WHUFC.com
Having returned from injury, Danny Gabbidon is hoping to play his part still
this season
08.04.2010
Danny Gabbidon is delighted to be back in action for West Ham United and is
hoping to help the club's push for Barclays Premier League survival. The
centre-back was a late substitute in last weekend's 2-2 draw against Everton
and is hopeful he is over the hamstring troubles he has suffered of late.
Gabbidon had been out of action since the 4-1 defeat at Chelsea in February
when he played at right-back, and that itself was his only other appearance
so far in 2010. Having had a brief taste of the action, Gabbidon was
delighted to be able to be back around the squad this week preparing for
Sunderland on Saturday - especially given the mood post-match after Ilan's
equaliser at Goodison. "It felt like a win," he said. "It has been a long
time since I have seen the boys smiling after a game. "We played really well
considering the pressure and the situation we were in. We can't rest on it
and we have to carry that on this Saturday. Hopefully that has given us a
bit of the extra confidence. "Sunderland are doing well and are on a good
run. We know they are not going to give us the points. We have to give them
a good game, like we did against Everton. Every game is a cup final and but
if we play how we did on Sunday we will get the right result."
Having been sat on the Goodison bench for most of Sunday's contest, Gabbidon
had a good view of the travelling support. He was struck by the passion on
show but certainly not surprised. "The fans have been great all season. They
know we have been in this predicament for a while now but they haven't
stopped. "I know it is frustrating and the home form hasn't been great but
they still keep coming to watch us. Hopefully we will give them something to
shout about and they will turn out again on Saturday. If we put in a
performance the fans will have nothing to grumble about. I know they will be
right behind us."
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08.04.2010
Fans should sign up now to make sure of getting their FREE copy of April''s
Claret & Blue e-magazine.
Delivered direct to your inbox this Friday at no cost, Claret & Blue is
already in its sixth edition and this month promises to be the best yet.
With exclusive video interviews with homegrown hero Mark Noble, legendary
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Hammers to host Galaxy
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will take on two Academy sides from MLS club LA Galaxy on
Saturday
08.04.2010
West Ham United will host two Academy sides from MLS club LA Galaxy at
Little Heath this Saturday morning. With the Hammers not returning to FA
Premier Academy League action until 17 April, Tony Carr will field Under-16
and Under-17 sides against the touring Americans. The Galaxy, whose first
team features the likes of David Beckham and Landon Donovan, have been in
England since last Saturday, watching West Ham's 2-2 Barclays Premier League
draw at Everton on Sunday before taking on the Blackburn Rovers, Manchester
City and Ipswich Town Academy sides.
Following Saturday's games, the young tourists will head for Wembley for the
FA Cup semi-final between Aston Villa and Chelsea. Academy Director Tony
Carr, who has recently returned from leading a West Ham U17 side to victory
at the International Amateur Soccer Tournament - The Challenge for the
Tiffany Trophy Cup in Washington D.C., is looking forward to taking on
American opposition again. "We took on D.C. United twice and Annandale
United while we were in the United States, so this will be our fourth
meeting with American opposition in the past few weeks," Carr confirmed. "We
were recently visited by some coaches from our partner clubs in North
America as part of our International Academy scheme. They came to watch us
train and learn from our methods and ask questions. Obviously, we give them
the technical ins and outs, and it's been quite a fruitful relationship over
the last couple of years. It's certainly been worthwhile from West Ham's
point of view. "We've got a few Academy league fixtures left to play, but
we're without a game this weekend, so we're playing LA Galaxy in two
friendly matches. If any of the fans want to come down before the Sunderland
game, then we'd love to see them at Little Heath. "After that, we go to MK
Dons the following Saturday and hope we can continue our unbeaten run and
also get back to winning ways after drawing 1-1 in each of our last three
matches."
Kick-off on Saturday is at 11am, with admission and parking both free of
charge.
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Dowie - No mixed emotions
Tigers boss' loyalties lie firmly at the KC Stadium
By Carla Hilton Last updated: 8th April 2010
SSN
Hull City boss Iain Dowie insists he would not have mixed emotions should
the Tigers increase former club West Ham's plight by beating Burnley on
Saturday. The clash at the KC Stadium has been labelled as 'colossal' as far
as the fight for survival is concerned. Hull take on second-bottom Burnley
knowing that a win could take them out of the bottom three should the
Hammers slip up against Sunderland. Dowie's side are only a point behind his
former club and boast a game in hand in what is a turning out to be a
ding-dong battle at the bottom end of the table. The Tigers boss scored 13
goals in 81 appearances for his boyhood club but there is little doubt where
his loyalties now lie. "Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to keep
Hull in the Premier League - that would be a fantastic achievement," said
Dowie. "Whoever else goes down, I don't care. "Would it be fantastic if we
stayed up and West Ham stayed up? Great. "That's probably unlikely, but
let's deal with what we've got to deal with first."
Hull will fancy their chances against the lowly Clarets who were not only
thumped by Manchester City 6-1 last time, but they are yet to win a single
away game this season. "We've got to take care of business on Saturday,"
added Dowie. "I understand how colossal a game it is, not just for the club
but for the city of Hull. "If we were to win this game it would give us huge
impetus. "We do have that extra game in the bag and it would put things in
our control, which would be very nice." Meanwhile, Dowie is hopeful George
Boateng will have recovered from concussion in time to feature on Saturday.
"He was in this morning, bright smile on his face, little bit sore, little
bit groggy," said the Tigers boss. "Are we hopeful? Yes we are. "Would I say
he was going to play? I would say 55% no, 45% yes. It will go to the wire."
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Bent ready to nail Hammers
The Sun
Published: 08 Apr 2010
DARREN BENT has warned West Ham he has gold in his sights as he heads to
Upton Park. The striker is enjoying a prolific first season at Sunderland,
smashing 23 goals so far — with 22 of those in the Premier League. That
leaves him just four behind Wayne Rooney and three behind Didier Drogba in
the race for the top-flight's Golden Boot. Bent, 26, would have been even
closer had he not missed two penalties against his former club Tottenham
last weekend. But rather than dwell on that, he is determined to push Rooney
and Drogba all the way over the final five games — starting with the
relegation-threatened Hammers. Bent said: "The one thing that disappointed
me about last weekend was the missed penalties because if I'd scored them,
I'd have been right in the mix with Rooney and Drogba. "But I was happy to
get two goals in a great win for us and it is definitely still a motivation
for me to finish as the top scorer. "If you can do that in this league, then
you have made your mark. "If it doesn't happen, then it wasn't meant to be.
There are only five games left for me to get enough goals, but as long as I
keep going, then I will give it a go. "We have some winnable games, we are
in form and the way the team is creating chances, I feel I can score in
every game."
Bent snubbed West Ham to join Spurs in 2007 and knows an early goal for the
Wearsiders would pile the pressure on Gianfanco Zola's strugglers. He added:
"Zola is a popular man and it seems the players are 100 per cent behind him.
"But their crowd can turn very quickly, so if we can start well and
hopefully get in front, we can make it difficult.
"The good thing is that West Ham and any Zola side will want to play
football. "It's not like we're going to a Stoke or Blackburn where there's
not really much football. "It should be a very good game."
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Hammers halted in bid for new investment
Published 22:45 08/04/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror
West Ham chairman David Sullivan's drive for fresh investment from the
Middle East has been halted by the club's dire Premier League position.
Sullivan and fellow ex-Birmingham owner David Gold bought a controlling 50
per cent stake in West Ham in January. But they want to find new backers to
take up the rest of the club's shares - held by failed Icelandic investment
bank Straumur. The Hammers have debts of £95million after an ill-advised
spending spree under the Icelanders. And Sullivan and West Ham vice-chairman
Karren Brady visited Dubai last week to hold talks with new potential
investors. But with the Hammers languishing 17th in the top-flight there
were no firm takers. The billionaires and millionaires Sullivan has targeted
intend to wait and see what division the club are in next season before
committing. It is another blow for Sullivan after MirrorFootball revealed
Birmingham's new owner Carson Yeung put in a £5m writ on Wednesday at the
High Court against City's former regime over the finances at St Andrews.
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West Ham United v Sunderland: match preview
Read a full match preview of the Premier League match between West Ham
United and Sunderland at Upton Park on Saturday Apr 10 2010, kick-off 15.00
BST.
Telegraph.co.uk
By John Ley
Published: 6:00AM BST 09 Apr 2010
Saturday, April 10
West Ham United v Sunderland
Upton Park
Kick-off: 15.00 BST.
TV: Highlights BBC One MotD1.
Sport on television West Ham (4-4-2): Green; Faubert, Da Costa, Upson,
Spector; Noble, Collison, Kovac, Stanislas; Ilan, Cole. Sunderland (4-4-2):
Gordon; Ferdinand, Turner, da Silva, Richardson; Henderson, Meyler,
Cattermole, Malbranque; Campbell, Bent.
Referee: Mike Jones. Matches: 14. R: 1. Y: 47.
Tale of the Game
West Ham brought an end to their worst ever run in the Barclays Premier
League last weekend with a battling 2-2 draw at Everton, following six
straight defeats, and they return to Upton Park where they have won only
five games all season. Sunderland, though, are on the up with only one
defeat in seven league games, the 3-0 defeat at Liverpool. But last weekend
they beat Spurs 3-1 when Darren Bent scored twice and also missed two
penalties. West Ham miss Scott Parker, who serves the first game of a
two-match ban after receiving a tenth booking, at Everton. Valon Behrami,
James Tomkins, Kieron Dyer, Zavon Hines and Luis Boa Morte are out while
Jack Collison, Herita Ilunga and Guillermo Franco undergo tests. Sunderland
are likely to be without Lorik Cana and former West Ham defender George
McCartney.
This season: Sunderland 2 West Ham 2.
Last season: Sunderland 0 West Ham 1, West Ham 2 Sunderland 0.
Stat of the Game: West Ham have won their last five home games against
Sunderland in the Premier League.
Betting Tip: Relief for West Ham; 1-0 offers 6-1.
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KEV'S KEEN FOR CHARITY REUNION
Posted on: Fri 09 Apr 2010
www.wycombewanderers.co.uk
Former Wanderer Kevin Keen says he cannot wait to return to Adams Park for
next week's charity match in memory of his father Mike, who lost his battle
with cancer at the age of 69 almost exactly one year ago. The Mike Keen
Charity Cup takes place on Thursday 15th April (k.o. 7.45pm) and will
feature a whole host of Wycombe legends, as well as famous Premier League
names such as Gianfranco Zola and Teddy Sheringham. Mike managed the
Wanderers - his hometown club - from 1980 until 1984 and also owned two
sports shops in the town centre, but sadly passed away last April after a
short battle with cancer. And speaking to the club's official matchday
programme, 'Quarters', son Kevin - who started his playing career with the
Chairboys - said: "It's great that so many famous players have agreed to
turn out in memory of my dad. "He was very proud of his roots in High
Wycombe where he was born and bred, got married and lived all his life. He
would have loved a night like this. "I'd like to thank Steve Hayes and the
board of Wycombe Wanderers for all their help in arranging this game. My dad
always wanted football to be fun, skilful and entertaining and I hope that
next Thursday's game will be all of those things," he added.
Current Blues boss Gary Waddock is among a host of past and present managers
who will be turning out for the All Stars XI. They include Brighton's Gus
Poyet (ex-Chelsea and Spurs), Southampton's Alan Pardew (Crystal Palace and
Charlton), Charlton's Phil Parkinson (Reading) and Watford's Malky Mackay
(Norwich and West Ham). The famous football family of Allen's will be well
represented with Clive (ex-Spurs), Paul (West Ham and Spurs) and Martin
(West Ham). Defender Steve Clarke joins the list of ex-Chelsea stars who
have promised to play and former Wycombe midfielder Rob Lee will be
returning to Adams Park for the game. However - with due respect to the
legends in the All Stars XI - the biggest cheers of the night will be
reserved for the opposition, an ex-Wanderers XI packed with some of the
greatest names in Wycombe's history.
Many of the stars from the Martin O'Neill era will be in action including
Keith Ryan, Steve Brown, Simon Garner, Matt Crossley, Glyn Creaser, Simon
Stapleton and Steve Thompson. Goalscoring legends Mark West and Tommy Mooney
will be pulling on the famous blue quarters once again and the goalkeeping
duties will be shared by Paul Hyde and Chuck Moussadik.
Tickets cost £10 for adults and £1 for concessions, and can be purchased
from the Adams Park ticket office on 01494 441118. All proceeds from the
match will be donated to Cancer Research UK.
The full squads are as follows:
Wanderers: Matt Crossley, Mark West, Steve Thompson, Simon Stapleton, Glyn
Creaser, Paul Hyde, Keith Ryan, Steve Brown, Simon Garner, Tommy Mooney,
Stuart Cash, Steve Whitby, Mo Harkin, Andy Baird, Chuck Moussadik
All Stars XI: Gianfranco Zola, Teddy Sheringham, Gus Poyet, Gary Waddock,
Malky Mackay, Steve Clarke, Alan Pardew, Martin Allen, Clive Allen, Paul
Allen, Rob Lee, Phil Parkinson, Tim Breacker, Alec Chamberlain, David
Oldfield, Kevin Keen
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West Ham United defender Danny Gabbidon: Every game is a cup final for us
Welshman wants to give fans "something to shout about" on Saturday
By Alex Stamp
8 Apr 2010 23:27:00
Goal.com
West Ham United defender Danny Gabbidon has admitted that every game is "a
cup final" for his team as they look to pull away from Premier League
relegation. The Welsh international made his comeback in Sunday's 2-2 draw
against Everton when he was introduced as a late substitute, which was his
first appearance for the club since a 4-1 defeat at Chelsea on March 13.
West Ham snatched a point at Goodison Park courtesy of a late header from
Ilan, and Gabbidon revealed that the team felt they had earned a win as a
result. "It felt like a win, it has been a long time since I have seen the
boys smiling after a game," he told the club's official website "We played
really well considering the pressure and the situation we were in. We can't
rest on it and we have to carry that on this Saturday. Hopefully that has
given us a bit of the extra confidence." The Hammers now face Sunderland,
who are in good form after beating Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 last weekend, and
Gabbidon admitted that every game is like a cup final for the team.
"Sunderland are doing well and are on a good run," he said. "We know they
are not going to give us the points. We have to give them a good game, like
we did against Everton. "Every game is a cup final and but if we play how we
did on Sunday we will get the right result." Gabbidon revealed his
admiration for the support which the West Ham fans have given their team
throughout the season, and he admitted that the team were looking to give
them something to shout about this weekend. "The fans have been great all
season. They know we have been in this predicament for a while now but they
haven't stopped," he said. "I know it is frustrating and the home form
hasn't been great but they still keep coming to watch us. Hopefully we will
give them something to shout about and they will turn out again on Saturday.
"If we put in a performance the fans will have nothing to grumble about. I
know they will be right behind us."
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Bruce: West Ham tough to beat
Sunderland Echo
Published Date: 08 April 2010
Steve Bruce says West Ham striker Ilan's equaliser at Everton last weekend
has made Sunderland's task doubly difficult at Upton Park on Saturday. Bruce
watched the Hammers trailing 2-1 in the dying minutes at Goodison Park and
felt that this weekend might be the perfect time to play Gianfranco Zola's
beleaguered side. But then up popped the 29-year-old Brazilian striker with
a brilliant diving header in the 87th minute to completely change the
dynamics of the battle at the bottom. That point prevented West Ham dropping
into the bottom three and Bruce reckons it will have re-energised a side in
danger of sinking without trace. He told the Echo: "It's no secret that West
Ham have been on a dreadful run. "They'd lost six games on the trot going
into the Everton game and were just a couple of minutes away from it being
seven. "But that late equaliser, and the point gained, is absolutely massive
for them. "It stops the rot. "It avoids the psychological damage of dropping
into the bottom three and it means they'll be a much tougher prospect
against us. "Even the most resilient teams suffer if they have a string of
defeats and had West Ham lost seven in a row they would have been much more
fragile. "If we'd started well against them, we might have hoped to see them
crumble a little, lose any confidence they had. "But that point gives them
something to cling on to. It guarantees they'll have taken heart and that
they'll be looking to this weekend to get a run of avoiding defeat going."
The Sunderland manager knows that his opponents will see this as something
of a "must-win" game. "I think they'll have targeted the Sunderland match as
one they've got to win," he said. "They've got a couple of very difficult
fixtures in their remaining games so they'll be looking to ours as one to
win, especially with our poor away record. "But this is a match that we've
got to look do well in ourselves. "We've had an excellent record on the
quiet recently – we've only lost to Arsenal and Liverpool in 11 games – and
I'd love us to do something about our poor away record over the next few
games. "It would be great to think we might get our second away win of the
season this weekend, but we know it will be tough
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SAFC boss Bruce in fear of Hammer horror
Apr 8 2010 by Stuart Rayner, Evening Chronicle
Now West Ham United have "stopped the rot" they will be targeting three
points against Sunderland on Saturday, Steve Bruce has warned. The
relegation-threatened Hammers ended a run of six straight defeats with
Ilan's 87th-minute equaliser at Everton on Sunday. And that, says Bruce,
makes them a much tougher prospect this weekend. "It's no secret West Ham
have been on a dreadful run," he said. "They'd lost six games on the trot
going into the Everton game and were just a couple of minutes away from it
being seven. "But that late equaliser is absolutely massive for them. It
stops the rot. "It avoids the psychological damage of dropping into the
bottom three and means they'll be a much tougher prospect against us."If
we'd started well against them this Saturday, we might have hoped to see
them crumble a little. "But that point gives them something to cling on to.
It guarantees they'll have taken heart."
The Hammers are on 28 points – one more than third-bottom Hull City – and
with just five games left, will be looking for the points to keep them safe.
Gianfranco Zola will be hoping to make the most of home advantage against a
Black Cats side who have not won a Premier League away game since the
opening day of the season. "I think they'll have targeted the Sunderland
match as one they've got to win," he said. "They've got a couple of very
difficult fixtures in their remaining games so they'll be looking to ours,
especially with our away record. "But we've had an excellent record on the
quiet recently – we've only lost to Arsenal and Liverpool in 11 games – and
I'd love us to do something about our poor away record over the next few
games."
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Birmingham owners to make compensation claim against former owner David
Sullivan
Birmingham City's owners have returned to the High Court just days after
being ordered to pay £2.2 million to the investment bank Seymour Pierce in
unpaid advisory fees, with their own compensation claim against former owner
David Sullivan. The West Ham chairman has responded with a promise to
counter-sue for "several million" in unpaid expenses.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Sandy Macaskill
Published: 2:11PM BST 08 Apr 2010
Grandtop International Holdings, the investment vehicle used by Hong Kong
businessman Carson Yeung to purchase the club, was last week sued by the
London-based investment bank and stockbrokers Seymour Pierce over an unpaid
advisory "success fee" based on an agreement made in 2007 when the bank was
appointed to advise Grandtop on buying the football club. According to Vico
Hui, the Birmingham City chairman and the chief executive of Grandtop - now
known as Birmingham International Holdings - the company will appeal the
decision, but first they will return to the High Court in an attempt to gain
compensation in excess of £5 million for the state of the finances they
inherited from Sullivan after their takeover in October. Sales kick off as
clubs feel the pinchTheir writ, which was filed on Tuesday at the Royal
Courts of Justice, amounts to the first genuine salvo of what has until now
been only a verbal conflict, which began when Yeung initiated an
investigation into the club's finances which discovered that Sullivan and
Gold had paid themselves £420,000 in management fees for the year ahead
before departing. Yeung and his advisors rejected Sullivan's and Gold's
offer to refund the fees. However, Birmingham's legal action will not be
taken lying down. Sullivan has already announced his intention to return
fire by counter-suing for "several million" in unclaimed expenses. He
explained: "Unfortunately as they started it we'll be issuing writs
ourselves. We'll be counter-suing for several million. I don't think it is
right for people in football to sue each other as it is not good for either
club. Right from the start we tried to find a way to resolve this amicably.
Now the only gainers will be the lawyers."
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Ferdinand pledges a 'professional job' against Hammers
BBC.co.uk
Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand has said he is adamant there will be no
sentiment for former club West Ham United in Saturday's encounter. The
Hammers are in danger of relegation this season but Ferdinand says there
will be no mercy for his boyhood team. "I am a professional, I'm going
there to do a job. West Ham fans understand that," Ferdinand told BBC
Newcastle. "The Sunderland fans are travelling there in vast numbers and I
owe it to them to play my heart out." Ferdinand began his career with the
East London club, making 163 appearances in all competitions having made his
full debut for the club against Preston in August 2003. Gianfranco Zola's
West Ham side are a point above the relegation places with just five games
to play, but Hull City who lie a place below them have a game in hand.
Meanwhile, Sunderland's own hopes of avoiding the drop were handed a huge
boost with last weekend's 3-1 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of
Light. The Black Cats have an 11-point gap between themselves and the bottom
three in the Premier League. Ferdinand, who has endured relegation before
with West Ham, believes no player can relax until safety is mathematically
secured, and is eyeing a positive end to a mixed campaign at the Stadium of
Light. "You're not safe until the points say you are, until the three teams
have that R next to their name, but the good thing is we're looking upwards
and not downwards at the moment," Ferdinand added. "We need to make sure we
finish the season strongly and if we do, then it's been a good season
considering the bad period we had."
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