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Tony Carr's Under-18s sealed their place in the FA Youth Cup after a marathon game with Plymouth Argyle
10.12.2009
Tony Carr was a relieved man after watching his West Ham United Under-18s finally secure their place in the FA Youth Cup fourth with an extra-time win at Plymouth Argyle The young Hammers were the better side for much of the match on Wednesday night but found their hosts in resolute mood. It was not until the 104 minute that Danny Purdy scored the only goal of the game via the post to break the deadlock. "It was a tough match - they made it really hard for us," Carr said. "I thought they played for penalties and made it very difficult. I didn't expect anything else, I just thought they might have been a little more adventurous at times. They didn't come out, they just sat there and asked us to try and break them down. "The keeper made some very good saves and we could have won it by two or three if we'd taken our chances. But it wasn't to be and we did it the hard way through extra time and then the sub pops up to score a goal. "He's a good striker of the ball, Danny Purdy, and it was an excellent goal to win the game and I'm pleased we are in the next round."
Although the hosts' tactics did not lead to the most attractive of games, the eventual victory in the war of attrition will have given West Ham's youngsters some valuable experience. "We had loads of possession but at times I felt that that ball that would open them up or find a West Ham player in the final third just failed to reach its target. When you don't score you get frustrated, but we kept plugging away. "We changed the system a bit to try and open the game up a little more bit more, which I think helped us push them back and with them being unadventurous we had to score to bring them out. We did that but very late in the game which meant they had to chase the game and in the end it was just about seeing out the game for the last 15 minutes."
The win books West Ham's place in the fourth round and Carr believed it would have given his youngsters a mental boost to taken into the rest of the season. While having to handle a tough game on the pitch, there was also plenty to contend with off it as well, with the match in doubt before kick-off when one of Home Park's floodlights stopped working on Wednesday afternoon. "Psychologically it was important for the lads to get through the tie and it's been a good experience. There was the question of whether the match was on, then the overnight stay. "There was the long journey and then we arrive and there's floodlight failure so we had to play with three floodlights and not four, so there's all sorts of things going on before the game has even started. Then Danny popped up with the goal and we're in the next round."
With a several hundred people present at Home Park, Carr is now hoping the draw for round four will favour his side by handing them a home tie at the Boleyn Ground. "I'd take anybody in the next round really. I think you'd like to be at home this time as it would be nice for some of these boys to play at Upton Park as they've never played there before."
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Ashton announcement expected
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 11th December 2009
By: Staff Writer
Unconfirmed reports are suggesting that Dean Ashton will announce his retirement later today. The former England international has barely played more than a handful of games for the Irons since joining in a £7.2million switch from Norwich three years ago. Having intially broken his ankle during an England training camp Ashton missed an entire season before making two unsuccessful attempts to get back to Premier League action. Late last year rumours regarding the 26-year old striker's possible retirement began to surface on the KUMB.com forum. According to today's Sun, Ashton is finally set to make an announcement on his future later today. Last month the Daily Telegraph reported that Ashton was set to announce his retirement having been told that he could be left unable to walk should he continue his pro career. The Telegraph also reported that West Ham United were set to mount an insurance claim against the F.A for £7m, as well as speculating that Ashton was considering launching a direct claim against Shaun Wright-Phillips, the player responsible for breaking his ankle.
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Quashie future in Hammers' hands
Midfielder enjoying being able to play regular first-team football
By Chris Galea Last updated: 10th December 2009
SSN
MK Dons' on-loan midfielder Nigel Quashie insists that his future is out of his hands, but that he is making the most of playing regularly. The West Ham midfielder joined the League One outfit in November to improve his match fitness, but having impressed recently it is uncertain whether the Hammers would prefer to recall him to the first team once he returns in January. The former Scotland international has told skysports.com that everything boils down to what West Ham want to do after his loan has finished with the Dons, but he is more than happy to stay longer at the League One club. "I'm looking to get fit first and enjoy my football because I found it very strange sitting at home whilst the other boys were on the pitch every weekend," said Quashie. "At the end of the day I am employed by West Ham and whatever they decide is what will happen, but I jumped at the chance to come down here and if it means playing regular football then I'm happy to stay longer. "It is a great football club and the stadium is fantastic, so I can't wait to be fully fit and show the fans what I can do."
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Fry sticks with Gills
Hammers defender to spend third month at Priestfield
Last updated: 10th December 2009
SSN
West Ham United youngster Matt Fry has extended his loan deal at Gillingham for a third month. The centre-back has been ever present since making his league debut for the Gills in October's 2-0 defeat by MK Dons. Fry has made a total of 10 league and cup appearances for the League One outfit and will remain with them until after the Christmas period. Manager Mark Stimson said: "We've taken his deal up for a further month now, so that's good and there is a possibility that at the end of that month it can be extended to the rest of the season. "It's massive for us because a left-footed centre-half is like gold dust and with Josh Gowling missing for two games it's really important that we've been able to keep him."
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Chelsea face compensation claim from Dean Ashton for Shaun Wright-Phillips challenge
Dean Ashton is considering suing Chelsea and Shaun Wright-Phillips following the challenge in August 2006 which, he will claim, has ended his football career.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 7:00AM GMT 11 Dec 2009
The 26-year-old West Ham United striker is, according to club sources, expected to announce his retirement from football today having failed to recover from the injury sustained during a training session while on England duty. In an apparently ground-breaking case, Ashton is believed to be investigating whether both Wright-Phillips and his employers at the time, Chelsea, can be the subject of legal action. It may be argued that Chelsea face what is termed a vicarious liability even though the winger was on international duty. Such a case would undoubtedly be challenged by Chelsea, who would argue that they cannot be held responsible for something that happened while their former player — who is now at Manchester City – was with England and, therefore, under the care of the Football Association. They will, it can be expected, argue that it did not take place during the course of his employment by Chelsea.
At the same time West Ham are to launch a £7 million compensation claim against the FA, which covers the amount Ashton is understood to have been insured for and equates to the fee they initially paid to sign him from Norwich City in January that year. That, too, will undoubtedly be challenged.
Ashton himself, who is just 26, will also receive a pay-off from West Ham of about a year's salary, thought to be £3 million.
Player-on-player claims are a complex area of the law with some insurers refusing to cover clubs for such eventualities. But all such previous cases appear only to have involved players taking part in matches for their clubs. For example, only last week former Charlton Athletic midfielder Matty Holmes accepted £250,000 in damages following a tackle by Wolves defender Kevin Muscat in 1998. The biggest award so far to cite the vicarious liability argument was the £909,000 received by Bradford City's Gordon Watson, who had a leg broken in two places in a challenge by Huddersfield Town defender Kevin Gray in 1997. The injury to Ashton happened at Manchester United's training ground, Carrington, prior to a friendly against Greece when he was due to start for the first time. Indeed the striker had been earmarked by the then head coach, Steve McClaren, as a key figure in England's plans to try to qualify for euro 2008.
The decision for Ashton to retire had been trailed last month, but marks a personal tragedy for a striker whom England manager Fabio Capello had also hoped to include in his squad. The Italian had watched Ashton carefully, in the hope that he would recover, and he even managed to gain an international cap, featuring in the friendly away to Trinidad and Tobago.
However, it will be argued that although Ashton did make a comeback of sorts and played 35 games for West Ham, scoring 11 goals, he never recovered from the original injury. It ruled him out for 11 months and he has now suffered such degenerative damage that he has no option but to retire from football even though he only signed a five-year contract last year. The key to the success of the expected claims by Ashton — and West Ham — is if they can prove that he never recovered from the ankle problem. Ashton has not played a senior match in 15 months, after breaking down soon after Gianfranco Zola was appointed manager. Although he is physically fit, he cannot twist or turn or take any impact on the left ankle because the injury is chronic. It is believed he has even been warned he may end up not being able to walk properly unless he retires. Discussions between Ashton and West Ham have been going on for some time while both parties have been examining the medical reports of the Dutch surgeon, Niek van Dyke, who originally operated on the player and has been fully involved in his attempts to regain fitness. Final tests have taken place in the last few weeks. An added complication is that the FA beefed up its insurance cover after a dispute with Newcastle United following Michael Owen's injury in the last World Cup but, it is believed, the Ashton claim will be dealt with by the previous company.
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Birmingham City v West Ham United: match preview
Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Birmingham City and West Ham United at St Andrew's on Saturday, December 12 2009, kick-off 15.00 GMT.
Telegraph.co.uk
By John Ley
Published: 6:00AM GMT 11 Dec 2009
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Birmingham City v West Ham United
St Andrews
Kick-off: 15.00 GMT
TV: Highlights, BBC1 MotD.
Birmingham are in impressive form; they are unbeaten in six games, winning four including their last three. The run has seen Alex McLeish's team rise from 17th to eighth in the Premier League. But they are without Stuart Parnaby, Teemu Taino and Martin Taylor while Kevin Phillips is doubtful. West Ham have a good record at St Andrews. In their last five visits in the League they have won four and drawn one. In the last meeting there between these teams, West ham won 1-0 thanks to a Mark Noble penalty, in August 2007. Matthew Upson could be back while Robert Green, replaced early in the 4-0 defeat by Manchester United with a virus, should be available. Carlton Cole and Valon Behrami are out and Luis Jimenez is doubtful and Zavon Hines are doubtful.
Birmingham (4-4-2): Hart; Carr, Dann, Johnson, Ridgewell; Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden; Benitez, Jerome.
West Ham (Probable, 4-4-2): Green; Spector, Da Costa, Upson, Ilunga; Collison, Parker, Kovac, Stanislas; Franco, Diamanti.
Referee: Lee Mason. Matches: 8. R2 Y16.
Last season: N/A.
Stat of the game: Birmingham have not beaten West Ham since 2002, at Upton Park, and last won at home in 1985.
Betting tip: A 2-0 home win is 7-1.
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Dean Ashton set to confirm retirement today and 'may sue'
Reports say Ashton may sue Wright-Phillips and Chelsea
West Ham striker warned of risks to ankle if he plays on
Jon Brodkin
guardian.co.uk, Friday 11 December 2009 01.58 GMT
West Ham United's Dean Ashton is expected to confirm today that he is retiring because of an ankle injury. The 26-year-old striker has struggled to recover from an injury he first suffered on England duty in August 2006 following a training-ground tackle with Shaun Wright-Phillips. It was reported last night that Ashton is looking into whether he can take legal action against Wright-Phillips and Chelsea, for whom the winger – now with Manchester City – was then playing.
Chelsea would challenge any such case given that the tackle was made while Wright-Phillips was with England. Ashton returned the following year to play again for West Ham and went on to win his sole England cap in 2008 but the ankle injury recurred last season and he has been advised by the surgeon who performed the original operation, Niek van Dijk, that he risks rendering himself permanently unable to walk should he continue playing football. Ashton moved to Upton Park from Norwich City in January 2006 for £7.25m. West Ham have been examining whether they are able to launch a compensation claim of around £7m against the Football Association.
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DAVID SULLIVAN'S £42M 'TO SAVE' WEST HAM
Daily Express
Friday December 11,2009
By John Wragg
DAVID SULLIVAN will save debt-ridden West Ham from going bust, says Birmingham manager Alex McLeish. Sullivan and his friend David Gold – both huge Hammers fans – are on the verge of buying West Ham for £42million. McLeish worked with Sullivan and Gold for two years at Birmingham and was hand-picked by Sullivan to succeed Steve Bruce. Sullivan, Gold and his brother Ralph Gold, sold Birmingham to Carson Yeung for £81.5m two months ago and they immediately targeted West Ham. Ralph Gold, who took a backseat at Birmingham but was financially supportive, will probably not be involved this time. Although there have been rows since about the amount of unpaid bills Yeung found at the club, Birmingham were not allowed to run into debt by Sullivan and Gold. McLeish said the way Sullivan ran the club was different to what he had experienced before but that the financial health of Birmingham was always a priority. Sullivan and Gold, both multi-millionaires, will make their official bid for West Ham today before the Hammers play at Birmingham tomorrow. They will take a substantial shareholding, invest in the team during next transfer window, then complete the purchase from the Icelandic owners.
West Ham have been looking for potential buyers for months but Gold, who used to live opposite the ground and Sullivan have been biding their time, waiting to do a deal. "What West Ham might get is stability for the club," said McLeish of the potential Sullivan and Gold ownership. "David Sullivan knows how to run a business and keep its head above water. He has amassed a tremendous knowledge over the last 16 years when in charge at Birmingham. "That expertise and know-how is difficult to come by and people who have been successful over such a lengthy period of time have to be respected.
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Zola succumbing to second-season syndrome
By Norman Hubbard
ESPN
December 10, 2009
While some clubs suffer from the mysterious footballing ailment known as 'second-season syndrome', at West Ham it appears to afflict managers. The first year in the top flight brings serene progress, but the next tends to result in a downturn. Glenn Roeder was relegated in his, Alan Pardew dismissed half-way through a second top-flight campaign with demotion appearing to beckon and Alan Curbishley, perhaps aware of the unfortunate precedents, left before he could celebrate a second anniversary at the Boleyn Ground.
Now Gianfranco Zola is the latest to suffer. The Italian's first year at the helm was notable for the delights of West Ham's distribution. A general sense of goodwill towards such a gifted footballer appeared justified as Zola crafted a team in his own image, finally provided Carlton Cole with a route map towards goal and seemed to suggest that, rather than coming last, nice guys are quite capable of laudable mid-table finishes.
The current campaign lends itself to a very different conclusion. Perhaps the Premier League's most pleasant manager's team have been too accommodating. West Ham sit in 17th position having shipped seven goals in their last two home games. They are offering entertainment at Upton Park, where eight games have produced 34 goals, but too much of it has been of the wrong variety: theirs is the most porous defence at home.
Clean sheets have eluded them since August and they have spent the last two months veering in and out of the relegation zone. If the statistics are unenviable, there are signs of an unfortunate naivety.
In Saturday's 4-0 defeat to Manchester United, for instance, Michael Carrick was allowed to play his first senior game at centre back without being tested in an unfamiliar role, prompting one West Ham fan to comment that it allowed their former midfielder to look like Franz Beckenbauer. Meanwhile, Paul Scholes and Darron Gibson, both noted for their long-range shooting, were allowed to unleash several efforts before each duly scored from distance.
West Ham can cite the absence of two vital players from the spine of the side. Matthew Upson is the senior defender and Cole the physical force and premier goalscorer in attack - especially with doubts surrounding the future of Dean Ashton, who has not been fit enough to figure in the last 15 months.
Indeed, circumstances have conspired against Zola. Hefty compensation payments to Sheffield United, resulting from Carlos Tevez's involvement in the controversial end to the 2006-07 season, were compounded by the Icelandic banking crisis which forced the ownership of the club to be transferred from the formerly wealthy Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson to an asset management company, CB Holdings.
Funds have been understandably limited. This year has seen the sale of two players now excelling elsewhere in Craig Bellamy and James Collins, plus the departure of the captain, Lucas Neill, after he rejected a reduced contract. Were each of that trio still available to Zola, it is not unrealistic to suggest West Ham, who finished ninth last year, could be in a similar position.
Instead, the exits have exacerbated the reliance on Robert Green, Upson, Scott Parker and Cole. The latter is out until the end of January, meaning that goals may be in short supply. If much of the squad, including most of Zola's signings, can operate as attacking midfielders, deep-lying strikers or wingers, too few offer the sort of solidity that can reassure.
It is, perhaps, why West Ham threatened to become the first team in Premier League history to squander a five-goal lead when Burnley, who eventually lost 5-3, mounted a comeback. It is no coincidence that it was another of the matches Upson missed.
The alternatives at the heart of defence provide a neat summary of the squad: promising youngsters (James Tomkins, in this case), sadly injury-prone players (Danny Gabbidon), unconvincing but able imports (Manuel da Costa) and the odd utility player (Jonathan Spector).
And in each sector of the squad, January presents a test. Any offers could examine West Ham's need to sell. Any arrivals, it appears, will have to be cheap. Though Guillermo Franco has started to contribute, a goalscorer is one requirement; the club record buy Savio was swiftly returned to Italy while the unpredictable Alessandro Diamanti appears to have cemented the role of specialist substitute, but there is a vacancy in attack.
Zola has conceded that West Ham are in a relegation fight. The question is whether a team configured to pass and move is ideally equipped to battle for survival, with West Brom's relegation last season suggesting the answer is no. And is a manager who garnished teams rather nearer the top of the table as a player - though he was undoubtedly a hard worker - ready for the different pressures of life in and around the bottom three?
West Ham find themselves trapped in an unwanted action replay of the end of the Roeder and Pardew eras. Zola was a classier player than either and a more genial manager, but second-season syndrome may yet claim another victim.
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Dean Ashton expected to retire after losing prolonged injury battle
Peter Lansley
The Times
Dean Ashton, the West Ham United forward, is expected to announce his retirement today at 26. While other strikers are jostling for a place in Fabio Capello's squad for the World Cup finals, Ashton, who suffered his first serious injury on England duty, is resigned to ending his career after doctors warned him that he risked causing long-term damage if he persisted in trying to make a comeback. Ashton's problems started when he was first called up by England, for a friendly against Greece in 2006. He suffered a broken ankle in a tackle from Shaun Wright-Phillips and was sidelined for more than a year.
Despite persistent problems he recovered sufficiently to win his only England cap, against Trinidad & Tobago in June last year, but broke down again three months later.
West Ham paid Norwich City £7.25 million for Ashton in January 2006, but it seems that his career has ended four years later, having made only 43 appearances for the club. The news is scheduled to be announced on the day that bidding for West Ham is due to close, with David Gold and David Sullivan, the former Birmingham City owners, unlikely to retain their interest should no resolution be forthcoming by Christmas. Gold and Sullivan have tabled a £42 million bid for the ailing Barclays Premier League club after Rothschild, the investment bank, was instructed to bring bidding to a close. The deadline was set because Straumur, the Icelandic bank that runs West Ham, has a bankruptcy hearing in Reykjavik today, although it is highly likely to have its moratorium extended until next summer.
CB Holdings, the company headed by Straumur, wants £50 million for the club, with debts of a similar amount covered. However, Gold and Sullivan, who are thought to be worth an estimated £750 million between them after leading the £81.5 million sale of Birmingham to Carson Yeung in October, would prefer to split their initial investment across short-term debts, running costs and transfers. This, in turn, would allow Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham manager, at least £20 million to acquire new players once the transfer window opens next month. It is thought that Gold and Sullivan are only interested in buying into the club they supported since childhood if they are given sufficient time to purchase players at the next transfer window. They would be likely to pursue a move for Charlton Athletic if Straumur dallies and shows signs of using them as a backstop to induce alternative investors.
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West Ham set to land Brazilian superstar on loan
Published 17:57 10/12/09 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror
Gianfranco Zola could be set to land a major coup with Brazillian superstar Adriano mulling over a move to West Ham. The former Inter Milan marksman is a free agent after winning the Brazilian championship with Flamengo last weekend. Now 27-year-old Adriano must decide whether to stay with the club or whether to join either AC Milan, Roma or West Ham. The striker is believed to uncertain whether to go back to Italy after run-ins with Robert Mancini and Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan over his party lifestyle. Adriano also struggled to recover from his grief after his father passed away. As a result Inter first allowed him to join Sao Paolo on loan thencut their losses and let him join Flamenho on a free. Now though, Adriano has regained his form and has a clutch of clubs on his tail.
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