Daily WHUFC News - 11th April 2009

Zola on homegrown Hammers
WHUFC.com
Seeing one youngster after another breaking through into his first team has
delighted Gianfranco Zola
10.04.2009

Gianfranco Zola is in no doubt that his talented crop of youngsters has the
potential to go all the way to the very top.

With Glen Johnson, Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Frank
Lampard all established England internationals, Zola knows the standard the
club's academy is capable of producing but sees no reason why the likes of
James Tomkins and Jack Collison cannot follow suit. Crucially all are on
long-term deals and committed only to helping West Ham United to the next
level in the years to come.

Zola said: "We have players with the potential to be as good as the others.
Don't forget that when Frank, Joe Cole and Carrick started they were playing
for West Ham. They were more or less the same as these guys. They were young
players who were very good but nobody knew they would become champions like
they are now.

"You could tell they were potentially good players but you don't know. Now
is the same situation. The players can potentially be top players but it is
down to them to develop. They are just starting. This is just the beginning
for them and they will have to put in a lot of work over the next few years
and that will determine whether they will be champions or not. It's as
simple as that.

"I haven't got a magical ball where I can see into the future but I would
like to say that they can achieve as much as they want to. I built up my
career always on the belief that it's down to how hard I work to achieve
what I want to achieve. If they work, they can be whatever they want. That's
what I tell them every day. You get what you work for, it's as simple as
that."

The manager's whole philosophy is based around working with young talent and
he described it as a "big pleasure" to be realising his managerial dream
alongside Steve Clarke at West Ham. "We've been working with these players
and we have seen them progressing. We remember the way they were when we
started and to see them doing so well makes us very proud and very pleased."

"Having them come through together is the key. I'm relying a lot on that.
From my experiences that I've had in football, if you build up the right
atmosphere in the team and have the mix of experienced, positive players and
young players coming through, it creates an environment where everyone
performs at his best.

"That's what's happening here. The results are proving me right so it's
something I believe a lot. I think that's the key and the secret in our
results this year."

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Captain's Blog - A great week
WHUFC.com
Lucas Neill summed up the spirit at Chadwell Heath ahead of what is likely
to be a lively London derby
10.04.2009

This has been a great week for the club. It was fantastic to have Junior
Stanislas mark his full debut for the first team with a goal against
Sunderland. It was fully deserved. He was a great threat and to top off Tony
Carr and the West Ham Academy's day, James Tomkins scored his first goal.

It was well deserved and the icing on the cake after some really mature
performances of late and credit to Tony Carr and everyone at the academy who
continue to breed fantastic talent. They are good honest kids coming through
who have dreams of playing for the club. Certainly the more Junior's and
Tomka's that come through, the better.

We have also got Josh Payne knocking on the door and Mark Noble is a credit
to the Academy as are all the big names playing elsewhere before them. It is
a tag that the club has - the Academy of Football. It is not unjustified.
When a squad is depleted, to be able to turn to guys that look good in
training but are still very young is great credit to everyone associated
with the club.

I wish them all continued success. As long as they keep their heads down and
keep working hard and make the right sacrifices, they have every chance of
realising their dreams.

It would be stating the obvious to say that Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday is
a big game for the club. We can be very proud of the club's achievements
thus far and in particular the strength we have shown. We have had some
difficult times in that we have struggled for numbers in training games let
alone putting a team out for the league.

We showed last week that we have a strong squad capable of getting results.
I played defensive midfield and loved it but more importantly I enjoyed
getting off a plane from Australia and seeing the team keeping a clean sheet
and winning the game.

We know exactly what we need to do in the last seven games of the season and
what is great that, even though we are weak in squad size, we are really
strong in spirit. It is a compliment to everybody associated with the club
that we find strength in times of need. We are going to need that strength
this weekend against what most people would class one of the biggest games
of the season. We are taking on a local rival and the players understand how
important the result is.

For three reasons this game is huge. Firstly because it is a derby with our
rivals and if we win, not only will we send West Ham fans into ecstasy, it
will also give them bragging rights until the game comes around again next
season. Secondly we need to avenge the disappointment of the 2-0 loss just
before Christmas. Thirdly if we can draw or win the game it will mean that
Tottenham won't gain any points on us and a victory would pretty much finish
their chances of catching us for seventh place which is the most important
thing.

We are in a good position now where as long as we keep the teams chasing us
away by drawing or beating them, it is going to be very hard for people to
catch us. We still also have one eye on trying to close the gap on Everton
ahead of us.

For all sorts of reasons this is a massive match and what an exciting game.
Two teams in form, two teams not conceding many and scoring a few and it is
going to be interesting. The atmosphere is going to be electric, we are
really looking forward to it.

This week I also visited a Cancer Research UK laboratory with Bobby Moore
Fund founder Stephanie Moore and it was a really educational afternoon. In
particular, we went into the lab that was trying to find a cure for the
cancer that claimed the life of the legendary Bobby Moore.

To be standing next to Bobby's widow Stephanie Moore and talking to the
actual people who are trying to cure bowel cancer was a privilege but it was
also amazing that you were in a laboratory that could be saving millions of
lives by making a breakthrough in science and medicine. It was a fascinating
day and it was great to be able to support Stephanie, accept the hospitality
of Cancer Research UK and again promote the Bobby Moore Fund, which is
important to us all.

Thanks for all your support last week and your support to come on Saturday.
Let's hope we head home from White Hart Lane with a win.

Lucas Neill

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Tomkins targets Tottenham
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins is taking aim at a seventh-place finish ahead of the derby
date at White Hart Lane
10.04.2009

James Tomkins has said everyone in the squad is relishing the opportunity to
take on Tottenham Hotspur this weekend in the club's push for Europe.

The 20-year-old boyhood Hammers fan completed an important 2-0 victory
against Sunderland last Saturday with his first goal for the club. The win
lifted West Ham into seventh place and left the club in with a strong chance
of qualifying for next season's UEFA Europa League. It also moved them six
points clear of this weekend's opponents Spurs with just seven games to go.

"It's a massive game for the club," Tomkins said. "We are pushing for that
UEFA spot and it's a massive game for the fans as they are our local rivals.

"There's a great confidence in the team at the moment and a good team spirit
as it has been all season. It's good at the moment and everyone is just
enjoying their football. Seventh is the aim. We've got a target there that
we are heading towards. Each game is vital now that we pick as many points
up as we can. Next game is Tottenham, which we are all relishing."

While he was delighted to get his name on the senior scoresheet for the
first time in his rapidly flourishing career, Tomkins insisted the team's
success was more important than his own individual achievements.

"It was a feeling I'll never forget. It's something you dream about as a kid
and I'm never going to forget it. I've been here since I was eight so it was
massive to score a goal, but the three points was even more important. It's
a feeling that you can't really describe. It's such a buzz. I've been
dreaming about that moment for a long time.

"Obviously myself and Junior scored but the most important thing was the
three points. We are chasing seventh spot and that's what we're aiming for."

Tomkins is one of eight Academy graduates to play for the first team this
season alongside Mark Noble, Jack Collison, Junior Stanislas, Kyel Reid,
Zavon Hines, Josh Payne and Freddie Sears, and the England Under-20 defender
believes it will not be long before that list grows even longer. Marek Stech
and Bondz N'Gala have both been on the bench and are close to a call.

"We've had a lot of vital players who have been injured so it is a chance
for youngsters to impress. There are more coming through, Josh and Junior,
there are a lot of good youngsters here at the club and a good backroom
staff that are helping us through."

While he is keeping one eye on his fellow youngsters' development, Tomkins
remains fully focused on keeping his own place in Gianfranco Zola's team -
no mean feat considering Wales international James Collins was on the
substitutes bench against Sunderland.

"I feel that I'm playing well at the moment and growing more confident with
every game. It was a great boost for me to start in front of James because
he's played well all season. I have been getting a good run in the team and
I'm full of confidence and just want to keep improving."

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Dyer closing on a start
WHUFC.com
Kieron Dyer has fond memories of winning at White Hart Lane and could be key
this weekend
10.04.2009

Kieron Dyer is closing on a full 90 minutes for West Ham United, according
to Gianfranco Zola.

The manager has been greatly impressed by the England attacker's return to
fitness and form and is looking forward to realising the best from his No7.
Dyer's cameos against Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland have particularly
whetted the appetite before the short trip to face Tottenham Hotspur on
Saturday. On his last appearance at White Hart Lane in January 2007, Dyer
played the full 90 minutes in a thrilling 3-2 win for Newcastle United.

"Kieron has had a game last week and the week before," Zola said. "We are
trying to make it as easy as possible for Kieron. I don't think it would be
good for him if he played more than he's playing right now. Every game we
are trying to give him more time because we have faith in him.

"We know that he's OK but we also know that he hasn't played for a long time
and cannot play for 90 minutes. We are increasing the time and also working
hard in training and looking forward to having the possibility of playing
him a little bit longer. I want to see him on the pitch for a long time."

The manager is mindful that Dyer has not started a game since August 2007
because of his double leg break and related minor setbacks that frustrated
his recovery. "He was out for a year and then he was coming back and he got
injured. Then he came back again and he got injured again. When the muscles
stay for so long without being used properly you come back and pick up small
injuries and every time you have to work at below 100 per cent.

"As soon as you come back you can't be at your best. If he gave 100 per cent
straight away he would get injured. That's what happened. Now, fortunately,
he has been progressing very well and I'm looking forward to playing him for
a full 90 minutes before the end of the season."

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Zola seeking Dyer resolution
Hammers boss says midfielder needs more time
Last updated: 10th April 2009
SSN

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola admits he is doing his best to try and get
long-term injury victim Kieron Dyer match fit as soon as possible. Dyer
missed most of last season and a large slice of the current campaign after
battling back to health following a double leg fracture against Bristol
Rovers in August 2007. The former Newcastle flyer is one of the most
dangerous midfielders when on form, but Zola has conceded he is still some
way short of a 90-minute outing despite four substitute appearances.
With Scott Park and Radoslav Kovac doubtful to feature against Spurs it had
been thought Dyer could fill the void, but Zola knows it takes time for a
player to fully recover following such a spell out of action. "We are trying
to make it as easy as possible for Kieron. It would not be good for him if I
played him more than I am right now," said Zola. "Every game we are trying
to give him more time because we have faith in him. We know he is a good
player. But he hasn't played for a long time and still cannot play 90
minutes. "Every time we are increasing the time on the pitch and also
working hard in training with him. I'm looking forward to the possibility of
playing him a little bit longer. I want to see him on the pitch for a long
time. "He was one year out, came back and got injured again. Then he came
back and got injured again. When that happens, because the muscles haven't
been used for a long time, you pick up small injuries. "Every time you have
to work you are not 100%, you can't give it your best. If he gives 100%
straight away he would get injured. "Now, fortunately, he is progressing
very well and I'm looking forward to playing him for 90 minutes. Obviously I
don't remember him at his best but I'm hoping I can see it this year."

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Zola - Tomkins can be great
Young defender already 'playing like a veteran'
Last updated: 10th April 2009
SSN

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola believes that James Tomkins has the
potential to become a world class defender. The 20-year-old, a product of
West Ham's renowned academy, scored a goal in the Hammers' Premier League
victory over Sunderland last Saturday. Tomkins, who has been a first-team
regular since returning from a loan spell at Derby, has impressed Zola with
a maturity that belies his age. "I believe he can be very good. He's only 20
but playing like a veteran. He is so confident. He is a very complete
defender," he said. "His attitude is very good and he has a lot of good
competition for a place here and that has made him a better player. He can
be a top defender."
Seven other academy graduates have appeared for the West Ham first-team this
season, a group of players Zola believes are crucial to his squad. "We have
a group of good young players coming through and that is the key for us,"
the Italian added. "It creates the kind of environment where everybody is at
their best and the results are proving me right. "We have players here who
potentially can be as good as the others who have become champions now."
The Hammers will travel to White Hart Lane for a London derby on Saturday
and Zola believes the task of marking Robbie Keane will provide Tomkins with
some more valuable experience. He said: "It will be a very interesting match
for him because he won't be up against the normal type of striker. "Robbie
is a clever player who likes to move around and get the ball, so it will be
a good test and I am looking forward to seeing how he copes. "It will be
important to control Robbie Keane and I am confident he can. I have a lot of
faith in my players and he can do a good job."
Zola witnessed a young John Terry progress through the ranks during his time
at Stamford Bridge but is hesitant to draw comparisons between the current
Chelsea captain and his latest prospect at centre-back. "John Terry was a
different story. He was more energetic and powerful, whereas Tomkins is
calmer and more in control," he added.
"John Terry was full of energy and power and had to learn how to control
himself. Tomkins is more relaxed. He thinks and is an intelligent player. He
is more composed."

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Hammers kids fail to wow Harry
Redknapp hails former West Ham youngsters
Last updated: 10th April 2009
SSN

Harry Redknapp does not believe the current crop of West Ham youngsters are
in the 'same class' as the group he managed at Upton Park. The likes of Mark
Noble, Freddie Sears and James Tomkins have all broken through in recent
times but Redknapp feels the players he helped develop during his time in
charge of the club were much stronger. Redknapp thinks West Ham would now be
regularly challenging for UEFA Champions League qualification if they had
kept hold of Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and
Glen Johnson. Asked about Gianfranco Zola's youngsters, Redknapp said: "They
are not in the same class. No one will have five British kids as good as
that lot again. "Four players who grew up at West Ham - Ferdinand, Lampard,
Joe Cole and Carrick - played in last year's Champions League final.
"It makes you upset when you think they should all be playing for West Ham.
"West Ham have great support and they should have held on to those players.
They could have built a team around them which would have challenged
regularly for a Champions League place. "From the fans' point of view, it
was a big blow to see them all go. "None of them cost the club anything and,
if they had stayed, who knows where West Ham would be now? "Until that crop
came along, West Ham hadn't produced many good young players since Paul Ince
came through the ranks in 1986. Those five all became great players."
Redknapp, now at the Tottenham helm, has been impressed by West Ham this
season and believes manager Zola deserves much of the credit. He is looking
forward to facing the Hammers on Saturday but admits it will be an emotional
experience. "It's a club I went to at 15 so it's always a special club for
me and will never be any different," Redknapp said. "I'm pleased to see them
do well again this season and the football they have played has been
excellent. "They have turned it around great. Their manager was a great
player, a fantastic fella who everyone in the game loves. "No-one dislikes
Zola because he is a special character. "It's great to see him do so well.
It was difficult to go there with his background as a Chelsea man but he's a
professional and the fans have appreciated what he has done."

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Tottenham Preview
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 10th April 2009
By: Preview Percy

And so to Spurs at White Hart Lane for a match that appears to have escaped
the notice of the TV companies and the Metropolitan Police giving us a 3pm
Saturday kick-off.

One of the more amusing things about this season has been watching Spurs
bumping about the relegation zone. I don't suppose any of us would have
given much of a monkey's but for their supporters who have this strange
pre-occupation with size. A quick perusal of the posts by those who venture
onto the kumb forums seems to suggest that it is illegal for a Tottenham fan
to go more than five minutes without mentioning the words "big club" like
some sort of mantra. In that respect, Tottenham as a club are like that
bloke down your local who is forever boasting of his conquests but nobody
can ever remember having actually seen him with a woman.

Despite the often hilarious series of results earlier on in the season, I
think most of us in our heart of hearts never really thought they would go
down, however funny that would have been and they've steadied the ship
enough to reach the mid-table mediocrity that all but their fans consider to
be their rightful place. They currently lie in 11th spot some six points and
four places behind us though their current form has been fairly decent with
them winning four and drawing one of their last six, the defeat coming last
week up at Blackburn where ref Walton's performance lived right down to
expectations.

Mr Walton's efforts brought forth a predictable burst of nervous twitching
from the Spurs manager, who appears more like Jack Douglas with every
interview. (Note for younger readers Jack Douglas was the comedian whose
whole act seemed to be based on the fact that he had some sort of
uncontrollable muscular tic which would end up with him spilling liquid
(normally paint) over his boss. With, as they say, hilarious consequences).

Mr Redknapp has been holding forth about what a tragedy it was for West Ham
to have sold the likes of Rio & co, strangely omitting to dwell on the fact
that it was he who was manager when Rio was sold, his reported pay-off of
£300k obviously softening the blow of losing the country's best defender.

Mr Redknapp wasted little time on his arrival at Spurs buying back players
who left for better things but failed to make the grade at bigger clubs
(that'll annoy them) – Keane and Defoe both returning to the comfort zone of
N17 where the massed ranks of grease-stained anoraks and shell suits greeted
their return with strange glee. Defoe will be absent with injury of course
and Keane was partnered up at Blackburn by Darren Bent who is apparently
worth £16-17m. That may have been a case of "horses (or donkeys) for courses
as the former Charlton striker's style of play is probably more suited to
facing Blackburn's somewhat basic approach to football. That being the case
we may see a start for Pavlyuchenko instead of Bent this weekend.

Player of the season at White Hart Lane so far this season has to be 'keeper
Gomes. Redknapp moaned about ironic applause given to the keeper earlier in
the season, forgetting that he himself had said that the keeper would have
been dropped if he'd had anyone else to pick. Gomes seems to have little
spells where he handles the ball like it were a bar of soap. Most Spurs
supporters have no idea how soap handles when it's wet so it's little wonder
that they don't understand what Gomes' problem is. Strangely, Gomes seems to
be preferred to Cudicini who must be feeling a bit fed up with the
situation. I mean being considered no.2 to Cech is one thing but Gomes???

In front of Gomes we are likely to see Ledley King who has a nice little
thing going on with his knees which means that he only has to turn up to
work once a week or so – twice if Fabio fancies a chat, but only for a swift
cuppa. King will be partnered by Woodgate who is preferred to Dawson. One
player who will be missing will be Wilson Palacios whose second yellow last
week earned him some time off. Palacios's sending off may have been some
sort of apology on the ref's part for his earlier error in awarding Spurs a
penalty following some sort of hallucination. The penalty came from a cross
by Lennon who goes through hot and cold spells through the course of the
season. Another one to watch is Modric who shows enough from time to time to
make people wonder what he would look like playing for a half decent team.

In Spurs' favour for this one of course is our injury list. Spector's bout
of concussion has ruled him out already and Parker and Kovac, both of whom
missed last week, are both rated doubtful for this week as well, with Kovac
probably not wanting to risk his blonde locks in the dandruff-filled
atmosphere of White Hart Lane. The team will therefore largely be a matter
of who is fit and another start for Stanislas may be on the cards if there
are no returns to active duty from the treatment room and Tomkins may have
to start at right back if Neill is employed to stiffen up the midfield. Up
front the less than convincing or dynamic duo of "Schnorbitz" Tristan and
DiMichele will start. Tristan did show a few touches last week but it was
hard explaining to a non-regular that the lazy jog employed as he "chased"
down a loose ball was in fact an example of Tristan going flat out. Of
course he'll be getting used to walking pace over the next 32 months, the
magistrates failing to believe that old "I wasn't driving, I was adjusting
the heating" excuse when the breathalyser alarm sounded.

The bare bones state of the squad makes it difficult to be too positive for
this one which, after all, is their cup final bless 'em. I thought similar
last week but reckoned without the lack of fight from Sunderland who were
woeful. Spurs may be average in every respect but they are playing better
than Sunderland at the moment. One thing we're not short on at the moment is
spirit though and Mark Noble in particular always seems up for this one and
if that feeling can transmit to the rest of the side I can see us battling a
point so let's go for a 1-1 to set 'Arry twitching as he lines up his next
putt on the Wii machine.

Enjoy the game!

Last season 0-4 – A horror show as Boa-Morte loses the plot and Ferdinand
loses concentration. Some Spurs fans went for a wash to celebrate.

Danger Man: Lennon – in a half-decent spell of form at the moment.

Look out for: a big club – apparently there is one in N17 somewhere. Must be
annoying for Spurs fans that.

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Zola : JT is my own JT
The Sun
By CARL LONG
Published: Today

GIANFRANCO ZOLA reckons James Tomkins is West Ham's answer to John Terry but
warned the homegrown Hammers ace to expect his toughest test today at
Tottenham.
Tomkins, 20, signed a new long-term deal at Upton Park this week after
impressing Zola with mature displays at the heart of the Hammers defence.
Manager Zola said: "James is the complete, modern defender. He is 20 but he
plays like a veteran. "John Terry was very energetic at his age but James
has more composure. He reads the game well and looks calmer and more in
control." A win over Tottenham would keep Zola's men on course for a Europa
League spot but the Italian has warned rising star Tomkins to be on his
guard against striker Robbie Keane. Zola said: "James can become a very,
very good defender but Keane will give him a good test. In Robbie he will
find a completely different striker — he is very clever. "Being in the right
position is key. This will be a big test but I have faith in him to cope
with it."
Basildon-born Tomkins has been at the heart of a Hammers defence that has
conceded just once in their last five matches. And as the quest for Europe
gathers pace, Zola expects his young star to be hearing from Fabio Capello
soon. He added: "I am sure England are following his progress. He will be a
top player if he keeps on progressing and I am sure he will hear from them."

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Harry's Kids are a cut above
The Sun
By VIKKI ORVICE
Published: Today

SPURS boss Harry Redknapp claims West Ham's current crop of young guns are
not in the same league as the ones he managed at Upton Park. Redknapp hosts
the Hammers today with his Tottenham team in 11th place, six points and four
places behind his old club. But he insists the kids working under Gianfranco
Zola cannot be compared to the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Frank
Lampard and Michael Carrick, who he guided during his time in the East End.
He said: "People have a misconception of West Ham as a great academy. "It
was a club that produced young players a long time ago — it used to be a
conveyor belt in the days of Bobby Moore and Trevor Brooking. "But they went
11 or 12 years without producing a player before I went back. "When I was
there, we produced six great kids that went on to play for England. If you
ask me whether the current crop could compare with the ones I had, my answer
is no chance — never. "Four of mine played in last year's Champions League
final and the other two are England internationals so that was a freak
occurrence."
Now Redknapp would like to see Tottenham start nurturing more home-grown
talent. He added: "There's nothing like producing your own players. "Spurs
have done it in the past with guys like Glenn Hoddle so it would be good to
get back to that. "Ledley King and Jamie O'Hara are the only ones at the
moment so, hopefully, there will be more."

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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp marks down West Ham's latest youngsters
Spurs manager says they cannot compare with his graduates
'Misconception' that Upton Park now produces great talent
The Guardian, Saturday 11 April 2009 Article history

Harry Redknapp has warned West Ham not to expect their latest batch of
youngsters to eclipse the achievements of his own 'golden generation' at
Upton Park. The east Londoners have reinvigorated their reputation for
developing native talent by introducing James Tomkins, Freddie Sears, Jack
Collison and Junior Stanislas to their first-team squad this season, but
Redknapp insists they could never match the quality of the academy graduates
developed during his seven-year tenure.

Redknapp oversaw the blooding of Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael
Carrick, Joe Cole, Jermain Defoe and Glen Johnson before leaving in 2001,
with all six since establishing themselves as England regulars. The
Tottenham manager has the chance to gauge the merits of Gianfranco Zola's
class of 2009 at close quarters today when the Italian brings them to White
Hart Lane, but he doubts whether they can hope to enjoy the same levels of
success as their predecessors.

"I've been asked whether West Ham's current crop could compare with the ones
I had and my answer was 'no chance'," said Redknapp. "They have good kids at
West Ham now but the fact that we produced six top players was a freak
occurrence. They were all world-class players and you can't get carried away
and say it's going to happen again. The six are all internationals and a
couple are among the best players in the world.

"It was an incredible group and you'll never get that again. Only the great
Manchester United generation in the 1990s could compare to that – the likes
of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and the Neville
brothers.

"It's a misconception that West Ham is a great production line of young
players. It was a club that produced youngsters a long time ago – it used to
be a conveyor belt in the days of Bobby Moore, Frank Lampard Snr and, later
on, Trevor Brooking, but they had gone 11 or 12 years without producing a
player before I took over there in 1994."

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MY KIDS ARE BETTER THAN YOUR KIDS By Darren Lewis 11/04/2009
The Mirro
HARRY: MY GREAT KIDS

Harry Redknapp has crushed talk of a new golden generation at his old club
West Ham. The Spurs boss developed Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole
and Michael Carrick during his time at Upton Park. All four played in last
season's Champions League Final between Chelsea and Manchester United. In
addition, Jermain Defoe and Glen Johnson - who also started under Redknapp -
are in Fabio Capello's England plans for next year's World Cup. Redknapp
believes that, in contrast, Gianfranco Zola's youngsters Jack Collison,
James Tomkins, Mark Noble and Freddie Sears have too much to live up to.
Speaking ahead of Tottenham's home game against West Ham, Redknapp said:
"The youngsters now will never be as great as the ones I produced."
"When I was at West Ham, we produced six great kids that went on to play for
England. I was asked whether the current crop could compare with the ones I
had and my answer was 'no chance - never'. "Four played in last season's
Champions League final and the other two are England internationals so that
was a freak occurrence. It's great to see kids coming through. Noble has a
great attitude and is a good player who loves playing for West Ham. Tomkins
and Sears as well. They have good kids there. "But comparing them to the
great generation of the 1990s, it's not possible - they were so good,
worldclass players, all of them. "You can't get carried away and say it will
happen again. The six are all top players and a couple are among the best in
the world. "You'll never get that again - only the great Man United
generation can compare - Beckham, Scholes, Giggs and the Nevilles."
West Ham are boosted by the fact they have not lost away in the capital this
season. But Spurs are undefeated in their last four Premier League derbies.

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Tottenham boss Redknapp full of praise for Zola's West Ham
11.04.09 | tribalfootball.com

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has praised Gianfranco Zola for the way he has
lifted West Ham United. Redknapp said: "They have turned it around great.
Their manager was a great player, a fantastic fella who everyone in the game
loves. "No-one dislikes Zola because he is a special character. "It's great
to see him do so well. It was difficult to go there with his background as a
Chelsea man but he's a professional and the fans have appreciated what he
has done. "The fans understand the game and will appreciate the type of
football he is playing. "They demand a certain type of football having been
brought up on passing and what people consider playing the right way.
"They don't just kick it and hope, they play football and Zola has continued
on that theme."

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Daily WHUFC News - 10th April 2009

Noble up for weekend
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble is looking forward to Saturday's big London derby with Tottenham Hotspur
09.04.2009

Mark Noble has mixed memories of playing at White Hart Lane as it is there where he made his first Premier League start back in November 2005. The 21-year-old midfielder, the longest-serving player at West Ham United, went toe-to-toe with Edgar Davids on that occasion and helped the side to a 1-1 draw. However, his only other visit with the club was last season's 4-0 defeat when he came on as a late substitute for Scott Parker. Noble said: "I made my Premier League debut at White Hart Lane. It is such a big game to be involved in, a great stadium and pitch and hopefully it will be a good game for the neutrals, with us coming out on top. "It is a local derby and a big game for our fans. It is probably our biggest one along with Chelsea and we need to get the better of them this time as they beat us at home earlier this season."
Noble played a key role in the Hammers' 2-0 weekend win against Sunderland, which saw them move three points clear in the chase for seventh place in the Premier League, and with it a place in the UEFA Europa League next season. Tottenham are six points behind in eleventh place, but the close proximity of the local rivals in the table should add some extra spice to the occasion, according to Noble. "We need to go there confident after our win Saturday, which was massive for us, and get the points on the board. "We went to Blackburn and knew how difficult it was but we got a draw there. We should have been up in the first half but they were on top in the second half and I think Tottenham suffered that as well [in their 2-1 defeat there on Saturday]. It is going to be a close game and hopefully the better team will win and hopefully that will be us."

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Brevett eyes Spurs win
WHUFC.com
Former Hammer Rufus Brevett is confident of a West Ham United victory at Tottenham on Saturday
09.04.2009

Former West Ham United full-back Rufus Brevett is '100 per cent confident' that the Hammers can overcome Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. Gianfranco Zola's side go into the London derby with Spurs in seventh place in the Premier League table, six points ahead of Harry Redknapp's men and fighting for a place in next season's UEFA Europa League. A positive result at White Hart Lane would enhance West Ham's own hopes of a top-seven finish, while also helping to dent Tottenham's own ambitions of making a late run for European qualification. Brevett, who tasted victory over Spurs during his time at the club in the shape of a 2-0 win at Boleyn Ground in March 2003, strongly believes Zola's players can win in N17 for the first time since goals from Marc Keller and Ian Wright secured a 2-1 success in April 1999. "I didn't realise it was such a big rivalry until I signed for West Ham. Everybody said how much we had to beat Tottenham and I didn't know why. It's a big game for the club at White Hart Lane and, although they've picked up since Harry Redknapp went there, if West Ham play the way they have been playing I don't think they'll have many problems. "I'm definitely 100 per cent confident of victory. If I was a betting man I would put money on it."
The all-action full-back, who made 29 appearances and scored one goal after joining West Ham from Fulham in January 2003, believes the impact made by manager Zola and first-team coaches Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen will have a huge bearing on the result this weekend. Despite being hit hard by injuries in recent weeks, the Hammers have continued to pick up points and head for Tottenham unbeaten in five Premier League matches. With the players high in confidence, Brevett expects that run to be extended to six on Saturday. "When the manager first came in West Ham started well then they had a patch where they couldn't win a game even though they were playing well. Now, you can see the confidence the team is playing with. Once you are playing with confidence I think everything else falls into place."
Victory at Tottenham would lift West Ham nine points clear of their rivals, who go into the match in eleventh place. A seventh-place finish would be enough to secure the Hammers a spot in next season's UEFA Europa League, the competition that will replace the UEFA Cup in 2009/10.

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Stanislas signs new deal
WHUFC.com
After James Tomkins and Mark Noble signed new contracts, Junior Stanislas was pleased to follow suit
09.04.2009

Junior Stanislas has become the latest talented youngster to commit his long-term future to West Ham United after agreeing a contract until summer 2013.

The news completes a week to remember for the 19-year-old after he scored on his first senior start for the club in last weekend's 2-0 defeat of Sunderland. Stanislas had staked his first-team claim with a hat-trick last month in a friendly against Chelsea and also earned his first cap for England at Under-20 level.

Stanislas said: "It's good to have signed. I've been working hard and doing well on the training ground so the new contract is obviously a bonus. It's a great show of faith and I've just got to keep working hard. I'm learning still on the pitch but this is a reward for how I've been doing."

The winger, who has felt the benefit of a short-term stay at Southend United earlier this season, was particularly pleased to follow in the footsteps of Mark Noble and fellow weekend goalscorer James Tomkins in signing a new deal. "James and I have been together quite a lot recently, with England as well, so for him to sign and for me to sign a few days later is obviously great.

"The loan spell at Southend for six weeks obviously helped, but then coming back to West Ham I still had to work hard. Now I've had my chance I've been doing OK so it's good."

Stanislas is focused on this weekend's trip to Tottenham Hotspur and is eager to show that manager Gianfranco Zola has young talent that is capable of helping the club to a high league finish. "We're chasing that European spot in seventh and we've got quite a few games so hopefully we'll get that spot.

"The atmosphere at Chadwell Heath this week has been good. There's a few injuries but the players are upbeat and looking forward to the game. It's a derby so it means a lot but we are going into every game looking to win. We're confident as always."

West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury said: "After we agreed new contracts with Mark Noble and James Tomkins earlier this week, having Junior commit his future as well is another boost for everyone at the club. Junior has made great progress this season and we are all excited about his potential.

"He is just one of a great crop of young players at Gianfranco's disposal and we are looking forward to seeing what they can help us achieve in the years to come."

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'No fear' for Zola
WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola said his players are desperate to get one over their local rivals at White Hart Lane
09.04.2009

West Ham United will go to Tottenham Hotspur with 'no fear and no problems' and determined to record their first win at White Hart Lane since April 1999, according to manager Gianfranco Zola.

The Hammers will arrive at White Hart Lane on a five-match Premier League unbeaten run and desperate to strengthen their claims for a top-seven finish and a place in next season's UEFA Europa League. A win would move the club nine points ahead of Tottenham with just six games to play.

Zola could welcome back midfielder Radoslav Kovac, who has recovered from a minor thigh injury, as West Ham attempt to end a run of eight matches without a win in the blue and white half of north London. The last success there came in the shape of a 2-1 victory on 24 April 1999.

"It's an important game for us," said Zola. "When we played them in the first match, they were better, but I don't think that the team that played that game is the same team we have now. It's an opportunity for us. It's a big match for the club and for the supporters and we are going to try our best as we always try to do.

"It is a big game and I like this record because it's meant to be broken. We want to break this bad situation because it has been a few years since we won over there. What a great opportunity. We go there with no fears and no problems and will play our best game and see what comes from that."

Another record Zola is eager to improve is that of four wins in 15 away league matches this season, although four points from their last two games away from home is a decent return.

"We know that [winning away games] is the most difficult thing. It is something we are going to be working on. We have two very difficult away matches and we'll try. We have nothing to lose so we'll give them our best shot."

The Hammers arrive at White Hart Lane having conceded just one goal in their previous five league matches. Despite the absence through injury of Valon Behrami, Jack Collison and, at times, Matthew Upson and James Collins, Zola's team have produced a string of strong defensive performances.

Praise has been heaped on the club's defenders, with England Under-20 centre-back James Tomkins winning rave reviews for the calm, assured performances that were capped with a first goal for the Hammers in last weekend's 2-0 win over Sunderland at the Boleyn Ground.

"I think that [the defensive record] has been the turning point for us, since we managed to become more difficult to beat in terms of scoring goals against us. The whole situation for the club has improved. I have to say that the defence has been great. Whoever has played there has done a very good job. Now Tomkins is doing a very good job. When Collins was playing he did a very good job. Everybody is performing and it's good because it's all down to them and they deserve what they are getting."

Tomkins has led a host of young players into the first-team squad in recent months, including Collison, Savio, Junior Stanislas and Freddie Sears, all of whom have impressed the manager. Zola has also been pleased with the way the club's senior professionals have helped the youngsters to develop.

"That's what we said at the beginning of the season when I first came [that we want to give chances to young players]. It was one of our targets and so far it is working very well. I look forward to continuing this. I believe that they are lucky to have a fantastic group of senior players around them. They have players like Luis Boa Morte, Lucas Neill, Matthew Upson and Scott Parker who not only play for themselves but also encourage the youngsters. When you have players like that, it is a piece of cake."

Three of the club's homegrown stars, Mark Noble, Stanislas and Tomkins, signed contracts until the summer of 2013 this week, following Collison, Sears, Parker, Carlton Cole and Dean Ashton in committing their long-term futures to the club. Zola believes all of them have an important part to play over the coming seasons.

"We have worked hard with them for many years. I have worked with them for seven months but before then the youth Academy staff had been working with them for years and now we want to keep them. We are just getting back all the investment in terms of time, patience and knowledge that we put in. Now we want to keep them as long as possible because they represent the future of the club."

Eight Academy graduates have donned the famous claret and blue shirt already this season and, with another batch of promising teenagers following them through the ranks, Zola has insisted he will not be afraid to hand out yet more debuts in the future.

"Why do I need to be brave? If a young player is good why shouldn't he have the opportunity to play? I don't believe that it's right to think that you have to be brave to play a young player. If a young player is talented and has the qualities to compete they will play. I don't think I've got guts. I think I know players and can recognise good players. It's as simple as that. If they are good, I play them, whether they are 19 or 15. As long as they compete, that's fine with me."

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Tottenham match preview
WHUFC.com
All of the early team news and statistics ahead of the London derby on Saturday afternoon
09.04.2009

Barclays Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United
White Hart Lane
Saturday 11 April
3pm
Referee: Martin Atkinson

• West Ham United travel to face Harry Redknapp in the club's 16th away match of the 2008/09 Barclays Premier League season.

• West Ham have won four (Fulham, Sunderland, Portsmouth, Wigan Athletic), drawn six (Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers) and lost five (Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion, Hull City, Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers) of their away matches this season.

• The Hammers go into Saturday's match unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches. A Jack Collison volley saw Manchester City beaten 1-0 at the Boleyn Ground on 1 March before Carlton Cole's fine finish earned victory by the same scoreline at Wigan Athletic on 4 March. West Ham drew 0-0 with West Bromwich Albion at the Boleyn Ground on 16 March and 1-1 at Blackburn Rovers on 21 March before returning from the international break to beat Sunderland 2-0 at home last Saturday.

• West Ham will hope to gain revenge for the 2-0 defeat they suffered in the reverse fixture at the Boleyn Ground on Monday 8 December. Spurs' goals were scored by Ledley King and Jamie O'Hara.

• Zola's side go into the match in seventh place in the Premier League table. A win could lift the Hammers within four points of sixth-placed Everton should the Toffeemen lose at Aston Villa on Sunday. Should the top-six remain the same, a seventh-place finish will be good enough to qualify for next season's inaugural UEFA Europa League.

• Tottenham go into the weekend eleventh in the Premier League table, six points behind West Ham and three points behind eighth-placed Wigan Athletic.

• This is the 114nd league meeting between the two sides. Tottenham have won 45, West Ham have won 39 and there have been 29 draws.

• West Ham have failed to win at White Hart Lane in their last eight visits to north London. The Hammers' last victory at Tottenham came in the shape of a 2-1 success on 24 April 1999. Then managed by current Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, West Ham would end the season in fifth, their record-high Premier League finish.

Referee

• Saturday's referee is 38-year-old Martin Atkinson.

• A referee since the age of 16, Atkinson was promoted to the Football League list of assistant referees in 1998. In 2000, Atkinson was promoted to the Select Group of assistant referees, allowing him to run the line in Premier League matches.

• Atkinson joined the National List of referees for the Football League at the start of the 2003/04 season before taking charge of his first Premier League fixture on 20 April 2005 when Manchester City entertained Birmingham City.

• Atkinson was the man in the middle at the 2006 FA Community Shield between Chelsea and Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. He also took charge of the 2008 FA Trophy final between Ebbsfleet United and Torquay United at Wembley Stadium.

• Atkinson has taken charge of 33 fixtures in all competitions this season, issuing 103 yellow cards and sending off nine players. He has refereed one West Ham game this season, the goalless draw with Portsmouth at the Boleyn Ground on 15 November. Atkinson has taken charge of three Tottenham matches this season, including the 4-4 draw at Arsenal on 29 October.

Last time out

Saturday 4 April 2009
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 2-0 Sunderland
West Ham United: Green, Spector (Collins 73), Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Boa Morte, Neill, Noble, Stanislas (Lopez 90), Di Michele (Dyer 81), Tristan
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Payne, Savio, Sears
Booked: Ilunga
Goals: Stanislas 42, Tomkins 52

Saturday 4 April 2009
Barclays Premier League
Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon (Zokora 83), Jenas, Palacios, Modric, Bent, Keane
Subs not used: Cudicini, Bentley, Huddlestone, Pavlyuchenko, Dawson, Chimbonda
Booked: Palacios
Sent-off: Palacios
Goal: Keane 30 (pen)

West Ham United

• West Ham go into Saturday's match aiming to extend their Premier League unbeaten run to six matches, having overcome Manchester City and Wigan Athletic 1-0, drawn 0-0 with West Brom and 1-1 with Blackburn and beaten Sunderland 2-0 in their last five league matches.

• West Ham's biggest ever away win at Tottenham came in First Division fixture played on 2 September 1981. Then, the Hammers won 4-0 at White Hart Lane with all four goals being scored by David Cross in front of a crowd of 41,200.

• Carlton Cole is West Ham's top scorer in the Premier League this season with nine goals. He has eleven in all competitions. However, Cole is ruled out of Saturday's game with a groin injury.

• Goalkeeper Robert Green is the only West Ham player to have played every minute of the club's 31 Premier League matches so far this season. Matthew Upson has started 30 games.

• Mark Noble, who signed a new contract with the club until the summer of 2013 in midweek, scored his first Premier League goal for West Ham in the 4-3 defeat by Spurs at the Boleyn Ground on 4 March 2007. Junior Stanislas and James Tomkins have also extended until 2013.

• Cole has been sent-off twice, more than any other West Ham player, while Noble and Scott Parker have each been shown the yellow card on seven occasions.

• Cole has unleashed more shots in total (74), on target (45) and off target (29) than any other West Ham player this season. Cole also has more assists (five) than any of his team-mates, and been caught offside (28) and committed the most fouls (62).

• Upson has made more defensive clearances (48) and blocks (27) than any of his team-mates.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Tottenham go into Saturday's match unbeaten at home in their last eight Premier League fixtures. Spurs' last defeat at White Hart Lane came in the shape of a 1-0 loss to Everton on 30 November.

• Tottenham's biggest-ever home win over West Ham came in the first meeting between the two clubs on 4 November 1899. Spurs won 7-0 against Thames Ironworks FC at White Hart Lane.

• Spurs' last home win over West Ham came in this fixture last season, on 9 March 2008. Tottenham won 4-0 with goals from Dimitar Berbatov (two), Gilberto and Darren Bent.

• Bent is Tottenham's top scorer in the Premier League this season with ten goals. Bent has 15 goals in all competitions, while Roman Pavlyuchenko has 13, but only four of them have come in league fixtures.

• None of Tottenham's players have started all 31 of their Premier League fixtures. Jonathan Woodgate has started 28 matches, Gomes and Luka Modric 27 each and Vedran Corluka 26.

• Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp made 175 appearances for West Ham between August 1965 and April 1972, scoring eight goals. Redknapp served as assistant manager under Billy Bonds before taking charge in August 1994. He remained as manager until May 2001, overseeing 327 matches.

• Roman Pavlyuchenko has committed more fouls without receiving a yellow or red card (27) than any other Premier League player.

• David Bentley has had more shots in total (61) and more shots on target (41) than any other Tottenham player this season. Bentley has also unleashed more crosses (100) than any of his team-mates.

• Modric has made more goals (seven) than any other Tottenham player this season.

• Woodgate has made more defensive clearances (33) and blocks (13) than any other Tottenham player this term.

• Tottenham have had five players sent-off this season, the joint highest number in the Premier League alongside Stoke City, Newcastle United and Manchester United.

• There have been just 25 goals in 15 Premier League fixtures at White Hart Lane this season - the lowest in the country.

Team news

• West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola will hope to welcome back midfielder Radoslav Kovac from a thigh injury. England midfielder Scott Parker is working hard to recover from a groin injury in time for Saturday's game.

• Wales defender James Collins has trained all week after recovering from a hamstring injury suffered at Bolton on 21 February and appearing as a second-half substitute in last Saturday's 2-0 win over Sunderland.

• England Under-20 winger Junior Stanislas will be eager to keep his starting place after scoring on his full debut against Sunderland on Saturday. The 19-year-old impressed on the left-wing against the Black Cats and has earned praise from manager Zola.

• Germany Under-20 international Savio will be pushing for a start after recovering from a knock to his kneecap and taking his place among the substitutes in last Saturday's victory.

• England forward Kieron Dyer has trained well with the first-team squad this week and will be eager to be involved again after appearing as a substitute against Blackburn and Sunderland.

• Zola will be without midfielders Valon Behrami and Jack Collison. Switzerland international Behrami will be out of action for around six months after suffering a anterior cruciate ligament injury in his knee, while Collison is expected to be sidelined until the end of April with a dislocated kneecap.

• Reserve team captain Bondz N'Gala is pushing hard for a place in the matchday 18 after travelling with the first-team squad to the recent fixtures against Wigan, West Brom and Blackburn. The 19-year-old central defender has been in good form for Alex Dyer's reserve team this season.

• United States defender Jonathan Spector has been ruled out of action for a fortnight after suffering concussion during a second-half collision with Sunderland defender Tal Ben Haim.

• Wales defender Danny Gabbidon is continuing his recovery from back and stomach injuries by working with the club's medical staff at Chadwell Heath. He is now running.

• Tottenham will be without former West Ham striker Jermain Defoe, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a broken foot.

• Honduran midfielder Wilson Palacios is serving the first game of a two-match suspension after being sent-off at Blackburn last Saturday.

Last meeting

• The teams met at the Boleyn Ground on Monday 8 December. Second half goals from Ledley King and Jamie O'Hara were enough to see Tottenham record a 2-0 victory in east London.

• The lineups were:

West Ham United: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Mullins (Di Michele 73), Parker (Tristan 83), Faubert (Noble 58), Cole, Bellamy
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Boa Morte, Davenport, Collison

Tottenham Hotspur: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Bentley (O'Hara 81), Modric, Pavlyuchenko (Bent 54)
Subs not used: Cesar, Bale, Huddlestone, Dawson, Boateng
Goals: King 68, O'Hara 90

Attendance: 34,277

Old boys

• West Ham defender Calum Davenport, who is on loan at Sunderland, made 20 appearances for Tottenham between August 2004 and January 2007, scoring one goal.

• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Ilie Dumitrescu, Dave Dunmore, Matty Etherington, Les Ferdinand, Jimmy Greaves, Fred Griffiths, Pat Holland, Chris Hughton, Bill Joyce, Bill Kaine, Frederic Kanoute, Kenny McKay, Fred Massey, Fred Milnes, John Moncur, Jimmy Neighbour, Tony Parks, Martin Peters, Sergei Rebrov, Mark Robson, Peter Shearing, Teddy Sheringham, Mauricio Taricco, Mitchell Thomas and Bobby Zamora.

Head to head

Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)

8 December 2008 - West Ham United 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
9 March 2008 - Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 West Ham United
25 November 2007 - West Ham United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
4 March 2008 - West Ham United 3-4 Tottenham Hotspur
22 October 2006 - Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 West Ham United
7 May 2006 - West Ham United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Overall record v Tottenham Hotspur (all competitions) W 43 D 54 L 34

Next up

• West Ham will travel to Aston Villa for a Barclays Premier League fixture on Saturday 11 April, with kick-off at 3pm

• Tottenham Hotspur will make the trip to Newcastle United in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday 19 April, with kick-off at 1.30pm

General information

• For ticket information, click here

• The weather forecast for London this Saturday is for light rain showers with a maximum daytime temperature of 14C.

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Zola urges patience
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 9th April 2009
By: Staff Writer

Gianfranco Zola has called for supporters to remain patient with new signing Savio Nsereko. 19-year-old Nsereko was signed in January for a fee eventually worth up to £9million but has failed to make an impression on the first team as of yet. Whilst home grown starlet Junior Stanislas - also 19 - was taking all the plaudits against Sunderland after scoring his first senior goal Savio spent the entire game on the bench. But Zola remains convinced that the German under 20 star will be a success for the club in years to come. "We have expectations of him but we can't forget that the boy is only 19," he told The Sun. "He has great potential and he can become a really top player. But the crowd and everybody else need to be patient."
Of his eight appearances for the Hammers thus far, Nsereko has made just one start - that being against West Brom in the 0-0 draw last month.

Savio Nsereko: the story so far

Hull (h) 2-0: 86th minute substitute
Arsenal (a) 0-0: 70th minute substitute
Man Utd (h) 0-1: 77th minute substitute
Middlesbrough (h) 1-1: 74th minute substitute
Bolton (a) 1-2: 62nd minute substitute
Man City (h) 1-0: 43rd minute substitute
Wigan (a) 1-0: 75 minute substitute
West Brom (h) 0-0: Subbed after 68 minutes

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Randy Rad rapped
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 8th April 2009
By: Staff Writer

Radoslav Kovac is the second Hammer to get into a spot of bother this week after he and a group of international team mates were caught cavorting with a group of prostitutes following a World Cup qualifying defeat. Kovac, five fellow players and the team management group have been booted out of the national set-up after it was revealed that the group were discovered drinking and womanising following the Republic's shock 2-1 defeat to rivals Slovakia, which leaves them in danger of missing out on the 2010 World Cup Finals.
Photographs of the group were published in Czech tabloids earlier this week, causing outrage across the country. Head coach Petr Rada and his management team were fired instantly whilst Kovac - along with team mates Tomas Ujfalusi, Milan Baros, Martin Fenin, Marek Matejovsky and Vaclav Sverkos - were effectively sacked from the national team.
Kovac has been at the centre of a string of scandals in his home nation in recent year. Back in 2004 he was in hot water after urinating into a bottle in a busy bar. Just last year he was in trouble again for what blesk.cz described as 'degenerated sexual behaviour' involving a female reporter. The 29-year-old, who joined the Hammers on loan in January with view to a permanent £4million switch is also likely to be in hot water with model girlfriend Klara Medkova, pictured below with the on-loan United midfielder.
Earlier this week United striker Tristan was banned from driving for 32 months after being caught three times over the limit having crashed his car into a taxi.

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Tottenham v West Ham
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Saturday, 11 April Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: Score updates on Full commentary on BBC London 94.9 FM; DAB & BBC London online; Final Score, BBC Sport website and BBC Radio 5 Live; live text commentary on BBC Sport website; Highlights on Match of the Day
BBC.co.uk

Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios is banned, while Jermain Defoe (foot) is out but will train fully next week. Alan Hutton (foot) is back with the reserves after being sidelined and Aaron Lennon (groin) should be fit.

West Ham midfielders Scott Parker (groin) and Radoslav Kovac (thigh) will both have late fitness tests. Strikers Carlton Cole (groin) and Dean Ashton (ankle), midfielders Valon Behrami, Jack Collison (both knee) are all still unavailable for selection.

Tottenham (from): Gomes, Cudicini, Corluka, Hutton, Chimbonda, Bale, Assou-Ekotto, King, Woodgate, Dawson, Modric, Jenas, Zokora, Lennon, Huddlestone, O'Hara, Bentley, Pavlyuchenko, Campbell, Keane, Bent.

West Ham (from): Green, Neill, Upson, Collins, Tomkins, Ilunga, Noble, Boa Morte, Lopez, Tristan, Payne, Di Michele, Dyer, Lastuvka, Sears, N'Gala, Stanislas, Savio, Parker, Kovac.

BIG-MATCH FACTS
Tottenham against West Ham is the 17th of 20 London Premier League derbies this season, and a clash between two clubs who've now got European aspirations.

Spurs had been surging up the table under Harry Redknapp, until their defeat to Blackburn last Saturday. Redknapp is yet to lose to West Ham as a manager - the club that sacked him in May 2001. Redknapp sides have faced the Hammers six times; winning five and drawing one.

West Ham have not lost a top-flight match in the capital on opposition territory this season, and go to the Lane lying in fourth place in the Premier League's away "form" table.

Spurs are unbeaten in five against West Ham (won four, drawn one), and have not lost in seven home Premier League games against them. They have won four and drawn three since the Hammers' 1-2 triumph at the Lane on 24 April 1999, when Ian Wright and Marc Keller were on target.

Distance between the clubs: 12 miles (19 kilometres)
West Ham are making the shortest journey of any Premier League club in this round of matches.

CLUB FORM
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Club stats

11th 38 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 8th
Lowest realistically could fall: 12th

Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League

1. Blackburn ended their six-match undefeated league run, with a 2-1 win at Ewood Park last Saturday.

2. Aiming to avoid back-to-back defeats for the first time in 11 Premier League outings.

3. The current tally of 38 points after 31 games is their lowest for five years, and one point down on last season.

4. Found the net in the last six league games, and failed to score in one of the last 10 league outings; that game being the goalless home draw with Arsenal on 8 February.

5. Not managed to do the double over any club yet this season, but West Ham could be the first of three. Liverpool and Manchester City are other possibilities.

6. Bidding to win three successive home league games for the second time this season; won three of the last four at the Lane, and not conceded a goal in the most recent three.

7. Not lost in four London Premier League derbies; won two and drawn two with clean sheets in all four. The 2-1 loss to Fulham on 15 November at the Cottage is their only defeat in 10 such matches.

8. Aiming to become the first club this season to win three top-flight capital clashes.

9. White Hart Lane has seen fewer Premier League goals than any other ground this season; 25 in 15 (16 for, nine against - which is 1.67 per game). It is the third best home defence in the highest league, on a ground that saw the highest number of top-flight goals last term (80, 46 for and 34 against).

10. The run-in includes trips to the top two. The full list is:- Newcastle (h), Manchester United (a), WBA (h), Everton (a), Manchester City (h) and Liverpool (a).

Fixtures

WEST HAM UNITED

Club stats

7th 44 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 7th
Lowest could fall: 8th

Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League

1. Unbeaten in five league games; won three and drawn two since losing 2-1, away to Bolton on 21 February.

2. If defeat is avoided it will equal their best unbeaten sequence of the season of six matches, achieved between Boxing Day and 31 January (four wins, two draws).

3. The current tally of 44 points after 31 games is on a par with last season.

4. Lost one of the 14 top-flight matches in which they've opened the scoring; home to Everton.

5. Lost one of the last 10 away league games (at the Reebok).

6. Playing their fourth away league game in London; already won at Fulham, and drawn at Chelsea and Arsenal.

7. Three of the top five clubs are still to be played in the six-match run-in after this. The full list is:- Aston Villa (a), Chelsea (h), Stoke (a), Liverpool (h), Everton (a) and Middlesbrough (h).

Fixtures

KEY PLAYER NOTES
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Squad profiles

Ledley KING scored his first goal in three years when he opened Tottenham's account in the reverse fixture with West Ham in December.

Darren BENT is Tottenham's top scorer of Premier League goals with 10.

BENT is a double shy of 50 career Premier League goals.

If selected:-

Michael DAWSON will be making his 200th career league appearance (Nottingham Forest and Tottenham).

Jermaine JENAS will be making his 250th career league appearance (Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Tottenham).

Suspended:-

Wilson PALACIOS (one match)

WEST HAM UNITED

Squad profiles

Robert GREEN is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of West Ham's Premier League matches this season.

Carlton COLE is the club's top Premier League scorer with nine goals.

Kieron DYER needs a double to register 50 career club goals.

If selected:-

Matthew UPSON will be making his 200th career Premier League appearance (Arsenal, Birmingham and West Ham).

James COLLINS will be making his 50th appearance in top-flight football - all in West Ham colours.

If on the field from the outset:-

Mark NOBLE will be making his 100th club career start (West Ham, Hull and Ipswich).

HEAD TO HEAD
They're seldon short of goals when these clubs meet. Spurs won 4-0 at White Hart Lane in March last year, and who could forget their dramatic clash at Upton Park 12 months earlier. The Hammers were leading 2-0 at half time and 3-2 with five minutes remaining, but contrived to lose by the odd goal in seven.

There's only been two goalless draws in the last 89 league meetings between these clubs.

Tottenham are targeting a third Premier League double over West Ham and first since 2006-07.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Spurs 45 wins, West Ham 39, Draws 29
Prem: Spurs 12 wins, West Ham 9, Draws 6

at Spurs only
League (inc PL): Spurs 28 wins, West Ham 14, Draws 14
Prem: Spurs 7 wins, West Ham 3, Draws 3

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 West Ham United
9 March 2008 - Ref: Chris Foy
Spurs scorers: Berbatov 8, 11, Gilberto 85, Bent 90
Sent Off: Boa Morte (West Ham) 44

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
West Ham United 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
8 December 2008 - Ref: Chris Foy
Spurs scorers: King 68, O'Hara 90

REFEREE
Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire)

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Redknapp on his 'special club'
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 9th April 2009
By: Staff Writer

Former Hammers boss Harry Redknapp says he is looking forward to facing his former club this weekend. Redknapp, who first joined United as a 15-year-old trainee in 1962 spent ten years at the club before moving to Bournemouth in 1972. He returned to the club firstly as assistant to Billy Bonds in 1992 before being named manager two years later. Despite being vilified by Hammers fans for taking the Tottenham post earlier this year Redknapp insisted that he still retains special affection for the club and its supporters.
Talking in today's pre-match press interview, Redknapp said: "They've been playing terrific and have had a great season. They've turned it round great. The manager was a great player and he's a fantastic feller who I think everybody in football loves. I don't think anybody could dislike Zola, he's a special character as a sportsman and everything about him. It's great to see him doing so well at West Ham. "Obviously it was difficult for him with his background going there as a Chelsea man. But he's a professional, gone there and turned the club around. The fans appreciate what he's done; they've got great support, they all understand the game and they will appreciate the type of football that he's been playing. "It's a club I went to at 15 so it's always a special club for me, it'll never be any different and I'm pleased to see them doing well again this year. The football they're playing has been excellent. "The fans there demand a certain kind of football. They've been brought up with that type of play, people that can control and pass the football and play the game in the way that I consider the right way and they consider to be the right way. "They don't just kick it and hope, they play football and Zola's continued that theme - so they're obviously pleased with what they're seeing."

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Hammers complete hat-trick
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 9th April 2009
By: Staff Writer

Junior Stanislas has become the third youngster to commit his long-term future to West Ham this week. Stanislas - who marked his full first team debut with a goal in United's 2-0 win over Sunderland at the Boleyn last weekend - has put pen to paper on a new deal that keeps him in East London until 2013. Talking to whufc.com tonight, the 19-year-old winger said: "It's good to have signed. I've been working hard on the training ground so the new contract is obviously a bonus. It's a great show of faith and I've just got to keep working hard. "The loan spell at Southend helped but then coming back to West Ham I still had to work hard. Now I've had my chance I've been doing ok, so it's good." Earlier this week it was announced that Mark Noble and James Tomkins had signed three-and-a-half year deals likewise tyng them to the club until 2013.

Junior Stanislas: the story so far

1989: Born in Eltham.
2000: Joins the club as an 11-year-old.
2006: Signs pro terms with West Ham.
2006/07: Helps Tony Carr's youth team to a runners-up spot in the Academy league.
2007: Voted the Bobby Moore Young Player of the Year in his first season.
2007/08: Selected for the England under 19 team.
2008: Spends six weeks on loan at Southend. Scores three goals in nine appearances.
2008/09: Selected for the England under 20 team.
2009: Makes his full Hammers debut as a sub in the 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion.
2009: Makes his first start and scores his first senior goal in the 2-0 win over Sunderland.
2009: Signs new three-and-a-half year deal.

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Zola unsurprised at success
Hammers boss always had faith in his managerial ability
By Richard Bailey Last updated: 9th April 2009
SSN

Gianfranco Zola is not surprised that his West Ham side are on the verge of qualifying for next season's UEFA Europa League. But shortly after the Italian took over from Alan Curbishley in September fans of the club would have been forgiven for thinking that just staying in the Premier League would have been an achievement. After winning his first two games in charge Zola then saw his side pick up just seven points from a possible 36 leaving them just one place above the bottom three. But since then the former Chelsea forward has led his side up the table and with just seven games remaining the Hammers currently occupy seventh place, a position which almost certainly guarantees them European football next season. "That is football," Zola said of the club's turnaround in fortunes. "A season, especially like in this case, someone comes when the season has already started and he wants to impose his own ideas and it takes time. "I never for one second lost my belief in the team and in the work that I'm doing. So we're now competing for different levels and I'm very pleased. "Everyone here has worked very hard for this and everything we are getting is totally deserved and I feel so proud of it."

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New Hammers deal for Stanislas
Teenage winger happy to earn Zola's faith
Last updated: 9th April 2009
SSN

West Ham United teenager Junior Stanislas has followed in the footsteps of several of his team-mates by signing a new contract at Upton Park. Mark Noble and James Tomkins committed their futures to the Hammers earlier this week, while the likes of Scott Parker, Freddie Sears and Jack Collison have also agreed new deals this season.
Stanislas, who marked his first start for the club by scoring against Sunderland last weekend, is now tied to West Ham until the summer of 2013. The winger feels he benefited from a loan spell at Southend United earlier this season and is happy to now be part of Gianfranco Zola's plans. "It's good to have signed," Stanislas told the club's official website. "I've been working hard and doing well on the training ground, so the new contract is obviously a bonus. "It's a great show of faith and I've just got to keep working hard. I'm learning still on the pitch, but this is a reward for how I've been doing." He added: "James (Tomkins) and I have been together quite a lot recently, with England as well, so for him to sign and for me to sign a few days later is obviously great. "The loan spell at Southend for six weeks obviously helped, but then coming back to West Ham I still had to work hard. Now I've had my chance I've been doing OK so it's good."

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Zola stands by Savio
Hammers boss backs teenage winger to shine
By Chris Burton Last updated: 9th April 2009
SSN

Gianfranco Zola has backed teenage winger Savio to prove his worth to the West Ham faithful. The 19-year-old became the club's record signing during the January transfer window when he completed a £9million move from Brescia. He arrived with a glowing reputation as one of Europe's hottest prospects and was expected to illuminate the Premier League. However, he has endured a slow start to his career in England, making just one start for the Hammers. Zola, though, believes his decision to spend big on the Germany Under 20 international will be vindicated in the not too distant future. The Italian said: "We have expectations of him but we can't forget that the boy is only 19 and has come here for the future. "We're going to try and improve him and to make him a better player. "We know he has got great potential and he can become a really top player but the crowd and everybody needs to be patient with him. The West Ham manager added: "He is only 19 and is very much willing to improve and we're going to help him. "We also need to allow him some time to settle down. The reason we signed Savio is that we see in him the potential that belongs to very good, special players.
"That's the reason we bought him and we're looking forward to working with him and making him a better player."

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Harry Redknapp slams Hammers for selling home-grown stars
Ken Dyer and Tom Collomosse
09.04.09
Evening Standard

Harry Redknapp believes West Ham would now be regular Champions League contenders if they had kept their nerve in the transfer market during the last decade.
Redknapp's Tottenham side face his former club in Saturday's derby at White Hart Lane, with Spurs knowing they must win to maintain a realistic chance of pipping the Hammers to seventh place, which is likely to secure European football next season. If they reached the Europa League, the replacement for the UEFA Cup, this season, it would be a remarkable achievement for West Ham after a campaign blighted by the Carlos Tevez affair and financial uncertainty. Yet Redknapp, who was in charge at Upton Park from 1994 until 2001, claims the club made a huge mistake in selling home-grown stars like Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe between 2000-04, when Terry Brown was the club's chairman. The Hammers earned more than £46million from the sale of the quintet but Redknapp said: "Four players who grew up at West Ham — Ferdinand, Lampard, Joe Cole and Carrick — played in last year's Champions League Final. It makes you upset when you think they should all be playing for West Ham. "West Ham have great support and they should have held on to those players. They could have built a team around them which would have challenged regularly for a Champions League place. "From the fans' point of view, it was a big blow to see them all go. None of them cost the club anything and, if they had stayed, who knows where West Ham would be now? Until that crop came along, West Ham hadn't produced many good young players since Paul Ince came through the ranks in 1986. Those five all became great players."
The current West Ham squad contains youngsters such as Mark Noble, James Tomkins, Jack Collison, Freddie Sears and Junior Stanislas, but Redknapp said: "They are not in the same class. No one will have five British kids as good as that lot again."
Noble, who earlier this week signed a new five-year contract at Upton Park, made his first Premier League start at White Hart Lane back in November 2005. West Ham drew 1-1 that day, thanks in no small part to Noble, who was given the daunting task of playing opposite Dutch star Edgar Davids. But since then, in four subsequent London derbies against Spurs in which Noble has taken part, he is still looking for that first elusive win. He said: "This derby is always such a big game to be involved in and we'll hopefully coming out on top, which hasn't happened for a bit. "This is always a big game for our fans, probably our biggest along with Chelsea. We need to get the better of them this time, though, as they beat us at home earlier in the season. We also need to go there confident after the Sunderland match which was a big win for us while Spurs lost at Blackburn."
Spurs will be without midfielder Wilson Palacios, who serves a one-match ban, so Didier Zokora is expected to deputise alongside Jermaine Jenas in central midfield.
Ledley King will again be given until as late as possible to prove his fitness, although Redknapp admitted he might consider resting the centre-back from certain matches once Spurs' Premier League safety is assured. Redknapp also said that fit-again defender Alan Hutton could be involved.
Gianfranco Zola will await tests on Scott Parker and Radoslav Kovac before making a final decision on his West Ham team, although 19-year-old Stanislas, who scored on his first start last weekend, is sure to be in the squad.

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Hammers' defender is loving life after the winds of change at Upton Park
8:00am Thursday 9th April 2009
Guardian Series

WEST HAM defender James Tomkins insists he has been swept away by the 'breath of fresh air' that Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke have brought to the club. The 20-year-old academy graduate, who scored his first goal for the club in last week's win over Sunderland, has received plenty of one-on-one tutoring from ex-defender Clarke, while Zola has shown commendable faith in him by persisting with the youngster at the heart of the defence. Tomkins has turned plenty of heads with his commanding authority and composure at the back since he stepped in for the crocked James Collins in February. And he could receive no more glowing an endorsement from his manager than to be paired alongside Matthew Upson on Saturday, despite the return to fitness of Welsh international Collins. I feel that I'm playing well at the moment, I'm growing in confidence with every game," insisted Tomkins. "It's a big boost for me to start in front of James, he's been playing very well all season. "I've been getting a good run in the team and I'm full of confidence, I just want to keep it going."
The defender revealed that he has been feeding off the wealth of experience that surrounds him on the pitch. "Players like Lucas Neill and Matty Upson have a lot of experience and I'm learning a lot from playing with them, as well as the good players we have at the club," he added. The appointment of former Chelsea player and coach Clarke has been the real bonus for Tomkins, however, while he has also been impressed with the brand of football the new coaching axis have helped create. "If I wanted to ask about an area of my game that I was looking to improve then Clarkey's brilliant for it really, because he's a player that's played in my position and has bags of experience," said Tomkins. "But the gaffer gives us lots of confidence. He's got everybody playing and playing nice football, which is what the fans want to see. "He's changed things round and the two of them have been like a breath of fresh air for us."
It was a player in high spirits that rose above former Hammer Anton Ferdinand to head home at the weekend – a moment Tomkins insists he will never forget. "It was brilliant and something that you always dream about as a kid. I'm never going to forget it," he beamed. "I've been here since I was eight years old and it's great to score.
"(Hearing the crowd cheer) is a feeling you can't describe, it's such a buzz."

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Super Carr drives the Hammers On
The Sun
By CHARLIE WYETT
Published: Today

WEST HAM fans are never slow to remind everyone that their club helped England win the World Cup in 1966. But Hammers heroes Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore and Martin Peters not only brought glory to club and country, they left the East Enders with a legacy for generations to come. Even today the Hammers' academy remains the ultimate production line for young English talent. If England win the World Cup in South Africa next year John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole and Glen Johnson can all thank the academy. Alan Curbishley, Paul Allen, Tony Cottee and Paul Ince were fellow academics. This year alone, eight more academy kids have featured in West Ham first-team matches and a ninth has made the bench. Kids like Jack Collison, Freddie Sears and now, Junior Stanislas, who scored on his full debut on Saturday against Sunderland, are threatening to become household names under boss Gianfranco Zola. It is an unrivalled success story thanks to the genius of one man — Tony Carr. Such is the enormity of what he has achieved, the West Ham youth academy director is being rewarded for 36 years unbroken service as a coach with a testimonial, normally a privilege reserved for players and managers. Today's Premier League clubs scour the world for new talent but Carr said: "With the odd exception, such as Michael Carrick, virtually all our players have come from east London and the Essex area. "We have a good system in place but people like Jimmy Hampson have to take credit for spotting the players in the first place. "Obviously some of the lads who came through are playing elsewhere. One part of me regrets these lads left West Ham but circumstances dictated that. I look at them and I'm proud that the club played some part in their development. "Rio was always an incredibly jovial lad. If something funny was going on in the dressing room, Rio was normally at the centre of it. When it came to football, he always worked very hard. Class player. "I still call Frank Lampard young Frank, even though he's nearly 31. "Even in the youth team, Frank took his football very, very seriously. He was almost in a rush to get out of the youth side and into the first- team, which is no bad thing. "Joe Cole had to deal with an incredible amount of expectation from an early age. Some players may have struggled with it but Joe is such a lovely, down-to-earth lad and dealt with the pressure well. "In many respects, Michael Carrick benefited from Joe getting all the attention and was able to develop at his own pace. "John Terry was with us for four years and stayed until he was 14 before he left to go to Chelsea. "He was a local lad and it was a shame he moved on. I always knew he was going to be a top player. "Anton Ferdinand did well to come through as he often found himself in his brother's shadow. When he was a schoolboy, I remember kids asking for his autograph, but asking him to sign the paper as Rio! He took it in good heart and fought his way to the top. "Glen Johnson came to us as a striker and once scored a hat-trick with three headers. Then we moved him to wide right, centre midfield and central defence before finding a niche at right-back. "Now, we have Junior Stanislas, Freddie Sears, James Tomkins, Jack Collison and another who will feature soon is Josh Payne. "I have never counted how many players I have brought through. The day I start looking back is the day I retire. But I haven't finished yet."

Carr is no ordinary employee. West Ham have had only 12 permanent managers since the club was formed in 1900. Incredibly, Carr has worked for nine of them! He added: "All the managers I have worked for, from Ron Greenwood up to Franco, wouldn't have got the job if they weren't youth orientated. "History shows that this club has already been prepared to blood youth if they are good enough. "It's unbelievable there are only three managers at West Ham I've never worked for. That makes me sound very old."
Carr is in fact 59. He started out as a trainee striker at West Ham in 1966 but, after four years at the club, headed to Barnet as he felt his chance were limited. He added: "I joined West Ham as a 15-year-old in 1966 which was obviously a good year. Ron got all the club's players together on my first day of training and congratulated Bobby, Geoff and Martin for their success at the World Cup. "I eventually left for Barnet but that didn't work out. I then broke my leg and did a bit of coaching at schools. In the summer of 1973, John Lyall took over as coach and asked me to come and help. "I was asked to run the Under-17s and a newly established Under-16 team. They had some good players, including Alan Curbishley and Paul Brush. It was part-time — £8-a-week. "In the summer of 1980, the day before West Ham played in the Charity Shield, John asked me to be full-time. I became youth team manager for a salary of £7,500-a-year. "We produced Paul Ince, George Parris, Tony Cottee and Stuart Slater, and quite a few other players who went on to do well at other clubs. "After a few lean years, there was a change in our recruitment when Jimmy Hampson arrived as chief scout in 1993 and then Harry Redknapp came on board as coach. They gave us a kick up backside."

As Lampard pointed out while on international duty last week, the attitude of young trainees has changed over the years. Lamps believes all clubs should make their youngsters clean boots and sweep changing rooms. Carr added: "Things are different now. More clubs used to make their players do jobs at the ground. "A lot of the little clubs abused that and made them into cleaners and part-time footballers. "Our boys don't clean the first-team's boots because the youth team and first-team train at different sites. "I used to have to clean Geoff Hurst's and Bobby Moore's boots. In the summer, we had to paint the tunnel and the corridor sky blue. "They stopped those jobs which to a certain degree is right, but players should clean boots, clean dressing rooms and clear up their own kit rather than just throw it on the floor. "They must be responsible for their own environment." Carr hopes many of his former trainees will be allowed by their current clubs to feature in the testimonial game next season. So, imagine Ince and Lampard pulling on a West Ham shirt again. Interesting...

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Zola sweating over midfield duo
TeamTalk

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola is sweating over the fitness of Scott Parker and Radoslav Kovac ahead of Saturday's short trip to Tottenham. The Italian has no new injury worries but will be without a number of experienced players at White Hart Lane so the returns of Parker (groin) and Kovac (thigh) would be a welcome boost. Strikers Carlton Cole (groin) and Dean Ashton (ankle), midfielders Valon Behrami, Jack Collison (both knee) and defenders Danny Gabbidon (back/stomach) and Jonathan Spector (concussion) are all unavailable.

Irons (from): Green, Neill, Upson, Collins, Tomkins, Ilunga, Noble, Boa Morte, Lopez, Tristan, Payne, Di Michele, Dyer, Lastuvka, Sears, N'Gala, Stanislas, Savio, Parker, Kovac.

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Carr highlights talent that's come through West Ham system
10.04.09 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United academy chief Tony Carr is proud of the local element that has come through their youth system. Today's Premier League clubs scour the world for new talent but Carr told The Sun: "With the odd exception, such as Michael Carrick, virtually all our players have come from east London and the Essex area. "We have a good system in place but people like Jimmy Hampson have to take credit for spotting the players in the first place. "Obviously some of the lads who came through are playing elsewhere. One part of me regrets these lads left West Ham but circumstances dictated that. I look at them and I'm proud that the club played some part in their development. "Rio (Ferdinand) was always an incredibly jovial lad. If something funny was going on in the dressing room, Rio was normally at the centre of it. When it came to football, he always worked very hard. Class player. "I still call Frank Lampard young Frank, even though he's nearly 31. "Even in the youth team, Frank took his football very, very seriously. He was almost in a rush to get out of the youth side and into the first- team, which is no bad thing. "Joe Cole had to deal with an incredible amount of expectation from an early age. Some players may have struggled with it but Joe is such a lovely, down-to-earth lad and dealt with the pressure well. "In many respects, Michael Carrick benefited from Joe getting all the attention and was able to develop at his own pace."

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West Ham chief Carr: Shame we lost Terry to Chelsea
10.04.09 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United academy chief Tony Carr admits he's sorry they lost John Terry to Chelsea. He told The Sun: "John Terry was with us for four years and stayed until he was 14 before he left to go to Chelsea. "He was a local lad and it was a shame he moved on. I always knew he was going to be a top player."

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West Ham boss Zola ready to lean on comeback star Dyer
10.04.09 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola hopes Kieron Dyer can play a big role in their European push. Dyer has played just seven times for West Ham since leaving Newcastle in a £6million deal in the summer of 2007. The 30-year-old suffered a broken leg in a Carling Cup tie at Bristol Rovers in August 2007 and has clocked up just 40 minutes of first-team football since. Niggling injuries have repeatedly hampered his recovery efforts and Zola has so far risked him only with brief substitute appearances.
But the Italian is hopeful that picture would change before the end of the season. He said: "We are trying to make it as easy as possible for Kieron. It would not be good for him if I played him more than I am right now. Every game we are trying to give him more time because we have faith in him. We know he is a good player. But he hasn't played for a long time and still cannot play 90 minutes. "Every time we are increasing the time on the pitch and also working hard in training with him. I'm looking forward to the possibility of playing him a little bit longer. I want to see him on the pitch for a long time. "He was one year out, came back and got injured again. Then he came back and got injured again. When that happens, because the muscles haven't been used for a long time, you pick up small injuries. "Every time you have to work you are not 100%, you can't give it your best. If he gives 100% straight away he would get injured. "Now, fortunately, he is progressing very well and I'm looking forward to playing him for 90 minutes. "Obviously I don't remember him at his best but I'm hoping I can see it this year."

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Redknapp criticises West Ham for constant sale of top players
10.04.09 | Andrew Slevison

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has criticised his former club in regards to the selling of top players. Redknapp believes the club would be knocking on the door of the top four if they took better care of their young players who have now become stars at rival clubs. "Four players who grew up at West Ham - Ferdinand, Lampard, Cole and Carrick - played in last year's Champions League Final," said Redknapp. "It makes you upset when you think they should all be playing for West Ham. "West Ham have great support and they should have held on to those players. They could have built a team around them which would have challenged regularly for a Champions League place. "From the fans' point of view, it was a big blow to see them all go. None of them cost the club anything and, if they'd stayed, who knows where West Ham would be now? "Until that crop came along, West Ham hadn't produced many good young players since Paul Ince came through the ranks in 1986. Those five all became great players. "No one will have five British kids as good as that lot again."

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West Ham boss Zola excited by talent coming through academy system
10.04.09 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola is delighted with three of his young players signing new deals. James Tomkins, Mark Noble and Junior Stanislas have all penned new contracts this week. Zola said: "We have worked hard with them for many years. I have worked with them for seven months but before then the youth Academy staff had been working with them for years and now we want to keep them. We are just getting back all the investment in terms of time, patience and knowledge that we put in. Now we want to keep them as long as possible because they represent the future of the club." Eight Academy graduates have donned the famous claret and blue shirt already this season and, with another batch of promising teenagers following them through the ranks, Zola has insisted he will not be afraid to hand out yet more debuts in the future. He also told whufc.com: "Why do I need to be brave? If a young player is good why shouldn't he have the opportunity to play? I don't believe that it's right to think that you have to be brave to play a young player. If a young player is talented and has the qualities to compete they will play. I don't think I've got guts. I think I know players and can recognise good players. It's as simple as that. If they are good, I play them, whether they are 19 or 15. As long as they compete, that's fine with me."

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Gianfranco Zola: Savio Nsereko Can Become West Ham Legend
The Hammers boss is tipping the Germany under-19 international to develop into a class act, but says he needs time...
9 Apr 2009 12:58:33
Goal.com

West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola insists that Savio Nsereko is not an expensive flop and will become a key player for the club. The versatile midfielder, who can also play as a striker, has made just eight appearances for the Hammers since signing from Italian side Brescia for €6 million (£5.5m) in the January transfer window.
However, Zola is optimistic that the Irons' faithful will see the full potential of the highly-rated Germany under-19 international once he has fully settled in at Upton Park.
"We have expectations of him but we can't forget that the boy is only 19," Zola is quoted as saying by The Sun. "He has great potential and he can become a really top player. But the crowd and everybody else need to be patient."

Ricky Brooks, Goal.com

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Future looks bright for Hammers
West Ham and Gianfranco Zola already benefitting from youth policy
By Dave Smith April 09, 2009
GiveMeFootball.com

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola deserves huge credit – not just for the way he has guided the Hammers up the table, to the brink of Europe... ...but for his commitment to the future of the club, and the enormous faith he has put in the array of talent coming through the ranks at a club with a history for producing young stars. It is so important for clubs who are walking a financial tightrope to develop young talent, and few do it better than West Ham. And Zola has been quick to recognise that in his first season as a manager. The likes of Junior Stanislas, James Tomkins and Jack Collison have made big impressions this season and have continually rewarded the faith Zola has shown in them. Nineteen-year-old Stanislas marked his first start for the Hammers with the opener against Sunderland and 20-year-old James Tomkins added another after the re-start to confirm he's on the right track too. Zola admitted he has had to field his youngsters after injuries to senior players such as Scott Parker and Carlton Cole, and he's been delighted with the response of his young stars to the pressure of playing in the Premier League. "It's amazing to see our young players doing so well," said the Italian. "We need their energy and strength. We will need them to help us achieve our goals. When you have a great team spirit it's easy for whoever comes in to do a good job."
Mark Noble, although he already has a wealth of experience behind him, is still only 21 and Zola is pleased to have secured his services until 2013 after the midfielder signed a new contract. Tomkins has also been signed up on a new, long-term deal and Zola said: "It's good we are securing good, young players for the future. It is what we are all about."
Zola has had nothing but praise for his young guns since taking charge at Upton Park and he has been particularly impressed with the progress made by Jack Collison.
"Jack is unbelievable, he's getting better and better," said the 42-year-old manager. "He plays like a veteran and his attitude is good. He's got a bright future. I feel very lucky to have him and not only him, but other players too."

Long may that continue, and other clubs could do a lot worse than follow the example of a rookie manager who has already got it spot on. Top effort Franco.

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West Ham stars visit Richard House
By Simon Hayes on April 9, 2009 11:36 AM
Wharf.co.uk

West Ham players Mark Noble and Junior Stanislas brought some Easter cheer to children at Richard House hospice when they visited yesterday. The Hammers' stars dropped in to the home in Beckton last Wednesday and took part in activities with three of the youngsters receiving care there. It was part of the Creating Chances initiative which sees Premier League clubs taking part in community events. Man of the moment Stanislas, who made a big impact on his full debut against Sunderland last Saturday, was making his first visit to Richard House. He said: "It's my first visit and hopefully not my last because I've enjoyed it here. It's been good spending time with the kids."
He and Noble, who grew up close to Richard House, made some artwork with the children, planted some pots in the greenhouse and had a quick kickabout in the grounds.
Stanislas revealed the footballers' competitive streak came out when they were making the artwork. But the 19-year-old admitted he was not a great artist away from the football pitch. He said: "I was struggling a little bit to be fair. I know if we would have had time to finish mine would definitely be better than Mark's one. "There's always little bits of competitiveness but I think I would have beaten him." "I've been out of school a few years now and art wasn't one of my best subjects, to be honest, but I gave it a go. "I was more interested in football. At playtimes I was always playing football, any opportunity to play football really."
Richard House is one of West Ham's chosen charities for this season and the match against Chelsea on April 25 will be used to collect money for it. Richard House fundraising manager Viv Talbot hopes more people will volunteer their time to help them out. She said: "The support of the football club has been fantastic and we're so grateful to Mark and Junior for coming down here today. "But we would really like anyone who can to volunteer to collect money for us. "It might not be the most glamourous job but every volunteer we have means we don't have to pay someone to do it for us."

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the community fundraising team on 020 7540 0213.

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West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola says Savio needs time to settle in at Upton Park
by: thelondonpaper
9 April 2009

Savio has had a slow start to his West Ham career since his January move GIANFRANCO ZOLA does not regret splashing the cash on Savio, despite the young winger's slow start to his West Ham career. The 19-year-old became the club's record signing when he moved to east London for £9 million in January. But the midfielder has started just one game for the Hammers and is yet to reach the heights which earned him the reputation as one of Europe's hottest prospects. But Zola reckons it is just a matter of time before the Germany Under-20 star is ready to show Hammers fans just why he is so highly rated across the continent. The Italian said: "We have expectations of him but we can't forget that the boy is only 19 and has come here for the future. "We're going to try and improve him and to make him a better player. "We know he has got great potential and he can become a really top player but the crowd and everybody needs to be patient with him. The West Ham manager added: "He is only 19 and is very much willing to improve and we're going to help him. "We also need to allow him some time to settle down. The reason we signed Savio is that we see in him the potential that belongs to very good, special players. "That's the reason we bought him and we're looking forward to working with him and making him a better player."

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Goal on debut puts Junior in dreamland
9:47am Thursday 9th April 2009
Echo

FORMER Southend United loanee Junior Stanislas insists it was a dream come true to have scored his first goal for West Ham United against Sunderland on Saturday. The 19-year-old winger, who bagged three goals in nine games while with Blues earlier on this season, opened the scoring during the Hammers' 2-0 win at Upton park. And he was full of smiles at the final whistle. "It was a great feeling and something I've been thinking about for years now," said Stanislas. "To start in the Premier League and to score is amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better start in what was my full debut. "I came on against West Brom a couple of weeks ago but this was my first start. To get a goal, three points and a clean sheet — it can't get much better than that."
But Stanislas insisted he would not be getting carried away. "The boys here will keep my feet on the ground, they won't let me enjoy it too much — trust me," he said.
"It would be great to get more games but the game is a lot faster and a lot more physical at this level. "It forces you to move the ball a bit quicker and keeps you on your toes, and it is a massive step up to this level from the reserves and lower league football. "It's a lot quicker, more physical but the experienced boys around me are a big help and so is the manager, so hopefully there are more moments like this to come."

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West Ham's Behrami fancies Italy return - not Roma
09.04.09 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United midfielder Valon Behrami cannot rule out a return to Rome. The former Lazio star insists he's settled at Upton Park, but remains hopeful of eventually returning to Italy before the end of his career. "I am happy here working for Gianfranco Zola, who is a marvel," said Behrami. "But one day I would like to return. "But to be sure, it would never be to Roma. I swear I would never do that."

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West Ham's Kovac caught up in Czech Republic scandal
09.04.09 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United midfielder Radoslav Kovac has been caught up in the Czech Republic football scandal. Czech Republic coach Petr Rada was sacked and captain Tomas Ujfalusi retired as the national team was engulfed in controversy, says the Mirror. Rada went after only eight months in charge following a dismal World Cup qualifying campaign. They lost 2-1 at home last week to Slovakia. Fiorentina defender Ujfalusi quit the Czech team following allegations of a late-night booze-up. Reports claimed Ujfalusi went on a drinking binge at a restaurant after the Slovakia match. His party included ex-Liverpool star Milan Baros, West Ham midfield man Kovac, Reading's Marek Matejovsky, Martin Fenin and Vaclav Sverkos.

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