WHUFC.com
Switzerland U19 star Fabio Daprela is keen to show his qualities in the
Barclays Premier League
10.03.2010
Fabio Daprela is eyeing a first-team appearance at Chelsea on Saturday after
leading West Ham United in their friendly defeat by MLS side San Jose
Earthquakes. The highly-rated Switzerland Under-19 left-back has worn the
armband for Alex Dyer's reserves in recent weeks and is eager to take those
leadership qualities into Gianfranco Zola's first team. Zola and first-team
coaches Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen were among those watching Monday's
meeting with the Earthquakes, and the 19-year-old will be hoping to have
done enough to be given an opportunity to make his Barclays Premier League
debut at Stamford Bridge. "San Jose were a very good team and played very
good football. We wanted to play football but it was very difficult and we
saw the result. We lost, but I think we lost to a good team. I'm enjoying
being captain of the team, but we lost and it's hard. "It's a dream when I
can play at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, but we don't know if that will
happen. On Saturday, we will see what the manager does. I'm always ready
when the manager wants me to play and I'm happy."
While Daprela continues to progress well at club level, the teenager is also
an integral part of his country's U19 side. The defender played in last
week's 1-1 friendly draw with Poland in Renens, and is likely to be involved
again when the Swiss contest their UEFA European U19 Championship Elite
Round qualifiers with hosts Austria, Denmark and Serbia in late May. "With
the Under-19s you are all the same age and it's not the same level as
playing in the reserves or in the Premier League, but it's a good level. I
enjoy playing there, but I want to play a little bit higher. "We are a good
team and our Under-17s won the UEFA European Championship in November 2009.
We have Serbia, Austria and Denmark in our group this time. It's a tough
group and we shall see how we do."
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It's all in the mind
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 9th March 2010
By: Staff Writer
Valon Behrami has admitted that West Ham are suffering from a lack of mental
cohesion. The Swiss midfielder was just one of a string of players who
turned in an under-par performance against Bolton at the weekend as the
Irons went down 2-1 at the Boleyn to their relegation rivals. And with trips
to title-chasers Chelsea and Arsenal to follow, Behrami has called upon his
fellow squad members to pull out the stops in an attempt to 'win back' the
points lost against Bolton. "When you make technical mistakes you can work
on them," he said. "You just keep working hard. But the problem is bigger
when it is mental. It is very difficult to work on that. "Time is running
short. We have to change something as the situation now is not good for us.
We can do something special but we have to all play 100 per cent. "Every
player needs to give 100 per cent mentally and physically. That is not so
easy. If only one player gives 80 per cent we can't win the game. It was
already hard and now it will be harder still." Despite being up against it,
Behrami insisted that getting a result at either of their London rivals is
not beyond the realms of possibility. "Now we face big teams and big
games," he added. "No one expects anything from us but football is strange.
Last year, we got a point in both games so I am not going to go there
already beaten because I know football can have surprises."
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Ludo departs
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 10th March 2010
By: Staff Writer
Goalkeeping coach Ludek Miklosko has parted company with the club. Former
Czech international Miklosko, popularly known by Hammers fans as 'Ludo' said
his goodbyes earlier today, thereby ending a 20-year association with West
Ham United. The reasons for Miklosko's departure are as yet unconfirmed
although one suggestion is that the 48-year-old has been suffering with ill
health. He was absent for several weeks earlier in the season with a
reported slipped disc. Unconfirmed rumours suggest that Miklosko is set to
be replaced by former Mansfield and Chelsea goalkeeper Kevin Hitchcock.
47-year-old Hitchcock has worked alongside Mark Hughes at both Blackburn and
Manchester City, but has been out of work since Hughes was fired by the
Citizens. KUMB.com would like to wish Ludo all the very best for the future.
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Lletget's ready to rumble
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 10th March 2010
By: Staff Writer
18-year-old midfielder Sebastian Lletget is aiming to break into West Ham
United's first team squad by the end of the season. The American midfielder
joined up with Tony Carr's Academy last summer having first been spotted as
a precocious 13-year-old in California by Mike Leigh, Chief Scout for West
Ham USA. And less than a season after moving permanently to England - having
gained a European passport by virtue of having an Italian grandfather -
Lletget believes he is ready to make the step up into Gianfranco Zola's
first team plans. "I'm giving myself a chance to be with the first team by
the end of this year," he said. "I want to play for the first team and I
think I can do it. The way I'm playing, I can see it, and that would be
really big for me. That's the way I feel. "I love being here; I love taking
my game to the next level. I'm tested every day, especially because I'm
American. At first, the coaches wouldn't even shake my hand; they just had
to see me play. I just had to earn everyone's respect."
The youngster's hopes have been backed by scout Leigh, who firmly believes
Lletget has what it takes to follow friend and fellow countryman Jon Spector
into United's first team. "If an opportunity arises I think he could make a
start this year," he said. "If not, definitely next year. Gianfranco Zola
likes him. "The first thing you notice about Sebastian is that he just has
such great ball control. He's a great passer and he's always one step ahead
of the game. I think the only thing he needs to do now is shoot more, which
he's working on. Within ten minutes of seeing him Tony Carr said that the
kid is special. He thought Sebastian was fantastic; he just blew Tony away."
Lletget, who is nine months into a two-year academy contract is just one of
an exciting batch of foreign youngsters trying to make the grade with Carr
at Chadwell Heath. Another of those Fabio Daprela, could be set to make his
Premier League debut against CHelsea at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
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The 'Keep Up For The Upkeep' challenge
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 10th March 2010
By: Staff Writer
Former West Ham favourite Stuart Slater is training hard ahead of his 'Keep
Up For The Upkeep' challenge later this year. Slater, 41 later this month,
is planning to do 'keep-ups' all the way from West Ham United's Chadwell
Heath training ground to the club's Boleyn Ground this August - a journey of
some seven miles. The sponsored walk is in aid of two children's charities
close to his heart - the Little Havens hospice at Thundersley, Essex and
Richard House in Beckton - London's first hospice dedicated to children. It
is a task that will be made even more arduous as a result of Stuart's
longstanding knee problem that forced him to call time on a successful
playing career five years ago - "I've the knee of a 90-year-old!" he says -
but it is a challenge that he relishes nonetheless. "It's got to be done
without any drops but I'm pretty confident I can do it," he told KUMB.com.
"I did a couple of weeks training before Christmas on my bike so my knee can
withstand the seven miles and I'm training regularly now - I think I've got
150 days left!"
The route - which will see Slater pass through Wood Lane and Longbridge Road
before crossing the North Circular and entering the final stage of the
challenge along the length of Barking Road - is one familiar to a player who
has been associated with West Ham United as a player, youth coach and match
day host. "This is the route that I used to take when I was an apprentice,"
he recalls. "We used to get the number five bus from the Fiddlers and travel
to Upton Park where we'd clean the boots of the first team!"
Slater, who made more than 150 first team appearances for the Hammers under
mentor John Lyall, Lou Macari and Billy Bonds before moving to Celtic in
1992 for a deal worth in the region of £1.5million has long been reknowned
as a master of close control. The sight of him cutting inside a defender
from the left wing is no doubt an image still strong in the memory of many
Irons fans. He boasts a personal record of some 11,000 keep-ups - presumably
before he got bored - and as a youtube video attests, has also managed a
most-impressive 160 keep-ups in just one minute. "I did it over in South
Woodham with my mates," he says. "It was my first attempt and I thought
'that'll do' - I didn't even practice!"
But this latest mission, which he admits is "not just about raising money
but also about raising awareness for the hospices", is still new ground for
the Sudbury-born former winger - although it is a challenge he is delighted
to be associated with. "My passion is coaching kids," he enthuses. "You want
to put something back." Whilst Slater will be undergoing his own gruelling
personal challenge this August, he is looking for others to join him in
raising funds for Little Havens and Richard House. Associate Tony Hoskins,
who has been charged with organising the event takes up the story. "We'd
like to hear from organisations interested in arranging their own 'keep-up'
challenges," he says. "People can do this anywhere - schools, social clubs,
football clubs - and if possible we'd like to go along and support it."
Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so via Stuart's personal website at
www.stuartslater.net or by going directly to his fundraising page here. If
you are interested in organising your own event you may contact Tony Hoskins
on tonydeb07@live.co.uk. Any companies/organisations interested in being
associated with Stuart's 'Keep Up For The Upkeep' challenge should also
contact Tony at the same email address. In the meantime, keep an eye on
KUMB.com for details of our own event later this year and more from Stuart
as he continues to prepare for the challenge which is due to take place on
Friday, 6 August.
The Charities
Little Havens Children's Hospice provides respite breaks, symptom control
and end-of-life care for youngsters living with serious conditions and who
are not expected to reach adulthood. It aims to make their journey - and
that of the family - as comfortable as possible, creating special memories
along the way. The love and care provided by the Care Team in the homely
surroundings at Little Havens is as special and unique as the child. This
could not continue without kind donations as it costs £2.3 million each year
to keep the hospice open.
Richard House offers support to families who have children with
life-threatening or complex healthcare needs between the ages of 0 and 19.
We help our children and young people make the most of the time they have,
providing the opportunity for play and recreational activities and offering
assistance to parents and siblings All our services are completely free to
families.
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West Ham plan triple transfer raid on Birmingham - Exclusive
Published 23:00 10/03/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror
West Ham's new owners plan to raid their old club for three Birmingham stars
- escalating the war with Carson Yeung even further. Yeung is suing David
Sullivan and David Gold after probing City's finances following his
£80million Blues takeover. And Hammers' duo Sullivan and Gold are willing to
risk upsetting Yeung further with a triple swoop for Liam Ridgewell,
Sebastian Larsson and Christian Benitez. Defender Ridgewell and midfielder
Larsson are both out of contract this summer and are talking to Brum over
new long-term deals. But their representatives are aware of interest from
Upton Park as Sullivan rates the duo highly. City are yet to agree improved
terms with Ridgewell, 25, and Larsson, 24, who want big pay rises on their
existing wages of £12,000 and £8,000-a-week respectively. Brum could invoke
a 12-month option on both men but West Ham reckon there is a question mark
over whether they are valid under FIFA rules. The Hammers would also like
Birmingham's Ecuador striker Benitez,23, if they secure their top-flight
status. Benitez is on loan from Mexican club Santos Laguna and City have a
clause to buy him for £7m but boss Alex McLeish is undecided. McLeish
definitely wants Ridgewell and Larsson to stay as he looks to build a decent
squad. But the club refuse to put them among their top earners as they plan
to buy a new left-back and Celtic's Aiden McGeady to play right-midfield.
Birmingham set to land £11million Aiden McGeady this summer
Now City's stance may allow Sullivan to step in to steal Ridgewell - who
started his career at West Ham - and Larsson away from St Andrews on the
cheap. Such a scenario would only increase the animosity between both clubs
to new levels. Birmingham's former owners have received letters from City
initiating two law suits following Yeung's takeover in October. Brum's new
regime have complained their predecessors took bonuses and management fees
out after August last year despite losing £19.7m in 2008-09. Yeung is also
suing as he claims he was mislead into paying £1 a share for the club and
wants some money back in an out-of-court settlement. But Sullivan is
standing firm and his priority is helping struggling West Ham survive in the
top-flight and cutting the club's £95m debts. Sources at Upton Park also
told MirrorFootball that boss Gianfranco Zola is in no immediate danger of
the sack despite last week's disastrous defeat to Bolton.
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http://www.justgiving.com/vyperz
I am running the BUPA 10k on May 31st and raising money for the Bobby Moore
Cancer Fund
Please donate generously! Thanks.
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