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Gary O'Neil was quickly down to business on the Chadwell Heath pitches before the big Carling Cup date
25.01.2011
Avram Grant put his men through their paces on Tuesday before the big Carling Cup semi-final decider at St Andrews on Wednesday night. The manager introduced Gary O'Neil to the rest of the squad, while there was also the welcome sight of Lars Jacobsen, Herita Ilunga, Radoslav Kovac and Kieron Dyer all included once again in the full sessions, as has been the case for several days. Jacobsen is cup-tied but is fully fit for the challenges ahead.
Carlton Cole took part and Grant is hopeful he will be involved in the midweek match with Victor Obinna and Frederic Piquionne also suspended. The manager's other striking possibilities - Benni McCarthy, Zavon Hines, Frank Nouble and Freddie Sears - were also involved. The manager also spoke to the press and revealed that the club have not finished their transfer business yet, despite the acquisition of O'Neil and fellow new recruit Wayne Bridge. Thomas Hitzlsperger also continues to make good progress in training with the reserves.
* Fans travelling to St Andrews have been advised by Birmingham City to allow as much time as possible for their journey, especially allowing for rush-hour traffic in the city. Fans should get to the ground as early as they can.
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Ba on hold
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 25th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
Senegalese striker Demba Ba's loan move to West Ham remains on hold due to an insurance wrangle. The Hoffenheim forward announced on his personal website earlier in the week that he had agreed terms with the Hammers, whom he was set to join on loan for the remainder of the 2010/11 season. However news tonight suggests that the 25-year-old's move is in some doubt following a disagreement between the two clubs over the player's insurance costs.
kicker.de reported today that Ba had completed the necessary paperwork for his move yesterday (Monday). However the hold-up is said to be a result of West Ham's refusal to cover insurance costs for Ba - a player with a run of 21 consecutive games under his belt this season, but one who had failed three medicals within the last two years due to a longstanding knee issue.
Ba had been set to move from Hoffenheim to Stuttgart in 2009 but failed to pass a medical - a scenario that was repeated earlier this month when West Ham's Premier League rivals Stoke City, whose £7million bid for the player had been accepted by the German club, pulled out after Ba failed their tests.
Unsurprisingly Ba subsequently failed to pass West Ham's fitness tests, although a loan deal was deemed acceptable by both parties. Despite this, United are thought to be stalling over Hoffenheim's demands that the club meet the costs of covering Ba against 'permanent retirement', with an unnamed club source stating that "no company will insure his bad knee for that."
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Grant: two more to follow
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 25th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
Avram Grant has revealed that he hopes to sign a further two players before the close of the winter transfer window. Grant, speaking this morning ahead of tomorrow's trip to Birmingham has already landed Wayne Bridge and Gary O'Neil, with Demba Ba's (loan) transfer from German side Hoffenheim set to be confirmed shortly. Yet the Hammers boss is keen to expand his squad further - although having learnt his lesson from the recent Steve Sidwell affair, refused to be drawn into naming names. "I don't want to speak about other deals. We have many names linked to us and most of them are not true," Grant told the assembled press pack. "We have one or two more targets that we want to do and we will talk about them when we do the deals. "There is no use speaking about this now because then you will start to ask me about thousands of names. [But] it will be around two more players."
Grant, who has led the Hammers to six wins out of six in cup competitions this year also refuted the suggestion that players were being bought on his behalf by co-chairman David Sullivan and agent Barry Silkman. "We have a very good scouting system and good people there," he countered. "All my staff are involved in this. If we think about any player, we watch him and see if he can be good for us and then we look at the financial issues and see if we can bring him in or not. I am not involved in the financial situation - only about the budget."
One player Grant was keen to talk about was his latest signing, midfielder Gary O'Neil who arrived on a two-and-a-half year contract from Middlesbrough today and is set to make his debut at Birmingham tomorrow night. "Valon Behrami needed to leave so Gary O'Neil has come instead of him," added Grant. "He's a good player, experienced and [has] played in the Premier League. He is very energetic and I'm sure he can be a good player for us. "He is a player that I always thought about, but we [already] had players in this position. When we knew that Behrami couldn't play, Gary was the best option. He will be good for us."
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Grant welcomes Ba
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 25th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
Avram Grant says he is looking forward to new signing Demba Ba donning the claret and blue. Grant will not be able to call upon the Senegalese international's services for tomorrow night's Carling Cup semi final second leg clash with Birmingham as West Ham were unable to push the transfer through in time. However should all go as planned, Ba is set to make his debut this weekend against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup - a prospect that excites the Hammers boss. Referring to the player's recently expressed delight at landing a contract with the Hammers, Grant said: "I like Ba's comments. It is always good when a player wants to come and join our club. I think he is doing the right thing - we are a good club and he can help us. It is almost done." Grant also deflected criticism over the decision to spend £2million - £1.5million in wages and a loan arrangement fee of £500,000 - on a player who has failed three medicals in the past 18 months. "He could not have played 21 games this season if he had a medical problem," stated the Hammers boss.
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Grant - More signings coming
Hammers boss ready to welcome a host of signings this month
Last updated: 25th January 2011
SSN
Avram Grant is delighted with the capture of Gary O'Neil and has revealed he expects more signings. O'Neil completed a transfer from Middlesbrough to the Hammers for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year contract earlier on Tuesday. And Grant was quick to highlight the qualities of his new midfielder who is expected to feature in their Carling Cup semi-final on Wednesday. "O'Neil is a good player, he is experienced, he has played in the Premier League," said Grant.
Energetic
"He is very energetic and clever. I am sure he will be very good for us. I am happy he can help us tomorrow." Grant also confirmed that Valon Behrami's switch to Serie A side Fiorentina is almost complete. He said: "The deal (for Behrami to Fiorentina) is nearly done. I think everything will be okay. It is just formalities and of course money." One player that will not be featuring in the Carling Cup is Demba Ba as the club have not been able to complete his loan deal in time.
Medical
The Senegal international had been expected to complete a switch to Stoke from Hoffenheimearly this month but failed a medical. Grant, however, has no fears over the player's fitness and was pleased with Ba's comments on his personal website talking about his anticipation at the move to Upton Park. "I like Ba's comments," he added. "It is always good when a player wants to come and join our club. I think he is doing the right thing. "We are a good club and he can help us. It is almost done."
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Don't take the Mick like Piq
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
AVRAM GRANT will tell his West Ham players to curb any goal celebrations before tonight's Carling Cup decider at Birmingham. Hammers striker Freddie Piquionne is banned for the semi-final after being sent off at Everton for jumping into the away end after scoring. It means Carlton Cole will lead the forward line despite struggling with a knee injury as West Ham defend a 2-1 first-leg lead. Boss Grant said: "I will speak with them about this. I'm sure they will not do it again. No one will do it again in English football. "I respect the rules and want my players to, but they are not computers. Sometimes it happens. "I've more worries about players getting kicked and not being able to play. But it's the rules and we have to play by them."
Fewer than 4,000 West Ham fans are heading to St Andrew's with the tie on a knife edge and the Hammers hoping to play at Wembley for the first time since the 1981 League Cup final. With the club nailed to the foot of the Premier League, the Carling Cup has provided welcome relief to the pressure. Grant added: "It gave us more confidence every time we won in the Carling Cup, especially with the way we won, and going to the final would be great. "It's very difficult to play defensively at this club. If we have to during the game, yes, but I don't believe in it too much. We're playing away and need to think about the situation but have to try to control the situation like we did at Everton, especially in the first half."
New-boy Gary O'Neil is likely to start on the bench as he comes in to replace Fiorentina-bound Valon Behrami. Grant reckons American midfielder Jonathan Spector is his unsung hero of this season. Spector has played in six different positions and may have battled his way to a new deal next season. Grant said: "We are dealing with this now. There is no doubt that Spector, in a difficult time for us, did a good job in a new position for him in midfield. I haven't played him on the left wing but all the other positions he's played."
Winger O'Neil is back at the club where his career started as an 11-year-old. The ex-Portsmouth wideman said: "At Pompey we were cut adrift in a much worse situation and we managed to turn it around. "We got a bit of momentum and then a string of results and managed to pull off one of the greatest escapes. "Two years ago I was on the other end of the scale when relegated at Middlesbrough. I know what both sides feel like and know what side I want to be on come May."
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Sunderland to swoop for £3.5m Piquionne
Published 23:00 25/01/11 By Alan Nixon - EXCLUSIVE
The Mirror
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is ready to snatch striker Freddie Piquionne from West Ham in a shock £3.5million move. Bruce has switched his search for Darren Bent's replacement to Piquionne after Stoke refused to budge on their valuation of Ricardo Fuller - the Black Cats manager's first choice. Frenchman Piquionne is the top scorer at struggling Hammers and would jump at the move to Wearside, where he would have a chance to chase a European place rather than fight a relegation battle. Bruce will agree a fee today if he can as he is fed up with waiting for the Potters to agree a deal for Jamaican star Fuller. Sunderland want to pay for Fuller in stages because of his history of knee problems. Ex-Portsmouth star Piquionne will kick up a fuss if Sunderland make a formal approach, with their interest emerging as the Hammers try to sort out terms on the bid for Hoffenheim's Senegalese striker Demba Ba.
The controversial Ba failed a medical at Stoke earlier this month but West Ham would take him on loan initially if his German club can be persuaded to let him leave on that basis. The Hammers are also negotiating with Blackburn for El-Hadji Diouf. They want him on a free transfer, but Rovers manager Steve Kean is looking for a fee.
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David Sullivan and David Gold to stay away from St Andrew's for fear of jinxing West Ham
By NEIL MOXLEY
Last updated at 6:46 AM on 26th January 2011
Daily Mail
David Sullivan and David Gold are staying away from St Andrew's tonight, for fear that they will jinx tonight's Carling Cup semi-final. West Ham's owners and managing director Karren Brady will be absent as Avram Grant seeks to lead the club to Wembley for the first time in 30 years. 'None of us will be going to the game,' said former Birmingham co-owner Sullivan, whose team won the first leg 2-1. 'If it wasn't on TV, we'd be there. 'But I can't face getting back at 2am, feeling depressed if we've lost. I'll be partying at home with my kids, like most West Ham fans, if we go through.' Under-pressure Birmingham boss Alex McLeish will be hailed a hero if he can guide his club to their first Wembley appearance in 15 years. He said: 'If we get to Wembley, I am sure people will be walking about with their heads up rather than down. 'It will be a totally different approach to the insipid performance at Old Trafford.'
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WEST HAM BOSS AVRAM GRANT IS FEARING THE FINAL CURTAIN
26th January 2011 By Paul Brown
Daily Star
AVRAM GRANT is hoping history does not repeat itself, if West Ham reach their first League Cup final in 30 years. The Hammers are 90 minutes away from Wembley as they take on Birmingham at St Andrew's holding a 2-1 lead in their Carling Cup semi-final. But Grant is a manager who tends to head for the door marked 'exit' after appearing in cup finals. He was sacked by Chelsea in 2008 after losing the Champions League final to Manchester United and quit Portsmouth last summer after they lost to the Blues in the FA Cup Final. Grant's job at Upton Park has only just become reasonably safe again after West Ham's botched attempt to replace him with Martin O'Neill. But he admits his history will be on his mind if the Hammers do the business against Birmingham.
Grant said: "Maybe it's not a good idea to go to Wembley. I'd never thought about it that way before, but I'll think about it before the final, if we get there."
The Israeli must decide whether to throw new signing Gary O'Neil into the fray tonight, with both Victor Obinna and Freddie Piquionne suspended. Frenchman Piquionne was sent off for jumping into the stand with the away fans after his late goal at Everton, so Grant will remind his players to keep any celebrations low key in the Midlands. He said: "I will speak with them about this. I'm sure they will not do it again. "My players will respect the rules. But they are not computers – they have feelings. I'm more concerned about players who kick their opponents and hurt them."
Grant, 55, claims reaching the final can help West Ham stay up by giving them a welcome confidence boost. However, after missed penalties cost him in his last two final appearances he vowed to make sure he avoids an unwanted hat-trick. He added: "It would give us confidence, to get to the final. But if we do, we will practise penalties for one hour, I will promise you that. "You can't choose between winning the Carling Cup and staying up. I want to do both. I think we deserve to win it. "Our path to this game has been tough. We won at Sunderland, showed character against Stoke and played brilliantly against Manchester United. "If we win this trophy, it's possible that it would shut a few of my critics up."
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Olympic Stadium: Tottenham and West Ham asked to come up with more details on 2012 bids
By Paul Kelso 7:00AM GMT 26 Jan 2011
Telegraph
West Ham and Tottenham have been set a new deadline for their Olympic Stadium bids, with the Olympic Park Legacy Company asking for clarification of their offers by Feb 3. The OPLC announced on Monday that it was delaying selection of a preferred bidder to get more information from the two clubs. Both clubs are understood to have been asked to clarify the financial agreements and guarantees that underpin their offers. West Ham are thought to have been asked to clarify the guarantees surrounding the contribution to the stadium reconfiguration that will come from the sale of Upton Park. The estimated £100 million cost of adapting the Olympic Stadium for football is being met by £35 million of public money, a £40 million loan taken by partner Newham Council, with the balance coming from the sale of the club's current ground. The need to provide funds while finding a buyer for Upton Park will necessitate a bridging arrangement, and that may be one of the areas on which the OPLC is seeking clarification. Tottenham's similar arrangements arising from the sale of White Hart Lane and surrounding land could also be the subject of clarification. The Daily Telegraph has also learned that Tottenham and Leyton Orient held exploratory talks about ground-sharing in the Olympic Stadium. The talks were described as "positive" but inconclusive, and Orient chairman Barry Hearn is thought to have decided that the ground is too large for his club. Hearn, who will mount a legal challenge to either Spurs or West Ham if they move to the park, is now pressing for the hockey facility, planned as a temporary venue, to be made permanent, allowing Orient to move in. "We should be part of the football offer on the Olympic Park site," he said.
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Birmingham v West Ham: Liam Ridgewell determined to end rollercoaster season with place at Wembley
By Henry Winter 7:00AM GMT 26 Jan 2011
Henry's Twitter
Telegraph.co.uk
Birmingham City must overcome West Ham on Wednesday to reach the Carling Cup final and then rescue their Premier League campaign. Liam Ridgewell is up for both challenges. "It's been a real rollercoaster this season," said the defender, talking at the Wast Hills training ground and keen to highlight Birmingham's strengths ranging from the supporters to the manager, Alex McLeish. "The gaffer is fantastic. He instils belief and resilience into players. It comes from his own playing days. His passion comes out in his team-talk. He's not thrown the odd teacup, although I'm sure he had a teacup thrown at him as a player! When he's close to boiling over, you see him trying to keep a calm head and show belief in his players. "And the support is huge. When St Andrew's is rocking it's fantastic. I'm sure it will be against West Ham with the old owners [David Gold and David Sullivan] coming back. They did so well with the club over the years. They took care of the club but I still hope we turn them over. "Getting to Wembley would be massive for us. A lot of players have never been there. People talk about the Carling Cup being small, but it's a cup final, a chance to win some silverware and we'd pack Wembley out."
Now 26, the Londoner knows West Ham well. He signed for them at eight, playing alongside Anton Ferdinand and Kieran Richardson in the youth teams so tenderly nurtured by Tony Carr, the academy director. "It was crazy how many players Tony brought through," said Ridgewell. "He gave us confidence to do it on the main stage. West Ham made training enjoyable: pass and move. "I'd watch Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand, try to copy their coolness and how they wanted to play. They never seemed to rush. They worked tirelessly to make themselves professional footballers."
Things were going well but Aston Villa came calling. "It was difficult leaving home at 14. I had to change my mentality, forge a career for myself. I'd pack my bags, take the bus to the train station, train to Charing Cross, tube to Euston and train to Birmingham. Sometimes it was scary, sitting on the train on my own with all these adults. "I was used to walking to school. Now, I was heading up to Birmingham in the dark. It was mad, crazy, but it strengthened me. I was totally determined to make it. I looked at the way Villa brought youngsters through: Steven Davies, Wayne Henderson, Luke Moore and Gary Cahill. That was the FA Youth Cup-wining side [of 2002]."
A midfielder at West Ham (and Sunday League striker in south London), Ridgewell was dropped back into defence by Villa and flourished. After moving to Birmingham for £2 million, he continued to show his versatility. "Nowadays it is tough to say where my best position is, left-back or centre-half. I like left-back because I like getting forward and scoring. A lot of people haven't spoken about my scoring. My highest total was six [at Villa]."
Birmingham need goals and Ridgewell's four this season have been hugely welcome. "The gaffer has talked about being in the market for a centre-forward and we hope that can power us up the league. Cammy [Cameron Jerome] works so hard that sometimes he might be too knackered to get into spaces to get goals."
Ridgewell himself is a threat at set pieces. "I gamble on what happens next. If I'm not going to win the first header, if I've run the near post, I'll try to think of where the ball will go to next, where the keeper will parry it. It's getting the right ball into the box. I was in the England 19s and 21s with David [Bentley] and his delivery is so good – as is Seb Larsson's."
It was in the under-19s that Ridgewell first met Wayne Rooney. "It was after that Arsenal game (when Rooney scored in 2002) so I was aware of the hype around him. You could see at 15 how good he would be. It was incredible to look at him, he looked 21, and he was so quick." Ridgewell covets a reunion with Rooney at England senior level. Many at St Andrew's feel his flexibility is worth consideration. "I've looked at what Joleon Lescott's done and tried to adapt to play left-back and centre-back. I try to get people notice me to see if I can get a call-up. There are so many good centre-halves so it's tight for places. I'll have to keep working hard and trying to get in the England squads." He would certainly have no problem communicating with "the best two keepers in the country", Joe Hart and Ben Foster, past and present Blues. "Joe plays and carries himself in a confident manner. He's very commanding. Fozzy is commanding and a very good kicker. Both are such good shot-stoppers. I'm sure it's hard for Fabio Capello to choose between them." Any more thoughts on England can wait. Ridgewell has work to do with Birmingham. "The ambition is to get to Wembley and make sure we stay in the Premier League. Even at the start of the season, I'd take 17th on goal difference. It's such a big league to be in – the rewards are so great. We must kick on."
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Birmingham City v West Ham: Avram Grant makes fresh bid to sign Robbie Keane from Tottenham
Eastbound and down? Tottenham striker Robbie Keane could swap north London for east if West ham are successful in their bid to sign the Irish striker By Jason Burt 7:15AM GMT 26 Jan 2011
Telegraph.co.uk
West Ham United have made a fresh bid to sign Robbie Keane, agreeing to Tottenham Hotspur's demand that they guarantee to pay a £6 million transfer fee should they avoid relegation. Tottenham will receive a £1 million loan fee for Keane with West Ham prepared to cover his wages of £65,000 a week for the remainder of the season and commit to a three-year contract on the same terms.
West Ham, who face Birmingham City on Wednesday in the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final, are waiting for Tottenham's response. It remains to be seen whether Keane will agree to those terms but his options are limited if he wants to play. If the 30 year-old fails to sign then West Ham will turn to Stoke City's Tuncay Sanli, who would cost £4.5 million, and are also expecting to complete the loan signing of Hoffenheim striker Demba Ba before the weekend.
A £500,000 loan fee will be paid for the 25 year-old Senegalese forward but as he has failed two medicals — one at Stoke and one at West Ham — the deal has become complicated. However, Avram Grant yesterday said the deal was "almost done". If West Ham sign Ba as well as Keane it will raise questions over the future of the club's other strikers, notably Carlton Cole, who is expected to lead the line this evening with Frederic Piquionne and Victor Obinna suspended.
West Ham will also have Gary O'Neil in their squad after he completed his £1.5 million move from Middlesbrough. The midfielder will be a direct replacement for Valon Behrami, who is in Italy to finalise his £1.7 million transfer to Fiorentina. With West Ham leading 2-1 from the first leg and co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold — who was banned from St Andrew's earlier this season — returning to their former club, it will be a lively atmosphere, especially as Birmingham manager Alex McLeish's job is under threat. Grant said of his own position: "I need to do my job. Since I have been in England I wanted to give my answers on the pitch. When I was at Chelsea they said the results will speak, because they thought we would not get results. "Then at Portsmouth there was another situation, and at West Ham there is another situation. I need to give the answer on the pitch and other people can judge."
So far that judgment has been critical, although Grant does have an enviable record of getting teams to cup finals and West Ham have won all six cup matches they have played this season.
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