WHUFC.com
Academy Director Tony Carr is already planning for next season after the
2009/10 campaign
18.05.2010
Academy Director Tony Carr was pleased with the progress made this season
but has high hopes next year could be even brighter for West Ham United's
future. The production line claimed its latest first-team player with Jordan
Spence's debut in the final Barclays Premier League match of the season
while the U18s saw a number of starlets establish themselves on the edge of
the senior set-up. The likes of Jordan Brown, Cristian Montano, Sergio
Sanchez and Callum Driver have progressed to regular reserve-team football.
Lower down schoolboys Robert Hall, Blair Turgott, Matthias Fanimo and Dylan
Tombides have shown great promise at U18 level. With seven schoolboys,
including scorers Fanimo and Tombides, in his 16-man matchday squad against
Charlton for the final match of the season - a 3-0 home win - Carr believed
the future was bright within the Academy of Football. Results may have been
mixed but he has always stressed his work his about individual development.
"I've always said this year that we've been inconsistent. If you look at our
overall record, we've won ten, drawn eight and lost ten. "I thought we could
have finished higher up the league, but we've lost and drawn games we should
have won, and lost games we should have drawn. That hasn't happened in every
game, but we've certainly been inconsistent. "Defensively, we've been
reasonably sound, but we've not quite scored enough goals for me, which has
not given us the opportunity to win matches. Like always, though, youth
football is all about experience and they will learn from this year. "The
majority of this year's youth team can play next year, so we're hoping they
can go another step further and finish a bit higher up the league, stay in
the FA Youth Cup a little bit longer and be a little bit more consistent in
terms of results."
After winning just one of their first eight league matches, the Hammers
youngsters enjoyed a better second half of the season, reaching the FA Youth
Cup fifth round before losing to Newcastle United and finishing in the top
half of FA Premier Academy League Group A. The U18s made sure of a
fifth-place finish in the standings thanks to goals from Fanimo, Jack
Werndly and Tombides at Little Heath. Carr was pleased to finish what he
described as an "inconsistent" season with one of his side's most
comprehensive victories of the whole campaign. "It was good to finish on a
winning note. I thought in the first half it was a tough game. It was fairly
even, but in terms of our passing and our possession of the ball it was
poor, even though we went in 1-0 up at half-time. "In the second half, we
shifted the ball a lot quicker and got the ball forward a lot quicker. We
defender better and won more of the second balls and we created a lot of
chances. "Once we scored the second goal through Jack, who is in a good run
of form at the moment in terms of goalscoring, I didn't think they would
come back. We could have gone on and won by four or five. "We did get a
third which was an excellent goal from Dylan, and might have had more.
Robert had hit the post and we had other good chances, so I think we were
worthy winners in the end. It was a nice way to end the season."
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Posh date for Hammers
WHUFC.com
The third pre-season fixture has been confirmed for Wednesday 14 July
18.05.2010
West Ham United will travel to Peterborough United for a pre-season friendly
on Wednesday 14 July. The 7.45pm match will be to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of Peterborough's arrival in the Football League. Posh are set
to push for promotion from League One next season under new manager Gary
Johnson having finished bottom of the Championship this time around. It will
be the second time in three years that the two clubs have met in a summer
friendly after the Hammers won 2-0 at London Road on 29 July. That match was
notable for Valon Behrami's debut and two Craig Bellamy goals. This year's
fixture will precede two other confirmed pre-season friendlies. The club
will travel to MK Dons for a 7.30pm kick-off on Wednesday 28 July and to
Ipswich Town for a 3pm start on Saturday 31 July. whufc.com will have full
ticket information once confirmed by Peterborough.
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Winning start for Hall
WHUFC.com
Robert Hall helped England to begin with a victory at the UEFA European U17
Championship
18.05.2010
Robert Hall's introduction helped England to score a 3-1 win over Czech
Republic in their opening match at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
The West Ham United forward was sent on as a 59th-minute substitute for
Manchester United's William Keane with the score deadlocked at 1-1 at the
Rheinpark in Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein.
Nine minutes later, the 16-year-old played a large part in England's second
goal, playing the ball in for Arsenal's Benik Afobe, who found Chelsea's
Joshua McEachran to clip the ball over goalkeeper Vlastimil Vesely. Just
over 60 seconds later, Afobe had curled in a magnificent third goal from 25
yards that gave Vesely absolutely no chance. With a little more than four
minutes remaining, Hall tried to get his own name on the scoresheet, beating
two challenges before driving a lot shot that the goalkeeper could only grab
at the second attempt. Then, in added time, the Hammers youngster forced
Vesely into a flying save from a goalbound 20-yard free-kick to complete a
lively cameo appearance. Earlier, Jakub Plsek had given the Czechs a
seventh-minute lead with a towering far-post header, only for Everton's Ross
Barkley to level matters 13 minutes later. England's second group-stage
fixture will see them take on Greece at the same venue on Friday evening
before facing Turkey on Monday night. Hall will hope to start against the
Greeks after showing fine goalscoring form in the qualifiers, hitting the
net twice in a 6-2 victory over Kazakhstan in October and again in the 4-0
Elite Round win over Sweden in March.
Turkey beat Greece 3-1 in their opening match on Tuesday evening to take
early control of Group B. The beaten Czechs will take on Turkey in Eschen on
Friday afternoon.
In Group A, Portugal comfortably defeated Switzerland 3-0, while Spain held
on to beat France 2-1. The top two teams in each group will qualify for the
semi-finals, with the final being held in Vaduz on 30 May.
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Your club, your say
WHUFC.com
There are a number of ways that fans can share their thoughts on all things
West Ham United
19.05.2010
West Ham United face a busy summer and we want to hear what you have to say
about the exciting things happening in and around the club. From our plans
for the first team to our proposals for the Olympic Stadium, we are always
keen to get supporter feedback. As has been said by the chairmen, the fans
are the true owners of West Ham United and it has never been easier to get
in touch with your club to air your view.
If you have a comment regarding your matchday experience or if you would
like to contact the club with general feedback please click here or email us
at customerservices@westhamunited.co.uk. To call the club with a general
inquiry, contact 020 8548 2748.
As well as communicating through fan forums, whufc.com and the matchday
programme, the club has also introduced Claret & Blue. This is an innovative
e-Magazine which is totally free and is a great way to keep up to date with
events behind the scenes and also hear about club promotions.
For details on how to sign up so you don't miss out, click here.
http://www.whufc.com/page/News/HammersMail/0,,12562,00.html
To read the latest issue, click here :
http://edition.claretandbluemagazine.co.uk/issue07.html
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Take two for two Davids
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 18th May 2010
By: Staff Writer
Chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan's blueprint for the club's immediate
future was published earlier today. The 'ten point pledge' announced a
string of strategies designed to ensure the currently-managerless team 'hit
the ground running' when the 2010/11 season beings this coming August. The
ten pledges are:
1. To appoint a new 'high-calibre' manager
2. Sign new players 'hungry to do well'
3. Further invest in the Academy
4. Further reduce club debt
5. Freeze season ticket prices with further member benefits promised
6. Build the status and image of the club both dometically and further
afield
7. Make the football enjoyable - including changes to pre-match and
half-time entertainment
8. Ensure closer ties with the local community - both inside and outside of
football
9. Build towards a move to the Olympic Stadium
10. Listen the the supporters
The co-Chairmen have come under fire in recent days from a great many
supporters for their handling of the dismissal of Gianfranco Zola and the
terse message posted on the club's website that announced it - a statement
that many felt was disrespectful to the outgoing manager. More criticism
followed when it became apparent that the circumstances of Zola's sacking
were likely to result in yet another visit to the courts - the latest in a
long line of litigious wranglings that supporters had hoped were consigned
to the past following the new owners' arrival in January.
However Sullivan and Gold have attempted to draw a line under the situation
with their freshly announced plans, which have been welcomed on the whole by
supporters today. On the managerial situation, the pledge confirmed that 'a
shortlist of candidates has been identified and the appointment will be made
with enough time to prepare for pre-season'.
Elsewhere a source said to be close to Avram Grant claimed tonight that the
Portsmouth manager has already agreed a three-year deal to succeed
Gianfranco Zola - a scenario that ties in with a number of reports from
earlier in the day that alleged a deal had been struck. The news regarding
further investment into the club's Academy was well-received, although it
was not revealed when - or if - Tony Carr will be offered an extension to
his current contract, which is due to expire next year.
However many remained skeptical with regards to the plans to move to the
Olympic Stadium, with a number of posters on the KUMB Forums today
expressing concern over the plans for the internal design, with the possible
presence of a running track causing the greatest worry.
The ten-point plan echoes a similar announcement Sullivan and Gold made to
Birmingham City supporters at the end of 2008 (which you can see here). Of
slightly less importance than maintaining the club's very existence, points
included introducing a 'big screen' to St Andrews, refurbishing the tannoy
system and introducing designated 'family only' areas.
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Ollie - Hammers talk poppycock
Blackpool boss dismisses Upton Park link
By Steve Pass Last updated: 18th May 2010
SSN
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has branded reports linking him with the vacant
West Ham job as 'complete poppycock'. Holloway is currently a 10/1 shot with
Sky Bet for the Upton Park hot-seat following the departure of Gianfranco
Zola last week. It is believed that the Hammers have a four-man shortlist
for the vacancy, with Holloway in the frame alongside Portsmouth boss Avram
Grant, Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce and Cardiff's Dave Jones. But the
Blackpool boss insists he wants to stay at Bloomfield Road as his side
prepare for the Championship play-off final with Cardiff on Saturday. He
told Sky Sports News: "Its absolute rubbish isn't it, let's be perfectly
honest. "That is another distraction - anybody can throw any name in any hat
about a certain job - for me that's just complete poppycock. "I've got a
wonderful job here, I'm trying to do it to the best of my ability and that's
all that matters and as far as I'm concerned, that's that."
While Holloway said he was flattered to be linked with the post, he did not
believe the reports were accurate. He said: "It's an honour to be linked
with something like that but it's not genuine is it? "If it was genuine then
my chairman (Karl Oyston) would be talking to me about it. I think a lot of
journalists are quite lazy. They look at things and think 'oh, we can throw
that name in'. "At the end of the day it's the people at the top of the
clubs who make these decisions. "You read the stories but these newspapers
will be wrapping someone's chips tomorrow. Never believe what you read in
the papers. I don't. "I'm doing a job as well as I possibly can and I'm more
than happy to keep doing it.
"All that matters to me is getting my lads ready for Wembley on Saturday."
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Brum's Cole bid snubbed
The Sun
WEST HAM have rejected an £8million Birmingham bid for Carlton Cole. Brum
swooped for the striker after a move for Fulham's Bobby Zamora failed but
were told to up their offer to £12m. A source said: "Blues are very
interested in Cole but were way short of co-owner David Sullivan's
valuation. The £8m was what they offered for Zamora."
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No Boss? We'll still Av 'em
The Sun
By PAT SHEEHAN
Published: Today
WEST HAM are close to signing Kevin-Prince Boateng and Nicky Shorey. That is
despite not yet officially naming a replacement for Gianfranco Zola.
Portsmouth boss Avram Grant is the clear favourite to take over. And Grant
made Boateng, 23, a regular in the Portsmouth side after they paid £4million
to sign him from Tottenham. The Hammers have identified midfield as one of
the areas they want to improve. Co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold do
not want to be at the back of the queue when it comes to the summer transfer
market while they wait for a new manager to arrive. Instead, they want to
cherry-pick what they see as 'bargains'. Attacking midfielder Boateng will
cost around £3m, while Shorey, born in nearby Romford, will come in at
around £2m. Former England left-back Shorey, 29, has been on loan at Fulham
from Aston Villa, after losing his place to Stephen Warnock. Meanwhile,
Boateng has apologised to Michael Ballack for the tackle which ended the
German captain's World Cup dream. Chelsea midfielder Ballack was forced to
withdraw from his country's squad for South Africa after suffering ligament
damage following Boateng's challenge in Saturday's FA Cup final. Boateng
said: "I was just too late and I hit him straight on. It looked stupid. I am
sorry. It was not intentional. I would never set out to injure another
player on purpose." But Ballack's agent, Michael Becker, claims he is
considering taking legal action. Becker said: "The football field is not
outside the law."
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Ollie Hammers manager link
The Sun
By DAVID FACEY
Published: Today
IAN HOLLOWAY has dismissed speculation linking him with the West Ham
manager's job as an unwelcome distraction. Blackpool's boss just wants to
concentrate on the Championship play-off final with Cardiff at Wembley on
Saturday. Ollie said: "The West Ham thing is just pie in the sky, isn't it?
I'm more than happy with the football club I've got here at the moment.
"What people don't understand is how I feel about this place. The West Ham
thing's a distraction and I don't want it. "We're just getting on and doing
our job."
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Grant heads Hammers' wanted list
Published 08:01 19/05/10 By Pa Sports
The Mirror
Avram Grant has emerged as the leading candidate for the West Ham manager's
job as new owners David Gold and David Sullivan look to take the club
forwards. Grant is understood to be top of the Hammers' wanted list to
replace Gianfranco Zola, who was sacked last week after the club only just
retained their Barclays Premier League status.
The Israeli, 55, appears to have called time on his eventful stay at
Portsmouth after failing to get assurances over the south coast club's
crippled finances. Pompey administrator Andrew Andronikou seems resigned to
the departure of the former Chelsea boss, who guided Pompey to the FA Cup
final against all the odds. Grant still has two years left to run on a deal
at Fratton Park which may well have been invalidated anyway by non-payment
of wages, while Portsmouth look ready to waive any compensation claim.
Confirmation of a formal approach, however, has yet to be forthcoming, but
sources suggest the Israeli is set for a three-year deal worth £1.3million.
Grant headed the four on the Hammers' final shortlist, along with Ian
Holloway and Dave Jones - both hoping for promotion to the top flight with
Blackpool and Cardiff respectively via the play-off final - while Blackburn
issued a hands-off warning over their boss Sam Allardyce. Holloway dismissed
the speculation himself as he focuses on Wembley, with Grant now apparently
in the driving seat.
Whoever the Hammers board eventually appoints, the new manager is likely to
want to rebuild a squad which only just escaped the drop. Were that to
indeed be Grant, who guided Chelsea to the 2008 Champions League final, a
£7million move for Everton striker Ayegbeni Yakubu would appear on the
cards, as well as bids to bring in two Pompey players - Kevin-Prince Boateng
and Jamie O'Hara, who was on loan from Tottenham. Sullivan and Gold, though,
intend to make a swift appointment, expected ahead of the World Cup. "Our
efforts are focused on recruiting a high-calibre manager with the necessary
experience to deliver good football and, most importantly, results," a joint
statement read. "A shortlist of candidates has been identified and the
appointment will be made with enough time to prepare for pre-season."
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West Ham target cut-price deal for Hutton
Published 22:30 18/05/10 By John Cross
The Mirror
Tottenham defender Alan Hutton is a cut-price target for West Ham after his
hopes of a move to Sunderland were dashed. Sunderland boss Steve Bruce, who
took Hutton on loan last season, has been put off by Spurs' £6m asking price
for the Scotland full back. Sunderland only want to pay £3m and are now
looking elsewhere while West Ham need to strengthen and have made enquiries
- but will not be able to afford Tottenham's sky high price either.
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Hammers close in on Grant and unveil bizarre 10-point plan for success
Published 22:30 18/05/10 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror
West Ham took another step towards ticking off No 1 on their new ten-point
plan yesterday when Portsmouth said they will demand no compensation for
Avram Grant. Now David Sullivan and David Gold have only another nine
pledges to go. The new owners used the Upton Park website yesterday to
outline their vision for the future of the Premier League's 17th-best club.
The first promise is to appoint a "high-calibre manager with the necessary
experience to deliver good football and, most importantly, results".
Although the club insists there is still a "shortlist of candidates", the
former Chelsea manager has already given West Ham a wishlist of signings and
is set to be unveiled as Gianfranco Zola's replacement once his contract is
finalised. In a bid to communicate openly with fans, the owners have
promised to sign new players as well as invest in the club's academy, to
continue to clear the club's £100m debt and freeze season ticket prizes.
Signing new players - at least good ones - and paying down the debt
immediately appear contradictory unless a lot of the expensive current ones
are quickly sold on. Winning as many football matches as possible was one of
the few things not included. Along with promising not to undermine the new
manager. "Having admittedly had a tough end to the last campaign, we are
determined to build on the many positives we have at the club and use the
summer months to make sure we hit the ground running next time around" the
West Ham statement said. But buried down at No 8 on the list is potentially
the most significant: "Go for the Olympic Stadium".
West Ham and Newham Council lodged their bid to take over the new 2012 arena
with the Olympic Park Legacy Company on Monday. The £537m site will be
reduced from 80,000 seats after the Games. And the new Hammers owners want
to turn the stadium into a "multi-sport" facility and share it with other
sports like athletics and cricket. Manchester City took over the City of
Manchester Stadium after the 2002 Commonwealth Games. And Sullivan and Gold
see playing at the Olympic Stadium as key to paying off the club's debts -
and establishing them as a major force in English football. "Leaving the
Boleyn Ground will be a wrench but the Olympic Stadium is an amazing
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in a financial and football sense," they
wrote. "Our potential partnership with Newham Council promises to take this
club to a new level, while protecting our history and traditions. To move
forward, we have to move - but always with an eye on the past."
From buying the club to ruthlessly dismissing Zola, Sullivan and Gold have
so far done what they have said they will do. Now after the fire-fighting,
the rebuilding from the ashes of a terrible season really begins. "All of us
share the same hopes and dreams," the owners said. "It is not just about
aiming for cup finals or derby victories but about feeling part of something
together and all pulling in the same direction. As the name says, we are
very much West Ham. United."
THE PLEDGES
As the Board of West Ham United our pledge to you is to do the following:
1. Appoint the right manager
2. Sign new players
3. More investment in the Academy
4. Continue to clear the debt
5. Freeze season ticket prices for renewals
6. Build the status and image of the club
7. Make it enjoyable to come and watch
8. Get closer to the community
9. Go for the Olympic Stadium
10. Listen to supporters
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Hammers reject Birmingham's bid for Cole
Harry Harris
May 19, 2010
ESPN
West Ham United have rejected an £8 million bid for Carlton Cole from
Birmingham as they hold out to get much closer to their £15 million
valuation of the English striker.
Fulham and Stoke City have also entered the bidding for the striker but with
the Hammers putting a £15 million price tag on their prized asset, he won't
be leaving on the cheap.
A West Ham insider told Soccernet: "Strikers come at a premium price,
English players come at a premium price, so an English striker will not come
cheap, and West Ham might be in debt and clubs might think they can take the
clubs best payers on the cheap, but they can't." A foreign club has offered
more for the 26-year-old, but he wants to stay in the Premier League and
will hope that the likes of Arsenal and Aston Villa (who showed interest in
the past) come forward with bids. West Ham will conduct a clear-out of
players this summer, but only if clubs meet their valuation. Co-owner David
Sullivan suggested that all bar Scott Parker were for sale, but that is not
the case; however, if players want to go that is another matter. Matthew
Upson will ask for a move when he returns from World Cup duty having
rejected a new three year contract, and England goalkeeper Robert Green
reportedly wants to play abroad, although as yet the Hammers have not
received an acceptable offer.
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England World Cup squad: Fabio Capello to give Joe Hart chance to be No 1
Joe Hart has been told he has an equal chance with David James and Robert
Green of being England's first-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt in Graz, Austria
Published: 7:00AM BST 19 May 2010
Fabio Capello will inform all three of his goalkeepers that he has a
completely open mind who he will choose to face the United States in
Rustenburg on June 12. James, at 39, would appear to have the experience
and is favourite to be selected, although Green also had a run of games
during the qualifying campaign and impressed Capello. However, the England
manager is also mindful that Hart has had an outstanding season on loan at
Birmingham City and is, arguably, the most in-form of the three. Ferguson
vetoed Hargreaves call-up Capello earmarked either Hart or Ben Foster — who
is set to replace Hart at Birmingham — as the two strongest young
goalkeepers when he took the job. Indeed, he had hoped that one of them
would become his first-choice in time for the World Cup but Foster has
struggled to get games for Manchester United and Hart had to leave
Manchester City. Although Hart, 23, has just one cap — he came on at
half-time to replace James during the friendly against Trindad & Tobago in
June 2008 – he has been a regular in Capello's squad even though he has not
played. He had hoped to start the March friendly against Egypt but Capello
decided to stick with Green. It means that if Hart were to be selected ahead
of James or Green it would represent a surprise, given his lack of previous
opportunities. England would also be the only nation going into the finals
with a goalkeeper who, at most, can have three caps. Capello only has the
friendlies against Mexico — on Monday at Wembley – and Japan, the following
Sunday in Graz, before he whittles down his 30-strong provisional squad to
23 and will consider whether to start Hart in either or both of those games.
Given that he has only selected three goalkeepers it means, barring injury,
that all three will go to South Africa. Capello's open mind on the issue is
interesting given that he said, prior to the friendly against Holland last
August, that he knew who would feature in the opening game of the World Cup.
At that time it was assumed that he meant James, but the emergence of Green
and the Portsmouth goalkeeper's injury problems have left the issue open.
James is said to have impressed Capello with his display in Saturday's FA
Cup final, however. He, along with the four Chelsea players who featured at
Wembley, will travel out to join the rest of the squad today having been
given some time off after the weekend's game. Meanwhile, Tottenham's Ledley
King has impressed Capello with his level of fitness. Although King has sat
out training so far in Austria — along with Steven Gerrard, who has a sore
back — that is only because he has played a lot of games recently.
Indeed the 29-year-old defender's fitness is said to be "outstanding" and
the England medical staff have received positive reports about the state of
his knee, which suffers from chronic degeneration. It is increasingly
unlikely that Gareth Barry will make the World Cup, although he will have a
final medical assessment on Monday. If there is the slightest doubt when
Barry sees the specialist James Calder, the country's leading orthopaedic
surgeon for footballers, then he will not be selected. Barry's foot is still
in a protective boot.
While King could be one option as a holding midfielder — he has played there
before for club and country — it's not a strategy Capello is thought to be
considering. Nevertheless he has identified King as a "key" player for
England during the tournament. Barry was only included in the provisional
squad last Tuesday, having been ruled out by Capello the day before, because
Owen Hargreaves's selection was vetoed by Manchester United manager Sir Alex
Ferguson. He bumped into Capello at the League Managers Association dinner
that evening. The England coaching staff then contacted Barry and were told
his assessment had been brought forward and so it was deemed worth waiting
on his fitness rather than turn to the likes of Jimmy Bullard of Jermaine
Jenas, who have featured in previous squads but who are not regarded as
vital to Capello's plans. David Beckham will also be on the plane from
Heathrow in two weeks' time, joining up with the squad as part of Capello's
coaching staff. The 35 year-old has accepted an offer from Capello to be
involved although he will not take part in the Austrian training camp. He
will be given a role as one of the coaches, working behind the scenes and
also out on the training pitch, acting as another set of eyes and ears for
Capello, and helping the young players in particular.
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Transfer latest
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 19th May 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham continue to be linked with a number of players as speculation
regarding the new manager and his potential squad hots up.
With almost every source happy that Avram Grant will be announced as the
club's 13th full-time manager imminently, attention has turned to the
players likely to follow the Portsmouth boss through the gates at the Boleyn
Ground.
Tottenham right-back Alan Hutton is one player mentioned in passing by both
the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror in Tuesday's editions; the Scottish
defender, who spent time on loan with the Wearsiders last season is said to
have seen a permanent switch to the Black Cats collapse, alerting the likes
of West Ham to his availability.
However Tottenham are said to be holding out for around £6million for a
player that cost them £9million less than two years ago. Sunderland are said
to have refused to go higher than £3million.
The Sun meanwhile are linking West Ham with moves for Portsmouth's
Kevin-Prince Boateng and Aston Villa's Nicky Shorey, who has been on loan
with Fulham. Boateng, 23, cost Pompey around £4million when they signed him
from Tottenham although he is likely to cost around half that figure as
Portsmouth look to recover some of their massive deficit. 29-year-old
Shorey, unwanted by Villa boss Martin O'Neill, is said to be available for
around £2million.
Carlton Cole has had a £15million price tag placed upon him, according to
the Daily Telegraph - who add that the Hammers have already rejected three
bids for the 26-year-old. The Telegraph are also linking Fabio Daprela with
a move to Inter and add that none of Ilan, Mido or Guillermo Franco will be
offered contracts for next season.
Back to the Mail and one midfielder the club are said to be keeping tabs on
is Atalanta's Tiberio Guarente, a highly-rated 24-year-old Italian.
Mancester CIty are also said to be monitoring the player, who is likely to
command a fee in the region of £3.5million.
However one player unlikely to be strutting his stuff at the Boleyn next
season is Sidney Govou, who some sources (the Mail, to be precise) had
claimed was set to agree a deal to move to London. The Lyon winger has
informed United that he will be moving to Turkey to play for Galatasary,
according to the Telegraph.
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West Ham's Most Important Summer Beckons
EPLTalk.com
by Paul Bestall on May 18, 2010
Four years ago, West Ham's fans and players were licking their wounds after
coming so close to winning the clubs first piece of major silverware since
1980's F.A. Cup win. Cruelly denied by Liverpool, firstly with Steven
Gerrard's incredible last minute equaliser which took the game to extra time
and then penalties, it was tough to take. Overall though, the 2005-2006
season had been an impressive return to the top flight for the Hammers with
9th place achieved. Under Alan Pardew, the club had cemented a mid table
position and things looked positive.
Today, the club is saddled with debts of over £100 million, a playing squad
that needs a major overhaul and is searching for its 4th permanent manager
since returning to the Premiership in 2005. The club flirted with relegation
all season as injuries to key players, a lack of goals from a hastily
assembled strike force and a trawling of the loan market to bolster a thread
bare squad. Gianfranco Zola paid the price for a season of nervous worry as
the good work of last season unraveled before the Upton Park faithful
It strikes me as odd that a club that had a reputation as being so patient
with managers has suddenly started going through them with gusto. When Harry
Redknapp took over in 1994, he was actually West Ham's 8th full time
manager. In fact up to 1989, when Hammers legend John Lyall was sacked, the
shortest period a manager had been in charge of the Hammers was an
incredible 11 years, when Ted Fenton held the role from 1950 to 1961. The
managers job was a byword for stability at Upton Park but it certainly isn't
the case now.
With those two wall flowers, David Gold and David Sullivan riding to the
rescue in February, the club at least has two people in charge who know
about football. No more biscuit millionaires from Iceland almost destroying
the club, now regardless of how you feel towards them, the two Davids do
know about running a football club. They may not make popular decisions,
but they saved Birmingham City. They've also announced a ten point vision to
drag the club back on an even footing which makes interesting reading.
Most of it would seem to be common sense but any West Ham fan would do well
to discuss Sullivan and Gold with Birmingham City fans. Many of the points
mentioned in the new vision for West Ham were rolled out in various guises
during their 17 year tenure at the Blues and regardless of the fact they
left the club in a far healthier situation than the one they found it in,
they are not loved at St. Andrews. I did notice that two weeks ago, David
Gold said no player was unsellable, but in the new vision, they don't want
to be a selling club? Well which is it gents?
The signing hungry players also echoes the same statement made by David
Sullivan in 2004 who stated word for word what is now masquerading as point
2. Are we beginning to see a pattern yet? As is the point about reconnecting
with the local fan base, which is fine, until you begin to raise the prices
to the points were the local fan base can't afford to go anymore and I'm
sure they often went on about leaving St Andrews numerous times throughout
the nineties too.
Suffice to say West Ham are in a financial situation that means they have no
option to listen to offers for players. If any offer comes in, it's highly
likely that the club will sell most of their assets. It's a sad state of
affairs, but with the playing squad they have, regardless of who comes in as
manager, it's going to be another long season.
The team needs fresh blood and a removal of the high earning injury prone
failures that came in during the Icelandic years. It could take two or three
years before real progress is being seen on the pitch. The nucleus of the
young players breaking through need protecting rather than thrown to the
lions of a relegation battle.
Despite Gold and Sullivan's obsession with publicity, they do have a good
record when it comes to supporting managers. Despite the very public and
rather distasteful undermining of Gianfranco Zola, their record at
Birmingham showed should the right man be available, they will support him
until it becomes an untenable situation. The right man just needs to get
used to seeing the owners in the press every other day.
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West Ham want £15m for Carlton Cole as clear-out begins
West Ham United have rejected bids from Fulham, Birmingham City and Stoke
City for striker Carlton Cole.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 7:00PM BST 18 May 2010
It is understood that all the offers have fallen well short of the £15
million West Ham want for the 26 year-old. Cole arrived from Chelsea for £1
million in the summer of 2006 and has developed into an England
international although he missed out on Fabio Capello's 30-strong
provisional World Cup squad. Sport on television There has been talk of
interest in him from Arsenal and Aston Villa but only bids from the three
other Premier League clubs, and according to sources, one from abroad have
been lodged. The fact that the identity of the foreign club has not been
disclosed suggests it is closest to West Ham's asking price and a deal might
still be done. Cole's difficult season has been blighted by injury but he is
still regarded as one of West Ham's prize assets, although passing a medical
will not be regarded as a formality given his history of knee problems. His
sale would provide funds for a manager to rebuild the squad. Avram Grant is
set to be named in the role after Portsmouth agreed to let him leave without
seeking compensation.
David Sullivan, West Ham's co-chairman, would only say on Tuesday that he
would "have a new manager in place within the next two weeks" but, according
to sources close to Grant, the Israeli feels he has secured a three-year
deal on a salary of £1.3 million to succeed Gianfranco Zola.
West Ham have asked three other clubs for permission to speak to their
managers: Blackburn Rovers' Sam Allardyce, Blackpool's Ian Holloway and
Cardiff City's David Jones. Holloway and Jones are involved in Saturday's
Championship play-off final. However, now that Grant has secured his release
from the final two years of his contract without compensation being paid –
he received a sympathetic hearing from Portsmouth's administrator Andrew
Andronikou and also argued that the club had made the deal void by
defaulting on his wages – it appears certain he will take the post. The
other three contenders are regarded as options only if there is a
last-minute hitch with Grant. West Ham will conduct a clear-out of players.
Sullivan had said that all bar Scott Parker was for sale. Matthew Upson is
set to ask for a move and Robert Green is understood to be keen to try to
play abroad.
Alessandro Diamanti has already been told to find a new club while Giullermo
Franco will not receive a new contract and is a free agent. The club are
unlikely to take up options on Ilan or Mido, who arrived only in January.
Inter Milan are interested in the young Swiss defender Fabio Daprela, but
have not made a bid as yet, while Sullivan is considering a move for
Tottenham Hotspur's Jamie O'Hara and may offer either Upson or James Tomkins
in exchange. He is also interested in Portsmouth's Kevin-Prince Boateng.
West Ham's attempts to sign France international Sidney Govou have failed.
It had been hoped the 30-year-old Lyon striker was close to agreeing a deal,
and terms looked to have been reached, but he informed West Ham late on
Monday that he was likely to move to Turkey, probably to big-spending
Galatasaray. On Tuesday West Ham released a "10-point plan" on their website
of how Sullivan and David Gold want to take the club forward. The points
included the recruitment of a "high-calibre" manager and signing new players
because "for too long the focus has been on players leaving rather than
arriving". Meanwhile Zola, who has returned to Italy, is waiting to hear
from the League Managers' Association when a date will be set for his
Premier League arbitration hearing. Zola he started legal proceedings
against West Ham following his sacking last week for an alleged breach of
contract.
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Gold & Sullivan's Ten Point Plan!
West Ham Till I Die
The co-chairs have today published their ten point plan for taking the club
forward. The ten points are as follows:
Appoint the right manager
Sign new players
More investment in the Academy
Continue to clear the debt
Freeze season ticket prices for renewals
Build the status and image of the club
Make it enjoyable to come to watch matches
Get closer to the local community
Go for the Olympic Stadium
Listen to supporters
All very admirable. However, the co-owners will inevitably be judged by
what they do, rather than what they say! For instance, lets see what type
of manager is recruited, the identity of the players sold this summer and
the quality of those that are incoming? These decisions will provide an
early litmus test of their intent.
While the circumstances in which Zola allegedly left the club has not
exactly contributed to enhancing the 'status and image' of the club, has it?
Does the club really need the prospect of yet another embaressing Employment
Tribunal award being made against it? On the point about listening to the
fans, what structures or processes are they exactly proposing to use to do
that? With regard to the the other points, we shall see what occurs?
Most supporters of my acquaintance were disappointed by the leaked
managerial short-list, Avram Grant being, by far, the preferred candidate.
The co-Chairs must surely be aware of that the majority of Hammers fans
would find that short-list somewhat underwhelming and lacking in ambition!
Personally, I suspected that the short-list was a media creation, a clear
case of taking unrelated comments and making 2 + 2 = 5! Least ways, I
sincerely hope that is the reality of the situation!
Finally, I have been asked about my recent blog post proposing Sir Trevor as
a potential candidate for the Chair of the FA. For the purpose of clarity,
I was basing the proposition on his outstanding reputation whilst the Chair
of Sport England. Basically, he was largely awarded his knighthood for his
innovative leadership of that national sports organisation. And I feel that
he could bring the same attributes to the FA post.
SJ. Chandos.
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Manchester City join West Ham in race for £3.5m Atalanta enforcer Tiberio
Guarente
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 6:10 PM on 18th May 2010
Daily Mail
Manchester City have been linked with a move for Atalanta midfielder Tiberio
Guarente as Roberto Mancini looks to add steel to his midfield. The
Eastlands boss almost signed McDonald Mariga from Parma and Real Madrid's
Fernando Gago in the winter before settling on a short-term move for
33-year-old Patrick Vieira. And with Mancini ready to go back into the
market, Guarente's agent says City are among the clubs chasing the highly
rated 24-year-old. Napoli have already made a £3.5million move for a player
who was being touted around for more than double that a year ago - before
Atalanta's relegation from Serie A. Udinese and West Ham have also been
linked, though the departure of Gianfranco Zola from Upton Park could have
quelled the Hammers' interest. When asked specifically about the interest
of Udinese, Napoli and City, agent Giovanni Bia said: 'I know that these
clubs have asked about him, but I don't know what will happen. 'The first
to make a determined bid could get him, because in any case he will leave
Bergamo.'
Guarente has a growing reputation as a box-to-box midfielder with an
impressive left foot.
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Holloway rejects West Ham link
Published 16:11 18/05/10 By Pa Sports
The Mirror
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has brushed off speculation linking him with the
vacant managerial position at West Ham. Holloway, hoping to steer Blackpool
into the top flight for the first time since 1971 in the Coca-Cola
Championship play-off final against Cardiff on Saturday, has won many
admirers for his work at Bloomfield Road this season. Holloway, Sam
Allardyce, Avram Grant and Dave Jones are reported to be on the Hammers'
shortlist to replace Gianfranco Zola after he left Upton Park last week. Yet
Holloway, 47, told Press Association Sport: "It's an honour to be linked
with something like that but it's not genuine is it?" He added: "If it was
genuine then my chairman (Karl Oyston) would be talking to me about it. I
think a lot of journalists are quite lazy. They look at things and think
'oh, we can throw that name in'. "You read the stories but these newspapers
will be wrapping someone's chips tomorrow. Never believe what you read in
the papers. I don't. I'm doing a job as well as I possibly can and I'm more
than happy to keep doing it."
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Palermo target West Ham star
Published 08:40 18/05/10 By EuroSpy
The Mirror
Palermo's director of football has confirmed that Valon Behrami is on the
club's wish list this summer. The versatile West Ham midfielder has been one
of the more consistent performers in a struggling Hammers side, and the
Serie A club, who narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification this
season, have long held an interest in the former Lazio player. When being
quizzed on potential transfer dealings, Walter Sabatini said: "Behrami? He
is a candidate, an excellent reinforcement, but a player who at the moment
plays for another team. We'll see." Behrami arrived at Upton Park in 2008
for £5million, and West Ham could expect to recoup at least that figure if
the Rosanero did come in with a bid.
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West Ham co-owners reveal all
The Sun
WEST HAM co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have issued an open letter
to Hammers fans outlining their 10-point plan for the future. Since sacking
manager Gianfranco Zola, Gold and Sullivan have been busy plotting to
transform the East London club's fortunes. Portsmouth boss Avram Grant is
the favourite to replace Zola and finding the right man to lead the team
features as the main point in the blueprint sent to supporters. The letter
states: "It may be the close-season but here at West Ham we are all busy
preparing for 2010/11 and putting in place the next steps to take this club
forward. "Having admittedly had a tough end to the last campaign, we are
determined to build on the many positives we have at the club and use the
summer months to make sure we hit the ground running next time around."
Gold and Sullivan, who go on to spell out their plans in full detail, have
pledged to:
1) Appoint the right manager
2) Sign new players
3) Make more investment in the Academy
4) Continue to clear the debt
5) Freeze season ticket prices for renewals
6) Build the status and image of the club
7) Make it enjoyable to come and watch
8) Get closer to the community
9) Go for the Olympic Stadium
10) Listen to supporters
The letter ends with Gold and Sullivan telling fans: "This 10-point pledge
is just the start. "We are here for the long term and our goals will evolve
as we progress. We are proud to be here and will never stop working for you.
"All of us share the same hopes and dreams. It is not just about aiming for
cup finals or derby victories but about feeling part of something together
and all pulling in the same direction. "As the name says, we are very much
West Ham. United."
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I am running the BUPA 10k on May 31st and raising money for the Bobby Moore
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Please donate generously! Thanks.
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