WHUFC.com
The manager cannot wait to take his West Ham United on the short trip to
south London on Saturday
16.09.2011
Sam Allardyce is gearing up for his first derby experience as West Ham
United manager. Victory at The Den on Saturday lunchtime would take the
Hammers top of the npower Championship, at least for a few hours, and the
manager believed his men were up for the occasion in the right way. With
Carlton Cole on a roll scoring goals and a virtually fully fit squad to
choose from - only Gary O'Neil remains on the long-term casualty list -
there was increased optimism around Chadwell Heath this week.
You have a first home win and are unbeaten in five matches. What's your
report on the season so far?
SA: I am pleased with how things have gone. We have finally won our first
game at home and that really shows we are on the right track. The fact the
club hadn't won a home match since March was a big burden on quite a few of
the players that had survived last season's relegation and were still here.
The fans were a bit nervous as well. With the away form, it now makes for a
very good start to the season. Having lost the first game, we haven't lost
in five - winning four and drawing one.
What's the team news for Saturday?
SA: We have got a good fit squad at the moment. We had a development squad
game against Tottenham on Monday and unfortunately Guy Demel, who is a
little short of match practice, felt his hamstring a little bit. That is
perhaps going to be a slight problem but after that everyone is OK. We are
the most entertaining team in the league. We have scored more goals than
anyone and long may it continue.
Are you worried about conceding goals still?
SA: We want to tighten that up next time we play at home. It certainly
hasn't been a problem away. Away from home has been very good. The balance
of the side has been fantastic which has resulted in three very good
victories. Of course, the last two victories have been 4-0 and 4-1. If we
can recreate that again on Saturday against Millwall then we keep up a
fantastic record of three away wins on the trot to try and make it four.
That is the motivation for the players as well as being a big local derby,
What are you thoughts on goals coming from all over the pitch?
SA: It is much better if you share the goals. Sharing the goals out is a big
responsibility but everyone has their target of getting what should be their
best goal record for the season to add to what they have done before.
If everyone does better we know we will have enough goals certainly to win
enough points and get automatic promotion - as long as we do the defensive
side right.
How has Carlton Cole been since the transfer speculation?
SA: His performances have told you that it has not affected him. It wasn't
about Carlton not liking being here, it was the money factor. What we had to
do was resist it and we eventually did. Carlton is committed to West Ham,
enjoying his football and enjoying scoring in every game he has played in.
You could go top on Saturday against a club you played for nearly 30 years
ago. What are your memories of the old Den?
SA: I had a really good time at Millwall. They gave me an opportunity to go
and play first-team football where it wasn't happening at Sunderland where I
was at the time. I chose for the first time in my career to drop down a
couple of divisions to play football. For me it was a big move as a family
but we settled brilliantly and I enjoyed my football. It was a good
experience, I really enjoyed it and it was a different type of stadium to
what is there now. It was the old stadium, the old Den on Cold Blow Lane. It
was a daunting task for away teams to try and get a result. I am sure being
the West Ham manager they are not too keen on me now. I am here to do a job
for West Ham and to prepare my team in the best possible way I can. For me
it is about focusing on the game and my team on getting ready to perform at
their best possible level to try and win what is going to be a difficult
game.
Have you had to tell your players not to get carried away with the
atmosphere?
SA: At some stage or even just before the game I will remind them that we
want it to be a football spectacle. We want to be playing our best football
and we don't want anything to distract us from that. The atmosphere can
change a players' mood but we want him to play to his best and use the
atmosphere to bring the best out of him as an individual and then the team
as a whole. Don't let the emotions overspill into something where we may
give something to the opposition that we don't want to. We want to stay
motivated, aggressive but calm as well. Controlled aggression in terms of
bringing the best out of each other and let the atmosphere bring the best
out of you.
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U18s go for five straight
WHUFC.com
The in-form youth team will seek to continue their perfect start at Coventry
City on Saturday
16.09.2011
While all the attention will be on West Ham United's npower Championship
fixture at Millwall on Saturday, Academy Director Tony Carr will be
fully-focused on ensuring the club's Under-18s extend their perfect start to
the season. The young Hammers have won all four FA Premier Academy League
matches they have contested so far ahead of this weekend's trip to Coventry
City, scoring 14 goals in the process. However, the Sky Blues have also
opened 2011/12 in fine fashion, winning three of their four games -
including a 3-2 home victory over Chelsea last Saturday. Carr and Academy
coach Nick Haycock have left nothing to chance in their preparations for the
trip to the Alan Higgs Centre. "Myself and Nick have been working very hard
with the boys this week to make sure after the very good start we have had
that no complacency sets in," said Carr. "We have played another unbeaten
team in Coventry who have won three and drawn one. "They are defending an
unbeaten run. They beat Chelsea last week so we go to the Midlands hoping we
can continue this great start we have had."
The coaching staff has been boosted by the squad reporting a clean bill of
health, with England U17 winger Mathias Fanimo making a welcome return from
injury.
"Matthias is back in the squad. He has had two weeks off with a hip and
hamstring problem. He will be on the bench and may feature. All fit and
raring to go.
"We have good competition for places. We are scoring goals and we hope we
can continue that for as long as possible."
With the likes of Elliot Lee, Kieran Sadlier and Leo Chambers excelling in
their first few weeks as full-time scholars, Carr and Haycock have had to
make sure his young charges keep their feet on the ground. "Nick has worked
very hard to make sure there isn't complacency. They can't just walk out and
expect to win. It is a good learning period for them because we are not
having to pick them up after defeats - we are having to keep their feet on
the ground with the buzz of winning.
"We are travelling up on the day hopefully we can make it a good day all
round with the first team at Millwall as lunchtime."
To complete a busy Saturday, a number of the club's Academy products will be
in action for their respective loan clubs. In the Championship, Jordan
Spence's Bristol City head to Leeds United, while Cristian Montano's Notts
County head for Stevenage in League One. In League Two, Callum McNaughton's
AFC Wimbledon host Cheltenham Town, Jordan Brown's Aldershot Town travel to
Bristol Rovers, Ahmed Abdulla's Swindon Town go to Burton Albion, Olly
Lee's Dagenham & Redbridge host leaders Morecambe and Robert Hall's Oxford
United head for Barnet. Carr is hoping to watch Hall - a second-year scholar
- in action at Underhill, with the 17-year-old having marked his U's debut
with a match-winning goal at Dagenham in midweek. "We have got a number of
players out on loan at the moment but the youngest one is Robert, who has
people may know is a young and upcoming striker. "He is an England
international and has been in great form in pre-season with the development
squad. He hasn't featured with the youth team this year because he has made
great strides forward. "The opportunity came up to go to Oxford and he has
made a dream start at Dagenham - the staff were watching him play and he
scored on his debut. "After the Coventry game I am going to dash down the
motorway to get to Barnet to watch him play and hopefully he can continue in
the vein. His family aren't too far away so they can watch him easily and it
is good for us to keep tabs on him."
*Supporters who would like to attend Saturday's game at Coventry City should
note that kick-off at the Alan Higgs Centre is at 11.30am.
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Fans Forum a success
WHUFC.com
Supporters headed to the Boleyn Ground to get the chance to speak to
Joint-Chairman David Gold
16.09.2011
Joint-Chairman David Gold staged a successful first fans forum of the new
season at the Boleyn Ground on Thursday night. More than 150 supporters
gathered in the Legends Lounge for the evening event which followed on from
Joint-Chairman David Sullivan addressing supporters earlier in the summer.
It lasted for three hours and saw questions fielded on a range of subjects.
The topics discussed included the Olympic Stadium and the new manager and 12
summer signings, as well as his feelings of being back to full health and
relishing the season ahead. "I feel fantastic," the Joint-Chairman said with
a smile when quizzed about his recovery from an illness that meant he missed
several matches last season. He revealed he was running every day,
exercising and eating healthily. So much so that he has "not had a decent
meal in months!".
The evening's tone ranged from such light-hearted chat to serious
reflection, with the Joint-Chairman talking passionately about the events of
last season and reflecting on the Board-wide desire to get the club back to
the top flight as soon as possible. He was emphatic in stating that "Sam
Allardyce is one of the best signings we have ever made ... I promise you he
is going to be an exceptional manager."
There was a warm round of applause for the Board's success in the transfer
window and one supporter spoke up to urge all fans that from now on they had
a responsibility to get behind every single player. The Joint-Chairman spoke
about his dealings with the new recruits like Henri Lansbury, Sam Baldock
and in particular Kevin Nolan - the "best leader of men he's seen in 20
years".
A constant theme of the night was the subject of the Olympic Stadium with
the Joint-Chairman updating on the ongoing process while affirming the
Board's commitment to only doing what's best for West Ham United. He touched
on the club's long-stated proposals for the future transformation of the
"world iconic stadium" - and how it would be West Ham in look, feel and
stature. "The heart and soul of this club is owned by the fans. David
Sullivan and I are merely holding the keys. I can sit out there with you as
a fan and stand up here as a chairman but I am just a custodian hopefully
doing a good job for you guys. The heart and soul of our football club will
be going to the Olympic Stadium and we are going to take as much history
there as we can. "We won't leave anything of importance behind. Are we going
to take the character from here to there? Of course we are. We are going to
take everything, even these chairs! I can't be 100 per cent specific but
Bobby Moore will be represented there ... we have got to be courageous. We
have got to say we can do this and take this fantastic opportunity."
Also touched upon was the progress of the Academy and the commitment to
young talent coming through, the departure of Scott Parker and his thoughts
on the matches so far this season. The Joint-Chairman had begun the evening
by claiming "the idea is for us to engage in a conversation" and pretty much
everyone in the room had the opportunity to speak on that basis as the night
progressed. Once the session was over, he then signed autographs and spoke
to anyone left who still had a query or two to answer before being the last
to leave the Legends Lounge.
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Sam eyes 'hero status'
WHUFC.com
Sam Baldock would love to make a match-winning Hammers debut at Millwall
16.09.2011
The last time West Ham United won at Millwall, in December 1988, Sam Baldock
was four months away from being born. That afternoon, Paul Ince was the
Hammers' match-winner - the same Paul Ince who helped to shape Baldock's
career during two spells in charge at MK Dons. Nearly 23 years later and
West Ham's new No7 is itching to follow in the footsteps of his former boss
by netting the winning goal at The Den on Saturday. "Hero status is up for
grabs," the 22-year-old told whufc.com. "If there is a chance of me getting
on the pitch, then I'd love to get on and show them what I can do. "It would
be a great stage on which to make my mark."
After joining West Ham from MK Dons on 26 August, Baldock was an unused
substitute for last Saturday's 4-3 npower Championship victory over
Portsmouth.
Having watched his team-mates collect three points from that fixture, the
forward wants to play his part in scoring what would be the club's fourth
consecutive away league victory. Success at the home of the Lions would be
nothing new to Baldock, who banged in two goals in MK Dons' 4-0 League One
victory over Millwall in October 2008. Then just 19, the Aylesbury-born
player gave a huge sign of the promise that tempted Sam Allardyce to move
for his services last month, scoring twice from close-range past former West
Ham trainee David Forde. Baldock is confident that his new club can achieve
a similar result this weekend. "I have won at Millwall before. I won there
and it is one of my fondest memories because it was in one of my first games
away from home. We turned them over 4-0 and I scored twice on the day. "They
are a very strong, quite physical side and I have no doubt that the crowd
will get them up for it, but with the natural ability we have got in our
squad, if we play our natural game we should come out on top."
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Captain's Blog - Support reaps rewards
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan was delighted to get to meet many of the club's supporters over
a busy week
16.09.2011
It was great to get our first home win of the season under our belts against
Portsmouth. There was certainly lots going on in the game but at the end of
the match when we came off the pitch, we had the three points in the bag.
Again the goals came from all over the team. Coley scored his fourth goal in
four matches, Nobes got one from the penalty spot, Matty clipped in a
free-kick and Henri nabbed a debut goal and a well deserved man of the match
award. It was another team performance from everyone. That is two wins on
the bounce and we want to make it three, by also keeping our great away
record going and getting a good result at Millwall on Saturday. That is what
we are focusing on and hopefully come Saturday night, after the match at The
Den, that is all we are talking about.
This week, I and some of the lads have been meeting many of you off the
pitch. After the game with Portsmouth, I went up to the Legends Lounge and I
received a great response when I got up with Phil Parkes to speak about the
game and our start to the season. So thanks to all who were there and I was
glad we gave you the result your support deserved. Then the gaffer, Jack,
Coley and myself all went to help launch the new club store at Westfield
Stratford City. Again, it was great to see all who turned up to the store,
it was nice to chat to you all and we were more than happy to spend time
signing autographs. One autograph we had to sign was someone's tattoo! I
hope it won't be too painful getting that done! The shop is really nice and
I know everyone at the club has been working hard to get it open and ready.
Pay a visit if you haven't already and I am sure you will all enjoy it. Back
to the football, we are as ever grateful for your support both home and away
and all we can do to repay that is getting the results on the pitch - that
is our aim.
Come on you Irons!
Kevin Nolan
Captain
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Millwall v West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Page last updated at 14:33 GMT, Friday, 16 September 2011 15:33 UK
Npower Championship
Venue: The Den Date: Saturday, 17 September Kick-off: 1230 BST Coverage:
Watch highlights on The Football League Show; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and
BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website
TEAM NEWS
Millwall striker John Marquis will be available for the derby despite
requiring a hernia operation. Therry Racon and Shaun Batt are the Lions'
only injury absentees and both could be cleared to return to training next
week.
West Ham will be without striker Frederic Piquionne, who begins a
three-match ban. Recent signing Guy Demel limped out of a reserve match in
midweek with a tight hamstring and is a doubt.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham have won nine, lost six and drawn 10 of the 25 competitive
matches against Millwall.
• West Ham's second and most recent league victory on Millwall turf
was 1-0 in December 1988 (top-flight).
• The Lions have kept one clean sheet in the last 14 league matches
with West Ham.
Millwall
• Millwall are the lowest placed of six clubs still holding an
unbeaten home record in the Championship.
• They have failed to score in their last three league games,
completing 305 minutes (five hours five minutes) of scoreless football,
since Hameur Bouazza netted in the 2-2 home draw with Peterborough on 13
August.
• Kenny Jackett is the second longest serving of the current
Championship managers.
West Ham United
• West Ham are unbeaten in five league games (13 points out of 15).
• They are looking to match the four successive away league wins
attained between April and September 2007. They last achieved such a feat in
the same season in December 1985, when a club record five straight away
top-flight wins were registered.
• Sam Allardyce, the second oldest manager in the division, made over
60 league appearances as a central defender for Millwall, between 1981 and
1982.
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Jeremy Nicholas
Filed: Friday, 16th September 2011
By: Staff Writer
KUMB.com
Jeremy Nicholas has recently released his latest book, Mr Moon Has Left The
Stadium, which recounts his first decade as West Ham United's public
announcer. We managed to get Jem to take a few moments out of his busy
promotional schedule in order to answer a few questions...
KUMB: Jem - thanks for taking the time out to talk to us. This is the age of
social-networking; please describe MMHLTS in a Twitter-friendly 140
characters or less?
JN: It's a funny football book with lots of stories from behind the scenes
during my first eleven seasons as West Ham announcer.
KUMB: In your book, you refer to your (brief) time as a stand-up comic; do
you think you will ever give it another try?
JN: Yes, in the book there's a chapter about my six months as a stand up on
the London circuit. I love telling funny stories and prefer doing the after
dinner speaking nowadays. However I have done some stand up in the last
couple of years and I've plans to do some more in the future.
KUMB: You refer to the play-off semi-final against Ipswich as 'the best
atmosphere I've ever experienced' in MMHLTS; has there ever been a time when
it's been so bad you've wondered why you bothered?
JN: I loved the Ipswich play-off, but I think the atmosphere is still pretty
good. Not as good as in the old days of standing, but compared to other
grounds we're still noisy.
KUMB: The book is scathing of one or two individuals; was there anything you
wanted to publish but weren't allowed to? Either for fear of legal reprisals
or being admonished by your employers?
JN: I didn't want to say anything that would reflect badly on the club as
I'm not only a supporter, but an employee. However there's a few people who
do get a bit of stick in the book for obvious reasons; Scott Duxbury for
sacking me, Glenn Roeder for relegating such a brilliant squad and Nigel Reo
Coker for sulking.
KUMB: You describe your relationship with our former CEO [Duxbury] as
strained, at best; do you ever afford yourself a little smile at the fact
that you are still here whilst he got the boot?
JN: When Scott brought me back after five months in the wilderness he told
me I had a job for life. So in that sense it was a shame that he's now gone.
I wouldn't ever smile at someone losing their job but I'm much happier under
the current owners.
KUMB: We were both present the night Brian Glanville branded Alan Curbishley
'pathetic', which you recount in the book - what's the most unprofessional
act you've witnessed since becoming the club's announcer?
JN: Curbs is one of my favourite managers but it was a bit daft to take on
the press like that. I think Benni Big Mac not being able to get down to his
fighting weight was ridiculous. How lacking in motivation do you have to be
not to be able to slim down for a World Cup the one time it's held in your
own country?
When Benni described Karren Brady as 'the devil with tits', I loved her
reply that she was meant to have them and he wasn't!
KUMB: You talk about how you used to take a fair bit of stick from the
Boleyn crowd. Do you think that supporters' attitudes towards you have
changed or mellowed over the years?
JN: I got a lot of stick in early on in my career, but after I was sacked
they tried three different announcers with mixed success. After years of
dreading reading the message boards, I was suddenly getting positive
comments and I'll always be grateful to posters on KUMB who called for my
return. I think people have realised I'm not that bad as announcers go.
KUMB: You've state how you finally got a full-time place in the dugout upon
your return to the club in 2009. What's the funniest thing you've heard
whilst sitting 'on the bench'?
JN: Yes, I've sat in the dugout since the days of Alan Pardew. It's the one
thing I'll always be grateful to him for. Oh and promotion! Thanks Pards. As
for the funniest thing, I remember someone behind me shouting 'hit him Alan'
during Pards' squaring-up with Arsene Wenger incident. It made me laugh for
ages, especially as Pards looked scared stiff of Arsene, who's quite an
intimidating presence close-up.
KUMB: You say you're a stickler for certain things. What's the most annoying
term - 'Hammers', 'they reach the sky' or 'Upton Park'?
JN: I prefer 'Irons' and the 'Boleyn Ground' because I think that marks you
out as a West Ham fan, while the other terms are more generally used by
other football fans. but I certainly don't mind 'The Hammers' or 'Upton
Park' as they are perfectly acceptable alternatives.
However 'they reach the sky' drives me mad. It completely takes away the
sense of the song. It's 'nearly reach the sky'. I don't suppose anyone will
listen as it's been wrong for years. It doesn't even scan if you say 'they'.
I will always sing 'nearly' along with my fellow pedants, but as long as
it's sung loud and proud I don't really mind.
Hands-on: Greeting the Boleyn faithful
KUMB: You've had to announce a series of minutes' silences/applause over the
years for departed footballing legends - but what is the most difficult
announcement you've had to make?
JN: Reading the news of Bobby Moore's death on BBC Greater London Radio was
tricky. The script was a bit wetter than usual by the end. My voice almost
went when I called for a round of applause for Jack Collison after he played
against Millwall in the cup just after the death of his dad.
KUMB: A reference to KUMB.com was one of ten surprise/hidden messages that
could be heard in your commentary for FIFA 10. Any clues as to who we can
expect to hear about in the new version, FIFA 12, which goes on sale
shortly?
JN: It's great to be the voice of the announcer on the FIFA games. I always
smuggle in announcements of my own for each new version when it comes out. I
can't reveal what's on FIFA 12, but my favourite ever announcement was on an
earlier game, it was a wedding announcement for my friends Dave Cheeseman
and Nicola Underdown. I'm sure people thought I'd made the names up, but I
didn't. You can check, they're in the acknowledgements in the front of the
Mr Moon book, because they both read and commented on early drafts of the
book, when I was still finding my writing style.
KUMB: You bemoan the fact that your hair has virtually disappeared since
becoming West Ham's announcer - have you never considered 'doing a Rooney'?
JN: No I'm proud of being bald. I think Rooney is betraying his roots. If he
has any roots left!
KUMB: Why do you think the atmosphere at top-flight football grounds had
disappeared - and what do you think can be done to improve it?
JN: Because people have to sit down now. I don't think it will ever be as
good as it was unless terracing comes back. Having said that as someone who
was at Hillsborough commentating on the game that turned into the disaster,
I would never want to stand at a game again. However I think it's worth
looking at safe standing systems like they have in Germany. I'd support that
at the Olympic stadium. But personally I'll be sitting down.
KUMB: Worst Cockney accent - Dick Van Dyke (Mary Poppins) or Charlie Hunnam
(Green Street)?
JN: Dick Van Dyke. My views on Green Street are robustly expressed in my
book and I have no wish to give it the oxygen of publicity.
KUMB: Who are your three favourite stadium announcers - and why?
JN: David Hamilton at Fulham because he's the Daddy of us all. Or should
that be the Diddy. He was sacked once too and when he came back Al Fayed
gave him a bottle of whisky and some Viagra as a welcome back gift.
Mark Dennison at Nottingham Forest is very good, although I wish he didn't
play music after goals and I've told him that (we will never play music
after goals at West Ham - You have my word on that). Alan Keegan at
Manchester United and England games is always very good, I think.
KUMB: West Ham United's failure to win at Anfield since the early '60s is a
running theme throughout the book. Do you think you'll ever see West Ham win
there?
JN: Yes. I'm sure we'll be back at Anfield very soon and surely a win can't
be far away. The last time we won I was only a few months old, back in 1963.
KUMB: If you were a regular supporter once again, what area of the Boleyn
Ground would you sit in - and why?
JN: Middle of the West Stand Lower about halfway up. I've always sat in the
West Stand and I like to be able to walk down to the front before the game
to watch the players warming up.
KUMB: Apart from writing books and being West Ham's announcer, what are you
up to these days?
JN: I've just made the shortlist to be the stadium announcer at the London
2012 Olympics, so that's very exciting. David Sullivan gave me a lovely
testimonial in my initial application last year.
I do a lot of after dinner speaking now, mainly sports stories and funny
stuff from my life in broadcasting. You can see videos etc on my website.
Discounts available for KUMB posters, if anyone is planning an event, just
send me a personal message. My KUMB login is 'Jeremy Nicholas', funnily
enough! The stories that go down best are 'The Day Brian Clough punched me',
'The Day I was held up on air by a man claiming to be Jesus' and 'The Day I
met the other Jeremy Nicholas'.
The rest of the time I work as a freelance TV reporter for BBC news, mainly
covering sports features and funny And Finally type stories. I'd love to be
back on the radio again. My best times were presenting on BBC London, 5Live
and TalkSport. I've done lots of radio interviews promoting the book and
it's reminded me why I love radio much more than TV, especially now I'm
losing my looks! Radio controllers give me a call please!
KUMB: When we last interviewed you for KUMB, you had just set up Talking
Toolbox. How's that going, and do you have any funny stories associated with
it?
JN: I run workshops teaching business people how to be more confident
speakers at conferences and in media appearances. One man was struggling
with nerves and wandered outside to have a cigarette and ring his wife. He
moaned about what a hard time the teacher of the course was giving him.
Unbeknown to him he'd left his microphone attached to his lapel and everyone
left in the room heard it all.
KUMB: Tell us about the 2010 trouser-splitting incident in Johannesburg that
your Amazon bio refers to?
JN: I was speaking to an audience at an event before the World Cup Finals.
My talk was about how to use humour. All of the audience were professional
speakers from across the globe. As the only European speaker, the pressure
was on.
I bent down to plug in my laptop in the wings, as I had some funny pictures
to show. My trousers split on the seat, a rip about six inches long, just as
the compere was saying my name. I walked on and did the first few minutes
like a space invader, only moving from side to side.
Eventually I decided to confess what had happened and turned round to show
them. Because it was a talk about humour, they thought the funny guy from
the UK was wearing comedy trousers and it was all part of the act. It
wasn't. They were the trousers I was married in at the Boleyn. I gave them
to a maid back at the hotel who thought she could repair them for her
husband to wear.
KUMB: For how long do you envisage continuing in your current role at the
Boleyn Ground?
JN: For as long as the club are happy with me.
KUMB: Has a decision been made with regards to who will be the announcer for
the Olympic Stadium - or is it a case of 'wait and see'?
JN: I'm hoping it will be me.
KUMB: Have you thought about what you might say after the final game at the
Boleyn Ground?
JN: So Long and Thanks for All the Fish...
KUMB: Predict your 'season in a nutshell' summary for the current 2011/12
season?
JN: I wouldn't want to tempt fate by making an actual prediction, but
there's a song by Queen that I've never played at the Boleyn in fourteen
seasons as announcer. I would love to play it at the last home game in May,
and it's not Bohemian Rhapsody.
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Fans' forum: 15th September
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th September 2011
By: Brian Evans
I popped along to this last night. I didn't ask any questions as I was
trying to focus on David Gold's answers, but it's inevitable that in such a
forum (I reckon about 120 were in attendance) there would be some
repetition.
Firstly, credit to the Chairman for attending and taking questions on a
range of topics. Disappointment was expressed at Sam Allardyce's absence,
but DG described him as a 'real fans' man'. The questions were broadly
split/ variations on the following areas:
1. The proposed stadium move
2. Raking over the Avram coals
4. The club's ownership
5. The club's debt
6. The recent transfer window
7. Players - Cole and Upson
8. Karren Brady's column in a national newspaper
The proposed stadium move
DG repeated a few times that he did not want to leave the Boleyn but deemed
it essential for the club's revenue-earning potential. He expressed a view
that a fan is a fan forever, but a coporate sale is essentially a floating
voter. Namely, if we didn't move to Stratford then Tottenham would - and
they would grab all the corporate revenue from the City.
He was asked how much greater the potential was for developing that side of
the club compared with the Boleyn and expressed it as 'several fold'.
The issue of the track was the real bone of contention from several
questioners, and his comments included looking at 'retractable seating' and
a 'Lego style' option where the seats are moved into place by a giant fork
lift truck for eight months of the year and removed for cricket and
athletics in the summer.
Quite how much knowledge he really had on either option I would have doubts
over, but to my ears the in-and-out (Lego) seating sounded the more viable.
In terms of timeline regarding when we would know if the club have been
awarded the Olympic Stadium, he replied "in a couple of months".
Naming rights were discussed and Gold stated that "50 big companies" would
be interested in the naming rights and as an example - and I stress this
point - for illustrative purposes he mentioned Sony as a global brand,
unlike "Reebok which isn't". I'm sure the executives at Reebok will be
delighted their marketing is deemed to be crap.
It's clear though the stadium rights will be up for grabs. He said they
would like the word Olympic in there somewhere - and that that was subject
to negotiation (you have no chance DG). The club name would not 'under any
circumstances' change, nor would the crest.
I think it's fair to say he is keen on the stadium and said we are "99.99
per cent sure to get it". In terms of views, he said very clearly there will
be seats that are not very good and they would be the ones sold cheaply, but
"if you have a good seat now, you would have a good seat at Stratford".
Avram , we had an Avram, we had an Avram Grant
DG said in his career he had hired, in his various businesses, about 120
managers - and on this ocassion he simply got it wrong. He said the list of
potential candidates was relatively few (nobody asked the obvious question
"well who's fault was that then?" - David Sullivan's comments about Zola
coming home to roost) that but Grant was easily the best and he interviewed
exceptionally well.
He made the point that had any of us been in the room we too would have
hired Grant on the basis of his answers.
He admitted that during January they were being nice to AG whilst trying to
get another man in place - Martin O'Neill, but he"vacillated and vacillated"
and in the end never actually quite said yes, he would come. The club was
then in the position of needing to have Grant continue as "once the transfer
window had shut, no other Manager would take the job".
The club's ownership
DG gave a broad outline of his and DS's ownership - two thirds, the rest
being owned by the banks. They would welcome a third partner who was willing
to buy the final third of the business for around £30million (he was talking
fast and loose at this point and said it wasn't the actual number they had
each paid for their third) and that any such investor, in addition to buying
the shares for that amount, would also need to put in matching equity into
the club as he and DS have.
The debt
He described the debt as around £75million (down from £110million). He made
no mention of any recent equity injections by either himself or DS or any
injection of £2.5-£3million per month, as per KB's programme notes last
week. I don't think he was telling fibs or misleading people by any such
omission, I just don't think it worries him that much other than the lack of
control in terms of having to talk to the banks.
He was asked if the sale of the Boleyn would help pay off the debt and he
candidly said it would make a difference , but as "negotiations were
ongoing" he couldn't quote any numbers. In fairness, he and his partner
effectively underwrite the whole club - a point he made when asked about if
there was a kitty for players in January to which he said "me and David
Sullivan, we're the kitty".
He then commented that the potential third partner was in fact the Premier
League - promotion! Making the point they are quite happy to trade the
business out of debt by the revenue boost.
In terms of succession planning in the event of his death, he stressed his
personal affairs are in good order and that the club's interests would be
taken care of appropriately - there is no chance of people wanting their
money back if he passes away (he spoke about his two daughters for sometime,
for so long in fact I thought he was about to ask for any eligible bachelors
to step forward).
The transfer window
Gold received a big round of applause from the audience for the club's
dealings, with a few questions on Parker and why we dealt with Spurs when
the phone hacking scandle was still going on and with them being awkward
over Startford.
He was very clear in stating the board would always act in the best
interests of the club and that business was business: in the absence of the
player wanting to move to any other bidding clubs, what choice did we have?
Later on, when discussing the outstanding Diamanti debt (Brescia still owe
us), he expressed a view that it would be much better if all deals were done
on a 100 per cent 'cash on delivery' basis - which would reduce fees and
ensure payment. He said we had recently sold a player where such a clause
was included as part of the deal, but he declined to name the player - most
would assume it to be Parker to Tottenham.
On Henri Lansbury, Arsenal wouldn't agree an 'option to buy' clause but he
said the player just wanted to play football and would have more chance at
West Ham than the Emirates.
Carlton Cole and Matthew Upson
DG expressed disappointment at MU's comments since leaving us, but didn't
slate him - he handled it well. As for Carlton, he said he did want PL
football "but not at any price" - and I didn't take that to mean wages, more
about the whole package (where he lives etc). He spoke glowingly about
Carlton and said he was the player who impressed him most when they came to
the Boleyn. He stated they were happy Cole has stayed.
Karren Brady's tabloid column
Gold took a couple of questions from fans who expressed the view she had
criticised the club in her column (prior to joining us), but DG made the
point that whilst he knows she's not perfect, Brady is dynamic and we are
lucky to have her. In fairness, one fan spoke up in favour of her column. DG
knows it isn't the most popular thing in the world - but Karren likes doing
it and we should all "lighten up".
One question was asked about whether the club would entertain the prospect
of any shares being sold to the fans, making the point that he had been
forced to sell his shares when the Icelandics took over. DG expressed to
have no knowledge of that but could, in a heartbeat, remember the 92 per
cent threshold at which it becomes obligatory (DG - if you are reading this
you are a sharp cookie, but you dropped your guard at that point). He said
he would mention it at a board meeting.
In summary, nothing earth-shattering (or even new) but the Chairman answered
what was asked of him and did so for three hours. Oh - and the sarnies were
ok, but the coffee a bit weak.
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Millwall v West Ham preview
Last updated: 16th September 2011
SSN
Team news ahead of Saturday's Championship clash between Millwall and West
Ham United at The Den (kick-off 12.30pm).
Millwall striker John Marquis will be available. The teenager has been
playing on in recent weeks despite a hernia and has been pencilled in for an
operation next month. But the problem is not in danger of getting worse so
Marquis is in line to face the Hammers. Therry Racon and Shaun Batt are the
Lions' only injury absentees and both could be back in training next week.
Former Charlton midfielder Racon has been out since suffering ankle ligament
damage on his debut last month. Striker Batt, who missed all of last season
due to a cruciate injury, has been sidelined this term with a calf strain
but is close to a long-awaited comeback.
West Ham will be without Frederic Piquionne. The striker came on as a late
substitute in last weekend's 4-3 win over Portsmouth but lasted only five
minutes before he was sent off and begins a three-match ban. Carlton Cole
will once again lead the attack having scored in each of his last four
appearances. David Bentley could start after his first appearance as a
substitute against Pompey while Sam Baldock, Papa Bouba Diop and Brian
Montenegro are all pushing to make their debuts.
But a fifth recent signing, right-back Guy Demel, limped out of a reserve
match in midweek with a tight hamstring and is a doubt. Winger Gary O'Neil
(ankle) is a long-term absentee.
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Jacobsen set for Copenhagen
Leeds miss out on Danish ace
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated:
September 16, 2011 12:30pm
SSN
Skysports.com understands former West Ham defender Lars Jacobsen is poised
to rejoin old club FC Copenhagen on a free transfer. Jacobsen is a free
agent after leaving West Ham at the end of last season having made 26
appearances for the Hammers last term. A number of clubs are believed to
have expressed an interest in signing the full-back this summer, but FC
Copenhagen have moved to lure him back to his homeland. Danish giants FC
Copenhagen are understood to have fended off late interest from Leeds to
land the former Everton and Blackburn man.Jacobsen, who spent three seasons
with FC Copenhagen between 2004-07, is set to sign a short-term deal until
January with the Danish champions.
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Millwall captain calls for calm ahead of West Ham showdown
TalksPort
By Julian Bennetts
Friday, September 16
Millwall captain Paul Robinson has pleaded for calm when his side face
bitter rivals West Ham at the Den. West Ham were fined £115,000 by the FA
after the club's last meeting in the Carling Cup two years ago, which saw a
fan stabbed as trouble raged on the streets of East London before and after
the match, as well as three separate pitch invasions during the game. And
Robinson believes Millwall's fans can prove they have cleaned up their act
ahead of the sold-out Championship clash.
"This is a big game on and off the pitch for the club and it will be under
the spotlight," said Robinson. "As players we can only stress we don't want
anything to distract from what happens on the pitch. What matters is the
result and what happens after the first whistle. "We want to put on a good
performance and show what a fantastic club this is and how much we have
improved both on and off the pitch. "The club has worked incredibly hard
from the chairman down to improve the image of the club. "The fans have
respected that, and we have had games against the likes of Leeds that have
gone well recently. Now we want to show how far we have moved forward."
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