Algarve joy for Hall
WHUFC.com
Robert Hall has helped England's Under-17s to win the Algarve Tournament in
Portugal
16.02.2010
West Ham United youngster Robert Hall played his part as England's Under-17s
won the prestigious Algarve Tournament in Portugal for the second time in
three years. The 16-year-old played the full 90 minutes in his country's
second group stage fixture, a 3-0 win over Ukraine at the Estadio Algarve on
Sunday, having sat out England's opening match against France, which ended
1-1 at the Estadio Municipal Bela Vista in Parchal on Saturday. Hall
retained his place in the starting lineup in Tuesday's final game against
the host nation, playing for 51 minutes in the goalless draw at the Parque
Desportivo de Nora in Ferreiras that saw John Peacock's men lift the trophy
on goal difference. The tournament was being used by Peacock and his players
as a warm-up for the Elite Round of qualifying for the 2010 UEFA European
Championship. England will face Sweden, Malta and Slovakia between 27 March
and 1 April. The group winners will progress to the eight-nation finals in
Liechtenstein in May. The Elite Round fixtures will be played in this
country, with England taking on Sweden at Sixfields Stadium in Northampton
on Saturday 27 March, Malta at the Pirelli Stadium in Burton on Monday 29
March and Slovakia at Sixfields on Thursday 1 April.
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Ilan settling in
WHUFC.com
With two appearances off the bench, Ilan is looking forward to his first
starting appearance
16.02.2010
Ilan is pushing hard for his first West Ham United start and has no doubts
he will be able to settle quickly into life in England. The Brazilian
forward has made two substitute appearances - including a goal on his debut
- and has given Gianfranco Zola plenty to think about. This weekend against
Hull City he will be competing with Carlton Cole, Mido and fit-again Guille
Franco for a starting berth - with Benni McCarthy (knee) likely to miss out
on Saturday's contest. Ilan knows there is competition for places but he
does not expect to have trouble establishing himself between now and the end
of the season. "It's easier for me to adapt to English football because I
have already played for five years in France," he said. "The football is
more similar to the English game than many of the other European leagues. "I
have been in France a long time and this will give me an advantage. Normally
when players come to England from the French league, they do quite well and
I am confident that I can do well too."
The No9 has also been clear about his preferred position when he is called
upon as well as his immediate praise for the coaching set-up at Chadwell
Heath. "I can play mainly as a support striker, or I can play behind the
front-two - but more as a third attacker than a central midfielder. "I am
very happy to be working under a manager like Gianfranco Zola. He's played
at the highest level and can understand players more easily than coaches who
have not played at the highest level themselves. From this point of view,
Zola is the perfect manager."
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Five-year deal at West Ham was surprise - Dean Ashton
BBC.co.uk
Former West Ham star Dean Ashton admits the club's new owners will be angry
he was given a five-year deal just 18 months before he was forced to retire.
David Sullivan and David Gold took over West Ham last month and criticised
the way the club had been run. Ashton, 26, missed the whole of the 2006-07
season after a broken ankle, but signed the lengthy deal in 2008. "I'm sure
in hindsight they are ripping their hair out," Ashton, who retired in
December 2009, told BBC Radio 5 Live. Ashton broke his ankle in an England
training session in August 2006 but recovered sufficiently to play again for
the Hammers in the 2007-08 season, after which he put pen to paper on a
long-term deal at Upton Park. "Five years seemed a lot but I felt like I had
got back and was playing really well - I deserved it," said Ashton. "I felt
like I had got to somewhere near my best and obviously they thought that as
well. I did not decide on how many years."
Ashton's misery began when he suffered the broken ankle ahead of England's
friendly against Greece. "The injury came as a shock because everything was
going so well," he said. "People feel sorry for me because I have had to
retire but doing that all the time, trying to get back when it is so bad -
there is no fun in that. There is no joy in playing if you are like that.
"In the end I was glad to finish because I was in a lot of pain and I'd had
enough. They said if you carry on you will do yourself a lot of damage. It
was like a weight off me."
Ashton had spells at Crewe and Norwich before he joined West Ham at the
start of 2006. His performances for West Ham, including a goal in the 2006
FA Cup defeat against Liverpool, caught the eye of then England manager
Steve McClaren and Ashton was tipped for a long and successful career at
international level. But the injury, picked up in a challenge with Shaun
Wright-Phillips, ruled him out for the rest of that season. He returned in
2007, scoring 11 goals in 20 league appearances, and won his only England
cap in the 3-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago under current England manager
Fabio Capello in June 2008. Ashton started the 2008-09 season with two goals
in the victory over Wigan but the injury problems soon returned and he
managed to play in only four more games - his final appearance coming
against West Brom in September of that year. "The last three-and-a-bit years
have been tough. It was a battle to get back first of all even though I
played a season once I got back," added Ashton, who scored 19 goals in 56
appearances for the Hammers. "I thought I was over my troubles and my ankle
was slowly getting better although it was very stiff. I started the 2008
season well. "But then I started to feel strange feelings in my ankle. I
knew something was not right and in a training session I just had to stop
because of the pain."
Ashton's retirement was officially announced in December and he is still
using crutches after undergoing another operation to fuse his ankle bones
together. "The pain and suffering was from the bones rubbing together and by
early December I was really struggling just to walk and do normal things,"
he said. "So the decision was made to fuse my ankle joint which means it
won't move at all but it will be pain free. So I should be fine to walk
normally and play golf. "I will be able to have a kick around with the kids
in the garden but I will not be able to play football, tennis or badminton -
anything that requires a lot of movement."
Ashton says that he has not yet thought about the future as he is more
focused on recovering from from his latest operation. "Because I had retired
and straight away had another operation, everything is still about my
ankle," he said. "That's all I think about. "Once I get over that then I can
think about what I want to do next. It's something that I will look at but I
don't know whether I would enjoy it."
Ashton revealed his retirement will not hit him financially even though he
lost out on an insurance payment because of his attempts to make a comeback.
"As a Premier League player, if you can't amass enough money to be
financially secure then there is a problem," he said. "I saved really well
and I feel like I am in a good position at the age of 26 that I can go out
and try to do something that I really want to do."
Despite all his tribulations over the last three years, Ashton is
philosophical about the incident that caused the initial injury. "I feel
proud of what I achieved and to play as much as I did," he concluded. "I
don't really remember what happened in the tackle. It's a long time ago now.
"I don't have any resentment to Shaun Wright-Phillips because there is no
point thinking like that. I am sure he did not want to break my leg. "That
was three years ago and there is no point dwelling on that. I could have
happened to anybody, it just happened to be me."
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Ilan - I will adapt
Brazilian confident of succeeding in England
Last updated: 16th February 2010
SSN
West Ham striker Ilan is confident he can win over his new fans by firing
the Hammers to Premier League safety this season. The 29-year-old has
already made an immediate impact at his new club after scoring on his debut
in a 2-1 defeat at Burnley on 6th February. Despite that goal Ilan, who
joined West Ham from French side St Etienne in January, had to settle for a
substitute appearance in the following 2-0 victory over Birmingham. With
competition for places at Upton Park fierce, the Brazilian frontman believes
his experience across the Channel will stand him in good stead in his new
surroundings. "It's easier for me to adapt to English football because I
have already for five years in France," said Ilan. "The football is more
similar to the English game than many of the other European leagues. "I have
been in France a long time and this will give me an advantage. Normally when
players come to England from the French league they do quite well. And I am
confident I can do well too."
Ilan also heaped praise on new boss Gianfranco Zola, a manager he described
as "perfect". "I am very happy to be working under a manager like Gianfranco
Zola," he added.
"He has played at the highest level and can understand players more easily
than coaches who have not played at the highest level themselves. From this
point of view, Zola is the perfect manager."
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Ashton - Hammers liable
West Ham to pay up remainder of striker's deal
Last updated: 16th February 2010
SSN
Dean Ashton has confirmed financially-troubled West Ham are liable for the
remainder of his lucrative contract as his insurance was void. Ashton
retired from the game aged just 26 after failing to fully recover from the
ankle injury he sustained during his first England call up in August 2006.
The former Norwich and Crewe man, who cost West Ham £7.25million in 2006,
last played against West Brom in August of the 2008/09 season. Ashton was a
regular for the Hammers the season before and the club's then owners handed
him a lucrative five-year deal that summer. Just 18 months later Ashton was
forced to call time on his career and he has now confirmed the insurance on
his troublesome ankle is void. As Ashton was injured when West Ham renewed
the insurance the company excluded that particular injury from the cover.
The striker, who was capped once by England, believes new owners David
Sullivan and David Gold will be furious at having to pay out. "In hindsight
I'm sure they're ripping their hair out," explained Ashton. "At the time I
felt I was not going to have any more problems and that I'd got back to
somewhere near my best and obviously (the previous owners) felt that as
well. "At the time West Ham didn't want to lose a striker. At the time five
years seemed a lot. "I had got back and played really well and was in the
team every week, and I felt like I deserved a new contract. "My insurance is
void," he continued. "There are a lot of things in your insurance where they
don't have to pay you out. If you are injured when you renew it, they can
obviously exclude your ankle (from cover). "But I'm not going to harp on
about insurance companies trying to fleece people. "If they were insuring a
house and the roof was knackered then obviously they wouldn't insure your
roof."
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West Ham Boss: 'Football Is On The Brink'
10:35pm UK, Monday February 15, 2010
Sky News
Natasha MurktarSingh, business producer
David Gold, co-chairman of West Ham, has told Jeff Randall Live that
football clubs and their owners need to find a way to save themselves from
themselves. Speaking to Jeff Randall Live, Mr Gold said the need to win was
putting football's future at risk. "In our pursuit of success, to avoid
relegation, to get into Europe or win the division, we are in such ferocious
competition with each other that it's bringing us to the brink," he said. Mr
Gold said he agreed with the idea of putting a cap on clubs' debts as a
proportion of their turnover and that he supports the idea of penalising
those that cannot pay back their debts. "The only thing that clubs
understand is points deduction so that has to be the punishment," he said.
But the former owner of Birmingham City said any form of government
intervention in football would be "a tragedy".
The total debt of the 20 English Premier League clubs is estimated to be
more than £3bn. Even the game's most successful sides are deep in the red.
Manchester United's debts are two and-a-half times the club's turnover, at
over £700m. Mr Gold and his partner David Sullivan took the reins at West
Ham last month, inheriting debts of more than £110m.
"For this club to run on a sound financial basis we aim to reduce costs by
25%. As contracts run out, they'll be renewed at a more sensible level," he
said.
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Birmingham snub £500k peace offering from David Sullivan
Published 22:45 16/02/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror
David Sullivan has offered £500,000 cash to settle his row with Carson Yeung
- but Birmingham's new owner has rejected it. Hong Kong tycoon Yeung took
over Premier League City from Sullivan and David Gold last October in a
£81.5million deal. But Yeung was livid at inheriting bills and liabilities
totalling £11million and being obliged to give MD Karren Brady a bumper
pay-off. Yeung's vice-president Peter Pannu, a former Hong Kong cop,
launched a post-acquisition due diligence at St Andrews to probe the books.
The new regime were further annoyed to find Sullivan and Gold paid
themselves advance 2010 management fees before leaving worth £420,000.
Sullivan, now in charge of West Ham, has offered to repay the money plus
interest to end the on-going row. But City have snubbed the offer and are
still investigating ahead of an imminent announcement about the club's
finances. The depth of anger between the two camps has even seen Yeung
return a peace offering from Sullivan. Yeung and Pannu deliberately did not
attend Birmingham's fixture last week at West Ham in the Premier League.
Sullivan gave some blue and white gold and diamond cufflinks and a broach,
specially made when in charge at Birmingham, to be passed to Yeung. But the
valuable items have already been sent back to Sullivan's mansion in Essex.
"We have no reason to receive a gratuitous gift from our adversary," said
Pannu. "It's from a person we view is trying to put forward a sweetener,
with a present, so as to win some PR and distort the reality of the
situation between himself and Carson which is in a dire state."
Birmingham even intend to sue Gold, 73, over remarks claiming City reneged
on an agreement to offer him the chairmanship when they took over. Pannu
added: "I sincerely believe that when people reach a certain age, and when
they have made their money, they should retire happily. "Their important
faculties become affected and sometimes they can't differentiate between
things, they misunderstand or misconstrue."
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Hull set to gamble on Bullard for crunch West Ham clash
Published 22:45 16/02/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Hull City manager Phil Brown could be set to gamble on Jimmy Bullard for his
side's crunch relegation battle with West Ham this weekend. Brown is
refusing to rule Bullard out of Saturday's trip to Upton Park for what
promises to be the biggest game of the season for both clubs. The England
midfielder has returned to full training following two months out with his
latest knee injury. He was left out of Monday night's reserve team fixture
for fear of him suffering a setback. Now Brown could decide to plunge him
back in at the deep end, despite the fact he has only made four appearances
this season. Brown will delay making a decision over Bullard later this week
and he said: "It's still very early stages of Jimmy's comeback. "He has been
out on the training ground with the first team and been floating around in
training situations. "He's feeling his way back in at the minute and the
players, more than anyone, are aware of what he's capable of. "Everyone at
this club wants Jimmy Bullard playing as soon as possible, but it's still
far too early in the week to make a decision over Saturday."
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West Ham and Birmingham feud could end up in court
Published 23:00 15/02/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror
Birmingham and West Ham could face each other in court as relations between
the clubs deteriorate further. New City owner Carson Yeung and the club's
old hierarchy have been feuding since the Hong Kong tycoon's first aborted
takeover in 2007. Now despite Yeung finally buying the club last year from
David Sullivan and David Gold, the businessmen remain at loggerheads. Yeung
is chasing Sullivan and Gold, in charge of West Ham, for money after
inheriting a raft of bills. And Hammers' vice-president Karren Brady has
infuriated City by returning to St Andrews to recruit her former PA Aedin
Hennigan. City also fear West Ham may move for their chief executive Michael
Dunford as Brady wants to appoint a new CEO at Upton Park. Fuming Yeung and
Birmingham chief Peter Pannu did not attend last week's game at Upton Park
against the Hammers.
They intend to sue Gold over claims Birmingham reneged on a deal for him to
stay on as chairman. Yeung bought City last October for £81.5million and
offered Gold a position as vice-president. The honorary title was then
withdrawn after a row over Brady's pay-off and the new board inheriting
liabilities totalling £11m. But Gold claimed in the build-up to
Birmingham's visit that City changed their mind about keeping him as
chairman. Blues supremo Pannu said: "He was not offered the chairmanship and
this is an absolute lie.
"I am flabbergasted and furious over this and he is going to hear from our
lawyers."
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Irons linked with wonderkid
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 16th February 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United are the latest club to be linked with a move for young
Paraguayan striker Juan Dario Iturbe. The 16-year-old youth international,
who can also play on the left side of midfield is widely considered to be
one of the hottest talents to emerge from the South American country in
recent years and has been linked with a whole host of major European clubs
in recent weeks. Real Madrid, Roma and Manchester United are amongst the
continent's biggest clubs to be linked with a move for the 5'7" Cerro
Porteno player, whilst Tottenham have also been credited with showing an
interest. Iturbe, who cites Real's Ronaldo as his favourite player, is a fan
of Manchester United and admits that it is they who he dreams of playing for
one day. Born in Argentina, he recently made his debut for the Paraguayan
national under 20 side having only recently broken through to the Azulgrana
first team, where he was handed his debut by former Argentinian
international Pedro Troglio. A work permit is unlikely to be a problem as
Iturbe - who Porteno fans refer to as 'our Messi' - qualifies for Spanish
citizenship through his family. He is expected to move to Europe later in
the year.
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Hammers usurp Red Devils in bid for wonder boy
Sport.co.uk
Author: Nigel Brown
Posted on:16 February 2010 - 10:35
West Ham's new owners David Sullivan and David Gold have made a sensational
bid for Paraguayan striker Juan Iturbe. The 16-year-old has been heavily
linked with Real Madrid and Manchester United, with the youngster reportedly
visiting United's state of the art training facilities, Carrington on the
outskirts of Manchester. Iturbe currently plays for Cerro Porteno in his
homeland but according to reports in Paraguay West Ham are ready to talk to
the player, and are willing to offer the club £2 million for the talented
youngster's services. Gold and Sullivan have moved fast to usurp Manchester
United in a bid for the player, with the former Birmingham City owners
already inviting the young forward, who has been dubbed the greatest ever
talent to emerge form Pataguay, to the East End for advanced talks. West Ham
are eager to conclude a deal as the forward will not need to apply for a
work permit as his family is of Spanish origin. Reports in the player's
homeland suggest that Manchester United and Real Madrid were willing to snap
up the forward with the intention of loaning the Paraguayan out to another
club. However the player is reluctant to leave Cerro Porteno in order to be
loaned out somewhere else, and the ambition is of the new West Ham owner's
vision is reportedly attracting the youngster.
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Dean Ashton brings compensation claim for career-ending injury
'Vicarious liability' case being brought against FA or Chelsea
West Ham have lodged separate claim with FA insurance
Jamie Jackson guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 16 February 2010 21.17 GMT
Dean Ashton is bringing a case of "vicarious liability" against either the
Football Association or Chelsea to gain compensation for the ankle injury
that ended the former West Ham striker's career following a tackle by Shaun
Wright-Philips during an England training session in August 2006. In a
separate development West Ham have lodged a claim with the Football
Association's insurers in order to claim their own compensation, after they
paid Ashton a year's salary, thought to be around £3m. The 26-year-old
striker confirmed his enforced retirement before Christmas, 18 months into
the five-year deal he signed with West Ham. But he also wants damages for
the original injury. Ashton was unable to claim on his own insurance as,
having made a comeback, the terms of his new insurance policy precluded any
cover for the injured ankle. Ashton confirmed this earlier in the week when
he told BBC Radio 5 Live: "There are a lot of things in your insurance where
they don't have to pay you out. If you are injured when you renew it, they
can obviously exclude your ankle. My insurance is void."
The claim is now being discussed by lawyers for the FA and Chelsea to
understand who may be liable and have to answer Ashton's action. With regard
to West Ham's claim against the FA, it is not yet clear whether this will be
challenged by the governing body. But if it is, then the case may go to
arbitration. Ashton also expressed his surprise at being offered the new
five-year deal, following his recovering from the original injury. "In
hindsight I'm sure they're ripping their hair out," he said of West Ham's
new owners, David Gold and David Sullivan. "At the time I felt I was not
going to have any more problems and that I'd got back to somewhere near my
best and obviously [the previous owners] felt that as well. "At the time
West Ham didn't want to lose a striker. At the time five years seemed a
lot." West Ham, the FA and Chelsea declined to comment.
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The Paraguayan Messi, Ashton, New Investment and the Champions League
Play-offs
West Ham Till I Die
It has been reported that West Ham are attempting to tempt 16 year old
Paraguayan wonder kid Juan Iturbe to the Hammers Academy. The youngster
currently plays for Cerro Porteno and is apparently referred to by their
fans as the 'Paraguayan Messi!'
Both Manchester Utd and Real Madrid have shown interest in the young left
sided midfielder/striker, so we face the stiffest possible competition for
his signature. However, it is thought that the Hammers may try to tempt
Cerro Porteno with a £2m deal and a possible loan back. Significantly, a
work permit is not an obstacle as Iturbe qualifies for Spanish citizenship
and a EU passport through his parents.
It may be a long shot, but lets hope that the reputation of the Hammers
Academy and he club's willingness to give youth a chance has reached the far
shores of South America! The power and glamour of Man Utd and Real
certainly has!
From a potential new recruit to a player sadly and prematurely leaving the
club. Dean Ashton has been reported as stating that he bares no ill over
the England training injury that effectively ended his career. He
rationalises that it could well have happened to another player, he was just
extremely unlucky that it was him! Ashton obviously wants to look ahead
rather than be bitter or plagued by recriminations and that is both
understandable and commendable. Interestingly, he is also reported as
revealing that he may not receive an insurance pay out because he returned
from the injury and played on for a season. Allegedly, the ankle was
excluded from the player's insurance cover when it was subsequently renewed!
However, Ashton admits that efforts are going on behind the scenes by the
club to address the issue. Whether that is with the FA is unspecified!
It has also been reported that Shore Capital have sent out letters to
potential investors in a bid to raise £40m of new investment. The club are
allegedly looking for between £250,000 and £10m per investor. However, the
process is allegedly being undertaken as a 'private placement.' and this
means that a investment prospectus will not be issued. As such, at this
stage it is not clear what exactly individuals will receive in return for
their investment? Nor is it clear how the club would use the £40m raised,
although one can only assume that debt reduction would be prioritised over a
big splash in the transfer market!!!!
Finally, Co-Chairman, David Gold, has been reported as confirming the club's
support for extending the play-off format to the determination of of the
fourth Champion League place. Under these proposals the team finishing
between 4th and 7th in the PL would play off for CL qualification.
Allegedly there is wide spread support amongst PL clubs for the proposal,
outside of Man Utd, Chelski, Arsenal and Liverpool! Well, they would vote
against wouldn't they! The proposal is a potential threat to their near
monopoly of CL qualification, and the riches that go with it, and, as they
say, Turkeys do not vote for Christmas! The position of Man City, the club
likeliest to break the CL monopoly under the current system has not been
reported.
Another day and yet more media interest in the wonderful, wacky world of
West Ham Utd FC!
SJ. Chandos.
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Birmingham fume as West Ham target front office staff
17.02.10 | tribalfootball.com
Birmingham City are furious over West Ham United's attempts to tempt their
front office staff away. The Mirror says Hammers' vice-president Karren
Brady has infuriated City by returning to St Andrews to recruit her former
PA Aedin Hennigan. City also fear West Ham may move for their chief
executive Michael Dunford as Brady wants to appoint a new CEO at Upton Park.
Fuming Carsen Yeung and Birmingham chief Peter Pannu did not attend last
week's game at Upton Park against the Hammers.
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Hull boss Phil Brown won't risk Jimmy Bullard at West Ham unless he is ready
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 2:16 PM on 16th February 2010
Daily Mail
Hull City manager Phil Brown says he will not gamble on Jimmy Bullard for
the crunch Barclays Premier League relegation clash against West Ham on
Sunday unless the midfielder is fully fit. Bullard has returned to full
training following two months out with his latest knee injury but Brown will
not be forced into risking Bullard at Upton Park.
The Tigers boss left Bullard out of Monday night's reserve team fixture for
fear of him suffering a setback. Brown said: 'It's still very early stages
of Jimmy's comeback. 'He has been out on the training ground with the first
team and been floating around in training situations.'He's feeling his way
back in at the minute and the players, more than anyone, are aware of what
he's capable of.'Everyone at this club wants Jimmy Bullard playing as soon
as possible, but it's still far too early in the week to make a decision
over Saturday.'
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