WHUFC.com
Young defender Holmar Eyjolfsson is to join Cheltenham Town on a one-month
loan deal
02.10.2009
Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson is set to gain valuable first-team football with a
one-month loan deal at Cheltenham Town. The Icelandic Under-21
international, who may be on duty next week for his country in 2011 UEFA
European U21 Championship qualfying action at home against San Marino and
Northern Ireland, is due to join up with Martin Allen's side on Friday and
could feature in their weekend League Two home game with Notts Country. The
19-year-old will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of midfielder Josh
Payne, who spent three months on loan with the Robins last season before
coming back to the Boleyn Ground and making two appearances in Gianfranco
Zola's first team.
Eyjolfsson joined West Ham United on a permanent basis from HK Kopavogur on
4 July 2008 after a trial. After beginning that season in Tony Carr's
Under-18 side, Eyjolfsson progressed to make ten reserve appearances last
term. At international level, Eyjolfsson has been capped at U16 and U17
level and was singled out by UEFA as a player to watch for the future at the
UEFA European U17 Championship in Belgium in 2007. He then made his U21
debut in November 2007. Eyjolfsson had already been on a high after spending
time training with the West Ham United first team last week. Speaking to
WHUTV after the reserve game with Portsmouth, he said: "I trained with the
first team three times last week. It went well and I'm hoping to train again
with them and see where it takes me. "It's fun to try yourself against
people like Carlton Cole. Obviously the experienced Premiership defenders
have been struggling against him so it is good to see how you fare against
him. I did alright I think!"
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Hines gets England call
WHUFC.com
Zavon Hines is one of three West Ham United players selected for England
Under-21 duty later this month
01.10.2009
Zavon Hines has earned his first England call with his selection in the
Under-21 squad to face FYR Macedonia in Coventry on Friday week. The
20-year-old forward has been electric for the club this season, with four
league appearances as well as a goal in the Carling Cup defeat of Millwall.
He was called up by Jamaica for a senior friendly against Nigeria last
season but did not play and, with a British passport, was eager for Young
Lions recognition. Hines joins James Tomkins and Junior Stanislas in the
selection for the 2011 UEFA European U21 Championship. There is no place for
the match at the Ricoh Arena for the injured Freddie Sears, who is on loan
at Crystal Palace and scored in the 2-1 win against the Macedonians last
month that preceded a 1-1 draw in Greece.
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Edgar bound for Bournemouth
WHUFC.com
Anthony Edgar is set to spend a month on loan at League Two side Bournemouth
01.10.2009
Young forward Anthony Edgar is set for a month-long loan deal at League Two
high-fliers AFC Bournemouth. Edgar, who turned 19 on Wednesday, will be
looking to follow in the footsteps of another West Ham United Academy
graduate who went on loan to the Cherries. Jermain Defoe, who is Edgar's
cousin, scored 19 goals in 29 appearances for Bournemouth including a
post-war record of scoring in ten consecutive games. He scored seven goals
in 22 appearances for West Ham's Under-18 side in 2008/09 and was part of
the young group of players that travelled to the IP HKFC Global Soccer
Sevens in Hong Kong in May. He then went away with the first-team squad for
their pre-season tour of Austria in July.
Edgar was named as a first-team substitute for the first time against Bolton
Wanderers in the Carling Cup last week. He believed it was a step forward
that should put him in good stead for first-team action on the south coast.
"It was great experience," Edgar said. "I didn't get on but I was looking up
at the players like Zavon Hines and I will learn a lot from that. "It was a
great atmosphere. We didn't win but it was a good experience and I would
like a lot more of that. I just want to keep working hard and see what
happens."
Edgar could make his debut for Bournemouth, who sit top of League Two, in
their match at Port Vale this weekend. He joins Freddie Sears (Crystal
Palace) and Jordan Spence (Scunthorpe United) in being out on loan from the
Boleyn Ground.
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Manuel of the moment
WHUFC.com
Manuel Da Costa has spoken exclusively to this Sunday's official matchday
programme
01.10.2009
Manuel Da Costa has spoken of the warm welcome he has received since joining
West Ham United. In an exclusive interview to be published in the official
matchday programme for Sunday's Barclays Premier League visit of Fulham, the
23-year-old central defender thanked manager Gianfranco Zola for giving him
a 'second chance' after his career had stalled in Italy.
Da Costa, who helped Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven to reach the quarter-finals
of the UEFA Champions League in 2006/07, endured an unhappy time during
spells at ACF Fiorentina and UC Sampdoria. However, since his arrival at the
Boleyn Ground in August, the French-born former Portugal Under-21
international has allowed a smile to return to his face. "I really like it
here," he said. "I'd lost some of my enthusiasm for football in Italy with
being on the sidelines a lot. Here Mister Zola has brought me into the group
and everybody has welcomed me and I am very happy to be here. I'm getting
used to the team, to the staff, to the environment, and I am feeling a lot
better."
While Da Costa has enjoyed working with his new colleagues at Chadwell
Heath, he has also formed an instant bond with the club's supporters,
throwing his shirt into the away end following Monday's Barclays Premier
League fixture at Manchester City. "The fans travel a long way and it's
great that they come and support us - I can already see they're there
whether we win or lose."
After suffering defeats in his opening two matches in a West Ham shirt, Da
Costa is hoping to taste victory for the first time this weekend. "I am
really looking forward to it. I've found it hard to play a full match and
I've had a few physical problems as I'd not played for a long time. But I
have to keep on working hard and hopefully things will go well for me and
the team."
Meanwhile, Da Costa has been included in a Portugal Under-23 squad for a
friendly against Poland on 11 October. After being named in the full squad
twice before, Da Costa will no doubt see the game as a chance to catch
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz's eye. To read about Da Costa's views on
English football and his reflections on an unhappy spell in Italy, get hold
of a copy of Sunday's official matchday programme. Packed with exclusive
features and interviews, including an in-depth chat with Mark Noble,
Jonathan Spector on US national team colleagues Clint Dempsey and Eddie
Johnson, and Herita Ilunga's Dream Team, the programme will be available in
and around the Boleyn Ground on Sunday, priced at £3.50.
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Wales boss faces midfield crisis
Fifa World Cup Qualifying Group Four - Finland v Wales
Venue: Olympic Stadium, Helsinki Date: Saturday, 10 October Kick-off: 1500
BST Coverage: Exclusively live on BBC TWO Wales and online, full commentary
on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and online and live text commentary online
BBC.co.uk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Wales boss John Toshack faces a midfield crisis for their final World Cup
qualifying double-header with Finland and Liechtenstein. West Ham United
youngster Jack Collison has a calf problem and has joined Brian Stock and
Simon Davies on Toshack's midfield injury list. Stock is set for a
three-month lay-off after ankle surgery while Davies has not recovered from
a foot operation. Defender Danny Gabbidon (calf) is a doubt but Gareth Bale
returns. Toshack will name his final Wales squad of this World Cup
qualifying campaign on Friday at 1200 BST and will pick Tottenham Hotspur
left-back Bale as the £10m teenager has returned to fitness following five
months out after knee surgery.
Gabbidon, who had suffered long spell out with complicated abdominal
problems, played in his first competitive Wales game for almost two years
fin their 3-1 qualifying defeat to Russia in Cardiff last month. But the key
centre-back has missed the last two Premier League games for West Ham with a
calf problem but hopes to return to full training within the next few days.
The 30-year-old is expected to be named in Toshack's squad for Wales'
October double-header but Gabbidon will face a race against time to win his
43rd cap in Finland on Saturday week. Doncaster Rovers midfielder Stock
impressed in his first Wales cap against Russia but he will be out until the
new year following a serious ankle injury. Fulham playmaker Davies hoped to
be available for selection for Wales' games in Helsinki on 10 October and in
Lichtenstein four days later. But the 29-year-old's recuperation from
metatarsal surgery has been slower than Davies had hoped and is unavailable
for Wales' back-to-back away trips. Toshack can no longer call on retired
midfield tri Jason Koumas, Carl Fletcher or Carl Robinson so Wales' midfield
is expected to feature Wolves midfielder David Edwards, Cardiff City
talisman Joe Ledley and Arsenal teenager Aaron Ramsey. Wales can no longer
qualify for next year's World Cup in South Africa and must beat Finland, who
currently occupy third place, to have any hope of finishing third in Group
Four behind Germany and Russia.
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Cheltenham sign Hammers defender
BBC.co.uk
Cheltenham Town have signed centre-back Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson from West Ham
on a one-month loan. The 19-year-old Iceland Under-21 man played alongside
former Robins loanee Josh Payne in West Ham's reserve match with Portsmouth
earlier this week. Town defender Shane Duff was ruled out for six months
with a Achilles injury earlier this week. The Robins have also extended the
loan of midfielder Sam Cox from Spurs for a further two weeks. Eyjolfsson
was part of the Iceland Under-21 team which won 6-2 in Belfast against
Northern Ireland last month.
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Cherries bolstered by Edgar loan
BBC.co.uk
League Two leaders Bournemouth have bolstered their injury-plagued squad
with the signing of West Ham midfielder Anthony Edgar on a month's loan. The
19-year-old arrives after the Football League allowed the injury-hit
Cherries, who are under a transfer embargo, to sign one player on loan.
"Anthony can play anywhere across the midfield," assistant manager Jason
Tindall told BBC Radio Solent. "That is crucial for a side like ours with
such a small squad." Injury problems have meant that Bournemouth have only
been able to name three substitutes - including Tindall - for their last two
League games, rather than the usual seven. The club has been under a League
embargo since February because of their financial problems.
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Cherries pick up Edgar
League allow Bournemouth to sign Hammers starlet
Last updated: 1st October 2009
SSN
Bournemouth have signed West Ham midfielder Anthony Edgar on a one-month
loan deal. The Cherries, who are still under a transfer embargo, have been
given special dispensation by the Football League to bring one player into
their squad due to a lengthy injury list. Nineteen-year-old Edgar, who has
yet to make a first-team appearance for the Hammers, will go straight into
the squad for the trip to Port Vale this weekend and he is looking forward
to playing for the League Two leaders. "It's a big challenge and one I'm
looking forward to," Edgar told the club's official website. "There are a
number of players down the years who have come here from West Ham and done
extremely well, so that is good motivation for me. "As soon as I was told
about Bournemouth's interest, I wanted to come here and take the chance.
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Hammers starlet joins Robins
Cox also extends Robins stay
Last updated: 1st October 2009
SSN
Cheltenham have bolstered their ranks with the capture of Holmar Eyjolfsson
on a month-long loan deal from West Ham. The centre-back, 19, has played for
Iceland's Under 21's and will now go straight into the Robins' squad for
Saturday's home clash against Notts County. Eyjolfsson's arrival comes after
manager Martin Allen was handed additional funds by the club's board at the
start of the week to add a fresh face or two to his squad. Meanwhile, Sam
Cox has extended his loan stay at Cheltenham by another month. The Tottenham
youngster, who can play at full-back or in midfield, penned a month-long
deal at the Abbey Business Stadium at the start of September. However, he is
yet to make a first-team appearance for the Robins despite being a regular
figure on Martin Allen's substitutes' bench. He will now be included in the
squad for the clash against Notts County
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One Step Beyond (Part One)
Billy Blagg - Thu Oct 1 2009
West Ham Online
A fantastic cup run in which West Ham beat some of the best teams of the
day, eventually taking part as odd-on favourites in one of the great cup
semi-finals decided over four games and 420 pulsating minutes before cruel
fate and controversy intervenes to ensure it all ends in heart-breaking
defeat, may not be the type of story that you think will need re-telling
after 37 years. In some ways though, the 1971/2 League Cup run is everything
that West Ham represents. Like it or loath it, the very reason that you -
young or old - support the Hammers can be laid bare on a miserable, cold,
rain-sodden Manchester night in January 1972. Read on if you dare.
--------------------------------------------------------------
The League Cup run of 1971/2 began as it always does on a late summer
evening when seasons hopes are high and anything is possible. The League Cup
– now the Carling Cup – was a secondary competition virtually invented to
provide Championship sides (Premier League) with, initially, another shot at
gaining some silverware, later via a Wembley appearance and then, as the
competition gained popularity, another chance at competing in Europe as the
winners qualified for a European berth.
As things turned out though, the competition often threw up odd results,
most significantly when Swindon beat Arsenal in the final in 1969. Not that
West Ham were expected to end up us ignominious failures that season though,
the Daily Express having already tipped the Hammers for the cup before a
ball was even kicked. In fact, West Ham in 1971/2 were an interesting side;
led again by Ron Greenwood, two of the World Cup winners were still there,
the mighty Moore with his powers undiminished and Geoff Hurst still valuable
for 20+ goals a season. Elsewhere, England prospects Frank Lampard, John
McDowell, the elegant Brooking and hoped-for Moore clone Tommy Taylor were
regulars. Billy Bonds was a wilder man in those days and he wasn't thought
to be England material but he was a great club player, while a young
ginger-haired whippet called Harry Redknapp could be both brilliant or not
depending on his mood. High hopes were still held for the big Bermudan
striker Clyde Best and wearing the No: 11 shirt was one of the greatest
players never to represent his country; Bryan 'Pop' Robson.
The Second Round draw paired the Hammers at home against second division
Cardiff City. It should have been easy even if the visitors were led by an
impressive Welshman called John Toshack but, as ever, the Hammers stumbled
against lower opposition and, although Bonds put the home side ahead,
Cardiff equalised through Alan Foggon and a replay at Ninian Park was
required.
In the interim though, the 3rd Round cup draw had thrown up an interesting
prospect; a home game against Don Revie's loathed and reviled but
nonetheless brilliant, Leeds United. In their day a combination of
Manchester United and Chelsea now, it's debatable who got most out of the
prospects of the cup draw but, in a replay they were expected to lose, it
was West Ham who came through in extra time against Cardiff after Hurst
scored two vital goals in a 2-1 win.
I was very young, but the night of the Leeds United game is very poignant
for me (No, I'm not going to tell you why!) and might have stayed in my
memory for that reason alone but, just as now, when you think you have West
Ham understood they surprise you, and the team provided some other, happier
memories for the young Blagg that night. The eventual score was 0-0 but I
don't know how. The Hammers mercilessly battered Leeds and only excellent
and brutal defending – particularly by Jack Charlton - allowed the Yorkshire
side to escape with a draw. Under floodlights, with the 35,000 plus crowd
baying and swaying, it was one of the best goalless games I have seen even
to this day. Even so, a draw was a gutting result. Nobody won at Elland
Road.
In the days before all games were covered by TV even if only for the goals,
the replay in Leeds remains a mystery. Even the radio didn't feel the need
to report on every ball kicked in every part of the country but it didn't
take a genius to learn that something special happened in Yorkshire that
night when the result filtered through: Leeds United 0 West Ham 1 after
extra time with Clyde Best scoring. The fans delirium was soon tempered by
the thought of the next opponents though; the team who were to go on to win
the league that season were the Hammer's next opponents, Bill Shankly's
Liverpool.
An incredible 40,870 people piled into Upton Park to see this fourth round
game. If the place was heaving for the Leeds visit then the bar was, if
anything, raised even higher for the visit of Liverpool. The old Upton Park
under floodlights was always a magical venue but that night the crowd were
enthralled by a game described by Desmond Hackett in the 'Daily Express' as
'one of the greatest games I have seen for years'. The Hammers dominated the
first half but went behind to a Bobby Graham goal and, with Geoff Hurst
limping, it looked as if the cup run was to end, but Hurst's injury actually
contributed to the Hammer's equaliser as the England man coming back
painfully slowly from an attack was just in the right spot when Tommy Smith
back-headed the ball to him following a Clyde Best shot.
Interesting to note that Hackett's match report of the night mentions West
Ham's 'notorious ill-luck' – you thought it was a new thing when you look at
Dean Ashton? – and, with Hurst being replaced at half-time, the Hammers
chances of getting through to the next round looked even slimmer as
Liverpool looked for the replay back at Anfield. But then something magical
happened that I can see as clearly now as I could that night because it was
one of the best goals I have ever seen. Hammer's keeper Bobby Ferguson threw
the ball out to McDowell who slipped it through to Harry Redknapp. 'Arry set
off on a mazy run down the west side wing evading tackle after tackle for a
full 30 yards until the by-line loomed and the ginger one looked as if he
was sure to end in a heap in front of the photographers fronting the South
Bank. But, it didn't happen. Instead, Redknapp crossed from the tightest of
angles, the ball flew over an outstretched Clemence in the Liverpool goal
and was met at the far post by Pop Robson, rising like a salmon to power in.
It was glorious. Upton Park erupted; the Hammers celebrated and the dreaded
replay on Merseyside was averted as they ran out 2-1 winners. The papers the
following day summed it up: 'West Ham – Pride of London'. When fans berate
our ex-boss for his association with Spurs or, more likely, his annoying
habit of remaining unbeaten against us, it's not the saggy chops that I see
when I hear his name. Instead I see a skinny, ginger haired kid in shiny
boots flying towards the South Bank at full speed…
It was the 5th round now - the quarter finals - and once again the draw had
given West Ham a home tie but equally it was against opponents Greenwood
would not have chosen given the opportunity. This time the team due to visit
Upton Park were already riding high at the top of the first division, a side
already being tipped to become perhaps the 'new Leeds', a side bristling
with inventive football who'd already won at Upton Park in the league, the
Hammer's next opponents were….. Sheffield United?
In 1972, Sheffield was celebrating their second season back in the big
league. By November they were top of the division and, with players like the
much-abused Trevor Hockey – a man who made weird-beard Derek Hales look like
he suffered from alopecia - Alan Woodward and a young Tony Currie, the
Blades were a team expected to go far. The Saturday before the cup game,
Sheffield came to the Boleyn and won 2-1 and went into the quarter final
expecting to complete a double. They didn't. West Ham blew them away that
night in a 5-0 thrashing that could have run into double figures as the men
in claret and blue played scintillating football that had the home crowd –
another 36,000 plus – roaring and singing as Sheffield chased shadows. The
defeat was so epic that the Blades were never the same after, slipping down
the league to finish 10th. At Upton Park though, the celebrations went long
into the night as Hammers fans looked forward to a semi-final – the first
since the glory days of the mid-sixties – against perennial bridesmaid side
Stoke City. The semi-final meant a two-legged affair so at least one match
was guaranteed under the Upton Park floodlights.
The saga was about to begin.
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Millwall plan legal action
Lions fight FA charges over Upton Park trouble
Last updated: 1st October 2009
SSN
Millwall are taking legal advice following the Football Association's
decision to charge them in relation to the crowd trouble at their Carling
Cup game at West Ham in August.
The Lions face three charges of failing to ensure their supporters
"refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour",
"did not throw missiles on to the pitch" and "refrained from racist
behaviour". West Ham face four charges relating to an alleged failure to
control their supporters during the second-round match on 25th August.
Millwall chief executive officer Andy Ambler told the Southwark News: "We
have meetings with our legal advisors at the end of this week and then we
will decide on a strategy.
"We are trawling through all of the evidence that has been sent to us and
we'll be getting a case together in due course."
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West Ham star Herita Illunga calls for Hammers to show "character"
Published 23:00 01/10/09 BY Neil McLeman
The Mirror
Herita Illunga has admitted West Ham must add "character" to their pretty
football to get out of the bottom three. Gianfranco Zola's side have yet to
win since the opening game of the season and have scored only six goals. And
before Sunday's London derby with Fulham, the Congo defender has called upon
his team-mates to find a winning mentality after home defeats to Spurs and
Liverpool this season. "We need to show a lot of character because this is a
difficult period for us," he said. "We're a team that plays very good
football. You see it in training - we work a lot, the coaches insist on us
playing football, keeping the ball, good possession. But we need to play and
win at the same time - it's not enough to just play. We need results, too.
"It's a state of mind. We need to get back our winning mentality. We have to
defend together, first of all, and then keep hold of he ball and get forward
at the opposition. It is very important we get ourselves right mentally,
recover our calm. "We need to find the right spirit together and I hope it
will happen at the weekend in front of our own fans. "Last year we had a
difficult spell too, and we need to put a good run together. I hope it
starts on Sunday."
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West Ham United v Fulham: match preview
Telegraph.co.uk
Published: 5:59AM BST 02 Oct 2009
Sunday Oct 4
West Ham United v Fulham
Upton Park
Kick-off: 15.00 BST
TV: Highlights, BBC One MotD.
West Ham are in the relegation zone after losing their last three in the
Premier League, the club's worst run sine October of last year, when they
lost four in succession. Matthew Upson and Jack Collison undergo tests as
West Ham search for their first win at Upton Park since the last game of
last season. Fulham have lost four of their last five Premier League games
and, in their last 11 meetings with West Ham, have failed to win, losing
their last four. In the last 11 meetings, West Ham have won eight and drawn
three.
West Ham United (Probable, 4-1-4-1): Green; Faubert, Tomkins, Da Costa,
Ilunga; Parker; Diamanti, Kovac, Noble, Jimenez; Cole.
Fulham (Probable, 4-4-2): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Kelly;
Duff, Etuhu, Murphy, Dempsey; Johnson, Zamora.
Referee: Phil Dowd. Matches: 5. R1 Y16.
Last season: Fulham 1, West Ham 2; West Ham 3, Fulham 1.
Stat of the game: West Ham have eight points fewer than they had at this
stage last season.
Betting tip: a goalless draw is 15-2.
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Why there is still plenty to be optimistic about at West Ham
By West Ham United Fans Blog
The Mirror
Published 13:22 01/10/09
After losing 1-0 at Wigan two weeks ago, Gianfranco Zola would have looked
at West Ham's next two fixtures, sighed, and accepted that his side would be
marooned on four points from six games at the end of September. Games
against Liverpool and Manchester City hardly represent opportunities to
arrest a slide. Being an intelligent and thoughtful man, Zola would not have
panicked though, and the more hysterical of West Ham's fans would do well to
follow his example.
Defeats to Liverpool and City have duly followed, and West Ham have now made
their worst start to a season since the 2002-03 season. Ominously enough
West Ham were relegated. Predictably enough similar forecasts are now being
made, although those gazing pessimistically into their crystal balls ought
to take a step back and review their misguided standpoints.
West Ham were brushed aside 3-1 by City on Monday, and while the defeat was
as disappointing as any other, it should be viewed in perspective. There was
a chasm of difference between the two sides, roughly £250m in City's favour.
As they showed by beating Arsenal 4-2 and narrowly losing in that period of
stoppage time to Manchester United, they are already a force to be reckoned
with this season.
City's attack featured Craig Bellamy and Carlos Tevez, who were supported by
Martin Petrov and Shaun Wright Phillips. Roque Santa Cruz was only on the
bench, while Emmanuel Adebayor was suspended and Robinho injured. For West
Ham, shopping in Primark to City's Prada, behind an isolated Carlton Cole
featured an on-loan Luis Jimenez, plucked from Inter's reserves, and
Alessandro Diamanti, a cheap recruit from a side just promoted from Italy's
second division. Still outraged by the result?
These kind of games, for a team in West Ham's position, are always a bonus.
In any case, as Corporal Jones from Dad's Army would say, don't panic. After
all, Zola's side have accrued the same amount of points from their opening
six games as they did from last season's corresponding fixtures - although
you have to fiddle the stats a little bit. West Ham lost 3-2 at West Brom
last year, the 2008-09 equivalent of Wolves, who were defeated on the
opening day.
It is only the defeat to Wigan which has created this despondent mood, but
then Roberto Martinez's side did hand Chelsea a 3-1 stuffing on the weekend.
Then again, that was Wigan's first win in 34 attempts over one of the Big
Four, so it goes to show how pointless it is to fret over losing to
Manchester's answer to the Harlem Globetrotters.
Trite though it may sound as well, but West Ham are due some luck. Of
course, a team will not go through a season of struggle on the back of ill
fortune alone, yet it can be the origin of a mini-slump of this kind. While
West Ham were well beaten by City, the score at half-time would have been
2-2 had Scott Parker's finish not been ruled out for a foul on Joleon
Lescott by Cole that only the woeful officials saw. Lescott later apologised
to Cole for the decision.
Similarly West Ham would have led 1-0 at Wigan had Alan Wiley not ended the
first half just as Cole put the ball into an empty net. That would have
given Cole four goals in six league starts. As it is, he has three, scored
against Tottenham, City and Liverpool, a healthy record for any England
hopeful.
Injuries have not smoothed West Ham's start either, and on Monday night they
were missing the experience of Matthew Upson in defence, meaning the young
James Tomkins was partnered by a player making his first Premier League
start, Manuel Da Costa. One look at that soft centre did not inspire
confidence, and Carlos Tevez's two goals were both poorly defended.
The midfield could do with the return of Valon Behrami and Jack Collison
too. Radoslav Kovac, Mark Noble and Scott Parker huffed and puffed, but they
offered little goal threat, incision or creativity. No brio from that trio,
and Zola may want to rethink his 4-3-3 formation at the moment. Kovac,
Parker and Noble are a little too similar, and Petrov and Wright Phillips
made ample use of the vast spaces on the flanks.
Once Behrami and Collison are fit, a return to the diamond formation that
served West Ham so well last season could prompt an improvement. The first
time that surfaced, a 1-1 draw at Chelsea was achieved and, indeed,
propelled West Ham into contention for a European place. The 4-3-3 is in its
early days though, and could blossom once Diamanti and Jimenez start to find
their feet in England.
There remains plenty to be optimistic about at West Ham, on the pitch at
least, yet at the merest sign of a crisis, the critics are quick to come
creeping out of the shadows, a little too eager to launch into tedious
told-you-sos, mainly because Zola used to play for Chelsea. Just be grateful
he's not Dennis Wise.
Jacob Steinberg
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Toni edges closer to West Ham transfer after 'strike'
Independent.co.uk
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Luca Toni's future at Bayern Munich has been thrown further into doubt after
the Italian refused to play for the club's reserve team. The Italian
striker has been strongly linked with a move to West Ham, and the latest
developments suggest a switch to the Premier League in January is a strong
possibility. The 32-year-old believes that he is fit enough for first-team
action, but coach Louis van Gaal is of the opinion that Toni has not fully
recovered from an Achilles problem. Ahead of the Champions League clash with
Juventus, an angry Toni said: "He wants me to play in the reserves again,
but I don't think I will do that again."
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Redknapp Attacks Topsy Turvy West Ham Fans
http://tottenhamblog.blogishness.com
Harry Redknapp has come out with a fabulous attack on the stupidity of West
Ham fans who hate their home-grown former cult heroes and bestow love and
gratitude on a certain Argentinian who barely played 10 matches for the
club. Redknapp told the Sun: "Look at Carlos Tevez on Monday night." "He
scores against his old club West Ham and then says he refused to celebrate
because of his love for the club and its supporters." "What a load of old
tosh." "Tevez was at West Ham for a year, he hardly played a game until the
end of that one season, after which he quickly moved off to Manchester
United." "I couldn't for the life of me see why he didn't want to punch the
air in recognition of a goal. Why shouldn't he? Inside he must have been
delighted." "If you don't want to score goals, don't play football. It's
incredible." "Alan Pardew didn't fancy him and Alan Curbishley only brought
Tevez out of mothballs at Upton Park with about 10 games to go because the
club was in danger of relegation." "Now he's some sort of folk hero in the
East End and he says some part of him will 'always be a Hammer'. Rubbish."
"Tevez has not exactly got claret and blue blood flowing through his veins."
"Yet Frank Lampard – who did nothing wrong except join the club at 12 years
old, score goals and then get sold for £11million to make the club a vast
profit – gets slaughtered." "It's all topsy turvy to me." I remember Rio
Ferdinand returned to West Ham with Leeds and scored against his old club at
Upton Park." "He did not celebrate – but then I signed Rio for West Ham when
he was 14." "Maybe he thinks some part of him will always be a Hammer and at
least he has a right to." "But Tevez? Do me a favour." "He should have
scored the goal and then celebrated like he wanted to inside." "He has no
reason to be on the same side as West Ham fans."
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Tottenham boss: Adebayor right to taunt Arsenal fans
Sport.co.uk
Author: Ben Moss
Posted on:01 October 2009 - 09:51
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes Manchester City star Emmanuel
Adebayor was well within his rights to celebrate his goal against his former
club Arsenal, in last month's Premier League encounter. The towering
Togolese forward was subjected to some vile abuse from the travelling
Arsenal support, and having scored a crucial goal the 25-year-old ran the
length of the pitch to celebrate in front of them. The FA have subsequently
charged him with misconduct, but the former West Ham and Portsmouth manager,
Redknapp, believes they are wrong to.
Redknapp writes in the Sun: "EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR faces a grilling from the
Football Association today over his 'controversial' goal celebration against
Arsenal.
What on earth was controversial about it?" "He took a load of abuse from
Arsenal fans, scored against them, ran the length of the pitch to the away
end and dropped to his knees as if to say to them 'I've scored, 'ave some of
that'." "I think the FA are wrong to charge him in the first place. But,
then again, I think the whole goal celebration issue has got way out of
hand."
Redknapp added: "Adebayor got dogs' abuse from the kickaround before the
game at Eastlands right until the end of the game." "What did he do wrong?"
"He never racially abused anyone, he never made rude gestures which lots of
fans do." "He signed for Arsenal for £7m and left for £25m. So he put in
good service and made Arsenal an £18m profit. Hardly a criminal act is it?"
"Yet he is in the dock for the way he gave it back to his tormentors - by
scoring a goal"
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West Ham keen on Charlton kid Moussa Guindo
02.10.09 | tribalfootball.com
Ivory Coast youngster Moussa Guindo is interesting West Ham United. The 18
year-old's registration is currently owned by Charlton Athletic and he is
currently playing at home with ASEC Mimosas. West Ham chief Gianluca Nani
has received glowing reports on Guindo and they're pondering a January move.
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West Ham will contest every FA charge
01.10.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United will fight the FA over all four charges they were slapped
with after their Carling Cup crowd trouble. The Hammers hierarchy held a
top-level meeting at Upton Park on Tuesday night to piece together their
case for the defence, says The Sun. The club are sticking to claims they
followed all the advice from police and relevant authorities to try to
minimise crowd trouble. West Ham fans invaded the pitch three times and a
Millwall fan was stabbed outside the ground before the ill-fated Carling Cup
tie on August 25. Around 200 seats and a toilet block were wrecked in the
away end. The FA have clobbered West Ham on four counts of failing to
control their supporters and League One Millwall have been hit with three
charges. A Hammers insider said: "People at the top here reckon they did
everything they could and followed all the guidance given before what is an
historically volatile game. "The police and stewards were stretched inside
Upton Park but the main priority was to keep rival fans apart and we did."
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Parker admits West Ham confidence rock bottom
01.10.09 | tribalfootball.com
Scott Parker admits West Ham United's players are short of confidence after
their poor start to the season. He admitted: "We're on a bad run at the
moment and we're fragile as players and as a team. "We've got five senior
players out injured and we've got a small squad as it is. It's still early
on in the season and if this run was happening in January then you would
worry, but it isn't. "Just as winning becomes a habit, losing also becomes a
habit. We've got a game at the weekend against Fulham that we have to win."
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West Ham's Ilunga wants team to show character
02.10.09 | Andrew Slevison
West Ham defender Herita Ilunga has called for the players to show more
character. The Hammers are currently languishing in the bottom three on the
Premier League table and face Fulham at home this weekend in what could be a
season-defining match. Congo's Ilunga wants the Hammers to show more fight
and begin to take points at home in a bid to climb back up the table. "We
need to show a lot of character because this is a difficult period for us,"
he said. "We're a team that plays very good football. You see it in training
- we work a lot, the coaches insist on us playing football, keeping the
ball, good possession. But we need to play and win at the same time - it's
not enough to just play. We need results, too."
Ilunga added that much of the time it was about playing with the right
mentality and urged his teammates to improve their mental strength. "It's a
state of mind. We need to get back our winning mentality," he added. "We
have to defend together, first of all, and then keep hold of he ball and get
forward at the opposition. It is very important we get ourselves right
mentally, recover our calm. "We need to find the right spirit together and I
hope it will happen at the weekend in front of our own fans. "Last year we
had a difficult spell too, and we need to put a good run together. I hope it
starts on Sunday."
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Pearce turns up Jamaica heat with selection of West Ham's Hines
02.10.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United winger Zavon Hines has been called into the England U21
squad for their European Championship qualifier against Macedonia next week.
Hines was called up by Jamaica for a senior friendly against Nigeria last
season but did not play and, with a British passport, was eager for Young
Lions recognition. Hines joins James Tomkins and Junior Stanislas in the
selection for the 2011 UEFA European U21 Championship.
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