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Ba deal confirmed
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 24th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have snapped up Hoffenheim's Demba Ba on loan until the end of the
season. The 25-year-old Sengalese international has joined the Hammers for
the rest of the season, just a fortnight after a permanent move to Stoke
fell through when Ba failed a medical. A statement posted on Ba's personal
website this morning read: "Demba Ba will play at West Ham until the end of
the season. "After several weeks of discussions, Hoffenheim and West Ham
have agreed on a six month loan. After signing his contract in the morning,
Demba will train with his new teammates in the early afternoon."
Ba, who was being courted by several clubs having made it clear that his
wish was to leave Hoffenheim added: "I'm really happy that the clubs have
reached an agreement. "I was eager to join West Ham and meet my new
teammates. I'd like to thank Hoffenheim for allowing me to join that team. I
thank my family and all my fans for their support."
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Hoffenheim striker Demba Ba set for move to West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Senegal international Demba Ba has stated on his personal website that
German side Hoffenheim and West Ham have agreed his loan for six months. The
25-year-old striker has spent two seasons with Hoffenheim but fell out with
the club when he refused to attend a training camp earlier this month. "I'm
really happy that the clubs have reached an agreement," said Ba. A proposed
£6m move to Stoke fell through when Ba failed a medical after agreeing
personal terms. Ba, who has scored six times for Hoffenheim this season,
added: "I was eager to join the club and meet my new team-mates. "I'd like
to thank Hoffenheim for allowing me to join that team." The German outfit
are still hoping to recruit Liverpool's Dutch forward Ryan Babel as a
replacement for Ba and have agreed a fee.
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Demba Ba seals West Ham move as Hoffenheim striker arrives on loan until the
end of the season
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:43 AM on 24th January 2011
Daily Mail
West Ham have signed striker Demba Ba on loan until the end of the season.
The Hoffenheim forward failed a medical at Stoke earlier this month and was
also being tracked by Everton, West Bromwich and Sunderland. But the
25-year-old Senegal international is joining Avram Grant's Hammers as they
tried to haul themselves off the foot of the Premier League table. Defender
Wayne Bridge has arrived on a similar deal from Manchester City while Grant
has also been linked with Tottenham's Robbie Keane and Cardiff striker Jay
Bothroyd.
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Ba seals Hammers move
Hoffenheim ace signs on
By Graeme Bailey - Follow me on Twitter @graemebailey Last updated: 24th
January 2011
SSN
Hoffenheim striker Demba Ba has completed his move to West Ham United on
loan until the end of the season. Skysports.com broke the news on Sunday
that the Senegalese star was due to sign on Monday, and the deal has now
been finalised. A host of Premier League clubs had emerged as rivals to West
Ham over the weekend, with Sunderland, Everton, Fulham and West Brom all
making late moves. He saw a move to Stoke collapse earlier in the month, but
now West Ham - who were the first club to make an approach for him - have
finalised a deal. The deal will be a huge boost to manager Avram Grant, who
is looking to bring in a few more new faces before next week's deadline.
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Hammers shun Fredi interest
Black Cats fail with enquiry
By Graeme Bailey - Follow me on Twitter @graemebailey Last updated: 24th
January 2011
SSN
Sunderland have seen an enquiry for Frederic Piquionne rebuffed by West Ham
United, skysports.com understands. The Black Cats are desperately looking to
bolster their attacking options ahead of next week's transfer deadline after
seeing Darrent Bent depart for Aston Villa last week. Sunderland are
believed to have made more than a dozen enquires in the past week, one of
which was to West Ham for French ace Piquionne. But skysports.com
understands that The Hammers have rebuffed their approach and have no
intention of letting Piquionne leave. The 32-year-old former French
international only moved to Upton Park last summer, as he followed Avram
Grant from Portsmouth - signing a three-year deal. Piquionne highlighted his
importance to the Hammers cause when he scored at Everton at the weekend,
before being shown a second yellow card for his celebrations. West Ham are
also believed to have got one over on Sunderland in the race for Demba Ba -
who is poised to join The Hammers, with The Black Cats being one of the
other options he rejected.
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Cats 'rebuffed' over Piquionne
Monday 24th January 2011 9:49
TeamTalk
Sunderland have reportedly seen an enquiry for French striker Frederic
Piquionne rebuffed by Premier League rivals West Ham. The Black Cats are
desperately looking to bolster their attacking options ahead of next week's
transfer deadline after seeing Darrent Bent depart for Aston Villa last
week.
Sunderland are believed to have made more than a dozen enquires in the past
week, one of which was to West Ham for Piquionne. But it is understood that
the Hammers have rebuffed their approach and have no intention of letting
Piquionne leave. The 32-year-old former France international only moved to
Upton Park last summer, as he followed Avram Grant from Portsmouth - signing
a three-year deal. Piquionne highlighted his importance to the Hammers'
cause when he scored at Everton at the weekend, before being shown a second
yellow card for his celebrations. West Ham are also believed to have got one
over on Sunderland in the race for Demba Ba, who is joining the Hammers,
with the Black Cats being one of the other options he rejected.
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Cascarino: He's got the potential to have a big impact
Author: Ben Moss
Posted on:24 January 2011 - 10:02
Sport.co.uk
Tony Cascarino believes the emergence of Jonathan Spector as a box-to-box
midfielder could have a crucial impact on West Ham United's survival hopes.
The American international has in the last few months vitalised his flagging
Hammers career with a string of impressive displays in the heart of Avram
Grant's midfield, and although the aforementioned former Republic of Ireland
international concedes he is not in the same bracket as Chelsea's Frank
Lampard or Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, Cascarino believes the player's
recent form and more pertinently goal scoring, could yet prove a crucial
development in their battle to beat the drop. Spector scored again Everton
at the weekend and Cascarino has seen a renewed vigour in the former
Manchester United's game that is hugely promising for his beleaguered boss
Avram Grant. Cascarino told the Times: "Jonathan Spector, goal machine?
"He's no Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard, but I've watched him closely over
the past few games and he is well capable of scoring more often. "He has
started to bomb forward and take up dangerous positions. "He's got the
potential to have a big impact for West Ham United in the relegation
run-in."
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Brady responds in Olympic row
January 24, 2011
Email Print
By ESPN staff
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady has hit back at Tottenham manager Harry
Redknapp as the war of words between the two clubs wrangling over the future
of the Olympic Stadium site continues. Last week Redknapp warned that the
Hammers would turn the site into a "desolate graveyard" if they won the bid
to inherit the Olympic Stadium in Newham. But Brady has responded, claiming
Spurs' interest is based purely on financial considerations - while her
club's bid offers something for the entire East London community.
"To demolish the Olympic Stadium would be an outrageous waste of money and
resources," Brady wrote in The Sun. "The energy used to build it for £500
million, knock it down and then rebuild a football ground would be the
equivalent of running the Olympic Stadium for nigh on 90 years.
"Theirs is a spur of the moment money-making bid. Ours is a phenomenal
partnership proposal which came together with a true united approach. Newham
Council represent every single person in our borough. We can exchange our
expertise with athletics, cricket and every one of the 15 Olympic sports
that our community department already run.
"It is a persuasive case, no wonder Harry Redknapp was told to do his best
to scaremonger."
Brady believes Redknapp's words actually had the opposite effect to that
intended, and could not resist having a dig at the former West Ham boss
while continuing to pick apart the rival bid.
"For my mind, his words ended up being a form of Harry-kiri that sounded the
death knell on any credibility Tottenham had to getting support outside
N17," Brady said. "Actually, scrub that. They don't even want the Tottenham
plan inside N17.
"For Spurs, knocking it down and rebuilding, while keeping it on budget and
on time, has to be a concern. The best estimate of it being ready is 2016,
and we all know these things run over. We have the money guaranteed to
convert and improve, we will deliver everything and pay back the community -
without banks, debt and financial pressure. Can Tottenham be so confident?"
Brady revealed West Ham have 700,000 fans on their database, with more than
17,000 on the waiting list for season tickets. She believes such support
will be more than enough to regularly fill the Olympic Stadium - while the
design of the ground will mean fans will actually be closer to the action
than at Wembley, even with a running track surrounding the pitch. With the
original bid for the 2012 Games pledging to retain the track and stadium,
Brady believes breaking that promise would be a worrying step to take.
"This is about more than the club," she said. "It would be a slap in the
face to tax-payers and sports fans generally to demolish a stadium after
four weeks of use. Our sporting integrity would be called into question."
The debate about the future of the stadium took a twist over the weekend, as
legendary Brazilian footballer Pele surprisingly emerged to throw his weight
behind Spurs' proposal. But Brady was dismissive of the three-time World Cup
winner's intervention.
"This comes from a man who also endorses Viagra, at least that's one product
that stands up!" Brady said.
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The wrong end of things (again)
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 24th January 2011
By: Paul Walker
Ok, this is going to be a partisan, angry, twisted, bitter, frustrated rant
- pretty much par for the course and sure to hit a raw nerve amongst Irons
fans. But is it just me who feels we are getting the rough end of things
from all levels of football authority since the Tevez saga?
Mention this theme to anyone outside the West Ham family and you are laughed
down as paranoid. Ok, I'm paranoid.
But Saturday's red card for Freddie Piquionne was just another decision that
went against us, cost us victory and will have serious knock-on effects on
Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg, with our leading scorer now
banned from the match at St. Andrews.
Piquionne scored a great header for what should have been the winner in one
of our best, most committed and defiant performances for months, and at such
a tough place as Everton it was even more outstanding.
Ok, the laws say you should be booked for getting involved with fans as you
celebrate. But does anyone know what it's really like to have been a
success-starved, nerve-wracked West Ham fan, and player, these past months?
I drove away from Goodison Park with that 'it would never happen to a
Manchester United player' theme pounding in my head. Then Ben Shepherd,
bless him, and his Goals on Sunday team, proved there is one rule for us and
one rule for Man U players.
Referees do not have to book players for Piquionne's supposed offence. I
knew I'd seen far worse go unpunished but couldn't remember when.
But TV clips of the Villa-Man U game proved the point. Ashley Young was
booked for rushing up to the crowd after scoring, and then Vidic did the
same thing, with half a dozen team-mates jumping all over him, and didn't
get a card.
And guess what..he'd already been booked and would have had to see red. But
he's a Man U player, his and his colleagues' offence looked worse than
Piqiounne's, but there was no card.
Piquionne did not jump into the crowd, he stood in front of them on the
right side of the barrier, all he'd done was jump the advertising boards.
Surely a quiet word would have been more sense. Peter Walton is in his last
season on the referees' list, he can't be bothered about assessors now.
But our whole, sad, season could be further ruined by that red card. Without
Obinna as well, and Cole struggling with injury, who will play up front on
Wednesday?
It's just another of a long list of poor decisions. I still can't forget the
late 'winner' at Wolves scored by Piquionne that was disallowed by Mark
Clattenburg, or the clear penalty turned down when Lars Jacobsen had his
shirt dragged off his back at Birmingham. Counting Saturday's draw, that
could have been six more points on our tally.
TV proved Piquionne didn't handle at Wolves. Clattenburg made that laughable
decision from 20 yards behind the striker, so how could he have seen whether
it was handball or not? Clattenburg is one of those annoying referees who
has started to believe his own publicity, and has introduced the 'shoulder
shrug' into refereeing signals.
Remember his decision and the incident when Gomes put the ball down
expecting a free-kick and Nani was s allowed to score? Where was the game
played? Old Trafford of course.
And there have been other rulings from the authorities. Remember the
Millwall cup tie? We were finally heavily seemingly for what happened half a
mile away at Upton Park tube station and Millwall fans were praised for
their behaviour despite countless seats being ripped up in their end.
Ok, all this sounds bitter, twisted and irrational.. Seems to come with the
territory these days as a West Ham fan.
Gladly there were good bits from Goodison. Our fans were magnificent,
out-singing the home support all afternoon. And the side did play their guts
out, for themselves and the manager. James Tomkins was outstanding under the
aerial barrage, Noble, Parker and Boa Morte were excellent and Zavon Hines
covered himself in glory.
He was out there because of his pace, mobility and desire to run at
defenders. He was kicked mercilessly by John Heitinga - he of the most
thuggish Dutch squad ever to walk the planet - and Mr. Walton did precious
little about it.
Piquionne also got plenty of treatment, and his first booking was for
retaliating after being kicked and body checked. Walton missed most of that
but was quick enough to get his cards out for the goal celebrations.
Ok, I am paranoid - but what do you expect?
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Sky discipline Andy Gray & Richard Keys over comments
BBC.co.uk
Sky Sports duo Andy Gray and Richard Keys have been stood down from Monday's
game between Bolton and Chelsea after their comments about a female
official. Believing their microphones were off, Keys and Gray agreed that
Sian Massey and other female assistant referees "did not know the offside
rule."
The remarks were made before Saturday's match between Wolves and Liverpool.
"I don't think any of the comments were anything other than [sexism]," West
Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady said. Keys and Gray have been the face of Sky
Sports football coverage since the satellite broadcaster started showing
English top-flight matches in 1992.
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OS: legal threats begin
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 24th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
Tessa Sanderson has threatened to take legal action following the news that
she has been removed from the Olympic Stadium decision process.
Following a week of heavy campaigning from both sides, West Ham United and
Tottenham find out later this week whose bid to land the Stratford stadium
post-2012 has been successful, with the Hammers still considered strong
favourites.
But one person who will not be allowed to vote is former Olympic javelin
champion Tessa Sanderson, who was told last week that she had been removed
from the Olympic Stadium Legacy Company's (OPLC) adjudicating panel due to
her links with Newham Council, who are bidding for the stadium along with
West Ham United.
Sanderson - who is thought to back the WHUFC/Newham bid - is employed by
Newham as a consultant, a link she is accused of failing to disclose.
However she maintains that the link is tenuous at best, whilst calling for
her reinstatement to the process.
"I want to be back on there making the decision and I hope it doesn't come
to it but I am willing to take legal action if necessary," Sanderson told
the Guardian. "I have absolutely no conflict of interest. I have asked the
OPLC chief executive to provide me with a full written explanation on his
decision and despite my repeated requests this has not been forthcoming.
"As a local resident and former Olympic gold medallist I believe I am
ideally placed to contribute to deciding what is the best long future for
the site and I remain objective and open-minded to the two proposals which I
believe the board will receive over the coming days.
"My involvement with Newham has been well-documented in the national and
local media over the last four years and clearly is in the public domain,
indeed you only have to look at my own entry on the OPLC website to see my
ongoing involvement.
"I have been a member of the OPLC board since its inception and have always
been up front and honest about my involvement with the NSA, never knowingly
hiding or not disclosing any relevant information or interests. Anyone who
knows me knows that I am absolutely committed, passionate and determined to
secure a proper and sustainable Olympic Legacy for east London for future
generations."
The OPLC are yet to reply to Sanderson's comments.
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Hammers to 'gamble' on Ba loan deal
January 24, 2011
Email Print
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
ESPN
West Ham have confessed that they have taken a "gamble" in signing
Hoffenheim striker Demba Ba on a six-month loan deal because of his injury
problems. Having failed a medical with Stoke, which caused the collapse of
his proposed £7.1 million move to the Potteries, the centre-forward
experienced similar problems with his Upton Park medical. Stoke called off a
deal to sign Ba but West Ham are willing to take a risk by signing him on
loan, though the Hammers have refused to sign him permanently until he
proves his fitness. A West Ham insider told ESPNsoccernet: "The deal is now
99% done. The players medical showed up the problem, but as a loan its worth
a gamble and it is a gamble!" The Hammers will pay £500,000 for the loan fee
and another £1.5 million in wages. But Ba's move to English football must go
down as one of the most unusual of all time, as clubs normally shy away from
taking a player who fails one medical, let alone two. Having failed to lure
a succession of top targets to Upton Park, mainly due to the prohibitive
price tags from their clubs on top of high wages, the Hammers will be
relieved to have finally signed a striker to help bolster Avram Grant's
attack in the club's fight for Premier League survival.
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Brady outraged
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 24th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
Karren Brady has hit back at Sky Sports' dippy duo Andy Gray and Richard
Keys, who were accused of sexism at the weekend. Gray and Keys were caught
speaking off-air about female linesman Sian Massey following an incident in
the game between Wolves and Liverpool, before Keys added a comment about the
West Ham vice-chairman. "See charming Karren Brady this morning complaining
about sexism? Yeah. Do me a favour love," Keys can clearly be heard saying
in the recording. A furious Brady reacted angrily to the recording this
morning, telling the BBC that the remarks were clearly sexist: "I don't
think any of the comments were anything other," she stormed. "You know -
'we'd better go down and tell her the offside rule.' I'm surprised they
didn't say 'we'd better go down and tell here to put the kettle on.' "I was
very interested to see what Sky would do about it - and as far as I'm
concerned they have had a slap on the wrist and that is it. I'm genuinely
disappointed. It never would have occurred to me that they had those views,
whether public or private.
"It almost makes it worse that they're speaking when the microphones are not
on as opposed to when they are on," she continued. "Because [they have]
never really had the brass neck to say it publicly, they would only say it
privately."
Brady has recently used her column in the Sun (who have been publishing
pictures of semi-nude females on a daily basis for the last 40 years) to
complain about sexism within the industry. She claimed that had she been in
possession of 'meat and two veg' that she would have enjoyed a far easier
ride during her career.
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Olympic Stadium decision delayed
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 24th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
This Friday's announcement regarding the future tenants of the Olympic
Stadium has been postponed, according to reports. According to a BBC
journalist posting via Twitter this afternoon, the decision has been delayed
- although the reason why is unclear at present. One suggestion is that
Tessa Sanderson's threat to sue the OPLC following her removal from the
decision-making process could be behind the delay.
Stay tuned to KUMB.com for the very latest...
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