WHUFC.com
On-loan defender Matt Fry enjoyed a successful full debut for Charlton Athletic on Tuesday evening
31.08.2010
Matt Fry's fine week continued as the on-loan defender kept a clean sheet on his full debut for Charlton Athletic. The 19-year-old scored on his first appearance for the Addicks in Saturday's 3-1 League One defeat at Huddersfield Town on Saturday. On Tuesday evening, Fry was named in Charlton's starting lineup for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Section - East meeting with Dagenham & Redbridge at The Valley. Starting in a back-four that also contained former West Ham United hero Christian Dailly, Fry helped his side secure a 1-0 victory courtesy of French midfielder Therry Racon's 57th-minute goal. Another former Hammer, winger Kyel Reid, appeared for the final six minutes as a substitute. Charlton will face either Southend United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Leyton Orient or Brentford in the second round, with ties due to be played on Tuesday 5 October or Wednesday 6 October. Fry will hope to make his full npower Football League debut for his loan club at Exeter City on Saturday afternoon. Earlier in the day, a youthful reserve team were beaten 4-0 at Millwall in a specially-arranged friendly. Of the Hammers XI, only Frank Nouble and Freddie Sears had seen senior first-team action. The Lions put out an experienced side containing many players with first-team experience, scoring through Ashley Grimes (two), Andy Frampton and John Marquis in a fixture held at Millwall's Bromley training ground.
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The transfer window closes
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 31st August 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are yet to confirm the details of their transfer deadline day business - so here's a summary of all the deals on the table today.
Pascal Chimbonda (Blackburn): KUMB.com revealed this lunchtime how West Ham were close to tying up a deal to bring the once-capped French international to the Boleyn Ground. However latest reports suggest that the two clubs have failed to agree a transfer fee.
Lars Jocobsen (Blackburn): Another late deal strongly tipped to have been pushed through moments ahead of the deadline.
Guy Demel (SV Hamburg): The Ivory Coast international has been on the radar for some time although negotiations are thought to have hit a snag at the weekend.
Ryan Babel (Liverpool): Babel is reported to have told friends that he is 'going nowhere' after being linked with a swap deal involving Carlton Cole. The Dutch international was said to be part of a £7million bid.
Andrea Rosina (Torino): Respected Italian news source tuttomercatoweb.com reported this afternoon that West Ham had made a late bid to take the striker to east London. No news from this side of the channel to confirm as of yet.
Joseph Yobo (Everton): Close to agreeing a deal with the Hammers this morning although Everton are said to be unhappy with United's conduct during negotiations. The Nigerian international has now joined Turkish side Fenerbahce on loan for the season.
Yakubu (Everton): Linked with the Hammers all summer and thought to have been the subject of a last minute bid. No further news at this stage although as with Yobo, Everton are said to have been unhappy with West Ham's conduct.
Sanli Tuncay (Everton): Just a rumour but it was suggested that once Stoke had tied up the Eidur Gudjohnsen deal the Turkish international would be allowed to join United on loan.
Scott Parker: David Sullivan said that he would not be leaving and the co-Chairman appears to have stuck to his word. Parkew revealed this afternoon that he expects to remain at West Ham after the transfer deadline.
Carlton Cole: Interested in the mooted switch to Liverpool but it is thought that the deadline has passed without a deal being struck. Liverpool are said to have offered £7million plus Ryan Babel.
Fabio Daprela: The young full-back signed a five-year deal with Brescia last night having moved on a free transfer, as exclusively revealed here on KUMB last weekend.
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Grant: a disappointing day
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 31st August 2010
By: Staff Writer
Avram Grant has admitted that it was a hugely frustrating transfer deadline day as he failed to land any of his major targets. The West Ham United manager reflected on a disappointing day in the transfer market in which he failed to add anyone to his squad bar 31-year-old Danish full back Lars Jacobsen on loan. "It was very, very busy, we tried to do a few things but we didn't succeed so much," he said. "Of course I wanted to have more players here but we are after the deadline and what matters now is the team. "I don't think it's a time to be disappointed or not. This is the squad that we have and it will be a difficult season - but we can do it, we can do the things that we wanted to do before."
Grant - talking to SkySports outside the Chadwell Heath training ground tonight - also revealed that the club were stymied in their attemps to land new players by the banks, who retain ownership of around 40 per cent of the club. "We tried to do many things in the last few days because we are short in the squad - we don't have 25 players - so we tried to do something," he revealed. "But you know we have a problem with the money. Mr Sullivan tried to do his best but we are also connected with the banks who, as far as I know, didn't allow him to do business."
Grant also confirmed that Liverpool had tried to sign Carlton Cole - but that there was simply too little time in which to push through a deal. "There was an offer for him [Carlton] but I know that nothing will be done," he added. "Liverpool were interested in the last moments and they tried to do something - we had to think about it. [Babel] was one of the suggestions."
Whilst on sole signing Jacobsen, he said simply: "We're waiting for confirmation. Once we have confirmation I can speak about this. "
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Grant - Reds wanted Cole
But Hammers received no offer for Parker
Last updated: 31st August 2010
SSN
West Ham boss Avram Grant has confirmed Liverpool showed late deadline day interest in signing striker Carlton Cole. Cole's future at Upton Park has been subject to conjecture since Roy Hodgson took over at Liverpool, with the former Fulham boss a reported admirer of the powerful front man. Reports had circulated that the Reds were lining up a £9million move for the 26-year-old before the transfer window slammed shut, although no switch materialised.
The Hammers squad remains much the same following the close of business at 6pm on Tuesday, despite plenty of speculation surrounding potential additions and outgoings. And Cole nearly became a last-gasp departure from the London club as Liverpool made overtures, using Ryan Babel as bait in return for their striker. Grant told Sky Sports News: "I think Liverpool were interested (in Cole) at the last moment, they tried to do something. "I don't think it was an offer. (Babel) was one of the suggestions to do or not to do."
Midfielder and vice-captain Scott Parker had also been linked with a move away from the club during the summer trading period, although Grant had made clear his desire to keep hold of the 29-year-old. And the Israeli's message seemingly put off Tottenham from trying to lure the player to White Hart Lane after an initial offer was rebuffed, with the manager revealing no further move had been made. The 55-year-old also admitted he is an admirer of Spurs striker Robbie Keane - but did not reveal whether he had tried to recruit the Irishman. Grant added: "Parker? Nothing as far as I know. They know we want Scott Parker. He's very important for us. "This season is difficult but we have a project for the next seasons and Scott is very important. "Robbie Keane is a good striker. Any time he wants to come he is welcome."
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Initial Reactions and Analysis of our Transfer Window Activity
Dazzler1985 - Wed Sep 1 2010
West Ham Online
Transfers in and out:
In:
Piquionne - Undisclosed fee.
Obinna - Loan with an option to buy.
Barrera - £4 mill.
Hitzlsperger - Free.
Reid - Undisclosed fee.
Tal Ben-Haim - Loan with an option to buy.
Jacobsen - Uknown.
Mystery man?
Out:
Mido - Loan ended.
Ilan - Released.
Franco - Released.
Diamanti - €2.2 mill + €300 k if Brescia retain top flight status.
Daprela - Unknown (Part of the SAVIO deal as it will now forever be known. Sorry Carrick, but you're history now).
Jimenez - Loan terminated early.
N'Gala - Released.
Payne - Released.
Davenport - Released.
So we lost three strikers in Franco, Mido and Ilan and only brought in one striker in the shape of Piquionne. Obviously this is not ideal, especially as we still do not have a striker with pace (the last being Bellamy). However, we look set to be operating with Cole/Piquionne as lone strikers, supported by two wide forwards/attacking wingers in the shape of new recruits Barrera and Obinna (plus the surprising form and fitness of Dyer).
Depending on how many goals Barrera, Obinna and Dyer can chip in with to help out Cole and Piquionne (both of whom are profligate in front of goal) then we certainly have to organise defensively because we are not likely to outscore too many of our opponents.
The addition of Obinna and Barrera has provided the squad with two assets that were sorely lacking last season, those being width and pace. Obviously, Diamanti brought goals to the side and was a specialist set piece taker, although during his short time at the club he did struggle with fitness and to adapt to the pace and physical nature of the Premier League.
We also terminated the loan of Jimenez last season as he too failed to settle, adapt and regularly perform (similar can be said for quite a few of the signings the old regime brought in). The arrival of Jimenez and Diamanti, under Zola, was an attempt to provide chances/goals via technical creative players in a very narrow congested formation. The fact such creative technical players are not ten a penny and often go for top prices, it does not surprise me that Avram has decided to opt for pace and width for his chosen method of creating chances/goals. Needless to say, decent players with speed are easier to find and just as effective.
The arrival of Hitzlsperger on a free is arguably the best piece of business Avram/Gold/Sullivan did during this window, although we have been robbed of his services due to a thigh injury picked up in a meaningless preseason international friendly. Hopefully, Hitzlsperger will bring more quality, steel and discipline to our midfield. Plus, with his left peg we may get a few more goals from midfield as well.
Defensively, the club has looked to strengthen. Those who departed were the unfortunate Davenport and (regrettably) Daprela (part of the SAVIO deal. SWT). In their place the club have brought in Tal Ben-Haim, an experienced defender who can perform numerous roles at the back, although he arrives with a rocky recent past and form; plus a strong, young defender who performed well during the WC in Winston Reid. Let's hope these two lumps can provide us with a bit more steel at the back (which shouldn't be too difficult considering how we have performed both last and early this season), rather than more ballast for the bench.
Another plus is the surprise fitness and gradually improving form of Gabbidon to provide competition for places. Also rumoured on the incoming radar is a much needed specialist right back in the shape of Lars Jacobsen. He may not be everyone's cup of tea but let's see how he goes before writing him off as just Blackburn's 3rd/4th/cast off fullback. At the very least we have more competition for a weak position.
As for the mystery man let's hope it is a senior backup keeper.
Last, but not least, are those youngsters that didn't quite make it or to put it another way, are currently unable to make an impact on our first team squad at this stage of their young careers. Good luck to N'Gala and Payne. I look forward to hearing how great they are doing for their new (lower league) clubs, which always seems to happen at the least opportune time. Like hearing they are playing out of their skin/scoring when we can't hit the back of the net no matter what, or are just on the wrong end of a hiding.
However, the transfer dealings may not be finished just yet, with loan signings and free agents still able to be signed, and as not all other transfer windows have closed, there could still be outgoings.
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Cole and Babel miss out on deadline day moves
Published 23:00 31/08/10 By Alan Nixon
The Mirror
Carlton Cole and Ryan Babel missed out on massive £10 million moves yesterday in a double deadline day farce. West Ham's England striker Cole was due to join Liverpool in a stunning deal after the Kop finally made an offer that was acceptable to their struggling rivals. And Dutchman Babel was even flown by helicopter to London to speak to either West Ham about a swap or Tottenham about a £10 million sale. But Hammers pulled the plug on the Cole sale and Liverpool called off the Babel move to either West Ham or Spurs with an hour to go before the 6pm cut-off point to leave two clubs, three managers and three clubs in despair.
Cole had been put on red alert to move to Anfield while he was with the England camp. But arguments about the fee and meddling by agents held up the transfer. Boss Roy Hodgson has wanted Cole for some time - as Mirror Sport revealed - and he was willing to let Babel go to finance the move and make space for him in his squad.
Babel was given the all-clear to leave Liverpool at lunchtime when Tottenham made their cash offer for him, but by the time he was airborne he also had the chance to head for West Ham on loan. The Dutchman weighed up the choice between fighting for a place in the Spurs side - with all of the competition Harry Redknapp has when they are fit - or join the struggling Hammers. Babel was tempted by the glamour of Spurs and the challenge of the Champions League, but was also interested by the chance to play every week for Avram Grant's team - and put himself in the shop window.
Liverpool's decision to let him go despite his brief scoring appearance in the Europa League qualifier against Trabzonspor made sure that he took off and looked for a new home. However as Babel landed in London he was told he could not go to either club because Liverpool had failed to push through the deal and he chose to head back by train at the end of a crazy day. Now Cole knows West Ham were willing to sell him, Babel is also aware that his Liverpool days are numbered - while wheeler-dealer Harry Redknapp missed out too.
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West Ham sign Jacobsen, after missing out on Chimbonda
Published 23:00 31/08/10 By Football Spy
The Mirror
West Ham are signing Blackburn's Danish right-back Lars Jacobsen. Avram Grant agreed a nominal fee for Jacobsen, 30, after being priced out of a move for his Rovers team-mate Pascal Chimbonda, 31. Chimbonda spent the afternoon in London but the Hammers refused to pay £500,000 for him.
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Blackburn's Jacobsen set to join West Ham
01.09.10 | Andrew Slevison
Blackburn Rovers right-back Lars Jacobsen is set to join West Ham United. Reports suggest that Hammers boss Avram Grant agreed a fee with the Rovers and now the East London club has to wait and see if the deal can through after the transfer deadline. The paperwork was reportedly put through two minutes prior to the 6pm deadline and West Ham are now waiting for the Premier League to action the move. The deal is believed to be a loan with the option of becoming permanent if he does well enough at Upton Park. West Ham were keen on Jacobsen's teammate Pascal Chimbonda but the asking price was too much so they instead settled for the Dane.
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West Ham boss Grant: Never chance of Parker leaving
01.09.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Avram Grant was happy to see the transfer window close with Scott Parker still on the books. Spurs were being linked with Parker right through to yesterday's deadline day. Grant said: "Parker? Nothing as far as I know. They know we want Scott Parker. He's very important for us. This season is difficult but we have a project for the next seasons and Scott is very important
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West Ham boss Grant: I would love Spurs striker Keane here
01.09.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Avram Grant admits he'd love to sign Tottenham striker Robbie Keane. Keane, for the moment, is staying at White Hart Lane, but things could change in January if West Ham are more confident about their finances. Grant said: "Robbie Keane is a good striker. Any time he wants to come he is welcome."
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