WHUFC.com
All the early team news and information ahead of Saturday's visit of Bolton
Wanderers
04.03.2010
West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers
Barclays Premier League
Boleyn Ground
Saturday 6 March 2010
3pm
Referee: Lee Probert
Introduction
• West Ham United will take on Bolton Wanderers seeking to extend their
unbeaten home Barclays Premier League run to six matches. The Hammers'
previous five home matches have seen them record four wins and a draw,
keeping clean sheets in their last four league games in east London.
• The Hammers go into Tuesday's game 13th in the Barclays Premier League
table. Gianfranco Zola's men cannot rise in the standings as they are seven
points adrift of Blackburn Rovers in 12th, although they do have a game in
hand. Bolton sit 15th, a point adrift of their hosts.
• West Ham are seeking to end a run of five consecutive defeats at the hands
of the Trotters. In all, the Hammers have failed to beat Bolton in six
matches - a run stretching back to the 3-1 home league win at the Boleyn
Ground on 5 May 2007, when Carlos Tevez netted twice and Mark Noble once.
Gary Speed scored Bolton's goal.
• Bolton have beaten West Ham twice at home this season, winning 3-1 on both
occasions. The first came in the Carling Cup third round on 22 September,
followed by a Premier League success on 15 December.
• This is the 54th league meeting between the two sides. Bolton have won 27,
West Ham have won 18 and there have been eight draws.
• West Ham have not lost at home in the Barclays Premier League since the 5
December visit of Manchester United. Since then the club have drawn 1-1 with
Chelsea, won 2-0 against Portsmouth, drawn 0-0 with Blackburn Rovers, beaten
Birmingham City 2-0 and won 3-0 over Hull City.
• The most recent meeting at the Boleyn Ground took place on 5 October 2008,
when Bolton ran out 3-1 winners. Kevin Davies and Gary Cahill put the
visitors two goals up before Carlton Cole pulled one back for the hosts,
only for Matthew Taylor to wrap up the three points with a long-range
strike.
• The lineups that day were:
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Neill, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami , Parker,
Noble, Etherington (Sears 79), Di Michele (Bellamy 54), Bellamy, Sears
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Davenport, Mullins, Boa Morte
Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, A.O'Brien, Cahill, Samuel, Nolan,
McCann, Muamba (J.O'Brien 80), Gardner, K.Davies, Elmander (Taylor 73)
Subs not used: Al Habsi, Hunt, Shittu, Smolarek, Riga
• West Ham's biggest home win over Bolton Wanderers occurred in the shape of
a 6-0 victory on 13 February 1926.
Match sponsors
• Saturday's match sponsors are Team Construction, while the matchball
sponsors are Kinetics. For more information about how to become a match or
matchball sponsor, please call the Corporate Sales Department on 0871 221
2700.
Last time out
Tuesday 23 February 2010
Barclays Premier League
Manchester United 3-0 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Upson, Tomkins, Spector, Behrami (Collison
63), Kovac, Noble, Diamanti (Dyer 75), Franco (Mido 46), Cole
Subs not used: Stech, Da Costa, Daprela, Ilan
Saturday 27 February 2010
Barclays Premier League
Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Knight, Ricketts, Robinson,
Holden, Muamba, Wilshere (Taylor 82), Lee (Weiss 89), K.Davies, Elmander
(Klasnic 65)
Subs not used: Al Habsi, A.O'Brien, Riga, Cohen
Goal: Knight 45
Last meeting
• The teams last met at the Reebok Stadium on Tuesday 15 December 2009, when
Bolton Wanderers ran out 3-1 winners in the Premier League.
Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Knight, Cahill, Robinson, Lee,
Muamba, Cohen, Taylor (Gardner 76), K.Davies, Klasnic (Basham 83)
Subs not used: Al Habsi, A.O'Brien, Ricketts, Samuel, Elmander
Goals: Lee 64, Klasnic 77, Cahill 88
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Ilunga, Dyer (Stanislas
21), Parker, Kovac, Collison, Stanislas (Da Costa 87), Franco, Diamanti
Subs not used: Kurucz, Spector, Daprela, Payne, Nouble
Old boys
• Among those players who have represented both clubs are Frank Costello,
George Eccles, Thomas Kinsell and William Yenson.
Head to head
Last six meetings: (Premier League unless stated)
15 December 2009 - Bolton Wanderers 3-1 West Ham United
22 September 2009 - Bolton Wanderers 3-1 West Ham United (League Cup third
round)
21 February 2009 - Bolton Wanderers 2-1 West Ham United
5 October 2008 - West Ham United 1-3 Bolton Wanderers
12 April 2008 - Bolton Wanderers 1-0 West Ham United
4 November 2007 - West Ham United 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
Overall record v Bolton Wanderers (all competitions) W 22 D 10 L 32
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Lee Probert.
• Aged 37, Probert has been a Premier League referee since summer 2007.
• Born in Gloucestershire, Probert made his way through the local leagues
before joining the Football Conference list, being promoted to the Football
League list of referees in 2003.
• Probert has taken charge of one previous West Ham match this season - the
2-0 home league win over Portsmouth on Boxing Day 2009.
West Ham United
• The Hammers have scored all seven of the penalties they have been awarded
this season, a Barclays Premier League high.
• West Ham have scored 35 goals this season in the league with 14 different
players on target. Carlton Cole leads the way (nine), with Alessandro
Diamanti (six) and Guille Franco and Matthew Upson (three) next in line.
Jack Collison, Mark Noble, Junior Stanislas (two each), Ilan, Manuel da
Costa, the departed Luis Jimenez, Zavon Hines, Radoslav Kovac, Valon Behrami
and Julien Faubert have also registered. An own-goal from Everton's Tony
Hibbert completes the tally.
• Scott Parker has been cautioned nine times this season and Faubert, Franco
and Noble five each. Cole, Collison and Kovac are each on four yellow cards,
but will not be suspended if they receive a fifth as the FA disciplinary
deadline has passed. Should any player reach ten cautions before the second
Sunday in April, they will receive a two-mach suspension.
• Only Robert Green has played in every league game for the club this
season. He is on a run of 114 successive league starts.
• Cole is on a run of 16 goals in 29 league starts since Boxing Day 2008
when he scored the second goal in a 4-1 win at Portsmouth.
Bolton Wanderers
• Bolton Wanderers are seeking another morale-boosting Premier League win
after beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 at their Reebok Stadium last
Saturday.
• Bolton manager Owen Coyle brings a side to the Boleyn Ground for the
second time this season, having been in charge of Burnley when the Clarets
were beaten 5-3 on 28 November 2009.
• The Trotters' leading scorer this season is centre-back Gary Cahill with
seven goals in all competitions, but the defender will be absent this
weekend after suffering a blood clot in his arm.
• Croatia forward Ivan Klasnic is the club's top scorer in the league,
having netted six times in 18 appearances.
• Finland goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen is Bolton's only ever-present in the
Premier League this season, having started all 27 league matches. Kevin
Davies has started 26 times, scoring three goals.
• Bolton players have received just two red cards this season. Jlloyd Samuel
and Sean Davis are the pair to have received their marching orders this
term.
• Kevin Davies and Fabrice Muamba have both been booked eight times this
season - more than any other Bolton player.
Team news
• Kieron Dyer could be in the running to make his first start since doing so
at Bolton Wanderers on 15 December 2009, having recovered from a muscle
problem to appear as a substitute at Manchester United.
• Danny Gabbidon has returned to full training following a hamstring
problem.
• Benni McCarthy (knee) is not expected to return this weekend but has been
doing well in his recovery from a knee problem.
• Herita Ilunga is also out after suffering a tendon injury in the defeat of
Birmingham City on 10 February.
• Luis Boa Morte (knee), Calum Davenport (leg) and Zavon Hines (knee) are
all long-term absentees. Boa Morte has been doing some individual training
around the Chadwell Heath pitches - having not played since his cruciate
ligament injury at the Barclays Asia Trophy in China in July.
• Bolton Wanderers will definitely be without midfielder Stuart Holden, who
suffered a broken leg in the United States' 2-1 friendly defeat in the
Netherlands on Wednesday evening.
• Centre-back Gary Cahill will also be absent after suffering a blood clot
in his arm, while combative midfielder Sean Davies is ruled out for the
remainder of the season with a cruciate knee ligament problem.
• Defender Chris Basham is out with a knee injury, while former England
midfielder Gavin McCann is nursing an ankle injury.
• To compound Bolton's injury problems, right-sided defender Joey O'Brien
has a knee injury, while promising midfielder Mark Davies is also expected
to miss out with a foot problem.
General info
• A limited number of tickets for Saturday's game will remain on sale until
kick-off. For further information, click here.
• For up-to-date public transport information click here.
• Saturday's weather forecast is for sunny intervals with a maximum daytime
temperature of 7C.
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Valon's family values
WHUFC.com
Valon Behrami has told the official matchday programme about his battle to
make it in football
05.03.2010
Valon Behrami has told the official matchday programme for Saturday's visit
of Bolton Wanderers how he is working hard to repay the invaluable support
he has received from his family. "I moved to Lazio [in 2005] and my career
started to become more important," he said. "My Mum was able to give up work
and then my Dad had some heart problems, so after some time in Lazio, I told
him to stop as well. They now look after my sister's two children while she
is at work. The greatest thing I could do in my life is to help my family.
"They enjoy their lives now. They live in Lugano now, and they often fly
over to see me. I am so happy for them."
In a revealing interview, Behrami also discusses his love for West Ham
United's supporters, English football and living in London, as well as his
loyalty to both the country of his birth, Kosovo, and the country where he
grew up, Switzerland. Saturday's edition also features a special on Kevin
Mitchell, interviews with former Hammers Vic Keeble and Geoff Pike, West
Ham-supporting actors Ray Winstone and Leslie Grantham, Luis Boa Morte's
Dream Team, and exclusive columns from chairman David Sullivan and manager
Gianfranco Zola. Junior Stanislas is Talking Football, Callum Driver is
Learning His Trade, while Evening Standard columnist Ken Dyer speaks to
Billy Bonds about the art of tackling.
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Cole eyes England start
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole is eager to make his first start for England after appearing as
a substitute against Egypt
04.03.2010
Carlton Cole is eyeing a place in England's starting lineup after making his
seventh substitute appearance for his country in Wednesday's 3-1 friendly
victory over Egypt. While West Ham United club-mates Robert Green and
Matthew Upson both played the full 90 minutes against the Africa Cup of
Nations winners, the 26-year-old was sent on as an 86th-minute replacement
for Wayne Rooney at Wembley. While Cole was pleased to add to his tally of
caps, he admitted that he would rather have joined Green and Upson on the
pitch from the kick-off. "I'm happy that I got a little look-in," he told
WHUTV. "I was hoping to get on a bit earlier, but I got on and showed that
I've come back well. I'm pleased the manager has seen what I'm doing at West
Ham and obviously enjoys it, so I got the chance to come on and make an
impact. It was only six minutes, but it's a cap at the end of the day.
"Obviously, I'm training and playing with high-quality players and it makes
my confidence higher to know that I can blend in with them. It's good for me
and it's good for West Ham. I'll be taking it back to West Ham and trying to
up training as well and take it to a higher level. "We've already got Rob
Green and Matty Upson starting for England and I would like to emulate
them."
Cole watched on as fellow substitute Peter Crouch scored twice against the
Egyptians, but the Hammer was far from unhappy to see a contender for a
place in England's 2010 FIFA World Cup squad hit the target. "There were no
mixed emotions at all, because a win is a win. I was quite relieved when he
scored because there was no way that Egypt should come here and dominate us
and us not get a goal. I'm actually happy for Crouchy and Shaun that they
got their goals."
Cole has recently returned after eight weeks out with a hamstring problem
but, while he has scored two goals in three league matches since making his
comeback, the striker insists there is much more to come in terms of form
and fitness. "I'm not back to my best already. I've still got a lot of work
to do, but I'm getting there and I'm on the right road."
West Ham's leading scorer will hope to hit top gear against Bolton Wanderers
on Saturday, having suffered a pair of defeats at the hands of the Trotters
in the Carling Cup and Barclays Premier League already this season. "We need
to beat Bolton. It's obviously an important game. Every game between now and
the end of the season is important to us, so we obviously need to dig in
deep and get the results that we need."
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Capello on Hammers hopeful
WHUFC.com
Fabio Capello saw Robert Green put in an assured performance in Wednesday's
friendly win over Egypt
04.03.2010
Fabio Capello was pleased with the performance of Robert Green in England's
3-1 friendly win over Egypt on Wednesday. The West Ham United goalkeeper
earned his ninth cap at Wembley, producing an assured display as the Three
Lions fought back from a goal down to secure an impressive victory over the
African champions. Aside from Mohamed Zidan's smart 23rd-minute finish,
which gave him no chance, Green dealt with everything that the Egyptians
threw at him, catching confidently, distributing the ball well and making a
routine second-half save from Zidan. However, while Capello was happy to see
Green complete his sixth full game for England, he would not assure the
Hammer of the No1 shirt for the forthcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup. While the
30-year-old kept Portsmouth's David James and Birmingham City's Joe Hart out
of the side in midweek, Green knows he will have to keep performing well to
retain his starting place in South Africa. "I think Robert Green needed to
play. I know the value of James and for that reason I think Robert needed to
play more games. The position is always open. All the positions are always
open. I hope the best players will be fit." Former England captain Alan
Mullery, who earned 35 caps between 1964 and 1971, believes Green has done
enough to warrant being handed a starting place on a regular basis. "Green
seems to be the No1," said the Sky Sports pundit. "David James will be the
No2 and Joe Hart will be the No3. I think those three goalkeepers will go to
the World Cup."
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Zola on his way?
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 5th March 2010
By: Staff Writer
Gianfranco Zola could be set to resign from his position as manager of West
Ham United, according to a story in today's Telegraph. Zola, who has been
manager at the club since 2008 after his predecessor, Alan Curbishley,
walked out in September of that year is said to be considering his position
after the club's new owners threatened to break up his current squad this
summer. Young midfielder Jack Collison plus striker Guillermo Franco have
both been refused new contracts, according to the story by Jason Burt,
whilst Valon Behrami has been offered a new deal worth £30,000 -
considerably less than the club's highest earners. Meanwhile England
internatioanls Matthew Upson and Robert Green have both been told that they
will be allowed to leave the club this summer; understandable in Upson's
case, as the centre half has refused to pen a new deal although the
goalkeeper - now confirmed as England's number one - still has two years on
his current contract left to run.
Additionally, Sullivan has apparently indicated that they are prepared to
sell Alessandro Diamanti who, despite costing the club £5.7million earlier
this year has been one of the few successes in a torrid season for the club.
Also said to be up for sale is Portuguese defender Manuel Da Costa, who has
failed to break into the first team despite being on a three-year contract
worth around £20,000 per week. The Telegraph adds that Zola was further
annoyed by the sacking of technical director Gianluca Nani, who was sent
packing last month despite being on a reasonably moderate salary of circa
£300,000 per year. Some will however take the story with a pinch of salt
given that Jason Burt was close to former CEO Scott Duxbury, who 'resigned'
from his position at the end of January - less than a fortnight after
Sullivan and Gold purchased 50% of the club.
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Cottee backs Nani sacking
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 4th March 2010
By: Staff Writer
Former Hammer Tony Cottee has backed the club's decision to dismiss
technical director Gianluca Nani. Cottee, speaking to the ELA criticised the
Italian for having 'little idea' about the Premier League, whilst denouncing
his transfer policy of buying almost entirely from outside of the UK. "His
transfer dealings were very poor and for every Valon Behrami there was a
David Di Michele or a Diego Tristan - players who were just not up to
standard," said Cottee, who was involved in one of the failed bids to
purchase West Ham United. "What was disappointing was his determination to
only bring in foreign players, in particular from Italy where he had worked
before. It showed he had little idea about the English game and it was
obvious he did not know the English market."
Cottee - whose only sojourn into management ended at Barnet after just five
months - also blasted Nani for the signing of German under 19 international
Savio, saying: "The deal was catastrophic and it was clear from early on
that he was not good enough for the Premier League."
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West Ham v Bolton preview
Hammers looking for fifth straight clean sheet at Upton Park
By Jamie Casey Last updated: 5th March 2010
SSN
PREDICTIONS:
Skysports.com prediction: West Ham 2 Bolton 0
Sky Bet odds: West Ham 4/5 Draw 12/5 Bolton 7/2
One to watch: Carlton Cole
West Ham will hope to continue their improving home form as they host
stuttering Bolton at Upton Park on Saturday. The Hammers have not conceded
in their last four Premier League games at home but, despite climbing up to
13th place, they sit just three points above the relegation zone. The
Trotters head into the clash on the back of a 1-0 win over Wolves, but their
form has taken a knock since the turn of the year as the optimism around
Owen Coyle's appointment continues to fade. Coyle's side, however, will be
buoyed by the fact Bolton have won all of the last five meetings between
these two sides, with striker Kevin Davies netting seven times in his last
nine games against the Londoners.
Defence is Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola's main concern with three injuries
leaving him short of cover across the back line but Mathew Upson, fresh from
his midweek England start, is set to captain the side. Herita Ilunga (knee),
Daniel Gabbidon (hamstring) and Calum Davenport (leg) are all unavailable to
the Italian, with a lack of funds preventing him from adding extra weight to
his squad in January. In midfield, Luis Boa Morte remains a long-term
absentee but otherwise the Hammers should be full strength in the centre of
the park. Carlton Cole should return from his England substitute appearance
to start up front but January signing Benny McCarthy is a doubt as he
struggles to overcome a knee injury. Zavon Hines remains sidelined with a
knee injury but Zola has a wealth of options with which to choose from to
pair up with target man Cole.
Influential defender Gary Cahill, who has scored in three of the last four
meetings with West Ham, will miss out once more and is expected to be out
for at least another month.
Chris Basham and Joey O'Brien both remain unavailable through knee injuries
but boss Coyle has no shortage of options at the back. Midfield is a problem
area, however, with three key players expected to miss the visit to London,
with Bolton having failed to find the net in their last four Premier League
away games. Mark Davies looks set to miss out through an ankle problem while
a thigh injury leaves Gavin McCann fighting for fitness. With Sean Davis
expected to miss the rest of the season through a knee injury, central
midfield is Coyle's main concern with American Stuart Holden also not
expected to return until next month. Up front, Coyle has no worries
regarding availability, but Johan Elmander's fine goal for Sweden against
Wales in midweek may give the Scot plenty to think about as to who partners
captain Davies.
Possible starting XIs
West Ham: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Spector, Behrami, Parker, Kovac,
Diamanti, Franco, Cole.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Ricketts, Knight, Robinson, Muamba, Lee,
Wilshere, Taylor, Elmander, Kevin Davies.
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Green confident of WC place
West Ham No.1 in confident mood
Last updated: 4th March 2010
SSN
Robert Green conceded that his start against Egypt means he is likely to be
on his way to the World Cup. The West Ham No.1 was picked ahead of David
James and Joe Hart to start England's 3-1 win over Egypt on Wednesday. Many
now see Green as being in pole position to claim the No.1 jersey for the
World Cup finals and he admits that starting at Wembley is a good sign. "It
was pleasing to play and I feel that if I wasn't going to be part of it [the
World Cup] I wouldn't have been playing," Green told Sky Sports News.
"I am really pleased to play, but it is about looking forward and improving,
I want to learn and I have learnt things from the game "I am desperately
keen to do well for West Ham and my country. "I want to play in every game
and that means improving and taking confidence from every game and moving on
and looking forward."
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Upson blames pitch for slip
Lampard calls for Wembley surface to be improved
Last updated: 4th March 2010
SSN
Matthew Upson feels the Wembley pitch was at fault for his slip which
allowed Egypt to take the lead in the friendly against England. Mohamed
Zidan fired Egypt ahead midway through the first half of the game as he
capitalised when defender Upson lost his footing on the edge of the area.
The playing surface at Wembley has often come in for criticism, with its
condition questioned after the Carling Cup final last Sunday. And, though
Upson was initially happy with the state of the pitch, the West Ham United
centre-half insists it contributed to his slip. "Was the Egypt goal down to
the pitch? I'd like to think so," said Upson, who helped England to
eventually prevail 3-1. "I had the usual boots on, long studs, and the pitch
just went from underneath my feet. "It is a bit disappointing. When I first
walked on the pitch, it was quite firm, which I was pleased with. "But it
just gave way, and cut up a bit, once you put a bit of force down on it."
Frank Lampard supported his international team-mate's comments and believes
the pitch at Wembley needs to be improved. "I think the pitch was definitely
the reason why Upson slipped," said Lampard. "It kept giving way below you,
was very soft underneath, and it should be better, it's as simple as that.
"Everyone is commenting on it and Wembley should be better than that. What
could be done? They could change the pitch maybe!" Goalkeeper Robert Green
added: "It wasn't the easiest pitch. It showed with the goal. "Matthew has
had the rug pulled out from under his feet and it is disappointing for him.
"But it is inevitable and it is something you deal with. A problem is a
problem if you let it affect you. It is a difficulty but that's life. You
either let it affect you or you don't."
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Yeung steps up war with Gold and Sullivan as Birmingham announce losses of
£20m
Published 07:00 05/03/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror
Carson Yeung's war with David Sullivan and David Gold erupted last night as
Birmingham announced record £20million losses. Hong Kong tycoon Yeung is
suing his City predecessors following a bitter £80m takeover at St Andrews
last October. Furious Yeung ordered a financial probe after inheriting
liabilities for up to £11m and Karren Brady's controversial severance
package. And Premier League City's accounts for 2008/2009, exclusively seen
by Mirrorsport, now show a whopping £19.7m loss. It is a huge embarrassment
to Sullivan and Gold, in charge at top-flight rivals West Ham. And a shocked
Sullivan last night admitted: "I can't see where this loss has come from."
He and Gold took over at Upton Park in January and were very critical of the
financial mess at the club after revealing debts of £110m. They claimed they
were the ideal men to save the Hammers after turning City into a Premier
League club from the brink of bankruptcy in 1993. But Yeung's figures, from
when the Blues were in the Championship, show Birmingham was arguably
insolvent last term as the value of the assets did not equal the losses. Now
Yeung is legally challenging the old regime about taking lucrative bonuses
out of the club after May 2009 when the financial year ended. Yeung, who
bought an initial 29.9 per cent of City for £15m in 2007, also believes he
overpaid for the rest by paying £1 a share last year. And his advisors feel
a price of just 30p a share would have been more appropriate given what they
inherited. But Sullivan added: "We had a policy of retaining the squad to
get back up which we thought was the correct policy and was vindicated
because the club got promotion at the first opportunity automatically. "Last
summer we knew the club had a financial problem as we publicly stated we
loaned it £5m to pay the deposits on two new players because there was no
money to do that.
"Some of the losses are the way accounting practices write players off over
the period of their contracts although the money is paid over an early
period. "But the first six months of 2008-09 we lost £4m and I can't see how
the club has lost £16m in the second half of the year. "I am sure the club
will make £10-15m in the Premier League this year though."
Yeung is so angry he even refused to attend City's recent game at West Ham
and returned some blue and white gold and silver jewellery from Sullivan
intended as a peace offering. There has been deep ill-feeling between the
camps since Yeung's first aborted takeover bid in 2007. When Yeung finally
got the club he ordered City's vice-president Peter Pannu, a former Hong
Kong cop and barrister, to investigate. Sullivan and Gold have admitted
taking advance management fees worth £420,000 out before their departure.
Sullivan offered £500,000 to settle the dispute but Yeung rejected the
proposal and has sued.
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Interview: West Ham legend Phil Parkes
By Simon Hayes on March 5, 2010 11:03 AM
Wharf.co.uk
West Ham legend Phil Parkes thinks Rob Green could leave Upton Park this
summer and there won't be a shortage of clubs wanting him. The England
keeper has been linked with a move at the end of the season and Parkes, who
made over 400 appearances in 11 years as West Ham goalkeeper, thinks Green
will go if a top four club comes calling.
He said: "I think he will look to move on. I don't want to see him go but it
might be best for his career. He's got nobody challenging him at West Ham
and unless he can push himself it can be difficult. "He's a laid back
character, which is important because goalkeeper is a stressful position to
play, but he needs someone to challenge him. "I've been watching Rob all
season and he's only now coming back into the form he's capable of. "He
seemed to lose confidence after he got sent off the following week playing
for England, which really messed with his head. "I don't rate any of the
keepers at the top four clubs, so if Rob does become available then I think
someone would snap him up because on form he is very good. "Having a good
goalkeeper is of paramount importance for a successful team, as Peter
Schmeichel showed when he was at Manchester United. You need that steadying
influence."
Parkes has seen plenty of Green this season, as he is a regular matchday
ambassador in the hospitality suites at Upton Park. He will be at the ground
for tomorrow's relegation clash with Bolton, and he thinks the Irons have
enough quality to retain their Premier League status. He said: "They will
stay up. They've got to beat the teams around them, but they are a better
footballing side than most, and they have more strength in depth with
players like Carlton Cole and Guillermo Franco back. "Bolton is a huge game.
They are a bit of a bogey team, quite physical and it will be tough. I hope
Bolton get relegated. I don't like what their manager Owen Coyle did in
leaving Burnley the way he did. Managers talk about loyalty from players but
they should lead by example. "If West Ham play like they did against Hull
then they will beat Bolton. I was a bit disappointed they didn't score a few
more goals in that game. They started to coast a bit, passing it around
without really going for it. "They were playing a bit of keep ball. You can
do that but if you try it against a good side you'll get caught out. "I'd
have liked to have seen them really go for it, as it would have been good
for their goal difference to have had a really big win."
But Parkes is a big fan of Hammers' boss Gianfranco Zola. He said: "He's got
the team playing good football and the players all respect him, which is a
huge thing. He reminds me of my old manager John Lyall in that he doesn't
rant and rave, he doesn't bully, he just gets on with it. "Mind you, he's
got a long way to go to match what John achieved. He's on a big learning
curve, but he's doing well and I hope he stays for a long time to come."
And Parkes, 59, believes the West Ham players will be happy the future of
the club seems more assured following the takeover by David Sullivan and
David Gold in January.
He said: "The off-field stuff does affect you as a player. The only time it
didn't was on a Saturday afternoon, or any other time when you are actually
playing a game because then you are just concentrating on your performance.
"But the players do talk about things like that during the week and it can
be unsettling because you don't know who might be sold, so it does have an
effect."
Parkes joined the Hammers in 1979 for a then world record fee for a
goalkeeper of £565,000. He had already enjoyed a long spell across London at
Queen's Park Rangers -helping them to runner's up spot in Division One in
1976 - and the size of the fee didn't bother him. He said: "I didn't feel it
was a burden at all. The fee wasn't down to me, it was between the clubs.
Besides, you only put pressure on yourself if you think about things like
that. "Anyway, about a week later Trevor Francis joined Nottingham Forest
and became the first million pound player, so everyone quickly forgot about
me. "It was a lot of money but it is peanuts compared to what they pay for
players now."
That investment proved to be one of the shrewdest bits of business former
West Ham boss Lyall ever did at Upton Park. Parkes went on to play 444 games
for the Irons, helping them to promotion from the old second division in
1981 and to the League Cup final the same year He was also a key player in
helping the club achieve its highest ever league placing - third in the old
First Division in 1986 - before he left for Ipswich in 1990. One game that
really stands out for him is the 1980 FA Cup final win over Arsenal. He
said: "That was always a dream of mine as a kid, to win the FA Cup, and it
was nice that it came only a year after I joined the club. It was a great
day, especially for the fans.
"But I've got a lot of great memories of my playing career, including the
spell at QPR."
Parkes only won one England cap, against Portugal in 1974, but was
unfortunate to be playing in an era when England was blessed with some
outstanding goalkeepers, notably Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence. He would be
an automatic pick for the national squad now, but he insists he has no
regrets about his career. He said: "I'm happy to have played when I did. The
only thing I would want from the modern era is the pitches they play on now.
You get a true bounce on them, whereas we used to play on mudheaps and
sandpits, which made things a bit unpredictable. "But I don't think the game
is faster now, despite what people claim. Alan Devonshire was as fast as any
player now, he was really quick, and there were plenty like him. "It's also
a lot less physical now. I'd love to see how some of the modern players
would cope if they came up against the likes of Tommy Smith, Norman Hunter
or Billy Bonds. "Billy was a very hard player. If he tackled you, you'd know
all about it, but he was also very fair."
Even 20 years after his playing career ended Parkes is held in great
affection at the Boleyn. He was voted into the fan's all-time team and he
was honoured by that. He said: "It was really nice to be voted into that
team. I always had a great rapport with the fans. "The West Ham fans are
without doubt the best in the country - they are loyal and long-suffering.
Even when they've struggled in recent years they've been getting gates of
34,000, when other clubs have barely got 17-18,000. That shows they are true
fans."
Phil Parkes is a matchday ambassador at West Ham. For details of hospitality
packages visit whufc.com.
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West Ham's Gianfranco Zola and David Sullivan at loggerheads over Valon
Behrami
Tensions between West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola and co-chairman
David Sullivan have grown after the club withdrew a new contract offer to
midfielder Valon Behrami.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 7:30AM GMT 05 Mar 2010
West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami has had a contract offer withdrawn by the
club, increasing tensions between Gianfranco Zola and David Sullivan . The
Switzerland international was expecting to sign a five-year deal at the
beginning of last month but it is now believed that Sullivan is keen to sell
him in the summer. The 24 year-old has three years left on his contract but
Zola wanted to tie him down and Behrami wanted to sign. He was offered
£30,000 a week, still less than half of what some of West Ham's highest
earners are paid.
Matthew Upson hurt on frustrating night for West Ham at Upton ParkSullivan
is also looking to sell Alessandro Diamanti, having questioned the £6
million West Ham paid Livorno for the Italian midfielder last summer, while
there is little chance that striker Guillermo Franco will be offered a new
contract when his deal expires at the end of this season.
Worryingly for West Ham supporters, the club have also decided not to go
ahead with a five-year contract for midfielder Jack Collison, who believed
he was entitled to a pay rise – he is the lowest-paid first-team regular on
about £4,000 a week because he is still working off a contract agreed before
he broke into the team – triggered through the number of appearances he has
made this season. The pay rise for the 21 year-old is understood to be a
modest £2,000 a week but has been vetoed.
West Ham will not want to lose Collison, and he is not for sale, although
there is a general acceptance around the training ground that both Matthew
Upson, who has a year left on his deal and wants to join a Champions League
team, and Robert Green, who is keen to move abroad, will leave in the
summer.
Zola is said to be in despair at the prospect of his team being broken up
and, according to club sources, is strongly considering his own future at
the end of this season.
Sullivan has insisted in public that he wants Zola to stay although the pair
have clashed after the former Birmingham City co-owner, who acquired a 50
per controlling stake in West Ham in January, spoke of the need for players
and staff to take a pay cut and questioned whether the manager was "too
nice" or worth his £1.9 million-a-year salary.
Sullivan privately doubted the Italian's abilities before he bought the club
and had considered an approach to former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes
to offer him a highly-incentivised deal until the end of the season.
However in a "shareholders' agreement" Sullivan agreed not to sack Zola
before then because Straumur, the failed Icelandic bank which retains a 50
per cent stake, was concerned at the costs of a pay-off.
Zola was particularly upset at the departure of technical director Gianluca
Nani, who was a close friend and confidant, and it is understood that one of
Nani's last tasks at West Ham was to try to find buyers for Behrami,
Diamanti and another of his signings, the defender Manuel da Costa, having
been frozen out of the club's January transfer dealings.
Zola has been stunned by Sullivan's criticisms of the players, especially
Behrami and Diamanti. Both are likely to be in demand if they are put up for
sale with Manchester City having made a tentative £15 million inquiry for
Behrami before Christmas, which was rejected, while Diamanti is likely to
return to Italy.
It is also understood that Sullivan has questioned some of Zola's team
selections and training-ground sources have even claimed that the manager
deliberately fielded a line-up, in the recent victory 3-0 victory over Hull
City, that was 'his team' and did not start with Mido or Ilan, two of the
strikers Sullivan signed in January while a third, Benni McCarthy, is
injured.
The failure to award a new deal to Behrami, who was signed from Lazio for £5
million in 2008, has caused some annoyance given McCarthy is being paid more
than £40,000 a week although the club's hierarchy will justify it by
claiming they need to keep costs in check as they try to get to grips with
the parlous balance sheet.
They will also point out that Behrami still has three years left on his
deal.
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I'm not being frozen out, insists Gianfranco Zola
Ken Dyer
05.03.10
Evening Standard
Gianfranco Zola today denied suggestions that he is becoming increasingly
isolated at West Ham. Gianluca Nani's exit as the club's technical director
last week followed the departure of chief executive Scott Duxbury in the
wake of the takeover by David Gold and David Sullivan. It means Zola is the
sole survivor of the project' which brought him to the club 18 months ago.
There were reports today of tensions between Sullivan and Zola after the
club apparently withdrew a contract offer to midfielder Valon Behrami.
However, Zola insisted: "The club are backing me and I want to do a good job
here for everyone. I worked very well with Gianluca. It's sad that he's gone
but that is the way football works."
It is understood Sullivan has a much more hands-on approach than the
previous Hammers regime and he fell out with Zola just 24 hours before a
vital match against Birmingham after saying the players should take a 25 per
cent pay cut. "Everything is fine," said Zola ahead of tomorrow's match
with Bolton. "As the chairman he is entitled to be demanding towards me. I
have no problem with that."
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Huge boost for West Ham as club encouraged to bid for Olympic Stadium by
Government
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 10:11 AM on 05th March 2010
Daily Mail
West Ham have been handed a much-needed fillip in their pursuit of a move to
the Olympic Stadium after minister for the Games, Tessa Jowell, invited a
formal bid from the Premier League club. The Hammers are keen to occupy the
newly-built £537million stadium in Stratford after the Olympics in 2012,
despite London's bid team originally pledging to maintain the site as am
athletics venue. However, the Olympic Park Legacy Company, which will
manage the Stratford site after the games, are likely to encourage a bidding
war for the tenancy as they look to get the best deal for the taxpayer.
After all, it was they who helped fund the project. Jowell said: 'The legacy
company is inviting bids for potential legacy tenants. It is not a decision
for government. We are a stakeholder but it is a decision for the board of
the legacy company. 'The fact is there is going to be a competition to
determine the tenant and if West Ham want to submit a proposal, they are
welcome.'
Initial plans submitted to the International Olympic Committee suggested the
stadium would be stripped down a capacity of 25,000 after the games, a move
IOC member, Sir Craig Reedie, believes is still compatible with the
ambitions of either a football or a rugby club. That, though, would rule
West Ham out as their current ground, Upton Park, already boasts a capacity
of 35,303. West Ham are keen to secure a move to higher capacity stadium in
order to increase matchday revenue. The club's new owners have even
discussed a possible name change to coincide with a move. 'West Ham
Olympic', though, was quickly rubbished by sections of the fans. The
legacy-company board has yet to decide on the terms of reference for the
tenancy and remains open to the idea of an outright purchase of the site.
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Tessa Jowell invites West Ham to tender for the Olympic Stadium
Olympics minister throws door open to London club
Stadium use likely to be granted to highest bidder
Matt Scott guardian.co.uk, Thursday 4 March 2010 21.45 GMT
West Ham United's hopes of occupying the Olympic Stadium after the 2012
Games gained fresh impetus today when Tessa Jowell invited the Premier
League club to put in a formal bid to take it over.
The Olympics minister announced that the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC),
which will manage the Stratford site after the Games, is preparing a tender
process for interested parties to compete. "The legacy company is inviting
bids for potential legacy tenants," Jowell said. "It is not a decision for
government. We are a stakeholder but it is a decision for the board of the
legacy company. The fact is there is going to be a competition to determine
the tenant and if West Ham want to submit a proposal, they are welcome."
As Jowell was specifically calling on West Ham to bid, Britain's
International Olympic Committee member, Sir Craig Reedie, was stressing that
the £537m stadium should be reduced to a 25,000 capacity in order to
accommodate the athletics legacy pledged to the IOC in London's bid. He
considers that promise still to be compatible with the ambitions of either a
football or a rugby club.
However, it is not a scheme that would suit West Ham and there were early
indications yesterday from well-placed informants saying that OPLC will
grant tenancy of the stadium to the highest bidder. It is believed that the
terms of reference will be broad and that all options will be examined but,
as public money is involved, there is a determination to get the best deal
for the taxpayer.
The legacy-company board has yet to formulate its terms of reference for the
tenancy procurement process, having only met for the first time late last
year. The company is believed also to have an open mind to a deal that would
see a tenant paying a fixed sum for a multi-year lease at the stadium as
much as to an outright purchase.
That is likely to mean UK Athletics' best chance of securing its tenancy is
in a formal partnership with another tenant. That is not likely to be West
Ham.
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Whatever happened to Paolo Di Canio?
Football Fancast
Date: 4th March 2010 at 5:20 pm
Some players love a bit of controversy. Whether it is always managing to get
themselves sent off in games, hitting a team mate with a golf club in
training, or cheating on your wife with your best mate's ex. This player hit
the headlines in different ways, one for his extraordinary skills and
exploits few could manage, and the others for his fascist beliefs and his
love of pushing referees. What happened to Paolo Di Canio?
Di Canio moved from club to club in his career, with spells at Lazio,
Juventus, Napoli, AC Milan and Celtic, before joining Sheffield Wednesday in
1997. At Hillsborough, Di Canio became a fan favourite alongside compatriot
Benito Carbone, and the Italian was the club's leading scorer with 14 goals
in 1997-98. But Di Canio will always be remembered at Wednesday for that
infamous push on referee Paul Alcock in September 1998, that left the
referee on the ground and the Italian with an eleven match ban to savour.
Disgraced in Sheffield, West Ham snapped up the fiery Italian in January
1999 for a paltry £1.7 million. In his four years at Upton Park, Di Canio
became a West Ham legend. The Italian's performances led West Ham to qualify
for the UEFA Cup, there was that breathtaking volley against Wimbledon in
2000, and 48 goals in 118 games for the club.
A public spat with Glenn Roeder and relegation from the Premiership saw Di
Canio leave West Ham and join Charlton, where he stayed for only a season
and scored 4 goals. The Italian then moved back to Rome and joined
struggling Lazio, taking a large pay cut in the process. Di Canio was again
a success at Lazio, scoring in the Rome derby and hitting the back of the
net 11 times in his two years at the club. But Di Canio's close relationship
with the Lazio "Ultras", due to his right-wing beliefs and the fascist
salutes he made to the fans.
Annoyed with Di Canio because of his influence with the team and the fans,
Lazio decided not to renew his contract and the striker joined Cisco Roma in
the Italian fourth division, where he played until he retired in March 2008.
Di Canio was one of the most exciting and passionate footballers to ever
grace the Premier League, with his breathtaking skill making him a fan
favourite in England. Di Canio's compassion and good nature even won him a
FIFA Fair Play Award in 2001. Former manager Harry Redknapp summed it up
best when he described the talismanic Italian,
"He does things with the ball that make you gasp. Other footballers would
pay to watch him train. Di Canio is an entertainer. When he is focused and
in form, few can rival his invention, skill and technique."
But for all of Di Canio's undisputed talent, you get a feeling that he never
fulfilled his true potential. His unpredictability, tendency to speak his
mind and defy authority have led to high profile fall outs with Glenn
Roeder, Fabio Capello and Marcelo Lippi. Take Di Canio's international
record: he was always overlooked by Italy and never received a single
international cap. I know Italy had some excellent strikers when Di Canio
was playing (Alessandro Del Piero, Christian Vieri, Filippo Inzaghi all
spring to mind), but Di Canio's omission says more about his attitude than
his abilities as a footballer.
And then we have the fascist beliefs. Apart from former Lazio defender
Sinisa Mihajlovic (who was racist against Patrick Vieira and was good
friends with the Serbian terrorist Arkan), Di Canio is one of the most
controversial footballers ever. There's the "DVX" tattoo, which the latin
abbreviation of the former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and the Roman
salutes that Di Canio performed whilst at Lazio.
After a brief spell coaching at Cisco Roma, Di Canio is trying to control
his volatile temper and make it in management by getting his coaching
badges. He has even expressed a desire to manage West Ham one day. But
whatever happens, Paolo Di Canio will go down as one of the best foreigners
to ever play in the Premiership and sit alongside Gianfranco Zola as one of
the best Italian players to have played in England.
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