WHUFC.com
Having trained fully for two days, Robbie Keane is already feeling at home
as a Hammer
01.02.2011
Robbie Keane has been handed the No34 shirt at West Ham United and is hoping
to wear it for the first time against Blackpool on Wednesday. Keane will be
competing alongside Carlton Cole, Frederic Piquionne and Demba Ba for a
starting berth at Bloomfield Road but is determined to make a mark in east
London. He has already settled into the squad and told the gathered media at
Chadwell Heath that he was impressed with the "top-quality players" around
him. "It has been fine," said Keane. "The lads have been great and it is
always nice to get the first couple of days out the way. You feel like you
have settled right in then. "This is an opportunity for me. The team are
bottom and the only thing we can do is push up the table. I want to help us
do that and avoid relegation. "The spirit is fine. They are good lads, good
characters and top-quality players also."
While acknowledging the manager would pick the starting XI against
Blackpool, Keane said he had come to east London in the hope of playing. "I
want to play football as much as I can. "Football is a short career so you
have to make the most. I am not one of those who wants to sit on the bench.
I like to play football and i don't like to get paid for sitting on the
bench. Even before I came here, I believed the club had the quality to stay
up."
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Keane to get started
WHUFC.com
Avram Grant had plenty of players in action in training on Tuesday morning
ahead of Blackpool
01.02.2011
West Ham United were back in training on Tuesday morning after a hugely
successful transfer window saw four new faces arrive to bolster Avram
Grant's first-team squad. Wayne Bridge, Gary O'Neil, Demba Ba and Robbie
Keane all trained fully at Chadwell Heath with the squad wearing special
T-shirts to mark the club's continued support for the Richard House
Children's Hospice. The charity is based in the shadow of the Olympic
Stadium and underlines the club's community commitments in the Newham area.
Also involved in the sessions were Manuel da Costa and Thomas Hitzlsperger,
with the duo fit again to do some work with the first team. Da Costa trained
with the reserves under Tony Carr's watchful eye, along with another new
recruit Paul McCallum.
The Hammers travel to Blackpool in the Barclays Premier League on Wednesday
buoyed by their progress in the FA Cup - when the second highest attendance
of the fourth round ahead of the likes of Aston Villa and Everton saw them
beat Nottingham Forest with a 3-2 win. Confidence is high after that success
and the fifth-round draw handing the club a home tie with Burnley. Away from
the pitch, the club continues to gain support on the joint-bid with Newham
Council for the Olympic Stadium. Gold-medal Olympians Michael Johnson and
Sally Gunnell joined the whole of the Great Britain squad including captain
Jessica Ennis in pledging their support this week. Johnson, the United
States' 400m great, said: "My position is really quite simple. The stadium
should remain an Olympic stadium and it should include a track. This is all
about legacy and a promise that was made that should not be broken. The
monument to the games and the icon of the games, the Olympic Stadium, should
stand as a tribute to those games."
His words were echoed by former hurdling champion Gunnell. "I'm very
passionate about athletics, and there is no way it should be bulldozed to
make way for football - what a waste of public money," she said. "I grew up
on the outskirts of east London and I know how desperate we are for tracks
here."
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Nouble loaned to Barnsley
WHUFC.com
Young forward Frank Nouble is heading out to Barnsley on a month-long loan
01.02.2011
Frank Nouble has joined Championship play-off hopefuls Barnsley on loan
until 5 March. The 19-year-old could make his debut in tonight's home game
with last-placed Preston North End at Oakwell. Nouble impressed Tykes
manager Mark Robins during the FA Cup meeting with the Hammers last month,
playing 83 minutes and causing the visitors' defence all sorts of problems
with his pace and power. Nouble, who has also made three other substitute
appearances under Avram Grant this season, spent a month on loan at Swansea
City earlier this season before being recalled early. He has had previous
temporary spells at West Bromwich Albion and Swindon Town since arriving
from Chelsea in July 2009. He said: "I'm looking forward to showing what I
can do and scoring a few goals. That is certainly the plan. "I've been out
on loan a couple of times before and these spells are always good for my
learning and experience. I'll be looking to do my best and score as many
goals as I can over the next month and a half."
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Blackpool v West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Bloomfield Road Date: Wednesday, 2 February Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Highlights on Match of the Day; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and
local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles
TEAM NEWS
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has reported no fresh injury concerns ahead
of the visit of West Ham. New signings Andy Reid and James Beattie may be
included following their deadline day moves.
West Ham are expected to hand a debut to Robbie Keane, who has joined on an
initial six-month loan from Tottenham. Another new signing, Senegal striker
Demba Ba, could also be in line for his first Hammers appearance following
his move from Hoffenheim.
Blackpool
Injured/unavailable: Basham (leg), Carney (international duty), Crainey
(ankle), Clarke, Gilks & Martin (all knee)
West Ham
Doubtful: Ilunga (hamstring)
Injured: Collison & Kurucz (both knee), Da Costa (ankle), Dyer &
Hitzlsperger (both thigh), Stanislas (hernia)
MATCH PREVIEW
Blackpool host West Ham for the first time since February 1971, a season
that ended in the Seasiders' relegation from the top flight, with West Ham
only spared the drop by one place. Forty years on, and both clubs again find
themselves fighting for survival. West Ham are propping up the table and
battling to become only the third team in Premier League history to start
the month of February in bottom spot and go on to escape the drop.
Blackpool, meanwhile, have lost five of their last six league matches, most
recently a morale-sapping defeat at the hands of Manchester United, when
they were denied a famous victory despite leading 2-0 with 20 minutes to go.
Only Bolton Wanderers and Wigan have picked up fewer Premier League points
than the Seasiders since 1 January. Both clubs have turned to experienced
marksmen this week in a bid to stop the rot, with Robbie Keane joining the
Hammers on loan and Blackpool striking a deal with Rangers striker James
Beattie. However, it is at the back that both teams have been badly exposed
this season - only the Hammers and West Brom have conceded more goals than
Blackpool.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• November's reverse fixture at Upton Park ended 0-0.
• Blackpool have gone five league matches without a win over West Ham, since
a 2-1 home victory in the old Division One in March 1966.
• Blackpool have lost five of their last six league games - and six of the
last seven in all competitions.
• The Seasiders have scored and conceded in all of their home matches this
season.
• DJ Campbell has scored six goals in his last seven Blackpool appearances.
West Ham
• West Ham have kept just two clean sheets in their last 18 league games.
• It is now 20 Premier League away matches since they kept a clean sheet, a
0-0 draw against Aston Villa in January 2010.
• The club's next win will be their 200th Premier League victory.
• Scott Parker is set to make his 100th Premier League appearance for the
Hammers.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Blackpool
Campbell: 9 goals (9 league)*; Harewood & Varney: 5 goals (5 league), Adam:
5 goals (4 league)
*Includes 1 goal (1 league) for Leicester
West Ham
Piquionne: 8 goals (6 league); Cole: 7 goals (3 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistant referees: Scott Ledger & Bob Pollock
Fourth official: Chris Foy
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Blackpool (L2-3 v Man Utd, h): Kingson, Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Baptiste,
Grandin, Adam, Vaughan, Taylor-Fletcher (Harewood 74), Campbell, Varney
(Phillips 68). Subs not used: Rachubka, Southern, Ormerod, Sylvestre,
Edwards.
West Ham (D2-2 v Everton, a): Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Bridge, Hines
(Sears 81), Spector, Noble, Parker, Boa Morte, Piquionne, Sears (Reid 90).
Subs not used: Boffin, Gabbidon, McCarthy, Barrera, Nouble.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Robbie Keane has high hopes at West Ham after loan move
BBC.co.uk
Striker Robbie Keane has said it was an easy decision to join West Ham
United on loan for the rest of the season. Keane, 30, moved from Tottenham
after starting only two of the Premier League games he has appeared in this
season. "It was not a wrench to leave Spurs, because at the end of the day,
I just want to play football," he said. "I have got friends there, but it
means nothing if you are not playing football. It is a short career, you
have to make the most of it."
West Ham are Keane's eighth club since he made the breakthrough at
Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1997, and last season he went on loan to Celtic.
Keane has had limited first-team opportunities since returning to White Hart
Lane from Liverpool for a second spell with Spurs in February 2009. He is
set to make his debut for the Premier League's bottom side on Wednesday away
to Blackpool along with fellow January arrivals Wayne Bridge, Gary O'Neil
and Demba Ba. Keane has moved to Upton Park on an initial loan deal until
the end of the season and if West Ham stay up, he will sign a £6m deal. And
the Republic of Ireland international is confident he can make an impact
with the Hammers. "It is something I am fairly used to now, coming to a new
club," Keane said. "It is an opportunity for me, and I don't really have
anything to lose. "West Ham are bottom, all we can do is push up the table
and I am here to hopefully do that to avoid relegation. "I want to play
football and don't like to get paid for sitting on the bench. "In that
respect, it is difficult to leave a club which you have a lot of association
with, but I have to look after my career. "I enjoy playing and love playing.
I want to keep doing that for as much as I can."
Keane is also confident that he can help guide West Ham away from the
relegation zone where they have spent most of the season. He added: "Even
before I came to West Ham, I thought they had the quality to stay up.
"Sometimes you find yourselves in situations where you are down there and it
is very difficult to get out. "It is important that sooner rather than later
they get out of that situation they are in, and hopefully I can help them do
it. "The spirit is fine here, there are good lads and top quality players."
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Overweight, feckless and greedy
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 2nd February 2011
By: Staff Writer
Benni McCarthy has reportedly snubbed West Ham's offer of £1million to
cancel his contract. Jason Burt, writing in this morning's edition of the
Telegraph makes the astounding claim the day after United failed to offload
a player who has been unfit for most of his year at the club. McCarthy - who
it is said would consider a contract termination of more favourable terms -
is reported to be costing the club some £38,000 per week in addition to the
£2million paid to Blackburn for his services last January. The 33-year-old
former South African international has failed to score a single goal for the
club in his 14 appearances and has become a laughing stock amongst fans due
to his obvious lack of fitness. McCarthy, whose contract has another 18
months to run delivered the snub hours after it was announced that he had
been left out of West Ham's 25-man squad for the rest of the season, meaning
that he can only play in cup competitions. He will cost the club in the
region of £600,000 in wages between now and the end of May - quite possibly
without kicking a ball. All is not lost however for the loan system allows
league clubs from the Championship and below to take on unwanted Premier
League players until the end of March.
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Super sharp shooter
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st February 2011
By: Staff Writer
New signing Robbie Keane says he's ready to fire West Ham away from the
relegation zone. The transfer window capture is set to make his debut for
the Hammers at Bloomfield Road tonight when Avram Grant's re-shaped squad
take on a Blackpool side themselves boosted by a number of new arrivals.
And having endured a stop/start season at White Hart Lane prior to moving
across the city, Keane is itching to get going once again. "It's an
opportunity for me and I don't think I've got anything to lose," he said.
"They're bottom of the table so the only thing we can do is push up the
table. I'm here to hopefully help them do that and avoid relegation. "I can
only do what I usually do - just be myself. If other people see that I can
bring something to the dressing room well great, I'm here to help the team
on the pitch and hopefully I can do that. And when questioned about the
general mood of his new team mates, Keane added: "The spirit is fine;
they're good lads in there, good characters and top quality players also."
Meanwhile Avram Grant has told his new signing that he needs to hit the
ground running. West Ham have just 14 games left in which to save their
Premier League status, starting against Blackpool tonight. "Robbie has
scored goals everywhere and he can do the same for us. I think the style of
the team is good for him," said Grant. "You always have to give time, but we
don't have time. We need to do it as quickly as possible. "But this is one
of the reasons we wanted Robbie Keane. He knows English football and knows
our team. I don't think it will take him long to settle in; every game he
will get better but I think he will get used to it very quickly."
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25 man squad announced
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st February 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have confirmed the 25 man squad that they hope will be good enough
to avoid relegation. The deadline for registrations passed earlier today
with the news that both Herita Ilunga and Benni McCarthy have been omitted
from the final 25 to make space for the January arrivals, meaning that
neither will be eligible to play in the Premier League for the remainder of
the season. Ilunga, a shadow of the player who made such an impression
during his first season at the club had been set for a deadline day return
to France, but negotiations with at least two clubs failed to bear fruit.
Meanwhile McCarthy, who must rank as one of the club's worst players ever
had been hoping for a loan move but unsurprisingly, given his current
condition, failed to find a new club. All of the transfer window arrivals -
Wayne Bridge, Gary O'Neil, Demba Ba and Robbie Keane - have been named in
the squad, whilst the fifth January signing - Paul McCallum - is set to go
under the wing of Tony Carr in the under 18s.
The 25 man squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers
Robert Green (England)
Ruud Boffin (Belgium)
Defenders
Danny Gabbidon (Wales)
Matthew Upson (England)
Wayne Bridge (England)
Manuel Da Costa (Portugal)
Julien Faubert (France)
Winston Reid (New Zealand)
Lars Jacobsen (Denmark)
Midfielders
Jonathan Spector (USA)
Scott Parker (England)
Kieron Dyer (England)
Mark Noble (England)
Pablo Barerra (Mexico)
Gary O'Neil (England)
Tomas Hitzlsperger (Germany)
Jack Collison (Wales)
Radoslav Kovac (Czech Republic)
Luis Boa Morte (Portugal)
Strikers
Carlton Cole (England)
Robbie Keane (Ireland)
Frederic Piquionne (France)
Zavon Hines (England)
Demba Ba (Senegal)
Victor Obinna (Nigeria)
First team squad players who were 21 or under at the registration deadline
and therefore also eligible to play include Jordan Brown, Anthony Edgar,
Matthew Fry, Frank Nouble, Freddie Sears, Jordan Spence, Junior Stanislas,
Marek Stech and James Tomkins.
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Dicks set for Boleyn return?
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st February 2011
By: Staff Writer
Julian Dicks is reported to be in discussion with West Ham with view to
returning in a coaching capacity. The 42-year-old former Hammers full back,
who enjoyed two spells at the Boleyn Ground in the 1990s could be set to
return as part of a backroom reshuffle following the departure of reserve
team coach Alex Dyer to Charlton at the weekend. Dicks - who currently
manages Isthmian Division One North side Grays Athletic - initially turned
his back on the game upon retiring, choosing instead to take up golf which
he intended to take up as a profession. However the troublesome knees that
curbed his footballing career also did for his golfing dreams. After a short
spell running a pub in Langham, Essex, the former United number three moved
to Spain. However it wasn't long before he was back in the UK and back in
football as manager of Eastern Counties side Wivenhoe Town, whom he joined
in January 2009. At the end of the 2008/09 season Dicks left Wivenhoe by
mutual consent but within three months was in charge at Grays, where he
remains today.
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Defending the Daves
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st February 2011
By: Matt Porter
It's refreshing, isn't it?
Transfer deadline day and West Ham have barely been mentioned in the midst
of a media frenzy of feverish rumours. Some of the more ridiculous Upton
Park signings of recent years really pale into insignificance when you look
at the money being waved around at Anfield today. So much for the tough
financial climate.
So where do the Irons stand as the Premier League once more seems set to
implode on itself? A little over 12 months ago the club's very future was
hanging in the balance, implausibly under the ownership of a bank that
didn't actually appear to exist anymore. The apocalyptic stories about the
bulk of the senior players departing in the transfer window were rife (and
probably fairly true).
And then in rode Messrs Sullivan and Gold. In the year that followed we've
had a successful relegation battle, another so-far unsuccessful relegation
battle, a change of managers, a failed attempt at changing managers, the
Olympic Stadium bid and a whole load of public proclamations from the
co-owners and their esteemed vice-chairman.
But how do we assess such a turbulent tenure? Well, I suppose we can begin
by saying that West Ham United FC is still in existence. That's not bad for
starters.
Balancing the books
The new co-owners couldn't have been any blunter when they held their
opening press conference upon pitching up at the Boleyn a year ago. David
Sullivan openly admitted that there was absolutely no financial logic
whatsoever in coming on board: "Myself and David Gold will be honest with
the fans about the books, the imbalance of the squad and the crazy wages the
Icelandic owners paid out that has brought the club to its knees."
He went on to say that the club was in around £110m of debt, a long way from
the £38m figure previously understood to be true. West Ham United, Sullivan
said, had "walked a very close line" towards administration.
Naturally, it made perfect sense for Sullivan to play up the extent of the
club's financial problems in order to emphasise his role as the saviour of
the club, but let's be fair, his ego is an irrelevance to one and all as
long as the chatter is backed up by decisive action.
The personal wealth of Gold and Sullivan alone is naturally reassuring, and
they have proved themselves willing to pump it into the club, upping their
collective stake in the club from 50 to 60 per cent in May. Financial
stability might not be assured with dark relegation-shaped clouds looming
overhead, but things are certainly much better than they were as 2009 became
2010.
Transfer policy
The cynic in me thinks that investing in players is more of a last resort
than a favoured policy under the current ownership. Money has been
noticeably more forthcoming in the two January windows that the new owners
have presided over, where the financial consequences of relegation are at
the forefront of all the relevant minds.
In the summer, however, things were somewhat more hesitant. Whereas this
month has seen an investment in proven Premier League players, the club
dealt largely in inexperience during the close season, spending money on the
likes of Pablo Barrera and Winston Reid, who, let's be honest, have hardly
set the league alight. Had there been a more meaningful signal of intent
during the summer months, then maybe the club's current plight at the bottom
of the table could have been avoided.
More positive, however, is that key members of the Hammers' squad have
remained in place. The talismanic Scott Parker has been tied down to a new
long-term contract, with the club resisting the overtures of Tottenham on
numerous occasions. Gold and Sullivan might not be Saudi oil barons, but at
least they've done their bit.
The managers
Considering the seemingly tranquil state of chairman-manager relations while
Gold and Sullivan were at the helm at Birmingham, the numerous PR disasters
that have blighted the last 12 months have been nothing short of remarkable.
Both Gianfranco Zola and Avram Grant have been openly humiliated and
undermined by the actions of the clubs' owners. It hardly inspires
confidence and stability.
While Zola was in place prior to the arrival of the new owners, Gold and
Sullivan's attitude towards their own subsequent appointment has been at
times cringeworthy. The Martin O'Neill saga was an embarrassment and the
reasons behind an apparent boardroom leak seem as clear as mud. It's fair
enough if you take the decision to change managers, but to play the whole
sorry episode out in the media before anything concrete has actually
happened is just bizarre.
The Olympic Stadium
The most contentious issue of the lot, and therefore not one that I'm keen
to pass judgement on. Whether it's in the interests of West Ham United to
relocate to a 60,000 capacity stadium with a running track – abandoning
their home of 107 years – is a debate that has raged on and will continue to
do so.
What can be said, though, is that the whole issue has been a real statement
of intent. Like it or not, Gold and Sullivan talk the talk and love to hear
themselves doing it. They may not be perfect, but let's face it, things
could be much worse.
A quick quiz question – who can remember the name of the club chairman at
the time of the takeover last year?
My follow-up question, therefore, is who would you prefer? The
media-friendly Daves or the man whose name I couldn't remember for the life
of me? I've made my mind up.
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Keane - I've nothing to lose
Hammers new loan star has nothing to lose joining bottom side
Last updated: 1st February 2011
SSN
New West Ham signing Robbie Keane says he has nothing to lose by joining the
Premier League's bottom team. The Hammers have secured the services of the
Republic of Ireland skipper on loan from Spurs for the rest of the season,
with a view to making the deal permanent. While the Hammers are fighting
relegation and Spurs are competing at the upper echelons of the top flight
and in the UEFA Champions League, Keane is looking forward to playing
regular football once again. The much-travelled frontman told Sky Sports
News: "It is something I am fairly used to now, coming to a new club. "It is
an opportunity for me, and I don't really have anything to lose. "West Ham
are bottom, all we can do is push up the table and I am here to hopefully do
that to avoid relegation." Hammers boss Avram Grant believes Keane is just
the character his side need in their fight against relegation.
Be myself
"I can only be myself, if other people can see me bringing something else to
the dressing room, well great," the striker said. "I am here to help the
team, if that is off the pitch also with the character I am, then that is
great. "The spirit is fine here, there are good lads and top quality
players." Keane added: "Even before I came to West Ham, I thought they had
the quality to stay up. "Sometimes you find yourselves in situations where
you are down there and it is very difficult to get out. "It is important
that sooner rather than later they get out of that situation they are in,
and hopefully I can help them do it." Keane, who re-joined Tottenham for a
second spell from Liverpool two years ago, is looking forward to a new
challenge at Upton Park.
No wrench
"It was not a wrench to leave Spurs, because at the end of the day, I just
want to play football," he said. "I have got friends there, but it means
nothing if you are not playing football. "It is a short career, you have to
make the most of it. "I want to play football and don't like to get paid for
sitting on the bench. "In respect, it is difficult to leave a club which you
have a lot of association with, but I have to look after my career. "I enjoy
playing and love playing. I want to keep doing that for as much as I can."
On finding himself pushed down the pecking order at White Hart Lane, Keane
added: "That is the way football goes, Spurs have got a lot of top players.
"It is going to be difficult for the other players there, they have so many
strikers who are top players." Keane maintains his move to West Ham was not
about keeping himself in contention for more international recognition. "I
have not really worried or thought about my position with the Ireland team,"
he said. "It is all about now and I have said before if I didn't play for
Ireland and someone else came in, I have always said I would walk away."
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Keane is our new Tevez
The Sun
Published: Today
ROBBIE KEANE will have the same impact on struggling West Ham as Carlos
Tevez. Boss Avram Grant believes striker Keane has the skill and mental
strength to keep them up. Argentine Tevez played a vital role in keeping the
club in the Premier League in 2007. And Grant said: "Tevez had the qualities
to do this and Keane has scored everywhere. He can do it for us and the
style of this team will suit him." On-loan Keane, 30, is set to make an
instant debut in tonight's cruncher at Blackpool. He said: "If I'm guilty of
moving to a few clubs to play then so be it. I don't want to sit on a
bench."
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Hammers hope Keane has the Tevez touch
Published 23:00 01/02/11 By Marc Isaacs
The Mirror
Avram Grant is backing Robbie Keane to follow in the footsteps of Carlos
Tevez and become a West Ham hero by helping them stay in the Premier League.
Tevez is still idolised by Hammers fans after he scored seven goals in 10
games as they beat the drop back in 2007. West Ham were strong favourites to
get relegated that season and are facing a similar situation this time
around. Grant pulled out all the stops to secure the signature of Keane, who
failed to command a regular first-team place at Tottenham and was happy to
make a move across London. The West Ham boss is convinced Keane can make an
immediate impact for his temporary club when they face Blackpool tonight.
Asked if Keane can become the new Tevez at Upton Park, Grant said: "I hope
so. He has the qualities to do it. "I have known Tevez for many years. He is
a great player and has scored goals wherever he has been. The same has
happened for Robbie Keane - he has scored goals everywhere and he can do the
same for us. I think the style of the team is good for him.
"Tevez came at the start of the season (for West Ham) and didn't play. You
always have to give time, but we don't have time. We need to do it as
quickly as possible. "This is one of the reasons we wanted Robbie. He knows
English football and knows our team. I don't think it will take Robbie long
to settle in. Every game he will get better but I think he will get used to
it very quickly."
Keane is no stranger to relegation dogfights and played a major role in
helping Tottenham move clear of the bottom three when he made his return to
White Hart Lane from Liverpool in January 2009, scoring six goals in the
second half of the season. The Republic of Ireland skipper insists he has
nothing to prove at West Ham and feels he has the mental strength to cope
with the pressure which has been placed on his shoulders. "I went back to
Spurs and played a massive role in keeping the club up," he said. "They were
in a similar situation to what West Ham find themselves in now but have gone
onto big things. "I don't have to prove anything to anybody. I have played
in the Premier League for a long time and scored more than 100 goals.
Sometimes you just need the opportunity. I am quite strong-minded and have
been known for that over the years."
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Keane, Ba and O'Neil set for West Ham debuts
Published 15:15 01/02/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
New signings Robbie Keane, Demba Ba and Gary O'Neil are all in contention to
make their West Ham debuts at Blackpool tomorrow. Victor Obinna is likely to
retain his place after netting a hat-trick in the FA Cup win over Nottingham
Forest after his return from suspension, meaning Carlton Cole could have to
be content with a place on the bench. Manuel Da Costa (ankle) and Thomas
Hitzlsperger (thigh) remain sidelined.
Team (from): Green, Bridge, Upson, Tomkins, Jacobsen, O'Neil, Parker, Noble,
Obinna, Keane, Piquionne, Boffin, Cole, Ba, Gabbidon, Ilunga, Spector,
Kovac, Boa Morte, Barrera, Dyer, Hines.
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Adam to captain Blackpool against West Ham
Published 15:40 01/02/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Blackpool captain Charlie Adam will lead the side out at home to West Ham
tomorrow after failing to secure a move in the January transfer window.
Manager Ian Holloway strengthened his squad by bringing in four players on
deadline day and must decide which, if any, to involve against the Hammers.
That quartet are strikers James Beattie and Sergei Kornilenko, plus
midfielders Andy Reid and Jason Puncheon. Holloway will hope to have
left-back Stephen Crainey in contention again after he missed last week's
home defeat by Manchester United with an ankle injury.
Provisional squad: Kingson, Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Adam, Phillips,
Vaughan, Varney, Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell, Sylvestre, Grandin, Euell,
Beattie, Reid, Puncheon, Kornilenko, Ormerod, Edwards, Baptiste, Rachubka.
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Demba Ba set for West Ham debut against Blackpool
By talkSPORT
Tuesday, February 1
West Ham's new signing Demba Ba will be included in the squad for the
Premier League game against Blackpool on Wednesday night. Ba finally
completed his long-awaited move from Hoffenheim last week but has been
troubled by a knee problem which saw him fail a medical at Stoke earlier in
the transfer window. West Ham manager Avram Grant is convinced Ba can play a
major role for the club and will not be affected by his injury problems. Ba
has trained with the squad in the build-up the game at Bloomfield Road and
is likely to be named as a substitute. Grant said: "Demba will probably be
in the squad."
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The new Carlos Tevez! Loan star Keane insists he's the man to save West Ham
from the drop
By SAMI MOKBEL
Last updated at 7:29 AM on 2nd February 2011
Daily Mail
Robbie Keane has been hailed as West Ham's new Carlos Tevez - and the
striker insists he is the man to help the Hammers beat the drop. The
Republic of Ireland international completed a loan move from London rivals
Tottenham on Sunday and could make his debut in the crucial clash against
Blackpool.
Former Hammers hero Tevez's goals during the back end of the 2006/07 season
were crucial to the East London club's survival in the top flight. And
Grant said: 'I hope Robbie can have the same impact as Tevez - he has the
qualities to do it. I know Tevez personally and he is a great player.'But
Robbie Keane is also a great player and scores goals wherever he goes and he
can do it for us. He knows English football and that will help.' Much is
expected of Keane, who will join the Hammers on a permanent deal if they can
avoid relegation. Keane returned from his ill-fated fated six month spell at
Liverpool in January 2009 to help Harry Redknapp's side beat the drop after
their horrendous start to the season under Juande Ramos. And the
31-year-old said yesterday: 'When I went back to Tottenham, I think I had a
massive hand in keeping the club up because they were in a similar position
to what West Ham are at the moment. 'I think I had a key role in keeping
Spurs up that season and look at them now.' He added: 'I'm not looking for
hero status, I'm here to play football. If I can help keep West Ham up then
I've done my job. 'You can only prove yourself, when you are given
opportunities. I've scored over 100 Premier League goals so I don't feel
like I have to prove anything to anybody.'
Defender Manuel Da Costa is set to make his return from an ankle injury in
the reserve clash against West Bromwich. Midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger,
who has missed the entire season through injury, has been pencilled in to
make his comeback from a thigh problem in the Hammers second string's clash
against the Baggies next Wednesday.
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Holloway to assess Adam before deciding if wantaway captain is fit to face
West Ham
By CHRIS WHEELER
Last updated at 1:34 AM on 2nd February 2011
Daily Mail
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway will check on Charlie Adam's mental state before
deciding whether to play him against West Ham after the Scotland
midfielder's hopes of a move to Liverpool or Tottenham were dashed on
transfer deadline day. Chairman Karl Oyston revealed that he put Premier
League survival and the £40million it guarantees ahead of Liverpool's
improved £6.6m offer and a last-ditch bid from Spurs. Adam insists he is
still committed to Blackpool's cause despite handing in a transfer request,
but Holloway will monitor the player's mood ahead of the game at Bloomfield
Road. 'I will assess whether he is ready to play against West Ham,' said
Holloway. 'If I was Charlie, I would be taking everything that happened as a
positive, enjoy my football and carry on believing that in the summer there
are going to be all sorts of options there for me. 'If he does want to move,
then he had better play to get one. He ain't got one this window so he
hasn't played well enough to get one, has he? 'Liverpool certainly had some
money - why didn't they spend it on Charlie? 'I accept Charlie will go but
I don't know if the chairman does. It depends on how they behave. 'What's
the most dangerous thing in the world? Somebody who doesn't care and can do
whatever he likes. They're dangerous people. That is what my chairman is. I
wouldn't like to mess around with him.' Ultimately Oyston decided that
Adam's role in Blackpool's survival bid was of greater value than his price
in the transfer market. He said: 'I want to give the town, the club, its
supporters and the manager the best possible chance of maintaining Premier
League status. 'It would be horrific if we all sat at the end of the season
saying "what if?". Now, no matter what happens, there won't be any "what
ifs?". 'We will give staying in this league - and all the rewards that
brings - our best shot. We go forward together and we won't have any
regrets.'
Holloway could give debuts to new loan signings James Beattie and Andy Reid.
He is banking on Beattie having a similar impact to the one he had at Stoke
two years ago, blaming the striker's barren spell since joining Rangers on
family problems. 'There are all sorts of reasons why he hasn't scored,'
added Holloway. 'His dad is not very well and his missus is just pregnant.
He never lived up there but he has a place in Bolton which would be perfect
for him. Happy days. Come on home. Have a go, son. 'Beattie scores in his
sleep. He always has and he always will. He kept Stoke up in his first
season and I am just imagining some of Charlie's left-foot crosses and him
getting on the end of them. We might have beaten Manchester United if we'd
had him.
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West Ham striker Robbie Keane confident he can help save the club from
Premier League relegation
By John Ley 1:00AM GMT 02 Feb 2011
John's Twitter
Robbie Keane makes his West Ham debut at Blackpool on Wednesday claiming he
can save the club from relegation – just as he did when he returned for a
second spell at Tottenham two years ago. When Keane returned to White Hart
Lane in 2009 Tottenham were just two points off the foot of the table with
24 points from as many games. Keane scored five goals in the remaining 14
matches and the club finished eighth. The Republic of Ireland international
arrived at Upton Park on loan with a view to a permanent deal, with his new
club only slightly worse off, with 21 points from 24 games. "I went back to
Spurs and I think I had a massive hand in keeping the club up," he said.
"They were in a same or similar position as West Ham are at the moment.
"They've gone on to big things, so good luck to them. Now I'm on loan here,
it's a big challenge and one I'm looking forward to." Keane has started only
one game for Tottenham this season, but a year ago he claimed 12 goals in 15
league starts for Celtic on loan. "I love playing football; if I'm guilty
of moving to a few clubs, I'm sorry about that, but I prefer to be playing
than sitting on the bench and picking up my wages," he said. His experience
of playing at seven different clubs in three countries means that Keane
arrives in confident mood. "I've played in the Premier League for a long
time and scored over 100 Premier League goals so I don't think I've got to
prove anything to anybody," he said.
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West Ham's unwanted striker Benni McCarthy rejects £1m pay-off as club try
to clear the decks
By Jason Burt 11:00PM GMT 01 Feb 2011
Jason's Twitter
Benni McCarthy has turned down the offer of a £1 million pay-off at West Ham
United in return for tearing up his contract. It is understood that McCarthy
would consider quitting the Premier League club but not on the terms that
have been offered, even though he has made just 14 appearances since he
joined in January last year. McCarthy has played just 326 minutes for the
club, making only three starts and is yet to score a goal. The South African
has had injury problems but has also been troubled by weight issues. This
led West Ham to threaten him with a fine of a week's wages unless he lost
just over two pounds each week for five weeks over the summer, which he did.
Indeed McCarthy — along with another player surplus to requirements at West
Ham, Herita Ilunga — has not been included in the club's 25-man squad list
for the rest of the season. It means that neither can play in the Premier
League and can now only feature in FA Cup matches.
McCarthy earns around £38,000 a week and with 18 months left on his
contract, he can pick up wages totalling more than £2.7 million if he were
to sit out his West Ham contract. The club will endeavour to make sure this
does not happen. West Ham had hoped McCarthy would agree to terminate his
deal in return for a lump-sum payment now which would leave him free to find
another club. There was interest in McCarthy during the transfer window but
it failed to translate into an offer. Similarly a number of French clubs
wanted to take Ilunga but would not cover his West Ham wages. The left-back
is no longer in Avram Grant's first-team plans because the manager has
signed Wayne Bridge. McCarthy has indicated that, at 33, he is desperate to
feature in first-team football. A loan move to Queens Park Rangers failed to
materialise despite playing and scoring for the Championship club in a
recent practice match against Tottenham Hotspur. It is likely that West Ham
will be able to loan McCarthy to a Championship side, as the loan window
reopens next week for such deals. There has also been interest in the
striker from clubs in the Middle East. McCarthy's stance will annoy West Ham
supporters, given how little he has played since he was signed from
Blackburn Rovers for £2.2 million in the last January window. With West Ham
having now signed two more strikers — Robbie Keane and Demba Ba — there is a
surfeit of forwards as they already have Carlton Cole, Frederic Piquionne
and Victor Obinna on their books. West Ham also have Zavon Hines and Freddie
Sears while another striker, Paul McCallum, 17, was acquired from Dulwich
Hamlet. Frank Nouble went on loan to Barnsley on Monday.
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