Tevez: 'I'll be there for West Ham'
WHUFC.com
The second part of whufc.com's exclusive interview with West Ham United
legend Carlos Tevez
15.11.2014
Carlos Tevez knows better than most what a West Ham United fairy tale looks
like. His precious Old Trafford winner on Survival Sunday was the 'perfect
ending', so says the Argentine. Could he then come back to play in Claret
and Blue rather than Argentina Blue? Never say never, but an honourable
Tevez is not in the habit of making promises he cannot keep. So how about
the final day at the Boleyn Ground in May 2016? "It would be an honour," he
told West Ham TV. "Anything West Ham need, anything they need from Carlos
Tevez, I will always be there. Unfortunately, I can't give them any more
years of my career, but yes, I identify with this Club and if there's
anything they need, Carlos Tevez will be there."
On the pitch it is an entirely different story and a complicated one at
that. If he were younger, it sounds as if he would return in a heartbeat,
but with much of his family still in South America, the 30-year-old reckons
his days in Europe are numbered. He continued: "I only have a few years left
in my career, it's not as if I have much left, but I do have a great feeling
with these people and it would be wrong from my side to tell them I will
come back when realistically I know it will be very difficult. "I have been
in Europe for ten years and I'm already missing my family, I miss my dad, I
miss my brothers and everything else. "If I had a few years more left in my
career and I was only in my twenties, of course I would tell you that I
would come back. But it would be very unfair from my side to create false
expectations to the fans, because they love me and they really don't deserve
that."
And they love him because of his goals and the infectious enthusiasm that
dragged West Ham from the brink in 2007. It is hard to believe that for 19
games his goals tally numbered nought. What changed when Tottenham Hotspur
came to town? "I was not a regular at the time. I'd start some games, others
I'd be on the bench and come on, but for the very first time since arriving
at West Ham - I always felt that I was loved by all the fans, everyone loved
me very much and I could feel that - I could sense that everyone was
expecting me to score a goal. So in that moment, what came out was just
going and hugging the fans, celebrating with them."
For Tevez, just as for West Ham, 2006/07 was a rocky old road, to put it
mildly. His first season in Europe, let alone England, and it got off to a
rotten start. But all is well that ends well and the Juventus forward is not
about to forget it, particularly that glorious winner at the Theatre of
Dreams. "I remember everything about that season, because it was not easy
for me, coming to a new country, a city like London, I didn't speak the
language, a very different culture compared to mine. "But I think if I had
to pick one moment it would definitely be Old Trafford, the goal at Old
Trafford which saved us and kept us in the Premier League. I believe that
was the perfect ending to a very intense season."
But it should come as little surprise that his abiding Boleyn Ground memory
is not of goals, games or indeed players, but of the fans and a certain song
of which he will never tire. And it is a relationship that Tevez says can
never be matched. "Every time I walked into that pitch the best thing was
always the fans. The song, 'There's only one Carlos Tevez' - is unique! So
there will never be anything like that again for me."
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International round-up
WHUFC.com
Carl Jenkinson was on target, while two Hammers helped Senegal qualify for
the 2015 AFCON finals
14.11.2014
Carl Jenkinson scored in England U21s international friendly victory against
Portugal on Thursday evening as West Ham United's players began a busy
international break. After Burnley striker Danny Ings opened the scoring in
front of his home fans at Turf Moor, Jenkinson doubled the advantage shortly
before the interval with a cool finish following Will Hughes' cross. It was
the 22-year-old's second goal at U21 level for the Three Lions and gave
Gareth Southgate's men a cushion before Bernando Wilson halved the deficit
on 48 minutes. However, Ings' second of the game just before the hour
restored the two-goal advantage, which England held to the end of the game.
Jenkinson and England U21 are back in action on Monday, when they travel to
France for another friendly.
Stewart Downing will hope to win his 35th England cap when Roy Hodgson's
side take on Scotland in a friendly in Glasgow on Tuesday. He was an unused
substitute as the Three Lions continued their perfect start to UEFA Euro
2016 qualifying with a 3-1 win over Slovenia at Wembley on Saturday.
Cheikhou Kouyate started for Senegal in their 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations
qualifying win over Egypt in Cairo on Saturday - a result which confirms the
Lions of Teranga's place at the 2015 finals, which will take place in
Equatorial Guinea between 17 January-8 February. Diafra Sakho replaced
goalscorer Mame Biram Diouf with around ten minutes remaining.
James Collins and Wales face Belgium in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier in
Brussels on Sunday, with Chris Coleman's side looking to build on their
unbeaten start to their campaign.
Meanwhile, at age group level, Kieran Sadlier's Ireland U21 were beaten 1-0
USA in Marbella, Spain on Saturday. The Irish face Russia in the same
location on Monday. Goalkeeper Sam Howes was an unused sub as England U18
won 3-2 in Poland in a friendly match on Saturday.
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Academy Ace - Noha Sylvestre
WHUFC.com
Swiss youngster Noha Sylvestre is settling into his new life and career with
West Ham United
16.11.2014
You often hear of the sacrifices that players have had to make in order to
develop in football and West Ham United's Swiss midfielder Noha Sylvestre is
certainly no exception. The 16-year-old central midfielder is already an
integral part of the U18 squad, having started every game so far this
season. Considering his commanding on field performances he is surprisingly
soft spoken. In his first-ever interview in English, he chronicles his
career to date so far: "I was four when I first played football with my
friends. I soon started to play for my village Sunday league team, and then
I joined the Swiss academy a few years later."
The fact that Basel-born Sylvestre is now plying his trade for Hammers is
testament to the wide-ranging scouting network in place at the club. As he
explains: "Someone was watching a game I was playing for Concordia Basel
Under-16s. He was looking at one of the strikers we had but he noticed me
and said 'Who's that midfielder, the No6?' After that, I came for a trial
and then joined the Club."
Since joining, Sylvestre has been on a steep learning curve as he moved away
from his home town and had to adapt to the physicality of the Barclays U18
Premier League. "The first month was very hard. Living without my family and
friends, I left everything in Switzerland. But the team here have helped me
a lot, they've been very good. "When I came here I was really scared. I was
concentrating really hard in training. It's very different to football in
Switzerland. Football here is massive, it is the most popular sport. I
really enjoy it here, it's magic. "Football in Switzerland is famous but not
as famous as in England. You can see in the street, everyone is talking
about football the whole time. It's incredible."
When asked to choose what he believes are his best attributes, he says: "I
think passing. I'm good at long-range balls as well as shorter passes. I
prefer to make a good pass than score a goal."
It is this modesty, and the desire to put the team ahead of himself, that
have made him so popular with his teammates and coaches alike.
Given his style of play, it is perhaps unsurprisingly who Sylvestre names as
his role model: "My favourite player is Xavi Alonso, I think he is the best
midfielder in the world."
Similarly to his idol, Sylvestre's skills lie in his range of passing as
well as his willingness to do the so called 'dirty work' for the team,
closing down opponents and tough tackling, Noha is enjoying his first season
at U18 level. "I just enjoy every game. We've got a very good team. We're
playing really well at the moment, but I think we can still do better. I've
enjoyed every single game so far. Despite only joining the Hammers recently,
Sylvestre feels he has already improved: "Of course, the tempo and the level
of fitness required is a different level and I've definitely improved as a
result. "The coaches, Steve Potts and Mark Phillips, have really helped me.
I think they're both very good coaches, I really like working with t hem. "I
like working with Terry Westley too. He's really dedicated and focused. If
you ask him a question he'll take the time to explain things, he'll talk for
15 minutes if you need him to! It's really good to work with him."
While the Swiss has taken that advice on board and made an impressive start
to the season as a first-year scholar, he is confident he can improve: "I
want to play every game, I don't want to get injured, that's the first
thing. I want to continue to work hard every day."
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On this day - 16 November
WHUFC.com
The Hammers blew Wolves away on this day 40 years ago
16.11.2014
Classic match
West Ham United 5-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Division One
16 November 1974
West Ham struck five as they swept aside their visitors from the Midlands to
move up to seventh in Division One. Having sat 22nd and last just ten games
previously, this high-scoring victory meant they had only lost one game in
their last ten and were up to seventh. Bobby Gould netted one of his 13
goals that seasibm as Trevor Brooking, Frank Lampard and Billy Jennings also
got in on the act. A penalty from Billy Bonds completed the rout and
maintained a good run of results for the Hammers as they went unbeaten in
their next six league matches.
Complete record - 16 November
1929 Leeds United 1-3 West Ham United (Division One)
1935 Manchester United 2-3 West Ham United (Division Two)
1946 West Ham United 0-4 Birmingham City (Division Two)
1956 West Ham United 5-0 Stoke City (Division Two)
1963 West Ham United 2-2 Leicester City (Division One)
1968 West Ham United 4-0 Leicester City (Division One)
1974 West Ham United 5-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Division One)
1985 West Ham United 2-1 Watford (Division One)
1996 Newcastle United 1-1 West Ham United (Premier League)
Played 9, Won 6, Drawn 2, Lost 1, Scored 25, Conceded 13
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West Ham eye £4m bid for ideal Allardyce defender - is he Reid's
replacement?
HITC
Olly Dawes
West Ham United have been linked with a £4m bid for Fulham centre back Dan
Burn. After backing under-fire boss Sam Allardyce this summer, West Ham are
reaping the rewards with five wins from the first 11 games of the season,
claiming fourth spot after just over a quarter of the campaign. Summer
signings such as Aaron Cresswell, Alex Song, Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia
have all justified their respective price tags, but much is down to a change
in style from Allardyce. Usually coined as a long ball merchant, Allardyce
has switched to a 4-3-1-2 system this season, which has got the best out of
Stewart Downing behind the striker, as well as their pacy front two Sakho
and Valencia. Despite that, it's fair to say Allardyce still likes that
physical element to his side. James Collins and Cheikhou Kouyate have been
key figures so far this term, whilst Andy Carroll also figures to be upon
his return.
Blending that physicality with the pace and movement in attack is something
that Allardyce appears keen to do, and it's therefore little surprise to see
him linked with a move for Fulham centre back Dan Burn. The 6ft 7in defender
is virtually unbeatable in the air because of his size, and at just 22, he's
got a bright future ahead of him having impressed in both the Premier League
and the Championship with the Cottagers. He appears to be the ideal
Allardyce centre back, and the Daily Mail report that the Hammers are lining
up a £4m January bid for the youngster in a bid to take from West London to
East London. However, snapping up another centre back would only serve to
ask more questions about the future of West Ham star Winston Reid. The New
Zealand international is out of contract at the end of this season, and with
rumoured interest from Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, the
26-year-old may be on the way out of Upton Park. West Ham naturally want
their star centre back to sign a new contract, but there have been
murmurings that he wants to force through a move to a 'bigger' club -
leaving West Ham to make a decision; sell him in January to try and get some
money for him or try to convince him to sign a new deal in the remaining
months of the season, risking losing him for free.
Signing Burn would not only be a good insurance policy against losing Reid,
but also gives them to mould their centre back of the future - particularly
important given that Collins is now 31.
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Dan Burn on radar for West Ham as Sam Allardyce considers £4m move for
defender in January
By SIMON JONES FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY
PUBLISHED: 00:17, 16 November 2014 | UPDATED: 00:17, 16 November 2014
Daily Mail
West Ham are monitoring Fulham's towering defender Dan Burn. The 22-year-old
caught the eye with some bright performances last season despite Fulham's
relegation from the Premier League and has continued to develop in the
Championship. The 6ft 7ins defender, signed from non-League Darlington for
£350,000 in 2011, has impressed Sam Allardyce's scouts and they are
considering a January move especially as the future of Winston Reid remains
unresolved. Burn may be allowed to leave for around £4million with Fulham
pondering a loan deal for West Bromwich Albion's Chris Baird. West Ham boss
Allardyce is reluctant to lose Reid in January despite the player seemingly
unlikely to sign a new contract but it makes financial sense to listen to
decent offers.
West Ham also posted scouts at Austria's game against Russia on Saturday to
watch Aleksandar Dragovic. The highly-rated Dynamo Kiev centre-back is keen
to leave Ukraine and has been watched by Chelsea, Arsenal and Juventus
following his move from FC Basle last year.
Kiev would want around £8million though, at 23, Dragovic is tipped to
develop into an even better player. His representative Sam Stapleton said:
'Aleksandar continues to focus on his club football with Dynamo despite what
is going on in the country. He had an important qualifier against Russia
this weekend for Austria to remain top of their group. Yes there has been
contact from clubs asking about his situation but he is a Dynamo player and
until a fee is agreed he will remain there.'
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Cardiff City to end Ravel Morrison loan deal?
By Chris O'Keefe, Reporter
Filed: Sunday, November 16, 2014 at 00:54 UK
Last Updated: Sunday, November 16, 2014 at 00:56 UK
Cardiff City will decide later this month whether to keep Ravel Morrison at
the club following a disappointing loan spell. The midfielder, who is
on-loan from West Ham United, made a bright debut against Sheffield
Wednesday in September. However, has only started one game since then for
the Bluebirds and manager Russell Slade has suggested that the former
Manchester United man has failed to live up to expectations. He told The
Independent: "There's no doubt that Ravel has got bags of ability. He has
been at Manchester United and West Ham under great managers and with quality
players all around him. "But it has not quite happened for him. He still has
not fulfilled the potential he has shown and the ability he has got."
Cardiff are currently 12th in the Championship table.
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Hammers in new midfielder link
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 15, 2014 in Whispers
Claret and Hugh
West Ham have again denied any interest in signing yet another midfielder
with whom they have been linked. This time Brescia's attacking midfielder
Ismail H'Maidat is the subject of some speculation but a top Boleyn source
told ClaretandHugh within the last few minutes: "This is all starting to get
a bit wearying. "Last night Argentinian sources were linking us with Juan
Cazares at Banfield – now it's this lad but there's no truth in it because
quite simply there are no wages left in the pot. "Quite apart from that we
are very well covered in that area of the pitch. We are more than happy with
what we have and if we were looking anywhere it would be at the back.
"However, for us to do any business we would need one or two players to
leave. That's the only way any new players could be accommodated at this
time."
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Arsenal will want Jenkinson back
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 15, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Carl Jenkinson's performances should be enjoyed by Hammers fans whilst we
have the right back. For ClaretandHugh has discovered that the on-loan
Gunner is set to return to Arsenal at the end of his year's spell with us.
Many loan deals contain a "to buy" option but Jenks' has no such clause as
Arsene Wenger rates the player highly. Hammers boardroom connections with
sources close to the player were solely responsible for the deal getting
done but Arsenal made it clear they had no intention of attaching a "to buy"
deal. Wenger and the player's agent finally decided to let the player come
to Upton Park as they wanted him to get regular Premier League football.
Since then of course Arsenal's new arrival Mathieu Debuchy has undergone
surgery on an ankle injury which has frustrated the Gunners boss given he
has no recall clause on Jenks. A source told ClaretandHugh: " There's no to
buy clause. Arsenal rate the player very highly and have no reason to attach
a to buy option. Our board – via their connections – made the deal happen,"
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D-Day approaches on Ravel deal
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 15, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham are continuing to weigh up whether to offer Ravel Morrison a new
West Ham deal and may be set to make up their minds over the next four or
five weeks. Like Winston Reid, Morrison comes out of contract at the end of
the season and though his position has been overshadowed by the central
defender, it remains on the Hammers agenda. After loan spells at Queens Park
Rangers last season and Cardiff City this, a general view has grown up that
the midfielder will be allowed to walk away at the end of the campaign.
However, no decision has finally been made although should he decide to move
on the Irons will be awarded a fee of some sort by the arbitration board
given the player is under 24. Co-chairman David Gold has regularly claimed
that there remains a place at the club for Morrison and manager Sam
Allardyce promised to watch his progress at Cardiff when allowing hiom to
move to the Welsh club. He said at the time: "He can go and play some
football and see if he can get regular first team football and we can keep
him an eye on him And then in and around Christmas time we have to make a
decision."
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Zarate and agent Ruzzi have 'previous'
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 15, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Sam Allardyce had obviously done his homework when declaring that Mauro
Zarate had matured over recent years! For the player's response to the
nonsense which went on from agent Luis Ruzzi in midweek has been admirable
from a guy who has plenty of controversy in his own background. A little
ClaretandHugh digging has shown that Ruzzi was the middleman in the deal
which took Zarate from Qatari side Al-Sadd to Lazio five years ago, It later
helped land him him in hot water when he claimed Roma director Daniele Prade
had rejected the player.
Ruzzi claimed the then 22-year-old had been offered to Lazio's local rivals
prior to his move to the Biancocelesti side of the city. According to the
agent, Roma director of sport Prade snubbed his proposal. Later Prade
reacted angrily to these suggestions and Il Messaggero reported he had
instructed his lawyers to sue Ruzzi. The connection Zarate and Ruzzi have
long since been severed and he reacted brilliantly to the guy emerging from
nowhere in a bid to manufacture a move to Torino. However, the events of
2009 help us to understand how Ruzzi operates although it's good to know
that the guy is long gone from Zarate's career.
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