Villa's Nigel Reo-Coker (Daily Telegraph)
Gary O'Neil is considering taking legal action against Aston Villa
midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker after a tackle that may have put his career
in jeopardy.
West Ham's Gary O'Neil may take legal action following tackle by Aston
Villa's Nigel Reo-Coker
Injury crisis: Gary O'Neil's prospects of playing professional football
again are rated as no better than 50 per cent
The 27 year-old was carried off on a stretcher after being challenged by
Reo-Coker during West Ham United's home defeat last Saturday and
underwent a two-hour operation on Wednesday evening.
It is understood that the ligament was ripped from O'Neil's ankle in the
impact he suffered during the tackle and he will not be allowed to put
any weight on his foot for two months.
At the very least O'Neil is thought to be facing around eight months out
but there are understood to be very serious concerns that he might not
play again. At best he is being given a 50 per cent chance of playing again.
O'Neil arrived at Upton Park during the January transfer window, signed
for £1.5 million from Middlesbrough after agreeing a 2½-year deal, and
with Scott Parker also out, West Ham are facing a midfield injury crisis.
Even injury-plagued Kieron Dyer, recalled from loan at Ipswich Town, has
suffered another setback after limping out of a reserve match this week.
He is thought to have played his last game for West Ham.
There is thought to be anger and frustration at the club at the extent
of the damage caused to O'Neil. Chairman David Sullivan said on
Thursday: "This has seriously depressed me, terrible for the player and
a big loss for the club with Scott Parker out."
If the worst case scenario does happen and O'Neil's career is over then
it is believed he will consider whether to pursue Reo-Coker for damages
which could run into millions of pounds in lost earnings.
There have already been several such claims made in football while,
recently, former West Ham striker Dean Ashton considered the same course
of action after his career was ended by a training ground challenge by
Shaun Wright-Phillips.
West Ham are pursuing the Football Association for £6.8 million in
damages for the loss of Ashton as they claim the injury he sustained on
England duty ended his career. That case is being dealt with by the FA's
insurers but is moving slowly towards a conclusion.
For now O'Neil, a former England Under-21 international who began his
career at Portsmouth before moving to Middlesbrough for £5 million, is
fighting to save his own career. It had been hoped that the cartilage in
his right ankle could be screwed back into place but, during the
operation, it became apparent that the pieces were too small to do so.
Instead he underwent a micro-fracture procedure where the three areas of
damage were drilled and these will fill with scar tissue.
The injury is undoubtedly extremely serious and, it is believed, the
surgeon who operated on him is giving O'Neil no more than a 50 per cent
chance of ever playing professional football again.
There is a chance that the procedure will fail and then cartilage from
O'Neil's knee will need to be used to plug the damage to his ankle. If
this happens the player will be out for a further six months.
The injury happened just under an hour into West Ham's 2-1 loss at home
to Villa last Saturday as O'Neil shaped to shoot on the corner of the
penalty area. Reo-Coker slid in to challenge O'Neil and caught his right
foot.
However, Halsey, who was well placed to view the incident, clearly
deemed that the Villa midfielder had won the ball and waved play on.
O'Neil was unable to recover and was eventually taken from the pitch on
a stretcher in evident distress.
West Ham face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as they desperately
fight against relegation from the Premier League.
The injury to O'Neil has caused consternation at the club, where he has
settled in well.
It is hoped that Parker will be fit to face Manchester City away on
Sunday, May 1, although West Ham will want to ensure he makes the final
three matches of the season against fellow relegation candidates.
Hammer injury blows
Gary O'Neil
His career may be over just two months after joining for £1.5m after
suffering ankle damage in a challenge against Aston Villa last Saturday.
Has been given only a 50 per cent chance of playing again.
Dean Ashton
Record signing at £7.25m forced to retire in Dec 2009, aged 26, after
failing to recover from an ankle injury suffered on England duty.
Kieron Dyer
Limped out of a reserve team game this week and, out-of-contract in the
summer, is expected to have played his last game for West Ham. After
breaking his leg soon after his £6m move from Newcastle, he has made a
handful of starts in three years.
Freddie Ljungberg
Suffered a series of injuries after signing from Arsenal on
£85,000-a-week. Eventually he agreed for his contract to be terminated
in return for a multi-million pound pay-off.
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Tony Cottee column: A point at Chelsea will be fantastic for West Ham
(East London Advertiser)
Any point from either this Saturday's match against Chelsea or at
Manchester City the week after will be a bonus, but in reality I fully
expect us to be bottom and more than three points from safety with three
games to go.
It's the worst place to be and it would mean maximum points from our
final three matches against Blackburn, Wigan and Sunderland which will
undoubtedly be a tough task.
Saturday's opponents Chelsea won't win anything this season, but they
still have a sensational squad full of talent and I believe boss Avram
Grant will set out a defensive formation.
Of course Fernando Torres has struggled since joining in the January
transfer window from Liverpool, but they can still hurt you from
anywhere on the pitch.
I would play a 4-5-1 formation and leave Carlton Cole up front as the
lone striker. West Ham must try to stifle their attacking play and I
believe the midfield runs of Frank Lampard and Michael Essien must be
tracked.
However a point for West Ham is not out of the question, because they
are not the Chelsea of old and some positive play going forward with a
solid defensive performance could give us a chance.
Their strength lies in their defence and a lack of goals has been their
weakness and I believe that weakness will end up costing Carlo Ancelotti
his job at Stamford Bridge and lets hope a crucial point on Saturday
will contribute towards that.
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The in-play guide to Chelsea vs West Ham (Betfair)
Chelsea's attempt at a late title challenge continues with a home derby
against West Ham on Saturday teatime. We've looked at three trends that
will hopefully help you make money as the action unfolds...
West Ham can't afford to concede first
Avram Grant's side have shipped the opening goal in 18 of their Premier
League matches this season and on 12 of those occasions they have fallen
to defeat, only fighting back to win one, away to Fulham. They will
struggle to score as it is having netted on just one of their eight
trips to face top-half teams (compared to seven of their eight against
the bottom half), so if they fall behind, you can pile in on Chelsea -
who have won 15 of the 17 matches they have fired first in - with
confidence.
The first half hour is crucial
The three clashes between Chelsea and West Ham over the last four
seasons to have featured goals in the first half hour have all gone on
to contain over 2.5 goals, while the four that haven't have all provided
two or fewer. That suggests a clear trend for identifying in play how
lively the game is likely to be, but if you intend to bet heavily on
over 2.5 after an early opener, make sure that you are quick because in
each of the three examples above, strike number two has come within 15
minutes.
A half-time draw favours Chelsea
Don't be fooled into thinking that if West Ham hold out until half time,
it will be an opportune time to back them to cause an upset, because
they have been level at the interval on 13 occasions this term - the
latest being against Aston Villa last week - and have gone on to triumph
only once, losing five times. By contrast, Chelsea have the second best
points average in the division in fixtures that have been in the balance
at the break, winning six and drawing five of their 13 half-time stalemates.
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Guilty until proven innocent (KUMB)
The Sun newspaper has been slammed for printing the name of a young West
Ham United player accused of rape.
The tabloid today reported that 17-year-old youth team player Dominic
Vose, one of the club's most talented prospects was recently arrested on
suspicion of rape after a 16-year-old female claimed she had been
attacked at a party, at which Vose is said to have been present.
The attack - which, it was claimed, took place in Herne Hill, South
London - led to the arrest of Vose who was susequently released on bail
until June.
Despite the fact that Vose is yet to be charged or face a jury, the Sun
took the step of naming the player in today's edition - a decision that
has been slammed by Hammers fans on KUMB.com today.
"They really shouldn't be allowed to print his name when it is only
suspicion," said Hammers Dad. "If he is guilty and convicted, print
away, but forever more he will be a rapist even if he is found innocent."
Philosophical Dan added: "How is is even vaguely acceptable to print the
name of a 17-year old kid, on the basis of 'suspicion' of a sex attack?
Which paper printed it? Of course - the Sun. Keeping Britain's
intellectual elite informed."
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Free coach travel for Wigan (O/S)
Hammers fans heading to Wigan on 15 May can take advantage of a great
club offer
As a huge 'Thank You' to supporters, West Ham United are pleased to
offer free coach travel to Wigan Athletic for the penultimate match of
the season.
The Sunday 15 May fixture promises to be pivotal to the club's chances
of Barclays Premier League survival, and the Board are keen to reward
travelling fans for what has been tremendous away support over the campaign.
Joint-Chairman David Sullivan said: "It has been a difficult season but
our away fans have been magnificent at every single game we have played
up and down the country, whatever the result on the pitch.
"Free coach travel for our last away game at Wigan is a way of saying
'Thank you' and also ensuring that the team will get the best possible
support for what will be an extremely important match. It is vital that
everyone is pulling together in the same direction between now and the
end of the season."
The offer is open to all fans, but places on the club's official coaches
must be booked at the same time as supporters purchase their match
tickets. There will be no allocated seating, with the club operating a
'load and go' system to cope with the expected demand.
The club has been allocated the maximum 4,500 tickets available for the
big DW Stadium encounter, with echoes of the memorable trip to Wigan on
28 April 2007 still lingering in the minds of many supporters.
On that day, the club also offered free coach travel and was rewarded
with a 3-0 victory that played a major part in the club's 'Great Escape'
with seven wins from the last nine games.
The deadline for fans wanting to travel on the free coaches will be 5pm
on Thursday 12 May, although any match tickets left unsold at that point
will still be available.
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Exclusive - West Ham are going down, says Sir Geoff Hurst (Talksport)
Sir Geoff Hurst has told talkSPORT he can't see West Ham winning their
fight for survival.
The World Cup winner believes the relegation fight is now between five
teams - Blackburn, Blackpool, Wigan, Wolves and the Hammers.
But Hurst is holding out little hope his old club, who are currently two
points adrift of safety with five games to play, will be one of the
teams who claw their way out of the drop zone.
He told Keys & Gray: "It's been nothing short of an awful season. We've
been in the relegation zone for most of the season.
"At the moment it looks like three from five. Mathematically any club,
even Wolves at the bottom who have got a game in hand, can get out of it
but, I hate to be negative, we look like we're on our way down at the
moment.
"We've got to win at least three games at home which is terrific if we
can do it but we've only won six all season. It's been a disastrous
year. We are all hopeful as fans of the club but you've got to be
realistic. It's three from five now and we're one of the three."
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Hitz determined for derby (O/S)
Thomas Hitzlsperger is banking on West Ham United coping with the
pressure when they travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.
The Germany midfielder hoped that against Chelsea the team would be able
to rise to the occasion in a way that they could not sustain against
Aston Villa last weekend. Hitzlsperger believed the team need to stay
calm as the tension will only mount in the weeks to come.
"We are never really free, are we? We're in a relegation fight and we've
been in there all season and it's not easy going into a game like [last]
Saturday and knowing you have to win it and if you don't, you're in
really big trouble like we are now.
"We are not free of the pressure and we do feel it, but we're not the
only ones. Villa came and definitely didn't want to lose the game. There
are pressures on all of us and we've got to cope with it.
"We go to Chelsea wanting to win the game, knowing that we're going up
against a really good side but hopefully they'll struggle."
Looking back on last weekend's 2-1 setback, the former Villa midfielder
conceded that his old club had taken the opportunity to strike as the
Hammers lost the initiative following Robbie Keane's early goal.
"We really had to win the game. The way we approached it, we had to be
positive and we pressed them early on and it was a good start for us.
Scoring after one or two minutes was brilliant.
"But then we sat back a little bit and they put pressure on us, as they
would do with the strike-force that they've got. We had some good
possession but it wasn't enough and conceding a goal so late in the game
was hugely disappointing."
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