WHUFC.com
Zavon Hines has been named SBOBET Player of the Month for September
05.10.2009
Zavon Hines has rounded off an excellent month personally by being named
SBOBET Player of the Month for September. The 20-year-old forward collected
37.9 per cent of the vote, 15 per cent ahead of second-placed Carlton Cole.
Robert Green came third with 17 per cent of the vote. Hines caught the eye
with a number of displays in September, most notably on his full home league
debut against Liverpool. The Academy product caused Jamie Carragher and
Martin Skrtel no end of problems, hitting the post and winning the penalty
from which Alessandro Diamanti scored. "It's good to know that I'm doing
something right and the fans like it," Hines said. "I've just got to keep my
feet on the ground and carry on with what I'm doing. "I said that at the
start of the season I just want to do my best and try to get in the first
team as quick as possible and by God's grace I have. I haven't surprised
myself. I always thought that if I get the chance I will take it and that's
what I've done."
Hines has been used as part of a front three so far this season, but insists
he is happy to help the team out wherever he is selected. "As long as I'm in
the team I'll play wherever the manager wants me to play. If it's on the
left side it doesn't matter as it's up front and I can keep doing what I
normally do. "I learn a bit more every game. Right now we're not on a
winning run so it's something we have to learn from."
The award follows Hines' first call-up to the England Under-21 squad
alongside James Tomkins and Junior Stanislas on Thursday. He will hope to
make his debut this coming Friday in a 2011 UEFA European U21 Championship
qualifier against FYR Macedonia in Coventry.
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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
There will be a smaller squad to work with at Chadwell Heath but no let up
in the intensity of training
05.10.2009
Gianfranco Zola will get to work this week with a squad shorn of
internationals determined to plot a path up the league standings. West Ham
United are next in action on Saturday week when they travel to Stoke City -
scene of a hard-fought 1-0 away win last season - and the manager is ready
to overcome the headache of having several players away until the Thursday
before. With the team looking up at most of the league after the 2-2 home
draw with Fulham, there is plenty on the mind including a firm belief that
things will improve. Zola said: "I will have the players just a couple of
days before Stoke. It is not the best but I have to live with that and try
to make the most of it. Obviously we are a team that we can certainly be
better than what we are. But if we are there it means we are not doing
something good and that is what we have to look at. I remain positive
because there is big potential."
Although Scott Parker will be suspended at Stoke, Zola is hopeful of having
more players back from the treatment room to join Matthew Upson and Valon
Behrami who came through their returns on Sunday. There could be a chance
for some to get match fitness in practice games in the coming days. Whoever
gets the nod at the Britannia Stadium will be tasked with raising the bar on
recent displays. "I know the potential of this team. I know we are playing
well and we are not getting points but it has been like that last year as
well. We just need to click and the potential of this team is different. I
am concerned because we need to be switched on. This is a moment where every
single mistake is costing us very much."
Zola was also eager to dismiss speculation about his faith in his squad or
his relationship with senior figures in the club. He said: "The squad is
very good. I am very happy with the players I have got. I decided to have
them and I am going to work with them. "I have always said that what we're
doing here is something we are doing together. My relationship with
[technical director] Gianluca Nani and [CEO] Scott Duxbury is wonderful. We
are working very well together as we said last year when we came together
and we are even closer. "We have a strong spirit and nothing will stop us
from trying to achieve success. The points are not coming in the way we want
but we will respond on the pitch. We need to improve because the good
organisation, the good play, is nothing if you don't have the focus in the
crucial moments of the game."
The manager singled out substitute Junior Stanislas, who hit the late
equaliser, and Carlton Cole, with his eleventh goal in 19 league games since
26 December, for special mention and not just for their goals. "Junior came
on and tried two times to shoot. That is the way, you have to keep trying
until the end. He made a very good impact Junior and I am pleased for him.
"Carlton is one of the key players and is doing very well. He just needs to
keep doing that, maybe doing more because he can do more. Everyone is very
pleased with him."
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Forward thinking for Carr
WHUFC.com
Despite believing there were two points dropped at the weekend, Tony Carr is
looking ahead this week
05.10.2009
Tony Carr will be hard at work again with his youngsters at Little Heath
this week looking to build on the positives of a 3-3 draw with Southampton
at the weekend. Although frustrated to see the Saints come back from a
two-goal deficit in the closing stages, there was plenty for the Academy
Director to take away. Not least the contribution of forwards Jack Werndly,
Danny Subuola and Ahmed Abdulla - none of whom has yet reached their 18th
birthday. Indeed, there was also the debut at this level of substitute Dylan
Tombides, the U16 striker adding late verve to the attack.
Further back, Conor Okus got a welcome run as a second-half replacement as
the combative midfielder returns from a groin injury that has troubled him
since the summer. Okus has been tipped as one to watch this season. Carr was
also without the suspended Filip Modelski and sidelined Calum McNaughton and
Cristian Montano - while Danny Purdy, another young striker, has been away
on international duty.
Carr said: "It was a disappointing result as we had the victory there for
the taking, only for a couple of lapses to cost us again. It was a game we
should have won 3-1 or by a bigger margin. We were on top but gifted them
their way back into the game. As the game went on, we got nervous and edgy.
"Both their goals in the second half were sloppy. We had a free-kick in
their half and they went on to score and then the goalkeeper has made a
mistake in the last few minutes."
Carr was not too hard on the 16-year-old goalkeeper Denis Mehmet as he has
made tremendous progress and even had a taste with the first team in recent
days. "It was a routine catch, he will do it again 50 times and catch it 50
times. It will be good for his development and the result is a setback for
the boys but they have to go through these things. It isn't all ups and it
makes them stronger as they rise through the ranks."
Ahead of next weekend's trip to Crystal Palace, Carr expected better over
the coming days in the hope of realising a first win in seven attempts and
reiterated his praise for two-goal Werndly and Danny Subuola, who added the
other. "I am looking to see how they cope and bounce back. I suppose we
should have won, but it is good we didn't lose. It is a point gained
although overall t is two steps forward and one step back."
"We move on again and there were positives like seeing Dylan Tombides come
on. He is an under-16 striker who we have got very high hopes for. He did
very well and was lively. We are pleased about that. Jack got the start he
has been itching to get.
"He took his goals well and hopefully will gain more confidence from that.
Danny also scored and it is good for the forwards. We have just got to stop
conceding at the other end and we will get a win. We are missing
second-years in the squad and we are young at the moment. We are doing well
in stages but we can't sustain it for 90 minutes but they will learn and
they will see the benefit."
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Nouble on national duty
WHUFC.com
Striker Frank Nouble is getting ready to impress after going away with
England U19s for the first time
05.10.2009
Frank Nouble is getting to know his new team-mates after being named in the
England Under-19 squad for the first time. Forward Nouble, who has already
represented the Young Lions at Under-17 level, has been included in
Under-19s coach Noel Blake's squad for the first qualifying stage of the
UEFA European U19 Championship this week. England will play their first
match against Finland in Murska Sobota on Friday, the town where West Ham
United played ND Mura 05 during their pre-season tour. They then take on
mini-tournament hosts Slovenia in the same stadium two days later before
rounding out their group campaign against Slovakia on Wednesday 14 October
in Lendava.
The winners of the group will win through to the Elite round to be played
next spring with the 2010 finals following in northern France in the summer.
Should they qualify, Blake's side will be hoping to go one better than last
season, when they lost in the final to Ukraine.
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Zola denies fall-out
Boss happy with relationships and squad
Last updated: 5th October 2009
SSN
Under-pressure West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola insists he has not fallen out
with chief executive Scott Duxbury and technical director Gianluca Nani. The
Hammers have endured their worst start to a Premier League campaign since
2002/03, when they were eventually relegated, with just five points on the
board from seven games. Zola's side lie in the relegation zone with only
Portsmouth below them as the race for the season's first managerial casualty
heats up. Reports over the weekend suggested Zola's relationship with Nani,
who is in charge of player recruitment at the club, had become strained
after the departures of key players during his reign. he departures of Craig
Bellamy in January and James Collins in the summer had reportedly angered
Zola as replacements Alessandro Diamanti and Manuel da Costa have failed to
live up to their billings. However, Zola has spoken out to dismiss such
rumours, insisting that he is happy with his squad and reiterated his
healthy relationship with both Nani and Duxbury. "The squad is very good. I
am very happy with the players I have got. I decided to have them and I am
going to work with them," he said. "I have always said that what we're doing
here is something we are doing together. My relationship with Gianluca Nani
and Scott Duxbury is wonderful. "We are working very well together, as we
said last year when we came together, and we are even closer. "We have a
strong spirit, and nothing will stop us from trying to achieve success. "The
points are not coming in the way we want, but we will respond on the pitch.
"Obviously we can certainly be better than what we are. I remain positive,
because there is big potential. "This is a moment where every single mistake
is costing us very much."
The pressure on Zola increased at the weekend after his side lost the lead
to 10-man Fulham before Junior Stanislas salvaged a point with a fortunate
deflected effort in injury time. The 2-2 draw halted a four-game run of
defeats for the Hammers but after playing the majority of the match with an
extra man following Kagisho Dikgacoi's first-half dismissal, Zola was
unhappy with the showing. "This was a very important match," he admitted.
"We need to improve the focus. The game is made by details - and if you
don't pay attention to the details you will keep dropping points. It is as
simple as that. "We have to raise our attention, and I am here to do that.
"I don't pick the players - they pick themselves with their performances.
The players know that if they don't do the work then somebody else will play
instead."
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The Case for the Defence!
West Ham Till I Die
Although Lucas Neill has his critics, we can now see the consequences that
his departure has had for our leadership capability and defensive
solidarity. Neill provided strength and organisation and I would have given
him a one year extension, to his existing contract, on that basis alone.
Many fans under-estimated the positive role he played as club captain and
the influence that he exercised on those around him both on and off the
pitch.
Defensively, I also think that Neill's departure was more significant than
that of James Collins. However, both players have now gone and the current
defenders in the squad have to step up to the plate and rectify any
resulting imbalances or deficits. But is the youth and inexperience of our
defensive cover likely to cause us problems?
Arguably, in Green, Faubert, Illunga, Tomkins and Upson we have a capable
first choice defence. Their recent cohesion as a unit as been undermined by
the injury absence of Illunga and Upson, but they will gain consistency and
the goals against tally will eventually come to reflect this.
Upson had a poor second half performance against Fulham. However, he
remains an established England international and a player that has performed
consistently well for the Hammers. Upson is a fine central defender and a
formative influence on Tomkin's development. It is upon him that Neill's
leadership mantle has fallen and he perhaps needs to more forcefully assert
his authority as club captain!
It was pleasing to see Tomkins back to near his best against Fulham. This
lad has it all and will only get better alongside Upson. He has pace, good
positional sense, can tackle and is strong in the air. Tomkins is also
comfortable on the ball in the best tradition of our great footballing
centre backs such as Brown, Moore, Martin, Gale and Rio Ferdinand!
Faubert has been a revelation this season at right back. He has really
worked hard and applied himself to claim the position as his own. While
Illunga is a very good left-back and one of the great bargain buys. He is
now starting to get back to his best after his facial injury sustained at
Wolves, on the opening day.
Robert Green is England number one on merit. He is a very consistent keeper
and a great shot stopper. There seems to be a media led concensus that
Green will lose out to David James for England, but I think that there is
little doubt that Green is the superior keeper. He continues to be a key
player for us and forms part of our all England international spine, with
Upson, Parker and Cole.
However, my real concern is that outside of this first choice defensive
unit, we lack experience and strength in depth. Our cover at full back is
currently provided by Jonathan Spector. He is an able enough deputy at
right-back, but has proven a liability on the few occasions that he has
covered left-back. Apart from Spector, we are relying on the youngsters,
Deperla and Ferrari. They both look excellent prospects and have recently
performed well at reserve team level. However, are they ready yet to make
their first team debuts?
At centre back, the absence through injury of Matt Upson and Danny Gabbidon
has meant that we have had to push Da Costa and Ngala in to the first team
frame. Da Costa was a bit of an unknown quantity on signing in part
exchange for Nsereko, but his recent appearances at Bolton and Man City seem
to indicate that he needs to undergoe a major adjustment to cope with the
pace and physicality of the PL.
Ngala is the latest off our production line of promising young centre backs.
Behind him stand the likes of Spence, Efloysson and Fry. He is a strong
centre half who has a great presence and ability both on the ground and in
the air. He is probably our best bet for reliable cover at centre back and
needs to be fast tracked this season to ensure that he gets valuable first
team experience.
At goal keeper we have the two highly promising novices, Stech and Kuruz
covering for Robert Green. Again, both are outstanding young talents, but
it is sobering to consider that neither reserve keeper currently has a
single PL or cup appearance between them!
In short, our first choice keeper and defenders need to stay fit or we could
find ourselves relying on some very talented, but inexperienced deputies!
If the first team call does come then lets hope that they are ready to make
the step up in class?
SJ Chandos.
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HAMMERS ARE STILL LOOKING UP
Daily Star
6th October 2009 By Ralph EllisYour Shout ( 0 )
MATTHEW Upson says West Ham have made progress this season – despite being
in the bottom three. The England defender, 30, insists things are coming
together at Upton Park – even though Gianfranco Zola's men have collected
only five points so far. He said: "The last thing we need to be looking at
right now is the table – we need to look instead at where the team is going.
The performances have not been all bad." Ahead of their next game against
Stoke, he added: "Last time, we were organised against their set-pieces and
played our own football. We have to remind ourselves of that."
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Zola Crisis Talks
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
GIANFRANCO ZOLA has been hauled in for crisis talks over West Ham's current
plight. Chief executive Scott Duxbury demanded to see Zola immediately after
Sunday's Upton Park draw against Fulham. Pressure is now growing on the
Hammers' Italian boss to dig them out of a rut, as they struggle second from
bottom in the Premier League. The Londoners last night insisted Zola and
Duxbury regularly chat post-match. But the club's controversial technical
director Gianluca Nani was also at this emergency summit. And Zola did not
re-surface until an hour and a quarter later, before eventually attending
the game's Press conference. West Ham were booed off having thrown away a
1-0 lead against Fulham, who had Kagisho Dikgacoi sent off after 42 minutes.
It took a deflected effort from sub Junior Stanislas two minutes into
injury-time to rescue a point and some pride. Former Chelsea star Zola
finally emerged to berate his players for bottling it when the chips were
down. West Ham are enduring their worst start to a season since they were
relegated in 2002-3. But Zola has been given little cash to spend on new
players because of board problems and the club's financial strife. Zola has
also been hit hard by the failure of £7m striker Dean Ashton to recover from
ankle surgery and help take the pressure off overworked frontman Carlton
Cole. Centre-half Matthew Upson, who has joined England ahead of Saturday's
World Cup qualifier in Ukraine, insisted West Ham will get it right. He
said: "We just need to be more clinical and to wipe out the little things
letting us down."
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David Sullivan warns West Ham he will only buy the club at a knockdown price
Published 23:00 05/10/09
Exclusive By James Nursey
The Mirror
David Sullivan has told West Ham he will only pay a knockdown fee for the
club due to the Hammers' crippling debts of £100million. Essex-based tycoon
Sullivan, 60, is close to getting around £25m from Carson Yeung as part of
the Hong Kong businessman's £80m takeover of Birmingham. Sullivan is keen to
reinvest the money in another football club and has already drawn up a list
of possible sides to buy - with the Hammers at the top. West Ham's owners CB
Holdings, an off-shoot of Icelandic bank Straumur, which took over after the
collapse of Landsbanki, are willing to sell. Yet Sullivan, who bought
Birmingham in 1993 with the Gold brothers, is reluctant to pay much for the
Upton Park club due to their astonishing debts. Mirror Sport can reveal West
Ham have a huge list of creditors, who must all be paid, with the Hammers
owing:
*£45m to several different banks.
*£19m to Sheffield United over the out-of-court settlement for the Carlos
Tevez affair.
*£15m to other clubs after signing various players from them.
*Plus the Hammers are also running at a loss of £20m this year after
recording an operating loss of £33.6m for the financial year ending May
2008.
Sullivan hopes to get his cash from Yeung next week as it takes five days to
transfer funds after a takeover goes unconditional, which should happen
today. Sullivan is expected to link-up again with outgoing Brum MD Karren
Brady and David Gold at his next club. Gold is willing to stay at Birmingham
in the short-term as he needs a club if he is to keep his place in the FA
set-up. But his Birmingham contract details he must be paid £140,000-a-year
if Yeung wants to keep him as an ambassador. If Sullivan fails to buy West
Ham other targets include Norwich, Ipswich, Cardiff, Leicester and Charlton.
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