WHUFC.com
The new year has begun in perfect fashion for Academy product Anthony Edgar
with his first-team bow
05.01.2010
Anthony Edgar has spoken of his delight at becoming the first homegrown
Hammer to make his senior-team breakthough of the new decade. The
19-year-old was an 88th-minute substitute for Junior Stanislas in Sunday's
FA Cup third-round tie with Arsenal. It was the culmination of a dream he
has had since joining the Academy as a nine-year-old. He said: "It was great
experience and the lads gave me great confidence going out there. "I
couldn't wait to touch the ball and run at a defender and show what I can
do. I'm happy I got on and hopefully I can get more chances. "I was just
trying to do a bit to get the team going. The manager said to 'enjoy
yourself, express yourself and work hard', which I thought I did. I was
happy to make my debut and I was happy it was such a big game."
Edgar has enjoyed a season to remember so far, having made his league bow
during a loan spell at Bournemouth in October - the club where his cousin
Jermain Defoe also took his first senior steps away from the Boleyn Ground.
The winger has impressed as a regular for Alex Dyer's reserves and will be
back with the second string this evening, hoping to shine against
Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. The aim is to stay in the first-team
squad for Sunday's visit of Wolves in the Barclays Premier League, although
the likes of Mark Noble and Scott Parker could be back in contention. "I
think it's going to give me a big booster. Now I've seen how it is I can
push on and work harder and get more chances. I'll play at Wolves on Tuesday
and it is all good experience."
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Reserves go to Wolves
WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer's side face a Barclays Premier Reserve League trip to
Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday
04.01.2010
Alex Dyer is hoping to celebrate a happy New Year when his reserve team
return to action at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday evening. The
second-string manager and his players enjoyed a short break over the festive
season before returning to training on Tuesday 29 December. With a week of
hard work behind them, Dyer and his players cannot wait to get back on the
pitch at Wolves, having secured a goalless draw in the reverse Barclays
Premier Reserve League South fixture in September. "It will be great to get
back into action, as the reserve lads have had a bit of a break over
Christmas, so they will be raring to go and get themselves back into the
groove. "We've had a good week of training after coming back in on Tuesday,
so we're all ready for the game and ready to get back into action. "We were
lucky to hold them to a 0-0 first time around. They had a strong side out
and we were very young, but we dug in and worked hard and fortunately they
missed a few chances and we got a result out of it. "The lads grew up that
night and hopefully the same young players can take that experience there on
Tuesday and do as well, if not better," Dyer said. Dyer will have a youthful
squad at his disposal, including the likes of winger Anthony Edgar, who made
his first-team debut as a subsitute in Sunday's FA Cup third-round defeat by
Arsenal. Captain Bondz N'Gala and former England Under-19 defender Jordan
Spence are also available, having both recently returned from loan spells at
Coca-Cola Championship outfit Scunthorpe United. Goalkeeper Marek Stech and
midfielder Olly Lee, who were among the unused substitutes against the
Gunners at the weekend, are also included in Dyer's squad. Victory over
bottom-side Wolves could lift West Ham to fourth in the nine-team league
table, providing Fulham and Birmingham City draw in one of Tuesday's other
two fixtures. Leaders Aston Villa travel to third-placed Portsmouth in the
evening's third match.
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Cole's Frank talking
WHUFC.com
Frank Nouble has revealed how Carlton Cole helped him prepare for his full
West Ham United debut
04.01.2010
Frank Nouble was able to call upon some expert advice before his full West
Ham United debut against Arsenal. The young striker was joined by Carlton
Cole, who had come in especially to offer some tips to his young team-mate.
"Carlton came in before the game and at half time to talk to me and to say
just keep on your toes and your chance will come. I had a few sniffs in the
second half and maybe with a bit more composure I would have hit the target
and had more of a chance to score. "I am still only 18 but with a couple of
years of playing in the Premier League I can become the player I want to
become."
Nouble, who only turned 18 in September, took on the lone striker role with
a maturity that belied his young age. The England Under-19 international
gave Arsenal's experienced centre-back pairing of William Gallas and Thomas
Vermaelen some tricky moments with his pace and strength. "He said I just
need to try and use my body. Physically I have worked hard on my body and I
feel strong and hopefully I can use that as a lone striker. "Defenders don't
like pace much either and I feel I've got that so hopefully I can keep
working on that in the games."
Such was the impact Nouble made on Gallas that the French international
chose to hand him his shirt after the game. "I always thought before the
game, whose shirt would I like? Gallas is a World Cup winner and had a good
career and is in the form of his life right now. "During the game I turned
him once and he was complaining about something so I just asked for his
shirt and he started smiling! It was a good experience to play against
someone like that."
Nouble has already scored three goals in eight reserve games this season and
now, buoyed by his first start, will be looking to transfer that form to the
first team. "I feel more like part of the team and the players can trust me
a bit more now in training and the games. The manager can trust me a bit
more now, be it in training or the games and the manager knows he can trust
me mentally and that I will work for the team."
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Kovac puts club first
WHUFC.com
Radoslav Kovac has retired from international football with the Czech
Republic
04.01.2010
Radoslav Kovac has announced his retirement from international football to
concentrate on his club commitments with West Ham United. The midfielder has
played 30 matches for the Czech Republic since making his debut on 9 October
2004 and represented his country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the 2008
UEFA European Championship, scoring two goals in that time. His last game
was a friendly with Slovakia in April. The 30-year-old also appeared in his
country's 2-2 draw with England at Wembley in August 2008.
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Cole boost for Hammers
Influential centre-forward closing in on return
Last updated: 4th January 2010
SSN
Gianfranco Zola has handed West Ham supporters some New Year cheer with the
news Carlton Cole is making good progress from a knee injury. The star
striker has been sidelined with the injury during what has been a troubled
time for the club, both on and off the field. Zola is starting to get key
men fit and is hopeful that England hit-man Cole will soon be able to aid
his side's bid to beat the drop. "I don't want to force things," said Zola.
"I think [his return] will be sooner rather than later."
The Italian tactician is also hopeful to be able to have senior players
Jonathan Spector, Mark Noble, Scott Parker, Jack Collison and Guillermo
Franco back next weekend.
One man who has epitomised the battling spirit Zola has called for is
compatriot Alessandro Diamanti. The forward grabbed his fourth goal in five
matches to put the injury-hit Hammers ahead in the FA Cup at the weekend
against Arsenal, only for Arsene Wenger's side to rally and eventually come
out on top 2-1. Zola feels the Italian forward, signed from Livorno during
the summer, can help his side fend off the threat of relegation. "You see
them on the pitch, the way they run and the way they chase," said "There was
a couple of times Diamanti was chasing back like a crazy man and that shows
you how much the players care about this team." He added: "I have told the
players to continue what they are doing. "We are getting to a point where
all the hard work and commitment will come back to us. "It is a matter of
being strong mentally and I have no doubt we are destined for many good
things. "We will try to make it a good year for everybody. "In my
experience, every time something has been difficult in my life, I have
always achieved what I was aiming for."
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WEST HAM: Air Asia tycoon to make bid for club
3:40pm Monday 4th January 2010
Guardian Series
WEST HAM will have another takeover bid to contend with after Air Asia boss
Tony Fernandes claimed he will make a move for the troubled Upton Park club.
Fernandes, a keen Hammers fan, told the Sun: "Soon West Ham fans will have
an owner who can make a difference and who cares." The tycoon is expected
to make an official offer soon, although he is likely to face competition
from two other interested parties. London-based financial company
Intermarket are believed to have submitted an offer – believed to be in the
region of £100m - to Rothschilds, who have been appointed by West Ham's
owners, CB Holding, to handle any bids. Former Birmingham City owners David
Gold and David Sullivan are also understood to have lodged an offer for the
club, reported to be around £50m for a 50 per cent stake in the club.
Troubled Icelandic bank Straumur, which owns 70 per cent of West Ham, were
granted a moratorium on their debts until September this year; a decision
which has bought them time and has alleviated the pressure to make a quick
sale.
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Tony Fernandes poised to launch takeover bid for West Ham
Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes appears poised to launch a takeover
bid for West Ham United.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 9:25PM GMT 04 Jan 2010
Tony Fernandes looks set to launch a takeover bid for West Ham . Fernandes,
the founder and driving force behind the highly successful AirAsia airline,
is a lifelong West Ham supporter and has been in sporadic talks about taking
a stake in the Premier League club for several months. Telegraph Sport
disclosed in November that Fernandes had met West Ham chairman Andrew
Bernhardt in Kuala Lumpur but the pair could not agree a deal. Talks have
continued with, it is believed, Fernandes finally deciding that he wants to
invest in the club. Sport on television Indeed it is possible that a
resolution to West Ham's ownership may be found this week even though the
club's owner, CB Holding, maintains it is in no hurry to sell. Two other
bidders have submitted offers. Last week David Sullivan, the former
Birmingham City co-owner, underwent the second stage of the due diligence
process. On Monday night the Intermarket Group claimed it had met
Rothschild, the bank that has been engaged by Bernhardt to sift through the
offers, and will formally submit a bid in writing on Tuesday.
Even so, it is Fernandes's bid that has caused the greatest excitement given
his track-record for innovative ideas, flair and growing businesses as well
as his passion for sport. He is also team principal of the Lotus Formula One
team. The businessman is also firmly committed to supporting manager
Gianfranco Zola and met the Italian after the Boxing Day victory over
Portsmouth. Fernandes, 45, is expected to attend Sunday's league match at
home to Wolves and there is a sense of anticipation around West Ham that the
club may be able to make a positive announcement prior to the fixture which
could provide a launchpad for the rest of their season. Meanwhile, the
Football Association will on Wednesday begin its inquiry into the crowd
disturbances at West Ham during and after the Carling Cup clash with
Millwall in August. West Ham and Millwall are set to launch a strong
defence against a total of seven charges. Both clubs were alleged to have
taken insufficient action to stop missile throwing and violent, threatening
and racist behaviour at Upton Park.
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Franco Zo Sure of Safety
The Sun
Published: Today
GIANFRANCO ZOLA is promising West Ham's new owners they will be in control
of a Premier League club next season. Three consortiums are neck and neck in
the race to take control with former Birmingham owners Davids Sullivan and
Gold being chased hard by multi-millionaire fans favourite Tony Fernandes
and Intermarket - fronted by David Byrne. And boss Zola is convinced his
team will survive and keep the asking price for Upton Park high. Zola, whose
squad has been ripped apart by injuries to top aces like striker Carlton
Cole, Scott Parker and Mark Noble said: "Trust me. When we have everyone
back, this team will be different. We will be very tough to beat. "I know
this team will be all right at the end of the season. I can write it down
now we will be OK."
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And just to make you laugh :
Charles Sale: Sheffield steeled for court battle
Last updated at 12:01 AM on 05th January 2010
Daily Mail
Sheffield United have started legal action over the choice of Sheffield
Wednesday's Hillsborough ground as a potential stadium for the 2018 World
Cup ahead of Bramall Lane.
United believe Wednesday have been shown favouritism by Sheffield City
Council in the speed with which planning permission was granted for
renovations included in their bid. It is claimed the process took a matter
of weeks, when such an application can take years. United, who had been
firm favourites and had worked closely with the Council in the Sheffield
tender, are taking their complaints to the Ombudsman before seeking an
independent judicial review, if necessary. Wednesday's extra room for fan
zones and so forth outside the ground won them the vote. But there are major
doubts at United, who have the advantage of a wealthy owner in Kevin McCabe
and a more modern ground, that Wednesday can fund their building work
through cash flow, as they have promised. United's sense of injustice has
not been tempered by the fact that the city's most influential politicians -
David Blunkett, Angela Smith, Roy Hattersley and Clive Betts - are all
Wednesday supporters.
SO they are at it again!!! SAD MUPPETS!
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