WHUFC.com
The Chairman David Gold has given a statement in relation to Saturday's
match at Birmingham City
05.11.2010
West Ham United Chairman David Gold has issued the following statement:
"I was looking forward to attending the game at Birmingham City FC, seeing
old friends and was more than happy to put my personal differences aside for
the day and shake hands with Peter Pannu and the rest of the Birmingham
board. "I am therefore extremely disappointed that the club has decide to
withdraw their offer to invite me to St. Andrew's. Despite this, I look
forward to welcoming each member of the Birmingham City board to Upton Park
when they visit us in February for the return fixture. I do not want this
matter to overshadow or distract from what is a vital game for West Ham
United, and as such I will not be making any further comments at this moment
in time."
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Avram on Friday
WHUFC.com
The manager has given his thoughts on the squad before they headed up to
Birmingham
05.11.2010
The manager lamented the loss of Mark Noble as he looked ahead to the
Birmingham City awayday on Saturday, and also said he was not worried about
the club's failure to win on the road since the first day of the last
Barclays Premier League season.
Avram on the owners' support…
"When people say bad things you ask me if I am worried and when people say
nice things you ask me if I am worried too. I am concentrating on my job, I
need to do my job. We share the same vision for the club and, as clubs like
Arsenal show, you need to stick in the vision of the club in the good days
and in the bad days. Today I cannot tell you that we are happy about being
at the bottom of the league but this is only temporary.
Avram on the morale this week after losing out at Arsenal…
"You can see negative and positive things. If you saw the atmosphere in the
dressing room after the match, everyone was very disappointed but the spirit
was great. As a manager sometimes it's easier after a game like the one
against Aston Villa that we didn't play well and lost.
"It was the only game that we didn't play well during some part of the game
and the score was 3-0. It's not so good but is easier to analyse.
"A game like last week we can take a lot of positive things, the spirit was
great, and I think everybody was expecting us to lose. They were in a very
good shape. We needed to be a little bit more lucky, but it belongs to the
past. We have to take all the positive things that have happened in the last
two months and go forward.
Avram on 23 matches without winning away…
"It's difficult to play not only against the opponents but also against the
statistics, but statistics are just statistics. But one of the things that
we have to do is to take it as challenge and we are doing that. I am sure
that we will win away games, I hope that happen at Birmingham and we will do
everything for that. But Birmingham are a very good team and they are very
good when they play at home. But this is football, so we need to think
positive and anything can happen.
Avram on good time to play Birmingham...?
"I never know when it is a good time. I can tell you after the game if this
is a good time to play against them! Everyone was saying that this was worst
time to play against Arsenal in the last five years so you never know if it
is a good time or a bad time. Birmingham are a good team, they are playing
like a team. They have been playing together for a long time, you can see it
on the pitch. They know what they want, so it will be difficult for us but
also for them.
Avram on Mark Noble being out after his appendix operation…
"He has played very well and is a player that is easy to develop. Every game
he has got better and better. He was in a good shape and in a good spirit. I
like him as a person as well and of course we will miss him because he was
one of my best players in the last two months. But this is a fact and we
cannot fight against this, so we will play with other players that will give
their best for the team. "Kieron is back from injuries and when he was fit
to play this season he played very well so we want to use him.
Avram on Matthew Upson being in the last year of his contract…
"For me what matters is if he is doing his job or not. Except in the
beginning, he has been doing is job well in the last games that he played.
Unfortunately he has been injured lately but what matters is if he is doing
is job. The other things are normal, there are always negotiations between
players and clubs, but I hope everything will be OK.
Avram on the lack of goals…
"We came here also to take points and to take this club forward. In the
beginning of the season in the first four games we conceded three goals
every game so we tried to improve that. Then we didn't score even one goal,
now we scored three against Stoke for the Carling Cup.
"We want also to improve in these things and make some balance between
defence and attack. If you see we are playing every game with attacking
players that can score.
"The team is improving in the last two months. If you leave aside the match
against Arsenal, we lost a match against Newcastle where we played very well
in the beginning and not so good in the end. So we are trying to be more
consistent. It is strange because we are at the bottom of the league but by
the football side we are improving all the time.
Avram on the next three matches…
"I don't know if it's critical and it is very important for the season
because we need to take some points and we have three games in one week but
you need to take it one game at a time."
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Birmingham City preview
WHUFC.com
All the early team news and background for Saturday's contest at St. Andrews
05.11.2010
BIRMINGHAM CITY v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2010
KICK-OFF: 3PM
Introduction
• West Ham United travel to the Midlands looking to build on last week's
impressive display at Arsenal - but this time by taking all three points as
well. The Hammers have not won away in the Barclays Premier League since the
first day of last season.
• This is the 83rd league meeting between the two sides. West Ham have won
27 and drawn 18 of the previous 81 contests.
• West Ham's best showing at Birmingham, was a 5-1 top-flight win on 1
November 1975. Birmingham's best home performance was a 4-0 triumph on 18
November 1961.
• West Ham lost 1-0 at St Andrews last season, with Lee Bowyer getting the
only goal against his former club on 12 December 2009.
• Before that defeat, West Ham United had not lost in their previous five
home and away meetings with Birmingham, all of which came in the top flight.
• Prior to last season, the Hammers previous defeat at St Andrews came on
the opening day of the memorable 1985/86 season on 17 August 1985. John
Lyall's team lost 1-0 but went on to finish in third place that season -
still the club's best league showing.
• Since 1985, the club has won five and drawn one of their seven road trips
to Birmingham.
• Freddie Piquionne scored both goals for Avram Grant's Portsmouth last
season as they won 2-0 at home in the FA Cup against the Blues on 6 March
2010. That came three days before Piquionne and Grant were 2-1 losers in a
Barclays Premier League encounter between the same clubs, also played at
Fratton Park.
Team news
West Ham United
• Manager Avram Grant is without Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh), Zavon Hines
(knee) and Jack Collison (knee). The latter two are entering the final
stages of their rehabilitation and are hoping to return around the turn of
the year, Hitzlsperger has a February comeback date having had surgery on
his torn muscle.
• Mark Noble will be out for around a month after having his appendix
removed on Monday night. Tal Ben Haim is also sidelined with a foot injury
while Junior Stanislas is battling to overcome a groin problem.
• Robert Green and Scott Parker will both hope to maintain their
ever-present records this season in the Barclays Premier League. Green is on
a run of 136 consecutive league starts for the club and made his 150th
league appearance for West Ham at the Emirates.
• Matthew Upson could return to the starting lineup after missing the
Arsenal game with a minor hamstring injury in the defeat by Newcastle United
a fortnight ago.
• Julien Faubert begins a three-match suspension for his red card in the
reserves at Arsenal last month.
Birmingham City
• Birmingham will again be without Garry O'Connor, with the striker set to
be loaned to Barnsley as he continues his comeback from groin problems.
• James McFadden is the only other injury, with the Scotland attacker's knee
ligament injury set to keep him out until February.
Last time out
West Ham United
• West Ham United came up short at Arsenal - but were desperately unlucky.
Robert Green turned in an inspirational performance in goal only to be
beaten by an 88nd-minute Alex Song goal.
30 October 2010
Barclays Premier League
Arsenal 1-0 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, Gabbidon, Jacobsen, Ilunga, Da Costa, Parker, Noble,
Behrami (Barrera 89), Boa Morte, Piquionne (Cole 73), Obinna (Faubert 87)
Subs not used: Stech, Kovac, Reid, Tomkins
Birmingham City
• Birmingham were dogged in defence in a gritty Midlands derby last Sunday,
with Roger Johnson earning man of the match plaudits for his rearguard role.
Alex McLeish's men also had a strong claim for a penalty turned down with
Nigel Reo-Coker's apparent handball.
31 October 2010
Barclays Premier League
Birmingham City 0-0 Aston Villa
Birmingham City: Foster, Ridgewell, Carr, Dann, Johnson, Fahey, Larsson,
Ferguson, Gardner, Hleb (Jerome 72), Zigic
Subs not used: Taylor, Madera, Bowyer, Phillips, Beausejour, Parnaby
Last meeting
West Ham United were 2-0 winners against Birmingham in a tense midweek
encounter back on 10 February 2010, with Alessandro Diamanti's free-kick on
the stroke of half-time easing the Hammers' relegation nerves. Carlton Cole
added a second on 67 minutes to wrap up the win.
West Ham United: Green, Upson, Ilunga (Spector 45), Tomkins, Parker (Noble
86), Kovac, Behrami, Faubert, Cole, Diamanti, Mido (Ilan 66)
Subs not used: Stech, Da Costa, Collison, Stanislas
Birmingham City: Hart, Ridgewell, Carr, Dann, Gardner, Johnson, Bowyer
(Madera 77), Fahey (McFadden 67), Ferguson, Jerome, Phillips
Subs not used: Taylor, Larsson, Vignal, Parnaby, Jervis
Head to head
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
10 February 2010 - West Ham United 2-0 Birmingham City
12 December 2009 - Birmingham City 1-0 West Ham United
9 February 2008 - West Ham United 1-1 Birmingham City
18 August 2007 - Birmingham City 0-1 West Ham United
13 February 2006 - West Ham United 3-0 Birmingham City
05 December 2005 - Birmingham City 1-2 West Ham United
Overall record v Birmingham City (all competitions) W 31 D 19 L 38
Ten-year league records
West Ham United
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via
play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
2000/01 Premier League 15th (42 points)
Birmingham City
2009/10 Premier League 9th (50 points)
2008/09 Championship 2nd (83 points - promoted to Premier League)
2007/08 Premier League 19th (35 points - relegated to Championship)
2006/07 Championship 2nd (86 points - promoted to Premier League)
2005/06 Premier League 18th (34 points - relegated to Championship)
2004/05 Premier League 12th (45 points)
2003/04 Premier League 10th (50 points)
2002/03 Premier League 13th (48 points)
2001/02 Championship 5th (76 points - promoted to Premier League via
play-offs)
2000/01 Championship 5th (78 points)
Background
West Ham United
• Scott Parker is West Ham's leading scorer this season with four goals -
the No8 has scored twice each in the Barclays Premier League and the Carling
Cup. Frederic Piquionne and Mark Noble have also netted twice in the Premier
League, with the Frenchman adding a third goal in the Carling Cup
third-round win at Sunderland.
• Danny Gabbidon's yellow card against Fulham on 2 October was the quickest
caution given to a top-flight player this season. It came after just one
minute and 25 seconds.
• It is eleven matches since the Hammers scored more than once in a Barclays
Premier League contest - the longest run in the top-flight. It is 22 games
since the Hammers won by more than one goal.
Birmingham
• Ben Foster has kept four clean sheets this season, in joint-second place
among top-flight goalkeepers behind Petr Cech on seven.
• Cameron Jerome has been caught offside 14 times this season, no other
Premier League player has been flagged more this campaign.
• Birmingham have conceded four penalties this season, the most of the 20
top-flight teams.
• Stephen Carr is one match away from 350 Premier League appearances.
• Craig Gardner is Blues' top scorer with four goals, three of which have
come in the Premier League.
Referee
• Saturday's referee is Michael Oliver, who will be taking charge of his
fifth top-flight match this season. His first was Birmingham's 2-1 home win
against Blackburn Rovers on 21 August.
• He has not refereed a West Ham fixture since the 3-0 win against Barnsley
in the FA Cup third round on 3 January 2009. Herita Ilunga, Mark Noble and
Carlton Cole were all on target
Old boys
• Matthew Upson played 128 games for the Midlands side during a four-year
stay from 2003 to 2007 before joining the Hammers. The former Birmingham
captain scored five goals during his time at St. Andrews.
• Lee Bowyer made 60 appearances for West Ham United in two spells. The
first saw him play eleven games in a six-month spell before a move to
Newcastle United in 2003. The midfielder returned to the Boleyn Ground in
2006 for a three-year stay, which saw him play 49 times, scoring five goals.
• Liam Ridgewell started off life in the West Ham United Academy before
moving to Aston Villa in February 2001.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Alan
Curbishley, Jimmy Bloomfield, Kenny J Brown, Julian Dicks, Eamonn Dolan,
Harry Hooper, David Kelly, Stan Lazaridis, Mike Newell and Sam Small.
Next up
• Avram Grant's side welcome West Bromwich Albion to the Boleyn Ground on
Wednesday 10 November for the first of two home matches in four days - with
fellow top-flight newcomers Blackpool arriving in east London on Saturday.
• Birmingham head back on the road for their Tuesday trip to Stoke City in
the Barclays Premier League before going to Manchester City next Saturday.
Travel information
• For directions to the Boleyn Ground, click here.
General information
• For ticket information, click here
• The weather forecast for Saturday in Birmingham is for an overcast
afternoon, with rain likely by kick-off. Temperatures will peak around the
11C mark.
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Carlton faces the fans
WHUFC.com
The latest fans forum at the Boleyn Ground was a big hit, with the club's
No9 taking lots away
05.11.2010
Carlton Cole has personally pledged to supporters that he will celebrate if
he gets on the score-sheet during a run of three major matches over the
coming eight days. The England striker is one of the most committed players
when it comes to backing off-field events at the club and his latest
appearance was to take part in a disabled fans forum at the Boleyn Ground on
Thursday night, along with team-mate Danny Gabbidon and Chairman David Gold.
Having trained all day at Chadwell Heath, the popular players then spoke in
front of around 40 supporters and took part in a special Q and A - with Cole
as ever happy to answer each and every one of the supporters' queries,
including several direct ones about his form and fitness. "They gave me some
hard questions to answer," he told WHUTV, about a speaking session that
rivalled any press conference he might get around a Barclays Premier League
game.
"That is what it is all about. I tried to answer them as honestly as I can.
I know what is going on, on and off the field, so it is good to give them an
insight. They are very appreciative. "It is very important to come to these
events. It brightened up my day to come here and see the fans. Our fans are
special, they understand what is going on and they want to see me do well.
Hopefully I can provide for them on the pitch and we can put a few more
points on the table. That is what we need. Everyone needs to pull together
in the same direction."
While there were many happy faces as the duo posed for pictures and signed
countless autographs, the No9 revealed he gets just as much out of such
nights as those coming along to watch. "I take a lot away. It is a nice
feeling to know when I go out on that pitch that I need to work doubly hard
because if I don't I will be letting down the fans that have been supporting
me all these years now. "I want to go and score a goal for them. I have been
criticised tonight for not celebrating my last goal [against Newcastle
United]. But that was a lot of frustration inside me [after not scoring
before]! This time if I do score any time soon I will be celebrating. "We
need to make the fans happy. It is a massive chance for us over the next
eight days. Hopefully we will get the right result at Birmingham on Saturday
and West Brom in midweek. We can turn it around with one or two wins on the
bounce."
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Birmingham ban David Gold from St Andrew's over claim
BBC.co.uk
Birmingham have barred former owner David Gold from St Andrew's for
Saturday's Premier League game at home to his new club West Ham. The move
comes after Gold alleged Blues withdrew an offer for him to stay as chairman
after he sold them - claims the club says are "false and untrue". Gold and
David Sullivan sold Birmingham just over a year ago to a team led by Hong
Kong businessman Carson Yeung. Gold told the Daily Telegraph Yeung had
offered to make him honorary chairman. But Birmingham's acting chairman,
Peter Pannu, said it would have made "absolutely no sense" to offer Gold the
role.
A Birmingham statement said Gold was "offered an opportunity to remain as
vice-president [non-executive] upon his request, which he refused. All the
current allegations are false and untrue and the club will keep all options
open". Blues initially said Gold had been barred from visiting the
directors' box and boardroom at St Andrew's, and later confirmed the ban
extended to the rest of the stadium. Gold said he was saddened by
Birmingham's decision, but would not respond with a similar ban when the two
teams meet again in the Premier League on 5 February. "I was looking forward
to attending the game at Birmingham City, seeing old friends and was more
than happy to put my personal differences aside for the day and shake hands
with Peter Pannu and the rest of the Birmingham board," he said in a
statement. "Despite this, I look forward to welcoming each member of the
Birmingham City board to Upton Park when they visit us in February for the
return fixture. "I do not want this matter to overshadow or distract from
what is a vital game for West Ham United."
Gold and Sullivan bought West Ham in January and return to St Andrew's on
Saturday with their new team for the first time since Yeung's £81.5m
takeover of Birmingham. West Ham are bottom of the Premier League, three
points adrift of Wolves and Blackburn, and five behind Birmingham.
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Birmingham v West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Barclays Premier League
Venue: St Andrew's Date: Saturday, 6 November Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Watch highlights on Match of the Day; listen on BBC Radio 5 live
and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles
TEAM NEWS
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish may recall fit-again striker Cameron Jerome,
who returned to the bench at Aston Villa. Blues will give a late fitness
test to centre-back Roger Johnson, who injured his ankle in the goalless
draw at Villa Park.
West Ham hope that Matthew Upson will return from a hamstring problem.
Fellow defender Manuel da Costa should play despite hurting his ankle at
Arsenal, but midfielder Mark Noble is out after having his appendix removed.
Birmingham
Doubtful: Johnson (ankle)
Injured: McFadden (knee)
West Ham
Suspended: Faubert (three matches)
Doubtful: Da Costa (ankle), Upson (hamstring)
Injured: Ben Haim (foot), Collison, Hines & Kurucz (all knee), Hitzlsperger
(thigh), Noble (appendix)
MATCH PREVIEW
The last time West Ham dropped out of the top flight, in 2003, their fate
was sealed by a final-day draw at Birmingham. The spectre of relegation
again looms large for the Premier League's bottom side, now run by Blues'
former owners. David Sullivan and David Gold return to St Andrew's for the
first time on Saturday, with the latter unsure what reaction they will
receive from home fans. Gold this week reignited his feud with Blues
vice-chairman Peter Pannu, branding him "disgusting". Gold, who claims the
current owners reneged on a promise to make him honorary chairman, has been
barred from watching Saturday's game in the directors' box.
We are not in a good situation in the league, but we are in a good situation
with our performances so we need to take more points like we deserve
West Ham boss Avram Grant West Ham manager Avram Grant is refusing to panic
despite his team's lowly position, insisting performances have been better
than results would suggest. However, if the Hammers lose on Saturday they
will have fewer points than Grant's Portsmouth side did at this stage last
season.
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish says last weekend's display at Aston Villa
proves they have moved "much closer" to their local rivals, who had won the
previous six meetings. Blues begin two points above the relegation zone, but
they have impressed in the three league games since losing to Everton, a
result which ended their year-long unbeaten home record. Narrowly beaten at
Arsenal, they comfortably saw off Blackpool before holding Villa. Saturday's
match will be refereed by 25-year-old official Michael Oliver, who sent off
two West Brom players against Blackpool on Monday in the opening half hour.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• The Hammers have lost only one of their last seven games against Blues,
winning four of those matches.
• The 1-0 defeat at St Andrew's last season is West Ham's only defeat away
to Birmingham in 25 years.
Birmingham
• Blues have only scored four times in their last seven league matches.
• City have won only three of their last 20 top-flight games.
• Defeat would be Blues' 100th loss in the Premier League.
West Ham
• The Hammers have been saved by the woodwork 11 times this season, more
than any other top-flight side, according to Opta.
• Avram Grant's side have kept only one clean sheet in 10 league games. That
came in the 1-0 win against Tottenham in September.
• They have netted only seven Premier League goals this season, the joint
lowest tally in the top flight along with Wigan.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Birmingham
Gardner: 4 goals (3 league); Zigic: 3 goals (2 league)
West Ham
Parker: 4 goals (2 league); Piquionne: 3 goals (2 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistant referees: Stuart Burt & Patrick Keane
Fourth official: Lee Probert
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Birmingham (D0-0 v Aston Villa, a): Foster, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell,
Larsson, Gardner, Ferguson, Fahey, Hleb (Jerome 71), Zigic. Subs not used:
Taylor, Bowyer, Phillips, Michel, Parnaby, Beausejour.
West Ham (L0-1 v Arsenal, a): Green, Jacobsen, da Costa, Gabbidon, Ilunga,
Parker, Behrami (Barrera 90), Noble, Boa Morte, Obinna (Faubert 87),
Piquionne (Cole 73).Subs not used: Stech, Reid, Tomkins, Kovac.
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Birmingham City v West Ham United - Match Preview
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 5th November 2010
By: Preview Percy
BBC journalists have been out on strike today. We were hoping that Preview
Percy was going to join them even though he doesn't work for the BBC. We
were disappointed. Again......
Next we have a trip to the West Midlands we visit Birmingham City for a
travel-friendly 3pm Saturday kick-off.
Our hosts currently sit in 14th place, six places and five points above
ourselves. Their current form over the past six matches has been similar to
ours – won 1 drawn 2 and lost 3 (as opposed to our own won 1 drawn 3 and
lost 2). The win came courtesy of a 2-0 home win over Blackpool (who we meet
next week). The two draws were both goalless – against Liverpool at home and
away at Villa last weekend. The defeats came away at Arsenal and West Brom
and at home to Everton. In amongst all that they, again like ourselves,
qualified for the quarter-finals of the League Cup, though they were mighty
close to going out at the hands of Brentford. A stoppage-time Kevin Phillips
(bong) equaliser levelled the scores at 1-1 and, after an unproductive extra
30 minutes, the Blues finally prevailed 4-3 on penalties. They are at home
to their good friends from up the road at Villa in the next round.
The back four ought to know each other fairly well. Messrs Carr, Johnson,
Dann and former Hammer's trainee Ridgewell have started every league match
this season, lining up in front of another league ever-present in the form
of 'keeper Ben Foster. This may well be unique in the Premier League so far
this season – however, if you think I'm going through every club's line-ups
for the season to verify that you are very much mistaken. Johnson is listed
on the usual injury lists as a "slight doubt" for the match with an ankle
injury but given the settled line-up thus far it'd take something serious
for him to miss this one.
Whilst the back four has been a constant so far this term, boss Alex McLeish
has tinkered with the more forward positions. Against Villa last week they
employed a 4-4-1-1 which had Alexander Hleb playing behind Nikola Zigic.
Zigic is of course one of the few people who can call Peter Crouch "shorty"
towering as he does a whole centimetre (whatever that is) above the lanky
spud. However they played with Gary O'Connor up alongside Zigic in the
previous league match at home to Blackpool. However O'Connor may not be
available for selection this weekend. Barnsley took the striker on loan for
a spell back in September and have had talks this week with a view to taking
him back for another loan period. O'Connor may well be the only player of
that name ever to have turned out for Lokomotiv Moscow (I lost track of
Des's playing career once he left Northampton Town). Cameron Jerome has been
another forward option – he last started in the 2-0 defeat at home to
Everton.
Also on the books is Matt Derbyshire. I recall he looked highly promising as
a youngster with Blackburn. However, his career seemed to fade and, from
being an integral part of the England U21 set-up, he seemed to disappear off
the radar. In a bizarre turn of events to rival O'Connor's 16 month sojourn
to Moscow (that's Gary not Des), Derbyshire ended up on loan to Olympiakos,
the deal finally being made permanent in June 2009. The deal was signed a
month after he won the MOTM award in the Greek Cup Final in which he scored
twice in a 3-3 AET draw. His second of the game came as a bit of a surprise
to him. You'd think that if you equalise with the last touch of the game in
a Cup final you'd remember it. Unfortunately for Derbyshire he'd picked up a
bang on the head and the concussion meant that he only realised that he'd
scored when the crowd cheered. Olympiakos went on to win the shoot-out
15-14, so a nice relaxing time for the fans at that one then. Derbyshire is
currently on loan from the bubbles for the season, with a view to a
permanent deal at the end of the loan. He's been used mainly from the bench
thus far.
Apart from Ridgewell, whose Irons career was over before most of us had
realised he was ever on the books, the other ex-Hammer at St Andrews is Lee
Bowyer. Bowyer joined Birmingham in January 2009 on loan, the deal becoming
permanent on the expiry of his Irons' contract at the end of that season.
This was despite a vociferous campaign by some of the Blues support four
years previously in which a petition was raised demanding that the club
abandon all plans to sign the player as a result of his somewhat "colourful"
past.
Assuming that he reappears from wherever he has been hiding for the past few
weeks, Kieron Dyer will be meeting up with Bowyer with whom he had a "frank
exchange of views" when the players were at Newcastle. This turned out to be
a full-scale scrap that saw both players red carded and banned for three
matches. Bowyer, as the perceived instigator, also copped a £30k fine plus
another three matches from the FA plus another £600 fine and £1,000 in costs
courtesy of charges brought by Northumbria Police over the incident. Dyer
escaped further punishment – the FA were considering a further ban but,
let's face it, if you give Dyer a ban who is going to notice?
Of course off the pitch there will also be a number of renewed, well
friendships is probably not the word. I'm sure the welcome mat will be
rolled out for SuBra when they arrive – their departure having been
conducted on the most cordial of terms and all those abandoned law suits
merely that result of some silly misunderstanding. However, Gold has been
declared persona non grata over claims that Birmingham went back on a deal
to offer him some sort of honorary role at the club Or because he rejected
some sort of honorary role with a different title. Or something. It's all a
bit petty really and I'm sure you care about as much as I do.
Back on the pitch, in defence Matthew Upson is set to return from his
hamstring problem to face his old club, in which case I'd expect Ilunga to
be the one to drop out, with Gabbidon reverting to left back to accommodate
the returning skipper. Faubert, who was much reviled for his part in the
late goal at the library last week, will not be available as he starts a 3
match ban following a sending-off in a reserve match a few weeks back.
The big absence in midfield will be that of Mark Noble who is currently
recovering from having his appendix out – an injury that appears to be
lacking on Kieron Dyer's CV (give it time). Dyer is in contention for a
return to the squad. Other than the only other absentees seem to be the
usual long-term suspects (though there is plenty of time for late training
ground disasters to change that).
Last week's defeat showed that (one defensive lapse apart) we can keep a
tight ship. However, it's now getting to the stage where results will start
to become paramount. Noble's absence – coming as it does as he was having a
fine season – will be the big worry and it'll be interesting to see how
Grant shuffles the pack in the midfield with Dyer, Behrami, Boa Morte and
Kovac all in line to join Parker in the midfield. I'd hope for a return to
the Piquionne/Obinna partnership up front.
Prediction? Well there was much from which to take heart last week and I
genuinely reckon that we can come away from the Midlands with 3 points. So
I'll go for 2-1 – a score which, because of goal difference, may not
actually be enough to see us get off the bottom but, if other results are
favourable, it'll make things very cosy!
Enjoy the game!
Last season: Lost 0-1 - An eventful match. Diamanti went close a few times,
ripping his own shirt off in frustration at one particular miss. Noble got a
soft red, picking up two yellows for minor indiscretions. Bowyer got the
winner but didn't celebrate. Apart from that, not much happened.
Danger man: Nikola Zigic – not all players that tall can be as bad as Peter
Crouch.
Referee: Michael Oliver – The youngest Premier League referee, this is his
first term on the so-called "Select Group". Hopefully he is young enough for
the traditional curse (that all referees called "Mike" are useless) not to
have taken hold.
Daft fact of the week: - St Andrews is the only Premier League ground to
have staged the Open Golf Championship. In fact matches are often halted to
allow caddies to remove the corner flags whilst players sink putts. I
expect.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Birmingham v West Ham preview
Gold and Sullivan provide subplot to crunch clash at St Andrews
Last updated: 5th November 2010
SSN
PREDICTIONS:
Skysports.com prediction: 1-1
MATCH FACTS
City have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four Premier League
matches at St Andrews, but have also failed to score in the same number -
Birmingham 0-0 West Ham correct score is 8/1 - BET NOW
Birmingham have conceded the highest proportion of their goals from set
pieces in the Premier League this season (58%) - Matthew Upson is 40/1 to
score the first goal - BET NOW
West Ham have not won an away game in the Premier League since the opening
game of last season - Birmingham are 17/2 to win by three or more goals -
BET NOW
One to Watch: Nikola Zigic
There promises to be an electric atmosphere at Birmingham on Saturday as
their former owners return to St Andrews with current charges West Ham.
David Sullivan and David Gold spent 16 years at the Blues' helm, before
buying into their boyhood heroes in January of this year. They have always
defended their reign at St Andrews, which saw Birmingham yo-yo between the
top tiers, but they struggled to win over the fans and can expect a frosty
reception this weekend when they take their seats in the stands. The
presence of Gold and Sullivan adds an intriguing subplot to what is already
shaping up to be a crunch clash for both sides. Birmingham have won just one
of their last eight Premier League fixtures, and only two all season, to
slip into trouble and now sit two points above the drop zone. They have been
able to keep a clean sheet in three of their last four fixtures on home
soil, but have also failed to find the target in the same number of games.
Their recent record against the Hammers will also concern Alex McLeish, with
the Bluestaking only one victory from their last seven top flight meetings
with the capital club. West Ham will be desperate to keep the Blues at bay
again this weekend, as they find themselves three points adrift at the foot
of the table. They have taken just six points from their 10 games so far and
that return represents their lowest-ever at this stage of a Premier League
campaign.
Avram Grant has been assured that he will be given time to turn things
around, but he knows he needs results to improve dramatically if he is to
steer clear of trouble. Worryingly for the Hammers and their beleaguered
coach, they have failed to win on the road in the league since overcoming
Wolves on the opening day of last season.
Team news
Birmingham will give a late fitness test to central defender Roger Johnson
ahead of the weekend encounter. The former Cardiff player suffered an ankle
injury during last weekend's goalless draw at Aston Villa and has been
unable to train all week. If Johnson is ruled out, Martin Jiranek is the
obvious candidate to replace him providing he shakes off a thigh strain. If
Jiranek is also unfit, Liam Ridgewell would probably switch from left-back
with Stuart Parnaby replacing him on the flank.
West Ham will be without talismanic midfielder Mark Noble for about a month
as he underwent appendix surgery on Monday. Matthew Upson is a slight doubt
with a hamstring complaint, but is expected to play, while Julien Faubert
misses out through suspension. Thomas Hitzlsperger is still a few months
away from a return after picking up a thigh injury and Zavon Hines, Jack
Collison and Peter Kurucz remain sidelined with knee problems.
Possible starting XIs
Birmingham: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson,
Gardner, Fahey, Hleb, Zigic.
West Ham: Green, Jacobsen, Gabbidon, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker, Kovac,
Obinna, Cole, Piquionne.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Birmingham ban Gold
Pannu refuses to be drawn into 'a war of words'
Last updated: 5th November 2010
SSN
Birmingham have banned West Ham chairman David Gold from the St Andrews
directors box and boardroom area in a new twist to the quarrel between the
two parties. The move comes in response to quotes credited to Gold in Friday
morning newspapers where he described Birmingham acting chairman Peter Pannu
as 'disgusting'. Gold's apparent outburst was his latest in claiming that,
having sold the Blues with business partner David Sullivan to Carson Yeung
in 2009, he was offered an honorary role to stay at the club. It is then
alleged by the 73-year-old that the invite to stay at Birmingham was
withdrawn in a 'degrading' act because Pannu insinuated in an article that
he was too old.
False and untrue
Birmingham have denied all such allegations and have written to West Ham to
inform the club of what is essentially a banning order for Gold ahead of
Saturday's Premier League match in the Midlands. A statement on Birmingham's
official website read: "Blues acting chairman Peter Pannu, whilst refusing
to be drawn into a war of words with the previous owners, wishes to clarify
that Carson Yeung and Co had never offered David Gold to remain behind as
'Chairman', which would have made absolutely no sense. "He was offered an
opportunity to remain as vice president (non-executive) upon his request,
which he refused. "All the current allegations are false and untrue and the
club will keep all options open."
Security issues
A copy of the letter sent to Hammers secretary Liz Coley on behalf of the
Blues board has been printed in the Birmingham Mail. It states that due to
the Gold's "inflammatory comments" the board "has taken the decision to
withdraw Mr Gold's personal invitation to our fixture tomorrow and he will
therefore not be permitted to enter the directors seating or boardroom
area'.
The letter continued: "The board feel that they are left with no other
option but to withdraw Mr Gold's invitation due to the above and that this
is the appropriate action to take, in addition the board are also mindful of
potential security issues for Mr Gold and a possible adverse reaction that
may arise from the Birmingham supporters as a result of the comments made.
"Furthermore, as our president (Yeung) will also be flying in for the game,
the board felt that a harmonious boardroom environment should not be
affected as we all want a good atmosphere on the day and a good game of
football."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold replies to Blues ban
Hammers chairman 'disappointed' with St Andrews snub
Last updated: 5th November 2010
SSN
David Gold has responded to his Birmingham ban by promising to welcome all
members of the Blues board to Upton Park when the teams next meet.
Birmingham have banned the West Ham chairman from the St Andrews directors
box and boardroom for Saturday's Premier League visit of the Hammers.
The move was the latest twist in the ongoing quarrel between the two parties
following Gold's alleged comments in Friday's newspapers about the club he
was in charge of for 16 years along with David Sullivan. Gold described
current City vice-chairman Peter Pannu as "disgusting", according to
reports.
Gold claimed that he was denied the chance to remain as chairman of
Birmingham by Pannu after he and Sullivan sold the midlands club to Carson
Yeung for £8.5million. Pannu has been adamant Gold was never guaranteed such
a role and he later rejected the chance to be a vice-president. The Hammers
chairman admits he is disappointed with the ban, but insists he will welcome
the Birmingham board for the return game in February.
Disappointed
Gold told West Ham's official website: "I was looking forward to attending
the game at Birmingham City FC, seeing old friends and was more than happy
to put my personal differences aside for the day and shake hands with Peter
Pannu and the rest of the Birmingham board. "I am therefore extremely
disappointed that the club has decide to withdraw their offer to invite me
to St Andrew's. "Despite this, I look forward to welcoming each member of
the Birmingham City board to Upton Park when they visit us in February for
the return fixture. "I do not want this matter to overshadow or distract
from what is a vital game for West Ham United, and as such I will not be
making any further comments at this moment in time."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Grant has Hammers vision
Hammers boss believes club need stability
Last updated: 5th November 2010
SSN
West Ham manager Avram Grant is happy to share the same vision as the club's
owners as he looks to take the Hammers up the Premier League table.
The Israeli admits although he is unhappy with the current situation the
East London club are in, he has the backing of owner David Gold. The former
Chelsea and Portsmouth boss takes his side to Birmingham on Saturday with
three points on his mind. Grant believes the Hammers need to try and
replicate the stability of Arsenal, who have had the same manager for 14
years, if they are to succeed. "When people say bad things you ask me if I
am worried and when people say nice things you ask me if I am worried too,"
he said. "I am concentrating on my job, I need to do my job. We (him and the
owners) share the same vision for the club and, as clubs like Arsenal show,
you need to stick in the vision of the club in the good days and in the bad
days.
"I cannot tell you we are happy about being at the bottom of the league but
this is only temporary."
Positive
West Ham have failed to win away from home in their last 23 league games but
Grant is confident his players can return to London with a positive result.
"It's difficult to play not only against the opponents but also against the
statistics," he said. "But statistics are just statistics. "One of the
things we have to do is take it as a challenge and we are doing that. I am
sure that we will win away games. I hope that happens at Birmingham and we
will do everything for that. "But Birmingham are a very good team and they
are very good when they play at home. But this is football, so we need to
think positive and anything can happen."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bubble not burst for Grant
The Sun
Published: 05 Nov 2010
WEST HAM boss Avram Grant is confident the Premier League's bottom club will
win the numbers game. The Irons haven't won any of their last 23 away
matches in the league and are three points adrift at the bottom of the
table. That form had prompted the club's owners to pledge their support to
the Israeli, but Grant has never felt that his job is under threat. he said:
"When people say bad things you ask me if I am worried and when people say
nice things you ask me if I am worried too. "I am concentrating on my job, I
need to do my job. We [Grant and the owners] share the same vision for the
club and, as clubs like Arsenal show, you need to stick in the vision of the
club in the good days and in the bad days. "Today I cannot tell you we are
happy about being at the bottom of the league but this is only temporary."
Talking about the Hammers' wretched away form, Grant added: "It's difficult
to play not only against the opponents but also against the statistics. But
statistics are just statistics. "One of the things we have to do is take it
as a challenge and we are doing that. "I am sure that we will win away
games. I hope that happens at Birmingham and we will do everything for that.
"But Birmingham are a very good team and they are very good when they play
at home. But this is football, so we need to think positive and anything can
happen."
Mark Noble will miss the trip having had an appendix operation but captain
Matthew Upson could return from a hamstring injury. Grant is hopeful that
the England defender will sign a new contract as his present four-year deal
expires in the summer. He added: "For me what matters is if he is doing his
job or not. "Except in the beginning, he has has been going his job well in
the last games that he played. "Unfortunately he has been injured lately but
what matters is if he is doing his job. "The other things are normal, there
are always negotiations between players and clubs, but I hope everything
will be okay."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
My heart cannot take the strain
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
DAVID SULLIVAN'S troubled heart is feeling the strain as West Ham face the
pressure of life at the foot of the Premier League. The colourful Hammers
chairman lives with constant ticker-watch from quadruple bypass surgery 16
years ago and, recently, the stress has told. Sullivan, 61, said: "I
exercise regularly and that includes running up the stairs from reception at
Upton Park to the Chairman's Suite, three or four flights up when I arrive
for each home game. "It looks a bit odd. Most people take the lift but I
race my two sons, David and Jack, to the top. "They are 10 and 12 so it's
not much of a contest but I do it every single time to test myself. A kind
of male thing. "It's about 100 stairs and it usually takes me a minute or
two but recently I've noticed I've not been feeling so good afterwards and
have been a lot more tired. "Whether it's a direct result of West Ham being
in this position I don't know. But in January I've booked myself in for a
thorough MOT with my doctor and we'll see then. "I don't think it's anything
to do with the position we are in but it doesn't help. But even if the doc
tells me the stress of running West Ham is putting pressure on my heart, I
won't walk away. I couldn't. "Maybe I'd have to take more of a backseat
role. I've seen people die in front of me at football grounds, have heart
attacks. It's horrible, so I know the risks and, hopefully, I won't have to
be carried out of Upton Park. "But anyone in their right mind would be
bloody nervous about the position we are in. "After we lost at home to
Newcastle two weeks ago I was worried and depressed for the first time this
season. "I believe we have the players, ability and commitment to get out of
this position but, then again, we might all be kidding ourselves."
Sullivan returns to Birmingham today - the club he and business partner
David Gold ran for 17 years. But Sullivan will be making the trip alone as
Gold has been banned from St Andrew's for describing current Blues
vice-chairman Peter Pannu as "disgusting". Sullivan and Gold claim their
hearts were always at West Ham but since taking over in January, the labour
of love has been one big headache with palpitations and cold sweats thrown
in. Sullivan insists returning to St Andrew's staring up at Birmingham is no
disgrace but doing so from the lowest place in the Premier League is a
shock. He said: "We built a good club there and we sold to an owner I think
was right for Birmingham and who will take the club further. "I hope to get
a good reception from the fans. The sensible ones will realise what we did
for them. "We built three-quarters of the ground up, gates were around
6-7,000 when we arrived and we backed our managers. We sacked only two in
all our time there. "I gave about 40 per cent of my working life to
Birmingham and my heart gave me real trouble. I was going to put my
operation off but I was in such pain at West Brom one night I had to have it
done. "To have a quadruple bypass the doctors have to slice into your chest,
through the muscle. As a result I get pain whenever I twist, but it's
manageable. "Birmingham are a good team with a formidable home record. One
home defeat in 13 months or so I think. "Going there looking up at
Birmingham is no shame but going there bottom of the league is not something
I anticipated, I have to admit. There'll be no emotion really though, other
than survival."
Despite West Ham's position and uncanny knack of making a good bunch of
individuals look decidedly second rate as a team, Sullivan insists boss
Avram Grant's position is safe. He said: "At this moment, he is very safe.
We have not considered changing manager. Despite all the problems, my heart
tells me we'll be OK."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Karren Brady's football diary
The Sun
KARREN BRADY - First lady of football
Published: Today
Saturday, October 30
A PLAYER texts me after our defeat by Arsenal late on. "Don't worry. I'm
confident we'll get seven or nine points from our next three games," he
says.
I love enthusiasm but I'd prefer points. Besides anything else, those three
next matches are against Birmingham away, and at home to West Brom and
Blackpool. None of them is remotely like a pushover. But I'm convinced we
have many Premier League-standard players with Premier League attitudes.
They are a decent bunch and I trust them. I'd be even prouder of them if
they weren't stuck at the bottom of the table.
Sunday, October 31
NEWCASTLE manager Chris Hughton lets his team do the talking - and today
they speak loudly. There was absolutely no gloating after Sunderland had
been wiped away at Gallowgate. Not for him the boardroom conga that followed
a previous defeat of the arch-rivals. But Hughton has all the class his
employers appear to lack. It defies belief owner Mike Ashley has not
personally taken charge of completing a new contract for his successful
manager who is said to be earning £300,000 a year - a third of what he paid
Dennis Wise. Hughton has the Toon terraces vocally, if not tunefully, behind
him. It is ironic, though, that the price Ashley would get for selling
Newcastle rises the higher Hughton's team goes.
Monday, November 1
HARRY REDKNAPP'S threat to refuse to take part in Press conferences after
games is gorgeously inapt. No one could shut Harry up, especially Harry.
The Spurs manager was incensed at Mark Clattenburg's blunder at Old Trafford
and had every right to say so. The FA demand managers speak soon after games
and, while I can see why they try to protect refs, it's absurd to censure
legitimate comment. Sports journalists like a good old moan too.
Half-a-dozen were sent to a backwoods town in Romania to cover England
Under-21s. They asked the FA if they could cadge a paid-for lift on the
official flight and were told coach Stuart Pearce had said 'no'. So they had
to take two flights and a two-hour taxi ride - and back - all for a 0-0
draw. Pearce for next England manager? Not if there's breath in their
bodies.
Tuesday, November 2
HERE'S one red card appeal that was successful. Stewards have done a
terrific job improving behaviour at grounds, but they must never become a
private army. And that's why, I think, Villa cracked down on those who
evicted a lad who fell on to pitch after heading a ball back during the draw
with Birmingham. I know how bitter Brum derbies can be but Villa Director
General Charles Krulak refused to use that as excuse. The culprits will be
're-educated' he says, adding: "Over-zealous stewards can destroy the
atmosphere as fast as poor play." Salute the General, I say.
Wednesday, November 3
GARETH BALE'S valuation is rising faster than Google's. The Spurs man
destroyed Inter Milan last night, little more than a year after he had been
written off as an all-time loser. There is talk of him being a £50million
player now. I'm in a TV studio with The Apprentice colleague Nick Hewer and
presenters Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley from ITV's early-morning
show Daybreak. There's a video of Bale showing. As the Spurs players launch
themselves into triumphant poses after their third goal against Inter, the
cameraman catches Bale - the goal-maker - tidying his hair. He's young
enough to be self-conscious about it. Adrian comments that footballers spend
a lot of time in front of mirrors. "Does your husband Paul?" he asks. "Not
as much as me," I concede. "What do you think, Christine? You know a bit
about footballers' hair." She is Frank Lampard's girlfriend, of course.
"Yes, they do like mirrors a bit," she laughs. I agree!
Thursday, November 4
AVRAM GRANT and I sit down for a chat about prospects. We have both
previously been at clubs struggling for Premier League survival so we talk
in a kind of shorthand - which Avram tends to do, anyway. He believes we
will be OK. I hope so as this season I suspect a team with 40 points could
go down and we've got only six. After our meeting I feel better. I'm not
prone to panic, five managers in 16½ years at Birmingham are testimony to
that.
Friday, November 5
PAPERS report Spurs' bid for the Olympic Stadium has KO'd any chance of the
world athletics championships being there in 2015. The legal tangle goes
something like this... 1: The 2012 stadium was built for athletics; 2: West
Ham wish to adapt the stadium and agree to keep athletics track; 3: Spurs
bid late for stadium but with no track; 4: A winning London bid for the
world champs would prejudice the decision on stadium's future so it's
withdrawn.
No wonder there's talk of Arrogant Football. The legacy promised was not a
stadium or land based one, it was a sporting one. Athletics, cricket,
events, education, community and football - that's what our bid is all
about.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold dig results in box ban
The Sun
By DEAN SCOGGINS
Published: 05 Nov 2010
BIRMINGHAM have banned David Gold from St Andrew's today - denying him an
emotional return to his former club. City lit the blue touchpaper ahead of
an already potentially explosive clash against West Ham by first withdrawing
their directors' box invitation to Gold. They then went further by banning
the Hammers co-owner from the entire ground where he worked for 17 years.
Gold this week called Blues acting chairman Peter Pannu "disgusting" in a
row about last year's £8.5million takeover of Birmingham. The 73-year-old
claimed he had been offered a role as chairman and non-executive director
after the sale, only to be told by Pannu there would be no role for him.
Gold then insists Pannu insinuated he had lost his mind - a comment he
called "disgusting". Birmingham last night called Gold's claims "false" and
said him being chairman would have made "no sense". West Ham co-owner David
Sullivan and Gold sold Birmingham to Carson Yeung, who will attend today's
clash. Hammers boss Avram Grant said: "The players know they were owners
there for 17 years and it's important for them. They are aware."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
McLeish asks Blues fans to lay off former owners
Published 10:20 05/11/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Alex McLeish has urged Birmingham fans to focus on supporting their team
rather than abusing former owners David Sullivan and David Gold when the
pair return to St Andrews with current club West Ham. The duo will return
tomorrow for the first time since selling up to Carson Yeung in a
£81.5million deal last season. Sections of Blues fans criticised Sullivan
and Gold at the end of their reign for a lack of investment in the team.
McLeish is hoping the Blues fans will channel their efforts into making life
uncomfortable for the West Ham players rather than Sullivan and Gold. He
said: "I would like the Birmingham fans to unnerve the opposition, but more
so the team on the pitch. "The Birmingham fans have been renowned for their
hostility over the years, not in a nasty way, but in making people feel
uncomfortable on the pitch."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brum chairman bans Hammers supremo from return to St Andrews
Published 23:00 05/11/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror
Carson Yeung has banned David Gold from today's Birmingham-West Ham
showdown. Yeung is also threatening to send a copy of his explosive
financial probe into City's finances to Olympic chiefs in a bid to wreck
West Ham's new stadium plans. Ex-City owners Gold and David Sullivan, now in
charge of the Hammers, paid Hong Kong tycoon Yeung around £4million in an
out-of-court settlement in May. It ended a bitter legal battle after Yeung
became infuriated at inheriting liabilities of £11m, despite paying £81m for
the club a year ago. But hostilities resumed yesterday when Gold described
Yeung's right-hand man, and Birmingham's acting chairman, Peter Pannu as
"disgusting". City responded by banning Gold from the boardroom for today's
fixture at St Andrews. Mirrorsport has learned City are also even
considering sending their post-acquisition due diligence into City's
finances to the 2012 Legacy Committee. City's hierarchy believe Gold's
derogatory comments about Pannu breach a compromise agreement dating from
when they settled out of court.
And the Blues could scupper West Ham's bid to convince London's Olympic
Legacy Committee that they should get use of the stadium in future. Gold
remains sore over claims Yeung rescinded an offer to keep him on as chairman
after the takeover. But City claim a non-executive vice-president position
was withdrawn after seeing the state of the club's books. A St Andrews
source, who leaked a copy of the letter banning Gold to Mirrorsport, said:
"Gold has breached his compromise settlement agreement. "They screwed Carson
for £81m when the club was probably only worth £30m and left him with
massive bills." Sullivan is still expect to attend today's game.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sullivan: Only Birmingham idiots will boo me
Published 23:00 05/11/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror
David Sullivan insists only Birmingham fans who are "idiots" will boo him
when he returns to St Andrews with struggling West Ham. City's outspoken
former co-owner Sullivan, 61, is back in the Blues directors' box for the
first time today since selling up to Carson Yeung a year ago. Sullivan and
business partner David Gold left City amid a lot of bad blood and took over
at the struggling Hammers. Gold is banned from today's game, but Sullivan
will be there and admits he will be "gutted" if he gets a bad reception from
punters after helping transform Birmingham during their 16-year reign. "You
hope the fans will receive us well but there are always a few idiots out
there," he said. "There's always a few lunatics who will give you some
grief. But I will be gutted if we get a bad reception. "I hope they remember
when we arrived the gates were 6,000-7,000 and were 25,000-30,000 when we
left. We inherited a dilapidated old ground with only seats down one side
and built an all-seater stadium. "We also left a decent side with two great
centre-halves, two good midfielders and Premier League players like James
McFadden and Cameron Jerome. "Not a single player was on more than
£25,000-a-week and we left behind a capable manager."
Alex McLeish's promoted side came an impressive ninth in the Premier League
last season. But off the field, Yeung's takeover – when he paid a generous
£1-a-share for the club – sparked a huge legal battle. The new regime were
infuriated at inheriting bills and liabilities worth £11million – including
former MD Karren Brady's £1m pay-off plus perks. Both camps traded public
insults as Yeung called in the West Midlands Police Economic Crime team. No
charges were brought but a £7m High Court writ ended with Sullivan and Gold
coughing up around £4m out-of-court to Yeung. Sullivan added: "We obviously
had a little bit of a confrontation but it was business, one professional
against another. "They screwed a chunk of money out of us. I have no
argument about that, you have to say: 'Well done' to them. Although David
Gold is a bit bitter, I have admiration for them."
Sullivan's only concern now is for West Ham. They are bottom of the Premier
League after just one win in their opening 10 games and the pressure is on
boss Avram Grant. He cannot afford many more setbacks, and the club's plight
was highlighted as Sullivan added: "I wake up in the middle of the night
thinking of West Ham. "At the moment we haven't delivered what we want to
deliver. "West Ham fans realise we are giving it our all but we are not
succeeding right now. We are playing well but you can't keep making excuses
for the results."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Birmingham extend Gold ban to whole ground
Published 16:46 05/11/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Former Birmingham co-owner David Gold has been banned from attending
tomorrow's clash with his current club West Ham at St Andrew's. Gold was
initially told he would not be allowed in the director's box or boardroom
but this ban has now been extended to the entire stadium. Blues have taken
this stance in response to Gold's comments in the Birmingham Mail today
about the club he was in charge of for 16 years along with David Sullivan.
Gold described current City vice chairman Peter Pannu as "disgusting" in the
article. This referred to Gold's claims that he was denied the chance to
remain as chairman of City by Pannu after he and Sullivan sold the midlands
club to Carson Yeung for £8.5 million. Pannu has been adamant Gold was never
guaranteed such a role and he later rejected the chance to be a
vice-president. City initially sent a letter to the Hammers saying Gold will
not be welcome in the directors box or boardroom tomorrow after his remarks.
It says the board "has taken the decision to withdraw Mr Gold's personal
invitation to our fixture tomorrow. "He will therefore not be permitted to
enter the directors seating or boardroom area. "The board feel that they are
left with no other option but to withdraw Mr Gold's invitation and that this
is the appropriate action to take. "In addition, the board are also mindful
of potential security issues for Mr Gold and a possible adverse reaction
that may arise from the Birmingham supporters as a result of the comments
made. "Furthermore, as Carson Yeung will also be flying in for the game, the
board felt that a harmonious boardroom environment should not be affected as
we all want a good atmosphere on the day and a good game of football."
Birmingham then decided to extend the ban to the whole of the ground. Gold
admitted yesterday to the Birmingham Mail that he had "some trepidation"
about attending the fixture.
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Grant: We won't stay bottom of the table
Published 17:22 05/11/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Avram Grant is glad that he and West Ham's owners share the same vision as
he looks to steer the Hammers away from the foot of the Barclays Premier
League. The Israeli takes his side to Birmingham tomorrow, fresh from being
told by David Gold that his job would be safe even if the club were to be
relegated this season. And although he admitted to not being happy about the
current situation he finds himself in, Grant is content that he has the
support of his employers, and believes they need to try and replicate the
stability of Arsenal, who have had the same manager for 14 years, if they
are to succeed.
"When people say bad things you ask me if I am worried and when people say
nice things you ask me if I am worried too," he said. "I am concentrating on
my job, I need to do my job. We (him and the owners) share the same vision
for the club and, as clubs like Arsenal show, you need to stick in the
vision of the club in the good days and in the bad days. "Today I cannot
tell you we are happy about being at the bottom of the league but this is
only temporary."
Form is not on United's side as they head to Birmingham, with Grant's men
having failed to win away from home in their last 23 league games. And
although Grant accepts Alex McLeish's side represent tough opposition on
home soil, he is confident his players can return to London with a positive
result.
"It's difficult to play not only against the opponents but also against the
statistics," he said. "But statistics are just statistics. "One of the
things we have to do is take it as a challenge and we are doing that. I am
sure that we will win away games. I hope that happens at Birmingham and we
will do everything for that. "But Birmingham are a very good team and they
are very good when they play at home. But this is football, so we need to
think positive and anything can happen."
Battling midfielder Mark Noble will be missing for United due to having an
appendix operation, while Julien Faubert is suspended and Jack Collison,
Thomas Hitzlsperger and Tal Ben Haim are also injured. England defender
Matthew Upson could return from a hamstring injury, though, and Grant is
hopeful that the 31-year-old will soon be penning a new deal at Upton Park.
The former Arsenal man's contract runs out at the end of the season and
Grant would like him to extend his four-year stay in east London. "For me
what matters is if he is doing his job or not," he said. "Except in the
beginning, he has has been going his job well in the last games that he
played. Unfortunately he has been injured lately but what matters is if he
is doing his job. The other things are normal, there are always negotiations
between players and clubs, but I hope everything will be okay."
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MICK DENNIS MEETS WEST HAM SUPREMO DAVID SULLIVAN
Daily Express
Saturday November 6,2010
By Mick Dennis
ARGUING about the past at Birmingham can wait. So can debating West Ham's
future. It is the London club's present peril that David Sullivan is
determined to address. "We really can't get relegated," he said, putting
today's match at St Andrews into the only context he cares about. Sullivan
andbusiness partner David Gold were Birmingham's owners for 16 tumultuous
years before selling up 11 months ago, and return for the first time today
as joint chairmen of the Hammers. There is so much acrimony that Birmingham
have banned Gold from the ground. But West Ham's position at the bottom of
the Premier League is what concerns Sullivan, causing him to lose sleep. He
said: "I wake up 10 times during the night thinking about where we are in
the table and the problems we have got and how I can solve them. I think of
nothing else. David is the same and Karren Brady is the same."
Brady, Lord Sugar's new sidekick in The Apprentice on TV, became football's
First Lady when Sullivan and Gold made her Birmingham's managing director at
the age of 23. Now Sullivan and Gold are joint-chairmen of West Ham and
Brady is vice-chair – but it has not all gone as planned. "We are just
shell-shocked about where we are in the table because we think we are a
better team than that," he said. "I don't think we are a top side or
anything, but we think we are better than where we are. "But, after 10
games, maybe the table doesn't lie. Maybe we are just kidding ourselves."
So, wholesale changes are likely. Sullivan said: "In five or six games, if
we take stock and say, 'We are a relegation side', then in January we have
to bring people in. "We will have to find the money from somewhere – sell a
few, buy a few, shake the pack up. If the hand we have got hasn't delivered
enough points in the first half of the season, then we have to change our
hand."
How safe is Avram Grant? On this subject, Sullivan cites the Birmingham
model, where only four managers were appointed over 16 seasons. "We have a
history of standing by our managers because that is the moral thing to do
and because, statistically, it is no more successful changing your manager
than it is sticking it out."
He has heard the rumours about Grant's inability to inspire the players, but
rebuts them bullishly. "I don't see any sign whatsoever that he haslost the
dressing room," said Sullivan. "You couldn't have had much more effort from
the players than they produced at Arsenal [where they lost to a late goal
last week]. "When we played Chelsea, all the Chelsea players came up and
hugged him afterwards. And when we wanted Frederic Piquionne and Tal Ben
Haim, players who had been with Avram at Portsmouth, they both took salary
drops to be with him again. So, over time, players love him." Even if West
Ham survive, there will be a cull of big earners in the summer. "Some
players are on too much money," said Sullivan. "I don't blame them for that
but they wouldn't get as much elsewhere. Some of them will be out of
contract at the end of the season, so we will get them off our books or back
on at more reasonable money. "We have improved things slightly here. We are
probably £85million in debt instead of £110m. We have slashed the overheads
by £4m or £5m a year. So gradually we are getting things better – but you
just do not get rid of a £110m debt overnight."
That debt was the legacy of the profl igacy of the previous Icelandic owners
– and nobody doubts the need for prudence now. But, then, similarly sensible
husbandry at Birmingham made Sullivan and Co unpopular. It did not help that
they made no secret of their support for West Ham. Or that Sullivan said he
was tired of commuting to St Andrews from his home in Epping Forest. Then,
after selling the club to Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung, there was a
war of words about what Yeung said the accounts revealed and about what Gold
said he had been promised.
But there is one indisputable fact. The club that Sullivan and Co will
arrive at today is simply unrecognisable from the one they bought in March
1993. "We took over a dilapidated ground, a team at the bottom of the
Championship and bailiffs arriving by the hour to seize possessions," he
said. "The toilets were literally brick walls that you could pee against.
The training ground had been flogged off and the players trained at nearby
social clubs. "We took a club that was in rack and ruin and left it
structurally sound and with a great manager. We also found them a very good
owner – and the new people have not done it through debt. "Our last eight
seasons were six in the Premier League and two winning promotion to it. But
I was probably my own worst enemy because I was always honest with people.
"I said, 'I won't be here for ever. I have come to do a job and will move on
when I think I have taken the club as far as I can and I have found someone
who can do a better job than me'. "But whatever you do at a football club is
never enough for the supporters."
That final statement is palpably true, just as the squabble about who
promised what is a shabby epitaph for what Sullivan and Co achieved at
Birmingham.
But he has something more imperative on his mind right now. West Ham need
saving.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
London 2012 Olympics: athletics legacy threatened as mystery bidder joins
stadium race
The future of the Olympic Stadium after 2012 has been thrown into new doubt
following confirmation that a third mystery bidder made a presentation to
take it over on Friday, along with West Ham and a Tottenham Hotspur-AEG
consortium.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Simon Hart
Published: 9:56PM GMT 05 Nov 2010
In a further twist, it has also emerged that the NFL have held preliminary
talks with one of the interested parties, thought to be American venue
operator AEG, about staging American football games in the venue. A
high-placed source has confirmed that the Olympic Park Legacy Company, which
is overseeing the tender process for the east London stadium, received three
formal presentations on Friday. West Ham, backed by Newham Borough Council,
went first, followed by the mystery bidder and then Tottenham-AEG.
It is understood that the new bidder is not a sports club or
"owner-occupier" like West Ham and Spurs but a commercial operator who,
after taking over the stadium, would then run it as sports and entertainment
venue business. While West Ham and Tottenham-AEG have made no secret of
their plans, the third bidder has insisted on its identity being kept secret
during the tender process. One of the possible sporting being explored is
American football after a NFL spokesman confirmed that it had been sounded
out about the stadium. "One of the groups with an established interest in
the Olympic stadium met us recently and said that they would like to have
the NFL as a tenant if they gained control of it," said the spokesman. "We
noted their interest but it's far too early to say what the outcome will
be."
A tie-up with the NFL could involve one or two regular season games, as now
takes place at Wembley, or as many as eight matches if a London-based
American football franchise was created. The revelation of a third bidder
poses a threat to the ambitions of West Ham and Tottenham but also raises
doubts about an enduring athletics legacy for the stadium – one of the key
promises made by Sebastian Coe to the International Olympic Committee during
the 2012 bidding phase. As a condition of bidding, all prospective tenants
have been required to retain an "athletics legacy" in the plans, but it has
not been specified what form that legacy should take. It could be taken to
mean a limited legacy would be acceptable, such as a small-scale track
outside the main stadium along the lines of the City of Manchester Stadium,
which hosted the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
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Grant: Refs have admitted costing West Ham points this season
By talkSPORT
Friday, November 5
West Ham boss Avram Grant has claimed two referees have privately admitted
to costing his side points this season. Grant will not reveal the identity
of the men in black but feels his bottom of the table side have been harshly
treated by officials - while accepting they were genuine errors. "We have
suffered from a lot of refereeing mistakes this season," said the Israeli.
"We won't mention the names but two referees came to me after games this
season saying: 'We've made mistakes that have cost you points.' "When I hear
this I don't feel great but it's better than them thinking: 'I'm the king of
the world and I never make mistakes.'" And Grant believes referees should
now explain their decisions in public. He added: "I think it's good to help
take the heat off of them. It's good to understand their decisions. "Some of
their decisions are mistakes, they are human beings, but some people don't
understand why they make mistakes."
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