Collins staying positive
WHUFC.com
James Collins is targeting a win at Aston Villa after West Ham United fell
to a narrow defeat at Tottenham
14.04.2009
James Collins is fully expecting West Ham United to 'bounce back' at Aston
Villa after the disappointment of defeat by Tottenham Hotspur.
The Wales defender started his first game in seven weeks at White Hart Lane
after recovering from a hamstring injury suffered at Bolton Wanderers on 21
February, producing a strong performance as Spurs ran out narrow 1-0 winners
after a keenly-contested London derby.
In a match of few chances, Roman Pavlyuchenko's turn and finish gave Spurs
the victory just moments after David Di Michele had been denied by a
point-black save by home goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. Collins said the
differing fortunes of the two strikers had summed up the game.
"Obviously I'm pleased to be back playing again but disappointed by the
result. If we had scored the chance we had through David Di Michele then it
could have gone the other way and we could have got a win but unfortunately
we've lost.
"Neither side had too many chances but they've taken the one chance they had
and we've not so that's the disappointing thing. We've lost twice to them
this season so we will be looking to bounce back next week."
Despite the disappointment of losing out to their rivals, the 25-year-old
said both manager Gianfranco Zola and his team-mates would not be dwelling
on what was only the club's second Premier League defeat in ten away
matches.
With the Hammers still sitting in seventh place in the table and on course
for a place in next season's UEFA Europa League, Collins insisted there was
no time for moping around. Instead, the defender revealed that the manager
had called on his players to produce a positive reaction and result at Aston
Villa on Saturday.
"Everyone is disappointed and no-one more so than the manager. Obviously he
cannot be too down in the dumps because we've got lots of important games
coming up and we've got to pick up points. He gets his message across and
then it's on to the next game."
While everyone connected with the club was left momentarily deflated by the
loss in north London, Collins said there were still plenty of reasons to be
optimistic going into the final six matches of an encouraging season, none
more so than the form of England Under-20 defender James Tomkins.
The promising youngster has formed part of a back-four that has conceded
just two goals in its last six games, filling in at right-back to
accommodate the returning Collins at the weekend and cover for the sidelined
Jonathan Spector. Wherever he has played, the Welshman has been impressed
with his colleague's form.
"I've been here for four years and as soon as I came in, everyone was
talking about Tomka and when I've been out he's been fantastic. If Specs had
been available at Spurs I'd have been on the bench as he's performed so
well. Unfortunately for Jon, he's got injured but it's given me a chance to
get back into the team. Tomka is a fantastic player and he's got a really
bright future in front of him."
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Ilunga and Di Michele at Lakeside
WHUFC.com
Herita Ilunga and David Di Michele are set to be at the West Ham United
store this coming Wednesday
14.04.2009
Fans heading to the Lakeside store on Wednesday will have the chance to meet
West Ham United first-team players Herita Ilunga and David Di Michele.
The duo are due to be at the shopping centre in West Thurrock, Essex for an
hour from approximately 3pm on 15 April, where they will be meeting fans and
signing autographs. Experienced internationals Ilunga and Di Michele have
both enjoyed successful starts to their careers in east London this season,
complementing the homegrown Hammers in Gianfranco Zola's team.
Please note all player appearances are subject to change. whufc.com will
have more information early next week.
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Jimmy Neighbour remembered
WHUFC.com
Everyone connected with West Ham United is mourning the passing of the
former winger
14.04.2009
Tributes have been flooding in for former West Ham United winger Jimmy
Neighbour, who died in hospital at the weekend aged 58 while recovering from
a hip operation. A popular player, who also worked for the club's Academy in
later life, will be much missed. whufc.com has spoken to those who remember
Jimmy and his lasting contribution.
--------------
This is terribly sad news. We were the same age and I have known Jimmy since
we were schoolboys as we played in the same London representative team when
we were 15.
We had always kept in touch. He played for the club and then came back to us
as the head of youth recruitment before he left and went to Spurs. Recently
he had worked for the Premier League monitoring games. He was only over at
Little Heath the other week watching the youngsters and I saw Jimmy from
time to time. It is a terrible tragedy and my thoughts are with his wife and
family.
Jimmy was a good, hard-working man. He always had a smile on his face and
never let things get him down. I have nothing but high praise for his work
and commitment and dedication to the club when he was there. He was always
someone we were glad to see when he came back and he was always welcome.
We all have fond memories of him as a player as well. He made the first goal
at Villa Park in the 1981 League Cup final when he ran and crossed for Paul
Goddard to score. He played an active part in the promotion push that season
under John Lyall alongside Billy Bonds, Frank Lampard and Trevor Brooking.
This is a sad loss for everyone at West Ham.
Tony Carr
Academy director
--------------
I got on really well with him. He came to the club and really took over from
Patsy Holland when he got injured. He was a big part of what was a really
successful period for the club. For me, he was extremely under-rated. He did
a huge amount of work for the team and contributed so much.
It was a massive bonus for us to have him in the team. He was a team player
and never one of those people that sought the limelight in any way, shape or
form. He had an extremely dry sense of humour, was a very nice person and it
was always enjoyable to be in his company.
The one real abiding memory for me of Jim was him scoring the goal against
Coventry City that put us into the League Cup final in 1981. He popped up on
the far post and scored and that was his time. He was there in the spotlight
and it was a fantastic evening. He was probably the most unlikely person to
score but it was well deserved. That is an abiding memory for me of Jim but
I have nothing but fond memories.
Geoff Pike
Team-mate
--------------
I remember Jimmy first and foremost as a decent, old-fashioned type of
winger. He had terrific close control and would panic full-backs because he
could go past them on either side. As a Hammers fan, I was always anxious
early in his career when Jimmy, who earned his considerable reputation at
Tottenham, began to get up a head of steam.
West Ham eventually signed him from Norwich and he made almost 100
first-team appearances for the club. I was a member of the press corps then
so we were on a number of trips together, notably to Romania and Georgia for
Cup Winners' Cup ties against Poli Timisoara and Dinamo Tblisi.
He will always be remembered fondly by West Ham supporters, chiefly for his
last-minute goal against Coventry which put John Lyall's team into the final
of the League Cup. He was only playing because of an injury to Pat Holland
while, ten years earlier, he had helped Spurs win the same trophy.
Later he was youth development officer and I often used to bump into him at
Chadwell Heath. He was always courteous and invariably had a smile on his
face and a friendly greeting. My thoughts go to his family at this sad time.
Ken Dyer
Evening Standard writer
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Youthful reserves lose out
WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer's reserves went down 4-2 in an entertaining contest on Tuesday
evening
14.04.2009
West Bromwich Albion reserves 4-2 West Ham United reserves
Goals from Zavon Hines and Matthew Fry were not enough as West Bromwich
Albion proved too strong for a young West Ham United side on a soggy evening
at the Hawthorns.
The home side went into the break ahead after first Chris Wood and then Kim
Do-Heon - via a wicked deflection - had given them a two-goal lead. West Ham
United were a different proposition after the interval, however, and they
got themselves back into the game when Hines prodded home the rebound after
Dean Kiely could only palm away Balint Bajner's shot from the inside the
area.
The goal gave the Hammers a lift and they dominated for the next 15 minutes,
only for Lateef Elford-Alliyu to snatch a third for the Baggies against the
run of play. The same player then added a fourth for the home side with ten
minutes to go. Fry got one back as the Hammers threatened a late revival,
but it was not to be as West Brom held on for the win.
Alex Dyer's side will be looking to end what has been an excellent season on
a high next Tuesday when they conclude their Barclays Premier League South
campaign away at Portsmouth.
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Reserves 2-4 West Brom
WHUFC.com
14.04.2009
Barclays Premier Reserve League South
West Bromwich Albion reserves v West Ham United reserves
The Hawthorns
Tuesday 14 April 2009
Referee: J Farries
Final score: West Bromwich Albion 4-2 West Ham United
Full time - And it is all over at the Hawthorns. A brave display from Dyer's
young side against a vastly more experienced West Brom team. West Ham teased
us with the thought of a comeback in the second half but the hosts proved
too strong in the end. The reserves will finish their season next Tuesday
when they travel to the South Coast to play Portsmouth.
89 min - Just as the fourth official puts up his board for two extra
minutes, Hines goes on a tricky run down the left and forces his corner.
Eyjolfsson heads Kearns' corner just wide of the goal.
88 min - Hines is booked for his second foul in three minutes. Despite the
result, it is impossible to fault Dyer's side's commitment here tonight.
81 min - GOAL! But what is this? An inch-perfect Kearns free-kick from the
right is met by a sweet volley from Matt Fry as the Hammers give themselves
a glimmer of hope.
80 min - GOAL! But it looks as though West Brom have hit a fatal blow here.
A neat through-ball put Elford-Alliyu in one-on-one with Kurucz and he
dummied his way round the young Hungarian before rolling the ball into an
empty net.
78 min - Can West Ham get another goal to give us a tense climax here? They
are certainly giving it their all as the rain disappears almost as quickly
as it arrives.
76 min - The Baggies make another change as Labadie leaves the field to be
replaced by Sam Mantom.
73 min - Out of nowhere we seem to have developed monsoon-like conditions in
the Midlands as the rain starts pouring down. That certainly did not help
Kurucz, who has to palm away a long-range Kim effort before doing well to
force Lake-Gaskin to fire the rebound over.
71 min - Dyer makes his second change as Montano comes on for Grasser. He
moves out to the left, with Kearns dropping back into midfield.
69 min - A quick free-kick from Hines sends Kearns racing into the area. He
has a quick look up before blasting the ball at the top corner of the net,
only to see Kiely pull off a superb finger-tip save.
63 min - Edgar goes into the book after catching Dwayne Samuels after the
ball had gone. It was a foul but I cannot help think that the crowd's slight
over-reaction may have played their part in getting the No11 booked.
60 min - GOAL! Albion strike again to stop the Hammers' comeback in its
tracks. Wood chases a long ball from the back and manages to hold off the
challenge of N'Gala before laying a perfect cross along the floor to
Elford-Alliyu. The West Brom sub makes no mistake from eight yards.
58 min - A massive shout for handball as a good move involving Grasser and
Hines eventually sees Kearns try to flick the ball over a defender's head.
The ball does appear to catch him on the hand, but the referee rules no
penalty
56 min - Well this half has started as a complete reverse to the first as it
is all West Ham. Hines is the latest player to have a shot on goal, but if
flies well over.
54 min - I've just heard somebody tell me that Liverpool are 2-0 up in the
Champions League at Stamford Bridge. Personally, I think this comeback will
be even more impressive should it materialise!
50 min - Donk is booked for a foul in the centre circle.
49 min - GOAL! And get back into the game they do! A Kearns free-kick falls
favourably to Bajner and only a great save from Kiely keeps his out. However
the rebound falls to Hines, who fires home with his left foot from 10 yards.
Game on!
47 min - It looks as though it is a straight swap for West Ham, with O'Neill
playing on the right hand side of defence. In front of him in a midfield
three are Oliver Lee, Kearns and Grasser and up front Hines, Bajner and
Edgar will be trying to score the goals to get West Ham back into the game.
46 min - Bajner and Hines get us underway in the second half. Both teams
also use the break to make a change. Ryan O'Neill comes on for Miller, while
Lateek Elford-Alliyu replaces Romaine Sawyers.
Half time - And that is it for the first half as Mr Ferries blows his
whistle. The home side have played some great football, but the second goal
seemed very harsh on the visitors. Can West Ham force their way back into
the game in the second half?
45 min - As the fourth official indicates one minute of added time, Labadie
hacks down Georg Grasser on the left. Kearns curls it in but Mr Ferries
blows up for a foul.
44 min - GOAL! West Brom double their lead just before half time in the
cruellest of manners. Ross Labadie shoots 20 yards from goal and there seems
to be little danger until it takes a wicked deflection that completely
wrong-foots the already committed Kurucz. Tough luck on West Ham, who have
been getting better and better as the half wore on.
42 min - Kim has been the catalyst behind much of West Brom's best play here
and it is easy to see why when you consider he has played 42 times for his
country, including the at Olympics and World Cup.
41 min - N'Gala becomes the first player to be booked for a foul in the
centre circle.
35 min - Great work from Hines brings praise from his manager - and a
corner to West Ham. Kearns plays it short to Lee, but his cross is headed
clear. Better from West Ham.
33 min - A good chance for the Hammers with a free-kick on the left after
Carl Hoefkens fouled Edgar. Kearns takes it once more but it somehow manages
to evade everyone in the area and go harmlessly wide for a goal-kick.
31 min - The game has settled somewhat now as the Hammers try to establish a
foothold on the game.
27 min - Three of the West Ham subs are warming-up on the touchline, while
Dyer stands at the edge of his technical area offering advice to his side.
23 min - The action returns to the other end once more as a Kim corner is
headed just over by Ryan Donk.
21 min - West Ham launch a rare attack as Hines, Balint Bajner and Oliver
Lee all combine well. Albion manage to get the ball clear before the Hammers
can conjure up a chance.
20 min - Kim has another shot on goal, this time from a set-piece. He gets
it on target, but luckily Kurucz has got his positioning just right and
gathers it safely into his arms.
18 min - West Brom attack once more as a clever flick from Seb Lake-Gaskin
puts Kim into space 25 yards from goal. He needs no second invitation to
shoot and launch fires a shot that goes about 3 yards over Kurucz's
crossbar.
16 min - Great tackle from Eyjolfsson as Wood tries to cut in from the
left-hand side once more. The 17-year-old Wood has looked a dangerous player
so far.
12 min - Another corner to West Brom, who certainly do not look like a side
at the bottom of the table. This time Korean forward Do-Heon Kim sees his
shot deflected wide off Eyjolfsson. The danger is averted as Kurucz comes
out to claim the set piece.
9 min - Goal! And it should have been a warning to Dyer's side as from an
almost identical position, Wood gives West Brom the lead. The young New
Zealand born forward beat Peter Kurucz with a low shot from just inside the
penalty area
8 min - Corner to West Brom on the left-hand side after a good tackle by
Ashley Miller. The corner is whipped in but Anthony Edgar is back there to
head clear. Moments later the Baggies threaten nearly take the lead as Chris
Wood flashes a shot just wide.
6 min - Ouch! That looked painful. Paul Downing went on a zig-zagging run
past two players before unleashing a powerful shot straight into N'Gala's
behind. I guess it does not matter how you stop them!
5 min - First chance for a shot on goal as West Ham win a free-kick on the
left-hand corner of the penalty area. Danny Kearns whips it in, but Dean
Kiely in the Albion goal comes out to claim it.
3 min - Dyer has named another young side tonight, with only Hines boasting
any first-team experience. N'Gala has come close, after being named on the
bench for the first-team three times this year.
2 min - The home side have seen most of the ball in the first minute, but
West Ham have it back now as Matt Fry, playing at left-back, sends a ball
forward to Zavon Hines.
1 min - West Brom get us underway.
6.59pm - The teams are out and N'Gala leads the boys in claret and blue on
to the pitch. I say claret and blue, but they are nearly all in claret
tonight so as not to clash with the Baggies' white shorts.
6.55pm - There may be some big games in Europe tonight but for the next 90
minutes everybody here at the Hawthorns is only focused on the outcome of
this fixture. If other results go their way, Dyer's side could climb to
second in the table, while their hosts tonight will merely be hoping to
record their fourth win of the season. It was a classic when these two sides
met in the reverse fixture back in September, with four goals from Freddie
Sears helping the Hammers to a 4-3 win.
6.50pm - Both sets of players are being put through their paces out on the
immaculate-looking playing surface. Goalkeeping coach Jerome John is leading
some shooting practice against the goalkeepers, while Dyer keeps an eye on a
group warming up near the centre circle.
Alex Dyer makes two changes from the side that beat Stoke City by a single
goal seven days ago. Holmar Eyjolfsson has recovered from the knock which
kept him out of that game to take his place in central defence alongside
captain Bondz N'Gala. Ashley Miller comes in at right-back, with Oliver Lee
pushing further forward into central midfield. Conor Okus and Cristian
Montano are the pair to make way.
West Bromwich Albion: Kiely, Hoefkens, Samuels, Mulumbu, Donk, Downing,
Sawyers (Elford-Alliyu 46), Labadie (Mantom 76), Wood, Kim, Lake-Gaskin
Subs: Gayle, Martin, Knight
West Ham United: Kurucz, Miller (O'Neill 46), Eyjolfsson, N'Gala, Fry, Lee,
Kearns, Grasser (Montano 71), Bajner, Hines, Edgar
Subs: Loveday, Harvey, Okus, Barrett
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Open Training on Thursday
WHUFC.com
Fans can come along to catch a glimpse of Gianfranco Zola and the rest of
the first-team squad
14.04.2009
West Ham United are pleased to announce a free Open Training Day exclusively
for fans at the Boleyn Ground on Thursday 16 April.
The whole first-team squad will be put through their paces by Gianfranco
Zola and his coaching staff in a special public session from around 11am.
Those attending will be able to watch on from the Centenary Stand Upper and
see all the different sessions involved as the team prepare for Saturday's
trip to Aston Villa.
Demand is expected to be high so supporters are advised to arrive early,
with turnstiles open from 10am. Seats will be on a first-come, first-served
basis. Unfortunately, there will be no opportunity for the players to sign
autographs.
Please note that the training time is subject to change, with any updates
available via whufc.com. Supporters requiring disabled access should contact
the nearest steward upon arrival for assistance.
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Zola hits back at Redknapp over youngster claims
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 14th April 2009
By: Thomas Rooney
For those of you that didn't hear Harry Redknapp's comments about West Ham's
young players, here is a quick reminder. The former Hammers boss said that
the current crop of youngsters at the club is a far cry from when he helped
nurture the talent of Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Michael
Carrick. Redknapp said that West Ham will do very well to produce players as
good as this ever again. He then went on to say that it is a 'misconception'
that West Ham is a club which frequently produces top players though its
youth system.
So, now you are updated with what Mr Redknapp had to say, let's take a look
at Gianfranco Zola's response. The West Ham manager has said that when the
likes of Ferdinand and Lampard came through the ranks, they were nothing
more than 'promising'. Then, over time, they improved to become the players
they are today. As for the current youngsters at West Ham, Zola believes
they are all promising and can all become top class players as long as they
'work hard every day' and 'keep the right attitude'.
Zola believes that every player has their 'own destiny' and this means that
no one can predict how well each individual will do during their careers.
The Italian then asked whether Redknapp can 'see forward' in terms of the
West Ham players' future. Should Redknapp not have the ability to see into
the future, there is no reason why he should feel knowledgeable enough to
comment on the prospects of Freddie Sears, Mark Noble or James Tomkins.
These are not players that Redknapp has worked with, so his opinion
shouldn't really count for anything. Yes, he was partly responsible for
bringing through a decent group of players, but why can't this happen again?
Like I mentioned, Redknapp was only 'party responsible' for the rise of
Lampard, Cole etc.
Would they have been as good if Redknapp wasn't West Ham manager at the
time? Yes. Several years down the line, should Redknapp be taking credit for
their ability? No. Zola, without saying so quite as bluntly, agrees with
this. He says that it is 'totally down to the players' in terms of whether
they make it as a Premier League player. Zola will guide them along the way,
but in reality, their fate is in their own hands.
Redknapp needs to stop blowing his own trumpet so much. He is probably the
biggest self publicist in football today. He isn't afraid (no matter how
subtly) to make sure everyone knows what he has achieved in football. Zola
is right to respond to his comments and back his youngsters to succeed.
There are some talented young players at Upton Park right now and more than
ever, I hope they prove Redknapp wrong.
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Russell Brand on his love of West Ham and what he thinks of Fernando Torres
and Wayne Rooney
The Mirror
By Oliver Holt 14/04/2009
Read Oliver Holt's column every Wednesday on Mirror.co.uk
Sometimes, Russell Brand said, he asks himself a question. He asks himself
what's left. What remains of his core after the transformation that
celebrity has wrought upon his life these past five years? What's still
intact after Big Brother's Big Mouth, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Hollywood
stardom, hosting the MTV awards and Sachsgate? What survives? "What's left
of me?" he said. "I don't live in Essex any more. I live in Hampstead. "I
don't go to the places that I would have gone to when I was growing up. I
don't drink, I don't go to pubs. So what's left? What is it that I have got
left from where I grew up and who I am and where I'm from? It's West Ham."
Outside, the driveway was filling up with cars. Russell's driver, Mick, was
hosting a barbeque at his house on a quiet suburban cul-de-sac in Chingford.
Mick had turfed the kids out of the front room, where they'd been engrossed
in their PlayStation. It was FC Porto against someone. Russell said Mick was
a Spurs fan. When Mick first started working for him, football was how they
got to know each other, how they broke the ice. What football means to us is
a conversation that could occupy most people who love the game for hours on
end. For me, it's seeing something beautiful on the pitch that others only
glimpse at the theatre or in an art gallery. But I think football probably
means more to Brand than it means to me. I think it means more to him than
it means to most people. Forget any idea you might have that his support for
West Ham is an affectation or publicity vehicle. You couldn't be more wrong.
His attachment to the club is rooted in the simple fact that his father,
Ron, started taking him to stand on the North Bank at Upton Park when he was
five. His father who had walked out on him and his mum when he was still a
baby in Grays, Essex. His father whose absence set in train a youth of
attention-seeking, bulimia, self-harm and addiction. "You can never escape
your formative and primary experiences," Brand said. "However sophisticated
and different I'm going to be, I'm always going to want my dad to love me
and be accepted as a man on a basic level. "Sometimes, I think being highly
analytical can expose one. Were I less open to analysis, I'd just go, 'Look
at Torres' goal against Blackburn, it's f***ing amazing' or 'I love it when
Junior Stanislas comes through at West Ham and suddenly we've got a new
hero'. "Both those things are true. But if you are someone like Edgar Allan
Poe or Oliver Stone, you see the world as a poem. "And you are forever
looking for signs and for what your father has meant to you and your ongoing
journey to be a man or to be a hero in your own life. And so, of course,
this is one of the things I have clung to. "I have said, 'This is it, I am
normal, I am just a normal bloke from Essex, I am a West Ham fan'. "There
are positive elements to my fame, where I am worshipped and adored, and
there is the glamour and the excitement and Hollywood and women. "And I am
not the vilified, shamed, demonic, crazed person that I am often portrayed
as now. "I am just like any other person that goes to Upton Park with a
heavy heart, knowing that the bubble is about to burst."
In the back garden, the meat has started roasting on the spit. Mick's Greek
so the hospitality is magnificent and there's even more talk about football
than usual. Whether United have got a chance against Porto, whether Arsenal
could win the Champions League. Some of the lads seem surprised that Brand
joins in so easily. But he goes to West Ham whenever he can. And when he's
abroad, he finds a TV set where he can watch the game or the highlights. He
has to sit in a box at Upton Park now because his celebrity means he is
pestered a little too much if he uses his season tickets in the Dr Martens
Stand. "I have spent so long trying to distinguish myself from the crowd
that it came as a slight shock to learn I cannot just rejoin it on a whim,"
Brand said. "I have to sign the odd thing when I'm going into the ground but
once the whistle has blown, there is a central focus and my celebrity is
bleached out. "As much as I want to get attention and be looked at, or
appreciated - which is probably what it boils down to - I also do love
football and the culture of football. "There are not that many outlets for
that desire to acknowledge a communal oneness, particularly if you are not
religious. I don't have it anywhere else in my life. "The other place where
I found it was the excitement of being at a protest or a demonstration,
particularly when it becomes confrontational and mad. "When I was younger
and a drug addict, I enjoyed that. But now that has gone, so going to West
Ham has become more special to me. "It is a pity the game has been sanitised
but probably without that, it would be a struggle for me to go. I don't know
how I would have survived in 70s conditions. "I know there are working fans
who have been priced out of being able to attend. But what I feel is that
that ain't football, that's Earth. That's Planet Earth that that's happened
to. "Everything has become commercialised, commodified, sold back to people.
The 60s got sold back to us as the 80s. That's just life."
Before we handed the front room back to the kids and the PlayStation, we
played a couple of either/or games to gauge where his football loyalties
lay. Ferguson or Wenger? Ferguson, Brand said. Shearer or Keane? Keane, he
said. Rooney or Torres? "I like the minotaur quality lurching out of
Rooney, but it would have to be Torres," he said. "What I love about Torres
is that someone that I know, a beautiful woman, once did a styling job for
Nike. "She went and styled Torres and she said he was really serious. He
wasn't at all flirty. "He always looks like he's going to cry. He looks like
he's on the precipice of something emotional."
Brand was still in the back garden when I said goodbye, playing with the
kids, making them hyper. A film crew had arrived. They were shooting a
documentary about him.
But he was still talking to some of the other men about United and Porto and
West Ham and his favourite player, Mark Noble. It's what's left.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola defends West Ham's decision to offload players
15.04.09 | Andrew Slevison
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has hit back at claims by Tottenham manager
Harry Redknapp that the club has sold too many of its players in the past.
Redknapp named a string of players who the Hammers sold that have come on to
be massive names in the world of football but Zola believes it is not a
clear-cut case. "I believe when Rio (Ferdinand) or Lamps (Frank Lampard) or
Joe Cole were coming through they were just promising. Then they improved,"
Zola said. "What I said about my players is that it is just down to them. If
they work hard every day and keep the right attitude they can do that.
"Maybe Harry has more experience than me and can see forward more than me.
But I believe everyone owns their own destiny. "When I started playing
football there were a few that said I wouldn't become the player I was but
they didn't know what my attitude and mentality was. "I believe that if my
players have the attitude they can become important players. If they push
themselves hard and believe in what they do they will go beyond the limits
that people are putting on them now. "I would like to say that if they
achieve something it is down to me but it is not like that. I can only show
them, then they have to move on and it is totally down to them. "I don't
know what Harry meant when he said that. As far as I'm concerned I will
always be there showing them the line but the work is down to them."
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We'll bounce back', insists Hammers defender
5:55pm Tuesday 14th April 2009
Echo
HAMMERS defender James Collins insists the team will bounce back strongly
against Aston Villa on Saturday, after last week's defeat at the hands of
fierce rivals Tottenham. Collins found himself back in the side, partnering
Matthew Upson at the heart of the defence, after Jonathan Spector was ruled
out with concussion. The Wales international played a key role in keeping
the likes of Darren Bent and Robbie Keane quiet throughout the match,
however, it was substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko that managed to wriggle free
of the big defender and squeeze his shot inside the far post. Collins
admitted the result was disappointing, but he vowed that the players, nor
the manager, would be dwelling on it for too long. "Everyone is disappointed
and none more so than the manager," he told the club's official website.
"Obviously he cannot be too down in the dumps because we've got lots of
important games coming up and we've got to pick up points. He gets his
message across and then it's on to the next game."
Collins had endured almost two months out of the side due to injury,
allowing youngster James Tomkins to step up from the bench and take his
place in the back four.
'Tomka', as he is referred to by his team-mates, has performed admirably,
and even kept Collins on the bench for the visit of Sunderland two weeks
ago. He was pushed out to right back on Saturday, but Collins accepts that
it would have been him warming the bench had Spector made a quicker
recovery. I've been here for four years and as soon as I came in, everyone
was talking about Tomka, and when I've been out he's been fantastic. If
Specs had been available at Spurs I'd have been on the bench as he's
performed so well. "Unfortunately for Jon, he's got injured but it's given
me a chance to get back in the team. Tomka is a fantastic player and he's
really got a bright future in front of him."
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Matthew Upson future at Hammers is up in the air
Evening Standard
14.04.09
Matthew Upson's future looks set to be decided by West Ham's finishing
position in the Premier League. The England central defender has yet to
commit his future beyond the end of the season and is desperate to stay
involved with Fabio Capello's England. To enhance his chances, Upson wants
to play in European club competition next year and it is understood the club
would not stand in the way of him moving on if the they fail to secure a
Europa Cup berth. Boss Gianfranco Zola has agreed a new long-term contract
with West Ham and will sign in the next couple of weeks, as soon as deputy
Steve Clarke agrees a new deal of his own.
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Upson could leave if West Ham don't make Europe as he sets sight on England
place
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 1:37 PM on 14th April 2009
Daily Mail
Matthew Upson's future at West Ham could hinge on whether they qualify for
Europe. The defender is determined to stay in contention for a place in
Fabio Capello's England squad and is keen to play in at least the Europa
League next season. The 29-year-old is yet to commit his future beyond the
end of the season and it is said that the Hammers would not stand in his way
should he wish to leave for a club who qualify for continental competition,
according to London's Evening Standard. The east London club are currently
occupying seventh - which will be good enough to make Europe - but face
competition for the place from Fulham, Tottenham and Wigan.
They face a trip to fifth place Aston Villa on Saturday and Upson said: 'It
is another big test. We go there missing quite a lot of players, so our
strength in depth is being really tested. 'I think we've come through it
really well and the players have come in and done a good job. We can go
there and get a result.' Upson is determined that the club bounce back from
Saturday's defeat at Tottenham. 'They didn't really create a lot,' he said.
'If you look at the possession stats we probably didn't do too well but
that's not what the game is about. It's about the scoreline. 'Looking at the
goal-scoring opportunities, there were very few of them. I thought we had
the best chance of the match but unfortunately we didn't take it. It was a
huge turning point, but we have to move on.' Boss Gianfranco Zola has agreed
a new long-term contract with West Ham and will sign in the next couple of
weeks, as soon as deputy Steve Clarke agrees a new deal of his own. The
Italian is looking forward to being able to select Dean Ashton next season,
as the striker has been absent with an ankle problem since the Italian`s
appointment. 'We hope he will get a full pre-season,' said Zola. 'We are
looking forward to having him back at his best.'
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