WHUFC.com
Experience will be key when the manager leads his team in training before
the trip to Burnley
01.02.2010
Gianfranco Zola is excited about the prospect of adding experience to his
young squad this week - in the shape of a new face or two along with several
key players coming back to fitness. By the time the transfer window shuts at
5pm today, the manager will hope at the very least to have added Benni
McCarthy to his forward line, while Guille Franco is getting closer to a
full training return. The manager can also look forward to a full week's
work with Herita Ilunga, Scott Parker, Kieron Dyer and Carlton Cole. Parker
and Cole were late arrivals against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday and, for
all their efforts, were unable to inspire the team to more than the point
earned from a goalless draw. Parker in particular opened up the visitors'
defence with a late run only to see his cross fizz across the six-yard box
with no one on the end. Zola said: "When Scott came on he looked dangerous
and did well. It is good to have Carlton and Scotty back. They will be so
important next weekend at Burnley. This week they will train fully and that
will be good for them. They will be all right for Saturday."
The manager is clear the older heads will be invaluable. The two England
internationals were big plusses against Rovers but the manager was more than
happy with the contribution of several youngsters on view, not least
18-year-old Frank Nouble and 20-year-old Freddie Sears. "We are already a
very young team," he acknowledged though when asked about the prospect of
McCarthy in his attack at Burnley on Saturday. "We have a lot of young
players in our squad so I think it is not wrong that we bring someone in
with experience, with football knowledge and also goals."
He also spoke about the importance as well of easing the burden of
expectation of top scorer Cole, who has battled so gamely to get back to
fitness after two months out. "It will take pressure off him. A lot has been
on his shoulders. "It will give him good help and the opportunity to be more
relaxed and also the opposition will not only have to look after one player.
They will have to look after two and that is a big thing."
With the trip to Turf Moor coming up this weekend before Birmingham City
arrive on Wednesday week, Zola knows there is potential for the team to put
some real breathing space between themselves and the bottom three. "We are
looking for a run of two or three games where we can push out of this
situation," he said. He claimed there would not be a repeat of the
nervousness that appeared to affect Saturday's showing. "It won't happen
again," he said, suggesting that encouraging the players to express
themselves "with freedom" would be a major focus of the next few days. The
transfer window closing will allow him to do just that, adding to the
considerable bonus of the ownership situation being resolved. Chairmen David
Sullivan and David Gold are fully settled in and working hard in the
transfer market. "It has been a busy month for me but we will see what we
can do," concluded Zola.
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Big Sam in McCarthy warning
Rovers boss says Hammers will have to pick up striker's workload
Last updated: 1st February 2010
SSN
Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has warned West Ham United that Benni
McCarthy is unlikely to have a long-term impact at Upton Park. McCarthy is
waiting to finalise a move to the Hammers, with a work permit issue having
held up the deal over the weekend. The South African scored 18 goals in the
Premier League in his debut season at Ewood Park after arriving from Porto
in 2006, but has mustered just 19 in the subsequent two-and-a-half years.
And Allardyce believes that, while the 32-year-old will start positively for
the Hammers, his counterpart Gianfranco Zola will need to ensure someone
picks up McCarthy's workload. "McCarthy is a hugely talented player who can
play his best football in the final third," said Allardyce. "He's not
getting any younger, so when you're not getting any younger the legs are not
quite as good. "But the talent is still there, so if you can get other
players around him to do the workload then he'll get you chances and score
you goals. "He's generally the best he is when he first goes to any new
club.
"When he came to Blackburn he scored 23 goals in his first year and hasn't
quite replicated that since."
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Transfer deadline day: latest
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are hoping to confirm at least two new arrivals ahead of this
afternoon's 5pm transfer deadline. Already installed at the club - despite
no official confirmation having arrived as of yet - is South African forward
Benni McCarthy, with 29-year-old Brazilian striker Ilan set to follow should
talks today prove a success. Yet the Irons continue to be linked with a
number of other players, with the strangest rumour regarding Egyptian
striker Mido. Mido, who is currently contracted to Championship club
Middlesbrough but has spent the season in the Middle East has apparently
offered to play for West Ham for a nominal fee in an attempt to prove his
value at the higest level. David Sullivan, talking yesterday said: "It would
be one of the most amazing deals of all time. He doesn't want to be known as
a 'has been' of English football, so he willing to come here to play for
just £1,000-a-week. "He is a rich boy, even though he is still only 26, and
he told us he doesn't need the money. He wants to prove something in English
football and is desperate to show people here what he can do."
Sullivan also refuted rumours that West Ham were in for Tottenham's Robbie
Keane, adding that the Irishman had priced himself out of a move. "Of
course, we'd have liked him, who wouldn't," he said. "But we simply can't
afford him; It would have worked out at £105,000-a-week for the rest of this
season, as well as a transfer fee."
Also linked with a move once again over the weekend is Alan Hutton, although
reports this morning suggest that the Scottish international is more likely
to end up at Sunderland.
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Parker looking for wins
Midfielder happy takeover uncertainty has been concluded
Last updated: 1st February 2010
SSN
Scott Parker is hoping the end of the takeover saga at West Ham United can
lead to an upturn in the club's fortunes on the pitch. Former Birmingham
City co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan recently took control at Upton
Park after several parties had expressed an interest in a buy-out. The
boardroom uncertainty had led to suggestions that manager Gianfranco Zola
may be forced to cash in on key players in order to balance the books. But,
with Zola now trying to bring in new signings ahead of the transfer
deadline, midfield powerhouse Parker is looking to secure wins in the battle
for survival after a run of three successive draws in the Premier League.
"We need to turn the draws into wins," said Parker. "We all need to chip in.
"We've got some massive games coming up with teams around us. We're in a
relegation fight and we need to win games. "The negativity surrounding the
club over the last few months never helps. "We have two owners come in who
look like they are massive fans and really want to take the club forward,
which is pleasing."
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Hammers move for second striker
KUMB.,com
Filed: Sunday, 31st January 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United look set to wrap up a second transfer window capture with
the arrival of Brazilian striker Ilan. The 29-year-old looks set to confirm
a switch to the Premier League ahead of tomorrow's 5pm transfer deadline.
Ilan, who has spent the last four years at St Etienne, moved to France in
2004 after completing a switch to Sochaux from Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
outfit Atletico Paranaense, having previously spent time with Parana and
Brzilian giants Sau Paulo. The 6' Curitiba-born striker - full name Ilan
Araujo Dall'Igna - has never been prolific in front of goal but still
maintained a healthy goalscoring record in the French league, where he has
notched 49 goals from a total of 149 appearances for Sochaux and St Etienne.
However having fallen out of favour with Stéphanois boss Christophe Galtier
he has made just 12 appearances thus far this season and was told earlier
this month that he would be allowed to leave the club on a free transfer.
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Benni McCarthy and Carlton Cole can provide West Ham's cutting edge
Evening Standard
01.02.10
Gianfranco Zola hopes the strike partnership of Benni McCarthy and Carlton
Cole can do for West Ham what Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole did for Manchester
United. The 32-year-old South Africa striker is on the verge of a move to
Upton Park from Blackburn, who should have left east London with more than
just the point from Saturday's goalless draw. The Irons have lacked a
cutting edge in attack, which was painfully evident again on Saturday
despite the second-half introduction of their England forward, who has just
returned from a knee injury. Zola feels veteran McCarthy - who almost joined
the Hammers from Porto five years ago - can help bring the best out of Cole,
with the 26-year-old still hoping to be part of Fabio Capello's World Cup
squad in the summer. "I think it will be a good partnership because Cole is
strong and skilful as well, so I think they will find a good combination,"
said Zola. "I think there are similarities [with Yorke and Andy Cole]."
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West Ham closing on cut-price Mido - Sullivan
ESPN Soccernet staff
February 1, 2010
West Ham's co-owner David Sullivan revealed to ESPN soccernet how he
declined to sign one top striker for £105,000-a-week, and is negotiating a
beat-the-deadline deal for another top name for... £1,000-a-week. Sullivan
openly confessed he could not afford the big salary to bring Robbie Keane to
East London from North London, but he is desperately trying to capture Mido
for one of the lowest salaries of any Premier League star. Sullivan told
Soccernet of one of the most unlikely and unusual deadline-day proposals of
all time, with his move for the former Spurs centre-forward Mido, who is
willing to return to English football for a knock down salary - perhaps the
only player in the world to negotiate his wages down to such a low level in
a bid to prove himself. "We simply can't afford Robbie Keane,'' Sullivan
said. ''Of course, we'd have liked him, who wouldn't? But it would have
worked out at £105,000-a-week for the rest of this season, as well as a
transfer fee. We simply cannot afford it. "Then we have Mido. It would be
one of the most amazing deals of all time. He doesn't want to be known as a
'has been' of English football, so he is willing to come here to play for a
nominal fee, just £1,000-a-week. "He is a rich boy, even though he is still
only 26, and he told us he doesn't need the money, but he wants to prove
something in English football. "He is a Middlesborough player who is on loan
back in his home country Egypt, but he desperate to show people here what he
can do. We are hoping to clinch this deal today."
Sullivan is also "hopeful" of concluding a deal for Brazilian striker Ilan
for a nominal fee from St Etienne and the Hammers have also finalised the
£2.2 million signing of Benni McCarthy from Blackburn after missing out on
forwards Eidur Gudjohnsen and Victor Moses in the last week.
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Transfer deadline day latest: Tottenham Hotspur set huge loan fee for Robbie
Keane
Feb 1 2010
Sunday Mercury
Tottenham Hotspur want a stunning £1 million loan fee for skipper Robbie
Keane - a shock deadline day target for struggling West Ham. And Spurs have
told the Hammers that they will also have to pay the Republic of Ireland
striker's £70,000-a-week wages in full for the rest of the season to have
him. Hammers supremo David Sullivan is desperate to land Keane as a trophy
capture for his club. He would prefer to have him on loan with a view to a
full-time deal, but was quoted those sky-high figures yesterday. Spurs would
be willing to let Keane go to their capital rivals - a club they do not see
eye-to-eye with on transfers - but they want a total of around £3 million
for the rental agreement. Sullivan is considering his options. He thinks
Keane could keep his team in the top flight and save them the massive cost
of relegation - and he may yet come up with the cash. The clubs have also
discussed the possibility of a full-time move or even a swap, but the loan
option is now favourite and Sullivan is going to make that final decision
today. Hammers are recruiting Brazilian striker Ilan on a free transfer from
St.Etienne and closing a deal for Benni McCarthy, but they want one more
leading forward. Spurs beat them to Eidur Gudjohnsen to add to the acrimony
between the two clubs, leaving Sullivan wanting to do Keane instead - and
having to face a major bill. The Keane option is alive and is stopping Roman
Pavlyuchenko from going out of White Hart Lane, but Spurs will call a halt
to the possible move for their captain if the Russian goes.
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Sam: Benni won`t last long
Football.co.za
Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has warned West Ham United that Benni
McCarthy is unlikely to have a long-term impact at Upton Park. McCarthy is
waiting to finalise a move to the Hammers, with a work permit issue having
held up the deal over the weekend. The South African scored 18 goals in the
Premier League in his debut season at Ewood Park after arriving from Porto
in 2006, but has mustered just 19 in the subsequent two-and-a-half years.
And Allardyce believes that, while the 32-year-old will start positively for
the Hammers, his counterpart Gianfranco Zola will need to ensure someone
picks up McCarthy's workload. "McCarthy is a hugely talented player who can
play his best football in the final third," said Allardyce. "He's not
getting any younger, so when you're not getting any younger the legs are not
quite as good. "But the talent is still there, so if you can get other
players around him to do the workload then he'll get you chances and score
you goals. "He's generally the best he is when he first goes to any new
club.
"When he came to Blackburn he scored 23 goals in his first year and hasn't
quite replicated that since."
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Acrimony with Jordan put Gold off Palace bid
Monday, February 01, 2010, 09:50
Sport Croydon
WEST Ham owner David Gold has given Crystal Palace fans a vision of what
might have been after admitting that, if it was not for the 'strong
personality' of Simon Jordan, he might have invested. Three months ago the
ex-Birmingham City owner was on the verge of buying a stake in Palace. But
last week Gold, along with business partner David Sullivan, took control of
his boyhood club West Ham United, with a 50 per cent share believed to be
worth £50m. In light of Crystal Palace's financial downturn, Gold admitted
that an uneasy relationship with Jordan prevented him, and other potential
investors, from committing to the club. "I guess from a businessman's point
of view maybe I should have waited and had discussions with Crystal Palace
now, but West Ham was always my desired club," said Gold. "There is always a
want to return to your original club and West Ham is my boyhood club, so
that was always the dream."
The owner of Ann Summers, whose head office is in Whyteleafe, said: "I was
looking at Crystal Palace, who are my local club, and the vast amount of the
people who work for me support Palace; I see scarves in all the offices, and
I have many friends who are fans. "We did have discussions about Crystal
Palace, but there has been acrimony between myself and Simon Jordan, so it
was difficult to help them. "That's not to say that Simon has not done a
fantastic job at Crystal Palace, but maybe because of his strong personality
he just couldn't encourage other investors to join him. It does make it
difficult for people."
Gold lives in a Caterham mansion, but believes it is time for fans to take
back their clubs. "Simon is a fan of Crystal Palace, but I think it is time
for someone else to take the reins and I would recommend Ron Noades," he
said. "I have to say that I do like to think that there are a number of
wealthy investors waiting in the wings for Crystal Palace.
"Ron Noades was a great chairman and did extremely well in his tenure at
Palace, but going forward I think he could well be the man for the job. "He
is a true Palace fan; it is like me going back to West Ham; because I have
love for the football club, and I think that is the way it should be. "There
is a danger that clubs are being taken over by money men who, for whatever
reason, want to invest in football, and I think it is a sad time for the
sport. Times are changing and we have to hope they are changing for the
good."
The 73-year-old businessman, who is believed to have amassed a fortune in
the region of £300m, admits he is hoping Palace recover for the sake of the
fans. "I really hope things sort themselves out at Palace because I have
nothing but praise for Neil Warnock, who I think has done a fantastic job,
and I've always had a great relationship with the fans and admire how they
always stick by their club," he added.
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West Ham in loan talks for Tottenham striker Keane
01.02.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are in talks for Tottenham striker Robbie Keane. The Daily
Mail says Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola hopes to take Keane on-loan to the
end of the season.
A swoop for Keane would provide welcome relief for Gianfranco Zola's side,
who have missed out on forwards Eidur Gudjohnsen and Victor Moses in the
last week.
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