WHUFC.com
Avram Grant has spoken to the media ahead of Saturday's visit to West Bromwich Albion
10.02.2011
Avram Grant has held his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to West Bromwich Albion. The West Ham United manager spoke about his high hopes for the return of Thomas Hitzlsperger, the departure of Roberto di Matteo and the importance of claiming a victory that could lift the Hammers out of the bottom three.
Avram on team news…
"A few of them are sleeping this afternoon but the reports are that everybody is OK after international duty. "Thomas Hitzlsperger played for 60 minutes on Wednesday and he is looking good. I think he will be available for us very soon. I think Saturday is too soon but it depends on how the player feels. We will look on Friday in training and then we will take a decision. "He was maybe our best player in the training camp until he was injured four days before the season started. He gave us something that I think we needed this season - a lot of intelligence in the game, he is a hard worker and he passes the ball forward very quickly. "He did this very well. We didn't lose a single game in pre-season. We won a lot of games and he was responsible for more than 50 per cent of the goals. "He was good for us but unfortunately he got injured - one of many this season. I hope he will come back in the same form. It will take some time but I hope it will be sooner."
Avram on West Bromwich Albion…
"You never know what is easy or what is a difficult game. Sometimes when you play at home and you think it will be easier and it's not like this, then we went to Blackpool and to Fulham and we won the games that not many teams found easy to play there. "I think in this league anything can happen. Wolves won against Man United and other teams took points and then you can lose points everywhere. "What is more important is that we know that last Sunday was something exceptional for us. We have done well against the teams around us - this was the first time we have lost to a team in the last eight in the table except the first game of the season when we didn't know Aston Villa would be there. We want it to be the only time."
Avram on Michael Appleton being in caretaker charge on Saturday…
"It will not be easy for us because all the players want to impress the new manager but for us it doesn't matter. We are thinking about us. We know it will be a difficult game but we want to win this game.
Avram on Roberto di Matteo's departure…
"To give the right answer I need to know what happened there, but I only know that he was sacked. I always feel sorry when managers are sacked - especially him because he took a team from the Championship to the Premier League and they started the season very well. "I think, when there are difficult times, everyone needs to be together, but I don't know what happened there. "I think it is not the first time and it won't be the last time it happens. I don't feel good about this. If you look at the three teams relegated in the last ten years 90 per cent of them changed their manager and it didn't help. It's always the easy solution but it's not THE solution. "I think the [clubs] are not prepared to be patient. For me the best two managers in the world are Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger and if they started today, I don't know what would happen to them because nobody has patience. "When they lost patience, nobody wants to building something and you lose stability. When you want to build a team on good foundations that will serve the team for a long and short time period, nobody will do it because everybody is busy with the next game. "In the last few years, there have been more loans than at any time in history because everybody is interested in the short-term. I think this is not a good idea and is not a good thing to do."
Avram on a points target…
"We need as many points as we can get. I don't know, but I think the 35 points that was good enough for the last two seasons will not be enough for sure."
Avram on getting out of the bottom three this weekend… "We spoke about this. We did it two times and took two steps forward and one step back. Also, the results were amazing last Saturday as they were two weekends before. We have had two bad weekends and one good weekend and we hope this will be a good one for us. "We know that we need to take points to stay in the league."
Avram on the possibility of moving to the Olympic Stadium…
"I will tell you exactly what it would mean to the club if we move there. I think it can take the club forward and it's in our area and the people in this area deserve it. "I have said many times that I don't think we want to build a stadium in Chelsea!"
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Keen's reserve judgement
WHUFC.com
Kevin Keen marked his return to reserve-team management with a 4-1 win at West Bromwich Albion
09.02.2011
Kevin Keen was all smiles after celebrating his temporary return to reserve-team management with a 4-1 victory at West Bromwich Albion. Keen took charge of West Ham United's second-string for the first time in two-and-a-half years at the Baggies' training ground and was rewarded with an encouraging all-round performance. Radoslav Kovac, Cristian Montano, Olly Lee and Freddie Sears were all on target, while Thomas Hitzlsperger made a welcome return to action after six months out with a thigh problem. First-team coach Keen, who stepped in after Alex Dyer left the Hammers to take the role of assistant manager at Charlton Athletic, was happy to see the Germany international come through a 60-minute run out unscathed. "Thomas did really well," he told West Ham TV. "It's been a long while out for him and it would be great to have him in and around the first team because he's got great quality and is a wonderful passer of the ball. "He still needs more time, maybe two or three weeks, but he'll certainly be a good addition to the squad."
While the sight of HItzlsperger spraying passes around the midfield was a welcome one, Keen was also pleased with the performances of his other players, including senior professionals Kovac, Sears and Zavon Hines. "It was a good result. The first half was quite even and then came up with a goal off a set piece and scored a wonder goal just before half-time and, all of a sudden, the game changed. "We suddenly had the ascendancy and the boys played really well on the break in the second half. "I had no doubts because I had four seniors - Kovi, Freddie, Zavon and Thomas - that they would produce good performances. They are great lads, they work hard and I knew they would come in and give their best. "The young lads, especially in the second half, showed some really promising touches, so I was really pleased with them."
While Keen will return to first-team duties, the club is getting closer to appointing a new reserve-team manager until the end of the season. The former West Ham winger said whoever takes over will inherit a confident group of players and should relish the job. "I think Alex Dyer has left a really good set of lads. He's coached them well and they know what they're doing. "That core group of five or six - your Cristian Montanos, Anthony Edgars and Olly Lees - are good lads and want to do well, so whoever takes over until the end of the season has got a good job and plenty to work with."
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O'Neil fine-tuning
WHUFC.com
Gary O'Neil is working hard to forge an understanding with his new West Ham United team-mates
10.02.2011
Gary O'Neil is naturally targeting a return to winning ways when West Ham travel to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. The Baggies sit just two points ahead of the Hammers and the midfielder is under no illusions as to the importance of this weekend's clash at The Hawthorns. "We won't have a problem picking ourselves up," he said. "Since I've been here, the lads in the dressing room have been fantastic - they're not too down about the situation. "We're obviously disappointed about where we are but the performance at Blackpool and the performance in the first half against Birmingham show there's definitely enough here to get us out of trouble."
Looking back to the Birmingham City setback last Sunday, he admitted West Ham United may have tried a little too hard to force a victory. The January transfer window signing from Middlesbrough, who made his home debut in the 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat, was an influential part of a bright opening 45 minutes from the Hammers. O'Neil combined time and again with right-back Lars Jacobsen and his fellow midfielders, only for a combination of misfortune, misunderstandings and strong defending from Birmingham centre-backs Roger Johnson and Martin Jiranek to keep West Ham off the score-sheet. However, following Nikola Zigic's 65th-minute header, the hosts lost their attacking rhythm and, as the game wore on, depended more and more on direct balls up to Carlton Cole and substitutes Demba Bar and Manuel da Costa, who was drafted into a centre-forward role late on. No matter how hard West Ham tried, they could not find a way past Ben Foster and were unable to build on the morale-boosting 3-1 success at Blackpool. "It was a big game," added O''Neil. "We had a good win in the week and it would have been nice if we could have put back-to-back wins together. I thought we started OK in the first half and it was fairly promising. I think if we had come in one or two up I don't think too many people would have argued. "We got to the by-line down our right side quite a few times but just couldn't put it in the back of the net. Then the goal plays into Birmingham's hands because they didn't come out much anyway to start with. They made it very difficult for us to break them down after that. "Birmingham didn't cause us too many problems. We knew they were going to be a threat from set pieces. They're a lot bigger than us, and it was similar in the Carling Cup semi-final, I saw it from the bench - Zigic came on and caused us a problem. It just takes one delivery and that's hard to stop. "We started to force it a little bit. Everyone knows it's a massive game. You're one-nil down and there's half-an-hour to go, everyone tries to do a bit too much and play forward a bit too early when we could have been a bit more patient. "But there are an awful lot of games still to go. The result on Wednesday was massively important because if we hadn't have got that we'd really be in trouble now. We're still in there fighting, there's 12 massive games and one coming up next Saturday when we can hopefully make up for this one."
One of four new signings alongside Ba, Wayne Bridge and Robbie Keane, O'Neil knows it will take a little bit of time for the players to learn each other's attributes and habits. However, the 27-year-old is confident it will not take long for the Hammers to click on a regular basis. "When you're new and there are new players coming in it's a bit of guesswork as to where they're going to go. I put a cross in for Robbie where I thought he was coming to the near post and it went straight to the goalie as Robbie had gone to the far post. I asked him at half-time if he tends to do that all the time, so there's a bit of that going on. "Sometimes when Lars goes round me I'm not sure if he's going to keep going or is going to stop. But you find out what people do quite quickly, and hopefully the new boys will settle in quickly."
While he admits there is some fine-tuning to be done, O'Neil has slotted seamlessly into West Ham's starting XI, filling the right midfield berth from the kick-off against Blackpool and Birmingham. His favoured position is in the centre, but with the likes of Scott Parker and Mark Noble around, the No32 is happy to play anywhere he is asked to by manager Avram Grant. "I thought maybe with the squad we've got I might get eased in a little bit. I'm pleased to be playing, I'll play anywhere across the four. I don't mind playing left, right or in the middle, and I'll just do all I can when I'm on the pitch. I'm just pleased to be involved. "I'm fine with either position. I'm not a winger but if the manager wants to play Victor [Obinna] the other side, who's more of an attacking player, and he wants me in there to cover the full-back a bit down my side and help the two lads in the middle then I'm happy to play there or down the middle."
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Fry extends Charlton stay
WHUFC.com
Academy graduate Matt Fry will remain with Charlton Athletic on loan until 19 March
10.02.2011
West Ham United youngster Matt Fry has extended his loan spell at Charlton Athletic until 19 March. Defender Fry, 20, has been a regular starter this season and will hope to keep his place under new manager and former Hammer Chris Powell. The Academy product will again team up with ex-West Ham reserve-team manager Alex Dyer, who was appointed as the Addicks' assistant manager last week. Fry, who also spent a spell at The Valley last season, has made 24 appearances so far this term, scoring on his debut at Huddersfield Town last August.
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International round-up
WHUFC.com
Lars Jacobsen and Scott Parker headed a busy week of international action
09.02.2011
West Ham United team-mates Lars Jacobsen and Scott Parker came face to face as Denmark hosted England in an entertaining international friendly in Copenhagen on Wednesday evening. Jacobsen was included from the start for the Danes, while Parker was introduced as a half-time substitute at the Parken Stadion as England recoreded their first victory over the Scandinavian country since the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals.
Parker secured bragging rights as England ran out 2-1 winners. Denmark took an eighth-minute lead through Liverpool defender Daniel Agger's diving header, only for Aston Villa striker Darren Bent to tap England level two minutes later. Bent's club-mate Ashley Young then took advantage of fine work from Academy graduate Glen Johnson to put Fabio Capello's side in front on 68 minutes. Right-back Jacobsen was heavily involved down the flank for the home side, linking well with former Charlton Athletic winger Dennis Rommedahl before being replaced on the hour-mar. Parker, meanwhile, was deployed in a defensive midfield role and worked hard to shield the back four. The Hammer of the Year also sprang England on a number of dangerous counter-attacks and caught the eye with his calm head and excellent positioning. Jacobsen was winning his 39th senior cap, while Parker won his fourth cap and first since the 2008 UEFA European Championship qualifying defeat in Croatia on 11 October 2006. Parker also joined the select band of players who have won England caps while representing four different clubs - Charlton Athletic, Chelsea, Newcastle United and West Ham.
Robert Green and Carlton Cole, who were called-up as late injury replacements by Capello, were both unused substitutes in the Danish capital. England were captained for the first time from the kick-off by another Academy graduate in Frank Lampard, while former Hammers schoolboy John Terry was also in the starting XI.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Victor Obinna's Nigeria beat Sierra Leone 2-1 in an international friendly in Lagos, while Pablo Barrera played the opening 68 minutes as Mexico defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in the American city of Atlanta. Barrera could return to the United States in March, when Mexico take on Paraguay in Oakland and Venezuela in San Diego.
At age-group level, Academy midfielder Eoin Wearen was a second-half substitute for Republic of Ireland U19s in their 1-1 friendly draw in Croatia on Tuesday, while Marek Stech played the second half of Czech Republic U21s' impressive 1-0 friendly victory in Netherlands on Wednesday.
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David Sullivan on the Olympic Stadium
WHUFC.com
In an exclusive column for the Evening Standard, David Sullivan talks about his passion for the Olympic Stadium
09.02.2011
What is an Olympic Park without an Olympic Stadium? Do we need the debate to go any further than that? West Ham are the only ones proposing to stay true to the Olympic legacy with a running track in the stadium and we know it will work. I keep reading about 'white elephants' but the only elephant in the room is the one that suggests it is okay to rip up the track and bulldoze the Olympic Stadium to the ground - and in its place build a run of the mill football stadium, for a club that is over ten miles away from the East End. Now, that would be crazy. Spurs claimed the other day that the decision should not be based on emotion. I disagree. I know as well as anyone that business is about the bottom line, the numbers and how they stack up - but when you have that all in place in a strong, secure and sound bid as we do, it still has to feel right. Good financial sense must sit side by side with honest sentiment.
In fact, often emotion can drive a financial plan forward. The legacy of the Olympic Stadium affects us all. We have paid our taxes and have a vested interest in what happens after 2012. When David Gold and I came home to West Ham United after taking Birmingham City from the third tier of football to become an established Premier League name, we made the Olympic Stadium our priority. Initially I didn't know if it could work but our due diligence, fans and the experts we have consulted at every step soon convinced me. Everything adds up and we are all now together on the starting line of a fantastic adventure. There is real excitement in the air and we just want to get going. It is right that we have a proposal that will make it possible for a multi-sports venue to be at the heart of the Olympic Park. Anything else simply won't be the Olympic Stadium. Anything else runs the risk of damaging the nation's reputation around the world and affecting the commercial viability of the wider legacy vision. If you believe in something, you will work harder and for longer to make it a success. You have to care. Lord Coe cares. He was emotional and full of sentiment when delivering the Olympic legacy promise which resulted in us winning the 2012 Games, against the odds. He cares as much as us about honouring that promise. Demolishing a feat of engineering and expertise that cost half-a-billion pounds and then knocking up a plain football ground in its place is about as cold and clinical as it gets. And, by the way, doesn't make financial sense. No wonder those who propose that option want the emotion stripped away and instead are choosing to patronise the tens of thousands of loyal Hammers fans who know a thing or two about atmosphere. We will be able to answer their desire for affordable tickets and better access at a world-class stadium that is fitting for a club that produced three World Cup winners. The fact that we will be staying in our borough to do so just makes the case even more compelling. Post £90m of conversion we'll have great sightlines - no seat will have a worse view of the pitch than Wembley - and a new roof designed to create intimacy. I have no doubt this stadium will succeed. The opportunity this country has to take a massive long jump forward will only come round once in two or three generations. I am a father of two boys and we owe it to young people across London to preserve the integrity of an iconic venue that would be the focus for the aspirations of many. It won't just be about sport, but about education and culture. Are we really going to drive a bulldozer through all of that? Daniel Levy said "All I care about is moving the club forward". I think we all know that is his sole motivation.
Living and working locally, I make no secret of wanting the best for West Ham United but to do that while helping UK Athletics, Essex Cricket, the hundreds of schools that we are already working with and an area that so desperately needs regeneration is a great opportunity. That is what I care about. Sure I want it to be a financial success because the more it is, the more money will go straight back into the community and to the public purse. That's why we are equal partners with Newham Council. This isn't some private plan with offshore banks and tax exile investors waiting in the wings to profit from the UK taxpayer like myself. We all have our own sporting story. My dad Wing Commander Eddie Sullivan devoted his life to English amateur boxing and refereed internationally. Made an MBE, he was proud of being given a Royal honour for something he loved doing every single day.
In a way, we as a nation have all been given a Royal honour. With the Games entrusted to this country in Her Majesty's name - the Olympic Stadium at the heart of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a medal for us all. It would lead to money being ploughed in locally while providing a vibrant global destination. That's why 12 Olympic boroughs and dozens of MPs across all political parties are publicly supporting our bid. They know the importance of matching our financial clout with their desire to care for their communities is a win-win. At the same time, my club would grow in a way its fans - we have 700,000 supporters on our database and 17,000 season-ticket waiting list - and worldwide name deserves, and national sports like athletics and cricket would get a major lift. This is fundamentally about what it would do to kick-start five regeneration projects in four boroughs. It is all about London. I spent my formative years in Forest Gate and Stratford, and did my economics degree in Mile End. Everywhere you go - now as it was back then - there are people striving to better themselves against all the odds. People who want to take the emotion out of the East End clearly need a history lesson or two. We have our field of dreams at last and no one should be allowed to take it away.
David Sullivan
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Hitz back in victory
WHUFC.com
Thomas Hitzlsperger is aiming for a first-team return after making his comeback for the reserves
09.02.2011
Thomas Hitzlsperger has told West Ham TV of his eagerness to return to first-team duty after returning from six months out with a thigh injury. The Germany international midfielder completed a prescribed 60 minutes in Wednesday's 4-1 Barclays Premier Reserve League victory at West Bromwich Albion. Hitzlsperger came through his first competitive appearance since being hurt while on international duty in August unscathed, and is now desperate to aid West Ham United's Barclays Premier League survival bid. "It was really nice to play again as obviously it was my first game back after six months," he told West Ham TV. "It's something I've been looking forward to for a long time. This was my first game back and to come through it was fantastic.
"Of course I want to play in the first team as soon as possible and I need to speak to the manager. "After the game today I'm pleased to say that I'm feeling good, I'm in good shape. We'll wait and see when I play for the first team but hopefully it will be pretty soon."
The 28-year-old has paid tribute to the club's medical team, who have got him back on the pitch in good shape and on schedule. "The most difficult time was when I first found out the extent of the injury, really. I've been looked after very well. The surgery went well and the treatment from the medical department has been excellent - they looked after me very well. "They said it would take four months after the surgery and I'm right on time, so I'm really happy with the way it went. I'd like to say a big 'Thank you' to the medical department because they've been excellent."
Hitzlsperger was not only happy to make a return to action, but also to play his part in an impressive away victory over the Baggies. The former VfB Stuttgart and SS Lazio man was part of a midfield that also included goal scorers Radoslav Kovac and Olly Lee, while makeshift left-back Cristian Montano and the lively Freddie Sears were also on target to complete a comprehensive victory. "It's always good to win, not just to play but to get the three points. I think the attitude was fantastic from the senior boys and also from the youngsters to go there and win. "I think we put in a good performance and I enjoyed it even more because we won."
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London 2012: Olympic Stadium winner confirmation due
BBC.co.uk
An official announcement is due later on the future inhabitant of the 2012 Olympic Stadium site in east London. At 1100 GMT Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) executives will confirm whether they have selected West Ham United or Tottenham Hotspur as the preferred tenant in Stratford after the Games. On Wednesday BBC London revealed the executives would recommend West Ham. The decision must then be ratified by the OPLC board, two government departments and the mayor of London.
Spurs' plan has been widely criticised because it would involve knocking down the stadium and building a new one. The club intends to pay for an expansion of the athletics facility in Crystal Palace, rather than keeping a legacy for the sport in Stratford. West Ham's plan, by contrast, promises to keep athletics in east London and leave the running track untouched. This is something which Tottenham said was not conducive to a good footballing atmosphere. The Hammers' bid came under fire because it was not self-funded, relying instead on loaned public money arranged by Newham Council. Lord Sugar, former chairman of Spurs, said the plan was "totally flawed" and predicted the stadium would become "a white elephant". "It will be a disaster for the taxpayer and we'll end up having a mothballed Olympic village," he said. And Tim Leiweke, president of Tottenham's bid partners - the entertainment firm AEG - predicted the stadium would "go broke in 10 years" if an athletics track was retained. However London 2012 chief Lord Coe has called for the track to be maintained. He said it was vital to keep promises made to the International Olympic Committee when London was bidding for the event. And David Lammy, Labour's MP for Tottenham, said West Ham's proposal was "for all London", while Spurs' bid was "for just one club". A recent BBC London poll suggested 81% of Londoners were against the proposals to rip up the athletics track. The announcement will be made in the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster, central London. It would be a major upset if the board, Mayor Boris Johnson and the government did not endorse the recommendation of OPLC executives, BBC London's Olympics correspondent, Adrian Warner, said.
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Zola 'surprised' Avram Grant was not sacked by West Ham
By Matt Slater
BBC sports news reporter
Former West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola says current Hammers boss Avram Grant is lucky to still be in a job. Zola was sacked last May when West Ham finished 17th in the Premier League, only five points clear of relegation. But fortunes have not improved this season and West Ham are bottom of the table, two points adrift of safety. "I'm surprised [Grant is still there] because in football nowadays there's no patience - it's so difficult for everybody, not just Avram," said Zola.
Former Chelsea and Portsmouth manager Grant was given a four-year contract by West Ham last June but the team have won only five of their 26 league games this season. There has been some respite in the cup competitions but the Hammers were beaten by Birmingham City in last month's Carling Cup semi-final. That setback came only a fortnight after the club's flirtation with Martin O'Neill ended when the ex-Aston Villa and Celtic boss declined the invitation to replace the 56-year-old Israeli as manager at Upton Park. Despite these problems, Zola is confident his former charges can get themselves out of trouble and points to last season's late rally as evidence of their ability to do so. "It's a tough time but I believe the club, the team and the supporters deserve better and I hope they can change things around," the popular Italian said. "We did it last year, we were in deep trouble and not many people gave us much hope. But the players have done it before so I believe they can do it again."
The former Napoli, Parma and Chelsea maestro, who finished his playing career at Cagliari, is currently enjoying a year away from the professional game, spending time with his family and finishing his coaching badges. The 44-year-old was speaking at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi, where he played alongside the likes of Edgar Davids, Steve McManaman and Patrick Vieira in a charity football game that raised 500m euros for charity.
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West Ham out to buck stadium trend
BBC.co.uk
Gordon Farquhar | 14:10 UK time, Wednesday, 2 February 2011
The Olympic Park Legacy Company should soon have all the information it needs to make a decision over whether Tottenham or West Ham should be allowed to use the Olympic Stadium after the Games. The debate was getting close to fever pitch a couple of weeks ago and although the heat has subsided a little, the fundamental question remains over the legacy for athletics. What divides the Premier League clubs is the removal of the track.
Tottenham remain adamant that track and field and football don't mix. Their conviction seems rooted in current trends around Europe. In Italy, Germany and Spain, clubs have abandoned their multi-use stadiums and opted for venues dedicated to football. Juventus bought the Stadio delle Alpi from the Turin City authorities and despite it having stood for less than 20 years, have torn it down. It's being replaced by a trackless 40,000-seater venue, with capacity for expansion. Chief among the complaints at the Delle Alpi was the distance fans had to sit from the pitch. Where supporters at the apex of the old curves were at least 50 metres from the action, now they'll be less than 10 metres.
Bizarrely, although the Delle Alpi was conceived as a multi-sport venue it hardly ever staged athletics events because of the absence of a warm-up track. It seems to define the term white elephant by modern stadium standards. While some, like the old Wembley just became unfit for purpose over time, others like the Delle Alpi just weren't properly thought through. This, say Spurs is why, once the emotion has been detached, they believe their solution is the most credible. They point to the Bundesliga, where the move away from multi-sport to football dedicated venues has been in construction terms, a virtual stampede.
Hamburg's Volkspark Stadium, Dusseldorf's Rheinstadion, Hanover's old HQ the Niedersachsen and Frankfurt's Waldstadion are among those which have been abandoned, or heavily reconfigured. Schalke left the Parkstadion and its running track behind in 2001, with no regrets according to club official Thomas Spiegel. He told me the running track detracted from the atmosphere. "Definitely. The view - especially from the stands behind the goals - was poor and put people off going to games. Of course it played a part as well that there was only a roof above the main stand. Therefore all the chanting didn't create that much noise as it could.... fans always wished for an 'English stadium' with supporters being very close to the pitch and the players. The average attendances of the last 10 years underline the fact."
The Parkstadion held 70,000 but the average gate was only 40,000. Now Schalke regularly sell out their 61,600 seats. Bayern Munich, of course, left the Olympic stadium in 2005. Their desire to make changes there were blocked by an agreement with the stadium's architect that prevented alterations to his distinctive 1972 Olympic showpiece without his or his estate's stay so. It should be pointed out the track didn't impede Bayern's golden period of the 1970s and 80s with three consecutive European Cups and domination of the domestic league.
In Barcelona, Espanyol vacated the Olympic Stadium at Montjuic Park in 2009 after 12 years there. They too, according to spokesperson Serafin Bailey, are relieved to be at a place of their own, built only for football. "Absolutely, it never created the atmosphere or ambience we currently have at the new RCD Stadium; it was a cold environment and not an attractive proposition for our supporters." Espanyol have put at least 10,000 on the gate by moving. In England, fans of Brighton and Rotherham have the distinction of being the only ones who currently watch their teams play at home across a running track.
Rotherham fans we spoke to are ticking off the days until they can leave the Don Valley Stadium and take up residence at their new purpose built - and trackless - venue back in their home town.
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Spurs & West Ham fans in the dark over Olympic stadium
BBC.co.uk
By Sam Sheringham
Politicians, Olympic officials and athletes have all had their say over the battle between Tottenham and West Ham to win tenancy of the London 2012 Olympic, but what about the group of people who would be most affected by the move? Fans of both teams have told BBC Sport that they feel let down by a lack of consultation with their clubs over a decision that could have a massive impact on their lives. And while the move is proving a divisive issue among both sets of supporters - with blogs, message boards and forums revealing a vast range of contrasting opinions about whether it would be a good thing for their team - one thing all fans seem to have in common is a passionate interest in the outcome.
"There has been absolutely no formal or informal consultation regarding the move to the Olympic stadium," said Spurs fan Alan Fisher. "On the club's website, there's lots of detail about how the board are very proud of consulting the fans on things. But since the move to Stratford became an option, not a dicky bird."
Sam Haseltine, author of the West Ham Process blog, tells a similar story. "The club have done very little to include the fans and that is a frustration to a lot of people," he said. "I don't know how they can go ahead with it without consulting the fans."
A Spurs spokesman, who declined to be named, told BBC Sport that the club would begin consulting if they are identified as the preferred bidder by the Olympic Park Legacy Company next week. West Ham, who are believed to be following the same policy, insist fans groups back the move, highlighting a recent Premier League poll showing that over 50% of Hammers supporters had positive feelings towards the proposed switch.
Dave Boyle, chief executive of Supporters Direct, says clubs considering changing their stadium should canvas opinion among fans as a matter of course.
Boyle cites the example of Everton, whose proposed move to Kirkby was approved by season-ticket holders, only to be rejected by the government.
"Any club looking to move stadium should consult the fans because it changes the lives of every one of them," said Boyle. "In the case of Spurs, the whole identity of the club is up in the air here. The people who have the long-term ownership of the club should be involved in the decision."
Like many Spurs fans, Fisher is shocked by the prospect of his beloved club abandoning their north London home to set up shop five miles away in the east end of the capital. A White Hart Lane regular for 40 years, Fisher was delighted by the club's original plan to build a new stadium adjacent to the current ground, but became increasingly horrified when it became clear that the club were actively pursuing the alternative option of adapting the Olympic stadium.
"That wasn't just a canny back-up plan, it felt like a betrayal," Fisher added. "This club is over 125 years old, this is where we are and who we are. Stratford may only be five miles away but it is not where we are and it is not who we are."
When Fisher expressed his anger at the proposals in a blog, he was staggered by the response, reflecting the strength of opinion on both sides of the argument. "Normally I get 10 to 15 comments maximum and they are fairly sedate," he said. "But this time I had over 70, and some of them weren't for the faint-hearted. There are genuine and profound disagreements about the move and what it means to be a Spurs fan."
The cost of the club's plan to demolish two-thirds of the existing Olympic stadium and rebuild it as a dedicated 60,000-seat football ground has been estimated at £250m, £200m less than the projected cost of the new stadium at White Hart Lane. "Our history doesn't disappear because we move stadium," wrote MJBSpur on spurscommunity.co.uk. "Do your fond memories of childhood no longer exist once you move out? It's called progression and personally I'd take that ahead of sentimentality any day. "Besides history is all relative. We are creating it every day and if we move stadium it just becomes another chapter in our club's history. It doesn't erase the past or mean that we can no longer be proud of past achievements."
The divisions among Spurs supporters are mirrored at West Ham, despite the switch involving less of a geographical upheaval. Unlike Spurs, the Hammers are proposing to retain the stadium's athletics track and create a 60,000-capacity venue for football, athletics, concerts and community use. "It's a hugely frustrating feeling that the club seem so keen to please everybody else except for us fans who will use it the most, for football," said Haseltine, an Upton Park season-ticket holder for 10 years. "We should feel we're in our football ground, not borrowing the space during winter. "We do not want to be watching football over a running track. That is the main crux of the issue for many people."
Sean Whetstone, a West Ham fan for 30 years, believes the running track issue could be overcome by covering the surface with retractable seats during football matches. He can see positives in the move, providing fans' interests are taken into account. "We all want to make sure we have the best seat available, we all want good facilities, our pie and mash and our beer at half-time," he told BBC Sport. "Nobody really embraces change but if it came with a promise of better gate receipts, more ambition and more money then every West Ham fan would say yes."
Back at White Hart Lane, fans opposed to the move have formed a protest group called We Are N17. A protest was staged at Sunday's 0-0 draw with Manchester United and some fans are threatening to boycott home games if the bid is successful. However, Fisher concedes that even the five-mile trek to Stratford would not stop him supporting his club. "Spurs are my team for life, for better or for worse and I would follow them to the stadium," he said. "In a sense I am aware that I am part of the problem because if enough people don't want to go then we could really make a difference."
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The Battle for the Olympic Stadium
BBC.co.uk
Gordon Farquhar | 16:11 UK time, Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are preparing to deliver into the hands of the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC)the final details of their rival offers to take over the Olympic stadium after 2012.
Much of what the two Premier League clubs are proposing has been kept confidential, including the potentially pivotal details of the financial dividend for the public purse should they be chosen as tenants. But they have to satisfy five criteria laid down by the OPLC at the start of this process:
1. To achieve a viable long-term solution for the Olympic Stadium that is deliverable and provides value for money;
2. To secure a partner with the capability to deliver and operate a legacy solution for a venue of the stadium's size and complexity;
3. To re-open the stadium for operational use as rapidly as possible once the 2012 Games have finished;
4. To ensure that the stadium remains a distinctive physical symbol supporting the economic, physical and social regeneration of the surrounding area;
5. To allow flexible usage of the stadium, accommodating a vibrant programme of events that allows year-round access for schools, the local community, the wider public and elite sport.
Along with those criteria, a prerequisite for making the shortlist was to satisfy the demand for "a stadium solution that supports the intent of the London 2012 bid commitments for athletics, or proposes a credible alternative".
It is on this point that the proposals of both West Ham and Spurs fundamentally divide.
West Ham will keep the running track, retaining the possibility for the stadium to be used as the centrepiece of an anticipated bid for the World Athletics Championships in 2017.
Tottenham's interpretation of the "credible alternative" is to get rid of the track at the stadium and instead propose a substantial refurbishment of the National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace, home of London's international athletics events. As almost everyone will have now noticed, the proposal is proving to be highly controversial. It is the elephant in the sitting room but let's just ignore it for a moment.
Whatever the board of the OPLC decides, the Olympic Stadium will not become just another large football venue, animated only once a fortnight for home games, with the occasional bit of public access to the club's trophy room or museum. It must be at the heart of the local community and have ready a "vibrant programme of events".
Spurs have bid partners AEG to bring their expertise to bear on the events side. Running entertainment arena The O2 certainly ought to mean that AEG are well up to speed. West Ham have involved Live Nation, who are equally credible concert and event specialists.
Both clubs will modify the stadium, reducing its 80,000 capacity at Games-time to 60,000 and making the changes they need to better fit the profile of a football ground, including such vital revenue generators as corporate entertainment areas.
What they spend on that is their own prerogative but they will have to convince the OPLC that they have got the money and can pay the rent as long-term anchor tenants.
There will be £35m available from the Olympic Delivery Authority's budget for the site, set aside for the legacy use refurbishment of the stadium. Both West Ham and Spurs would be expected to take advantage of that money - West Ham as part of their plans at the Olympic Park, Spurs to spruce up Crystal Palace.
Both will have to demonstrate a multi-sport capability. West Ham have been talking to Essex County Cricket Club as part of their plans to satisfy that requirement, with an eye on Twenty20.
So, back to the athletics legacy.
For each bid, satisfying that demand requires a compromise.
For West Ham, it means accepting that the stadium is not configured exclusively with football in mind - and that means there is an impact on sightlines, atmosphere and the fan experience. That is a compromise the club will bear and is asking its fans to accept.
For Spurs, it is others who must be prepared to accept compromise. There has been a disorderly queue of people keen to say that scrapping the Olympic Stadium track is not what was promised in 2005. The debate has become increasingly heated.
What counts is the decision of the OPLC, which has said alternatives can be considered.
A complication for Spurs has arisen in the last few days in the shape of Crystal Palace Football Club, who have announced their ambition to return to the site that gave them their name.
The significance of this development is being dismissed by sources close to Spurs but it adds another element to the already difficult decision-making process.
Once Spurs and West Ham have made their final submissions, OPLC chief executive Andrew Altman faces a long weekend of deliberation. He and Baroness Ford, the OPLC chairwoman, will then make their recommendation to the OLPC board.
If the board are happy, that positive feeling cascades down to the two major stakeholders: the Government and the London Mayor's office, who have the final say.
What is clear is that whichever way this falls, one party will very disappointed, possibly even prepared to mount a legal challenge.
The OPLC will have to be confident its decision will stand up to scrutiny, especially from the Government's audit committee, for whom value for money overrides all other more emotive considerations in these difficult economic times.
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The cost of shunning Premier League duo
BBC.co.uk
David Bond | 10:20 UK time, Thursday, 3 February 2011
One of the questions which keeps coming up in the debate over the future use of the Olympic Stadium is, why did organisers decide back in 2006 and early 2007 to rule out a design which could have accommodated Premier League football?
Instead of building the £500m stadium only to reduce it from 80,000 seats to a 25,000 capacity athletics arena, why didn't designers come up with a plan that would have kept big football and the track and field community happy?
If they had done so, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) would have avoided the difficult dilemma it faces of choosing between two bids essentially from Premier League clubs.
As we know West Ham are prepared to retain the running track which is such an emotive and fundamental part of the promises made by London's winning bid team back in 2005.
But Tottenham want to knock the majority of the stadium down and rebuild it as a football only ground while relocating an athletics legacy to a spruced up Crystal Palace.
Today both bidders will send in clarifications to the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), the body charged with the task of choosing between these two bids. A decision on a preferred bidder is likely by the end of next week.Had Premier League football been factored in from the start then the OPLC's choice might have been an easier one. As it is, the idea of designing a stadium with retractable seating which could have factored in athletics and football or one which could have been easily adapted like the City of Manchester Stadium was rejected very early on in the process and not long after London had won the bid.
It has already been reported elsewhere that earlier interest from West Ham back in December 2006 and January 2007 was rebuffed by the Olympic board because a strategic decision had been taken by the ODA and its designers to rule out a Premier League option.
Despite an offer from West Ham, outlined in two letters to the ODA in December 2006 and January 2007, to pay £100m towards the extra costs created by a redesign, the ODA ploughed on with the reduced capacity athletics option.
I have now received information which sheds new light on why this happened.
As far back as the July 2006 Olympic Board meeting, the decision was taken to go for the so-called "base case" with athletics. This was reiterated at another meeting of the Olympic Board in November 2006.
Why was the then Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and former Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell so determined to ignore the possibility of a big Premier League team moving in after the Games?
According to one source I have spoken to, the Government commissioned a report by consultants KPMG to examine the legacy options for the stadium. This included KPMG testing the market for interest from a Premier League club.
There was interest from West Ham but by July 2006 the ODA received no formal tenders from any clubs.
But with the clock ticking down, the ODA felt under pressure to start the procurement process for the stadium. They were anxious not to have a repeat of the Wembley Stadium fiasco which came in late and over budget and with an immovable completion deadline of one year before the Games, the Mayor, the Government and the ODA didn't want to take any risks.
The ODA went ahead with the procurement process choosing Team McAlpine and designs for the 80,000 to 25,000 stadium were drawn up by architects.
What potentially changed the situation was the Icelandic takeover by Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson and Eggert Magnusson in the autumn of 2006. The former chairman of the ODA Sir Roy McNulty received a short letter from West Ham on 4 December which outlined their interest but set out a number of conditions. These included:
* Being granted the freehold for the stadium
* Becoming the sole operator
* A retractable seating design
* A 500-space car park
These were reiterated in a more formal offer letter from West Ham's financial director Nick Igoe on 17 January 2007.
But for a third time the Premier League football option was rejected by the Olympic Board at a meeting in February.
Ministers, the Mayor of London and the ODA decided that after six months work the designs were too far down the line to reverse them without jeopardising the timetable for the stadium's delivery.
The source adds that reconfiguring the stadium with retractable seating would have meant submitting a complete redesign which involved moving and reconfiguring stands, starting a new tender process (as a public asset the ODA couldn't just hand the stadium to one bidder without going out to market again) and submitting a new planning application.
That would have had an impact on costs which West Ham's £100m offer may not have covered and potentially caused serious delays.
There was also opposition from developers Westfield, building the new Stratford City shopping complex and the entrance to the Olympic Park. Negotiations with the ODA and landowners were at a delicate stage and they, at that stage, were against a Premier League club moving into the stadium. It is ironic that Westfield are now working with West Ham and Newham Council on their bid.
The other factor to consider is that the ODA had commissioned in September 2006 another group of consultants, PMP, to examine the legacy plans for the stadium and the rest of the park following the work done by KPMG.
They were hired to look at all the options for the stadium except, once again, a combination of Premier League football and athletics, rugby union and rugby league and lower league football were considered.
PMP looked at the finances of the stadium over a five year period following the Games and estimated what the different configurations might cost. Among their findings PMP concluded:
* That an athletics only stadium would need a public subsidy of approximately £1m a year.
* That a combination of athletics and lower league football would only need a subsidy of £1m to £1.5m over five years (£200,000 to £300,000 a year).
Since then estimates for the public subsidy have soared to £5m-£10m a year depending who you believe but at the time, the ODA argued that a £10m subsidy guaranteed by the London Mayor would more than cover the £1m annual cost of running the athletics only legacy.
The PMP report was completed by January 2007 - exactly the same time West Ham were making their offer.
Since then, of course, the OPLC has been brought in to re-think the legacy plans for the stadium and reach out to Premier League football.
And while few expect the OPLC to stick with the original plan chosen back in 2007, a look back at the reasons for that decision do pose another interesting question.
Would the public be prepared to pay for a stadium which shuns Premier League football again and sticks to the legacy promise to athletics made in Singapore six years ago?
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Shut it, Sugar
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 10th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
David Sullivan has hit back at former Spurs owner Alan Sugar after he criticised West Ham United's Olympic Stadium bid. Earlier today the Apprentice star - who, ironically, sits alongside West Ham vice chair Karren Brady on the BBC show - blasted the OPLC after it was leaked that West Ham were set to be awarded preferred bidder status. "If they do make a decision in West Ham's direction, it will be a weak and cowardly decision," raged Sugar. "The West Ham bid is flawed. It will be a disaster for the taxpayer. You cannot combine football and an athletics stadium together. It simply doesn't work and has been proven time and time again. "My concern will be that if it does go in that direction we'll end up with another white elephant, another leftover from the Olympics that we once had in 2012 - a bit like the Dome which has been rescued by the partners of Tottenham - the proposed partners of Tottenham for their idea for the stadium."
Clearly angered by Sugar's unwelcome intervention Sullivan, speaking to Soccernet this evening, retorted: "They've been going hammer and tongs with PR all day using Alan Sugar, presenting himself as a business guru and football expert. But I'm not sure he'd ever seen a football match before he bought the controlling interest in Spurs - which he sold at a huge profit."
The decision over who gets the stadium will finally be announced tomorrow (Friday) lunchtime - with all indications pointing towards a West Ham win in the race for the £500million stadium.
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Oops... soppy Spurs admit defeat in OS race
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 10th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
A message posted from the official Tottenham Twitter account admitting defeat in the race to take occupancy of the Olympic Stadium has been mysteriously removed. The message, posted at around 3pm this afternoon (Thursday) was picked up and re-tweeted by a number of fellow users before it was removed from the club's home page. The reason? Because in it, the north London club admitted defeat in the race to move to Stratford.
"Spot the track! West Ham defeat Tottenham Hotspur in battle for Olympic Stadium," read the message before it was swiftly removed - although not before a number of people had seen it and passed it on. :
The news will come as a major embarrassment to Tottenham, who only today released details of their new Twitter account - @SpursOfficial.
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Spurs in the dark, West Ham wait
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 10th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
Tottenham have expressed their 'concern' at the BBC's revelation that West Ham are set to win the Olympic Stadium bidding process. Although the final decision is yet to be announced, a leak on BBC London last night claimed that West Ham had beaten Spurs to the right to inhabit the stadium post-2012 games. Although West Ham are refusing to comment until the OPLC's decision is announced publicly tomorrow, Tottenham have responded with a short statement on their website this morning. "Whilst we are concerned to read that there appears to have been a leak of information from the OPLC about what their recommendation and decision may be, we regard it as premature to make any comment at this stage," it said.
News of West Ham's apparent success was revealed by BBC London at 10pm last night. It follows a war of words between the two clubs that escalated this week with both Karren Brady and Daniel Levy choosing to criticise their rival bid instead of concentrating on the merits of their own.
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Anyone we know, Dave?
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 9th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
David Sullivan's claims that the club's supporters have approved the move to Stratford has left many fans scratching their heads. West Ham's co-chairman insisted today that he was persuaded to move the club partly because a survey of supporters backed the move. However one of the supporters' biggest criticisms of the campaign has been that they have not been consulted at any stage. Speaking in the Evening Standard tonight, he said: When David Gold and I came home to West Ham United we made the Olympic Stadium our priority. Initially, I didn't know if it could work but our due diligence, fans and the experts we have consulted at every step soon convinced me."
A KUMB.com poll conducted in summer 2010 saw 72 per cent of supporters come out against the move. It was only once Tottenham declared their interest that supporters voted in favour of relocating the club - a KUMB poll last month saw 57 per cent back the move. Sullivan's opposite number at Tottenham, Daniel Levy, upset large sections of his club's fan-base earlier in the week when he insisted that 99 per cent of Tottenham fans were in favour of the move.
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No decision made, say OPLC
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 10th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
The OPLC have denied a BBC report claiming that West Ham have been awarded 'preferred bidder status'. Last night BBC London claimed that West Ham had pipped Tottenham in the race to be named as the authority's tenant of choice for the stadium, which hosts the 2012 Olympic Games in just over 18 months time. But not so, according to a spokesperson for the OLPC, who said this morning: "It is pure speculation to say that a decision has been made. Our board meets on Friday. There will be presentations by OPLC officers of both bids and a vote to recommend a preferred bidder."
Meanwhile West Ham United are refusing to comment until Friday's decision. Speaking to KUMB.com last night, a club source referred to the BBC's story as 'premature'. The 14 members of the OPLC board, chaired by former bank executive Baroness Ford, meet tomorrow morning to vote. The panel, comprised of industry experts and leaders, was created in May 2009 by the Mayor of London office, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Communities and Local Government.
Once their preferred bidder is confirmed on Friday the final say passes over to the OPLC's owners - the London Mayor's office and the Government (50/50 split). Their decision will be annouced by the end of the current financial year (5th April). Although they have the potential to veto the board's decision it is thought extremely unlikely.
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The fall and fall of Savio Nsereko
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 10th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
Savio Nsereko - West Ham United's much-heralded £9million signing of two years ago - is now playing his football in Bulgaria. Nsereko, still only 21, is now on his FOUTH club since leaving West Ham just a year-and-a-half ago. Since leaving West Ham he has played at Fiorentina, Bologna, Munich 1860 and now A PRG outfit Chernomorets Burgas, where he is on loan for the third time in only 12 months. Nsereko, who joined West Ham in the January 2009 transfer window was sold to Fiorentina just eight months later in a swap deal involving Manuel Da Costa and cash. Having failed to break into Fiorentina's first team, he was sent on loan to Bologna in January 2010.
However after just two appearances for Bologna the troubled youngster was sent back to Fiorentina, from where he was subsequently loaned to 1860 Munich in July of last year. That spell lasted just three months before he was sent back to his parent club after going AWOL for a week; the player later surfacing at his sister's house in Germany.
A fortnight ago Nsereko's spectacular fall from grace was completed when he joined Bulgarian side Chernomorets Burgas, again on loan. He will stay with The Sharks for the remainder of the season. "I'm very pleased to be here," he told the press at his unveiling. "This is not a step backwards in my career and you'll see that I was right to join Chernomorets at the end of the season."
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West Ham down in Deloitte 'rich list'
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 10th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have dropped from 29th to 31st place in the annual Deloitte Money League. The annual survey, which measures football clubs' income across Europe saw the Hammers drop out of the top 30 following a year of turmoil both on and off the field. Reported revenue was down from €89.3million in 2008/09 to €87.6million in 2009/10. Once gaain the table is dominated by the two Spanish giants, with no clubs in the top six moving. Big risers this year include Manchester City (up from 20th to 11th) and Aston Villa (25th to 20th). The biggest losers were Roma who dropped from 12th to 18th place.
We're in the money: the haves and have mores
2009/10 Revenue (€m)
Last year's position in brackets ()
1 (1) Real Madrid 438.6
2 (2) Barcelona 398.1
3 (3) Manchester United 349.8
4 (4) Bayern Munich 323.0
5 (5) Arsenal 274.1
6 (6) Chelsea 255.9
7 (10) AC Milan 235.8
8 (7) Liverpool 225.3
9 (9) Internazionale 224.8
10 (8) Juventus 205.0
11 (20) Manchester City 152.8
12 (15) Tottenham Hotspur 146.3
13 (11) Hamburger SV 146.2
14 (13) Olympique Lyonnais 146.1
15 (14) Olympique de Marseille 141.1
16 (16) Schalke 04 139.8
17 (22) Athletico Madrid 124.5
18 (12) AS Roma 122.7
19 (24) Stuttgart 114.8
20 (25) Aston Villa 109.4
21 (26) Fiorentina 106.4
22 (-) Borussia Dortmund 105.2
23 (23) Girondins de Bordeaux 102.8
24 (-) Seville 99.6
25 (-) Valencia 99.3
26 (-) Benfica 98.2
27 (27) Everton 96.6
28 (-) Werder Bremen 96.5
29 (28) Napoli 95.1
30 (-) Fulham 94.2
31 (29) West Ham United 87.6
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Parker has Lars laugh
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 9th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
Scott Parker represented England for the first time since joining West Ham as Fabio Capello's side ran out 2-1 winners in Denmark tonight. The West Ham vice-captain made his first international appearance since making his one and only start for the Three Lions back in 2006 as England came from behind to beat the Danes through goals from Aston Villa pair Darren Bent and Ashley Young - both players whom Eggert Magnusson tried to sign for United three years ago.
Parker - whose four appearances for England have come with four different clubs: Charlton, Chelsea, Newcastle and now West Ham - came on after the half time interval as replacement for captain-for-the-night Frank Lampard, another player with Hammers history. After a subdued start, the West Ham number eight began to get to grips with the game and ended up offering a solid, if no-frills, performance.
Irons right-back Lars Jacobsen featured for the Danes - at both left and right back - before being replaced on the hour mark by Michael Silberbauer. Neither Carlton Cole nor Robert Green, both late call-ups to the England squad, made it off the bench.
Despite a scare late on when Parker went down near the touchline following a crunching tackle, both players ended the game with no injury concerns - a huge boost for Avram Grant as he prepares his squad for this weekend's visit to West Bromwich Albion.
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Hitz inspires reserves win
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 9th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
Thomas Hitzlsperger played more than an hour in today's 4-1 reserves team win at West Bromwich Albion. The German international, yet to make his debut for the Hammers played for 62 minutes before being replaced by George Moncur, son of former Hammer John. West Ham picked up the three points thanks to goals from Radoslav Kovac (40 minutes), Cristian Montano (42), Olly Lee (73) and Freddie Sears (90); the pick of the bunch being Montano's 30-yard scorcher on the cusp of half-time. The Baggies consolation goal came 18 minutes from time via the head of Mani O'Sullivan. Albion boss Keith Downing, speaking after the final whistle admitted his side were second best, but felt the result failed to offer a true impression of the match. "West Ham took their chances and we failed to take ours," he mused. "But the scoreline gave a false reflection of the team's performance and the game as a whole."
West Ham United: Boffin; Driver, Montano, Spence, McNaughton, Kovac (Abdullah 68), Lee, Edgar, Hines (Tombides 72), Sears, Hitzlsperger (Moncur 62).
Subs not used: Mehmet, Hall.
Goals: Kovac (40), Montano (42), Lee (73), Sears (90, pen).
West Bromwich Albion: Allsop: Connolly (Gayle 72), Meite, Ibanez (Daniels HT), Zuiverloon; Mantom, Grier, Berahino, O'Neil; Nabi, Cox (O'Sullivan 63).
Subs not used: Tebbutt, Goldsmith.
Goals: O'Sullivan (72).
Booked: Ibanez (21).
Referee: Andrew Bennett.
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Hammers await stadium call
Irons poised for move to home of 2012 Olympics
Last updated: 11th February 2011
SSN
West Ham are due to be formally announced as the club that will take over the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games. The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) have called a news conference in Westminster for Friday where they will announce their preferred choice. OPLC board members are being recommended by their officials to choose West Ham's bid over Tottenham's. That will see the athletics track retained inside the stadium and avoid huge embarrassment to ministers and the London mayor Boris Johnson, who would otherwise have been accused of breaking promises to the International Olympic Committee. Tottenham have expressed their concerns that the news of West Ham's victory had leaked out ahead of the OPLC meeting. The club said in a statement: "Whilst we are concerned to read that there appears to have been a leak of information from the OPLC about what their recommendation and decision may be, we regard it as premature to make any comment at this stage."
Surprise
The recommendation from OPLC executives does not automatically mean that West Ham will win the backing of the board members, but it would be a major surprise if that was not the case. The board's decision also has to be ratified by two Government departments and the London Mayor's office, and that is likely to take place next week. Again, it would be a huge shock if the OPLC decision was not rubber-stamped by the ministers and Boris Johnson.
Tottenham's consortium will look for guarantees that the row over the athletics track, which became a highly-charged political issue, did not count against them. Their plans were to create a football-only stadium without the track and redevelop the Crystal Palace athletics stadium for that sport. London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe was among those calling for the track to be maintained in line with promises made to the IOC back in 2005. It seems likely that the cost of the West Ham development has counted in the Hammers' favour: they plan to spend only £95million - £40million coming in the form of a loan from bid partner Newham Council - while Spurs' proposals would have seen the club borrow around £250million. It will be years however before it can be determined whether the running track does have any effect on the long-term viability of West Ham at the Olympic Stadium.
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Spurs voice concern on leak
Tottenham worried about OPLC reports
By Elliot Ball - follow me on Twitter @ballell Last updated: 10th February 2011
SSN
Tottenham Hotspur admit they are "concerned" about the source of widespread reports claiming West Ham United are on the verge of winning the right to take over the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games. In the latest development in the Olympic Stadium tug-of-war, news broke on Wednesday that officers from the Olympic Park Legacy Company are to recommend West Ham's bid when they meet on Friday in Westminster. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy had intimated the north Londoners would contemplate lodging for a judicial review should their bid be given unfair consideration. An OPLC spokesman denied a decision has already been made, calling the claims "pure speculation" and Tottenham said in a statement: "Whilst we are concerned to read that there appears to have been a leak of information from the OPLC about what their recommendation and decision may be, we regard it as premature to make any comment at this stage."
Track row
The purported recommendation from OPLC executives does not automatically mean that West Ham will win the backing of the board members, but it would be a surprise if that was not the case. The board's decision also has to be ratified by two Government departments and the London Mayor's office. There is concern among members of the Tottenham consortium that the row over whether an athletics track should be retained has become a highly-charged political issue.
West Ham would retain the running track while Tottenham's plans would be to create a football-only stadium without the track and redevelop Crystal Palace for athletics. London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe is among those calling for the track to be maintained in line with promises made to the International Olympic Committee back in 2005. Tim Leiweke, the president of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) who are partnering Tottenham, claimed on Wednesday the Olympic Stadium would "go broke in 10 years" if an athletics track is retained.
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O'Neil backs Hammers to click
Midfielder feels fresh faces need to settle
Last updated: 10th February 2011
SSN
Gary O'Neil says West Ham are in need of some fine-tuning as the club's new signings continue to adapt to life at Upton Park. The midfielder was one of four fresh faces to join the Hammers in the January transfer window alongside Demba Ba, Wayne Bridge and Robbie Keane. But while acknowledging it will take time for the players to learn each others' habits, former Middlesbrough man O'Neil is confident the new boys will soon settle in.
Guesswork
He told the club's official website: "When you're new and there are new players coming in it's a bit of guesswork as to where they're going to go. "I put a cross in for Robbie where I thought he was coming to the near post and it went straight to the goalie as Robbie had gone to the far post. "I asked him at half-time if he tends to do that all the time, so there's a bit of that going on. "Sometimes when Lars (Jacobsen) goes round me I'm not sure if he's going to keep going or is going to stop. But you find out what people do quite quickly, and hopefully the new boys will settle in quickly."
West Ham, currently rock-bottom of the Premier League, suffered a deflating 1-0 defeat at Birmingham last weekend having beaten Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on their previous outing. But O'Neil does not expect the Hammers' confidence to be knocked heading to West Brom on Saturday, adding: "We won't have a problem picking ourselves up. "Since I've been here, the lads in the dressing room have been fantastic - they're not too down about the situation. "We're obviously disappointed about where we are but the performance at Blackpool and the performance in the first half against Birmingham show there's definitely enough here to get us out of trouble."
Happy
O'Neil is happy to feature in Avram Grant's first-team plans so soon after his arrival last month, and the 27-year-old says he will play anywhere he is asked to by the manager. "I thought maybe with the squad we've got I might get eased in a little bit," he said. "I'm pleased to be playing. I'll play anywhere across the four. I don't mind playing left, right or in the middle, and I'll just do all I can when I'm on the pitch. I'm just pleased to be involved."
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Grant slams impatient bosses
Hammers boss hopes for positive stadium decision
Last updated: 10th February 2011
SSN
West Ham manager Avram Grant has slammed 'impatient' bosses following the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo. The former Baggies coach was put on gardening leave last Sunday following a poor run of form that has seen Albion slip to 17th in the table. But after guiding West Brom to promotion from the Championship last season, Di Matteo's departure shocked many and has been met with wide criticism. Grant, who was on the verge of the sack himself in January and remains under pressure at Upton Park, has hit out at the short-term decisions being made in the modern game. "It isn't the first and it won't be the last. I don't like it," said the Israeli of Di Matteo's sacking. "In the last year there have been more losses in the history of football because everyone is interested in the short term. "It's always the easiest solution. Sometimes the easiest solution is not the right solution. "The best managers in the world are Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. If they would have started today I don't know what would happen to them because everybody loses patience."
West Ham face a trip to the Hawthorns on Saturday and take on a Baggies team now under the caretaker charge of Michael Appleton.
Announcement
Meanwhile, the Olympic Park Legacy Company are set to announce who will move into the Olympic Stadium after London 2012, with the Hammers understood to have pipped Tottenham to the post. Grant is hoping for confirmation on Friday and believes it makes sense because the Stratford site is so far away from Spurs. "There has been no definite decision yet, but I think if we are successful it will take the club forward," he added. "I think it's in our area so the people in the area deserve it. "I have said it before - I don't think that we would want to build a stadium in Chelsea."
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I've laid down a marker - Parker
The Sun
Published: 10 Feb 2011
SCOTT PARKER admits he is "buzzing" after his England return. The West Ham star last night pulled on a Three Lions jersey for the first time since 2006.
And he said: "I was really pleased to get my chance. "And things went well - we won the game. I'm buzzing, personally. "I thought we played well the second half, pressed the ball well and controlled the game. "We deserved to win, so it was a good night."
Parker, a second-half sub in the 2-1 win in Denmark, has gatecrashed Fabio Capello's squad after a dazzling run for the Hammers. And the former Chelsea ace — who has won his four caps at four different clubs — insists he is hungry for more. He added: "I felt that I deserved my place out there and I felt comfortable. "I hope that I can progress from here and get in a couple more squads."
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Keane out for 6 weeks
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
ROBBIE KEANE is out for up to six weeks to hand a savage blow to West Ham's Premier League survival hopes. The striker picked up a calf injury against Birmingham last Sunday in only his second game since joining on loan from Tottenham. Keane, 30, scored on his debut at Blackpool and is a key figure in the Hammers' bid to beat the drop. An Upton Park insider said: "It's not good. He's hardly played for a year for Spurs then plays two big games in five days for West Ham."
Under-pressure boss Avram Grant is likely to turn to £6million striker Demba Ba to make an emergency full debut in tomorrow's six-pointer at West Brom.
Ba joined the Londoners around the same time as Keane after failing a medical at Stoke because of a knee problem but the player insists he is fully fit.
Keane will miss the trip to The Hawthorns as well as home games with Liverpool and Stoke. And he could struggle to be back to face Manchester United on April 2.
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AWOL Faubert's Grant grief
The Sun
Published: Today
JULIEN FAUBERT has been given a severe dressing-down by West Ham boss Avram Grant for refusing to sit on the bench last Sunday. The Frenchman faces a disciplinary hearing and a possible £65,000 fine for going home before the 1-0 defeat to Birmingham. Faubert had left Upton Park when he was called up because of a late injury to James Tomkins. The full-back, 27, insists he needed to look after his elder son as his wife had taken his baby son to hospital. But Hammers chief Grant revealed: "I said to Julien what I think and the other players know that. It's an internal matter."
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Spurs plan court battle
The Sun
By VIKKI ORVICE
Published: Today
SPURS are poised to launch a legal fight if they lose to West Ham in the battle for the Olympic Stadium. The Hammers will today be recommended as preferred bidders by the 14-strong Olympic Park Legacy Company. They pledged to keep the stadium's athletics track, in line with promises made when London won the 2012 Games. It is thought Spurs, who wanted to demolish most of the £550million arena and build a football ground, will consider a judicial review. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is concerned and it is believed they will launch a challenge if there is evidence of political interference. A Spurs spokesman said: "While we are concerned there appears to have been a leak from the OPLC about what their recommendation may be, we regard it as premature to comment."
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Scott's no quizzy rascal
The Sun
By CHARLIE WYETT
Published: Today
SCOTT PARKER wants to be a star for Fabio Capello - rather than become a quizmaster's dream question. The midfield dynamo has won four England caps, each one while he was playing for a different club, namely Charlton, Chelsea, Newcastle and now West Ham. Parker, 30, proved his international dream is not merely a trivial pursuit as he delivered a highly impressive performance in the second half of Wednesday's 2-1 win in Denmark. The Upton Park star, whose previous cap was four-and-a-half years ago when England crashed in Croatia, said: "I suppose if anything, I'll be in the quizzes won't I? I didn't realise that until someone pointed it out. "But I want to be remembered for more than a quiz question. "I want to try and progress from now. I made that little step against Denmark. I've come on, I've played, been part of it and been comfortable. Let's hope now I can keep going. "For the last three years, I've been playing my best football and experience is vital for that. You become wiser, you know where to be, what positions to take up, how to play it. "The match against Croatia was disappointing. It was a tough place to go. I was playing out wide and Paul Robinson air-kicked one in. "It was disappointing and it was pleasing to get back out there against Denmark and put that to bed on a winning team. "This was the first time I've played under Fabio, so I hope to keep impressing. "When you have been playing well for your club - and over the last few years I've been putting in good performances - I felt it was time I could be rewarded. "I'm in a position where if I get a chance I have to take it. It's plain and simple. "I got a chance for 45 minutes and I realised I needed to grab it with both hands."
Parker is aware that many believe his game is suited to the Premier League but not international football. He said: "I realise I have to adapt my game a bit at international level, that the combativeness in the Premier League is a little bit different."
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Sugar: Weak and cowardly to pick West Ham for Olympic Stadium
Published 23:00 10/02/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Former Spurs chairman Alan Sugar slammed the idea of giving approving West Ham's bid to take over the 2012 Olympic Stadium and claimed Tottenham's proposal also made more sense for athletics. He said: "Spurs are talking about assisting athletics by refurbishing and rebuilding the Crystal Palace facility so that the athletics people can get 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week access to it. They're never going to get access in the proposal of West Ham. "How many athletics events are ever going to happen there at the Olympic Stadium with West Ham as the main resident? Has anybody ever thought that through - scheduling and rearranging the season plans. "It's not a proper venue for both football and athletics together. It's a flawed idea. "If they do make the decision, the first wave of the decision, in West Ham's direction, it would be a weak and cowardly decision, one that is based on some technicality of something that was once agreed. "I'm also somewhat outraged by the fact that there have been leaks as to the outcome although the committee say that no one should take any notice of them as no decisions have been made. "But as usual, there's no smoke without fire in these things."
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