WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer's reserves will return to league action by hosting Arsenal at the
Boleyn Ground on Tuesday
11.01.2010
West Ham United will recommence their Barclays Premier Reserve League South
campaign with the visit of Arsenal to the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday evening.
The fixture, which will kick-off at 7pm, will be the Hammers second-string's
first action of 2010 after last week's trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers was
postponed due to snow in the Midlands.
Alex Dyer's side can climb to fifth in the standings with a win, while
second-placed Arsenal can close the gap on leaders Aston Villa to just two
points with a success of their own.
The Hammers' squad is likely to feature the likes of Freddie Sears, who has
returned from a loan spell at Coca-Cola Championship outfit Crystal Palace,
as well as Switzerland Under-19 defender Fabio Daprela and exciting forward
Anthony Edgar. All three appeared in the FA Cup third-round defeat by
Arsenal's senior team earlier this month. England Under-19 defender Jordan
Spence and centre-back Bondz N'Gala, both of whom have returned from loan
spells at Championship side Scunthorpe United, could also be included.
West Ham have played one reserve-team fixture at the Boleyn Ground already
this season, beating Birmingham City 6-0 in September. Admission, costing £3
for adults and £1 for children, will be available through the West Stand
turnstiles. Season ticket holders will be admitted free of charge.
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Holmar heads to Belgium
WHUFC.com
A chance to play top-flight football in Belgium has been handed to young
defender Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson
11.01.2010
West Ham United can confirm that Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson is set to sign for
Belgian top-flight club KSV Roeselare on loan until the end of the season -
subject to international clearance.
The 19-year-old reserve-team regular is likely to make his debut next
Saturday in the home match against KV Mechelen. Roeselare are bottom of the
table but level on points with KSC Lokeren OV who they meet in a crunch
encounter on 23 January. Eyjolfsson's move comes after his four appearances
during a loan spell at League Two club Cheltenham Town last October.
Eyjolfsson will link up with his Iceland Under-21 team-mate Bjarni
Vidarsson, making it easier for him to settle in Roeselare, a city in the
Flemish region to the west of the country. The defender cannot wait to get
started in a league which boasts clubs like RSC Anderlecht and Club Brugge
KV and has produced the likes of Premier League stars Marouane Fellaini and
Vincent Kompany.
The July 2008 recruit from HK Kopavogur in his homeland said: "When this
came up as a possibility, I was very interested to go and play in Belgium.
It is a good standard and there are good teams. This should give me quite a
few games and there are matches every week. Their season ends in mid-March
but until then I will be able to play regularly."
Although still a teenager until next August, the 6'2 Eyjolfsson has a mature
outlook to getting time away from the Boleyn Ground. "I am used to
travelling. I look at it as life experience. It is fun to get to know
different cultures and I am happy West Ham are giving me this opportunity.
It will really help my development and be good for everyone.
"I want to test myself. It will be a different kind of football to that I
experienced at Cheltenham. It is another level and there will be big crowds.
I know Bjarni Vidarsson, who is the Under-21 captain. He is a central
midfielder who used to play for Everton. He is a good player and it will
help me to have him there.
"My ambition is to come back to West Ham and make my first-team
breakthrough. I still have at least next season to do that. That is the
number one aim to go there and do well, catch the eye and get a chance when
I come back. There are a lot of good central defenders here so it is the
right thing to do."
Eyjolfsson has been a regular in Alex Dyer's reserves this season and he
spoke to him before the loan move was finalised. As well as boosting his
club chances upon his return, he is hopeful the regular match action will
help him with his international ambitions. Iceland have four wins from five
matches in 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying and have some
major tests coming up.
"We have got a game against Germany in March, a really important one," he
said. "It has been going well. We have got another game against them and one
against the Czechs and if we can win a couple of them, we have a real chance
of making the finals. We are all confident. It is a great crop of players
and the football future is bright in Iceland. Hopefully we can move to the
senior side together."
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U18s ready to play
WHUFC.com
Academy Director Tony Carr says his U18s are itching to return to
competitive action
10.01.2010
Tony Carr is eager for his West Ham United Under-18s to get back to the
great outdoors. The Hammers' youth team have been confined to the indoor
pitch at Chadwell Heath for the past week after their regular Little Heath
base was left covered in snow and ice. With undersoil heating allowing the
first team to train outdoors, Carr and his youngsters were able to make use
of the artificial pitch. However, the Academy Director said everyone was
desperate to get back on to the grass following the postponement of
Saturday's FA Premier Academy League fixture at Arsenal. "The players have
been on a ten-day break over Christmas and the New Year, which gave them the
chance to spend some time with their families, and they have come back to a
frozen Little Heath. "Unfortunately, we've been unable to get outside and
train on the grass. Instead, we've been splitting our time between the
weights room and the sports hall to try and do our football and our fitness
work. It is OK for two or three days, but after a while it is not ideal. "We
had been looking forward to playing this weekend at Arsenal, having not
played since 12 December, but the match was unable to go ahead. We want to
get the rustiness out and prepare for our FA Youth Cup fourth-round tie
against Queens Park Rangers on 19 January."
Despite their lack of competitive action, Carr said his players were in good
condition ahead of next weekend's visit of Fulham to Little Heath. "The boys
certainly have not lost their fitness levels over the break, but they do
lose a bit of edge and sharpness, which it takes about three or four days to
get back. "We tested them before they went away and we have tested them
again now they have come back and, aside from a couple of pounds here and
there, there has been nothing to worry about. It's understandable that some
might put on a bit of weight but, in fact, a couple of the boys have come
back thinner than when they went away! "It's no big deal either way. In a
few days, they'll all be back in perfect condition, I'm sure."
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West Ham striker Carlton Cole closes in on return
BBC.co.uk
West Ham and England striker Carlton Cole is nearing a return to first-team
action following a knee injury. Cole, 26, has been sidelined since damaging
knee ligaments in the Hammers 5-3 win over Burnley on 28 November. West Ham
manager Gianfranco Zola told the club's official website that Cole has
stepped up his recovery and may return before the end of January. "They're
talking about towards the end of the month but we'll see," said Zola. "We're
not putting pressure on him."
It is unlikely that Cole would be fit for West Ham's trip to Aston Villa on
Sunday but he could be in contention for the game at Portsmouth on 26
January. Zola admitted that the striker's recovery was "vital", particularly
as forward Guillermo Franco is likely to miss the next couple of matches
because of a muscle injury sustained in training. The Hammers have struggled
in Cole's absence, winning only once in six league matches and exiting the
FA Cup at the hands of Arsenal. The club are currently 17th in the Premier
League, level on points with Bolton and Hull in 18th and 19th respectively
but having played two more games than Owen Coyle's side. Cole has scored
seven goals in 13 league appearances so far this season and has netted 14
times in 25 games since Boxing Day 2008. "He is such an important player,
not only in terms of goals and what he gives to the team, but it would be a
big boost for the others," said Zola. "I look forward to seeing him playing
soon with us."
Cole, who joined West Ham from Chelsea in July 2006, is a reported £20m
target for several Premier League clubs in the January transfer window.
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A Premier League club could go bust this year, predicts ex-Birmingham owner
and prospective West Ham buyer David Sullivan
By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 1:14 AM on 12th January 2010
Daily Mail
Former Birmingham owner David Sullivan believes the state of football
finances is 'frightening' and reckons it is 'probably odds on' that one
Barclays Premier League club will collapse this year. Sullivan sold his
stake in the Blues to Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung last October and
has since looked into the finances of 20 clubs with a view to getting back
into football. But his findings have not made for happy reading. He told the
Tony Livesey programme on Radio Five Live: 'Some clubs, if you saw what we
have seen about the accounts... we've looked at 20 clubs since we've left
Birmingham. The state of the finance of football is frightening, that's all
I can say. 'There's many many clubs have pre-sold their Premier League
income, television money. They've borrowed against one- and two- and
three-year season-ticket money. They've borrowed against everything.' He
continued: 'I think there's a possibility one (Premier League) club could
go. I think probably odds on one club will go. 'There's several Championship
sides absolutely on the line at the moment. It's a question of whether they
can sell players for sufficient money to stay alive. 'But there's not a lot
of money out there to buy players at the moment. Even some of the clubs who
you think have got money really haven't got much money to spend on players.'
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Why did West Ham and Wolves not play on Sunday despite no snow in east
London? Blame it on the weathermen...
By Matt Lawton Last updated at 8:57 PM on 11th January 2010
Daily Mail
West Ham's game against Wolves was postponed after an incorrect forecast for
more snow in east London on Sunday. The game was called off on Saturday
despite the fact that by Sunday the pathways and roads around Upton Park
were largely clear of snow and ice. But the Premier League will not be
investigating West Ham, amid suspicions that it suited them to postpone the
match at a time when they have so many key players injured, after written
submissions from the police and council. The authorities did not believe it
would be safe for supporters to attend the match because of the weather
reports and a lack of resources to grit the roads.
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WEST HAM: Club defend decision to call off Wolves match
2:38pm Monday 11th January 2010
Guardian Series
WEST HAM have defended their decision to call off their Premier League match
against Wolves on Sunday. The Hammers took the decision to postpone the game
more than 24 hours before kick-off, despite many areas surrounding the
Boleyn Ground appearing free from snow and ice on Sunday. However, a
statement on the club's official website said they had consulted with 'local
authorities and police' before taking the decision to call off the match. A
spokesman for West Ham told the London Evening Standard: "We were mindful of
that advice, added to the forecast for the local area, which suggested there
was a high risk of heavy snow and the fact that Wolves fans would be leaving
early on Sunday morning because of the early kick-off. "The conditions
around the stadium are still variable. Some places are clear but parts of
the main car park are still like a skating rink."
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Parker tops Redknapp agenda if he can flog underperforming stars
Sport.co.uk
Author: Ben Moss
Posted on:11 January 2010 - 12:44
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will reportedly make a January move for West
Ham midfielder Scott Parker, on the condition he sells one of either David
Bentley or Roman Pavlyuchenko accorinding to the Metro. The newspaper claims
Redknapp is a huge admirer of the former Chelsea and Newcastle United star,
and although Liverpool, Aston Villa and Everton have all been linked with
the player, Tottenham are the favourites if they can raise the sufficient
funds.
The Metro suggests Redknapp sees Parker as the ideal foil alongside Tom
Huddlestone and Wilson Palacios at the heart of Tottenham's midfield, and
even intimate he may be willing to part with Jermaine Jenas in order to get
his man. Jenas is still on Inter Milan's radar, and if West Ham reject
Tottenham's advances, then Redknapp may propose a long-anticipated swap deal
involving his former Portsmouth player Sulley Muntari.
The report suggests the Tottenham boss would rather retain the services of
Jenas and as a result is hoping one of the many reported suitors act on
their alleged interest in David Bentley or Pavlyuchenko. The former is on
Sunderland, Aston Villa and Everton's respective radars and the former
Blackburn Rovers and Arsenal star has been linked with Atletico Madrid.
Roman Pavlyuchenko has been linked with a move to Serie A and a return home
to Russia, however concrete offers for either player have been few and far
between meaning Redknapp's pursuit of the West Ham player is on hold.
Gianfranco Zola remains hopeful of retaining all of his players during this
window; however a protracted takeover of the club amid uncertain financial
times at Upton Park, may see the decision being taken out of his hands, if
clubs like Tottenham offer decent money.
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Gianfranco Zola seeking new striker
Eveing Standard
11.01.10
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola will attempt to bring in a striker this week
after Guillermo Franco picked up an injury in training. Franco, 33, was the
only senior striker left following Carlton Cole's knee problems but now
faces the rest of the month on the sidelines after a suffering a muscular
complaint. Cole has started training with the ball but is still out until
later this month - he may return for the Barclays Premier League clash
against Portsmouth on January 26 - but Zola still wants to strengthen his
attacking options.
Nuno Gomes, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Aston Villa's former Hammers striker Marlon
Harewood and Stoke targetman James Beattie have all been suggested as
possible targets to help Zola's bid to avoid relegation this season. The
better news for the Italian is players returning from injury, with Scott
Parker, Mark Noble, Jack Collison and Danny Gabbidon among those in the
frame for next weekend's trip to Aston Villa. The club could also make an
announcement this week on how talks are progressing over a takeover.
Icelandic bank Straumur, the club's owners, continue negotiations over a
potential sale. David Gold and David Sullivan are said to be in the race
along with Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes and the InterMarket Group.
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