WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola has another new forward recruit after landing Egyptian
international forward Mido
01.02.2010
West Ham United are pleased to announce the signing of Egypt striker Mido on
loan until the end of the 2009/10 season. The 26-year-old, whose full name
is Ahmed Hossam Hussein Abdelhamid, has arrived at the Boleyn Ground from
Middlesbrough, having been on loan at Egyptian club El Zamalek since August.
The powerful frontman put the finishing touches to his move in the Boleyn
Ground trophy room on Monday afternoon, before the club were able to confirm
the transfer later that night. He had earlier been to Chadwell Heath to meet
Gianfranco Zola. Mido was one of three new striking recruits at the club
this transfer window after the confirmation of the deals to sign South
Africa forward Benni McCarthy and Brazilian attacker Ilan. He said: "I am
very happy to be here. It is a great club and I am sure that I will do well.
It is an exciting challenge for me. It is another new club but hopefully I
can prove myself and stay here for longer. "We had other offers but I have
decided to play here. I met the gaffer this morning and we got on well. I am
really looking forward to working with him and the lads. West Ham have a
great team and manager, and that was a big factor in deciding to come here.
"I know a lot of the players here and the fans are passionate. We have got
everything you need to get in the top ten and I hope to play my part in
helping the club to move up. "We will all be doing our best to start winning
games. I am fit to play this weekend but of course it is the manager's
decision. I will start training on Tuesday and try to do the business for
West Ham."
Mido, who has scored 23 goals in 50 games for his country, began his career
at El Zamalek in 1999 before moving to Europe with Belgian club KAA Gent in
2000. The forward's career took off with AFC Ajax, where he scored 12 goals
in 24 league appearances in 2001/02, helping the Dutch giants to a league
and cup double. After spending time with Spanish club Celta Vigo, where he
partnered new Hammers team-mate McCarthy, French giants Olympique de
Marseille and Italian side AS Roma, Mido moved to England in January 2005,
when he joined Tottenham Hotspur. The Cairo-born forward had two-and-a-half
years at White Hart Lane before heading to Middlesbrough. He then had loan
spells at Wigan Athletic and Zamalek. At international level, Mido was part
of the Pharaohs' squad that lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in their home
country in 2006, scoring in the group-stage win over Libya.
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Ilan the man
WHUFC.com
Brazilian forward Ilan has become the third striker to sign for West Ham
United in 24 hours
01.02.2010
West Ham United are pleased to confirm the signing of Brazilian forward Ilan
on a six-month contract. The 29-year-old, full name Ilan Araujo Dall'Igna,
was available on a free transfer after leaving French club AS Saint-Etienne
in January. The skilful forward met with manager Gianfranco Zola at Chadwell
Heath on Monday morning before heading for the Boleyn Ground to complete his
move to east London later that night. "I am very happy to have signed and to
play here," Ilan said. "I spoke to Gianfranco Zola and he is a very nice
guy. I spoke a little Italian and a little French to him. I am happy to be
here and it is a great opportunity for me. "West Ham are a big club in
England and a very traditional club. I also love the Premier League."
A former team-mate of Herita Ilunga at Les Verts, Ilan has a proven
goalscoring record in the French top-flight. The pair were on the pitch
together when the forward netted the Ligue 1 goal of the season with a
spectacular bicycle kick in a 2-0 win at Paris Saint-Germain in February
2007. Ilan scored 24 goals in 54 league matches for FC Sochuax-Montbeliard
between 2004 and 2006 before his move to St-Etienne. He then added another
25 goals in 95 matches, forming a prolific partnership with France forward
Bafetimbi Gomis. He first came to prominence in his homeland at Parana Clube
and Sao Paulo FC. It was at Atletico Paranaense where his career took off,
though, as he helped the club to their first league title in 2001. At
international level, the Curitiba-born player earned all three of his senior
caps for Brazil at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup in France, making
substitute appearances against Cameroon and the United States before
starting his country's final group-stage fixture against Turkey.
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West Ham seal Mido loan transfer
BBC.co.uk
West Ham have completed the signing of Mido from Middlesbrough on a loan
switch until the end of the campaign. Hours after signing another frontman
in Benni McCarthy from Blackburn, West Ham made a late move for the
Egyptian. The 26-year-old, who spent the first few months of the season
with Egyptian side Zamalek, first made his name in England with rivals
Tottenham. "I am here to play football and to prove a point, definitely. I
am very happy to be here," Mido said. "I had to sacrifice some things but
this is a great club and I am sure I will do well here, hopefully." The
duo's arrival takes the number of strikers at Upton Park to eight as they
desperately try to avoid relegation. The Hammers lie only one point off the
bottom three, 15th in the table.
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Mido & Ilan join West Ham on loan
BBC.co.uk
West Ham United have completed the loan signings of strikers Mido from
Middlesbrough and Brazilian Ilan from French club St Etienne. The two deals
followed the signing of Blackburn forward Benni McCarthy. The 26-year-old
Mido, who spent the first few months of the season with Egyptian side
Zamalek, first made his name in England with rivals Tottenham. Mido has
joined until the end of the season as has the 29-year-old Ilan, who has the
option of extending his stay. "I am here to play football and to prove a
point, definitely. I am very happy to be here," Mido said. "I had to
sacrifice some things but this is a great club and I am sure I will do well
here, hopefully."
The arrival of three more forwards takes the number of strikers at Upton
Park to nine as they desperately try to avoid relegation. The Hammers lie
only one point off the bottom three, 15th in the table.
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Ilan makes it three
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have landed their THIRD striker of transfer deadline day -
clinching the signature of former St Etienne striker Ilan Araujo. The
29-year-old thrice-capped Brazilian follows Benni McCarthy and Mido as new
arrivals at the club following a frantic day of negotiations at both
Chadwell Heath and the Boleyn Ground. McCarthy - who agreed terms last week
- had his transfer confirmed just after lunch. A couple of hours later
former Roma and Ajax striker Mido told waiting reporters that he had agreed
a deal until the end of the current season. Ilan, who terminated his
contract with St Etienne last month also joins on a short-term deal until
the end of the season.
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Ilan adds to Zola's options
Hammers swoop for Brazilian striker
Last updated: 1st February 2010
SSN
West Ham finalised a deal for St Etienne's Brazilian striker Ilan on
deadline day. The Hammers had been strongly linked with a move for the South
American and he was at Upton Park on Monday for talks. The 29-year-old, who
has won three caps for his country, struck an accord with West Ham and is
now set to spend the remainder of the 2009/10 campaign with the Premier
League outfit. There is an option available to both parties for a permanent
two-year deal to be put in place at the end of the season.
He will move to East London as a free agent, after six years spent in France
with St Etienne and Sochaux. Ilan still had six months left to run on his
contract at Stade Geoffrey-Guichard, but has been released from that
agreement. He becomes Gianfranco Zola's third attacking signing on a busy
day of transfer activity, with Benni McCarthy and Mido having also agreed to
join the Hammers. "I am extremely happy to be here and I hope to play as
soon as possible. I look forward to the challenge," Ilan told Sky Sports
News.
"It was an easy decision to come here. It is one of the biggest leagues in
the world. "My aim is to the best I can and score goals. I want to start
with a bang. "I am delighted to be here and I am looking forward to enjoying
a long-term relationship with West Ham."
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Mido determined to prove point
Forward accepts sacrifices to agree Upton Park loan
Last updated: 1st February 2010
SSN
Egyptian striker Mido has told Sky Sports News that he is determined to
prove a point in England after signing a four-month loan contract at West
Ham United. The forward, who is officially still on the books of
Middlesbrough but has been playing on loan at El Zamalek, was in London to
complete the formalities of his move on winter transfer deadline day as the
Hammers aim to further bolster their attack. West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola
completed the signing of Benni McCarthy on Monday and the arrival of
Brazilian Ilan is expected to be confirmed as personal term discussions
continue. But the Italian has also moved for former Tottenham player Mido
and he appears to have signed a man on a mission after the forward was
branded somewhat of a flop at his previous English clubs. The 26-year-old
told Sky Sports News of his move to West Ham: "I had to sacrifice some
things but I am here to play football. I am here to prove a point,
definitely. "I am very happy to be here. It is a great club and I am sure I
will do well here, hopefully."
Hammers co-owner David Sullivan has previously stated that Mido had offered
to play for just £1,000-a-week. West Ham were snubbed by Ruud van Nistelrooy
and Zola's former Chelsea team-mate Eidur Gudjohnsen earlier in the transfer
window.
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Zola's hat-trick on new strikers
The Sun
WEST HAM boss Gianfranco Zola is ready to go gung-ho after signing THREE new
strikers on transfer deadline day. Benni McCarthy finally completed his
£2.5million switch from Blackburn and the Hammers also snapped up Mido
on-loan from Middlesbrough and Brazil striker Ilan on a short-term deal. The
busy day of transfer activity at Upton Park means that West Ham now have
SEVEN first-team strikers at the club. Carlton Cole, Guillermo Franco,
Freddie Sears and Frank Nouble were already on the books. McCarthy fell out
with Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce and Zola cannot wait to see him put on a
claret and blue shirt. Zola said: "He'll be a threat in the last third. He's
a type of player that will score goals. He will be a big help for us. "I
think he's got quality, which is what I'm looking for. He has got quality in
the last 20 metres. He's got goals in his bag and that's what I need right
now, and that's what I'm going to be asking him to produce for us. "He'll be
around the box. Obviously a player like him, you have to keep him around the
box, because he can be more effective like that."
Fitness permitting, Zola revealed that the McCarthy-Carlton Cole partnership
could be unleashed on Burnley at Turf Moor this Saturday afternoon. He said:
"I think it will be a good partnership because Cole is strong and skilful
and McCarthy is also smart and skilful, so I think they will find a good
combination. Hopefully this week we're going to work on the fitness and on
Saturday they're going to be good. "I think it will be a big help for
Carlton, because it's going to give him the opportunity to be more relaxed
and also the opposition will not only have to look after one player, they
have to look after two players and that is a big thing. I think if they work
together and help each other they can really be a big asset for us. "We are
a very young team. We have a lot of young players in our squad so I think
it's not wrong that we bring in somebody with the experience, football
knowledge and also goals. So I think it's a good choice."
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Mido follows Benni McCarthy to West Ham as former Spurs striker agrees loan
deal
Daily Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 4:53 PM on 01st February 2010
West Ham have completed the £2.2million signing of Benni McCarthy from
Blackburn while Mido has signed on loan for the rest of the campaign.
Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola boosted his attacking options with the capture
of McCarthy and the South African was joined at Upton Park by former
Tottenham, and Wigan striker Mido as the transfer deadline approached on
Monday. Middlesbrough's Egyptian forward Mido had been on loan at Zamalek.
McCarthy, who could make his debut against Burnley on Saturday after signing
a contract until 2012, told the Hammers' official website: 'I am very
pleased and extremely happy. This is a great club. 'The reason why I am
happy that it has finally happened is because about five years ago I had a
disappointing experience when I thought I was going to be a West Ham player
until Porto pulled out and I had to go back. 'I would have loved this to be
my first Premier League club, I went to Blackburn instead but West Ham kept
on pursuing me and eventually I am here. 'I am looking forward to making up
for lost time and I can't wait to make my debut. The reception I have got
from everyone at the club and the fans I have already met in the street has
been great. Everyone was optimistic and gave me a really good feeling.
'It left me thinking "Wow, this is the club I want to play for". Although I
could have gone to other clubs, this was the only one I wanted. Blackburn
were very good to me and I had a wonderful time there but now this is a new
opportunity. This for me is fantastic and I can't wait to play for the
manager.
'They wanted me before, it didn't happen but now the opportunity arises
again and this time I am going to prove myself. It is my destiny to be here.
All I want to do is score goals for West Ham and make the fans happy.'
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Sullivan's passion undimmed by his likely departure
Birmingham's co-owner on the lookout for his next club as the end nears -
slowly - at St Andrew's
Stuart James The Guardian, Thursday 27 September 2007
Anyone who thought David Sullivan's commitment to Birmingham City might have
changed because of the possible takeover at St Andrew's is badly mistaken.
The soft-porn magazine on his desk and the share prices flicking over on
Teletext in the office at his Essex mansion hint at his other business
interests but football, Manchester United's visit on Saturday and the £2.2m
he has seen his club pour down the drain are uppermost in his mind.
Birmingham's co-owner has just learned that Borja Oubina is unlikely to play
again this term after injuring knee ligaments. "The fans say you haven't
spent enough but what they don't see is that Oubina was £2m," said Sullivan.
"They say you just loaned him from Celta Vigo. Well, we did, but we paid £1m
a year to loan him. He's on £1m a year and we paid his agent £200,000 so
that's £2.2m gone."
Sullivan likes to discuss figures - finances rather than the female form
which, through adult publications and licensed sex shops, has helped the
58-year-old to accumulate a fortune estimated at £600m. His bank account
will be topped up again in the coming months if Carson Yeung, the Hong
Kong-based businessman who bought a 29.9% stake in Birmingham two months
ago, delivers on his promise of a full takeover.
Sullivan claims to have had enough. "I'm going for three reasons," he said.
"One, the geographical distance. I've said for years the journey to
Birmingham is killing me. Two, I think deep down the public have had enough
of us. They think we should have mortgaged our houses to buy more players to
compete with Chelsea and Arsenal. The honeymoon is long over and we're at
the divorce stage now, unfortunately. And I also feel we've had no support
from Birmingham council."
It was the combination of those factors which prompted Sullivan to sell
14.81% of his shares to Yeung in July for about £7.5m, though uncertainty
continues over the mooted takeover. "I saw [Yeung] on Saturday," said
Sullivan. "He comes to the games. We say, 'How is everything going?' They
say, 'Good, good.' They say to us it will happen. We say, 'When?'"
That question remains unanswered although Sullivan does emphasise that Yeung
"loves football and has a passion for Birmingham City". Both are also true
of Sullivan, despite his restlessness. Indeed he is so submerged in
football, whether talking up the potential of a youth player or claiming
Emile Heskey caused Birmingham to be relegated 18 months ago, that it is
difficult to imagine how he will cope without the game.
"I've got to find another club," he said. "I haven't got one lined up. But I
think football clubs will fall out of bed and people will realise they're
overpriced. All these people that have bought them for silly prices will
find the club losing money, not doing as well as they anticipated and there
will be deals to be done.
"I could see a scenario where the Icelanders, in two years' time or 18
months, making no money out of West Ham having cocked it up, they might want
to walk away. They might want to say to me, 'Come and buy half the club and
make it work for us,' because they have done some appalling things at West
Ham. The wages they are paying both to staff and players - I cannot see how
the business model works. And they have done it as an investment, no other
reason."
For all his forthright opinions Sullivan, who retains a small stake in West
Ham, claims never to have interfered with on-the-field matters. "I think you
can suggest players to the manager," he said. "And if he wants to buy a
player that you desperately don't want, you can ask him to reconsider. If
the team is playing badly you can make suggestions about how things could be
changed, but ultimately the manager must make the decisions."
That modus operandi appears to have served Birmingham well even if the club
missed out on signing Mark Viduka - "We offered him £65,000 a week" - and
Mido - "He wanted a one-sided contract" - during a summer when Sullivan
claims to have "worked harder than ever".
He will maintain that approach should Yeung's deal collapse, otherwise he
intends to reflect on a "pretty good" job at St Andrew's. "There are 20
clubs in Britain that would welcome me with open arms. But there would have
to be potential. I've got to tell you, Dagenham and Redbridge would be
tough. I'm not a magician."
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Hammers tie up a plumb deal
The Sun
By PAT SHEEHAN
Published: 01 Feb 2010
MIDO joined West Ham yesterday - and will earn less than a plumber! Owner
David Sullivan branded the £52,000-a- year deal "one of the most amazing of
all time" as the Egypt striker signed on a six-month loan from
Middlesbrough. Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy also moved to Upton Park -
but he will pocket £38,000-a-week for 2½ years!
Mido's wages will be the lowest in the Prem but Sullivan said: "Mido is a
rich boy, even though he is still only 26. "He doesn't need the money but he
wants to prove something in England. So he is willing to play for
£1,000-a-week."
Hammers boss Franco Zola now has seven strikers after handing Brazilian free
agent Ilan a six-month deal.
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Hammers sign duo
Published 22:41 01/02/10 By Pa Sports
The Mirror
West Ham beat the transfer deadline to sign Middlesbrough striker Mido and
free agent Brazilian forward Ilan until the end of the season. Mido signed a
one-season loan deal with Egyptian side Zamalek last summer but failed to
impress at the club where he began his career 11 years ago, prompting West
Ham boss Gianfranco Zola to make a move for the striker. He has signed on
loan until the end of the season, while Ilan has clinched a six-month
contract following his recent release from French club St Etienne. Egypt
striker Mido first came to England in 2005, when he signed for Tottenham on
an 18-month loan from Serie A giants Roma. He had a successful first season
at White Hart Lane and later became a permanent signing, before falling out
with manager Martin Jol who sold him to Middlesbrough for £6.5million. The
Hammers have been desperate to add to their squad since millionaires David
Gold and David Sullivan bought the cash-strapped club two weeks ago and they
completed the signing of Benni McCarthy from Blackburn earlier today. Zola's
side are without a win since Boxing Day and 26-year-old Mido is desperate to
aid West Ham's bid for survival. "I'm here to prove a point. It is a great
club and I'm sure I will do well here," Mido told Sky Sports News. Ilan, 29,
had plenty of success in France with Sochaux and St Etienne before falling
out of favour with the latter team this season. He said: "I am very happy to
have signed and to play here. I spoke to Gianfranco Zola and he is a very
nice guy. I spoke a little Italian and a little French to him. I am happy to
be here and it is a great opportunity for me. West Ham are a big club in
England and a very traditional club. I also love the Premier League."
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From Famine to Feast!
West Ham Till I Die
West Ham's transfer dealings largely dominated SSN's coverage of the final
day of the January window. Not only was the protracted transfer of Benni
McCarthy successfully concluded, but strikers two and three followed with
the capture of Mido and Ilan. Indeed, such was the expected activity that
SSN had a reporter camped outside Upton Park to provide regular updates on
our transfer deals. We have not had that concentrated SSN transfer
reportage since the heady days of the January window of 2006-07!
By the 5pm deadline, we could be forgiven for thinking that we had suddenly
gone from striker famine to feast. With three new strikers joining, two
returning from injury (Cole and Franco) and the youngsters, Nouble and
Sears, we suddenly have 7 strikers on board. Compare that with he last two
games, where we have utilised Nouble as a lone striker and brought Sears on
from the bench.
No doubt some fans will be underwhelmed by our new strikers. However, the
fact is that Mido has operated fairly effectively before in the PL (not
least against us in the past!), Ilan looks to be worth a punt and McCarthy
has the class and experience to partner Cole. Indeed, injury and fitness
permitting, it looks like Cole and McCarthy will be our first choice strike
force, with Mido and Ilan contributing (at least in the first instance) from
the bench. Like others, I hope that Franco still remains in the first team
frame. I like his technique, skillful link up play and ability to poach
some useful goals.
Zola will have the unusual experience of having choice and competition for
places up front. His immediate challenge is to forge Cole and McCarthy into
an productive goal scoring partnership and use his other striking resources
to the best possible effect. I would not be surprised to now see one or two
of the younger strikers (Sears, Nouble or Dixon) go out on loan to build up
their competitive match experience and fitness.
Zola also needs to decide on his best midfield line up. That should include
(as previously discussed) Noble being given responsibility for playing
midfield anchor, allowing the likes of Parker, Behrami and Collison to play
more offensively. Zola also needs to think carefully about how Diamanti is
best utilised within the team. Longer-term, Zola needs to work with
Diamanti to instill self-discipline and sounder decision-making on the
pitch, to supplement to his unquestioned technique and skill. In short, his
technique and skill need to be better integrated in to the team context,
without stifling or undermining his individual creativity.
As far as we know at present, we did not bring in a new defender during the
window. Some of us might not agree with that decision, but we will just
have to go with what we currently have in defence. At least Spector seems
to be showing some good form and Faubert is applying himself well at
right-back. Julien Faubert is not my preferred choice in that position, but
you have to admire the way that he stuck to his task against Blackburn, in
what we subsequently found out to be tragic personal circumstances. It
showed a dedication and strength of character that can only be respected.
Condolences to Julien and his family.
While in goal, I just hope Rob Green stays fit! Although we may be able to
secure an emergency signing outside the window, in that particular position,
should the need arise.
Quite often, new signings lift a team and improved results can soon follow.
Lets hope that is, indeed, the case with West Ham, starting with Burnley
away. Returning to Turf Moor will be like a trip down memory lane.
Unusually for me, I have only been there once, about 35 years ago! It was
c.1975 and a rampant Hammers team beat them 2-5, with Trevor Brooking and
Alan Taylor scoring a brace each (if I recall correctly?).
We no longer have the Sublime skills of Sir Trevor in midfield, but
hopefully we will still have too much class for a Burnley side that is there
for the taking. We just need to shackle Robbie Blake and Fletcher, their
main threats, and we should come away with the three points. Perhaps not
2-5 this time, but a comfortable 0-2 victory would go down a treat!
COYI.
SJ. Chandos.
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Mido: I chose West Ham ahead of rival offers
02.02.10 | tribalfootball.com
Middlesbrough striker Mido is delighted with his loan move to West Ham
United. Mido was one of three new striking recruits at the club this
transfer window after the confirmation of the deals to sign South Africa
forward Benni McCarthy and Brazilian attacker Ilan. He told whufc.com: "I am
very happy to be here. It is a great club and I am sure that I will do well.
It is an exciting challenge for me. It is another new club but hopefully I
can prove myself and stay here for longer. "We had other offers but I have
decided to play here. I met the gaffer this morning and we got on well. I am
really looking forward to working with him and the lads. West Ham have a
great team and manager, and that was a big factor in deciding to come here.
"I know a lot of the players here and the fans are passionate. We have got
everything you need to get in the top ten and I hope to play my part in
helping the club to move up. "We will all be doing our best to start winning
games. I am fit to play this weekend but of course it is the manager's
decision. I will start training on Tuesday and try to do the business for
West Ham."
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