WHUFC.com
Zavon Hines has told WHUTV that confidence will be high going into the game
with Sunderland
28.10.2009
Zavon Hines is tipping his West Ham United team-mates to build on last
weekend's display when they travel to Sunderland this Saturday. The
homegrown Hammer was delighted to make a big impact off the bench against
Arsenal last time out, helping inspire the team to come from two-nil down
with some bright attacking play alongside Alessandro Diamanti. His pace and
energy gave the Gunners back-line plenty to think about and he won the
free-kick that paved the way for Carlton Cole's equaliser before Diamanti
made it 2-2 from the penalty spot. "The manager just said go on and keep
running, do your best for the team," Hines said about his contribution as a
replacement for Guillermo Franco in the 64th minute of a pulsating
encounter. "That is what I tried to do. It was just exciting to play against
Arsenal. "It could do a lot for us looking to Sunderland. For us to come
back in that way against a team like Arsenal is great. We have been
confident but the results have not gone our way. We will be confident now
trust me, especially from coming back against Arsenal. Everyone is on a
high. "It was kind of like a win for us and everyone was excited in the
dressing room. People thought we might have lost but we kept going." The
England Under-21 striker also had extra reason to be happy at the Arsenal
match as he was presented with his SBOBET player of the month award for last
month after a poll of fans on whufc.com. "I am very pleased to receive this.
It is good to know that fans think I have been the best player in September
but it is about the team to be honest, not the individual."
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Carr confirms testimonial
WHUFC.com
Great names from past and present are set to figure when Tony Carr's
testimonial is held next year
28.10.2009
Tony Carr has revealed that his testimonial match will be staged at the
Boleyn Ground on Wednesday 5 May 2010. The Academy Director's celebration is
set to feature a West Ham United side against an Academy All-Star XI,
featuring players that have emerged through the ranks during more than three
decades of long and outstanding service at the club. The testimonial year
was announced back in March and already a successful golf day has been
staged.
The club believed the time was right to recognise and pay tribute to the
achievements of a man who began as an apprentice at the club in the 1960s.
From Ron Greenwood to Gianfranco Zola, manager after manager at the Boleyn
Ground has felt the benefit of Carr's unstinting commitment to excellence
and developing the stars of tomorrow. Carr said: "I am pleased we have been
able to name a date. I am really looking forward to it and hopefully we will
have a big turnout on the night. It should be a great occasion."
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Spence up for cup
WHUFC.com
Jordan Spence is looking forward to Scunthorpe United's Carling Cup tie with
Manchester City
28.10.2009
Jordan Spence is hoping he will be involved when Scunthorpe United travel to
Manchester City in the Carling Cup last 16 on Wednesday evening. The Academy
ace is in the middle of a successful loan at the Championship club, which
has seen them more than hold their own in the second tier of English
football. In this competition, Scunthorpe have beaten Chesterfield, Swansea
City and Port Vale to reach this stage - but needed extra time in the last
two rounds to progress.
Spence, who has played ten times for the Iron in a loan due to end in
January, said: "To get a cup run at any level is a big positive as the
confidence can rub off on the league. The win at Swansea helped us with our
league form as before our form hadn't been very good. We've know Man City is
going to be tough but it is great news for the club. It's fantastic for the
club as it's the first time it has ever got to this stage and it's great to
be part of that history."
Having seen the difficulty West Ham United had at Eastlands last month, the
19-year-old knows his team face a sizeable challenge. "It doesn't take a
rocket scientist to work out what they've got. But for me personally it's a
chance for me to put myself up against some of the best players in the world
against Premier League opposition. "I'm always looking to test myself and to
see where I can improve as obviously my ultimate goal is to be playing in
the Premier League. It is something you are going to look forward to and we
will relish the experience. Any team can beat any other team on any other
day."
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Player on sister assault charge
BBC.co.uk
West Ham United footballer Calum Davenport has been charged with assaulting
his sister in an incident in which he was stabbed in both legs. Mr Davenport
was stabbed in the legs in the driveway of his mother's home in Kempston in
August this year. The 26-year-old, who denies any wrong doing, spent six
days in intensive care in Bedford Hospital after the incident. He has been
charged with assault causing actual bodily harm on 28-year-old Cara
Davenport. Mr Davenport, of Greenfield, Flitton, Bedfordshire, is currently
on bail to appear at Bedford Magistrates' Court on 10 November. In a
statement issued by his PR company, Mr Davenport said: "I am deeply shocked
and disappointed at the decision that has been made to charge me with
assault. "I deny any wrong doing and will plead not guilty. For legal
reasons I am unable to discuss the matter further at this time."
Ms Davenport's boyfriend Worrell Whitehurst, 25, of Finsley Walk, Derby, has
appeared in court charged with attacking the central defender as well as his
mother, 49-year-old Kim Stupple, in the driveway of her home in Springfield
Avenue, in August. Mr Davenport, a former England under-21 international,
underwent emergency surgery at Bedford Hospital for stab wounds to both
legs. Doctors had to cut through muscle to repair the damage to his artery.
The defender has been able to return to light training and swimming after
surgery which left him with a 15-inch scar on his leg. Writing on the club
website recently, the player said he was feeling positive. "At the moment I
am still in hospital and have quite a long way to go on the road to recovery
but I am feeling positive," he said. "Thanks to the club, my team-mates and
fans, to the club doctors and the amazing staff at Bedford Hospital who have
looked after me so well."
Bedford-born Mr Davenport cost West Ham £3m when he joined from Tottenham
during the summer of 2007. He spent a spell on loan at Premier League rivals
Sunderland last season and has also been loaned out to Watford. He started
his career at Coventry and has also played on loan at Southampton and
Norwich.
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Davenport Charged
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 28th October 2009
By: Yet Another Staff Writer
CALUM DAVENPORT has been charged with assault in relation to the incident
that saw the 26-year-old stabbed in the legs at the end of August.
Bizarrely, the charges appear to have been pressed by the West Ham
defender's sister, Cara, 28, the girlfriend of the alleged knife-attacker,
Worrell Whitehurst. Davenport, who was left with a 15-inch scar as a result
of the attack and has recently returned to light training, released a
statement to say: "I am deeply shocked and disappointed at the decision
that has been made to charge me with assault. "I deny any wrong doing and
will plead not guilty. For legal reasons I am unable to discuss the matter
further at this time." Davenport, who still has no fixed date to return to
first-team action, has been bailed to appear before Bedford Magistrates in
early November.
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Man Utd loot, West Ham Utd on Crimewatch
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 28th October 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United will feature on the BBC's Crimewatch programme tonight as
the Metropolitan Police continue their search for scapegoats in the wake of
crowd disturbances at the recent Carling Cup tie with Millwall. Further
pictures of faces sought by the Met have once again been printed in a number
of national newspapers this morning with requests for the public to inform
on the highlighted West Ham supporters present at the game. The Police - who
were largely responsible for the problems witnessed outside the Boleyn
Ground, having insisted on halving Millwall's allocation for the game and
then duly ignoring numerous pleas to review their decision - lost control of
the situation on the ground during the game and eventually allowed around
500 ticketless Lions fans to enter the Boleyn Ground free of charge - a a
decision that is thought to have led to pockets of home fans invading the
pitch to celebrate goals later in the evening. Meanwhile, crowd disturbances
at last night's Barnsley v Manchester United Carling Cup tie have been
brushed under the carpet today with barely a mention in any of the papers -
unlike the widespread media coverage given to the West Ham v Millwall tie.
Manchester United supporters are reported to have looted one of the Barnsley
food kiosks, stealing the contents and emptying the tills of cash whilst
staff were said to have hidden in a storeroom. There were also reports of
local South Yorkshire Police being bottled by Reds fans. The game was also
halted temporarily by a brief pitch invasion; three individuals, thought to
be Barnsley supporters ran on to the pitch as the game reached it's
conclusion.
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Testimonial date set
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 28th October 2009
By: Staff Writer
Tony Carr's long-awaited testimonial match will finally take place next May.
The game - the last event to commemorate Carr's 37 years of service to West
Ham United - will feature a team from the current West Ham United squad
versus a side comprised of players who have come through the club's Academy,
which Carr has been working with since the early 1970s. Already pencilled in
to appear for the Academy team are the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and
Michael Carrick "We've set the day now for May 5th," Carr told TalkSport.
"We're going to play a West Ham XI versus an ex-Academy XI, like an Academy
all-stars team. "I've spoken to most of the boys, including Rio, and they're
all willing to play - hopefully the manager's will give them that permission
but we'll work on that in the next four or five months. "I talked to Frank
[Lampard Jnr] last week and he's happy to play. I've also spoken to John
Terry and Rio recently and they're all willing to play assuming that club
commitments allows them. "But we're hoping the date we've set will allow
that."
The Chadwell Heath production line: internationals tutored by Carr
England: Alvin Martin; Frank Lampard; Glen Johnson; Jermain Defoe; Joe Cole;
John Terry; Kieran Richardson; Paul Ince; Rio Ferdinand; Tony Cottee; Paul
Konchesky; Michael Carrick; Alan Curbishley; Alan Dickens; Anton Ferdinand;
Bobby Barnes; Bobby Zamora; James Tomkins; Junior Stanislas; Freddie Sears;
Mark Noble; Mervyn Day; Stuart Slater; Jlloyd Samuel; Liam Ridgewell; Zavon
Hines.
Wales: Jack Collison; Freddy Eastwood.
Ireland (all): Ray Houghton; Grant McCann; Shaun Byrne; Eamonn Dolan.
Others: Richard Garcia, Chris Coyne (Australis); Adam Newton (St Kitts and
Nevis).
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Davenport denies assault charge
Hammers defender charged after being stabbed
Last updated: 28th October 2009
SSN
West Ham defender Calum Davenport has denied that he assaulted a woman
during an incident in which he was stabbed in both legs. The Hammers
defender, 26, was charged by Bedfordshire Police on Wednesday afternoon with
assault causing actual bodily harm on a woman. But Davenport, who spent
several days in intensive care as a result of his injuries, said in a
statement: "I am deeply shocked and disappointed at the decision that has
been made to charge me with assault. "I deny any wrongdoing and will plead
not guilty. For legal reasons, I am unable to discuss the matter further at
this time." Worrell Whitehurst, 25, appeared in court charged with attacking
the centre-back as well as his mother, 49-year-old Kim Stupple, in the
driveway of her home in Springfield Avenue, Bedford, in August.
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Toulouse starlet wants stay
Tabanou eyes new deal
By Patrick Haond Last updated: 28th October 2009
SSN
Toulouse starlet Franck Tabanou has insisted he wants to stay put. The
20-year-old has broken into Toulouse's first-team this season and has earned
rave reviews. Tabanou's current deal expires next summer and the Pink City
outfit are desperate to keep him. A host of clubs, including West Ham, are
understood to be lining up a January bid. But the midfielder insists he is
looking to remain in the South of France. "My first objective is to prolong
my stay with TFC," he told L'Equipe.
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Why West Ham's draw with Arsenal showed Carlton Cole has grown from a cub
into a lion
By Arsenal Fans Blog
The Mirror
Published 14:24 28/10/09
Carlton Cole's first touch as a West Ham player was a goal, the decisive
strike in a 3-1 victory over Charlton Athletic in August 2006. From then on,
his first touch was usually followed by an opponent's tackle, leading to the
unfortunate nickname of 'Can't Control', and it appeared a player who had
looked so promising when he burst on to the scene at Chelsea looked set for
a career of unfulfilled potential.
If Cole was the reluctant poster boy for all those footballers whose lack of
application has led to them becoming forgotten men, he now provides a lesson
that it is never too late to change people's perceptions. Few could have
predicted the transformation in the striker's game in the past year, his
progress so rapid that he has become indispensable to West Ham. Cole used to
be a standing joke, but no one's laughing now.
Least of all Arsenal, who found out just how far Cole has come in Sunday's
pulsating 2-2 draw at Upton Park. In a West Ham team lacking belief after a
confidence-sapping run which has brought no wins since the opening day of
the season, Cole's strength, allied with some nifty footwork and a viable
goal threat, stood out, even when West Ham trailed 2-0 to Arsenal.
Until Cole's intervention the game had been drifting to its seemingly
inevitable conclusion, three points for Arsenal. Arsene Wenger's side had
taken the lead after 14 minutes through Robin van Persie, who scored after
Robert Green flapped at Sagna's cross. It is not the first time that has
happened this season, and Green is currently making a firm case for David
James regaining the England goalkeeper's jersey. Shortly before half-time
Gallas headed in a second.
It was Cole who dragged West Ham back into the contest after 74 minutes,
heading in from close range after Vito Mannone could only direct Alessandro
Diamanti's wicked free-kick back into the danger area. That was Cole's fifth
in nine games so far this season, and three others have come against
Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham. The watching England manager,
Fabio Capello, was surely impressed, and will duly note the aptitude with
which Cole performed the Emile Heskey role, but with added goals too.
Yet just six minutes after West Ham's first, Cole again caused panic in the
Arsenal area, his presence enough to induce Alexandre Song's ill-conceived
challenge. Chris Foy pointed to the spot, and this time there was no
question of Mannone getting a hand to Diamanti's effort.
Time and again, Cole held off William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen to win
headers or take the ball down on his chest to provide the springboard for
West Ham attacks. He was no mere battering ram however, and was equally
adept on the ground, a facet of his game which has not always caught the
eye. The Arsenal defence, boasting the likes of Gael Clichy and Backary
Sagna, are no slouches, but even they struggled to keep up wuth Cole's
deceptive pace. There were flickers of an understanding with the Mexican
debutant, Guilermo Franco, too.
Cole has not always been on the end of such praise. The boy who scored 39
goals in a season for Chelsea's reserves never became a man at Stamford
Bridge. His manager, Claudio Ranieri, called him his lion, yet he remained
wet behind the ears.
There were moments of promise: a goal on his debut against Middlesbrough; an
accomplished shot into the top corner against Sunderland in April 2003; a
rambunctious display against Bolton a week later. However when Roman
Abramovich arrived, Cole moved down the pecking order. Disappointing loan
spells at Charlton and Aston Villa followed, and Cole gained a reputation
for scoring of a somewhat different nature.
Alan Pardew saw potential in him when he signed him for £2m West Ham in
2006, but it wasn't until Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke arrived last year
that he started to realise it. Zola played with Cole at Chelsea and perhaps
this helped. He kept faith in the striker during a spell of eight goalless
games, despite the crowd increasingly turning on him. The nadir arrived in
December after dreadful misses by Cole in consecutive games against Chelsea
and Aston Vila.
Zola kept the faith. He vowed to work with Cole on the training ground to
help him improve his finishing. The patience paid off and Cole promptly
scored six goals in seven games to help West Ham climb up the league. He
made his debut for England in a friendly against Spain in February. In March
he won the Goal of the Month competition after he finished off a brilliant
passing move with a composed curler against Wigan. He won it again in August
thanks to a stunning volley from 25 yards against Tottenham.
Cole is often compared to Heskey, but that particular effort was more
reminiscent of a Didier Drogba goal for Chelsea against Liverpool in
September 2006. Then Cole was just a bit-part player in a struggling West
Ham side, lower in the pecking order than Bobby Zamora, Marlon Harewood and
even Teddy Sheringham. A mere after-thought. Ranieri's lion was still a cub,
but not any more. Just ask Arsenal.
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Stabbed West Ham football star charged with assault
Ross Lydall
29.10.09
Evening Standard
West Ham defender Calum Davenport was today charged with assaulting a woman
in connection with an incident that almost ended his playing career. The
former England Under-21 star suffered knife wounds to both legs, including
one 15-inch scar, at his mother's house in August. Today it emerged that
Davenport, who joined West Ham from Spurs, had been charged despite the
belief that he was the victim of the attack. In a statement, Davenport, 26,
said: "I am deeply shocked and disappointed at the decision that has been
made to charge me with assault. I deny any wrongdoing and will plead not
guilty." Davenport underwent emergency surgery on both legs following the
attack at their home in Kempston, near Bedford. He and his 49-year-old
mother were attacked in the early hours. The boyfriend of Davenport's sister
has been charged over the stabbing.
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Calum Davenport, West Ham footballer, charged with assault on woman
West Ham United footballer Calum Davenport has denied that he assaulted a
woman during an incident in which he was stabbed in both legs.
Telegraph.co.uk
Published: 3:29PM GMT 28 Oct 2009
The defender, 26, was charged by Bedfordshire Police with assault causing
actual bodily harm on a woman. But Davenport said in a statement: ''I am
deeply shocked and disappointed at the decision that has been made to charge
me with assault. I deny any wrongdoing and will plead not guilty. For legal
reasons, I am unable to discuss the matter further at this time.''
Davenport's 'positive progress' Worrell Whitehurst, 25, appeared in court
charged with attacking the centre-back as well as his mother, 49-year-old
Kim Stupple, in the driveway of her home in Springfield Avenue, Bedford, in
August. A statement from Bedfordshire Police said: "Professional footballer
Calum Davenport has been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm on
a woman following an incident in Bedford on August 22. "Mr Davenport is
currently on bail to appear at Bedford Magistrates' Court on November 10."
Davenport suffered heavy bleeding and was admitted to hospital for emergency
surgery following the incident. A former England Under-21 international, he
underwent emergency surgery at Bedford Hospital for stab wounds to both legs
after an incident at his mother's home in Springfield Avenue, Bedford, at
5am. Davenport cost West Ham £3 million when he joined them from Tottenham
during the summer of 2007. Bedford-born Davenport spent a spell on loan at
Premier League rivals Sunderland last season and has also been loaned out to
Watford. The centre-back started his career at Coventry and has also played
on loan at Southampton and Norwich. Whitehurst, Cara Davenport's boyfriend,
is due to appear at Luton Crown Court on Nov 16.
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West Ham footballer Calum Davenport charged with assaulting his sister
Premier League defender was stabbed in both legs in incident
Former England Under-21 international denies attack
Jonathan Haynes and agencies guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 28 October 2009 22.49
GMT
Calum Davenport's injuries, sustained in the incident, were initially
thought to be career-threatening. Premier League footballer Calum Davenport
has been charged with assaulting his sister during an incident in which he
was stabbed in both legs. The West Ham United defender, 26, who denies any
wrongdoing, was charged this afternoon with causing actual bodily harm on
Cara Davenport, 28. Her boyfriend, Worrell Whitehurst, 25, has appeared in
court charged with attacking the centre-back as well as his mother,
49-year-old Kim Stupple, in the driveway of her home in Bedford, in August.
Davenport said in a statement: "I am deeply shocked and disappointed at the
decision that has been made to charge me with assault. I deny any wrongdoing
and will plead not guilty. For legal reasons, I am unable to discuss the
matter further at this time."
Davenport, of Greenfield, Bedford, will appear before Bedford magistrates on
10 November. A statement from Bedfordshire police said: "Professional
footballer Calum Davenport has been charged with assault causing actual
bodily harm on a woman following an incident in Bedford on 22 August."
Davenport, a former England Under-21 international, underwent emergency
surgery at Bedford Hospital for stab wounds to both legs after an incident
at his mother's home at 5am.
Davenport cost West Ham £3m when he joined them from Tottenham during the
summer of 2007. He spent a spell on loan at Premier League rivals Sunderland
last season and has also been loaned out to Watford. The centre-back started
his career at Coventry and has also played on loan at Southampton and
Norwich. Davenport's career was hanging in the balance after the incident
but he has been able to return to light training and swimming after surgery,
which left him with a 15-inch scar on his leg. Doctors had to cut through
muscle to repair the damage to Davenport's artery. Writing on the club
website recently, the player said he was feeling positive. "At the moment I
am still in hospital and have quite a long way to go on the road to recovery
but I am feeling positive," he said. "Thanks to the club, my team-mates and
fans, to the club doctors and the amazing staff at Bedford Hospital who have
looked after me so well."
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GET REAL
The Star
MEGA-RICH David Gold will step up his dream takeover of West Ham next week
but warned: I won't be held to ransom. Former Birmingham chief Gold wants a
route back into football after Carson Yeung's Blues takeover sparked his
departure from the Midlands club. And Gold, together with fellow ex-St
Andrew's co-owner David Sullivan, have identified Upton Park as their
favoured destination. But the club's reported £100m debt is threatening to
scupper Gold's hopes to take control of the club he played for as a kid.
Multi-millionaire Gold wants a cut-price deal for the Hammers that takes
into account the club's massive debts – and is understood to be prepared to
part with only £40m. But CB Holdings, the Icelandic asset management firm
that owns West Ham, want in the region of £120m. And if they play hard ball
on the price, Gold could drop his interest and focus instead on either
Crystal Palace or Charlton. Palace chairman Simon Jordan is ready to bury
the hatchet with Gold over a deal, after the pair had a spiky relationship
since City persuaded manager Steve Bruce to quit Selhurst Park for St
Andrew's in 2001. Bur Jordan said: "All that is in the past now. "The fact
is that David Gold is a very successful businessman, he has done very well
at Birmingham and made a lot of money, so fair play to him.''
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