WHUFC.com
Jonathan Spector is determined to build on his successful international
summer in 2009/10
03.07.2009
Fresh from impressing the world at the FIFA Confederations Cup, Jonathan
Spector is feeling positive about the future. The 23-year-old was an
ever-present as the United States reached the final in South Africa, leading
Brazil 2-0 before falling to a heroic 3-2 defeat in Johannesburg. Spector
impressed at both ends of the pitch, defending resolutely against the likes
of Fernando Torres, Robinho, Kaka and Luca Toni, while also finding time to
set-up two goals for US team-mate Clint Dempsey. Following his international
exertions, the right-back has returned to his home city of Chicago for a
well-earned rest before coming back to Europe for West Ham United's
pre-season tour to Austria. "We were delighted to reach the final. I don't
think many people would have thought we would get there in the first place.
it was a great achievement, but we worked hard and we went out there to try
and win it," said Spector. The US shocked the world by recovering from
losing their opening two group matches to Brazil and Italy to defeat African
Cup of Nations winners Egypt and European champions Spain to reach the
final. There, despite taking an early two-goal lead against the five-times
FIFA World Cup winners, Brazil fought back to snatch the title from the
Americans. "We knew it was going to be tough, because they are such a
fantastic team and we knew this at close hand after meeting them in the
group stages," Spector added. "But we had got to final on our own merit and
were determined to go out there and try to win it. "We had a great start,
there was no better way of beginning the match like we did than taking a
two-goal lead and we were confident in our play. We definitely had the
momentum in that half. "We knew that they would come out in the second half
attacking more, which they did and we spent most of this time defending, but
it was a case of making sure we kept absorbing the pressure and trying to
create opportunities. "They scored and then they had the momentum, which
pushed them on and it was disappointing because we had started so
terrifically. But we can still be proud of our achievements, for sure."
Spector earned rave reviews at home and abroad for his tenacious displays in
South Africa, standing up to some of the world's best players. "Brazil have
seven or eight players who can hurt you at any one time, which proved to be
the difference and so it then was maybe a little too much at the end," he
said. "They deserved to win, but we can take a lot from it, how we played,
what we were able to do in trying to take our game to them. The tournament
as a whole was a great experience."
After starting and finishing all five of his country's matches at the
Confederations Cup and travelling to the country in September 2007 to take
part in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup, Spector is desperate to return to
South Africa for a third time for next summer's World Cup finals. The US sit
second in the CONCACAF final qualifying round table, with the top-three
finishers reaching the World Cup and the fourth-placed team facing a
play-off against the fifth-placed side in the South American qualifiers.
"The playing conditions, the different cities, the atmosphere and the
schedules, although the World Cup will be on a bigger scale, gave me a good
insight," said Spector. "We played there in 2007 as well and I think it can
give you a little bit of a mental edge, knowing what to expect. The crowds
are lively and I think going by the response for this tournament, it will be
really something for the World Cup."
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Green taking it easy
WHUFC.com
Having hit the heights in 2008/09, Robert Green is taking a well-earned
break from action
02.07.2009
Robert Green may be enjoying a quieter summer than last year's
mountain-climbing endeavours but he is ready to scale more challenges come
August. The England No1 is taking it easier than he did in the summer of
2008, when he took part in a charity climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of
the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF). During his time in
Africa, Green visited Tanzania and Kenya, seeing first-hand the work done by
AMREF to provide healthcare for some of the countries' most disadvantaged
inhabitants. Following a busy season for club and country and the promise of
a hugely busy 2009/10 campaign, the goalkeeper is enjoying a well-earned
rest ahead of pre-season training, which starts next week. "My break has
mainly consisted of putting my feet up," Green said. "Hopefully next year
with the way we're going there won't be much of a break next summer so we'll
take the chances while we can."
The Hammer of the Year runner-up has headed away on holiday in high spirits
on the back of two international starts for England. Although not fully
tested in the 4-0 win in Kazakhstan and the 6-0 home success against
Andorra, he is hoping to retain his place for the friendly trip to Amsterdam
to take on the Netherlands on 12 August - three days before West Ham
United's Barclays Premier League opener at Wolverhampton Wanderers. "It's
pleasing, it is a reward and I feel that I can do a job at this level. The
more I play the confident I'll get and the more I'll become accustomed to it
and hopefully more chances will come along."
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Wotte hopes Davis will stay
Saints boss feels takeover is key to future of goalkeeper
Last updated: 2nd July 2009
SSN
Southampton manager Mark Wotte is hoping West Ham United target Kelvin Davis
could still stay at St Mary's. Davis has undergone a medical at West Ham
and the goalkeeper is expected to seal a move to the Premier League club.
Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola wants the experienced shot-stopper to provide
cover for Robert Green and has lined up a free transfer deal. The former
Ipswich keeper is out of contract at Southampton and has also been linked
with fellow League One club Leeds United.
Wotte confirmed that Davis appears likely to move to Upton Park, but is not
ruling out a late change of heart for the 32-year-old. The Saints boss
believes that Davis could yet agree a new contract on the South Coast, if a
takeover of the club is sealed before he signs for West Ham. "I asked Kelvin
about his situation and he has almost signed for West Ham," Wotte told the
Daily Echo. "I hope the takeover will be done before Kelvin joins West
Ham."
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West Ham may still miss out on Kelvin Davis
Evening Standard
02.07.09
Southampton boss Mark Wotte is making a last-ditch bid to stop Kelvin Davis
joining West Ham. The goalkeeper, 32, is out of contract and with the future
of the League One side still uncertain as takeover talks continue, no
players can be offered a new deal. Davis has had a medical at West Ham but
Wotte hopes to keep him if new owners are found within days. "Kelvin told me
he's almost signed for West Ham," said Wotte. "I hope the takeover will be
done before then."
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No ifs or Butts for Pete about Asia
By Jason Dasey
July 2, 2009
Soccernet
His stay at Upton Park lasted less than three seasons but Peter Butler can
lay claim to being part of a unique slice of West Ham United history. As
well as playing in the Hammers' first Premier League campaign, he started at
the club on the same day as Harry Redknapp and recognised the early
potential of a cheeky apprentice called Frank Lampard.
From the early to mid-1990s Butler experienced a West Ham era that included
Julian Dicks, Tony Cottee, Lee Chapman, Martin Allen and Clive Allen, plus
the former Liverpool pair of David Burrows and Mike Marsh.
A compact and hard-working midfielder, 'Butts' moved to east London after
four years at Southend United. The Yorkshireman would make 70 league
appearances for the Hammers before heading north to link-up with clubs that
included Notts County, West Bromwich Albion and his hometown side, Halifax
Town.
As a youngster, Butler was often told he was too small (he's 5' 7 1/2'' or
1.72m) to make it in top-level football. But thanks to determination, his
super-charged 'engine' and durability, he would prove the doubters wrong. v
During his stint at Upton Park, he had four operations on his knees and
groin and would often be rested during the week before playing on Saturday
by managers Billy Bonds and Redknapp.
''They were brilliant, but I did have a price to pay as I was advised to
retire because my knee was in such a bad way,'' he said. ''Amazingly I
played for another five years after leaving West Ham and finished back home
in Halifax, ten operations later!''
It was at Halifax Town, just after the millennium, that Butler got his first
taste of coaching, taking over as a caretaker manager on an interim basis,
at the age of just 33.
From there, he headed Down Under to become player/manager at Western
Australian state league side, Sorrento FC, in 2000. But frustrated at
soccer's slow development in Australia in the days before the FFA
revolution, Butler soon headed to Southeast Asia. He managed clubs in
Singapore, east Malaysia and Indonesia and now finds himself in west
Malaysia as coach of Kelantan FC.
Translated into English Kelantan means 'Land of Lightning', and Butler's
first season in the socially conservative Muslim state just south of the
Thailand border has been a fiery one, full of ups-and-downs.
He's experienced the highs of a successful Cup run to the Malaysian FA final
and the joy of leading the league table, to the lows of losing the Cup final
penalty-shoot, enduring a five-match losing streak, and witnessing rioting
home fans in the state capital, Kota Bharu.
After losing a Cup match in April, Kelantan supporters went on a rampage at
the Sultan Muhammed IV Stadium, setting fire to a police car and damaging
nine other vehicles including one belonging to the Kelantan FA President.
As a result, Kelantan were ordered to play their home games at a neutral
venue in Kuala Lumpur. Butler's side went into free-fall, slumping from top
of the 14-team standings to sixth. The suspension of their home stadium was
only lifted at the end of May.
''I hope the fans have learnt a lesson from this,'' he said when the ban was
eased. Since then, they've returned to winning ways, moving back to third on
the table.
Butler also appeared on Asian satellite television as a studio pundit during
June's FIFA Confederations Cup, broadcast on Kuala Lumpur-based sports
channel, Astro SuperSport.
After more than six years in the region, the 42-year-old speaks fluent
Bahasa Indonesia, which is similar to the national language of Malaysia. But
when he sat down with Soccernet in Kuala Lumpur, he stuck with English,
albeit spoken in an unmistakable west Yorkshire accent.
Q: Peter, how do you compare your life in Malaysia compared to those days
more than a decade ago in London with West Ham?
GettyImages
Zola: The best-ever EPL import?
A: My life here in Malaysia is very different to my time in Essex and
London. This is not really a football environment that you can fairly
compare to East London. Malaysia is a beautiful country. I have been lucky
to live in Sabah, which probably my favourite spot, and now Kuala Lumpur,
which I chose for my children's education.
The Malaysian people love their sport and especially English football and
there is potential. But, sadly, the game is in bad shape. There is too much
politics involved in football in Malaysia for it to move forward at this
present time. You have to be realistic: if you want a career in football
coaching you cannot stay in Malaysia long-term. The opportunities are not
here as the football infrastructure is very limited, and economically it
does not add up.
Q: What do you consider the highlights of your three seasons at Upton Park?
A: The Eastenders are a different breed - ''salt of the earth'' as they
would say - who are passionate about their beloved Hammers. The supporters
are without doubt the best fans in London. It was a joy and an honour to
wear the claret and blue.
In the second season of the new Premier league, I was proud to be part of
the promotion winning-team that went up as runners up to Kevin Keegan's
Newcastle. I will never forget around Easter time we stuffed Spurs 4-1 at
White Hart Lane. There was never a sweeter victory than beating them in
front of their own supporters!
We went to Liverpool and had Tony Cottee sent off just before half time on
his debut for West Ham, second-time round, and defended the Kop for the
whole of the second half to get a well-deserved point. What an experience
playing at Anfield: their fans are so knowledgeable about the game and
clapped us off.
Q: Who were the best players you encountered in the early days of the
Premier League?
A: There were almost too many to mention. Ian Rush was around, John Barnes,
David Beckham and Paul Scholes too. I was fortunate to have been on the same
field as other great players like Eric Cantona, Gordon Strachan and Gary
McAllister. I was a Leeds fan and it was like a dream come true and also a
strange experience. But it's ruthless and nobody feels sorry for you or gets
sentimental once you kick off.
But I can honestly say though the guy whom impressed me most is Gianfranco
Zola. Strangely, he is now the manager or West Ham. To date, I rate him as
the best import into the British game because he was a quality professional
and a brilliant footballer whose work rate was unbelievable. He transformed
Chelsea along with Gianluca Vialli, who was another class act and a very
funny man.
Q: You and current Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp started on the same day at
West Ham. What qualities have helped Harry become such a successful manager?
A: When I walked into West Ham, Harry was the first to shake my hand offer
me a pot of tea, giving me words of encouragement. He was a unique
character. Harry was a hustler - a wheeler and dealer who tells great
stories and you could laugh with him.
But there was another side to him too. He did not suffer fools and had a
mean streak to him. If you were not on your game in training he would get
into you. Players were in and out of the club before they knew it. It got
everyone on their toes because otherwise it could be you next.
Harry demands to see good habits and high standards. I know he was greatly
influenced by the Italians' preparation. He hated players going out drinking
alcohol getting lashed on nights out and eating fish and chips. He tried to
change the whole approach. Out went egg and chips and in came salads, pasta
and jacket potatoes. He left no stone unturned.
Q: What were your impressions of Frank Lampard as a young Hammers'
apprentice?
A: Frank was always at Chadwell Heath: I used to think he lived there. He
was a cheeky but likeable character. I think we played together in a
pre-season game just before I left the club in 1994.
I liked Frank. He always wanted to learn and he has turned into one of the
best midfield players in the modern game. He is box-to-box with a great
engine and keeps it simple. He has the uncanny knack of scoring great and
priceless goals. He is a model professional and it's sad to see the abuse he
gets on his returns to Upton Park these days.
Q: Your overseas coaching adventure began in Western Australia. What's your
view on football's development in Australia over the past few years?
A: Football development in Australia and Western Australia is changing. It
needed to, as it was draconian when I arrived there in 2001: a real old boys
school. The instructors' courses I attended were of poor content and I can
honestly say they did not like people like me coming in, taking jobs and
trying to influence change, so I decided to leave.
Soccernet
On air in Malaysia: Peter Butler (2nd R) with your correspondent, Mr Jason
Dasey (L)
Since then, I believe the intervention of Frank Lowy at FFA level and the
Dutch influence through coaches Guus Hiddink and Pim Verbeek and technical
directors Rob Baan, and now Han Berger, have definitely changed things for
the better. I believe life is all about timing and as Nick Tanner, the
ex-Perth Glory president once said to me: ''You're 10 years too early,
Peter, for Western Australian football. Go to Asia and coach and then come
back.'' He was right.
Australian football is at last making strides. You won't get rid of the 'Old
Boys Club' overnight, but the game is going forward with some excellent
people at the helm. Australian youth development has a very bright future.
Q: Where do think your coaching odyssey will lead next?
A: I honestly do not know. Working all over Asia has been a fantastic
experience and the biggest thing I have learnt comes from this old saying:
''Patience is bitter but the fruits are sweet''.
I have been asked if I am interested in coaching in Africa and the Middle
East. It does appeal to me as I love a challenge. The quality of players in
some of the African countries is excellent. I will just be patient and see
what presents itself in the near future.
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Luis Jimenez: Patrick Vieira told me to join Hammers
Evening Standard
02.07.09
Luis Jimenez has revealed former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira played a
major role in convincing him to sign for West Ham. The 25-year-old striker
has joined on a season's loan from Inter Milan, having been reassured he was
making the right decision by his former team-mate. Jimenez said: "I've
spoken to Patrick about the Premier League and he loves it. He told me the
fans are great and if I get the chance to come, I should take it. Now I've
got that chance." Vieira spent nine years at Arsenal but he has not made
the same impact in Serie A since he left north London to join Juventus in
2005.
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Should we forgive and forget and welcome him back to West Ham?
Posted by: GUEST BLOGGER , on Thu 2 Jul 2009
West Ham Football Fancast
Football FanCast guest columnist Tim Whitlow wonders if West Ham fans would
welcome Lucas Neill's return. There is a saying that the 'grass isn't always
greener on the other side' and how Lucas Neill is finding that out right
now. Having decided to turn his back on a new deal at Upton Park; expecting
to be inundated with offers, Neill is still searching for a new club as
nobody has taken up the option even though he is on a Bosman free. Perhaps
his wage demands, coupled with his age has meant no deal has been
forthcoming elsewhere and left him very much in limbo.
With pre-season around the corner you sense he has become nervous and
according to his representative hasn't ruled out the possibility of signing
a new deal for West Ham. A big part of me wants to tell him where to stick
it, as he clealy had no ambition to stay at Upton Park and was holding out
for the highest bidder this summer; however the other part of me sees what a
great asset he is to our team and we are arguably a lot weaker without him.
It is a real dilemma for the club as to whether they offer him a route back
to the club, given that he was happy to turn his back us just a few weeks
previous.
So should we offer Neill a new contract at West Ham and take him back? I
know for the Australian he will return with his tail well and truly between
his legs, but should we welcome his return for the sake of the team?
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Viera Told Me to join Hammers
The Sun
Published: 02 Jul 2009
WEST HAM new-boy Luis Jimenez has revealed Patrick Vieira convinced him to
ditch Inter Milan for the Premier League. The pair were team-mates at the
San Siro and ex-Arsenal star Vieira's love for the English game helped the
Chilean forward make up his mind about a switch to Upton Park. Jimenez said:
"I've spoken to Patrick about the Premier League and he loves it. "He told
me the fans are great and if I get the chance to come I should take it - now
I've got that chance. "I preferred this option because I really admire the
way they try to play. "Gianfranco Zola was one of the things that drew me to
West Ham - I can identify with the type of football he wants to play."
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Saint Kelvin Off To Hammers
The Sun
KELVIN DAVIS will seal his move from Southampton to West Ham on Monday.
Davis, 32, will sign a three-year deal to provide cover for England keeper
Rob Green.
The cash-stricken Saints have stalled all summer on a contract offer for
Davis. Now Premier League Hammers will snap up the out-of-contract former
England Under-21 star.
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