WHUFC.com
All the early team news and information ahead of Saturday's visit of Bolton
Wanderers
04.03.2010
West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers
Barclays Premier League
Boleyn Ground
Saturday 6 March 2010
3pm
Referee: Lee Probert
Introduction
• West Ham United will take on Bolton Wanderers seeking to extend their
unbeaten home Barclays Premier League run to six matches. The Hammers'
previous five home matches have seen them record four wins and a draw,
keeping clean sheets in their last four league games in east London.
• The Hammers go into Tuesday's game 13th in the Barclays Premier League
table. Gianfranco Zola's men cannot rise in the standings as they are seven
points adrift of Blackburn Rovers in 12th, although they do have a game in
hand. Bolton sit 15th, a point adrift of their hosts.
• West Ham are seeking to end a run of five consecutive defeats at the hands
of the Trotters. In all, the Hammers have failed to beat Bolton in six
matches - a run stretching back to the 3-1 home league win at the Boleyn
Ground on 5 May 2007, when Carlos Tevez netted twice and Mark Noble once.
Gary Speed scored Bolton's goal.
• Bolton have beaten West Ham twice at home this season, winning 3-1 on both
occasions. The first came in the Carling Cup third round on 22 September,
followed by a Premier League success on 15 December.
• This is the 54th league meeting between the two sides. Bolton have won 27,
West Ham have won 18 and there have been eight draws.
• West Ham have not lost at home in the Barclays Premier League since the 5
December visit of Manchester United. Since then the club have drawn 1-1 with
Chelsea, won 2-0 against Portsmouth, drawn 0-0 with Blackburn Rovers, beaten
Birmingham City 2-0 and won 3-0 over Hull City.
• The most recent meeting at the Boleyn Ground took place on 5 October 2008,
when Bolton ran out 3-1 winners. Kevin Davies and Gary Cahill put the
visitors two goals up before Carlton Cole pulled one back for the hosts,
only for Matthew Taylor to wrap up the three points with a long-range
strike.
• The lineups that day were:
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Neill, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami , Parker,
Noble, Etherington (Sears 79), Di Michele (Bellamy 54), Bellamy, Sears
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Davenport, Mullins, Boa Morte
Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, A.O'Brien, Cahill, Samuel, Nolan,
McCann, Muamba (J.O'Brien 80), Gardner, K.Davies, Elmander (Taylor 73)
Subs not used: Al Habsi, Hunt, Shittu, Smolarek, Riga
• West Ham's biggest home win over Bolton Wanderers occurred in the shape of
a 6-0 victory on 13 February 1926.
Match sponsors
• Saturday's match sponsors are Team Construction, while the matchball
sponsors are Kinetics. For more information about how to become a match or
matchball sponsor, please call the Corporate Sales Department on 0871 221
2700.
Last time out
Tuesday 23 February 2010
Barclays Premier League
Manchester United 3-0 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Upson, Tomkins, Spector, Behrami (Collison
63), Kovac, Noble, Diamanti (Dyer 75), Franco (Mido 46), Cole
Subs not used: Stech, Da Costa, Daprela, Ilan
Saturday 27 February 2010
Barclays Premier League
Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Knight, Ricketts, Robinson,
Holden, Muamba, Wilshere (Taylor 82), Lee (Weiss 89), K.Davies, Elmander
(Klasnic 65)
Subs not used: Al Habsi, A.O'Brien, Riga, Cohen
Goal: Knight 45
Last meeting
• The teams last met at the Reebok Stadium on Tuesday 15 December 2009, when
Bolton Wanderers ran out 3-1 winners in the Premier League.
Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Knight, Cahill, Robinson, Lee,
Muamba, Cohen, Taylor (Gardner 76), K.Davies, Klasnic (Basham 83)
Subs not used: Al Habsi, A.O'Brien, Ricketts, Samuel, Elmander
Goals: Lee 64, Klasnic 77, Cahill 88
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Ilunga, Dyer (Stanislas
21), Parker, Kovac, Collison, Stanislas (Da Costa 87), Franco, Diamanti
Subs not used: Kurucz, Spector, Daprela, Payne, Nouble
Old boys
• Among those players who have represented both clubs are Frank Costello,
George Eccles, Thomas Kinsell and William Yenson.
Head to head
Last six meetings: (Premier League unless stated)
15 December 2009 - Bolton Wanderers 3-1 West Ham United
22 September 2009 - Bolton Wanderers 3-1 West Ham United (League Cup third
round)
21 February 2009 - Bolton Wanderers 2-1 West Ham United
5 October 2008 - West Ham United 1-3 Bolton Wanderers
12 April 2008 - Bolton Wanderers 1-0 West Ham United
4 November 2007 - West Ham United 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
Overall record v Bolton Wanderers (all competitions) W 22 D 10 L 32
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Lee Probert.
• Aged 37, Probert has been a Premier League referee since summer 2007.
• Born in Gloucestershire, Probert made his way through the local leagues
before joining the Football Conference list, being promoted to the Football
League list of referees in 2003.
• Probert has taken charge of one previous West Ham match this season - the
2-0 home league win over Portsmouth on Boxing Day 2009.
West Ham United
• The Hammers have scored all seven of the penalties they have been awarded
this season, a Barclays Premier League high.
• West Ham have scored 35 goals this season in the league with 14 different
players on target. Carlton Cole leads the way (nine), with Alessandro
Diamanti (six) and Guille Franco and Matthew Upson (three) next in line.
Jack Collison, Mark Noble, Junior Stanislas (two each), Ilan, Manuel da
Costa, the departed Luis Jimenez, Zavon Hines, Radoslav Kovac, Valon Behrami
and Julien Faubert have also registered. An own-goal from Everton's Tony
Hibbert completes the tally.
• Scott Parker has been cautioned nine times this season and Faubert, Franco
and Noble five each. Cole, Collison and Kovac are each on four yellow cards,
but will not be suspended if they receive a fifth as the FA disciplinary
deadline has passed. Should any player reach ten cautions before the second
Sunday in April, they will receive a two-mach suspension.
• Only Robert Green has played in every league game for the club this
season. He is on a run of 114 successive league starts.
• Cole is on a run of 16 goals in 29 league starts since Boxing Day 2008
when he scored the second goal in a 4-1 win at Portsmouth.
Bolton Wanderers
• Bolton Wanderers are seeking another morale-boosting Premier League win
after beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 at their Reebok Stadium last
Saturday.
• Bolton manager Owen Coyle brings a side to the Boleyn Ground for the
second time this season, having been in charge of Burnley when the Clarets
were beaten 5-3 on 28 November 2009.
• The Trotters' leading scorer this season is centre-back Gary Cahill with
seven goals in all competitions, but the defender will be absent this
weekend after suffering a blood clot in his arm.
• Croatia forward Ivan Klasnic is the club's top scorer in the league,
having netted six times in 18 appearances.
• Finland goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen is Bolton's only ever-present in the
Premier League this season, having started all 27 league matches. Kevin
Davies has started 26 times, scoring three goals.
• Bolton players have received just two red cards this season. Jlloyd Samuel
and Sean Davis are the pair to have received their marching orders this
term.
• Kevin Davies and Fabrice Muamba have both been booked eight times this
season - more than any other Bolton player.
Team news
• Scott Parker should be back after missing the defeat at Manchester United
last week. Mark Noble will be absent though with an arm injury suffered in
that contest at Old Trafford.
• Kieron Dyer could be in the running to make his first start since doing so
at Bolton Wanderers on 15 December 2009, having recovered from a muscle
problem to appear as a substitute at Manchester United.
• Danny Gabbidon has returned to full training following a hamstring
problem. It is thought this match may be too soon.
• Benni McCarthy (knee) is not expected to return this weekend but has been
doing well in his recovery from a knee problem.
• Herita Ilunga is also out after suffering a tendon injury in the defeat of
Birmingham City on 10 February.
• Luis Boa Morte (knee), Calum Davenport (leg) and Zavon Hines (knee) are
all long-term absentees. Boa Morte has been doing some individual training
around the Chadwell Heath pitches - having not played since his cruciate
ligament injury at the Barclays Asia Trophy in China in July.
• Bolton Wanderers will definitely be without midfielder Stuart Holden, who
suffered a broken leg in the United States' 2-1 friendly defeat in the
Netherlands on Wednesday evening.
• Centre-back Gary Cahill will also be absent after suffering a blood clot
in his arm, while combative midfielder Sean Davies is ruled out for the
remainder of the season with a cruciate knee ligament problem.
• Defender Chris Basham is out with a knee injury, while former England
midfielder Gavin McCann is nursing an ankle injury.
• To compound Bolton's injury problems, right-sided defender Joey O'Brien
has a knee injury, while promising midfielder Mark Davies is also expected
to miss out with a foot problem.
General info
• A limited number of tickets for Saturday's game will remain on sale until
kick-off. For further information, click here.
• For up-to-date public transport information click here.
• Saturday's weather forecast is for sunny intervals with a maximum daytime
temperature of 7C.
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'Let's break tradition'
WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola is eager to end a run of five consecutive defeats at the
hands of Bolton Wanderers
05.03.2010
Gianfranco Zola wants to put an end to West Ham United's "bad tradition" of
losing to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. The Hammers have lost on each of
their last five meetings with the Trotters, including 3-1 defeats in both
the Carling Cup third round and Barclays Premier League earlier this season.
Scott Parker will be back to aid the Hammers cause with Mark Noble absent
because of an arm injury suffered at Manchester United ten days ago. With
that in mind, Zola is eager to get his own back against Bolton at the Boleyn
Ground, securing a vital three points and preventing Owen Coyle's
15th-placed side from picking any up in the process. "These points are very
important because not only are you getting all three points, but you are
denying your opposition that is in a similar position to us three vital
points. They count double for me. "I think it's a massive, massive game. You
play the game both on and off the pitch because you have to be fully
prepared and 100 per cent sure that you have mentally prepared for the game.
"On paper, Bolton is not an easy game for me because they've always done
well against us, but it's another story on Saturday. They are trying to play
differently and we shall see what happens. We are determined to break that
bad tradition. "Because we have tough games away from home [at Chelsea and
Arsenal], obviously our home games are vital and more important, but we have
to be too careful not to give them too much importance, because I don't want
the players to put themselves under too much pressure. "We need to play the
game with a lot of focus and attention, but not be nervous. Then we can go
and play teams like Chelsea and Arsenal and who says we're going to lose
them? Last year we got draws in both games and we could have won at Chelsea.
In football you never know - you don't start games knowing you have already
lost. "They will be tough matches, but I tell you, this is a year when there
have been so many surprises."
Having come out second against former Bolton boss Gary Megson twice this
term, Zola will lock horns with new Trotters manager Coyle for the second
time in 2009/10, safe in the knowledge that he has already tasted victory
over the former Republic of Ireland striker this season. Coyle was in charge
of Burnley when the Clarets were beaten 5-3 at the Boleyn Ground in late
November, before taking his footballing principles down the A666 from Turf
Moor to the Reebok Stadium in January. While Zola appreciates Coyle's
preferred style of play, he will focus on his own team's strengths on
Saturday, knowing that a three-point haul will strengthen West Ham's claims
of staying in the top flight.
"For me, the way they play is not important. It's not down to me to decide
how they play and, to be honest, I'm not bothered too much. As long as we
play the way we should play and win the game, that is the most important
thing. "It's never nice to watch the other teams. It's very important that
we focus on ourselves and make sure that we collect the points that we need.
I always like to think this way. "I prefer to do what needs to be done and
what the others do is another thing. I can only worry about what I can
determine, not what the others do. For me, I always like to think that I can
handle my own destiny, rather than the others'."
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West Ham v Bolton
BBC.co.uk
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 6 March 2010 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Full commentary BBC London 94.9 fm, DAB, DSAT & Online, BBC Sport
website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of
the Day
TEAM NEWS
West Ham's Mark Noble has been ruled out with an arm injury, but captain
Scott Parker will return to the centre of midfield. Benni McCarthy is still
ruled out with the knee injury he picked up on his debut against Burnley.
Bolton's Stuart Holden fractured his leg on international duty with the USA
and will be out for six weeks. The Trotters remain without Sean Davis, Mark
Davies, Gavin McCann, Chris Basham, Joey O'Brien and Gary Cahill.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
West Ham
Doubtful: Dyer (hamstring)Injured: Boa Morte, Hines, Ilunga & McCarthy (all
knee), Davenport (leg), Gabbidon (hamstring), Noble (arm)
Bolton
Injured: Basham, M Davies, Davis & J O'Brien (all knee), Cahill (blood
clot), Holden (fractured leg), McCann (thigh)
MATCH PREVIEW
West Ham's recent resurgence predictably hit the buffers with a visit to Old
Trafford, but back within the confines of Upton Park they are a different
proposition altogether. They are now unbeaten in their last five matches at
home and face a Bolton side with a severe case of travel sickness.
It is now seven hours and two minutes since the Trotters managed to score a
league goal away from the Reebok, and they last won on the road back in
September. They are in the midst of a crucial run of fixtures against the
sides they are battling relegation with, and got off to a good start with
victory over Wolves last week. After Saturday's vital match they then face
further proverbial 'six-pointers' against Sunderland and Wigan. Manager Owen
Coyle knows his side must pick up some points from these matches as after
that their fixture list takes on a frightening look, with Everton,
Manchester United, Aston Villa and Chelsea lying in wait.
The Hammers have lost 3-1 twice this season at the Reebok, but they have
improved markedly since then and the return to fitness of England striker
Carlton Cole has significantly enhanced their bid to avoid relegation.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Bolton have won the last five matches with West Ham in all competitions.
• Three of the last four meetings in all competitions have finished 3-1 to
Bolton and the other ended 2-1 to the Trotters.
• The sides have met on 64 occasions in the league; West Ham have won 22
games, Bolton 32 and there have been 10 draws.
• The Hammers have not conceded a goal at Upton Park in their last four
Premier League matches.
• Gianfranco Zola's men have only lost twice in the league in seven matches
in 2010 (v Burnley and Manchester United).
• They have only earned one point after conceding the first goal this
season, losing 11 times and drawing once. They last came from behind to win
a league match in December 2008, beating Stoke 2-1.
Bolton
• Bolton have not won away from home in 10 league fixtures, failing to score
in the last four of these.
• The Trotters have scored the highest proportion of goals in the league
this season from set plays (67% of their total goals scored) and the highest
proportion of left-footed goals (also 67% of goals scored).
• Kevin Davies has committed more fouls (80) than any other player in the
league.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
West Ham
Cole: 9 goals (9 league); Diamanti: 7 goals (6 league)
Bolton
Cahill: 7 goals (5 league); Klasnic: 6 goals (6 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Lee Probert
Assistant referees: Stuart Burt & Robert Madley
Fourth official: Trevor Kettle
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
West Ham (L0-3 v Manchester United, a): Green; Faubert, Upson, Tomkins,
Spector, Kovac, Noble, Behrami (Collison 63), Franco (Mido 46), Cole,
Diamanti (Dyer 75). Subs not used: Stech, Da Costa, Daprela, Dyer, Collison,
Ilan, Mido.
Bolton (W1-0 v Wolves, h): Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Ricketts, Knight,
Robinson, Muamba, Lee (Weiss 90), Wilshere (Taylor 81), Holden, Elmander
(Klasnic 64), K Davies. Subs not used: Al Habsi, Riga, Cohen, A O'Brien.
MOST RECENT MEETING
Bolton 3-1 West Ham (15 December 2009)
Bolton scorers: Lee 64, Klasnic 77, Cahill 88
West Ham scorer: Diamanti 69
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West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers: Match Preview
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 4th March 2010
By: Preview Percy
Inspired by the Prime Minister (allegedly), we thought we'd bully Preview
Percy into going away. Unfortunately he hit us back and gave us a Chinese
burn before submitting the following:
After a weekend off watching Phil Dowd hand Man Utd the League Cup, we
return to Premier League action against Bolton in a Saturday 3pm kick-off at
the Boleyn.
Like ourselves, the visitors are amongst the scrum of teams hovering around
the drop zone. They currently lie in 15th spot, two places, one point and
eleven goals' worth of goal difference behind us. They've picked up five
points from their last 18, three of which came in Saturday's home 1-0
victory over Wolves. Zat Knight's winner in first-half stoppage time was
their first league goal in over 9 hours but they twice needed help from the
woodwork to overcome their fellow-strugglers.
Since we last met in the 3-1 defeat up at t'Reebok (horrible name, ugh)
before Christmas (seems a long time ago doesn't it) they have undergone a
change of manager. Gary Megson was about as popular with the Bolton support
as John Terry is with Wayne Bridge. Megson had tried to persevere with the
rather "basic" style of football established as the norm by his predecessor
(if you don't count the six months of Sammy Offside Lee) the unpleasant Sam
Allardyce. However, as Blackburn will hopefully discover sooner rather than
later, such tactics will only get you so far. The feeling was that, whilst
tactically limited, Allardyce at least had an inkling of what he was doing,
unlike the hapless Megson. The writing was on the wall almost before the ink
was dry on Megson's contract and a two year hate-hate relationship with the
fans was quietly put to sleep after Christmas, when the Trotters blew a 2-0
lead at home to Hull. The fans' reaction to the draw was to jeer, Megson's
reaction to the jeering was to brand the supporters "pathetic" and chairman
Phil Gartside's reaction was to reward Megson with a P45.
10 days later, after negotiations and, no doubt, compensation, Owen Coyle
arrived from Burnley, much to the Clarets' annoyance. Coyle commented that
he was more of a "Moses" than the "Judas" claimed by the Turf Moor brigade.
I was rather hoping for someone to chip in at a press conference with "he's
not the messiah he's a very naughty boy" but I was sadly disappointed.
Coyle, of course, has more of a reputation for producing sides that try to
play football. There have been signs that some of the Coyle influence has,
from time to time, been working, not least in the first match of their FA
Cup tie against Spurs where they were, by all accounts, a bit unlucky to
come away with only a 1-1 draw having played Spurs off the park for large
chunks of the match.
They have a few injury problems for this one. Defender Gary Cahill will be
out for another couple of weeks following treatment for a blood clot on his
elbow, Cahill has been one of the better players for the Trotters this
season and his form has earned him England squad recognition. Also missing
will be recent arrival Stuart Holden, who fractured his right leg playing
for the US against the Netherlands earlier this week. Holden is likely to be
out for at least six weeks but impressed the boss enough in his two starts
to date following his move from Houston Dynamo for Coyle to offer an
extension to his contract that will keep him at the Reebok (ugh again) until
the end of next season.
They brought in a couple on loan during the window. Slovakian youngster
Vladimir Weiss came up the road from Man City, having found first team
opportunities limited at Eastlands. The 20 year-old midfielder is
highly-rated and already has a number of full international caps. From what
(admittedly little) I've seen of him he looks to be a tricky cove who enjoys
running at defences. Arsenal kid Jack Wilshire also came in, a move that was
perhaps indicative of the change in playing style under Coyle – it's hard to
see Wenger agreeing to such a move had Megson or Allardyce still been at the
reins. There again, when Wenger's involved it's usually hard to see anything
at all.
Up front will be the combative Kevin Davies. He seems to benefit from a "get
one, give one" policy from referees, something that makes his recent
"Clattenburg's got it in for me" comments slightly risible – as Upson knows
to his cost. That'll be a battle to watch.
What of us? Well Upson and Green came through the England match unscathed,
as did Carlton Cole following his rather pointless five minutes or so. Even
Dyer seemed to survive his run-out at Old Trafford last week and Gabbidon
has disappeared from the usual injury lists, suggesting that even he might
be available for selection. Of course against that we have the
non-appearance of Benni McCarthy, who is said to be another week away from
fitness, and Herita "Cheri" Ilunga who will require another two weeks of
treatment on his calf. Spector will continue to deputise.
I'd expect us to start with the eleven that commenced against Hull the other
week, Parker having been shrewdly been rested to avoid picking up another
stupid booking from another stupid referee up at Old Trafford. Franco seems
to be the preferred option alongside Cole up front whilst a midfield of
Parker, Kovac, Behrami and Diamanti seems to have a bit of balance about it,
even if Kovac sometimes passes a ball about as well as I pass a pub.
Bolton will be a tougher prospect than Hull were a couple of weeks ago.
Apart from anything else, and, as I've no doubt mentioned before, their
'keeper Jaaskelainen always seems to reserve his best matches for us.
However their run of league form since Moses arrived has seen them beat only
the notoriously travel-sick Burnley and Wolves, which suggests that they may
be a side struggling to come to terms with the new demands placed on them by
the new boss. With that in mind, and bearing in mind that we have shown
spells of playing decent stuff at the Boleyn in recent weeks, I'm going for
a win for this one – let's say 2-1 and put a bit more of a gap between us
and the others down there.
Enjoy the game!
Last season: Lost 1-3 A complete nightmare from Robert Green, and the usual
disgraceful performance from Mike Dean conspired to throw away three points.
Danger Man: Kevin Davies his habit of gaining free-kicks in dangerous
territory even when he is the guilty party can cause problems.
Referee: Lee Probert last seen officiating in the 2-0 win over Pompey. Did
ok but is prone to the odd bizarre decision.
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20100305Zola eyes end of Bolton hoodoo
Hammers boss looking to end five-match losing run against Trotters
Last updated: 5th March 2010
SSN
Gianfranco Zola will be going all out to end West Ham's 'bad tradition'
against relegation rivals Bolton on Saturday. The Hammers have lost their
last five league and cup games against the Trotters and last beat this
weekend's opponents back in May 2007. The clash at Upton Park has been given
added significance given the relegation battle both sides find themselves
in. Just a point separates 13th placed West Ham from Owen Coyle's side in
15th, with the Trotters only two points above the drop zone. Zola is aiming
to break his side's hoodoo against the Trotters and earn a 'massive' three
points in their battle to beat the drop. He said: "I think three points
tomorrow are important because not only are you getting three points for
yourself, but you are also denying the opposition, who are more or less in
the same position as us, three points. For that reason, it's a massive,
massive game. "For me, on paper Bolton's not an easy game because they
always have done very well against us. But tomorrow is another story. "They
are trying to play differently (under new boss Coyle) and we will see what
happens. "I am determined to break that bad tradition we have against them."
West Ham go into the clash with renewed confidence after a run of just one
defeat in their last seven matches, which came at champions Manchester
United last time out.
With administration-hit Portsmouth seemingly out of the relegation battle,
the Hammers are among seven other sides at the bottom fighting to stay out
of the remaining two places in the drop zone. But Zola is not looking at the
other teams in this relegation dogfight, believing he has to concentrate on
his own side's form. The Italian added: "It's never nice to look at others.
"It's important we focus on ourselves and make sure we get the points we
need. I always like to think this way. "I can only be worried about what I
can determine. For me, I always like to think I can somehow handle my own
destiny."
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Zola - Green deserves gloves
Boss backs keeper to be England's first choice at World Cup
Last updated: 5th March 2010
SSN
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola believes Robert Green has improved this term
and fully deserves to be England's number one. The Hammers keeper was picked
ahead of rivals David James and Joe Hart to start England's 3-1 win over
Egypt on Wednesday. Green is seen by many as the favourite to claim the
keeper's jersey for the World Cup finals and Zola has backed his player for
the position. The West Ham boss believes the 30-year-old has improved as the
season has progressed and fully deserves to be Fabio Capello's first choice.
Zola said: "I think he is good enough to start for England. "It's about
what Capello thinks but he has been in very good form. "He didn't start the
season very well but the last few months he has been very good. In my
opinion, he has improved because he has learnt from his mistakes. "I have
seen him playing and training and I see him improving. His attitude towards
his work is excellent and I'm sure the England staff have seen that too. "He
has always had talent but when things weren't going his way he worked harder
to get into the national team and be the number one. "I thought his body
language the other day was excellent. His presence was good. "It is in his
hands and I am sure he is focused and determined to keep the position he has
now."
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Mido: I'm not trouble, honest
The Sun
By PAT SHEEHAN
Published: Today
MIDO demands honesty - and that is exactly what you get from him in return.
Honesty has dumped the West Ham striker in hot water during his career. But
the Egyptian, 27, would have it no other way - he shoots from the lip as
well as his boots. Cash-strapped West Ham landed Mido on a basic wage of
£1,000 a week, although there are frugal add-ons for appearances and goals.
Whatever top-ups he earns, it is peanuts compared to other Premier League
wages. So why join Gianfranco Zola at Upton Park? He revealed: "When I came
here I met Gianfranco Zola and I could see honesty in his eyes when he spoke
to me. "He made me smile when he told me, 'If you sign, I will have four
strikers here - but you're going to be fifth choice!' "On the day I agreed
to join West Ham, I was offered £45,000 a week by a different Premier League
club. "Zola was honest with me, maybe he knows I like challenges, here at
West Ham it's to prove I'm still good enough to play in the Premier League."
Mido has clocked up a few clubs. Ghent, Ajax, Celta Vigo, Marseille, Roma,
Tottenham, Middlesbrough, Wigan and El Zamalek took him on. There have been
rows with Ronald Koeman at Ajax, discontent with Spurs and a six-month ban
by his country. But Mido, expected to start against Bolton today, rapped:
"I'll contest those who say I had trouble everywhere I went - I didn't. I
had some upsets, but everywhere? No. "I don't think anyone can question my
attitude, wherever I have been I've worked hard. "I have not been one of
these players who are happy to stay at one club and just pick up the money.
"When you look at the moves I've had, some were natural moves in my career.
"For example, when I started at Ghent I moved to Ajax - who could turn that
down? "I was at Marseille and I had the opportunity to go to Italy with
Roma. "Some people say it makes me look like I'm restless but I don't think
so - all I wanted to do was play football. "Do I want to change again? No.
I'd love to be here for four, five years. I want West Ham to be my last stop
in England."
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Karren Brady's Football Diary
The Sun
KARREN BRADY - First lady of football
Published: Today
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27
AARON RAMSEY'S shocking injury brought back memories of the tackle that
broke Eduardo's leg at St Andrew's two years ago and the thought that the
young and spectacularly-talented Welshman may find his return just as
difficult. I pray not.
There is no way Stoke's Ryan Shawcross is any more guilty of deliberately
crippling Ramsey than Martin Taylor was of Eduardo and it would be grossly
libellous to suggest either were given orders to send opponents into
emergency surgery.
Nevertheless Arsene Wenger has every right to ask the question: Why Arsenal
again? I suspect players know without being told - no doubt they're also
told - they have to go in hard against the best footballing side in the
Premier League.
When a defender has an instant in which to make up his mind, he cannot
pussyfoot and the small piece of ground between being positive and being
reckless is sometimes crossed. But this is football not war and the
authorities have to punish without much mercy to the offender.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28
TO some, the Perroncel Wars are becoming boring. Not to me, though. I
couldn't turn off the telly during Footballer's Wives and I am just as
transfixed by each episode of the Chelsea saga.
Initially, I was 100 per cent a Bridge supporter. John Terry behaved like a
Grade A jerk but when deep thinkers like Craig Bellamy start picking on him,
I begin to feel uneasy.
On or off the field, Bellamy never knows when to shut up. On top of this,
Bridge has opted out of the World Cup which is a wimpish sort of thing to
do.
MONDAY, MARCH 1
HAD a long chat with Neil Warnock a few days ago. Maybe he's jumping out of
the fire into the frying pan, joining manager-a-month club QPR from Crystal
Palace, but I don't think so because there will be less interference from
the boardroom now Flavio Briatore has gone. Briatore had more loose ends
than a bowl of spaghetti.
Warnock's first responsibility has to be to his family and that means he
needs to be paid. Poor Palace, though. They needed to lose his leadership
like a sinking ship needs to lose the skipper.
TUESDAY, MARCH 2
WE have all watched Darren Fletcher grow from a gangling off-the-pace
midfielder into a player in the mould of Bryan Robson and Roy Keane, maybe
one day providing Man U with the power and leadership they offered.
It's no secret Robson and Keane were drinkers and would no more have
celebrated winning a cup with a glass of cold water than with a beaker of
poison. Fletcher's comments today show he has grown up quickly.
He supports new Scotland manager Craig Levein's ban on booze and adds that
after winning the League Cup: "There was no after-party. We all dispersed to
go with our national teams and that's part of the job."
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3
THE financial report on football club finances may seem to be as dry as dust
but it isn't. In their 2003 version they spelled out a blueprint for running
a successful club could be found at Birmingham which walked that fine line
between risk and reward. I was proud of that.
The 2010 report today explains West Ham were an example of how not to run a
buoyant club. Upton Park was run like a branch of the Icelandic bank,
lacking in financial control and good management, just like the main office.
One example: the taxi bill from June to February was over £62,000!
Advertisement
THURSDAY, MARCH 4
EVERYTHING has a price, I suppose. But if I were paying £10-15million to
have my name on a board it would be on the Red Planet at least and certainly
not because I was investing in the Red Knights, prospective purchasers of
Man United.
If you really wish to put that much money into the game, here's a much
better idea: Try West Ham and a management team with a proven track record
at Birmingham where investors got four times their money. I promise you'll
earn a lot more than your name on a board, even if it's gold-embossed.
FRIDAY, MARCH 5
TEA with a married, but promiscuous, Premier League director. Just as he is
reaching the - ahem - climax of the detail of his mission to bed a
delectable former WAG, he opens a text message which he proudly shows me
which reads: "I have become fond of married men and don't want to be naughty
with anybody else at the moment." It's good to know, isn't it, that some
WAGs still have standards!
Portsmouth fans should be proud of their team and that's something to hang
on to at times like theirs. My heart is with Birmingham to win the FA Cup
sixth-round match at Fratton Park tomorrow but the Pompey players have never
stopped trying this season despite all the doubts and late wages.
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Things look gloveley for Rob
The Sun
Published: 05 Mar 2010
GIANFRANCO ZOLA has tipped Robert Green to see off his rivals for England's
No1 jersey at the World Cup. West Ham keeper Green played the whole 90
minutes in the 3-1 defeat of Egypt on Wednesday. And that suggests Three
Lions boss Fabio Capello has already handed the gloves to Green for
England's opener against USA on June 12.
Hammers boss Zola said: "I think he is good enough to start for England.
"It's about what Capello thinks but he has been in very good form. "He
didn't start the season very well but the last few months he has been very
good. "In my opinion, he has improved because he has learnt from his
mistakes. "I have seen him playing and training and I see him improving.
"His attitude towards his work is excellent and I'm sure the England staff
have seen that too. "He has always had talent but when things weren't going
his way he worked harder to get into the national team and be the No1. "I
thought his body language the other day was excellent. His presence was
good. "It is in his hands and I am sure he is focused and determined to keep
the position he has now."
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Zola: 'I have the final say on contracts and transfers'
Published 05:00 06/03/10 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror
Gianfranco Zola last night claimed he still has the final say on contracts
and transfers at Upton Park. And the Italian insisted his position is not
being undermined by new co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan. "Either I
am dumb and didn't notice or it is not true," he said. Zola was reacting to
claims he was annoyed the new regime had withdrawn a new contract offer to
Valon Behrami because the club wanted to sell the Swiss midfielder in the
summer. The former Birmingham City owners are taking a more hands-on role at
the club since the sacking of technical director Gianluca Nani last month.
But the Hammers manager said he agreed with the decision to suspend all
contract talks - including for England stars Matthew Upson and Robert Green
- until Premier League safety is assured at the cash-strapped club. "Of
course I still have the final say," Zola said. "When it comes to football, I
tell the owners my preferences and which players I want. "I know there have
been talks between Behrami and the club and I believe they will talk again
at the end of the season. "I want Behrami to stay. I like him very much. But
we have postponed everything until the end of the season because the future
depends on what the club is doing next season. The future depends on the
present. I think it is totally correct to do that. "With the owners, the
strategy is that we just want to make sure the club is fine for next year,
we are safe and we are in a better position. Once all this is sorted, then I
can tell you something more. I will be very honest with you."
With the club still £95m in debt, those talks at the end of the season
promise to be very interesting. Upson, who will only have one year left on
his contract in the summer, looks increasingly likely to be sold after the
World Cup. But if West Ham remain in the Premier League and the owners try
to cash in on a player like 24-year-old Behrami - who still has three years
left on a £30,000-a-week deal - then they will be on collision course with
Zola. And there will be only one winner. And they are not Italian. Gold was
at the Chadwell Heath training ground again yesterday. "I speak regularly to
them," said Zola. "We spoke to each other quite often during the transfer
window. Now we speak twice a week and it is good."
And the former Italy striker, whose side will attempt to extend a five-match
unbeaten home run against fellow strugglers Bolton today, admitted he will
also be judged at the end of the season. "My future obviously depends a lot
on what I am able to do but that is correct," he said. "We have a job and we
have to do that job as well as we can. I want to be judged for what I do. It
is so important for me. I want to be judged for doing a very good job."
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David Sullivan threatens to counter-sue Carson Yeung as Birmingham row
escalates
The feud between Birmingham City owner Carson Yeung and his predecessors,
David Sullivan and David Gold, appears to be growing.
Telkegraph.co.uk
By Sandy Macaskill
Published: 11:59PM GMT 05 Mar 2010
Sullivan promised on Friday to respond to the Hong Kong businessman's legal
action – over the condition of the club's finances left to him by the
current West Ham chairmen – in kind, counter-suing for expenses not claimed
over his 16 years as chairman. Birmingham City owner Yeung decided to begin
legal action against Sullivan and Gold, from whom he bought the club for
£81.5 million last year, after learning that the pair issued bonuses at St
Andrew's despite the club having made a loss of £19.7 million in 2008/2009,
while they were in the Championship. Sport on television Sullivan has
attempted to settle an argument over advanced management fees worth £420,000
that he was paid before selling the club, but his £500,000 offer has been
rejected. It is clear that the enmity between Birmingham's former and
current owners, which is believed to have originated in part when Yeung was
invited to attend a match before buying the club but sat behind one of the
goals rather than in the directors' box, is unlikely to be settled amicably.
Sullivan will respond to the latest development by taking legal action of
his own against his former club, with a claim for 16 years' worth of
backdated expenses during his service at St Andrew's.
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Valon Behrami 'happy to wait for new offer' says West Ham co-chairman David
Sullivan
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan insisted on Friday that Valon Behrami
was "more than happy to wait until the summer" before negotiating a new deal
at the club.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 6:31PM GMT 05 Mar 2010
Sullivan denied that the offer of a new contract, due to be agreed last
month, was withdrawn and that this had caused tension with West Ham manager
Gianfranco Zola. He added that Behrami was well paid and there was no active
attempt to sell him. "Everyone is happy at the club and I have agreed with
the manager and the players that nothing will be done until the end of the
season. Sport on television "The priority is to make sure that we remain in
the Premier League and there are signs that we are starting to achieve
that," said Sullivan, who acquired a controlling interest in January. It had
been expected that Behrami would receive a new five-year contract and
although Sullivan accepted that the midfielder earned substantially less
than some other players at the club he reiterated that wage levels at West
Ham had become unsustainable. Sullivan said that he would sit down with any
player who wanted to discuss his future at the end of the campaign. "I will
not stand in the way of anyone who is unhappy or who wants to leave," he
said, adding that his immediate priority would be to speak to Matthew Upson,
who has one year left on his deal, and Robert Green, who has two. "But I
will try and find buyers for anyone who wants to go," he said. Sullivan,
whose club face Bolton on Saturday, was adamant that he did not interfere in
team affairs and said again that manager Gianfranco Zola has his full
backing.
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WEST HAM v Bolton: Mark Noble out but skipper Scott Parker in line for
return
By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 3:53 PM on 05th March 2010
Daily Mail
Midfielder Mark Noble has been ruled out of West Ham's Barclays Premier
League home match against Bolton with an arm injury. Hammers boss Gianfranco
Zola has no other fresh problems but striker Benni McCarthy and centre-half
Danny Gabbidon are still not match fit after recent injuries and are out of
contention for this weekend. Captain Scott Parker did not feature in the
Londoners' last league game - a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United - but he
should return to central midfield.
Squad (from): Green, Stech, Kurucz, Faubert, Daprela, Spector, Da Costa,
Upson, Tomkins, Collison, Kovac, Parker, Behrami, Diamanti, Dyer, Franco,
Cole, Mido, Ilan
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West Ham United Owner Looking To Off Load Alessandro Diamanti - Report
Mar 5, 2010 1:04:00 PM
Gola.com
West Ham United are seeking buyers for Italian midfielder Alessandro
Diamanti according to The Daily Telegraph. New Hammers owner David Sullivan
has reportedly questioned the £6 million the club paid Italian side Livorno
last summer for the attacking midfielder. The eccentric 26-year-old has made
20 appearances for Gianfranco Zola this season, scoring six goals in the
process. However, the financial situation at Upton Park has forced the new
owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, to re-think the club's finances and a
clear-out this summer appears to be the likely option. Diamanti is likely to
return to Italy, after being linked with European giants AC Milan during the
January transfer window. The attacking midfielder had previously spent his
entire playing career in his homeland before joining West Ham as an unknown
quantity in last summer's transfer window. His passion and performances on
the pitch have made him a fans' favourite at the London club, but his time
in the capital appears to coming to an end.
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Hot-shot Bobby Zamora the one who got away for Harry Redknapp
Tom Collomosse and David Smith
05.03.10
Evening Standard
Harry Redknapp always knew that Bobby Zamora would make it as a striker and
still rues the day he failed to make the grade at West Ham. The Tottenham
manager was in charge of the Hammers when Zamora, then an apprentice at
Upton Park, was released by the club. Zamora is now one of the Premier
League's most in-form strikers and tomorrow he will plot the downfall of
Redknapp when his Fulham side face Spurs in an intriguing FA Cup
quarter-final at Craven Cottage. Redknapp believes the teenager rejected by
his former club has matured into a 29-year-old striker good enough to be
considered for a call into Fabio Capello's England squad for the World Cup.
But his immediate concern is that the player whose scintillating form has
seen him score 15 goals in 34 starts this season threatens to dash the Cup
ambitions of Spurs, who also effectively showed him the door. When Spurs
caretaker manager David Pleat paid West Ham £7million for a disaffected
Jermain Defoe in February 2004, Zamora went the other way from White Hart
Lane back to Upton Park almost unnoticed. He had failed to replicate his
prolific scoring for Brighton, managing just one goal in 18 appearances in a
white shirt. Yet Redknapp argues: "Tottenham let Zamora go too quickly."
The manager added: "He was a terrific schoolboy footballer at West Ham but
then he disappeared out of the game. "I was manager of West Ham at the time
and Frank Lampard Snr used to tell me what a good player Zamora was as a
kid. But he stopped playing football and West Ham let him go." On the same
day Zamora was released, the powers that be at West Ham decided that a
defender by the name of Paul Konchesky was also surplus to requirements. It
is testament to the determination to succeed embodied in both men that they
later returned to be team-mates at Upton Park. And both have played vital
roles in Fulham's revival under Roy Hodgson. Redknapp said: "Roy knows how
to get the best out of Zamora and this season he is producing the goods. He
is a possibility for England's World Cup squad, although if the manager was
going to pick him he might have been in the squad to face Egypt. "This is
the best spell of Zamora's career. He seems to thrive on being a big fish,
one of the main players. Maybe he wasn't that at Spurs or West Ham."
Not that Redknapp sees Fulham as a one-man band. The way they knocked out
Shakhtar Donetsk from the Europa League last month will serve as a warning
about the potency of Fulham's threat tomorrow, even though they have won
only one of their last nine clashes against Tottenham. Redknapp said:
"Fulham are a tough nut to crack and they got an incredible result against
Shakhtar. Roy has done a great job and they have some other good players
like Brede Hangeland and Danny Murphy."
There is also Nicky Shorey, with whom Redknapp was linked during the January
transfer window before the Aston Villa left-back was snapped up on loan by
Hodgson. Shorey, like Redknapp, is a member of the Zamora fan club. "We used
to play against each other in Essex when we were younger," said the former
England international, recalling his early teens when he turned out for a
youth team called Comet against Zamora's Senrab side that also produced John
Terry, Sol Campbell, Defoe and Ledley King. "I don't think there is a more
in-form striker than Bobby. It's a shame he didn't get his chance for
England against Egypt but it's not too late for him. If he keeps playing
well, it will be impossible to turn a blind eye to him. He's a bit like
Peter Crouch. He's good in the air and he's good on the floor."
Ah yes, Crouch. It didn't escape Shorey's notice that both the striker's
goals for England on Wednesday were made by passes from Egypt's left flank.
Shorey knows Spurs will seek to serve Crouch, assuming he plays at least
some part tomorrow, from the same direction. "It will be tough," he said.
"Tottenham are full of good players."I might need a step ladder to stop
Crouch. He looks like he is enjoying his football and that's when you get
the best out of yourself."
Just like Zamora.
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