WHUFC.com
The England No1 is hoping echoes of the 2006/07 run-in can inspire the
Hammers
07.04.2010
Robert Green believes the club can look to the memory of three years ago
when looking to avoid the drop this time around. Towards the end of the
2006/07 season, the Hammers came from behind to get a 2-1 win at Blackburn
Rovers and it proved the spark for the successful survival fight. Green was
between the posts on that day and he saw similarities as the team battled
back to get a creditable 2-2 draw at Everton on Sunday. "A few seasons ago
up at Blackburn we were in a relegation fight," Green recalled of a game
which was match number four of a current run of 121 unbroken appearances in
the league. "We scored a penalty, a goal that perhaps wasn't deemed a goal,
won 2-1 and turned our season around and went on from there. "On Sunday, we
battled and showed our fighting spirit to come back from adversity twice in
the space of 90 minutes. That gives us a good step to go on with. To concede
the two goals was disappointing, those moments sum up the sort of season we
are having, but we didn't give up. We have come away with something."
The England No1 said the performance from the whole side in preventing
Everton from dominating matches at home as they had in recent weeks
underlined the quality and courage in the ranks. "It showed what we can do.
We had the right application that shone through. "We have learned lessons
from recent games. We desperately want to do well for the manager, for the
fans, for the club - for everyone connected with West Ham. This is a point
in the right direction for us and we can use this as a way forward for all
the games we have left."
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Republic debut for Kearns
WHUFC.com
Danny Kearns made his bow for Republic of Ireland's U19s in a friendly win
over Poland
07.04.2010
Danny Kearns made his debut for the Republic of Ireland Under-19 side in a
thrilling 4-2 victory over Poland. The 18-year-old West Ham United
midfielder replaced Wexford Youths forward Jimmy Keohane with 27 minutes
remaining with the Irish leading 1-0. However, the closing stages were full
of goalmouth activity at Tolka Park in Dublin, with five goals being scored
in the final 26 minutes of play. Ireland went 3-0 up within four minutes of
Kearns' arrival, only for Poland to pull a goal back with 19 minutes to go.
The hosts added a fourth with ten minutes remaining before the visitors
completed the scoring in added-time. Sean McCaffrey's side will host the
same opposition at Tolka Park on Thursday evening, when Belfast-born Kearns
will hope to make his first start since switching allegiance from Northern
Ireland earlier this year.
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Behrami on his bike
WHUFC.com
Valon Behrami took time out to help back the latest fundraising initiative
for Richard House
07.04.2010
West Ham United are backing Richard House Children's Hospice campaign to Get
Fit, Have Fun and Raise Money for London's First Children's Hospice. Hammers
midfielder Valon Behrami helped to kick off the hospice's latest fundraising
initiative by attending a special event at Canary Wharf. The Swiss
international encouraged workers and shoppers at the centre to take on
Richard House's active challenges as part of their 10th anniversary. The
challenges include a landmark 10 Bridge walk in London, a 24 peaks trek and
the London to Bruges cycle ride. Behrami said: "Richard House Children's
Hospice is part of the community. Being a club charity, the hospice is close
to the hearts of everyone here at West Ham and I'm delighted to add my
support. "Richard House makes a huge difference to the children and families
that use their services and many people can take part in events and support
them, so that they can carry on this good work. "It doesn't matter what
level of fitness you have, you can walk, run, anything that suits you. It
will all be for a good cause as well."
Richard House is hosting a number of challenges and the hospice's
fundraising manager, Michelle Finn, added: "With the summer coming up we all
want to get fitter and healthier. These activities are a great way to get
motivated, have fun, make some amazing memories and ultimately help to
benefit the children and the families who use the services of the hospice."
Richard House Children's Hospice provides care free of charge to children
with life-limiting, life-threatening and complex healthcare conditions and
their families from across London and the Home Counties. To be able to
continue to provide this vital service Richard House needs to raise £3.1m a
year, so by taking part and getting involved you can help contribute and
make a big difference to a young person's life.
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Noble - No Hammers split
Midfielder insists Zola's squad are united
Last updated: 7th April 2010
SSN
Mark Noble has rejected suggestions of a dressing room divide at West Ham as
Gianfranco Zola's side battle to preserve their Premier League status. The
Hammers snapped their miserable six-game losing run with a battling point
away to Everton on Sunday but are just one point above third from bottom
Hull City, who have the benefit of a game in hand. A very public spat
between co-owner David Sullivan and manager Zola in the wake of the dismal
home defeat by Wolves suggested all was not well at Upton Park. But
midfielder Noble insists the squad are united in their desire to drag the
East London club away from their currently perilous position. "None of us
want to be in this situation, we are proud of who and what we play for. We
know what we have to do for the rest of the season," Noble said on the
club's official website. "We have got a bit of spirit. [The point at
Everton] shows we can come back. "We are a group. We are one changing room.
Everyone is positive. We all get on well and it is not a split camp. "We are
a team and it is the team that is going to get us out of trouble. "We have
really shown what we can do. The boys are happy, the manager is happy but we
have got another home game coming up and we have to win that."
West Ham welcome Sunderland to Upton Park at the weekend and must also
tackle UEFA Champions League hopefuls Liverpool and Manchester City in the
closing weeks of the season. "We want three points and then to go to
Liverpool and give them a tough game," Noble added. "We know that Anfield is
a tough place, but we got a point there last year and can do it again."
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Palermo admit Behrami liking
Italians still interested in Hammers ace
By Simone Bargellini Last updated: 7th April 2010
SSN
Serie A outfit Palermo admit they are keen on Valon Behrami but insist no
transfer talks have been held. The Italians were strongly linked with the
West Ham midfielder in January, with tentative approaches made. The Hammers
made it clear they were unwilling to do business, though, and that situation
is unlikely to have changed. The Premier League strugglers have endured
grave financial difficulties this season, and may need to sell in the
summer, but they are reluctant to part with their prized assets. Palermo
accept as much, despite being keen to bring former Lazio ace Behrami back to
Italy, and accept there is little chance of landing the Switzerland
international unless West Ham alter their stance. "I understand that the
British press are keen to report the Palermo interest in Behrami, because of
the contacts made in January, but at present there is no open discussion,"
Palermo's sporting director Walter Sabatini told TRM. "Behrami is a player
we like, I like him very much. "Our coach (former Lazio boss Delio Rossi)
knows him well, as he helped him to grow, and he also likes him. "At the
moment there is nothing, in the sense that nothing is concrete, but Behrami
is a player we like."
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Noble: Hammers stand United
The Sun
Published: 07 Apr 2010
MARK NOBLE insists the West Ham dressing room has the spirit required to
beat the drop. The Hammers stopped a run of six straight defeats with a
battling 2-2 draw at Everton last weekend, but remain just a point clear of
third-bottom Hull, who have a game in hand. Sunderland are at Upton Park on
Saturday in a game which under-pressure manager Gianfranco Zola knows his
side cannot afford to lose. But midfielder Noble insists the Irons have the
right focus to secure their place in the top flight. He said: "None of us
want to be in this situation, we are proud of who and what we play for. "We
know what we have to do for the rest of the season, we have got a bit of
spirit. "We are a group. We are one changing room. Everyone is positive. We
all get on well and it is not a split camp. "We are a team and it is the
team that is going to get us out of trouble. "We have really shown what we
can do. The boys are happy, the manager is happy but we have got another
home game coming up and we have to win that."
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Birmingham spark high court war with West Ham for £5million compensation -
exclusive
Published 23:00 07/04/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror
David Sullivan's woes at West Ham are mounting after Birmingham owner Carson
Yeung sparked a High Court battle for £5million compensation. Hong Kong
tycoon Yeung is unhappy with Premier League City's finances after completing
an £80million takeover last October. Yeung gained control of St Andrews from
Sullivan and Gold, who later bought a controlling stake in West Ham in
January. But Yeung was shocked to inherit bills and liabilities totalling
around £11million - including outgoing MD Karren Brady's package of perks
and bonuses. And he was also furious after discovering Sullivan and Gold
took out £420,000 in management fees for 2010 before leaving. Sullivan and
Gold were given a chance to settle out of court but refused despite offering
to refund the management fees. So Yeung yesterday slapped in a series of
writs at the High Court as he believes he paid too much at £1 a share for
City given the club posted a recent £20million loss. But Sullivan is
counter-suing for around £2million worth of unclaimed expenses from his
reign and insists City officials have libelled his old regime. Sullivan told
Mirror Sport last night: "Unfortunately as they started it we'll be issuing
writs ourselves. "We'll be counter-suing for several million. "I don't think
it is right for people in football to sue each other as it is not good for
either club. "Right from the start we tried to find a way to resolve this
amicably.
"Now the only gainers will be the lawyers."
Sullivan already has plenty of worries at cash-strapped West Ham who are
17th in the Premier League. The Hammers have debts of around £95million and
face meltdown if they are relegated. Sullivan has already been criticised by
some supporters for publicly rebuking the team and under-pressure boss
Gianfranco Zola. But the club ended a run of six successive defeats with a
gritty draw at Everton last weekend.
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Behrami set for Parker place in Hammers vital clash
Newham Recorder
07 April 2010
WEST HAM midfielder Valon Behrami is set to shoulder the responsibility of
replacing Scott Parker against Sunderland on Saturday. The Swiss
international limped out of the warm-up at Everton on Sunday, but he should
be fit to return and play alongside Radoslav Kovac in the middle of the
park. Parker will sit out the Sunderland ga-me, as well as the trip to
Anfield on April 19, after collecting his 10th booking at Goodison Park on
Saturday. While Behrami should be fit, for the other absentees, there is
less chance of a return for Satur-day's vital Premier League clash.
Alessandro Diam-anti is still suffering from a groin strain and is rated as
only 50/50, while the best Guillermo Franco can hope for is likely to be a
place on the bench as he continues to struggle with his infected foot. As
for Herita Ilunga and Kieron Dyer, it appears that Saturday's game will come
too soon for both of them. With Hull taking on Burnley, this could be a make
or break weekend.
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