ham and Millwall fans, while both clubs also pledged
to probe the ugly scenes.
West Ham must now wait to hear whether they will face sanctions over the
crowd trouble at Tuesday's Carling Cup tie with Millwall. One man was
stabbed as trouble flared outside Upton Park prior to kick-off while police
also needed to intervene to quell numerous disturbances during the game.
All three parties have vowed any culprits identified will face life bans
while police inquiries could lead to criminal proceedings against
individuals. There have also been calls for any investigations to include
all aspects of planning for a match between two local rivals that always had
the potential for trouble.
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West Ham's Davenport enjoys successful surgery
28.08.09 | tribalfootball.com
Calum Davenport has had successful surgery after last weekend's stabbing
attack. The Daily Mail says West Ham defender Davenport has been told the
surgery to repair artery damage in his left thigh caused by a knife attack
last weekend has been a success. The 26-year-old underwent surgery at
Bedford Hospital where was admitted to intensive care following the incident
last Saturday. It is not yet known whether he will be able to play again.
The former Coventry and Tottenham player's mother Kim Stupple, 49, is also
said to be in a stable condition. Davenport's sister's boyfriend, Worrell
Whitehurst, 25, from Derby, was charged with causing grievous bodily harm
with intent at Bedford Magistrates Court on Monday.
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Hammers reject offers for playmaker
Sport.co.uk
Author: Nigel Brown
Posted on:27 August 2009 - 14:08
West Ham's Swiss winger Valon Behrami is staying at Upton Park for the
forseeable future after his agent revealed that the Upton Park club have
rejected a number of offers for the former Lazio player. AC Milan and Inter
had been linked with a move for the player this season. The Player's agent,
Alessandro Beltrami, told TMW that there "West Ham have already turned down
several offers for him this summer," revealed Beltrami
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Behrami agent: West Ham have rejected several offers this summer
28.08.09 | tribalfootball.com
The agent of AC Milan target Valon Behrami insists the Swiss midfielder is
happy at West Ham United. Milan have been linked with fit-again Behrami this
week as they seek a new right-back signing. But his agent, Alessandro
Beltrami, told TMW there had been no contact with the Rossoneri and also
insisted Behrami was settled at West Ham, where he is regarded very highly
by manager Gianfranco Zola. "West Ham have already turned down several
offers for him this summer," revealed Beltrami.
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West Ham won't be punished as MET call for points deduction
27.08.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United won't be punished over the ugly crowd violence that occurred
during their Carling Cup win over Millwall. The Daily Mail says West Ham
will not be thrown out of the Carling Cup or have to play behind closed
doors, despite the violence during Tuesday's victory against Millwall. But
banning thugs from grounds is not enough to stamp out violence in the game,
according to the Metropolitan Police Federation. "Banning individuals from
football grounds would not sufficiently reinforce the message that violence
of the type seen at Upton Park will not be tolerated," said a Federation
spokesman. "Much better to force the clubs to play matches behind closed
gates or impose massive points deductions. "At a time when public order
policing is under the media spotlight, we hope recognition is given to the
bravery and professionalism of the officers who defied attacks on them to
protect decent, honest fans."
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