WHUFC.com
Jack Collison's growing reputation has seen him named BBC London Young
Player of the Year
08.12.2009
Jack Collison has added to his Young Hammer of the Year award by being named
BBC London Young Player of the Year for 2009. The Wales international, who
made a successful return from a knee injury towards the end of last season,
has been in impressive form this campaign, getting on the scoresheet in the
recent games with Hull City and Burnley. "I am delighted to win the award,
it's always nice to be recognised but I have just really enjoyed playing my
football this year," said Collison. "Coming through and playing in a good
team here at West Ham, a team that likes to get the ball down and play
football."
A panel of judges consisting of members of the BBC London sports team and
independent journalists pick the winners of the awards, which are held to
recognise and honour sporting achievements in London. Collison attributed
much of the performances which caught the eye of the panel to manager
Gianfranco Zola and his coaching team. "The manager has been brilliant for
me, he has given me and our other young players coming through a chance to
go out there and express ourselves. Most of all, he [Zola] has let us go out
there and play without fear - he gives us guidance, helps us if we go wrong
but also encourages us doing the things we do well - that is all you can ask
for from a manager. "But it's not just the manager, it goes from our Academy
with Tony Carr, through to Kevin Keen, Steve Clarke and right through to the
gaffer. There is a really good set-up here at West Ham and they keep
producing young players. Hopefully that will continue for the future."
Learning on the job is all part of the development process as a footballer
and Collison has had plenty of expert tuition. The midfielder has felt the
benefit from training alongside his more experienced colleagues on a daily
basis. "I have mentioned the manager and the management staff, who have all
been tremendous to me and all the young players. It's great to go out there
and have the opportunity to play in the Premier League. "I am alongside some
experienced pros like Scotty Parker, Matty Upson and Rob Green - I am
learning all the time, it's a brilliant club and it's great to be part of it
all here."
In addition to the support of his manager and team-mates, the 21-year-old
explained the unwavering backing of the Boleyn Ground crowd over the past
few months, in what has been a testing period off the pitch, has also been
greatly appreciated. "The fans have been brilliant, ever since I came
through into the team. They enjoy seeing homegrown players come through.
This year has seen me go through a tough time personally and the fans have
been tremendous to me, and the best way to repay them for their incredible
support, especially this year, is go out and play for them and do my best
for the team. "The players and all the staff have also been brilliant for me
during this time and as I said I just want to keep going out there and
playing my best for West Ham United."
Although the award is now safely on his mantelpiece alongside his Young
Hammer of the Year accolade, Collison is determined not to rest on his
laurels and wants to continue his progress on the pitch. "I just want to
keep playing as much football as I can, for West Ham - I enjoy it and love
playing in front of our fans. "We know we have to improve as a team, we're
not in the position we want to be at the moment, but we look forward all the
time and look to get out of where we are and get better as the season goes
on."
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Specs focused
WHUFC.com
Jonathan Spector is putting his responsibilities with West Ham United first
but is excited by the World Cup
07.12.2009
With the draw for the FIFA World Cup made and Jonathan Spector facing a
potential meeting with three of his club-mates in the opening game, it would
be understandable if his mind was to drift off to thoughts of South Africa
occasionally. Nothing could be further from the truth, though, as the United
States full-back is first and foremost determined to help West Ham United
advance up the Barclays Premier League starting with this weekend at
Birmingham City.
"I'm certainly looking forward but my main concern right now is with West
Ham and it's really my sole focus," Spector said. "Sometimes you can switch
your focus to prepare for a game with your country and preparing for the
World Cup. But right now my sole focus is with West Ham."
Spector and the rest of the first-team squad were back on the Chadwell Heath
training pitches early on Monday morning to begin preparations for
Saturday's game at St. Andrews, knowing that a win could lift them up four
places. "The manager has instilled that in us that even if we have a bad
game or a bad result that we're going to go back to the training ground and
work even harder to try and get the result we want. We have two winnable
games coming up and that's what we're looking to do."
The 23-year-old has started the Hammers' last two games at right-back and,
should he be selected by Gianfanco Zola again for Saturday's game, is
determined to help the side return to winning ways ahead of the trip to
Bolton Wanderers three days later. "It's nice to be in the side but it's
nicer to be a side that's winning," he said. After holding their own in the
opening half in Saturday's match with Manchester United on Saturday, West
Ham United were pinned back in the second period as Spector's former club
turned on the style. "You see Manchester United do it time and time again.
They score goals at the end of the first half. It really is heartbreaking
when that happens as I thought we played quite well in the first half. We
kept the ball well and defended well. "In the second half when they were 2-0
up and we had to chase the game and take a chance to try and get some
points, but against the champions that was always going to be difficult."
Last Friday's draw means Spector could line up against a trio of team-mates
in Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole when England kick-off their
World Cup campaign in Rustenberg on Saturday 12 June. "It's a good draw for
us. England is going to be a tough game but it's one I'm personally looking
forward to. Playing against my team-mates and a lot people I know. "We've
got a lot of guys in the US team that play over here and have played here in
the past but it's one we've been looking forward to. The other two games
with Slovenia and Algeria are two we look forward to and we'll have a good
chance of advancing."
Spector was a key player for the United States as they reached the final of
the FIFA Confederations Cup in June, beating European champions along the
way in South Africa. He expects his country to build on that achievement in
the same nation next summer. "We're trying to make a name for ourselves on
the world stage with the Confederations Cup. In the last World Cup we had a
really tough group and didn't quite make it out but I think this year we'll
be looking forward to it and getting out of our group "After that who knows
what can happen. We'll be hoping for a few more of the games we had in the
Confederations Cup, where we beat Spain, the No1 team, in the semi-final."
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Rain stops ladies again
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies missed another league game due to a waterlogged pitch
08.12.2009
Having just received all the rearranged dates for the string of postponed
games so far this season, West Ham United Ladies will now need the FA to
allocate them another date to face Queen's Park Rangers. The continual rain
once again forced the cancellation of Sunday's FA Tesco Premier League South
game with the Hoops. The pitch at Queens Park Rangers' AFC Hayes home was
waterlogged and claimed unfit on Saturday afternoon. The Ladies will now
have to wait to return to action in the FA Cup third round with Charlton
Athletic on Sunday 13 December.
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Straumur keeping schtum
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 8th December 2009
By: Staff Writer
There was no fresh news regarding West Ham's ownership situation in this
morning's Straumur creditor meeting. Despite plenty of interest from anxious
Irons followers who deluged the meeting's live webcast with questions
regarding the club's future, the hosts refused to be drawn on rumours
regarding possible takeover bids.
A spokesman said: "We're receiving a lot of questions from the internet
regarding our assets. This meeting is not really intended to give answers on
those kind of questions so we will simply not take them. "We do not discuss
our individual assets in public. This is primarily because of two things:
one, legal restrictions in relation to our banking assets and secondly, for
commercial sensitivities. "Having said that, it should be noted to the
general creditor community that we have made our ICC* privy to further
information on individual assets to some extent. "We have given a seperate
presentation on those assets that we felt reasonably comfortable in
discussing in a small group given those restrictions that I mentioned
before."
Straumur's only recent comment regarding West Ham United comes in a seperate
statement on their website which reaffirms their initial plan to wait until
market conditions improve before consdering a sale. "Straumur´s strategy is
to maximize the value and realisation of owned subsidiaries and other
assets," it states. "Straumur has not, and does not intend to, enter into
any unnecessary quick 'fire sale' of subsidiaries or assets. "Straumur
intends to develop and pursue a considered strategy for maximising the
realisation of assets. Straumur does not consider that selling assets in the
current market environment to be generally consistent with maximising the
realisable value of the assets it owns."
* Members of the ICC, aka the Informal Creditors Committee are comprised of
a broad cross-section of Straumur's global creditor base.
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David Gold and David Sullivan set to make takeover offer for West Ham
David Gold and David Sullivan, the former Birmingham City chairmen, are
expected to table a bid for West Ham United by the end of this week.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Sandy Macaskill and Jason Burt
Published: 7:00AM GMT 09 Dec 2009
David Gold and David Sullivan are set to make a takeover bid for West Ham
United by the end of this week. The former duo are believed to be prepared
to pay £25-30 million, in addition to agreeing to take on the club's debts
and liabilities. However, Telegraph Sport understands that their bid will
fail. CB Holdings - the company formed by creditors and headed by the
Icelandic bank, Straumur, which runs West Ham - is adamant that it will not
sell the club cheaply. Straumur is hoping to receive £80 million. West Ham's
debts are £38 million – putting the overall value at around £120 million –
while the club also have to pay Sheffield United £3.5 million a year over
the next five years because of the fall-out from the Carlos Tévez affair,
although this has been absorbed into the running costs. Sullivan and Gold
consider the club's appraisal to be seriously wide of the mark. Rothschild
has been instructed to bring the bidding to a close on Friday. The
investment bank is due to be stood down from the process, while prospective
buyers will want resolution before January so that they might have a say in
the direction of the club in the transfer window.
Sullivan and Gold have set out a blueprint for taking West Ham forward in
the event that their bid is accepted, with Karren Brady, their managing
director at Birmingham, taking on a part-time role. Neither Gold nor
Sullivan is confident that a deal will go through and, it is understood, the
pair have earmarked a move for Charlton Athletic as an alternative. It is
believed that a deal for the League One club may be agreed by the beginning
of next month. Sullivan and Gold are not the only party to have declared an
interest in West Ham. Talks have also been held with Malaysian entrepreneur
Tony Fernandes, the founder of Air Asia, and the Intermarket Group, a
London-based financial company. Intermarket said on Tuesday that it remained
interested but did not expect to make a bid until next week. Straumur is
understood to have secured an extension to its debt moratorium, which had
been due to end on Friday, until next summer. It means that it is under no
immediate pressure to sell.
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Crisis hit West Ham set Friday deadline for takeover with former Birmingham
owners in pole position
Published 23:00 08/12/09 By James Nursey Exclusive
The Mirror
West Ham have set a deadline of Friday for takeover offers as the club's
crisis-hit Icelandic owners battle to fend off creditors back home.
Icelandic investment bank Straumur, who own West Ham, have employed
prestigious private firm Rothschild to handle takeover bids for the club.
And the Icelanders will aim for a quick sale this month if they fail to get
an extension to a current moratorium keeping creditors at bay. David
Sullivan and the Gold brothers, who recently sold Birmingham, are favourites
to get control of Upton Park should the club be sold off soon. The
Essex-based businessmen are putting the final touches to their formal offer
which will be tabled to Rothschild later this week. They hope to buy West
Ham for a knockdown price due to the club's crippling debts of more than
£100million, including running losses of £30m this season. The trio are
waiting to learn if Straumur have managed to extend a moratorium in Iceland
on their creditors. Straumur has already been forced to close branches in
Stockholm and Prague and undergone huge restructuring following
nationalisation earlier this year. But they still have numerous creditors
demanding cash when the moratorium ends on Friday. And Straumur want firm
offers on the table for West Ham by then should they be forced to sell the
club to generate money. Straumur have proposed extending their moratorium
for up to a further nine months. But Sullivan and the Golds – David was a
former youth team player – are ready to step in immediately should
Straumur's cash crisis deepen. They are desperate to get their hands on the
club quickly with Gianfranco Zola's side languishing 17th in the Premier
League after losing 4-0 to Manchester United. If successful, Sullivan and
the Gold brothers David and Ralph intend to retain the club's star players
in January and invest funds for new players. But they are insisting on a
quick decision as relegation would be a disaster for West Ham. Sullivan and
the Golds have signed confidentiality agreements preventing them from
discussing West Ham. They have also opened talks with League One Charlton in
case they fail to get West Ham. Both Sullivan and the Golds have money to
spend after each camp earned around £25m from selling Birmingham to Carson
Yeung. They are keen to stay in football and have an emotional attachment to
the Upton Park club after growing up in the area. But Sullivan and the Golds
are seriously worried about West Ham's huge debts. Mirror Sport revealed on
October 5 that West Ham's debts included £45m to several different banks,
£19m to Sheffield United over the Carlos Tevez affair, £15m to other clubs
for players - plus huge running losses. West Ham visit St Andrews on
Saturday.
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Is There a Friday Deadline for the Sale of the Club?
West Ham Till I Die
Mirror Sport have published an article today allegeding that the club's
current owners have set a Friday deadline for commencing the sale of the
club. Apparently, Sulivan and Gold are preparing to submit a bid to the
club's agents Rothschilds and are allegedly desperate to take control of the
club, prior to the opening of the winter transfer window, for the obvious
reasons. I will not bother you with the rest of the article, which is padded
out with all the usual speculative allegations about the club's finances!
Personally, I think I will wait to hear confirmation from another source
about any deal in the offing. Preferably the most reliable source possible,
the club itself!
SJ Chandos.
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Deeply Disappointing, but what can you do …
West Ham Till I Die
but brush yourselves down and do your utmost to gain a minimum of 4 points
against Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers away!
The emphatic nature of the result on Saturday was a shock to the system,
because I certainly cannot remember the last time that Man Utd turned us
over to such an extent at Upton Park? However, at the end of the day,
being without Upson, Noble, Behrami and Cole against the champions was
probably just too big an ask for us. Although I had hoped that we might be
able to take advantage of Man Utd's own missing personnel.
I am not a big fan of his commentary, but Alan Hanson's analysis on MOTD was
spot on about this game. Basically, we competed with them for most of the
first half, because we kept it tight and ensured that our midfield gave the
defence good cover. Prior to Schole's goal, our midfielders continually
closed down and pressurised their forwards whenever they were on the ball.
In the second half, we had to chase the game and push forward more. That
left gaps and less midfield cover which they ruthlessly exploited on the
counter-attack.
For the first goal, it was that old 'professionalism' thing again. Surely,
we should have been able to play out the first half with just minutes to go?
I also think that Kovac really should have won the bounce of the ball to
deny Scholes the goal scoring opportunity. There was a mistake in the lead
up to the second goal, but you have got to admire the quality of Gibson's
strike. While the third and fourth goals were right out of the West Ham
book of sloppy defending from wide positions!
The pity is that Collison did not put away his early chance. If he had it
would have made it interesting because we could have sat back with two banks
of four and sought to play the counter-attacking game ourselves. Although,
whether this West Ham team is disciplined enough to do that is a moot point.
The thing that annoys me about the balance of the current squad is that the
need for reinforcements at right-back and striker was blatantly obvious in
the summer. They failed to provide adequate cover for Cole last season and
it cost us European qualification. Yet, here we are again in exactly the
same situation! We need an experienced striker who can lead the line.
Franco makes a good effort, but he is too lightweight for that role and is
better deployed linking up play and playing off a target man.
The loss of Hines is another blow. He looked a player who could use his
pace to trouble most opposing defences this season. If he is out for weeks,
we may have to consider getting Freddie Sears back from Crystal Palace to
see us through to the end of the window?
At right-back, we need to do a deal for a player like Luke Young from Aston
Villa or Paulo Ferrier from Chelski. The acquisition of an experienced and
powerful player at centre half would also be a massive bonus. That's if we
can find a club willing to let such a valuable player go in January?
As for positives. Well, we do not have to play the quality of Man Utd more
than twice a season in the PL for a start! No seriously, Tomkins generally
played well, Parker worked hard and Franco showed his quality again.
Stanislas, as always, got in some good attacking positions, although his
finishing let hm down this week. Dyer made a first team return and will
hopefully keep fit for the rest of the season. And Diamanti showed, yet
again, how useful he is from dead ball situations. Really, he should have
scored in each of the games that he has played in this season. Hopefully,
his luck will change soon and Diamanti will start scoring the vital goals
that his adventurous play deserves.
The prospect of reinforcements in January is obviously tied up with the
club's ownership and the financial situation. The takeover talk has gone
quiet of late, although there may be things going on behind the scene.
The £5m raised via sales in the summer should still be in the kitty! If
the sale of the club does not materialise then, if necessary, C&B Holdings
should be looking to make arrangements to bring forward a wedge of the £30m
that they are planning to make available to Zola next summer.
Better to invest in a half penny of tar now than risk losing the ship in
May. They will know that it makes good business sense for them to protect
and even increase the value of their prize asset.
We certainly must not repeat the mistakes of the 2002-03 transfer window.
That really would be history repeating itself, first time as tragedy, second
time as farce.
Lets just not go there! We bounced back from an identical position this
time last season and we need to do it again. Starting with a morale
boosting away win against Birmingham City on Saturday.
SJ Chandos.
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Adriano on a Free?
West Ham Till I Die
According to today's Sun Sport, Zola is lining up a free transfer move for
Brazilian striker Adriano from Flamengo. Inspired move or desperate gamble?
SJ Chandos.
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Adriano considering Premier League offer
By Soccernet staff
December 8, 2009
ESPN
Brazilian striker Adriano is considering a move to the Premier League and
has confirmed he has received a number of offers to return to Europe. The
three times Serie A winner was released by Inter Milan earlier this year
following a number of disciplinary problems and returned to Brazil to
rebuild his career with Flamengo. Adriano's 19 goals for the Rubro-Negro
helped Flamengo claim their first Brazilian title for 35 years at the
weekend and the 27-year-old now is available on a free transfer. The striker
is considering his next move and said: "I do not deny that I've received
many offers. I know that teams want me in Italy and England. "I will take my
time over a decision so I don't make any mistakes. I will think very long
and I will also speak with friends and family. But now the only important
thing is my happiness, not money." The former Brazil international, who
could yet reclaim a place with national team, has already been linked with a
move to West Ham United in the UK press.
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Adriano linked with move to West Ham
December 8, 2009
http://pitacodogringo.wordpress.com
English tabloid, The Sun, has reported that West Ham could be interested in
picking up Brazil front man, Adriano. Hammers coach Gianfranco Zola is said
to be a fan of the big striker and believes that Adriano's physical force
and talent could help the club stave off relegation. Adriano has just won
the Campeonato Brasileiro with Flamengo and finished joint top scorer in the
competition with 19 alongside Atlético Mineiro's Diego Tardelli. Today,
Adriano confirmed that he had been sounded out by European sides but did not
confirm the clubs: "I know that teams in Italy and England are interested.
I'll make my decision at the right time and won't make a mistake. It's not
just a question of money. There are other things".
Earlier this year, Adriano left Italian side Inter Milan saying that he was
ready to quit the game. But within a month he'd signed for Flamengo – the
club where his career began. After a rocky start when he missed training a
number of times and was allegedly spotted on the streets of Rio in the early
hours, the player settled down to help lead Flamengo to their first league
title in 17 years.
While his aerial ability and lethal finish with his left foot are
unquestionable, Adriano's near inability to use his right peg, and his lack
of pace could leave him wanting in the Premier League. Question marks also
remain over the player's overall mental state and his professionalism – he
recently missed a vital game for Flamengo after picking up a mystery burn on
his foot – Adriano said it was from a garden lamp; other sources claimed he
did it on a motorbike or after a few drinks at a BBQ.
The 27-year-old has said that he's comfortable playing in Brazil where he
feels under less pressure. He's also happy to be at a club such as Flamengo
who tend to turn a blind eye to most of his shenanigans.
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N'Guemo playing waiting game
On-loan Celtic player waiting to see where future lies
By Giscard Gourizro Last updated: 8th December 2009
SSN
On-loan Celtic midfielder Landry N'Guemo says he is open to offers if he
fails to land a deal with the Hoops. The Nancy midfielder is currently on a
season-long loan to the SPL club with a £1.5million fee agreed to complete
the deal. While the 24-year-old would like to stay at Parkhead, he is also
thought to interest Stoke and West Ham and - according to reports in
Cameroon - he would be keen to play in the Premier League. But N'Guemo will
wait and see how negotiations with Celtic go before deciding on his future.
He told skysports.com: "We will negotiate very soon, and we will know the
decision. "I am open to all situations, I like Great Britain, so let's wait
and see."
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Collison praises West Ham for a successful year in the first team
09.12.09 | Ian Ferris
Jack Collison has thanked everyone at West Ham for making his first twelve
months as a first team regular such a success. As 2009 draws to a close, the
Wales international midfielder has been able to reflect on an accomplished
year in which he has established himself as a first-team regular at Upton
Park. The 21-year-old has recently been rewarded for his achievements with
the BBC London Young Player of the Year Award, following on from the Young
Hammer of the Year gong he collected at the end of the 2008/9 campaign. "I
just want to keep playing as much football as I can, for West Ham. I enjoy
it and love playing in front of our fans," Collison told the club's official
website. "We know we have to improve as a team, we're not in the position we
want to be at the moment, but we look forward all the time and look to get
out of where we are and get better as the season goes on. "It's great to go
out there and have the opportunity to play in the Premier League. "I am
alongside some experienced pros like Scotty Parker, Matty Upson and Rob
Green. I am learning all the time, it's a brilliant club and it's great to
be part of it all here." Collison is particularly grateful to the Hammers
faithful, with whom he forged an even greater bond following the tragic
death of his father in a motorcycle accident on the way to the home game
against Tottenham on August 23. "The fans have been brilliant, ever since I
came through into the team. They enjoy seeing homegrown players come
through," he added. "This year has seen me go through a tough time
personally and the fans have been tremendous to me, and the best way to
repay them for their incredible support, especially this year, is go out and
play for them and do my best for the team. "The players and all the staff
have also been brilliant for me during this time and as I said I just want
to keep going out there and playing my best for West Ham United."
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