WHUFC.com
Academy Director Tony Carr brings fans up to date with the latest
preparations for his Testimonial match
15.03.2010
Academy Director Tony Carr has given the first of his updates ahead of his
Testimonial match, which will take place at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday 5
May, with kick-off at 7.45pm. Click here for up to date ticket information
Hello everyone.
We are now on a countdown towards the match and, with only six weeks to go,
it's just a question of waiting for the respective managers to give their
permission for their players to take part. All the letters have gone out and
the lads have agreed in principal to take part, including the Chelsea boys
Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and John Terry, and the Manchester United boys Rio
Ferdinand and Michael Carrick. Players from clubs as varied as Luton Town,
Swansea City and Hull City have been invited to take part, so there are lots
of players who have been asked to be involved. It is now a question of them
being permitted to play by their managers, and subject to them not being
involved in cup competitions or play-offs during that week. From my point of
view, it would be nice if the Premier League issues are resolved before the
final week of the season, as it might give Carlo Ancelotti and Sir Alex
Ferguson a little nudge towards releasing all their players for me! I'm very
hopeful that all the managers will allow their players to take part, but it
is now a question of waiting for the official confirmation letters to come
through. We have had a special claret and blue shirt made by Umbro for the
event, complete with a specially-designed badge, which we will wear on the
night.
Testimonial
Supporters might not be aware but, as the home team, my All Stars will be
wearing the claret and blue and West Ham United, who have been invited, will
have to wear their away kit. We are still discussing who will have use of
the home dressing room! Regardless of who takes part, it will be a good
night, anyway, and tickets are now on sale from the Ticket Office and are
being snapped up. Executive boxes will also be available on the night for
those who would like to watch the match in more luxurious surroundings.
These will be made available first to the existing box holders before being
put on sale for £750, with each box holding up to ten people. I think this
is good value, because if everybody turns out, there could be ten members of
England's FIFA World Cup squad in action. This match will be a celebration
not only of my career, but also of the careers of the players involved and
how far they have come in the game since their young days at West Ham. I'm
really looking forward to the night and I'd like to thank my Testimonial
committee for all the hard work they are putting in - including Alvin Martin
and Tony Cottee, who have become my unofficial PR men and are spreading the
word through the media! I will be back soon with an update, including
details of a couple of extra-special guest players who I have invited to
take part.
Keep a close eye on whufc.com for further important announcements over the
coming weeks.
Tony Carr
Academy Director
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Benni back for final push
WHUFC.com
The manager is banking on Benni McCarthy playing a key role for the club in
the final nine matches
15.03.2010
Benni McCarthy is back in contention and Gianfranco Zola is banking on his
South Africa striker playing a part in the club's survival fight. The
January recruit has endured a frustrating start to his claret and blue
career after suffering a knee injury in the first half of his debut at
Burnley on 6 February. He finally returned to the first-team fold at the
weekend for the trip to Chelsea but was not used off the bench. Zola hopes
another week at Chadwell Heath will put him in good stead for Saturday's
trip to Arsenal. "He has a lot of faith in his ability. He's a big player.
He was training the whole of last week. He started very slowly, but towards
the end you could see him improving. "This week he will be at his top. We
are relying a lot on his experience and knowledge. He has played important
games in his career. We are expecting nine very important games. His
experience and quality will be vital for us."
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Tough defeat for Eyjolfsson
WHUFC.com
Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson's education continued in Belgium with another full
weekend run-out
15.03.2010
Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson was unfortunate to be on the losing side on Sunday
night as KSV Roeselare side lost by the narrowest of margins at high-flying
Club Brugge KV. The Hammers youngster, still only 19, played another 90
minutes at the heart of the defence as his Belgian loan club more than held
their own against their hosts. Club Brugge had been reduced to ten men on
the half-hour mark but the visitors were to have two of their own dismissed
by the 72nd minute. Club Brugge made their superiority tell eight minutes
from time when Dorge Kouemaha broke Roeselare hearts to record a 1-0 win.
Iceland Under-21 central defender Eyjolfsson, who has been on loan from West
Ham since January, will hope for better in the first leg of the Belgian Cup
semi-final against KSV Cercle Brugge on Wednesday night. Then, with one
match of the regular season left, Roeselare need to lift themselves above
15th spot - the relegation/promotion play-off position. They are a point
behind KSC Lokeren OV with a final home game KVC Westerlo to come next
Sunday. Lokeren have to sign-off against runaway leaders RSC Anderlecht
ahead of the start of the six-team post-season play-off to determine the
national champions.
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Parker praises Zola
Hammers skipper hails boss
By Chris Burton Last updated: 15th March 2010
SSN
Scott Parker insists Gianfranco Zola has the full support of the West Ham
dressing room. The Hammers have been unable to shake off relegation troubles
this term, with a 4-1 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday dropping them back into
the mix. They are precariously perched just three points above the zone,
with just nine games remaining in which to secure top-flight survival. While
the situation facing the capital club is far from ideal, Zola is yet to find
himself under mounting pressure. The likeable Italian is still widely
regarded as the ideal man for the job, with Parker keen to offer his support
to the Upton Park management team. "I know everyone says nice men don't make
good managers but everybody in that changing room would back him (Zola) to
the hilt," said the Hammers skipper. "He's got Steve Clarke alongside him
and they work well together. "Gianfranco has that tough side. When you are
so passionate about football, as he is, whether you are a nice guy or not,
that passionate side is going to come out."
Meanwhile, Parker has also revealed that he is still hoping to force his way
into the England fold ahead of this summer's World Cup. "I always think
about England," he said.
"When every squad is named, I think maybe I could have a chance or come in
if somebody gets injured. "But if I'm being honest, I would have thought I
would have been involved a little bit more by now. "All I can do is keep
playing well for West Ham. If something comes of that, then brilliant."
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Calum out with a £250,000 pay off
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
CALUM DAVENPORT has played his last game for West Ham after agreeing a
£250,000 pay-off. The defender is back in training after suffering horrific
leg injuries in an alleged stabbing by his sister's boyfriend last year. But
Hammers are desperate to trim costs and the £16,000-a-week centre-half is
one of a number of players set for the Upton Park exit in the clearout by
new owners David Sullivan and David Gold. Davenport has been charged with
assaulting his sister Cara and is due to stand trial at Luton Crown Court in
August. West Ham were ordered to start paying Davenport again after
initially stopping the player's wages in the wake of the incident.
Davenport, 27, has played just 13 times for West Ham since his £3million
transfer from London rivals Tottenham in 2007. His last appearance for them
was in the 4-1 victory over Portsmouth on Boxing Day 2008. West Ham are also
curbing overnight hotel stays for the squad ahead of London away games in a
bid to cut costs. Nearly all Premier League teams stay together the night
before games at rival grounds at a cost of around £10,000. But Gianfranco
Zola's players will stay at home this Friday night before meeting up ahead
of their match against Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday night. An Upton
Park insider said: "The feeling is to make London away games more like home
games, so why stay away the night before?"
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West Ham legend Miklosko axed as goalkeeping coach - Exclusive
Published 23:00 15/03/10 By Alan Nixon
The Mirror
West Ham legend Ludo Miklosko has been axed as the Hammers' goalkeeping
coach - in a behind-the-scenes move that will shock fans. Giant Miklosko was
a key part of Gianfranco Zola's staff but he is being moved out and will be
replaced by the experienced Kevin Hitchcock. Miklosko was a hero as a player
for the Hammers and a popular face around the club when he returned as a
coach, but he has been shifted out in a surprise shake-up. Hitchcock was at
Chelsea at the same time as Zola and coach Steve Clarke, but tongues may
also wag about his links with Mark Hughes - the boss tipped as a potential
future manager at Upton Park. The experienced goalkeeping coach was with
Hughes at both Blackburn and Manchester City before being made redundant
when Sparky was sacked at Eastlands last December.
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West Ham owner Sullivan offers huge rent for Olympic Stadium14 March 2010
By Adam Fraser
SportsProMedia.com
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has indicated that the club would be
willing to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds in rent for every home match
if the club is given permission to move to London's Olympic Stadium after
the 2012 Olympic Games.
As part of the BBC School Report News Day last week, Sullivan was
interviewed by schoolchildren about his plans for the club. According to the
BBC, Sullivan suggested that West Ham would pay half of the gate receipts
for each home match - totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds - in rent to
the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC).
The future of the stadium has been hotly debated ever since London was
awarded the Games. West Ham are keen to move in, and the Hammers' arrival
would guarantee large crowds continuing to use the stadium. In a similar
fashion, the stadium used for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester has since
become home to Manchester City. Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, has led
the campaign to have the stadium included as a venue should England win the
right to host the 2018 Fifa World Cup.
•Things finally looking up at West Ham as new board slashes debt
•West Ham's Olympic stadium plans dealt blow by Jowell
However, many key figures feel the Olympic stadium should be kept as an
athletics venue, with a reduced capacity of 25,000.
In January, West Ham co-owner David Gold dismissed suggestions made by West
Ham vice-chairman, Karren Brady that the club could change its name to West
Ham Olympic if it moves into the Olympic stadium.
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Whatever happened to Joe Cole?
Monday, 15 March 2010 15:45 Rating
FootballTalentSpotter.com
The 25-yard volley against Sweden in the 2006 World Cup. Turning to leave
three defenders for dead and blasting the ball into Edwin Van Der Sar's top
corner against Manchester United, to help Chelsea to the league title in
2006. These are just two of Joe Cole's greatest individual moments on the
football pitch and how we all remember him best. But what's happened to the
man who once showed so much promise to be that 'flair' player both Chelsea
and England have been after for so long? A spate of injuries have cut many
of the midfielder's seasons painfully short, but the 28-year-old has always
had that bouncebackability Iain Dowie loved so much. Injury after injury
never stopped Cole coming straight back into the side and hitting top form.
If anything, his hunger for success and determination to prove himself found
new heights after every return from the physio room. But this season things
have been different for the former West Ham man.
Whether because he doesn't think his diamond formation suits Cole, or
whether he just doesn't rate him, Carlo Ancelotti has so far almost refused
to give the midfielder a chance to cement his place in the side. The form
of both Florent Malouda and more evidently, Deco, has been questionable as
the campaign has progressed, so there should certainly be no concerns over
dropping in-form players for the Chelsea manager. And indeed, some games
have been screaming out for the introduction of Joe Cole. The away tie
against Inter Milan desperately needed some creativity which the midfielder
has in abundance, yet he was an unused substitute.
And the Blues' faithful are becoming almost as frustrated with the situation
as Cole himself must be, especially in a World Cup season. There can be
little doubt that if Cole were to be given a run of games, he would
recapture the form of previous seasons and, particularly with England's
injury woes, a few run-outs for Ancelotti's side would surely secure his
seat on the plane to South Africa. So, come on Carlo, as Spandau Ballet once
sang…Always believe in Joe Cole!
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FURTHER DELAY IN SIGNING OF PAIR
Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 07:00
This Is Plymouth
THERE has been a further delay in Plymouth Argyle's attempts to sign
defender Bondz N'Gala on a one-month loan from West Ham United. And new
Pilgrims' left-back Onismor Bhasera has yet to be granted an employment visa
for the UK. There was still a chance N'Gala could complete his proposed move
before Argyle's Championship clash against West Country rivals Bristol City
at Home Park tonight (7.45pm). But Bhasera, a Zimbabwe international, will
definitely not be available. Head coach Paul Mariner revealed after the 2-0
defeat away to Queens Park Rangers last Tuesday that N'Gala, 20, was poised
to sign for the Pilgrims. Now, nearly a week later, the West Ham centre-back
has still to put pen to paper. Mariner could not offer any explanation for
the delay, but it has clearly been a considerable frustration for him.
N'Gala saw the Pilgrims play against Coventry but, for some unexplained
reason, there has continued to be a hold-up. Mariner said: "We are still
trying to resolve the N'Gala situation. I can't really tell you why it has
been dragging on so long. "He was at the game on Saturday and I thought
everything was finalised, but obviously it's not." When it was put to
Mariner the delay could have been caused by another club, closer to London,
taking an interest in N'Gala, he replied: "I honestly don't know."
Bhasera has already agreed a two-and-a-half year contract with Argyle. That
follows the club's successful appeal for him to be awarded a work permit
last week. But the left-back, who has been training with Argyle over the
past month, has yet to receive his employment visa. It is hoped Bhasera will
be available for the Pilgrims' trip to relegation rivals Scunthorpe United
on Saturday. Mariner has confirmed there are three trialists currently
training at Home Park, but he would not reveal the names of any of them. He
said: "Two of them had their first day with us yesterday. "We didn't do a
great deal obviously, because of the workload of the players, but they
looked fine. "They are here all week, so we will be able to assess what's
going on."
None of the trio are on trial with a view to signing before the Football
League's deadline for loan deals on Thursday, March 25. Instead, Mariner is
taking a look at them as possible recruits over the summer. Meanwhile, the
second month of goalkeeper David Stockdale's loan spell from Fulham to
Argyle will end after the trip to Scunthorpe. But Mariner is planning on
extending it for a third and final month, subject to the approval of Fulham.
Stockdale has started 10 successive matches since signing for Argyle in
January and displacing Romain Larrieu. Argyle and West Bromwich Albion have
both been fined £20,000 by the Football Association for failing to control
their players. But £7,500 of the fine for each club has been suspended until
June 1, 2011. A mass confrontation occurred when West Brom midfielder Jerome
Thomas was sent off in the Championship clash at Home Park on February 6.
Thomas saw red for a tackle on Argyle defender David McNamee in stoppage
time at the end of West Brom's 1-0 win. He was later banned for violent
conduct.
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