WHUFC.com
Wrestling superstar Steve Austin enjoyed his first taste of watching West Ham United
07.10.2009
West Ham United have another famous fan to add to a long illustrious list in the shape of wrestling star turned actor 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin. The American was a special guest of Kieron Dyer's at last Sunday's 2-2 draw with Fulham while on a promotional tour for his new move Damage. Although the result was not the preferred one, Austin took away plenty from the experience and has pledged that he is now a Hammer for life. "I'm going to turn into a fan when I go back over to the States, I'm going to start following them. I know Vinnie Jones from a movie and from some things in a wrestling ring a few years ago so I'm starting to catch on to the support and it's exciting. "You will see me back at West Ham. I've got a new movie coming out next year so I will be back over. It's been interesting for me to see how physical the game is up close."
Austin was grateful to Dyer for the invitation. "I guess he watches wrestling so it was real nice for him to invite me down," added Austin. "I always enjoy enjoying sports, especially US football. But this is a totally different. I went in front of the crowd and there was a lot of adrenalin going out there. "It was exciting. This is my first football game and I've been watching it on the last few days on TV while I've been doing my cardio to try and learn some more about the game. "My first perception of soccer was just a bunch of guys kicking the ball around but when you get paid to do something, they are very good at it. Those guys are tough, it took me a while to realise just how intense the sport is."
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Live games update
WHUFC.com
The games against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in December will be broadcast live on television
07.10.2009
West Ham United will be on television twice over the Christmas period after the latest games to be broadcast were confirmed. The visit of Chelsea has been put back a day to Sunday 20 December with a 4pm kick-off on Sky Sports, while the Monday 28 December trip to Tottenham Hotspur will also be shown on Sky Sports. That will get under way at 12.45pm. The club are already due to be shown on Sky Sports on Sunday 25 October with the visit of Arsenal. Kick-off for that match will be 4.15pm.
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Positives from reserves display
WHUFC.com
Terry Dixon made his first appearance for West Ham United in a friendly match with Ipswich on Tuesday
06.10.2009
A youthful West Ham United side were beaten 3-0 in a behind closed doors game away to Ipswich Town that saw a notable first appearance for Terry Dixon. The 19-year-old striker got his first match action for more than two years and played 45 minutes before being taken off in a planned substitution at half-time. The former Ireland Under-17 player of the year, signed for the club back in February after extensive rehabilitation work on a knee injury. He had previously been released by Tottenham Hotspur. Alex Dyer took charge of the young Hammers up against a vastly more experienced Ipswich side boasting several first-teamers. That extra know-how showed with the hosts racing into a 3-0 lead at half-time. The visitors were better after the break, though, and a spirited display saw them lay siege to the Tractor Boys' goal for the last quarter of an hour. The consolation was not to come, though, and the half finished as it had started. Aside from Dixon, who remains a way off full match fitness, Canadian Under-20 goalkeeper Adam Street impressed with a two reaction saves in either half, while Josh Payne, one of only two with any first-team experience, excelled in a holding midfield role.
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Cole knows the score
WHUFC.com
He may be away on international duty but Carlton Cole is also aware of what's needed at West Ham United
07.10.2009
Carlton Cole is in the form of his life but is more focused on helping West Ham United to start moving up the league standings. The 25-year-old striker has scored eleven goals in his last 19 league outings dating back to last season and has hit four from seven top-flight matches this season including the 2-2 draw with Fulham last weekend. However, he is well aware those strikes have not coincided with victories. "I want to score goals. That is what everyone is asking of me and that's what I am trying to deliver," he said.
"I scored against Fulham and was pleased, but obviously want the team to win," added Cole, who is has been training hard with England as he hopes for his fifth cap this weekend away to Ukraine. "I will keep trying to score goals but am not fully satisfied because I have scored but we have not won the game. We have lost previous games when I scored, so at least we got a point against Fulham and stopped that."
Cole said there was a determination in the ranks to turn things around. "The boys know that. We can take a lot from the first half but we have to cut out the mistakes we made in the second half. That is what we will be working on. We will look at all the videos of the game, see where we did go wrong and look to improve from that.
"People always say when you are against ten men, you should go on and win easily, but those ten men have to work double hard and all credit to Fulham, they put up a good fight and got a penalty early in the second to get back into the game.
"We were then chasing the game and they got another goal. These things happen in football and we are glad to get a point out the game in the end, but it was definitely two points dropped as we wanted to win. We as a team are getting there. We maybe a bit naïve at the moment but we are working to improve on everything and not make the same mistakes."
Cole said the squad were united and that all would play their part in the games to come. "The team is looking to work on these things. There is no panic, we know how to get ourselves out of the situation we are in. We have some good senior pros who will help the younger players - we have got a young team and we have to keep going, which we will."
He also offered praise for the manager for helping to bring the best out of his game. "He has been brilliant for me. He knows me well from me playing with him at Chelsea and Steve Clarke was my youth team manager at Chelsea and helped me to push me up to the first team. I owe a lot to those guys and need to keep on going."
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Under pressure
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 7th October 2009
By: Staff Writer
The pressure on CB Holdings to sell West Ham United FC intensified today after a story appeared in the press suggesting that Gianfranco Zola could be on the verge of resigning from his post.
The Daily Telegraph story, credited to Jason Burt, suggested that Zola - along with techical director Gianluca Nani and CEO Scott Duxbury - were the targets of Italian Serie A side Napoli, who defeated United in a pre-season friendly at the Boleyn back in August.
Napoli recently sacked Roberto Donadoni, who was on the shortlist at West Ham to replace Alan Curbishley last autumn. Although he has since been replaced by Walter Mazzarri the story suggests that should Zola be willing to return to Italy, a deal could be done next summer.
Although the majority of West Ham fans are unlikely to be too disappointed at the prospect of parting company with Duxbury and Nani, the quiet and thoughtful Zola has become hugely popular with supporters - although even he has not been without criticism following United's dreadful start to the current campaign.
CB Holdings - who represent former creditors of former Chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundson - are thought to have received a number of enquiries with regards to the potential purchase of the football club but none have yet reached the stage of due diligence.
A string of parties are rumoured to be interested, including former board members David Gold and David Sullivan despite denials this week - but CB Holdings appear determined to hang on to the club for as long as possible, something described recently as 'the worst possible outcome' due to the finance group's continued policy of asset-stripping which has seen the club lose the likes of Craig Bellamy, Lucas Neill and James Collins from the first team during 2009.
Duxbury, who, it has been claimed, paid for the salary of new signing Guillermo Franco out of his own pocket (along with Nani) is thought to have threatened to quit his post, again, after CBH refused to sanction the signing of Alessandro Diamanti. The deal is said to have only gone through as a result of club sponsors SBO Betting providing next year's fees in advance.
CB Holdings' Andrew Bernhardt, also West Ham's non-executive Chairman has refused to be drawn on West Ham's parlous situation since the beginning of the season.
Speaking back in August ahead of the new season, he told whufc.com: "The club is on a sound financial footing. We fully support Scott and Gianfranco and endorse their continued efforts in strengthening the squad as quickly as possible, with a new striker their top priority."
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More chaos for supporters
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 7th October 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's home clash with Chelsea has been switched to the following day. Once again season ticket holders are being forced to alter their plans for the benefit of TV, after Sky announced that the London derby initially planned for Saturday, 19th December will be broadcast live. The fixture - which will be West Ham's fifth Sunday home match of the season - is just one of two Hammers games being broadcast live during the Christmas period. The short trip to Tottenham on Monday, 28th December will also be featured (12:45pm kick off). A number of supporters have expressed their concerns at Sky's policy of changing dates for the benefit of their own audiences at short notice. By the end of 2009, West Ham will have played at home in the traditional Saturday 3pm slot just twice.
Prior to the Chelsea clash, West Ham have a further five homes games to play - against Arsenal, Aston Villa, Everton, Burnley and Manchester United.
Fixture breakdown: August 2009-December 2009 kick-off times*
Saturday 3:00pm: 10 (3x home, 7x away)
Saturday 5:30pm: 1 (1x home)
Sunday 1:30pm: 1 (1x home)
Sunday 3:00pm: 2 (2x home)
Sunday 4:00pm: 1 (1x home)
Sunday 4:15pm: 1 (1x home)
Monday 8:00pm: 1 (1x away)
Tuesday 8:00pm: 1 (1x away)
*Excludes holiday season fixtures (Portsmouth (a), Spurs (a))
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Cole - No need to panic
Striker says no-one at the club is panicking, despite poor form
By Richard Bailey Last updated: 7th October 2009
SSN
Carlton Cole insists no-one at West Ham is panicking, despite their poor start to the season. The striker seems to have continued from where he left off last term, with four goals in seven Premier League games this campaign. However, the Hammers have failed to capitalise on the 25-year-old's good form and Gianfranco Zola's men find themselves second bottom, having not won in the league since the opening day success over Wolves. The lack of funds at Upton Park means that Zola must put his faith in youth and it is that naivety that Cole believes is letting the team down this season. "We as a team are getting there," he said. "We maybe are a bit naive at the moment but we are working to improve on everything and not make the same mistakes. "There is no panic, we know how to get ourselves out of the situation we are in. We have some good senior pros who will help the younger players - we have a young team and we have to keep going, which we will."
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Egg wants a crack at West Ham
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
EGGERT MAGNUSSON is secretly plotting to make a shock comeback as West Ham's new owner. The Hammers' non-executive chairman Andrew Bernhardt, who only took over in June, is already aware of Magnusson's interest in an Upton Park return. The man dubbed Eggy by fans took most of the blame for West Ham's financial nightmare. Yet the Icelandic biscuit baron feels that he is a scapegoat. He believes the real blame for the club's meltdown lies with former owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, whose Icelandic banking empire collapsed in the recession. Gudmundsson was part of a buyout in November 2006, which saw Magnusson become a minority stakeholder and installed as chairman.
But that era turned sour following the downturn and Gudmundsson was forced to hand over control to a holding company, CB Holdings, who now want to sell as club creditors grow increasingly impatient for their money. Magnusson retains a deep fondness for West Ham and is prepared to step in and 'rescue' them - but at nowhere near the current £100million price tag being touted. The club is also talking to two other rival groups - one from Asia, the other American. CB Holdings are largely owned by Icelandic bank Straumur, of which Bernhardt is a senior director. Magnusson, 62, is a former president of the Icelandic FA and still lives in London.
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Stoke v West Ham United 1972 - Part One
Posted by James Whittaker 11 hours, 20 minutes ago
ESPN
West Ham Correspondent Billy Blag recounts an historic cup run for his beloved Hammers which culminated in a lengthy, drawn out jostle with the high flying Potters...
West Ham's opponents in the 1972 League Cup semi-final were Stoke City, generally reckoned to be everyone's second favourite team; someone to support if you were a neutral.
The main reason for the bonhomie towards the men from the Potteries was the popularity of their Manager, Tony Waddington and his policy of picking up players who were assumed to be past their prime and giving them an opportunity to prove they were anything but. Waddington was also one of those bosses who liked to take a chance on skilful players who seemed to have lost their way or were seen as 'troublesome'. Jimmy Greenhoff, George Eastham and Peter Dobing were all first team members in 1972 and, along with Gordon Banks who was coming to the end of his glorious England career, they were seen as, depending on your view, a team of old men or experienced campaigners. In fact, Stoke were neither and had proved themselves to be a good cup team in the early seventies, twice getting to the FA cup semi-final only to be beaten unluckily both times by Arsenal, a statistic which only seemed to confirm the suspicion that they were a bit of a bridesmaid side.
Stoke's journey to the semi-final hadn't be quite as spectacular as the Hammer's but a three match fourth round victory over Manchester United showed they meant business, but even so West Ham were serious favourites in the two-legged semis and the first game played at Stoke's old Victoria ground just seemed to cement the odds.
It's not often you see the words 'formality' and 'West Ham' in the same sentence but they appear in an old faded cutting I found from the Daily Express describing the first leg of what was to become a titanic struggle. Up until that time, no team that had won the first leg of a semi-final had failed to reach the final…
It was Bobby Moore who was the hero of the first leg, marshalling the defence and breaking up early Stoke pressure as the home side tried to gain an early advantage. So keen was Moore that night, the normally unflappable defender was even booked for what would now be deemed as a 'professional foul' on Jimmy Greenhoff. Elsewhere Ferguson was defiant in goal and the whole West Ham rearguard were beating shots away in the opening quarter so it was probably no surprise when the Potters went ahead when the 33 year-old Dobing hit home unmarked after a Greenhoff shot came back to him off a post. But Stoke's lead only lasted fourteen minutes, when the first of what was to become a number of the ties significant penalties, was given.
Eric Bloor was apparently the referee that night and he gave a spot kick when Clyde Best was adjudged to have been brought down although there was more than a suggestion that the Bermudan had simply fallen over his own feet. Stoke protested vigorously but the decision was made. Geoff Hurst took the penalty and it is ironic that the match report made much of the fact that 'Banks salvaged the dignity of getting his fingers to the ball'.
In fact, Hurst's tactics at penalties was quite simple; hit them hard and fast into the top corner where the goalkeeper can't get them. The England striker's premise was accurate – like his kicking - in that, even if the keeper guessed the right place, if the ball was hit at such a pace there was no way they could get to the shot unless they moved before the ball was struck. It was a tactic that had worked well to Hurst's advantage over the years and this time was no exception; Banks' knew where the ball was going but there was little he could do to stop it.
After 67 minutes West Ham made their 'progress towards the final a formality' (well, it was 1972!) when Harry Redknapp skipped down the wing that had been worn well by Stanley Matthews over the years and centred for Clyde Best to volley in for a 2-1 first-leg lead.
The second leg at Upton Park was played in front of the inevitable capacity crowd who expected to see the Hammers ensure a Wembley appearance. Again though, it was a tight game with the home side seemingly stuck in the grip of that age old problem when protecting a lead; push on and extend it to kill the game or keep it tight and let the chasers worry about it. There were chances at both ends but it was Stoke's centre-forward John Ritchie who struck late in the second half, after a defensive mix-up between Taylor and McDowell, to send the tie into extra-time. West Ham at least now knew what they had to do though, and they laid siege to Stoke's goal. There were just minutes on the clock when Banks went out to claim the ball in a tussle between his team mate, left-back Mike Pejic, and Harry Redknapp, the Hammers winger was pushed and the referee pointed to the spot. With barely a minute or so on the clock the situation was simple: Geoff Hurst v Gordon Banks for a Wembley final place.
Memories can play tricks on you; I've heard people over the years (and Sir Geoff himself is one of them!) claim that Hurst put the ball exactly where he wanted it, in exactly the same spot where he had placed it two weeks earlier, and Banks somehow clawed it away, but the advent of a Youtube video doesn't seem to support this. In fact, Hurst hit the ball lower and slightly closer to the keeper than usual, but it may be this that makes Banks' save even more memorable because the England keeper was going for the corner and somehow adjusted his body full-flight to push his arms up and divert the ball over. ITV commentator the legendary Brian Moore said "Banks has saved it…miraculously.." Banks afterwards confirmed he thought the save was better than the one he made against Pele in Mexico in 1970. I'm not sure it was but it was still a wonderful – if sickening - stop.
So momentous was the tussle between Hurst and Banks that the match is usually encapsulated to that two minute incident but, just after the wonder save, it's normally forgotten that Harry Redknapp hit the post with Banks well beaten. Perhaps, in another parallel universe…
When the whistle blew, the two-legged score was 2-2 on aggregate and a replay was needed to separate the teams. The venue was Hillsborough where an incredible crowd of almost 50,000 clogged up the local traffic so badly that both teams arrived late. The vast crowd watched the two teams' slug out a 0-0 draw. It wasn't exactly forgettable – it was just that both sides seemed to cancel each other and produce that other football conundrum of neither side wanting to make a mistake so a stalemate develops. The combined cup minutes and corresponding crowd sizes of both clubs was now starting to meet Guinness Book of Record standards and it was going to take yet another match to end the deadlock In fact, by the time of the second replay itself, it would be almost two months since the first leg tie at Stoke. The two clubs couldn't decide on a neutral venue, the Hammers wanting a London ground to avoid their fans travelling north again while Stoke wanted Old Trafford. To decide the issue they tossed a coin, and Ron Greenwood called.
Apparently, Ron wasn't in a particularly good mood at the time. The coach that had brought the West Ham team to Sheffield had been tampered with during the game, someone removing the petrol cap and tipping sand into the tank, and the team had to wait until replacement transport could be found to take them back to London.
Greenwood's mood wouldn't have improved by calling incorrectly and losing the toss for the venue. Tony Waddington made the decision of where to play. Manchester in January beckoned.
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West Ham United's Alessandro Diamanti Criticises Serie A Clubs For Favouring Foreigners
The Hammers forward could have played for a more illustrious club in the peninsula had Serie A's elite not been so concerned about style over substance...
Oct 7, 2009 6:50:24 PM
West Ham United's Alessandro Diamanti believes that Serie A clubs are more inclined to buy foreigners to improve their squads rather than take a risk on Italians. He expanded upon his statement by arguing that if he was Brazilian he could have played for the likes of Milan or Juventus. "I think the thing that comes out of the [transfer] market is that the Italian sides prefer to buy foreign players rather than Italians, and it was like that for me," Diamanti explained to Mediterraneonline.it. "To play in a big Italian side you need to have a foreign name, not great qualities. Maybe if I was called 'Diamantinho', I would have played for one of Serie A's top sides... "In Italy they prefer to buy foreigners, maybe because the fans are more concerned about the names on the pitch rather than the substance." The former Livorno man also believes that the English game is harder than that of Serie A. "The games' tempos are faster, the football is quicker and more difficult," he continued. "It's good football, although I think Italian football is nicer on the eye, but I am having a good time and I would like to stay here as long as possible."
Anthony Wright, Goal.com
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West Ham United Target Patryk Malecki Delighted With Wisla Krakow Results
The young forward is quite happy with the way things are going at Wisla...
Oct 7, 2009 4:17:37 PM
Young attacker Patryk Malecki has helped Wisla Krakow to the summit of the league table with a number of impressive performances and the prolific hitman has made it clear that he's more than happy with the way things are going at the moment. "I am surprised other teams have dropped so many points but that is not Wisla's problem. We are in very good shape and hope that continues," Małecki told uefa.com. "Of course, I am also a bit surprised that I am playing so well and scoring so frequently, but I did everything to prepare for the start of the season and these performances are the result. "There were times when I was a troublemaker. But thanks to God, I stopped at the right time and am now more mature. I only think about football. I have talent and it would be a sin to waste it." Premier League outfit West Ham United are believed to be keeping tabs on the 21-year-old. Malecki's current Wisla contract is due to expire in the summer of 2014, meaning that he won't join West Ham on the cheap.
Stefan Coerts, Goal.com
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West Ham kid Dixon back in action after two years out
08.10.09 | tribalfootball.com
Terry Dixon tasted action for the first time in a West Ham United shirt this week. The former Tottenham striker hasn't played for two years due to knee injury, but had 45 minutes in a closed-doors friendly against Ipswich on Tuesday. The former Ireland Under-17 player of the year, signed for the club back in February after extensive rehabilitation work on a knee injury. He had previously been released by Tottenham Hotspur.
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