The manager is encouraged by the progress of Valon Behrami and the progress
of his returning players
13.08.2008
Alan Curbishley had plenty of players in action at the weekend that he hoped
would make an impact in 2008/09 for West Ham United.
The likes of Calum Davenport, Lee Bowyer, Scott Parker, Julien Faubert and
Matthew Etherington all had few chances to shine last season while new
recruit Valon Behrami is looking good after just a couple of weeks at the
Boleyn Ground. The Swiss international made an instant impression in the 1-1
draw against Villarreal on Saturday - especially for his willingness to get
stuck in for the team.
"He is so versatile," said the manager of his No21 who has appeared at
right-back and wide right as well in a central midfield three this
pre-season. "That is one of the main reasons why I bought him in. When I sat
down with him I said 'where do you think your best position is' and he said
'where ever you want to play me'. He likes to get forward. I think when
[Carlton] Cole scored he was just behind him on that break-out but he will
play wherever we play him."
While Behrami looks good, the manager has been cheered by the others who
missed much of the last campaign - including Parker and Etherington while
James Collins is back in full training. "Our hope was we would get some of
last season's injured fit, Scotty was one of them. He has come back strong
and nice and sharp. He needs to be because we are going to depend a lot on
him? There are one or two people who really got a lot out of [Saturday] like
Matty Etherington who has missed quite a bit of pre-season."
At the back, Curbishley has been pleased with the effort shown by the likes
of Davenport, back after a serious neck injury in January, in playing in
every single pre-season fixture. Further forward, Dean Ashton is looking
good although the manager he admitted he was in cautious mood on Saturday in
substituting the No9. "He scored a hat-trick on Monday but he hasn't been
well before that. We just felt we would play safe."
Instead against Villarreal, it was Carlton Cole who got on the scoresheet
and it was just reward according to Curbishley for a striker who was a
constant during last season and summed up the squad spirit that laid the
foundations for the games to come. "He has worked hard pre-season and not
managed to get a goal, so that was nice for him," said the manager. "We are
looking forward to the week and the first game of the season."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WHiFC - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 13th August 2008
By: Gary Davidson
Forget supporting West Ham by just buying a match ticket, a chicken balti
pie at half time and the odd piece of overpriced merchandising tat from the
club shop. The numerous West Ham message boards that exist on the net have
spawned a new breed of supporter, someone who is willing to travel and
represent the Irons on the football pitch, as well as on the terraces.
West Ham 'internet' Football Club is a supporters team made up of West Ham
United season ticket holders, Club members and supporters, who all 'try' to
play their football the West Ham way. The whole idea behind the team is to
provide the chance for Irons fans to play football in the claret and blue
shirt of West Ham United.
The Internet Football Association represents the teams of football e-mail
discussion groups and message boards across the UK. The Internet prefix to
the football comes about because the teams are affiliated to the iFA, but
the fixtures are real football matches, played between opposing supporters
teams, normally in the mornings before 'the big match'.
Many football supporters in the early 90s kept in touch with other fans via
email. These tended to be mainly people in technical or academic employment
as email was widely available in those professions. It was in these early
days of cyber space, that the Internet Football Association was formed in
1996.
The founder of the iFA was Dave 'Voice of Football' Walmsley, who at the
time of Euro 96 wanted to show that football fans could build bridges
between their respective clubs. This was after 'Mr Charisma' Graham Kelly,
the then chief of the FA, was publicly sceptical about the ability of
English football supporters to behave themselves during Euro 96. Dave
organised an inaugural football tournament called EuroNet 96, which was held
in Nottingham, one of the host cities for FIFA European Championships 96.
EuroNet 96 hosted 12 supporters' teams and this tournament has since morphed
into the annual iFA WorldNet tournament, held each summer at the University
of Leeds. It has been featured on Sky Sports and UK Radio, and teams from as
far away as Nigeria, Greece, Italy and France have come over to take part.
This year WorldNET2008 saw over a thousand fans enjoy two days of football.
The winners were Preston North End and their lads were featured on local BBC
News.
With the expansion of the web, many supporters who had set up their own
internet message boards, started to form their own internet supporters
teams. This helped expand the membership of the iFA from 16 to over 100
supporters' teams around the country.
The iFA oversee a National League and a Cup competition throughout the
football season, although it is the respective team managers who organise
and arrange the fixtures via the manager's e-mail list.
West Ham United's internet based supporters team was formed in March 1998
after a message was posted on a West Ham fans e-mail discussion group,
asking for players to form a supporter's football team.
We have got a squad of players of all ages, from old blokes to teenage lads.
The majority of players post on 'In The Brown Stuff', 'Knees Up Mother
Brown' and 'West Ham Online' message boards, while others have joined the
squad after reading about the team in articles featured in the West Ham
fanzine, 'Over Land And Sea'.
Nicknamed 'The Geeks', we play our fixtures on Saturday mornings and if
possible, try to correspond with the real West Ham United's Premiership
fixture in the afternoon. Failing that we play a supporters teams from The
Championship, League's One and Two, or from Non-League football, who all
belong to the expanding internet football community.
We could have three away games that marry up with the real Premiership
fixture, ie. WBA, Fulham and Hull City. Am I being far too ambitious trying
to arrange the games with WBA and Hull City? It could be a good day out if
everyone who wants to play in our fixture can get tickets for the real
Premiership fixture afterwards.
West Ham iFc Fixtures arranged so far: -
August
Sat 23rd Welling SC v West Ham iFC
Sat 30th HOME fixture available
September
Sat 6th AFC Wimbledon v West Ham
Sat 13th WBA v West Ham iFC (R)
Sat 20th West Ham iFC v Leyton Orient
Sat 27th Fulham SC v West Ham iFC (R)
October
Sat 4th West Ham iFC v Welling SC
Sat 11th QPR v West Ham iFC
Sun 19th Hull City v West Ham iFC (R)
Sat 25th Kingstonian v West Ham iFC
November
Sat 1st West Ham v AFC Wimbledon
Sat 8th West Ham iFC v Watford iFC
Sat 15th West Ham iFC v QPR
Sat 22nd HOME or AWAY available
Sat 29th Grays v West Ham iFC
December
Sat 6th HOME fixture available
Sat 13th HOME or AWAY available
Sat 20th Leyton Orient v West Ham iFC
(R) Fixture dates are RESERVED.
All West Ham iFc fixtures are subject to cancellation or rescheduling due to
SKY TV being a right pain in the arse. IFA fixtures are not just about
winning as we play these games to make a day of it. Having said that, the
fixtures are competitive and we want West Ham to win, but at the risk of
sliding into a syrupy sporting cliché it really is the taking part that
counts.
What better way to improve your day out at West Ham? Meet up with some
opposition's fans and give them a match in the morning, followed by a quick
pint in the pub, before making your way to the ground to watch the real game
at 3 o'clock? At the moment it's either that or just opt to stay down the
pub.
Like all of us, we want anything West Ham related to be successful. At the
moment we have a squad with a few outstanding players, a few good players,
and quite a few Uncle Alberts. In some games last season when the
'outstanding players' were available to play, they helped raised the game of
the good players and carry the rest. AT that stage we're more of a match for
anyone and on our day, we have pulled off quite a few strokes and had some
outstanding results.
Our squad has regular players who keep the shape of the team but we also
keep the interest of the other squad players and new players, who may fancy
the odd game but can't fully commit due to work or family commitments.
Sometimes natural selection rotates the squad and over a season everyone is
involved.
As with Sunday Football, iFA fixtures can throw up the odd 'heat of the
moment' incidents, but at this level of football you're expected to be able
to exercise a bit of 'Laura Branigan'. IFA fixtures are played in a
competitive but friendly league. It's the nature of football fans that we
all enjoy the banter with each other but any bouts of handbags are given the
skunk eye…and if you let it get out of hand, it could lead to your removal
from the squad.
A freelance filmmaker made a mini-film of our away trip to play Tranmere
Rovers. Our game against the Tranmere Rovers supporters was a one off game,
played at Prenton Park, the real home of Tranmere Rovers Fc. I'm quite proud
of the film as it captured the laughs that we had up there, and its a great
advert for our West Ham lads and the spirit of iFA football.
The 'Match of the Day' film is in two parts on YouTube.
Part One | Part Two
Wherever possible, the iFA encourage supporters teams to forge links with
their parent clubs - to the point where teams have featured in club
programmes and in the case of some clubs, have been given official
recognition along with support of a more material kind. This has taken the
form of donations of kit, use of facilities, assistance with transport
costs.
Despite numerous appeals to West Ham's new Icelandic owners, we have yet to
receive even an acknowledgement for our efforts. I've written to the Head of
Press and PR but have not even received a reply. So we remain self-funding
but costs mean that we are constantly on the look out for help. So what if
the Club don't give their supporters' team any assistance or recognition,
why should they? After all, what's in it for them?
For me, West Ham United has always been about its supporters. One of OUR
biggest supporters is a Season Ticket holder who been going to West Ham for
over 50 years. In his day, he and his mates had a different configuration
for the letters iFc, but this 'Congratulations' Bacardi Breezer drinking
geezer helps us out purely because; as he said to me once, 'you lot are West
Ham'.
Over the last 10 years, West Ham iFc have established a good reputation
among the internet football community and we like to think that what we are
doing helps promote the name of West Ham United FC and their supporters.
I've tried various recruitment drives on the web, but it's not ideal when
you don't know if the person replying can trap a ball further than I can
kick it.
Over the years, we've had hundreds of lads turn out to play football. All of
these players have introduced new players to the team and all done their bit
in helping the team survive and see that our fixtures take place. On the
whole we do ok but to avoid accusations of quantity over quality, we always
remain on the look out for new players to join us.
The Original Internet Irons page is here. Our Facebook group page is here
although its about as active as some of the players!
If anyone is interested in joining the squad, then they should just go to
our new website and go to the 'Join Us' page. There you can add your email
address to our Yahoo West Ham iFC News group e-mail list. Once signed up
you'll receive all the news on our up and coming fixtures, emailed straight
to your inbox, and you can then make yourself available to play for the
squad by reply.
It's as simple as that.
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A good start to the season is crucial and very achievable - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 13th August 2008
By: Thomas Rooney
The new Premier League campaign is nearly upon us. Like in the lead up to
most seasons, no-one really knows what to expect from West Ham United.
Lacking in strikers, blitzed by injuries and with Ben Thatcher the next
transfer target, you could be forgiven for not being too optimistic about
the coming months. However, I am here to tell you that everything is going
to be alright – providing the Hammers get off to a good start. Considering
the opening fixtures - this isn't at all beyond them.
Every club would like a good start, that goes without saying. Every club
wants to 'get that first win' or 'start as we mean to go on'. However, in my
opinion, it is more crucial than ever that West Ham start well. Despite
finishing a respectful 10th in the Premier League last year, there were only
five wins during 2008. Meaning that a poor start to the 2008/2009 campaign
could have detrimental effects. Not least for Alan Curbishley. Should his
side start off badly, I'd like to see the football odds on him being the
first manager to get the chop. I don't think that's pessimistic, it's a
realistic analysis of where West Ham are right now. So for stability
reasons, if nothing else, a solid start is needed.
However, like I have mentioned, a good start can be achieved. That is
because the fixture machine has been relatively kind to Curbishley's men.
There is no reason why the Hammers can't be occupying at a top eight spot by
the beginning of October. The first seven games of the campaign – which do
not include any meetings against one of the 'big four' – are previewed
below. Stay with me on this one.
West Ham Utd v Wigan – Backed up by Upton Park crowd, there in no reason why
this can't be an opening day victory. There may be no Bellamy or Ljungberg,
but I still expect West Ham to have too much for Steve Bruce's Wigan.
Man City v West Ham Utd – With Mark Hughes reportedly ready to walk out of
Thaksin's Manchester City, the start of the season could be a testing time
for the blue half of Manchester. Managed a draw there last season and I
would expect West Ham to come back with the same reward again.
West Ham Utd v Blackburn – Following the opening game of the season, this is
another home game against a side that won't be too far away from West Ham in
the league this year. Home advantage could run supreme and it could be
another win to follow the 2-1 win over Blackburn achieved in March thanks to
a late Freddie Sears winner.
West Brom v West Ham Utd – Of course, you never know what to expect from a
side making the step up from the Championship. However, looking at it now,
this is the sort of game that West Ham should be looking for at least a
draw.
West Ham Utd v Newcastle – Like with West Ham, Newcastle are rather
unpredictable and not much football betting money will be spent on
predicting where Kevin Keegan's men will end up this year. This game could
go either way, but the home side will have the advantage.
Fulham v West Ham Utd – Another game against a team which struggled last
year. Nolberto Solano was the match-winner when the teams met at Craven
Cottage last season. Who is to say West Ham can't go there and win again?
West Ham Utd v Bolton – Another home game against a side I would fancy the
Hammers to beat on their day. Gary Megson's men only just avoided the drop
last year and most will be expecting them to be hovering around the
relegation zone once again.
Hull v West Ham Utd – Completing the preview of the opening fixtures is a
game at newly promoted Hull. Hull will find the challenge of the Premier
League tough and like the West Brom game, this is a fixture which West Ham
should get at least a point.
So, there you have it. These fixtures take us into the second week of
October and it isn't exactly the toughest start to a Premier League campaign
is it? I'm not saying West Ham will go unbeaten during this time, but I
wanted to put across the fact that there is every chance Alan Curbishley's
men could get off to a flying start. I guess I just wanted to throw a slice
of optimism your way.
Following the game against Hull, West Ham meet Arsenal and Manchester United
in successive games. However, by this time they SHOULD have enough points in
the bag to be able to afford a couple of slip ups. Maybe the culmination of
a good start and the return of injured stars such as Craig Bellamy could
result in West Ham getting a surprise result against Messrs Ferguson and
Wenger? Ok, maybe I am getting carried away.
My overwhelming point is that it is not all doom and gloom. West Ham can
have an excellent season as long as a good start is achieved. The opening
games suggest this can almost certainly be done. By the second week in
October, West Ham would have only played against two teams that finished
above them last year. There are a lot of games that should be won. So get
behind your team and help them achieve what they can achieve in the first
couple of months of the new season.
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Good riddance - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 13th August 2008
By: Staff Writer
Hammers triallist Ben Thatcher is set to sign for Ipswich Town today after
safely completing a medical. The former Millwall and Tottenham full-back
recently spent a week with the Hammers much to the fury of many United fans,
disgusted that the club should offer an opportunity to a player with such a
chequered history. However reports this morning suggest that Alan Curbishley
has finally accepted that Thatcher, a player with one of the worst
disciplinary records in football would not be accepted by United suporters -
despite comments made by the West Ham manager earlier in the week which
intimated that he may be offered a temporary deal. 32-year-old Thatcher
spent Tuesday undergoing a medical with the Championship side and is set to
sign a permanent deal later today. Town boss Jim Magilton told the club's
website itfc.premiumtv.co.uk: "It's moving forward now and we hope to bring
it to a conclusion on Wednesday."
Thatcher played twice for the Hammers during his trial period. He was
roundly booed by United fans at the weekend when featuring in the first half
against Villarreal.
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Hammers in Cole enquiry - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 13th August 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have made an enquiry as to the availability of former fans'
favourite Joe Cole. Cole, currently out of favour at Stamford Bridge since
the arrival of new manager Phil Scolari is rumoured to have been the target
of an enquiry by the Hammers earlier this week. Whether that was for loan or
permanent deal is unknown but with Cole likely to spend much of the season
on the sidelines a move elsewhere may be the best option for the England
midfielder, who left West Ham in the summer of 2003 following United's
relegation from the Premiership.
Meanwhile Liverpool have also been linked with a move for the 26-year-old,
who will have to compete with the likes of new signing Deco, Frank Lampard,
Michael Ballack, Florent Malouda, Michael Essien, Shaun Wright-Phillips and
John Obi Mikel for a starting berth in the Chelsea team this season.
Romford-born Cole made 147 appearances for West Ham between 1998 and 2003
before joining Chelsea in a £6million switch. He has since made over 200
appearances for the Blues although a third of those have come as a
substitute. A return to East London would certainly help to appease fans
hugely disappointed by United's lack of movement in the transfer market thus
far this summer.
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Hammers trial T&T starlet - SSN
Daniel eyes West Ham switch
By Graeme Bailey Last updated: 13th August 2008
West Ham have handed a trial to Trinidad & Tobago international Keon Daniel.
The Hammers spotted Daniel during England's friendly clash with T&T in Port
of Spain earlier this summer. Now 21-year-old Daniel has been invited to
East London to train with The Hammers with a view to winning a move to Upton
Park. However, Daniel's trial has been delayed until after 20th August -
when T&T face Cuba in a World Cup qualifier. "It's going to be a great
opportunity for me and it's one I'm looking forward to," said the United
Petrotrin midfielder. "I'm not worried as once I get over there I will give
it my best and show what I can do."
As a teenager Daniel was handed a trial by Manchester United in 2005 and he
is looking forward to returning to England. "Going over before I started
playing for the national team may have been a bit strange but now I'm
playing regularly and I have been to England before so this time I know what
to expect in terms of the conditions," Daniel told TTFF Media. "They [West
Ham] actually wanted me to come earlier this month but I couldn't because of
the matches we have now leading up to Cuba. So arrangements have been made
for me to go up after the Cuba game. "If things work out for me we also
have to look at the transfer deadline which is August 31."
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Mixed news for Wigan - SSN
Scharner a doubt for opener but Kirkland should be okay
By James Dall Last updated: 13th August 2008
Paul Scharner is struggling to be fit for the opening game of the new
Premier League campaign at West Ham United, but Chris Kirkland should be
available.
Versatile defender Scharner sustained an ankle injury in the 6-0 pre-season
win at Barnsley a fortnight ago. Latics assistant manager Eric Black has
revealed the Austrian is 'touch and go' for Saturday's fixture, but
confirmed Kirkland is on course to play. Black told the Evening Post:
"Unfortunately, Paul is still struggling and hasn't started full training
yet. He did some straight-line running on Monday but, with an ankle injury,
that's not too much of a problem to do.
"It's once you start changing direction and turning that the tendons and
ligaments take more pressure on them. "I think it's touch and go with him
but we'll give Paul every chance to prove his fitness ahead of the game. "If
he doesn't make it, we've got Titus Bramble who came in and worked
exceptionally hard in pre-season. "Titus has shown without doubt he is a
Premier League centre-back, and I'm sure the manager won't have any
hesitation in throwing him in. He has played all of the friendlies and done
well. "Chris Kirkland is fine, he's responded well to treatment and has been
training without any problems for the past couple of days."
On the fitness of striker Emile Heskey, midfielder Jason Koumas and defender
Ryan Taylor, Black added: "Emile still has a bit of tightness in the groin
area but he'll hopefully be okay to start training again tomorrow. "With
regard to our other injuries, Jason Koumas started training again with the
squad yesterday after a problem with his knee. He trained for three days
with the fitness coach first and then joined up with the rest of us, which
we're delighted about. "Ryan Taylor has still got a problem with his shin
but he's doing work with the physios."
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HAMMERS TALK: Could West Ham make a sensational move for old boy Cole? -
Guardian Series
2:18pm Wednesday 13th August 2008
TRANSFER rumours are circulating that West Ham could be set to make a
sensational move to bring back former trainee and star player Joe Cole back
to Upton Park. Since Phil Scolari took over as manager at Chelsea, Cole has
spent much time on the sidelines during pre-season. And if this remains the
case when the campaign kicks off at the weekend, then this could spark
interest from the Hammers in the England international, who is sure to want
to play regular first team football. Cole moved to Chelsea in 2003 following
West Ham's relegation from the Premier League in a £6million deal, and he
has since appeared over 200 times for the Blues. However, he is destined to
spend much of the upcoming season on the bench for Chelsea, so a move to
another Premier League club may be the best option. Not only would a return
to Upton Park please fans, it would help to ease some of the Hammers' injury
woes, with influential players such as Craig Bellamy sidelined for the start
of the season.
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Soca Warrior heading for East End - Echo News
1:23pm Wednesday 13th August 2008
By Rob Pritchard »
TRINIDAD and Tobago midfielder Keon Daniel has been handed a trial by West
Ham United. The 21-year-old - nicknamed Schillaci in honour of Italia 90
star Salvatore "Toto" Schillaci - currently plays for United Petrotrin in
the TT Pro League. Capped nine times by his country, Daniel impressed the
Hammers during England's 3-0 win in the Caribbean country in June - the game
in which the Irons' Dean Ashton made his full international debut. Daniel
spent two weeks on trial with Manchester United in 2005, but failed to win a
permanent contract. However, the Signal Hill-born player is determined not
to let a second chance to make it in England slip through his grasp. "It's
going to be a great opportunity for me and it's one I'm looking forward to,"
he told Setanta Sports. "Going over before I started playing for the
national team may have been a bit strange but now I'm playing regularly and
I have been to England before so I know what to expect – if things work out
for me we have to look at the transfer deadline of August 31."
Daniel will arrive at Chadwell Heath following Trinidad and Tobago's opening
2010 World Cup CONCACAF qualifying round three clash in Cuba on August 20.
Should he join West Ham, the youngster would be the second Trinidad and
Tobago star to play for the club after goalkeeper Shaka Hislop.
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Hammers hand trial to Daniel - Setanta
by Adam Polkinghorne, 13 August 2008
West Ham have handed a trial to Trinidad & Tobago international Keon Daniel.
The Hammers spotted Daniel during England's friendly clash in Port of Spain
earlier this summer. The 21-year-old has been invited to East London to
train with the Hammers with a view to securing a move to Upton Park. However
Daniel's trial has been delayed until after 20th August – when Trinidad &
Tobago face Cuba in a World Cup qualifier. "It's going to be a great
opportunity for me and it's one I'm looking forward to, "said the
midfielder. The youngster was handed a trial by Manchester United in 2005
and is eager to take up the challenge of playing in England. "Going over
before I started playing for the national team may have been a bit strange
but now I'm playing regularly and I have been to England before so I know
what to expect – if things work out for me we have to look at the transfer
deadline of August 31."
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Nani happy with Hammers medical reinforcements - Guardian Series
12:19pm Wednesday 13th August 2008
NEW West Ham United technical director Gianluca Nani claims that the club's
medical department is in safe hands. The Italian has overseen a large-scale
upheaval in the Hammers' treatment room after the club suffered an
unprecedented injury crisis last term. The 45-year-old has moved quickly to
ensure there is no repeat this season, bringing in Greek Nikos Tzouroudis as
chief medical officer and fellow Italians osteopath Marco Cesarini and
rehabilitation physiotherapist Giorgio Gasparini. And, speaking exclusively
to our sister paper the Basildon Echo, Nani said he was happy with the steps
taken to ensure the Irons' retain a fit and healthy squad in 2008/09.
"Cesarini is an osteopath. He was really good for me in Brescia," said Nani,
who made his name as sporting director with the Serie B club. "We also
brought in a Greek doctor and another Italian physio and kept the best of
last year. "We have tried to work a little bit more in preventing injuries.
"But we have to work a lot every department to build our season. We need
more than one or two months to do that job. "But the first thought is that
the players who were injured are coming back – Julien Faubert, James
Collins, Kieron Dyer and Craig Bellamy are like buying four new players. "So
we are happy with all those players coming back – we will have a better team
than last season."
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Wednesday Rumourmill - West Ham Till I Die
This one is not a rumour, but a reality. Ben Thatcher has signed for
Ipswich. May Allah be praised.
* Joe Cole rumoured to be keen on coming back to us on a season long loan.
I'll believe that when I see it!
* Trinidad international, 21 year old Keon Daniel is to be offered a trial
at Upton Park.
* Anton Ferdinand has reportedly turned down a new £2 million contract,
trebling his salary. Expect Newcastle to be on the sniff.
I can't see us selling Anton at the moment, seeing as virtually all our
other centre backs are injured. I'd love Joe Cole to come back though.
Wonder if Chelsea would be interested in a swap with Boa Morte…
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Anton could be on his way after defender hammers new Upton Park contract -
Daily Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 10:49 AM on 13th August 2008
Anton Ferdinand has sparked speculation about his long-term future after
rejecting a £2million-a-year contract at West Ham. The 23-year-old defender,
who joined the Hammers as a teenager, stunned the club by turning down the
chance to treble his wages after months of negotiations. Club insiders
reveal he wants even more before putting pen to paper - according to The
Mirror. Ferdinand, whose big brother Rio has had two major pay rises at
Manchester United in recent years, could now be sold before the end of the
month, as bosses at Upton Park do not want him to run down his current deal.
Aston Villa had been linked with the south-east London born defender but
speculation cooled when they landed centre-back Carlos Cuellar from Rangers
on Tuesday.
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Ashton hoping to be a happy Hammer again - Guardian Series
10:48am Wednesday 13th August 2008
WEST Ham striker Dean Ashton is looking forward to the upcoming season and
intends to continue his form from the end last season. He said: "I got five
goals in the final eight games of last season. I felt like I ended the
campaign well and that I was getting into my stride. "When things are going
like that you don`t want the season to end. I felt fit and I felt strong. I
feel like I have kept that going. I am looking forward to getting the new
season underway so I can pick up where I left off." Ashton will be hoping
that he can complete the new season injury free, for it greatly disrupted
the strikers game, and lead to a lack of form. He will be hoping to better
his goal tally as well, for he only managed to net the ball 11 times in the
36 games in which he featured.
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HAMMERS TALK: Ferdinand turns down new deal - Guardian Series
10:08am Wednesday 13th August 2008
ANTON Ferdinand has turned down a treble-your-money offer of a new contract
at West Ham according to media reports. The Mirror claim that the former
England Under-21 player was approached with a deal thought to be worth
£2million a year but has rejected it in the hope of an improved offer. The
two parties have been negotiating an extension for the past few months and
the defender's snub leaves his long-term future at the club in doubt. The
Hammers could now look to cash-in on one of their most bankable assets
rather than risk losing him for nothing when his current contract expires. A
number of Premiership clubs have been linked with the 23-year-old in the
past year with Tottenham and Aston Villa once thought to be leading the way
for his signature. However the North London outfit appear to be focusing
their efforts on attempting to push through a deal for Croatian
international Vedran Corluka whila Martin O'Neill has purchased Carlos
Cuellar from Glasgow Rangers for £7.8million. Newcastle expressed an
interest in the player at the end of the last campaign but were reportedly
turned down by the ambitious defender. They may be reluctant to go back with
another offer and have just splashed nearly £10million on Argentine
international Fabricio Coloccini from Deportivo La Coruna. Ferdinand, like
brother Rio, is a product of the West ham youth academy has played 138 games
for the club since making his debut in 2003, scoring five goals. Good form
early in his career saw him called up to the England Under-21 side where he
gained 17 caps but as yet he has been unable to make the breakthrough to the
senior team.
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