Daily WHUFC News - 4th June 2013

West Ham United statement
WHUFC.com
The Club has released a statement regarding the fixture at Tottenham Hotspur
in November 2012
03.06.2013

The Football Association has concluded its investigation into events
surrounding West Ham United's game at Tottenham Hotspur on 25 November 2012
and has confirmed that no further action will be taken against West Ham
United. In a written response to West Ham United, The FA praised the Club's
reaction to the reported incidents of inappropriate behaviour, which
included issuing immediate life bans to any supporter found to have acted in
an unacceptable way.
The governing body also applauded West Ham United's planning and
co-operation with the authorities and Tottenham Hotspur regarding the return
match at the Boleyn Ground on Monday 25 February 2013, which passed off
without major incident. The Club works extremely hard to address all forms
of discriminatory behaviour, wherever they occur, and operates a strict zero
tolerance policy towards anyone who behaves inappropriately when following
the team. West Ham United actively promotes events and campaigns that
highlight and combat prejudice towards individuals and groups because of
disability, race, sex, sexual orientation and religion. The Club actively
supports campaigns promoting inclusion and tolerance, including Kick It Out,
Show Racism the Red Card, Football v Homophobia and Holocaust Memorial Day,
while the West Ham United Community Sports Trust works positively with
people of all ages and backgrounds.

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Sir Trevor Brooking exclusive - Part 1
WHUFC.com
The West Ham United legend looks back on a successful season and ahead to
the 2013/14 campaign
03.06.2013

With 647 appearances and 102 goals for West Ham United and 47 England caps
to his name, few people are in a better position to assess the Hammers'
2012/13 campaign than Sir Trevor Brooking. In the first section of an
exclusive three-part interview with West Ham TV, Sir Trevor discusses a
successful season and gives his opinion on how his former Club can continue
to progress next term. The 64-year-old two-times FA Cup winner starts by
assessing a campaign that saw Sam Allardyce guide his side to the relative
comfort of a tenth-place finish on their return to the Barclays Premier
League. "I think at the start of the season, like any club coming up, you're
hoping you don't get dragged into the relegation scrap," said Sir Trevor. "A
lot of clubs were always looking over their shoulders because of the way the
league turned out, but we started well. "Funnily enough, in contrast to last
season when we got up through the Play-Offs and our home form wasn't as good
but we were really good away, this time I think our home Premier League
games have been really good and we've deserved the points we have picked
up."

Sir Trevor enjoyed a successful spell in the dugout himself, losing just one
of the 14 games he managed as caretaker between April and October 2003.
As a player, he was part of the West Ham squad that consolidated their
position in the top-flight following promotion as Division Two champions in
1981. After finishing ninth in 1981/82, the Hammers avoided 'second season
syndrome' by finishing eighth the following season, 1982/83.

Similar improvement this time around would be more than welcomed by the
popular former No10, but how can it be achieved?

"I think the important thing is to keep it tight at the back and score
enough goals to win games. Sometimes you can play well but not score and
then you end up with draws instead of wins, whereas one win gets you three
points and they can be crucial. We need that attacking edge. "Andy Carroll
has done well but nobody knows what is going to happen with Andy. Carlton
Cole's contract is up, so the attacking area is an issue. "We also need to
get that support from midfield because, if you look, from the goalscoring
point of view we haven't had a couple of players who have got into double
figures, which gives you that opportunity to get the victories. "I'm sure
Sam will also look at how they can get more threatening and more of a
cutting edge away from home. They picked up a couple of results this season,
but they need to get more wins away from home to take the pressure off
needing to get the results at home."

While a number of other Barclays Premier League clubs have, for one reason
or another, changed their manager in recent weeks, West Ham have bucked the
trend by securing Sam Allardyce's future on a new contract.

Having witnessed periods of both tumult and stability during his long
association with the Hammers, Sir Trevor is delighted to see the Club in
such a stable position. "The Davids [Joint-Chairmen Sullivan and Gold] have
recognised the experience Sam has in this league and it is important this
coming year that he does what he wants to do. If you look at the track
record the two Davids have got, they have been pretty consistent with giving
opportunities to managers when they are leading a club. "Sam led the Club to
bounce back with promotion and we got the win on the final day of this
season to finish tenth."

*In Part 2 of his exclusive interview, to be published on Tuesday, Sir
Trevor Brooking discusses the Hammers' move to the Olympic Stadium.

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Season in Seconds: Mark Noble
WHUFC.com
Our latest player to go under the spotlight is Hammers midfielder Mark Noble
03.06.2013

Hammers Academy product Mark Noble is the latest player to be featured in
our Season in Seconds series.
How would you sum up the season Mark?

MN - "We finished tenth, so I don't think you can ask for much more than
that really."

What was the highlight for you?

MN - "Probably the 1-0 win against Aston Villa on the first day of the
season. Coming up from the Championship, having a home game first and
getting three points on the board was a massive kick start to the season."

What was the funniest moment of the season?

MN - "Probably when Macca [Neil McDonald] fell over on the touchline, doing
a sort of roly-poly backwards. It was quite funny because he takes himself
quite seriously!"

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A take no action over Millwall and West Ham abuse claims
BBC.co.uk

The Football Association will take no further action after investigations
into allegations of discriminatory abuse by West Ham and Millwall fans. Two
West Ham supporters were arrested for anti-Semitic gestures in a game
against Tottenham in November 2012. Sky Sports News also filmed Millwall
fans racially abusing Leeds player El-Hadji Diouf in the same month. An FA
statement said: "No charges are to be issued to either club in relation to
these isolated incidents."

However, it stated: "The FA advises that consideration will be given to
taking disciplinary action against both West Ham United and Millwall if
further reports of spectator misconduct are received." Some of West Ham's
fans are alleged to have mocked Tottenham supporters, who traditionally have
strong ties with London's Jewish community, during the game at White Hart
Lane. Following the game, West Ham said it would take the "strongest
possible action against any of their supporters, including enforcing life
bans from the club, that are found guilty of behaviour which is
categorically not condoned by West Ham".

The FA said it acknowledges "the work West Ham undertook in the immediate
aftermath of the match and the ongoing work the club, led by its owners,
undertakes to prevent all forms of discrimination and misconduct, as well as
the regular statements the club makes to supporters about the standards of
behaviour expected".

It also noted that the return fixture between the clubs in February 2013 at
Upton Park passed without incident. Millwall also acted swiftly, imposing
club bans for offenders who were arrested and charged for making offensive
or racist remarks. The FA statement added: "The FA notes the work the club
continues to do in partnership with its local community to educate
supporters and help tackle discriminatory language/behaviour."

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Gold dismisses Tomkins speculation
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 3rd June 2013
By: Staff Writer

David Gold has told potential suitors that defender James Tomkins is not for
sale. The 24-year-old centre half emerged from the club's Academy and only
15 months ago signed a new four-year contract (with an option for a further
year). However having played second fiddle to James Collins and Winston Reid
for much of the 2012/13 campaign, claims that Tomkins - who has already made
in excess of 150 appearances for the Hammers - was not happy with the
situation began to emerge. Those rumours appear to have alerted Tomkins'
former manager Alan Pardew, who gave the Basildon-born defender his first
team debut in the 1-1 draw at Everton in March 2008. However Hammers
co-owner David Gold has moved to quash rumours of a potential departure for
Tomkins. "We are not selling James - he's on a long contract and is still
only a young man", Gold told Sports Direct News. "He's an absolutely top
prospect and were he to be available it would not be easy to buy him as we
have a very high valuation on him. "But this is no longer a selling club.
We are moving forward into a big future and we will therefore be keeping our
biggest players; James is one of them."

Basildon-born Tomkins started just 18 of West Ham's 38 Premier League
matches last season, with eight further appearances from the bench. His only
goal of the campaign came in the 2-1 defeat at Wigan last October.

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Smoke without fire
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 3rd June 2013
By: Staff Writer

The FA have warned West Ham United over the future conduct of its fans -
whilst refraining from taking action against the club over an incident that
took place at White Hart Lane last year.

West Ham United were investigated by the Football Association after a small
pocket of supporters - estimated to be no more than 20 to 30 people - were
accused of anti-Semitic chanting during the Premier League clash at
Tottenham last November.

Despite widespread condemnation of West Ham United supporters - mostly from
people who weren't even present at White Hart Lane on the day including
journalists such as Mihir Bose and Matt Law of the Sunday Mirror - the FA
have refrained from sanctioning the club in any way.

In a statement released this lunchtime, the FA said: "Consideration will be
given to taking disciplinary action against West Ham United if further
reports of spectator misconduct are received, however, no charges are to be
issued in relation to this isolated incident.

"The FA continues to remind all clubs to address any form of discriminatory
behaviour with the strongest possible action."

West Ham United responded with a statement of their own, which said: "In a
written response to West Ham United, The FA praised the Club's reaction to
the reported incidents of inappropriate behaviour, which included issuing
immediate life bans to any supporter found to have acted in an unacceptable
way.

"The Club works extremely hard to address all forms of discriminatory
behaviour, wherever they occur, and operates a strict zero tolerance policy
towards anyone who behaves inappropriately when following the team.

"West Ham United actively promotes events and campaigns that highlight and
combat prejudice towards individuals and groups because of disability, race,
sex, sexual orientation and religion."

West Ham United are undestood to have banned just one supporter as a result
of the above incident.

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FA clears West Ham and Millwall after investigating discrimatory behaviour
Last Updated: June 3, 2013 3:55pm
SSN

The Football Association will take no action against West Ham and Millwall
over instances of alleged discriminatory behaviour among their fans last
season.

The two London clubs were the subject of separate FA investigations - West
Ham in relation to their game at Tottenham on November 25, and Millwall over
abuse caught on camera by Sky Sports News' Special Report team.

Police arrested several West Ham fans following allegations of anti-semitic
abuse at White Hart Lane, while two Millwall supporters featured in
February's Special Report were subsequently issued with club banning orders.

And FA investigators are satisfied with both clubs' continuing efforts to
deal with abusive behaviour.

Among the conclusions drawn in a statement on its website, the FA noted West
Ham's work ahead of a return fixture with Tottenham which passed off without
incident.

And, with reference to Millwall, the statement highlighted "the work the
club continues to do in partnership with its local community to educate
supporters and help tackle discriminatory language/behaviour".

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Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo's agent hints at Napoli move
By Simone Bargellini. Last Updated: June 3, 2013 9:47pm
SSN

Alvaro Negredo's agent has confirmed the player may leave Sevilla for
England or Italy this summer, with Napoli emerging as frontrunners for his
signature.
The 27-year-old scored 25 goals this season, including all four in Sevilla's
dramatic final day 4-3 win over Valencia last weekend. The Spanish club are
prepared to let the forward go this summer, but only to a side that matches
the £20million release clause in his contract. Everton were linked with a
move for Negredo in January but baulked at the £20million fee while Premier
League rivals West Ham have also been mentioned in recent weeks. His agent
Juanma Lopez has confirmed there is interest from the Premier League for the
player but hinted that Rafael Benitez's Napoli may be his preferred option.
Negredo is keen to test himself in the Champions League and Napoli's
automatic qualification for Europe's premier competition next season has
shot them to the head of the queue. "Alavaro has played a very important
season and many clubs are coming forward for him," Lopez told
tuttomercatoweb. "I think he can go either to England or Italy. "Napoli is a
possibility given that [Rafa] Benitez likes the player and the team will
play in next season's Champions League, a competition that Negredo would
like to take part in. "The final decision is up to Seville, whoever wants
Negredo has to find an agreement with them."

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