WHUFC.com
The Young Lions saw their U19 UEFA EURO dream dashed by Spain on Tuesday
27.07.2010
Frank Nouble's dream of winning the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship
is over after Spain ran out comfortable 3-1 winners against England in
Tuesday's semi-final. Nouble led the line once again for the Young Lions and
played a part in the side's consolation scored by John Bostock just before
half-time. By then, England were two-nil down to well-worked goals from
Daniel Pacheco and Keko. Sergio Canales then wrapped up the win just before
the hour mark, with England having just missed out on a second after great
work by Nathan Delfouneso and then Nouble saw a good chance go begging. A
consolation for England is that their semi-final appearance at the
tournament played in Normandy, France guarantees them a place at the 2011
FIFA U20 World Cup in Colombia next year as one of six UEFA's
representatives, along with Spain, France, Croatia, Portugal and Austria.
Before appearing in all three group games and scoring two goals, Nouble
played a full part in qualifying, helping the Young Lions see off Ukraine,
Republic of Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina. He finished the last club season
on loan at Swindon Town, having had a spell at West Bromwich Albion prior to
that following a successful start to his career at the Boleyn Ground that
saw him make his senior debut and play eight Premier League games.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Italy tickets on sale
WHUFC.com
A huge international date is coming to the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday 10
August
27.07.2010
Tickets are on sale now for the mouth-watering international friendly
between Italy and Ivory Coast at the Boleyn Ground next month. The
four-times FIFA World Cup winners will take on the Elephants at 7.45pm on
Tuesday 10 August, giving Hammers supporters the chance to watch the likes
of AC Milan stars Andrea Pirlo and Gianluca Zambrotta tackle Chelsea striker
Didier Drogba and Manchester City brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure. Tickets for
what promises to be an unforgettable night start from as little as £20 for
Adults, £15 for West Ham United season ticket holders and Academy members,
£10 for Young Adults and £5 for Under-16s.
Tickets are on general sale and are available by calling the Ticket Office
on 0871 222 2700 and selecting Option 1 or Option 3 or online at
whufcboxoffice.com
Alternatively, personal callers can purchase their tickets from the West
Stand Ticket Office at the Boleyn Ground, which is open 9am to 5pm, Monday
to Friday, and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.
Both nations will be seeking to bounce back to winning ways after enduring a
difficult time at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where they combined to win just
one of six matches between them. Reigning champions Italy and hotly-tipped
African challengers Ivory Coast were both eliminated at the group-stage in
South Africa and will have new coaches in the dugout in east London. The
Azzurri have appointed ACF Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli following the
departure of Marcelo Lippi, while the Elephants have yet to appoint a
successor to former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson.
Italy and Ivory Coast have met just once before at senior international
level, drawing 1-1 in Geneva on 16 November 2005. Drogba opening the scoring
on 68 minutes before Aimo Diana equalised with just four minutes remaining.
Ironically, Eriksson was one of the managers involved on the only previous
occasion on which the Boleyn Ground has staged a senior international
fixture - England's 3-1 defeat by Australia in February 2003 in a match that
marked Wayne Rooney's Three Lions debut. The international friendly is the
latest in a series of exciting sporting events to be held at the famous home
of the Hammers. In May, West Ham supporter Kevin 'The Hammer' Mitchell was
defeated by Australian Michael Katsidis in an explosive WBO interim
lightweight boxing championship fight.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold: Beckham considering West Ham move
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 27th July 2010
By: Staff Writer
Joint chairman David Gold has admitted that David Beckham has been offered
the opportunity to return to east London. The former England captain, who
was born in Leytonstone is said by Gold to be mulling over an offer that
could see him join West Ham either as a player or in a dual
player/ambassadorial role ahead of United's proposed move to the Olympic
Stadium in 2012. Speaking on BBC Essex tonight, Gold said: "We had some
discussions with David's agents a few months ago and it was a possibility
then. He's pre-occupied with a number of projects at the moment but he's
promised that he will give every consideration to the possibility of joining
us. "I've got to say that [the chances of Beckham joining] are less than
50/50. But I would say that there is a greater possibility that he would
join us as an ambassador; when his football days are over you can really see
that that's the perfect fit for him. "He's already doing a fantastic job in
trying to bring the 2018 World Cup to England so it fits nicely. At the same
time he would help us convince the authorities that West Ham would make the
perfect fit at the new stadium."
In terms of personnel already at the club, Gold welcomed the arrival of new
manager Avram Grant who has overseen three wins out of three in pre-season
thus far - including back-to-back wins during the club's week abroad against
Borussia Monchengladbach and Panathinaikos. "We're absolutely thrilled at
the appointment," he said. "Our history of appointing managers over the
years has been pretty good - we take time in choosing that man and I'm sure
Avram will be with us for many years to come."
However he refused to be drawn on a question regarding Scott Parker's
imminent future, stating: "I don't think anybody can ever give a 100 per
cent guarantee about anybody. When bids come in to such an extent and
players are offered huge sums of money... There's a never-never, I learnt
that many years ago in football. "However having said that, I promise the
fans that we will do everything in our power to ensure that Scott Parker
starts the season at Upton Park when we kick off in our new adventure of
taking West Ham forward."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold: why Stratford makes sense
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 27th July 2010
By: Staff Writer
David Gold launched a new charm offensive tonight as he spoke about the
club's proposed move to Stratford.
West Ham's co-chairman was speaking to BBC Essex about a number of points
but was particularly keen to promote the benefits of the switch to the
Olympic Stadium, just 48 hours after vice-chairman Karren Brady spoke in
similarly effusive fashion in the Independent.
On the club's bid to become post-2012 Games tenants - which Gold is hoping
will be ratified later this week - he said: "We're very hopeful. It's a
one-off opportunity that comes around every 100 years, that there's a
natural fit like this. What a fantastic opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity so that West Ham can play in that new stadium. So can Essex
[County] Cricket [Club], so can there be athletics - it's an amazing
opportunity for everybody. I've got to say that we're very excited and
optimistic that it'll be West Ham that will be going there."
Despite the positive message, one nagging problem for Gold and co-Chairman
David Sullivan has been the supporters' reticence to back the move. In
response to a question regarding the result of a recent KUMB.com poll - in
which three-quarters voted against a move to a stadium with an in-situ
running track - Gold responded:
"I understand; when it was first mooted I was against it. West Ham have been
at the Boleyn for 100 years and I don't want to move. But equally, I want to
compete at the top so it is a dilemma and fans have to ask themselves - are
they happy with mid-table? They certainly weren't happy last year fighting
against relegation.
"What I think that will slowly excite everybody is that this is an iconic
stadium. It's not far away from Upton Park, its only two miles away and very
easy to get to. I think that slowly fans will say: 'What? There is a
possibility that we could complete at the very top? We could compete with
the Chelseas, the Arsenals?' This is an amazing stadium, it will be a 60,000
seater stadium, it will be iconic, it will be a centre of excellence.
Everything about it will be great and it will be an opportunity for us to
complete with the very, very top in the Premier League."
And attempting to dispel the popular theory that the view from the stands
would be seriously diminished as a result of the oval-shaped stadium and
running track, Gold continued: "Some great football stadiums in the world
have running tracks, that's number one. Number two, our sight lines are
better than Wembley. If you want to sit at the edge of the pitch, that's not
going to be possible - but even at West Ham you've got virtually half a
running track's distance between the pitch and the seating already so it's
not going to be that much more.
"But FIFA are introducing bigger-sized pitches; there's going to be an extra
two metres of pitch so that makes it closer to the fans. So I don't think
that this is going to be an issue and that fans are going to warm to it. It
takes time; I bet the fans will be saying 'I've been going for years, my
father went for years, my grandfather went for years and we want to keep
going to Upton Park'. But, as I say, if you really want to move on and move
forward and challenge at the very top sometimes you have to grasp the
opportunity - and I think that's what we have to do."
Vice-chairman Brady, speaking in an interview with the Independent revealed
that the bid had already cost the club somewhere in the region of £250,000 -
with no apparent guarantee of a successful conclusion. However she admitted
that she was 'quietly confident' of the club's plans being given the
thumbs-up, adding that the decision was "a no-brainer and absolutely right
for the club and community."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers get a new Pet
The Sun
Published: Today
WEST HAM will today name ex-Feyenoord and Hamburg coach Zeljko Petrovic as
their assistant boss. The former Yugoslav World Cup star, 44, has agreed to
team up with new Hammers manager Avram Grant. Petrovic replaces Steve
Clarke, who left at the end of last season. And he hopes to be joined at
Upton Park by Ajax winger Miralem Sulejmani, 21, on a season-long loan.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
London 2012 Olympics: West Ham confident over stadium deal
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady expects the club to be given the first
option of taking over the Olympic Stadium after the London Olympics.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Telegraph staff and agencies
Published: 8:43AM BST 27 Jul 2010
West Ham confirmed earlier this year they want to leave their existing Upton
Park home for the Olympic Stadium, while London mayor Boris Johnson is also
keen on a football club taking over the running costs of the venue. The
Premier League club believe switching home grounds will cost them £125
million and have asked the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), who are
responsible for the future of the London 2012 venues, for a six-month
"lock-out" to hold exclusive talks on the deal.
And, two years before the Olympics start, Brady said: "We'll hear by the end
of the month whether we've got it [the lock-out deal]. "I would never say
I'm 100 per cent but I expect to get it. It's a no-brainer and it's
absolutely right for the club and community." West Ham's main rivals are
American entertainment giant AEG, who own the O2 Arena. A spokeswoman for
the OPLC added: "The market testing has captured genuine interest from a
range of organisations in the sports, events, investment and education
sectors. "We are building on this momentum and working closely with
interested parties to move towards a formal procurement process."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Harry Redknapp wants West Ham star Scott Parker for Spurs' assault on
Champions League
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 9:56 AM on 27th July 2010
Daily Mail
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp wants to sign West Ham midfielder Scott Parker
before next month's Champions League qualifying tie. Redknapp is keen to
bolster his midfield and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, according to reports,
is prepared to pay £8million for Parker. But the Hammers are believed to
want almost double that figure for their 29-year-old talisman, who is also
on the radar of Aston Villa. Levy usually prefers players with a sell-on
value but Redknapp has made it clear he wants Parker despite his age.
Redknapp is also tracking Manchester City's Craig Bellamy, 31. Redknapp has
said he wants three or four players for his challenge at home and abroad and
one who would be an investment is Germany's World Cup star Mesut Ozil. The
21-year-old Werder Bremen playmaker has been linked with a £12m move to
White Hart Lane while Arsenal and Chelsea are also known admirers
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carlton Cole or Emmanuel Adebayor to Real Madrid?
Paul Doyle
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 27 July 2010 09.01 BST
People who play Tetris over a sustained period of time find themselves
thinking about ways that objects can fit together in the real world so, for
example, when they see a book they instinctively imagine slotting it into a
space on a shelf or if they catch sight of their fist they envisage placing
it perfectly into Jeremy Kyle's provocative face. What this means for hacks
who spend their summer days scribbling transfer yarns is that when they see
a footballer they instinctively link him with a club where the fit seems
plausible.
Sometimes, however, such as when the author is suffering from the delirium
tremens or is plain stupid, the fit seems preposterous: no better example
could be given than today's internet gossip linking Real Madrid with a
sensational swoop for Carlton Cole.
Mind you, it is true that Cole is in demand. Stoke definitely want him,
Birmingham are thinking about it and, it is claimed, even Liverpool's Roy
Hodgson is tempted, though only, it is also claimed, if Kevin Doyle can't be
got. And as Real search for a new striker, José Mourinho is considering some
surprising options – Amauri of Juventus, for example, and Mario Gómez of
Bayern Munich – however, it seems his most likely choice will not be Cole
but rather Emmanuel Adebayor, who will be allowed leave Manchester City if
Fernando Torres or Mario Balotelli joins.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham expect to have first option on Olympic Stadium
Karren Brady confident of 'lock-out' deal this month
'It's a no-brainer and absolutely right for club and community'
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 27 July 2010 09.33 BST
The West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady expects the club to be given the
first option of taking over the Olympic Stadium after the London Olympics.
The Hammers confirmed this year they want to leave their existing Upton Park
home for the Olympic Stadium, while the London mayor Boris Johnson is also
keen on a football club taking over the running costs of the venue. The
Premier League club believe switching home grounds will cost them
£125million and have asked the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), who are
responsible for the future of the London 2012 venues, for a six-month
"lock-out" to hold exclusive talks on the deal. "We'll hear by the end of
the month whether we've got it [the lock-out deal]," Brady told
insidethegames.biz. "I would never say I'm 100% but I expect to get it. It's
a no-brainer and it's absolutely right for the club and community."
West Ham's main rivals are the American entertainment giant AEG, who own the
O2 Arena. A spokeswoman for the OPLC said: "The market testing has captured
genuine interest from a range of organisations in the sports, events,
investment and education sectors. We are building on this momentum and
working closely with interested parties to move towards a formal procurement
process."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham in pole position to sign Remy
Published 08:52 27/07/10 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror
Avram Grant is back in pole position to sign Nice striker Loic Remy. The
West Ham boss looked set to pull off a coup two weeks ago when the east
Londoners made their first bid for the 23-year-old marksman. But Nice
rejected the Hammers' initial bonus-based bid, allowing Liverpool, Spurs and
Arsenal to jump in.
It is only West Ham who, with a renewed bid of £11.3million, have made a
firm offer for Remy. Nice president Gilbert Stellardo said: "Remy is
interested in West Ham. "I have heard about interest from Liverpool, Chelsea
and Arsenal, but I've had no contact. "The only clubs I have talked to are
West Ham and Fenerbahce."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers midfielder interests Roma
12:04pm Tuesday 27th July 2010
Guardian Series
WEST HAM midfielder Valon Behrami is the subject of strong interest from
Italian side Roma, say reports. The Daily Mail claim Roma are interested in
bringing the Switzerland international to Italy, with a potential swap deal
involving goalkeeper Doni or striker Stefano Okaka on the cards. Hammers
co-owner David Sullivan has previously stated that every member of last
season's squad is available for transfer – except Scott Parker – and the
club may be willing to listen to offers for Behrami. Roma are understood to
prefer an initial loan deal with the option to make the move permanent next
summer, however a swap deal has also been mooted. Behrami had become a
regular fixture in the West Ham line-up under Gianfranco Zola last season,
but it is unclear how he will be used under new boss Avram Grant, having
only just returned to pre-season training following an extended break after
his World Cup exertions with Switzerland.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers bid for 'lock out' talks on Olympic Stadium
9:38am Tuesday 27th July 2010
Guardian Series
WEST HAM vice-chairman Karren Brady is confident the club will win the right
to be housed in the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games. The club
have submitted their joint bid with Newham Council for the stadium to the
Olympic Park Legacy Company, but are keen to negotiate exclusive 'lock-out'
talks for six months, whereby West Ham would be the only party to discuss a
deal. Brady said: "We'll hear by the end of the month whether we've got it
(the lock out deal). "I would never say I'm 100 per cent but I expect to get
it. It's a no-brainer and it's absolutely right for the club and community."
It is understood that West Ham's main rivals for the stadium are American
entertainment company AEG, who own the O2 Arena. However, a new twist has
emerged, with capital Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur also
understood to be holding informal talks with the OPLC.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Latest Transfer Update
West Ham Till I Die
West Ham are allegedly inquiring about the services of ex Newcastle flop
Jean Alain Boumsong. Although a new centre back is needed, for me
personally, this is not the right place to be looking. At 30 he has
experience, and has represented France as well as play numerous times in the
Champions League, but from what i remember of him, he was always the weak
link and i think the management team would be better to look for a younger,
more solid defender. My fancy would be Wheater from 'Boro.
Reports are circulating that 'Arry is set to make 'a significant bid' to
bring Scott Parker to Tottenham. It really does seem he has a personal
vendetta against the club now and will almost do anything to agitate Hammers
fans. If the board are true to their word, we'll refuse any and all offers
for Parker, but i think he may actually be the first to leave Upton Park.
West Ham are set to appoint a new assistant manager this week. Zeljko
Petrovic has been assistant to Martin Jol for a number of years now and
reports are suggesting he will sign as Grants number 2 and bring countryman
and Ajax forward Miralem Sulejmani with him on a season long loan deal.
Other than the Remy saga, which is getting very tiresome now, and the
possible arrival of Clerc, there is little else to report for now. However
Avram Grant has promised more signings this summer! Lets hope one is Clerc
and lets hope Remy makes up his mind soon, one way or the other.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Is 4-2-3-1 the Way Forward?
West Ham Till I Die
There is no doubt that West Ham's pre-season has shaped up very well so far.
Carlton Cole looks proficient playing in a lone striker role and has already
contributed a couple of goals. In addition, he has received good quality
support from Boa Morte and Freddie Sears on the left and right side of the
forward line. The defence has looked tight and disciplined and the central
midfield combination of Noble and Hitzlsperger has done extremely well.
Moreover, Having read accounts of the Brossia MGB and Panathinaikos matches,
not only have the team played good football, but they have shown a
creditable discipline and professionalism in adapting to a new formation.
Grant's management will probably see a move away from 4-4-2 and the adoption
of a far more flexible 4-3-3 or even 4-2-3-1 formation. Personally, I hope
that we go for the 4-2-3-1 that was prevalent tactically in the recent World
Cup Finals. This would probably see Noble and Parker partnered in central
midfield, with a combination of Barrera, Boa Morte, Hitzlsperger, Stanislas,
Sears, Diamanti (if he stays?), Collison (when fit) or Remy (if he ever
actually signs?) or Hines supporting Cole at the fulcrum of the attack.
It is the ability of this bank of three forwards to give close support to
Cole and regularly hit the back of the net that will ultimately determine
the success of the formation. The players referred to above are all more
than capable of delivering goals. In that respect the performances of
Hitzlsperger have been particularly encouraging. 'Das Hammer' has started
to show an ability to score goals from deep positions and that is to be
warmly welcomed. Last season, Diamanti weighed in with eight or nine goals,
but he was the exception in a midfield that did not hit the target nearly
regularly enough.
There has been a lot of press speculation about the exit of Parker and Cole
to Aston Villa and Stoke City respectively. Personally, I would not welcome
the departure of either player. They are part of the team's spine and their
loss will probably weaken it. However, I am also more than aware that one
or more 'star' players may need to be sacrificed to provide the funds for
further new arrivals. And it does seem likely that space in the striker
berths will need to be found if the rumours concerning the imminent arrival
of Argentinian prospect, Caragilo, are true?
It would be a great pity though, as in Cole, Picquionne and Nouble we have
three excellent options to play at the apex of our new formation. Whilst
selling Cole to accommodate Caragilo, a young player untried in the PL,
would represent a gamble. If it comes off then it will be hailed as a
master stroke, if it does not then we could all come to regret it.
Decisions such as that are the call of the management, it what they are very
well paid for, and ultimately they stand or fall by them.
It is notable that the defence has been very tight so far, with players such
as James Tomkins showing impressive early form. However, the principle
question remains whether Upson wishes to stay with the club or seek pastures
new? If he does go then we will need to recruit an experienced and high
quality replacement. Also, will Clerc be signed to provide international
quality cover at right-back? Will the restructure of the squad also mean
that some defenders such as Gabbidon and Spector could be moved on before
the start of the season?
Regardless, one of the features of the 4-2-3-1 is the way in which the
system gives additional midfield cover to the defence, shielding it and
giving the full-backs greater opportunity to get forward and provide vital
width. These are features that will assist West Ham to overcome two of the
worst faults from last season, the fragility of our defence and a lack of
real width in our forward play.
It is a formation that interests me and I particularly like the tactical
flexibility and movement that it tends to promote. It looks like Grant's
player recruitment is geared to providing the players to make it work.
Lets hope that, unlike in the case of GF Zola's squad last summer, the club
has furnished/furnishes Grant with the players to ensure that the formation
succeeds. Otherwise, there will probably be another hasty retreat back in
to the comfort zone of a more rigid 4-4-2!
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BIG GUNS BACK FOR HAMMERS VISIT
Tue 27 Jul 2010
mkdons.com
Dons manager Karl Robinson has named a 23-man squad for Wednesday night's
pre-season friendly against West Ham United at stadiummk. Having rested a
number of his established first team players for Friday night's trip to
Aylesbury, Robinson will have every fit professional at his disposal against
the Hammers, who are also expected to field a strong side. Goalkeeper David
Martin will sit out the game after picking up a minor ankle knock in
training, meaning Willy Gueret and Stuart Searle will vie for a starting
berth in goal, while full-back Danny Woodards returns to the squad for
potentially his first involvement of pre-season. Midfielder Dietmar Hamann
is expected to see some match time in midfield, while Luke Chadwick, Angelo
Balanta, Peter Leven and Jermaine Easter are among those re-introduced.
In defence, Robinson will still be without recovering duo Jude Stirling and
Gary Mackenzie, but has full-back Danny Woodards available for potentially
his first action of pre-season. Robinson will also continue to run the rule
over Cape Verdean centre-back Pelé, formerly of Southampton and West Brom,
who has been on trial with the Club in recent weeks.
Irons boss Avram Grant could hand match time to new signings Frederic
Piquionne, Pablo Barrera and Thomas Hitzlsperger at stadiummk, while the
Hammers' World Cup participants are also expected to integrate back into the
squad this week. West Ham new boy Thomas Hitzlsperger could feature. England
duo Robert Green and Matthew Upson have yet to be involved under Grant this
summer, while American defender Jonathan Spector and Swiss midfielder Valon
Behrami are also back in contention following the extended break offered to
those players on international duty in South Africa.
Tickets for Wednesday night's game are priced £10 for Adults, £6 for
Concessions and £1 for Under-16s in all areas except clubRed and are
available both from the MK Dons Online Ticket Service and from stadiummk on
the night.
Dons Squad:
Goalkeepers; Willy Gueret, Stuart Searle.
Defenders; Adam Chicksen, Mathias Doumbe, Tom Flanagan, Dean Lewington, Sean
O'Hanlon, Pelé, Danny Woodards.
Midfielders; Angelo Balanta, Mark Carrington, Luke Chadwick, Stephen
Gleeson, Lewis Guy, Dietmar Hamann, Luke Howell, Peter Leven, Daniel Powell.
Forwards; Sam Baldock, Charlie Collins, Jermaine Easter, Jabo Ibehre, Aaron
Wilbraham.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Scott's our main man: Hammers offer Parker £20m deal
By MATT BARLOW Last updated at 1:31 AM on 28th July 2010
Daily Mail
West Ham have offered Scott Parker a new contract worth £20million over five
years as proof that they intend to build their future around him. Chairman
David Sullivan caused a stir last season when he claimed the entire squad
would be up for sale apart from Parker, who was an inspirational force as
the Hammers escaped relegation at the end of a dismal campaign. The
29-year-old's dynamic midfield form made an impression on England boss Fabio
Capello, who selected Parker for his preliminary 30-man World Cup squad,
although he was one of the seven who missed the final cut for South Africa.
It also prompted interest from other managers, including Aston Villa's
Martin O'Neill and Tottenham's Harry Redknapp, who are able to offer
European football in the campaign ahead. Sullivan, who claimed last week
that Villa did not have enough money to sign Parker, would like to see his
captain put his name to a new five-year contract worth £75,000 a week, even
though there are still three years left to run on his current deal at West
Ham. Parker, who started his career at Charlton, joined the Hammers for £7m
from Newcastle three years ago at the height of the club's lavish transfer
policy under the doomed ownership of Eggert Magnusson and Bjorgolfur
Gudmundsson.
Of all those bought at high prices and rewarded with huge salaries by the
Icelandic regime, Parker's commitment and value has seldom been in question.
West Ham supporters adore his combative style, voting him 'Hammer of the
Year' for the last two seasons, and new manager Avram Grant stressed his
determination to keep him when he took over from Gianfranco Zola this
summer. 'We want to progress with good players,' said Grant. 'It is very
important we have good experienced players and there is no doubt that Scott
Parker is one of them. He is a good footballer and has quality.' The
approach of Sullivan and co-owner David Gold, who took over in January, has
been to try and cut costs at a club laden with debts of around £100m, but
they have shown a willingness to invest in key players. West Ham made
audacious but unsuccessful attempts to lure Joe Cole and Thierry Henry to
Upton Park and bid £11m for Nice's in-demand striker Loic Remy, only to be
asked to pay two-thirds of the fee up front, something they were not willing
or able to do. The transfer looks unlikely to be completed unless the French
club relent on these demands.
The Hammers have also made an enquiry for Valerenga striker Mohammed
Abdellaoue. The 24-year-old, valued at £2m, is the top scorer in Norway and
Bundesliga side Hoffenheim have already agreed a fee with the Norwegian
club. Grant has so far recruited former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas
Hitzlsperger, Frederic Piquionne from Lyon and Pablo Barrera from Mexican
club Pumas during this transfer window
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Why selling Parker makes more sense than selling Behrami
http://thegamesgonecrazy.blogspot.com
I know Sullivan and Gold have claimed Parker is not for sale and maybe they
meant it when they said it...in fact maybe they still do. But if Liverpool,
Villa and Tottenham move into a bidding war, would it really make sense to
retain "Mr West Ham" as one poster calls him? It seems odds on that one of
Parker or Behrami will be sold, would it really make sense to part with
Valon rather than Scotty?
I am not a huge fan of either, it must be said. Both are good players but
neither are great. Neither scores often enough to qualify as a top notch
midfielder in the modern game and neither plays enough killer balls. Both
are prone to dwelling on the ball too long, running head down rather than
picking out a pass and both are prone to giving away free kicks in dangerous
defensive areas because of poor technique in the tackle.
Before I move on, I can hear the howls of derision already but, moan as much
as you like, the statistics confirm all these criticisms. What both offer is
high energy, box to box enthusiasm. Both are dynamos, both would be perfect
for a Duracel advert, both look better than they actually are because of
their total commitment. But effort is not enough, which is why Parker was
overlooked for the World Cup.
One of Zola's major errors was trying to accommodate both in his midfield.
Behrami was played wide right and wide left but he is a winger who cannot
cross, a wide midfield player who cannot shoot either. Whilst Parker is
every bit as goal shy. Behrami's true position is in centre midfield,
breaking up the opposition's play and releasing the ball quickly to somebody
who can do something with it. Much the same as Parker. How many times last
season did we see both running up blind alleys and falling over in the hope
of winning a free kick, rather than playing an intelligent pass? How rarely
did we see a killer pass or cross into the box from either? Yes, you will
find examples - the Parker pass in the Burnley game for example - but there
weren't enough examples. Collison, when fit, is a more creative player than
both.
So why should we sell Parker rather than Behrami? Well Parker's stock is
high and Valon's is low. If any of Spurs, Liverpool or Villa offer anything
above £12m, we should take it. This time next year, Parker will be worth £6m
to £8m tops. In a reasonable team, his errors rather than his commitment to
the cause will stand out; and he will be heading towards 31, with, at best
two more years in the game.
Behrami, on the other hand, is better than he appeared last season. To be
seen at his best, he needs better players around him, unlike Parker who
benefits from being the best amongst dross. Behrami is a cuter player,
winning more free kicks than Parker, and will play to his limitations if
told to do so. Parker thinks he is Gerrard, Behrami knows he aint! If we
sold Behrami now, we would be lucky to get £8m, but this time next year, he
could be worth £15m if Grant can get him playing to his strengths. Time is
on Behrami's side, it is very much against Parker.
So ignoring the fact that Parker is English and Behrami is Swiss, I would
take £12m for Scott and say to Valon, now you're our top man.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment