Daily WHUFC News - 4th May 2010

Safe. Mathematically.
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 3rd May 2010
By: Staff Writer

Hull finally became the third club to be relegated from the Premier League
tonight thanks to a last-gasp strike from Wigan's Steve Gohouri. City,
leading 2-1 at the time, were just moments away from taking their fight to
remain in the top-flight to the final day of the season - even if it meant
that a win somewhere in the region of 20-0 would have been required next
Sunday as a result of West Ham's superior goal difference - until their
hopes were finally extinguished by the 29-year-old's goal. Despite having
fallen behind to a Victor Moses goal on the half-hour mark, Iain Dowie's
side struck twice - through Will Atkinson (42 minutes) and Mark Cullen (64)
- to surge ahead and in sight of their first away win of the season. That
was until Wigan's on-loan Ivory Coast defender Gohouri, making only his
fourth appearance for the Latics fired home the equaliser - with an overhead
kick, no less - in the third minute of added time to condemn the Tigers to
the drop, just two years after they reached the top flight for the first
time in their history.
Whether Iain Dowie - who was drafted in by City towards the end of the
campaign in a desperate and ultimately futile attempt to stave off the drop
- will remain in his post next season remains to be seen. Meanwhile - and
despite leading his team to safety with crucial wins against Sunderland and
Wigan during the run-in - Gianfranco Zola's prospects of managing in the
Premier League next season appear to be equally bleak, following his latest
comments with regard to his position. Talking after West Ham's 3-2 defeat at
Fulham yesterday, Zola told the BBC: "I don't want to make any comments any
more; I've already said what I thought and that is enough. I just want to
focus on the last game which is important to me."

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Kovac's Hammers delight
West Ham ace looks for better season
By Vasek Kadlec Last updated: 3rd May 2010
SSN

West Ham ace Radoslav Kovac is delighted with the club's Premier League
survival. The Czech midfielder admits everyone at Upton Park is 'incredibly
relieved' at The Hammers' survival. Kovac says the club are now looking at
turning things around next season. "Everyone is incredibly relieved," he
told Pravo. "I can't even describe it in words.
"First of all for the fans who have been fantastic throughout the season,
even despite us failing at a number of key home fixtures. "Had we not been
dropping so many points at home, we would have avoided relegation much
earlier. "We started the league poorly, it just slipped through our fingers.
That was the biggest problem. From the winter we knew we would be in the
relegation battle."
Kovac admits the season has been harder than expected. "I will be honest -
I did not expect the season to be so tough," he said. "I joined the club
last minute and, basically, with no mid-season fitness preparation. "Still I
have managed to win a regular spot and the coach has put confidence in me.
"But I never thought we would be in the relegation battle, but I have made
over 30 appearances just in the league and the season has been very
demanding both physically and mentally. I feel tired now."
Kovac feels West Ham will perform better next season. "I am sure we will not
be fighting against the drop for the second time in a row," he said. "We
will put in use our experiences and will surely be better.

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Carlton Cole in sorry state over West Ham's season
The Times
Russell Kempson

It takes a big man to apologise and, at 6ft 3in, Carlton Cole is a big man.
It should be no surprise, then, that he has profusely apologised to the West
Ham United supporters for the team's displays this season that have ranged
from mediocre to miserable. West Ham may have narrowly escaped relegation
but, Cole believes, that is no reason for backslaps. Quite the opposite.
"It's been a bad season and we want to just move on from that," the striker
said. "It can't get any worse for us. "For the fans as well. They obviously
love the club so much and they don't deserve to go through what they've been
through this year. For me, personally, I'd like to apologise. We haven't
been good enough and, hopefully, we can put it right next season. "The
players and the manager will tell you that we're all sorry that things
haven't worked out the way it was supposed to be. We need to regroup and
start again next season and, hopefully, we can do better. We are going to do
better, that's the bottom line."
Speculation over the future of Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham manager, has
not helped the players, Cole added. "It does trickle down, it does affect
us, you can't lie about that," he said. "It's in any job really. If your top
man, your boss, doesn't feel secure, then obviously, to the players, it
sends a wrong message out. "Sometimes you can see it on the pitch. But we
are professional footballers and we did the job to stay up. We just need to
push on now and just forget about this season. It's a write-off and, again,
I'd just like to apologise to everybody. "I think the manager has learnt a
lot this season, about his squad and about the Premier League. It's his
first proper big job and to come to West Ham is a massive ask as well
because it's a massive club. "He's handled the pressure quite well because
we came in with a weakened squad at the beginning of the season. We had to
sell a few players that we'd have liked to have kept so he's had to deal
with the cards that he's been given. Sometimes, that's not easy for an
inexperienced manager. Hopefully, next season should be better."

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Cole: 'We're all sorry that we weren't good enough'
Published 22:20 03/05/10 By John Cross
The Mirror

Carlton Cole last night issued an unprecedented apology to West Ham's fans
for their disastrous season. The England striker said that all of the
players fear there could be a mass clear-out at Upton Park because they
"have not been good enough." It is rare for a Premier League star to admit
they have fallen short and avoid lame excuses but Cole was refreshingly
honest in his assessment of the club's roller-coaster campaign. Cole said:
"The fans love the club so much and they don't deserve to go through what
they've been through this year. "And for me personally, I'd like to
apologise. We haven't been good enough and hopefully next season we can put
it right. "I represent West Ham. The players and the manager will tell you,
we're all sorry things haven't worked out the way they were supposed to this
season. "But we need to regroup and start again next season and hopefully we
can. We are going to do better next season, that's the bottom line."
Cole, still hoping to force his way into Fabio Capello's World Cup squad,
also confessed that the whole squad - barring Scott Parker - are now
sweating on their futures. West Ham co-owner David Sullivan admitted last
week that all of the players are now for sale apart from fans' favourite
Parker to ease the club's debts and also after a season of disappointment.
Cole admitted he believes he could be sold and that West Ham will cash in if
they get the right offer. Cole's England team-mates, Rob Green and Matt
Upson, could be the first out of the door. England keeper Green could be
ready for a new challenge abroad while the club have told Upson - who has
one year left on his current deal - that he must sign a new contract or be
sold, as was first revealed in Mirror Sport.
Cole said: "We all know that we haven't been good enough this season. Scott
Parker's been brilliant, and he's my players' Player of the Year. "Obviously
he's the fans' favourite, so there's no way they're going to be looking to
sell him. "But as for the the rest I don't know what's going on. Everyone
knows we're in financial difficulties and if the right offer comes in for
anybody, you can't really turn it down. "That's football. I think at any
club in the Premier League, if someone's offered a good amount for one of
your players and you think it's worth it, you're going to take it."
West Ham have struggled all season and manager Gianfranco Zola seems certain
to leave this summer as co-owners Sullivan and David Gold look to bring in
their own man, with Slaven Bilic and Mark Hughes on their hit-list. Zola's
future is as certain as that of his players and Cole is again honest enough
to admit that the manager may have lacked the top -light experience for a
season-long struggle against the drop. Only the appalling form of fellow
strugglers Hull has saved West Ham from a bitter fight to the end and Cole
says the players should have done better. Cole added: "I think he's (Zola)
learnt a lot this season, about his squad and about the Premier League.
Obviously, it's his first proper, big job. "And to come to West Ham is a
massive ask because it's a massive club. I think he's handled the pressure
quite well because I think we came in with a weakened squad at the beginning
of the season. "We had to sell a few players we'd have liked to have kept,
so he's had to deal with the cards he's been given, and sometimes that's not
easy for an inexperienced manager. "You've got Steve Clarke there to help
him as well, but it's not easy. Hopefully we can make it right next season.
"It does trickle down to the players and it does affect us, you can't lie
about that. It's the same in any job. If your top man, your boss, doesn't
feel secure, then obviously it sends the wrong message out to the players,
and sometimes you can see it on the pitch. "But we are professional
footballers and we did the job, just, to stay up. Now we need to push on and
forget about this season. It's a write-off."

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Sullivan: 'Hammers fans are right behind me' - Exclusive
Published 22:20 03/05/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror

David Sullivan insists West Ham fans are fully behind him, despite his
controversial outbursts which have upset Gianfranco Zola. The Hammers'
joint-chairman has angered boss Zola with a series of comments following his
January takeover. The former Birmingham supermo first annoyed the Italian in
February by admitting the squad could be forced into mandatory pay-cuts. And
he publicly slammed the team following their disastrous 3-1 home defeat to
Wolves in March. Now Sullivan has got Zola fuming again by telling
MirrorFootball he will listen to offers for any player this summer except
Scott Parker. He has also put in a bid for West Brom midfielder Graham
Dorrans which Zola admits he had no knowledge of. Zola is set to leave Upton
Park as soon as the Premier League season is over, despite keeping the
struggling club up. But Sullivan insists Hammers fans have not complained to
him at all about his hard-hitting methods after inheriting debts of
£100million at the club. "I have had nothing but compliments from the West
Ham fans," said Sullivan. "Most, if not all of them, support what I have
done. "I have had hundreds of letters. When I meet people outside the ground
they realise things are not right and they are pleased someone is happy to
say it. "I still believe everything I have done is for the benefit of the
team. "Take for example Ilan, who has scored four goals. No-one had ever
heard of him. I brought him in and he has an uncanny knack of scoring
goals."
Sullivan has a short-list including Steve McClaren, Slaven Bilic, Avram
Grant and Martin Jol to replace the doomed Zola. Sources close to McClaren
insist the ex-England boss has made no decision on his future, despite being
heavily linked with a move to Wolfsburg after leading FC Twente to the Dutch
title.

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Carlton Cole apologises to West Ham supporters on behalf of players
'Hopefully next season we can put it right,' says Cole
Striker admits uncertainty over manager did not help
Dominic Fifield guardian.co.uk, Monday 3 May 2010 22.35 BST

Carlton Cole has issued an apology to West Ham United's beleaguered
supporters on behalf of the players for a season of desperate
underachievement at Upton Park. He admitted, though, that the ongoing
uncertainty over the future of the manager, Gianfranco Zola, had been
unsettling.

Defeat at Fulham on Sunday left West Ham without a league victory away from
home since the opening day. Safety had almost been secured the previous week
with a 3-2 win over Wigan Athletic though the east Londoners will be
thankful for Hull City's deficiencies as they stagger across the finish line
dissatisfied with their own campaign.

Zola is expected to leave the club with his relationship with the new
owners, David Gold and David Sullivan, strained and a summer of upheaval
ahead.

"We've tried to get on with it, game by game, but all the speculation over
the manager's future does trickle down to the players and it does affect us,
I can't lie about that," said Cole. "It's the same as in any job, really. If
your top man, your boss, is not … you know, doesn't feel secure, then
obviously it sends the wrong message out to the players. Sometimes you can
see it out on the pitch. We are professional footballers and we did the job
to stay up, but we just need to push on now and forget about this season.

"It's been a write-off, and I'd just like to apologise to everybody. I
represent West Ham. The players and the manager will tell you we're all
sorry things haven't worked out the way it was supposed to be this season.
We haven't been good enough and, hopefully, next season we can put it right.
But we need to regroup and start again. We have to do better next season,
that's the bottom line. It's been a bad season and we want to just progress
from that because it can't get any worse for us."

Sullivan has already stated publicly that the entire first-team squad,
barring the midfielder Scott Parker, is effectively up for sale with major
changes needed to avoid a repeat of this term's toils. That statement
surprised and disappointed Zola who, likewise, had been unaware of a £4m bid
that was rejected by West Bromwich Albion for the midfielder Graeme Dorrans.
The manager is due to discuss his future with the owners after Sunday's
visit of Manchester City.

"I think Gianfranco has learnt a lot this season, both about his squad and
about the Premier League," said Cole. "It's his first proper big job, and to
come to West Ham is a massive ask because it's a massive club. I think he's
handled the pressure quite well because we came in with a weakened squad at
the beginning of the season. We had to sell a few players that we'd have
liked to have kept, so he's had to deal with the cards he's been given.
That's not easy as an inexperienced manager.

"We all know that we haven't been good enough this season. Scott Parker's
been brilliant – he's my players' player of the year, and he's obviously the
fans' favourite, so there's no way they're going to be looking to sell him.
But, with the rest, I don't know what's going on. Everyone knows that we're
in financial difficulty and, if the right offer comes in for anybody, you
can't really turn it down. That's just football.

"But we've been playing poorly all season, really. It's not been good for my
heart. It's been a culmination of stuff, but we're going to go away and
regroup in the summer and try and sort everything out. We just want this
year out of the way now. We'll have one more big push to end the season on a
high, and hopefully we'll beat Manchester City on Sunday. But next season
should be better. Hopefully we can make it right then."

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Mark Noble, Renaissance Man?
West Ham Till I Die

One of the disappointing aspects of the last couple seasons has arguably
been the relatively indifferent form of Mark Noble. Since his heroics of
2006-07, Noble had not appeared to progress in quite the manner in which we
had anticipated. Supporters on this and other Hammers websites have, with
differing degrees of justification, regularly criticised his lack of form
and apparent fitness.

Yet prior to the key Everton away fixture, Noble was one of those that I had
identified as a player that could step up to the plate and make a difference
for us this season. And he did not disappoint! From that match onwards,
Mark Noble has put in some very impressive displays, reminiscent of his
outstanding performances during the famous 'great escape' season. He has
looked assured on the pitch, taken greater responsibility and shown high
levels of industry and commitment. Think of his battling performances at
Everton and against Sunderland at Upton Park; against Liverpool he was one
of only two Hammers players (the other being Da Costa) that emerged with any
credit. While in defeating Wigan, Noble was a decisive influence, alongside
Parker, in midfield; and at Fulham on Sunday, he combined beautifully with
Scott Parker to lay on Franco's late goal.

Moreover, Noble appears to have regained his ability to both make decisive,
biting tackles, and be an important attacking force. Apart from Diamanti,
he is probably the best passer of a ball in the current squad. He possesses
a vision and range of passing that stands out. Interestingly, in Diamanti's
absence from the first XI, it is Noble who has supplied much of craft and
touch, in the final third, that has assisted our belated scramble to safety.

Perhaps working with Diamanti in training has improved his technique/potency
at corners and set peices. As I said at the time, Noble's free kick that
hit the bar, and led to Kovac's headed goal, against Wigan was right out of
Diamanti's locker. I do not believe that this is a coincidence! Diamanti
has fantastic quality and, in my book, should be retained next season. Yes,
there are some defensive cover and decision-making issues, but a good coach
should be able to work on these and harness his outstanding individual
ability within the overarching context of an effective team unit.

In many ways, I think that the ability of Noble and Diamanti, actual and
potential, render them indispensable next season. Certainly with 9 goals
this season, Diamanti deserves another chance. While, Noble needs to build
on this resurgence in form and show that he can perform to that level
consistently again next season and then push on further still.

Will Noble's career rise phoenix like from the ashes of our disappointing
2009-10 season? Can he now realise his early career promise and go on to
become the highly influential player that we have long anticipated?

Can Mark Noble become West Ham's very own Renaissance Man?

SJ. Chandos.

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Chris Coleman: It's unlikely Freddie Sears will be here next season
May 3 2010
Coventry Telegraph

CHRIS COLEMAN today hinted that Freddie Sears won't be back at Coventry City
next season as he plans a major revamp of his Sky Blues squad. The City boss
apologised to disgruntled fans after seeing his side capitulate 4-0 at the
Ricoh Arena yesterday against Watford in the final game of the Championship
season. Coleman admits changes are needed to boost City's first team squad -
but believes West Ham loanee Sears won't be part of next season's plans. He
said: "I could have put Freddie Sears on (during yesterday's game) but it's
looking like he won't be with us next season so I decided to give Jordan
(Clarke) and Shaun (Jeffers) a little bit of experience of the
Championship."
Coleman says he wants to make substantial improvements to his City squad if
the clubs wants to challenge for the top 10 next season. And he admits he's
not sure whether he'll have any cash or wheel-and-deal through the loan
system to get new faces in. He added: "We've got two months to sort things
out. "We need to make changes and while that game hasn't changed my mind
about any players, it has probably cemented it because we were second-best
in every department on the pitch. "Whether we've got money to invest this
summer or whether we've got to look to loans we'll try to strengthen things,
because we can either take a big step forward of stay where we are now, not
really in the relegation battle but not equipped to challenge for the top
10. "Sometimes we struggle with expectations. "We're a big Championship
club with a fantastic stadium, but we haven't lived up to that on the pitch.
"We knew that Watford would be in a buoyant move after their result last
week – but they won the game because they wanted it more than us, and that's
bitterly disappointing."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

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I am running the BUPA 10k on May 31st and raising money for the Bobby Moore
Cancer Fund
Please donate generously! Thanks.

Daily WHUFC News - II 3rd May 2010

West Ham honour youth boss who nurtured £80m of talent
BBC.co.uk
By Frank Keogh

When England travel to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, manager Fabio
Capello will owe huge gratitude to one man with whom he has exchanged only
one word. For more than 30 years, Tony Carr has headed up the West Ham
United youth academy. Now graduates of its acclaimed development programme
are likely to provide a quarter of the international squad. Seven current
England internationals, with a total of 345 caps between them, have passed
through the east London set-up. And while Capello has, so far, only said the
word 'hello' to him, Carr's service to the club he supported as a boy will
be rewarded on Wednesday night when many of those stars turn out for his
testimonial at Upton Park. Imagine Rio Ferdinand playing in a team alongside
his brother Anton for the first time since they were youngsters; then
picture Chelsea icons John Terry and Frank Lampard, usually guaranteed a
hostile reception, playing at the Boleyn Ground in West Ham shirts. It is
set to happen at the tribute for 59-year-old Carr, whose values of hard
work, discipline and fun, have oiled the conveyor belt of talent which has
netted the east London club a fortune in transfer sales.

THE BIG ACADEMY SALES
£18m Rio Ferdinand (Leeds)
£11m Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
£6.6m Joe Cole (Chelsea)
£6m Jermain Defoe (Spurs)
£6m* Glen Johnson (Chelsea)
£2.75m* Michael Carrick (Spurs)
*Plus sell-on/appearance clauses

"The ethos of the football club has always been to produce the best local
young talent that they can attract," said Cockney Carr, who was born a
penalty kick away from the famous Bow Bells. "Although it's getting tougher,
we are still trying to maintain that ethos. "It's a very working class area
with lots of kids that love the game. People are keen, there's lots of
leagues, there's enthusiasm for the game. We've just been lucky it's a
fertile area for young talent."
The talent developed by West Ham includes current England captain Ferdinand,
his predecessor Terry, plus international team-mates Lampard, Joe Cole,
Michael Carrick, Glen Johnson and Jermain Defoe. All left, for a variety of
reasons, including relegation from the Premier League in 2003 with a side
that contained four of those seven in Cole, Carrick, Johnson and Defoe. "Rio
was sold for £18m, Frank £11m. Someone added it up and said you're talking
about £80m," said Carr, who has been ably aided down the years by chief
scout Jimmy Hampson. "Other players, not so much the bigger names, have gone
for half a million here, or a million there, so you are talking about
possibly that amount for the club in the last 10 years or so."
The expected testimonial presence of Terry and Lampard shows the respect
which Carr commands and he hopes fans appreciate their appearance at the
match. I've spoken to the players individually and they are all happy. Even
though one or two have gone away and not enjoyed the best receptions, they
have all been fantastically willing to come back," he said. Carr could see
the Boleyn Ground floodlights from his childhood home and as a teenager
joined the academy, where he cleaned the boots of World Cup winners Bobby
Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters. Moore captained the 1966 England side
which won the sport's biggest prize, while hat-trick hero Hurst and Peters
provided the goals. "I joined in that summer as a 15-year-old apprentice and
was bumping into Moore, Hurst and Peters who had just won the World Cup so
it was surreal, but at the time you took it for granted," said Carr. "The
lack of success at England level since then has made it a very big deal.
"Bobby was a great role model and example to young players in terms of the
way he conducted himself, the way he trained and everything about him.
Everybody looked up to Bobby as the captain, and the man to aspire to. "I
was a very young player and he was the captain of England but he always had
time for young players and wasn't aloof in any shape or form."
The parallels between 1966 and 2010 are not lost on Carr, with another
academy graduate in Rio Ferdinand set to captain the side, and he said the
guiding principles remained the same. "What you try to do with all the young
players is try to give them good habits, on and off the pitch," he said.
"That means working hard, practising, trying to be the best player you can
be and when you're off the pitch, conducting yourself in the right way and
steering clear of trouble."
Carr did not make the grade as a West Ham player and moved to Barnet before
a broken leg ended his career, and he was recruited by future manager John
Lyall as a part-time junior coach in 1973. He has helped England
internationals such as Tony Cottee and Paul Ince, worked under eight
managers, witnessed two FA Cup wins, several relegations and promotions, and
radical changes to the world of football. "With the likes of Rio Ferdinand
and Frank Lampard, not so long ago, they didn't really come into clubs until
they were 13 or 14 years of age, that's when the recruitment started to hot
up. But now you are talking about seven and eight year olds and it's tough,"
said Carr. "To spot talent that's going to go all the way at that stage is
almost an impossibility, but we do try our best. Competition around London
now is immense."
Evidence of the academy's continuing success can be seen in the current
first-team squad, which boasts Welsh midfielder Jack Collison, England
under-21 internationals James Tomkins and Mark Noble, along with the
country's former under-19 players Junior Stanislas and Freddie Sears. They
are likely to feature in Wednesday's match, which could also see current
Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola donning his boots. "Tony has done a brilliant
job, not only for West Ham, but for the whole nation," said the 43-year-old
former Chelsea striker. "So many important and influential players with the
national team have started here and that tells you what he is all about."
Carr said there had been no suggestion West Ham's new joint owners David
Gold, a former Hammers youth player, and David Sullivan would change the
youth set-up despite cost cutting at the club to alleviate debts of about
£100m. "I've still got a year to run on my contract and hopefully the new
owners see fit to renew it at the right time. I've got no intentions of
retiring at this point," he said. With more youngsters set to progress into
the main squad, they may reap the benefits of staying loyal to the
successful system.
And if England thrive in South Africa, there might even be another word for
Carr from Capello.

* Tickets for Wednesday's match, between West Ham and Tony Carr's Academy
All-Stars, are available via the official West Ham website.

TONY CARR ON 'MAGNIFICENT SEVEN'

RIO FERDINAND
Age 31 Clubs West Ham 1993-2000,
Leeds 2000-02 Man Utd 2002- England Apps 76 Goals 4
"Rio came to us when he was 13 and was naturally talented. He could head it,
pass it, could score, he was a good defender, he could create goals. He
wasn't always a defender. He came as a forward, became a a midfield player
and ended up as a centre-back in my youth team and pushed on from there."

FRANK LAMPARD
Age 31 Clubs West Ham 1994-2001, Chelsea 2001- England Apps 77 Goals 20
"We always felt, in the youth department, that Frank was an immense talent
that could develop and get better and better and so that's proved.
Circumstances dictated he left West Ham and he went to Chelsea for £11m, so
the club have certainly had their money's worth."

JOE COLE
Age 28 Clubs West Ham 1994-2003, Chelsea 2003- England Apps 53 Goals 10
"When he first came to West Ham as a 12-year-old, he was just audacious the
way he played the game. He was tricky, he was cheeky, he was so unorthodox
in what he did and so skilful. We worked very, very hard to convince Joe
that West Ham was his club. We always felt he was destined to be a great
player."

MICHAEL CARRICK
Age 28 Clubs West Ham 1997-2004, Tottenham 2004-06, Manchester United 2006-
England Apps 21 Goals 0
"Michael was gifted technically, had a good eye for a pass, two good feet
and was always going to be a good player. "He came down from the north east
as he felt there was a little bit too much pressure signing for the local
team. We had a house to look after our boys and he enjoyed that."

JERMAIN DEFOE
Age 27 Clubs Charlton 1997-99 West Ham 1999-2004, Tottenham 2004-08,
Portsmouth 2008-09, Tottenham 2009- England Apps 39 Goals 11
"Jermain came from Charlton. His early years were developing there. Our
youth development officer Jimmy Hampson was the guy who took him to Charlton
in the first place, and knew him very well. He was a natural goalscorer.
He's a predator, he'll always score goals."

GLEN JOHNSON
Age 25 Clubs West Ham 2000-2003, Chelsea 2003-07, Portsmouth 2007-09,
Liverpool 2009- England Apps 20 Goals 11
"Glen was with the club from about the age of nine. His mother was a carer,
who fostered kids on a regular basis but she still had time to bring Glen to
training. He broke into the the team at a point when they were struggling.
He had power, pace and enthusiasm up and down the line. He was a breath of
fresh air."

JOHN TERRY
Age 29 Clubs West Ham 1991-1995, Chelsea 1995-
England Apps 59 Goals 6
"John decided to move on for whatever reason. To be fair to John he's gone
on from being a midfield player and now he's a centre-back for Chelsea and
England. There's no regrets in that respect, he's one that got away but you
can't win them all."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

http://www.justgiving.com/vyperz
I am running the BUPA 10k on May 31st and raising money for the Bobby Moore
Cancer Fund
Please donate generously! Thanks.

Daily WHUFC News - 3rd May 2010

Derby defeat for Hammers
WHUFC.com
Fulham were too strong for Gianfranco Zola's side in the last awayday of the
season on Sunday
02.05.2010

Fulham 3-2 West Ham United

West Ham United's poor run of form away from home continued until the last
with a disappointing 3-2 Barclays Premier League defeat away to Fulham on
Sunday. A Clint Dempsey goal on the stroke of half-time, a freak effort from
Chris Baird in off Carlton Cole on the hour and late third from substitute
Stefano Okaka did the damage on a freezing day on the banks of the River
Thames. Cole pulled one back at the right end two minutes after his
own-goal, while substitute Guille Franco swept in a consolation in
added-time.
Having been soaked on their way to the game and had few moments to cheer,
the noisy Hammers supporters still remained in full voice - even singing 'We
are going to win 4-3' when there were barely seconds to play. Gianfranco
Zola could point to a harsh offside call on a clean-through Cole just before
the opener but Fulham just about deserved the win.
The opening period of the first half was as uneventful as any game you will
see, with only a raking Matthew Upson pass to a surging Jonathan Spector
standing out for the Hammers. The US international did well to cut inside
the penalty area but his final pass to Cole was just lacking. Fulham were on
a high after last Thursday's heroics against Hamburger SV that took them to
the UEFA Europa League final. They made several changes, while Zola had the
rare luxury of an unchanged side, with the only alteration in the 18 being
the fit-again Luis Boa Morte's presence on the subs' bench in place of Benni
McCarthy. It was on 21 minutes that something of real note finally happened.
Mark Schwarzer had to be alert to punch clear just in front of Valon
Behrami. Fulham broke up the other end and Robert Green had to be equally
lively to clear just as Erik Nevland prepared to pounce. Noble then blocked
Paul Konchesky's follow-up.
The Hammers answered with a neat passing move that saw Ilan spread a
crossfield pass out to Spector. He promptly found Noble and his turn and
shot produced a fine diving save from Schwarzer. Upson rose to meet the
resulting corner but could not direct it on target. Dempsey came closer on
26 minutes, turning 25 yards out and hitting the crossbar but it was 15
minutes before another effort on target, with the impressive Da Costa's own
speculative long-ranger forcing a Schwarzer one-handed save. Radoslav Kovac
went up unchallenged for the corner that followed but his header was wayward
and wide. The half finished in controversial fashion. Cole was wrongly
flagged offside from Julien Faubert's slide-rule pass and Fulham broke up
the other end to break the deadlock with Dempsey's neat finish into the
bottom corner. It was a real blow and the Hammers looked to be feeling the
effects of that early in the second half. Most notably Upson had to clear
over his own bar while there was some zippy play from Simon Davies and Bjorn
Helge Riise that had the visitors on the back-foot.
Things got worse when Baird hacked at a shot and it cannoned off Cole and
beyond Green. The Hammers striker was able to make instant amends within two
minutes, just after Zola had replaced Faubert and Ilan with birthday boy
Alessandro Diamanti and Guille Franco. Cole leapt well to meet Noble's
free-kick and nod past Schwarzer - moving him on to double figures for the
season in all competitions. It was not exactly a case of game on, but Scott
Parker - unsurprisingly - led the way as the Hammers looked to take control
and restore parity. Fulham withdrew Davies for Okaka to give the away side
something to think about and, after riding out the initial flurry, regained
control. Okaka, wearing tights and gloves, settled it on 80 minutes. Spector
presented the ball to Nevland and the striker was able to slide the ball
across the goal for the on-loan AS Roma man to net. It was an easy finish
and Hammers' hopes were dashed. Zola introduced Junior Stanislas for Behrami
in the closing stages, meaning there was to be no return for former Fulham
favourite Boa Morte, while Fulham were able to rest Dempsey for David Elm.
Franco managed to slot in a goal in added time from Parker's cut-back but in
truth it was a damp squib of an end to an awayday campaign that saw the
Hammers fail to win on their travels since the opening day. In bright summer
sunshine, the Hammers had won 2-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Those days,
and that weather, seem a long, long time ago.

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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
After their magnificent showing yet again, the manager reserved special
praise for the fans at Fulham
03.05.2010

Gianfranco Zola was left to praise the travelling fans on Sunday after an
18th away league match in a row without a victory - when Fulham had three
shots on target and scored from all of them. Although his men had little
luck in a 3-2 defeat and were victim of a tough offside call just before
Fulham's opener through Clint Dempsey on the stroke of half-time, Zola was
especially keen to acknowledge the travelling band who had made their way
west on a rain sodden day in the capital. "The fans have all my appreciation
and all my respect," he said. "They have been fantastic. We didn't give them
much this year away from home and that is my biggest disappointment. They
were fantastic today but they were fantastic all season. Well done to them.
I wish we could have given them more."
Dempsey's strike came just after Carlton Cole was wrongly flagged offside
when clean through, while the unfortunate West Ham striker then knew little
about Chris Baird's wayward shot that cannoned off him and into the goal for
Fulham's second. Cole made amends with his tenth Barclays Premier League
goal of the campaign but Stefano Okaka took the match away from the Hammers
before a last-gasp Guille Franco consolation. Zola was pleased to see his
England forward return to the scoresheet after having to play a supporting
role of late. "I thought Carlton was unlucky with the deflection for their
second goal. He scored a good goal. I am pleased for him because he has been
working hard and needed a goal. He never stopped trying and has shown a
brilliant attitude. "It was a strange game. I wasn't expecting anything like
that. I thought in the first half we were the better team. We had a couple
of chances and after Carlton was wrongly given offside, they scored right at
the end of the first half. It was a pity because the game was in our control
and we had a couple of great chances from corners. "The second half was a
different story. They started much better in the first 15 minutes and got a
goal. We tried to come back and we did but it wasn't enough. It was not easy
to get the players up because it has been a long, tiring and exhausting
season for all of us but we came here with the intention to give it our best
shot. Unfortunately that didn't happen."
Again the subject of constant questioning about the future, Zola said his
focus was only on Manchester City's visit next Sunday and the chance still
remains to secure a 14th-placed finish."I just want to focus on the last
game which is important for me and do well. We are professional and we will
do our best for this club until the end."

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'We didn't have much luck'
WHUFC.com
Manuel da Costa is targeting victory over Manchester City following a
luckless afternoon at Fulham
03.05.2010

Manuel da Costa believes West Ham United did not enjoy the rub of the green
in Sunday's 3-2 Barclays Premier League defeat at Fulham. Carlton Cole was
incorrectly flagged offside just moments before Clint Dempsey put Fulham
ahead before Chris Baird's wayward shot hit the striker's shoulder and flew
past a helpless Robert Green to double the Cottagers' lead. Although Cole
halved the deficit with a well-taken header, Jonathan Spector's mistake
allowed Stefano Okaka to reinstate Fulham's two-goal lead, rendering Guille
Franco's late strike nothing more than a consolation. "It was disappointing,
because I didn't think we deserved to lose. Fulham played at a normal level,
rather than better than West Ham. Sometimes, we played well and had a few
good moments and were the better team, and it was possible for us to win.
"The problem was that when we created chances, we didn't always take them.
Fulham shot only three times and they scored every time. This is something
that happens to us a lot - the other team has one shot and it is a goal. "We
play, we create chances and we shoot, but the other team manages to get a
foot in the way or the goalkeeper saves it. We didn't have much luck on
Sunday. This has been the story of our season. Every game is the same. "We
will be in the Premier League next season, which is the most important
thing. We didn't play badly - we played well in parts but we didn't have the
luck."
Da Costa, who produced a strong defensive display, and also tested Fulham
goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer with a swerving effort from fully 30 yards, is
hoping for better fortune when West Ham entertain UEFA Champions League
hopefuls Manchester City next Sunday. Not only does the defender have the
twin incentives of ending a frustrating season on a high, as well as denying
Roberto Mancini's side a place in European football's premier knockout
competition, but he will also hope to celebrate his 24th birthday, which
falls on Thursday, with a win. "We have played under pressure all season and
this has meant we have played with a little bit of fear. This match, we
could express ourselves more. We have played better over the last few games,
and we need to do well again in our final match. "The Manchester City game
is a big game because they want to go to the Champions League and we want to
finish the season on a positive note by getting at least one point, but
preferably three points. "It is very important to finish with a victory over
a big team."

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Fulham 3 - 2 West Ham
BBC.co.uk
By Phil Dawkes

Europa League finalists Fulham secured their first home league win over West
Ham in 44 years with victory in a closely-contested London derby. Clint
Dempsey's neat finish gave Fulham the lead just before half time, which was
doubled when Carlton Cole deflected Chris Baird's shot into his own net.
Cole made amends by heading his side back into contention, but substitute
Stefano Okaka restored Fulham's lead. Guillermo Franco's late tap-in came
too late for West Ham to salvage a point. It leaves the Hammers still
mathematically vulnerable to relegation but not realistically as Hull must
not only win their final two games but must also overturn a 22-strong
goal-difference deficit. The defeat is West Ham's first to Fulham in the
Premier League and their first loss at Craven Cottage since a League Cup
defeat 35 years ago, but they did not succumb to it easily. It is
understandable if the focus of the Fulham players is on non-domestic matters
at present, having beaten German side Hamburg to seal a showdown with
Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final on 12 May. And in what seems a
clear nod towards their end of season priorities, Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson
made seven changes from the side that started on Thursday which often made
for an understandably incohesive home display. However, it is a luxury to be
able to bring in a player of Dempsey's class and he demonstrated this early
on with a chipped effort that flicked the bar on its way over and then with
a neat finish from 15 yards after being released by Simon Davies to give his
side the lead seconds before the break.
Barring the brief hope given to the visitors by Cole's goal - headed home
from a Mark Noble free-kick - Fulham rarely looked like relinquishing their
advantage once it had been so timely seized. They doubled their advantage
just before the hour when from the breakdown from a corner, defender Chris
Baird was given space to fire a shot which took a wicked deflection off Cole
and beat Hammers keeper Robert Green. Cole made amends by almost immediately
scoring at the right end but West Ham could not build on the lifeline and
their hopes were extinguished when Okaka tapped in Bjorn Helge Riise's cross
with 10 minutes to go. It could have been so different for West Ham, who had
fashioned the better chances in the first half and looked set to push on in
the second before Dempsey's crucial intervention. Home goalkeeper Mark
Schwarzer was twice forced to palm behind in the opening 45 minutes, firstly
from Mark Noble's curling effort from the edge of the area and then later
from Manuel da Costa's speculative but fiercely-struck 35-yard dipping
drive. In addition, from the corner resulting from Da Costa's attempt,
Radoslav Kovac found himself unmarked but headed wide. Had any of these
chances found the net they could have been leaving Craven Cottage with their
long unbeaten record intact and Franco's injury time goal - a tap in from a
Scott Parker pull-back - could have earned them at least the point that
would have put their relegation battle to bed.

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Fulham boss Roy Hodgson: "I wanted to win. I didn't want to have an 'After
the Lord Mayor's Show' feeling. "I thought our performance was very
disciplined and hard-working and that we were good value for our victory. "I
am delighted we could rest some players and I am pleased with those who came
in."

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola: "I thought in the first half we were the
better team but then they scored the first goal. "We came here to win but it
did not work out. It is not the first time away from home. We have to do
better. "I don't want to look for excuses. We have not been good enough away
and I am the first to take responsibility for that."

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Tony Carr: Part Two
Filed: Sunday, 2nd May 2010
By: Staff Writer
KUMB.com

KUMB.com: So we're in the early 90s which leads to a period of unprecedented
success in terms of what was achieved here - and possibly unprecedented
anywhere else, bar perhaps at Manchester United. Would that be fair to say?

Tony Carr: Yes, with Giggs and the golden era. Yes, I think that's fair,
that period of time looking back now was... You don't realise it at the
time. You know, we had golden nuggets, everywhere. I remember Frank Lampard
Snr saying to me 'you won't do this again, you know'. That success with the
FA Youth Cup, the 1999 squad - he said 'enjoy it because this doesn't come
around very often' - and he wasn't far wrong, we've had our [successes] but
not in those numbers.

KUMB: To have players of such quality all at once, you would perhaps expect
that over a period of years...

TC: Exactly, over a period of time to unearth one or two like that.

KUMB: This was a result of the more aggressive policy?

TC: Yeah, I think it was - and everybody was pulling together. Frank and
Harry, if we needed help, if Harry needed to go to Ireland or Harry had to
go and see a parent he'd go and see them. So everybody felt that all the
club were behind this push to find the talent. Without Frank Snr, it must be
said that Rio [Ferdinand] probably wouldn't have walked through the gates.

Rio became friends with young Frank; the guy that used to run his Blackheath
team, his mentor was a guy named Dave Goodwin - he was at the game last
Saturday, the Wigan game. I just bumped into him. We worked hard on Dave to
persuade Rio to come and look at our club and once Rio was here he decided
this is what he liked, he liked the people and the way we did things and
fortunately he signed for us and stayed.

KUMB: On the face of it that relationship between Rio and Frank would have
seemed unlikely, Frank being publicly schooled and Rio coming from the wrong
side of the tracks?

TC: Exactly, but they were very close. They were alike in terms of they
loved the game and loved to train, you couldn't get them off the pitch!
[points to an imaginary young Lampard and Ferdinand] 'In, it's getting dark
- in! Not even the training staff are about now!' They were always together
and because Frank lived local Rio would always end up round Frank's house in
the afternoon for a cup of tea and a chat, maybe stay there at weekends and
so on. So they built up a bond and a friendship and they developed together
as players. They were good for each other.

KUMB: Tell us about Rio becoming a defender?

TC: Yeah, he was a centre forward when he first came and then a midfield
player when he signed as a scholar, signed as an apprentice. I went on a
coaching seminar that was run by Andy Roxburgh who was at UEFA, the former
Scotland manager. He did this European study and he based it on the Germans
who were very successful at the time. It was the 1998 team and [Matthias]
Sammer was playing in midfield and he [Roxburgh] said he used to break out
from the back into midfield. Midfield players would split and he could spray
the ball all over the place. He said the German philosophy was that you
should have your most talented midfield player playing at the back of three
defenders, ready to break out.

So I sat there and went - Rio!

KUMB: A light bulb moment?

TC: Yeah! Seriously, that was what happened. I thought about it and come
back and started to say 'right, we're going to play three at the back'. That
year we got to the [FA Youth Cup] final against Liverpool we played three at
the back. So I said to Rio, 'I want you to play at the back with a three' -
and he said 'no, no, I don't want to play there'. So I said 'why?' and he
said 'oh, I want to play in midfield, I like having the ball, I like to run
with the ball'. I said, 'look, play at the back, play as a midfield player
but at the back - and what we want you to try and do is to break into
midfield, because you're good with the ball, and you can break from there
and make things happen from an attacking point of view'. 'Hmm ... oh
alright, I'll give it a try'. And he gave it a try and obviously it worked,
it worked very well.

KUMB: So you're playing a 5-3-2, with wingbacks?

TC: Yeah, 5-3-2 or 3-5-2.

KUMB: Which is what Harry implemented - was that as a result of that
[experiment]?

TC: I'm not sure if it was because Harry had seen the youth team do it or
I'd seen Harry do it, I'm not sure. I think the game was developing that way
as people were experimenting. The 4-4-2 for everybody was starting to
dismantle, where a centre half gets it and just hoofs it down the middle for
the centre forward who flicks it on and there's a goal or whatever, and all
the centre halfs are big and cumbersome... We were trying to develop more
stylish players and to be successful you should have players that are
comfortable with the ball - and I saw Rio as this player, or one of these
players. It was a consequence of that and I think it was just coincidence
that Harry was implementing that same sort of system as well. It worked very
well.

KUMB: At that period you had, theoretically, a first team playing a certain
way because that was the sort of players we had - rather than a club-wide
'this is the way we play the game at this club' policy?

TC: Harry never dictated to me that I should play in any particular way.
Alan Pardew was a little bit into that, I think they should play the same as
us - but he wasn't dogmatic about it. Gianfranco [Zola] is a bit similar, I
think you should try to emulate what we do because I want players that can
fit into the system, I want them to play in that system. So there was a
little bit of that about it. But we've got license to say look, we haven't
really got those players this week so we want to play a 4-4-2, or we're
going to play a 3-5-2. Or play a diamond rather than a three in midfield. So
we've got license and I think you should be able to do that with young
players because you don't know where they might be best at, so you should
experiment with systems with the younger players.

The reserves are slightly different because they're one step away from being
in the first team. But no, I've had reasonable freedom to develop it as I
saw it really. No manager's been very dogmatic about it and said 'you must
do this'.

KUMB: How do you think you would find working with someone like that? If
perhaps someone was to come in in the future and they were like that?

TC: I suppose if it's the club's policy I've got to go with it. Like anyone
else, I'm only an employee. I might say 'look, there might not occasions
where I'm able to play that way, is it okay if I change it if needs must?'
But as long as you get that sort of [freedom] I guess you've just got to go
with it. You know, you want to be together, I don't want to alienate any
particular manager.

KUMB: Of the nine you've worked with are there any you've got on better with
than others - or vice-versa?

TC: I suppose John Lyall was the most influential, it has to be said. Ron
[Greenwood] I was always a little bit frightened of.

KUMB: In awe a little bit?

TC: Yeah, I think everybody sensed that in Ron. He kept his distance from
people. It wasn't until I was nearly 40 that I had the guts to call him Ron,
and not Mr. Greenwood! After he left West Ham he was the England manager; he
used to come back and I'd say 'hello Mr. Greenwood'. He come up to me one
day and said, 'just call me Ron!' It was just the respect you had for him
because I was a young player under his management and nobody was very close
to him other than John Lyall.

So John was more close, as John was my youth team coach when I was an
apprentice. He knew me as a young player, he employed me as a part-time
coach then a full-time coach - so he must have seen something in me, in that
respect, to appoint me full time. That's when he moved Ronnie [Boyce] and
Mick [McGiven] up to the first team and left me in sole charge of the youth
team. So I suppose John had the most influence as they were my formative
years, when I first started coming here full time.

After John left I said 'right, I've got to stand on my own two feet now,
I've got to impress the new manager because John's not here anymore'. John,
in some respects, used to protect you because John used to run the whole
club. He'd say, 'paint that brown, paint that white, don't do that, wash
that ...' You know, he'd be into everything - how high to cut the grass,
what fences have got to be painted - he would do everything.

Obviously after that we got relegated which didn't help him, then his
contract was expiring so they got rid of him. It took a long time for the
club to recover from that.

KUMB: Yes, it must have been a big shock; you'd been working with John as a
coach for 16 years and on and off for nearly 30 years. It must have been a
tough time?

TC: Yeah, it was a tough time. I rung him a couple of times but when I did
his mood had changed, I could sense it. He was a little bit bitter; he was a
bit short with everything he said. I'd say 'we'll do this this week' and
he'd go 'oh yeah, alright'... he was very short. But he wrote us all a nice
letter and I've still got it to this day, thanking us for our loyalty and
everything. It was a really nice thing to do.

But I then lost touch with John, I didn't ring him anymore and we didn't
cross paths again for a long, long time afterwards.

KUMB: And so then came Lou Macari?

TC: Lou came in, some might say controversially because of the baggage he
brought with him, to be honest. I think he might say to himself the mistake
he really made was that he came in on his own and he just wanted to get on
with all the staff. The staff were supportive; I think Mick McGiven was
frustrated with him because he was a real disciple of John - like we all
were - and resigned. He'd got a little number fixed up with Chelsea so he
wanted to move on and I respect him for that. Ron [Boyce] stayed.

But Lou should have perhaps brought a number two or a coach with him. Not
necessarily sacked anybody, but just someone who knew Lou's ways because it
was like north and south, it was like chalk and cheese because it was the
absolute complete opposite [to Lyall].

KUMB: Not withstanding that John's were massive shoes to fill?

TC: Yeah, but it was absolutely chalk and cheese. He was a good guy Lou; I
got on quite well with him. He supported us all, he never demanded the sack,
you know - 'I want my own people get rid of that lot', not anything like
that. He was terrific in that respect so I've got a lot of time for him. But
the players that were here just wasn't having him - and they made it quite
clear they wasn't. There was a lot of old school there.

KUMB: A little like Brian Clough going to Leeds?

TC: Yeah.

KUMB: Yet some of the players he brought in were mainstays at the club for
some years?

TC: I think his best role within any football club would have been chief
scout because he was a terrific talent spotter. He watched games left, right
and centre. He loved the game, he was teetotal, he demanded absolute fitness
from everybody - and not everybody is like that, everybody is different. So
he wanted to treat everybody [the same] - everybody's got to do this,
everybody's got to do that - and he didn't introduce it slowly. The players
just weren't having him and obviously the scandal that followed him with
regards to betting on his own team to lose was just one baggage he couldn't
shake off and he resigned, honourably resigned on the day we were playing
Swindon away.

I went to the game and it ended up with me and Billy [Bonds] in charge of
the team, I can't remember if Ronnie was there or not ... it could have been
me, Billy and Ronnie in charge of the team. The chairman wouldn't tell us
[why], they said 'Lou's not coming today'. 'Well why isn't he coming?' The
rumours were that he'd packed it in, there was all this going on. The
players were asking if he'd packed it in and we're saying 'we don't know'.
Anyway, I think we got a 2-2 draw that day, we came home and that day he
resigned. I think what it was, was the board didn't accept his resignation
at first, they tried to talk him into staying - but obviously he didn't and
the new era swept in with Bill.

KUMB: So were you in charge during the interim period?

TC: Not technically, they put Bill in charge. Ronnie became caretaker for a
couple of games - or it might have been just one game, I can't remember now.

KUMB: I think it was just one game, there was the joke at the time about him
being the only West Ham manager unbeaten?

TC: Yes, probably! But Ronnie sat uncomfortably in the manager's chair. He
didn't want it, he couldn't handle it and he just wanted to be part of the
scene - but didn't want to be the number one.

KUMB: But there was a possibility that they may have offered it to Ronnie at
the time?

TC: I think if he had wanted it he'd have got an interview and they would
have seriously considered him, then it would have been up to him to convince
them in the interview. But straight away, from day one he said 'I don't want
an interview, I don't want the job, I'm just keeping the seat warm.

KUMB: Did you not ever fancy it yourself?

TC: Well I did apply for the job at the time. I wrote to the chairman, Len
Cearns, and applied for the job. At that time they made me reserve team
manager because they wanted to give Bill a job. So I was still in charge of
the Centre of Excellence but running the reserves and going back in the
evenings coaching the under 12s. They made Bill youth team coach because
they wanted to keep Bill on the staff.

So I thought to myself if a new manager comes in he's going to get rid of
all the first team staff, he's going to get rid of the reserve team and
bring his own man in - so I might as well apply for the job as I've got
nothing to lose. I got an interview, so I must have been on a short-list of
some sorts - as did Bill. I said my piece; 'what would you do here, what
would you do there'. I always remember one of the questions they asked me,
they said: 'If Frank McAvennie comes to you and says he wants more money,
what would you do?'

KUMB: And your response was?

TC: My response was I'd say: 'you've just signed a new contract mate, we've
only had you for six months - you've got to stick with what you've got'. So
they said 'ah, ok'. [mimics busy taking of notes] I think that was Martin
Cearns who asked that question!

KUMB: Obviously Frank had just been in asking for more money!

TC: Yeah, he'd already been in asking for an extension but... Obviously I
didn't get the job - Bill got the job which I was quite pleased with in some
respects, it was kept in-house.

KUMB: You were good mates with Bill at the time?

TC: Very good mates and we got on well as I used to help him with his
coaching with the youth team and in the evenings when he was doing a little
bit of part time and still playing. So I was quite happy. Then Bill said to
me: 'I want to restructure it a little bit. I want you to go back to being
in sole charge of the youth team then that's your department. I think that's
what you're best at doing, that's what I want you to do. I'm going to bring
a coach in'. So I said: 'who are you going to bring in?' He said: 'I'm going
to bring in Harry'.

'I've spoken to Harry; he's at Bournemouth and needs a new challenge'. I
thought ok, they're good mates, good buddies - it'll work. This was after
about a year because the first year we just missed out, next year we got
promoted when I was doing a lot of work with Bill as I had the reserves at
that point with Ronnie. But we didn't invest, and got relegated again. It
was at that point that they felt we need a change here, we need fresh blood
- and that's when they brought Harry in. I think it was within one or two
years that we went up again. Then I just went back with the youth team and
carried on with the work I'd been doing ever since.

KUMB: That must have been a difficult period for you, because you had been
close to both Billy and Harry and obviously they didn't see eye-to-eye...

TC: Yeah, it was tough. The only light I can shed on that story is that
during that pre-season when it all happened, we were running in Epping
Forest, pre-season training and I was at the back with H. He just said to
me: 'I've had a fantastic offer from Bournemouth'. I said: 'What's that? and
he said 'they want me to come back and be a Director of Football really, to
almost run the club. You know, either be the manager or appoint the manager.
It's my hometown club,' he said, 'and I'm really tempted. I don't know what
to do.'

I said 'have you told Bill?' So he said 'yeah, yeah I've told Bill.' I said
'what has Bill said?' and Harry said, 'Bill said well Harry, that's your
decision mate - I can't make that for you.' And that's as far as the
conversation went. Then they went on pre-season to Scotland and it all blew
up, didn't it. I still don't know to this day - Billy's never let on,
Harry's always said it was out of his hands and I believe him, I really do
believe him.

KUMB: You can't imagine Bill ever going to the press with anything really.
He's a very private person.

TC: He's never said a word. The only thing I do know is that he's never
spoken to Harry [since].

KUMB: Which suggests that Bill perhaps felt that Harry had been less than
straightforward?

TC: I don't know. I can't... I don't want to guess it. They're the facts as
I know them.

KUMB: There's one thing for sure - if you and Harry were at the back of the
group running Bill would have been at the front!

TC: Yeah! When they did offer Harry the job - I was here [Chadwell Heath] -
he said 'I've got to go back to Upton Park and do a press conference as they
want me to take the job'. He said 'I don't want it, I'm not having it'. And
Frank Lampard said to him 'are you serious? What's the point? If you don't
have it someone else will if you don't want the job. You've got to take it'.

'No I don't want it. People keep saying I've done this and that - I haven't
done nothing'. So I said 'well if your conscience is clear just go and take
the job'. So he did - not from my advice but I did say that and then he took
the job and was successful, very successful.

KUMB: And that leads on to the golden period of the next three or four
years, with that youth team coming through and the [FA Youth Cup final] win
over Coventry?

TC: 3-0 away and 6-0 at home.

KUMB: And to see people still being turned away at the Boleyn that night?
You've never seen that since?

TC: I hope it's the same next week!

KUMB: A few general questions, Tony. Being as successful as you have over
the last 40 years or so, have you ever been approached by other clubs to
take positions there?

TC: Yes.

KUMB: And can you tell us who that might have been?

TC: No. [laughs]

KUMB: What if we switch everything off?

TC: No! Not in the last [few years]. I have been approached; some
tentatively, some through third parties, some through companies that
head-hunt. I've had enquiries, I had a couple of offers from abroad - would
I be interested, what's the job, that sort of thing.

KUMB: Have you ever been tempted?

TC: I've thought about a couple. One of them was quite lucrative - but I
turned it down.

KUMB: I remember talking to Frank [Lampard Snr] about an offer he got from
Norwich. He said he was halfway up the A12 when he thought 'I don't want to
go here, this isn't home'. Would that apply to you?

TC: You consider it... 'oh, that sounds very good' - but deep down you think
'I'm happy, I've got a contract and the club value me,' so... I didn't
really want to move abroad because my family were a little bit younger then.
I didn't want to do that.

KUMB: After 37 years at the club [in your current role], how long do you see
yourself carrying on for?

TC: I've got one more year to run on my contract and like everybody else I'm
only an employee. But if the club want me to stay I'd like to stay. I'd like
to go on for another three or four years, if I'm honest. I'm quite healthy,
I still enjoy it, I still think there's work to be done. We've got good kids
in the system and I want to see them develop. I hope there's going to be
some good players coming through in the next three or four years and I want
to be part of that.

Obviously there comes a time when you go 'look Tone, as much as we love you
you've got to pack it in'. And I understand that. But whilst I'm still quite
fit and healthy... the day I stop enjoying it is the day I go 'thanks, but
I've done my bit'.

KUMB: Have the two Davids said anything to you about your future?

TC: No; not really, they've not said anything. Obviously their main concern
has been survival and having a year to go on my contract they're probably
not even aware of it. They've probably not even looked at where I am or what
my contract says. But when we get to Christmas and they've not said anything
I'll sort of drop a subtle hint and see what they say!

KUMB: We'll get a petition up... With that in mind Tony are there any plans
in place for a successor? For when that day comes, which inevitably it must.

TC: It must come; whether it's next year, three years...

KUMB: Ten years...

TC: ...or whatever. Like I said to you, the bottom line is I'm only an
employee, I've not got the brief to go and recruit a shadow for the next
couple of years to take over or to look at the possibilities out there that
could take over. So until I'm given that brief it's not my role to do that.
I wouldn't be so presumptuous to say I've got to find a successor to me. If
they ask me to do that then I'll gladly do it because to work for this club
- and I'm not saying anybody could do it - you'd want someone who
understands how this club works. I think that's important.

They may not have necessarily been here for very long - or may not have been
here at all - but understand the ethos of this football club, what the club
means to the people of the East End. I can't describe it and that's why this
club is so special. I know everyone says 'our fans are the best' and 'our
club is special' but there is an affinity to the fans and the club. We love
to moan, we love to celebrate, in equal measures.

KUMB: It would be nice if we could celebrate in equal measures!

TC: Yeah it would be nice to balance it out a bit, a bit more celebrating!

KUMB: But that's one of the things that makes West Ham special because those
days don't come around too often. Even the Wigan game?

TC: Well it was such a massive game, wasn't it? The game could map the
future of the football club over the next five, ten years, if we'd lost it.
But fortunately enough Scottie dug it out of the fire for us. Because it
wasn't a great game, we've played better but in that situation we got what
mattered - which was the result.

KUMB: In those games it isn't about the quality of football?

TC: You've got to hang in there; you've got to block, you've got to chase,
you've got to work. It just had to be done and the lads did respond. I
thought Mark Noble in the last two or three games has been terrific.

KUMB: Fantastic, and that must be good from your point of view?

TC: Yeah, I'm really pleased for Mark because whatever fans think, he does
care. He does care.

But the successor bit, I have thought about it, I must admit. We've got Paul
Heffer who's worked here with me as my assistant for a long, long time -
many, many years. He's a little bit older than me now so there may be an
occasion - which I don't think any club would want - where there are two or
three people going out the door at the same time. Because you want to try
and keep some continuity so the people learn from the people that are there.
But we'll cross that bridge and it's something the club have got to think
about. For the future, not just yet!

KUMB: Well I was once asked by one of those lads mags what I would do if I
were in charge at West Ham and I said 'clone Tony Carr'.

TC: Well I've got a son who's the spitting image of me, but he lives abroad
so he won't be doing it!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fulham 3 West Ham Utd 2
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 2nd May 2010
By: Staff Write

West Ham's dire season can't come to an end quick enough after United meekly
surrendered their 36-year unbeaten record at Craven Cottage. A defensive
horror show was one again the order of the day as the Hammers contrived to
gift the south west Londoners three goals within the space of 36 minutes.
Goal One - 45 minutes: Julien Faubert leaves his man, allowing a
clean-through Clint Dempsey to slot the ball beyound Rob Green. Goal Two -
58 minutes: A shot aiming for the corner flag hits Carlton Cole on the side
of the head and flies in. Goal Three - 79 minutes: Jon Spector criminally
loses the ball inside the centre circle, gifting a third. Zola's players,
once again way under par - no doubt a situation assisted by being told by
joint Chairman David Sullivan that they all (bar Scott Parker) face the chop
- still managed to strike twice in the second half to make a game of it;
Carlton Cole atoning for his own goal four minutes after scoring it and
substitute Franco adding another in the second minute of imjury time.
But all in all it was another lousy day on the road for Zola and his men,
who have failed to win away from home in the league since the opening day of
the league campaign - a record that is likely to cost the Italian his job.
With most of the Fulham side playing in third gear due to their impending
Europa Cup final appearance West Ham, unsurprisingly, controlled much of the
opening half. But the only goal of the opening 45 came from Dempsey, who
lost marker Julien Faubert before slipping the ball under Rob Green with
what proved to be the final kick of the half.
Prior to that United had squandered a string of chances to take the lead,
none more notably than Radoslav Kovac who nodded wide from the edge of the
six yard box when left unmarked at a corner - as did Matthew Upson earlier
in the half. Manuel Da Costa also went close with a fizzing 35-yard drive
that drew a fine save from Mark Schwarzer.
Carlton Cole was unlucky to be called offside when sent through on goal two
minutes ahead of the break, whilst Mark Noble forced a good save from the
'keeper with a drive from the edge of the box - although Fulham could have
been a goal ahead by that stage had Dempsey's 25th minute effort been an
inch lower; Rob Green, who watched the ball sail over his head drawing a
sign of relief as the American's effort clipped the bar before bouncing to
safety.

The second half was an all too familair story as the West Ham defence
leaked, creaked, and finally gave way just ahead of the hour mark - even if
it were in somewhat comedic circumstances. Chris Baird, picking up the loose
ball on the far left of West Ham's penalty area hit an attempted shot that
was missing its intended target by a country mile - that is, until Carlton
Cole's head sent it goalwards and flying beyond a rather surprised Rob
Green.

Cole, to his credit, made amends for his err almost immediately, converting
a lofted Mark Noble free kick from some ten yards with a cooly taken
glancing header to restore the single-goal deficit. However the Hammers
found themselves two behind once again when Jon Spector, the latest
scapegoat of a section of West Ham fans gave away the ball on the perimeter
of his own area whilst attempting a clearance. Erik Nevland sent the cross
towards Rob Green's back stick where Stefano Okaka was waiting, unmarked, to
prod the ball home.

Further respectability was placed on the final score when Guille Franco, on
as a second half sub finished a good move on the right in which
man-of-the-moment Scott Parker was heavily involved. The veteran striker,
almost certainly playing his last away game for United turned home the
midfielder's low cross from home range in the second minute of injury time.

The Mexican's subsequent lack of celebration, coupled with Carlton Cole's,
said more about team morale than anything else on a dour afternoon in the
capital.

Fulham 3 West Ham Utd 2: match facts

West Ham Utd: Green, Faubert (Diamanti 61), Da Costa, Upson, Spector, Noble,
Kovac, Parker, Behrami (Stanislas 82), Cole, Ilan (Franco 61).

Subs not used: Kurucz, Daprela, Gabbidon, Boa Morte.

Goals: Cole (62), Franco (90+2).

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Baird, Smalling, Konchesky, Riise, Greening,
Dikgacoi, Davies (Okaka 70), Dempsey (Elm 85), Nevland.

Subs not used: Zuhberbuhler, Kelly, Shorey, Etuhu, Gera.

Goals: Dempsey (45), Cole og (58), Okaka (79).

Referee: Andre Marriner.

Attendance: 24,201.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cottagers too much for Hammers
Hodgson's side up to 11th in Premier League
By Mike Barton Last updated: 2nd May 2010
SSN

Man of the Match: Clint Dempsey was always a threat for the home side. And
scored the opening goal.
Goal of the match: Dempsey's opener came from a slick batch of passing but
West Ham's defending has left a lot to be desired.
Moment of the match: Carlton Cole went from scoring an own goal at one end
to burying a header at the other in a topsy-turvy few minutes for the
England striker..
Talking points: Is this the last time Gianfranco Zola takes his team away
from home or will he stay at the club despite his entire squad practically
being up for sale? Can Fulham keep everyone fit and go into their Europa
League final on a good run of form?

Fulham finished their penultimate home game of the season with a 3-2 win
over West Ham in a game that spelled little consequences for either side.
Despite the scoreline giving the appearance of an exciting affair, the
game's goals came more as a result of seemingly lackadaisical defending in
what, for the most part, lacked any real competitive edge, with no player
picking up a booking for either team. With Fulham preparing for their first
ever European final in the Europa League against Atletico Madrid in Hamburg,
manager Roy Hodgson fielded a weakened side as he looked to keep his heroes
of Thursday night's win over Hamburg fresh. The opening stages of the game
however were a stale affair, with both sides knowing there were to be no
ramifications of winning or losing the game at any stage. Clint Dempsey gave
the home side the lead out of nothing at the end of a lacklustre first half
and an own goal by Carlton Cole put them 2-0 ahead shortly after the
restart. Gianfranco Zola's side managed to respond in the second period, but
they were made to pay for poor defending for the Fulham goals. Cole redeemed
himself when he headed West Ham back into the game, but substitute Stefano
Okaka put Fulham 3-1 in front from close range in the 79th minute. An
injury-time goal from Guillermo Franco was of little consolation to the
visitors.
Fulham, with their fans in full voice, began the game in bright fashion but
without striker Bobby Zamora their final ball left a lot to be desired.
Zoltan Gera, the hero of their Europa League semi-final triumph over
Hamburg, was on the bench and they clearly missed his trickery and incisive
passing in the early exchanges. West Ham, although effectively safe from
relegation, failed to offer anything in terms of attacking football.
Goalmouth incidents were at a premium in the opening 10 minutes although
Fulham's Erik Nevland and Dempsey posed a threat to the visitors. In the
21st minute Dempsey put Nevland in the clear but he did not have the pace to
reach the ball before the onrushing West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green.
Fulham's European success appeared to have sucked the life out of them
although the fans quite rightly made the most of it, chanting "There's only
one team in Europe".
Mark Schwarzer produced a fine save to prevent Mark Noble's 20-yard shot
from finding the net in the 23rd minute. Dempsey was just the width of the
woodwork away from opening the scoring in the 26th minute when his superb
turn and shot from 20 yards hit the bar. But it was an isolated moment of
magic in a poor game. West Ham's passing was disappointing and Fulham could
not get into their stride. In the 40th minute Manuel Da Costa forced
Schwarzer into another fine save when the West Ham full-back managed to get
some space 25 yards out. The Fulham defence continued to back off Da Costa
and he required no further invitation as he let fly from the angle of the
penalty area, but Schwarzer dived to his left to keep the ball from finding
the net.
Dempsey broke the deadlock when he collected a pass from Simon Davies in
stoppage-time and fired past Green. Fulham made it 2-0 in the 58th minute
when Cole put through his own goal. Chris Baird's shot was going well wide
of the target until it smashed off the shoulder of the West Ham striker and
into the net. But Cole redeemed himself in the 61st minute when he glanced
home a free-kick from Scott Parker to reduce the deficit. The England
striker cleverly managed to evade the home defence and gave Schwarzer no
chance with a deft header. Cole then tried his luck from 20 yards as West
Ham took the game to the home side for the first time in the afternoon, but
his low drive went straight into the arms of Schwarzer. Fulham, rattled by
West Ham's response to going two down, tried to rediscover their earlier
verve but the visitors now had the upper hand. Parker almost got on the end
of a knock down by Cole in the 68th minute but he was adjudged to have
handled as he moved in on goal. Fulham made it 3-1 in the 79th minute when
Jonathan Spector was caught in possession by Nevland and he crossed for
substitute Okaka to fire home from six yards. Franco scored an injury-time
consolation to make the score 3-2, smashing home from near the penalty spot
after Parker pulled the ball back.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola avoids future talk
Hammers boss prefers to focus on final fixture
By Mike Barton Last updated: 2nd May 2010
SSN

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has refused to talk about his future and the
potential of his entire team being up for sale. Zola, who was talking
following his team's 3-2 defeat at the hands of Fulham at Craven Cottage,
insisted that he was not going to be drawn into his future and instead focus
on the Hammers' final game of the season. With owner David Gold last week
announcing that the entire West Ham squad would be available at the right
price apart from midfielder Scott Parker, Zola's future has also come into
question over the past seven days after the team confirmed their status in
the Premier League. "We get on with it, I don't even want to talk about that
too much," said Zola when asked of his, and his players' futures. "A lot has
been said and we are professional and we do our best for this club. "Right
now I'm only willing to speak about the game, the rest doesn't matter. It's
important that we focus on the last game."
The Hammers have now not won away from home since the opening day in August
against Wolves at Molineux, and were always struggling to find answers
against a Fulham side buoyant after their recent exploits in the Europa
League. Zola however insisted that he was pleased with his team's first half
performance, but a poor spell in the second half was ultimately what cost
them the game after Carlton Cole's own goal put his team two goals down
following Clint Dempsey's opener on the stroke of half time. "I think in the
first half we probably were the better team," Zola added. "We had control of
the game and made a couple of chances. "After that we had an opportunity
when Carlton Cole went through and he was given offside when he wasn't, but
they came back and scored. "We did well in the first half but the first 15
minutes of the second half we were not good enough. "They got the second
goal and after that we started to play better and got one back."
It has been a testing season for the Italian manager and his team, with the
former Chelsea ace thankful the campaign is drawing to a close, despite him
wanting more effort from his players as they take on Manchester City at
Upton Park on Sunday. "It's been a long and exhausting season for us," he
said. "Today we tried to give our best and obviously it is just one of those
games where you would like to give more."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fulham finish amazing week on a high
Fulham 3 West Ham United 2
The Times
Russell Kempson

Fulham and West Ham United entered this meaningless Barclays Premier League
match, on a freezing day down by the riverside at Craven Cottage, with a
glow of self-satisfaction. For contrasting reasons. Fulham still buzzed from
their heroics in reaching the Europa League final, in which they play
Atlético Madrid on May 12, and West Ham from as good as having already
avoided relegation, albeit more because of the weaknesses of others than
their survival skills. "Of course, I enjoy the plaudits," Roy Hodgson, the
venerable Fulham manager, said. "Everyone prefers love to hatred, we all
enjoy praise. But you have to keep a level head, you have to keep your feet
on the ground and a sense of perspective." Perspective has been difficult
for Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham manager, as David Sullivan and David Gold,
the co-owners of the club, have appeared to niggle away at his authority
since they took over in January. Who know what lies ahead for the Italian?
Still, like Hodgson, Zola exudes dignity. "My future?" he said. "I have not
let it affect me. It has been like this since I have been at the club. But
we have achieved our task."
Just. Such had been West Ham's desperation, they complained to the Premier
League about Hodgson having made six changes to his side that played Hull
City in February, a game that Fulham lost 2-0. The pitiful objection was
thrown out. Hodgson was at it again yesterday, resting seven of those who
had conquered Hamburg 2-1 in the second leg of their Europa League
semi-final on Thursday. It was, after all, his team's 60th match of the
campaign.
Not that West Ham could take advantage. Fulham edged ahead through Clint
Dempsey and doubled their lead when Carlton Cole directed a drive by Chris
Baird into his own net. Two minutes later, Cole scored at the right end,
heading in a free kick by Mark Noble. Stefano Okaka restored the two-goal
margin, with Guillermo Franco reducing the gap near the end. "The players
did not lack commitment," Zola said. "It just didn't work, we just didn't
make it click." Same old West Ham.

Fulham (4-4-2): M Schwarzer 6 — J Paintsil 7, C Baird 5, C Smalling 5, P
Konchesky 6 — B H Riise 5, K Dikgacoi 6, J Greening 5, S Davies 5 (sub: S
Okaka, 70min 6) — E Nevland 6, C Dempsey 7 (sub: D Elm, 86). Substitutes not
used: P Zuberbühler, S Kelly, N Shorey, Z Gera, D Etuhu. Next: Stoke City
(h).

West Ham United (4-4-1-1): R Green 6 — J Faubert 5 (sub: A Diamanti, 61 4),
M Da Costa 4, M Upson 5, J Spector 4 — V Behrami 5 (sub: J Stanislas, 83), R
Kovac 4, S Parker 6, M Noble 7 — Ilan 4 (sub: G Franco, 61 5) — C Cole 5.
Substitutes not used: P Kurucz, D Gabbidon, L Boa Morte, F Daprela. Next:
Manchester City (h).

Referee: A Marriner. Attendance: 24,201.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ZOLA OUT AND BILIC IN AT UPTON PARK
Croatian is No1 Hammers target
News Of The World
By Greg Gobere & Neil Ashton, 01/05/2010

SLAVEN BILIC has been lined up for an emotional return to Upton Park as West
Ham's next manager. The Croatia chief is the club's No1 target to take over
from Gianfranco Zola in the summer. Furious Zola is set to quit after
launching an astonishing attack on joint owners David Gold and David
Sullivan. The Italian was incensed when he only found out in the newspapers
that the club had lodged a £4million bid for Scotland midfielder Graham
Dorrans - a player he had never even spoken about. This followed a Sullivan
interview in which he insisted that every member of the Hammers squad - bar
skipper Scott Parker - had been put up for sale. And Zola fumed: "I should
have a say in players coming in or going out. Of course I should. "I am the
one who has to coach the players and I need to know who I am coaching. "It
is incorrect to think I didn't want to be involved in player transfers. "I
did say to the chairman that I don't want to get involved in the financial
part of transfers because the money is not my problem. "But I want to know
if people are coming, I need to know who I'm dealing with. Jesus Christ, I
think that's normal."
Zola, 43, earns £1.9m a year and his current deal is not due to expire until
2013. But he is ready to go after next Sunday's final Premier League game
against Manchester City - once a severance package has been agreed. He
threatened to quit after Sullivan's website rant following the 3-1 home
defeat against Wolves in March, but was persuaded to stay on by the players
and the League Managers' Association. But he is livid that Gold and Sullivan
have underminded his position and disrespected his players - especially
after winning the race for Premier League survival. "Despite all of this,
the players are committed to the club and the supporters," he added.
"They've earned more respect than that - absolutely. "Considering the
circumstances, they have done a good job for us. "In life you have to
respect everyone, no matter who they are. I have to live that way."
And in another dig at Gold and Sullivan he added: "When I first came here
the project was completely different under Scott Duxbury and Gianluca Nani,
two people I'm very grateful to. "We had a good project that we tried to
take forward. Now the situation has changed. There are different plans and
different ideas that we will have to discuss.
"But I can't talk now about conditions for next season. "This is something
that has to come out when I speak to the owners at the end of this one.
"It's been tough. It's changed me and certainly made me stronger and in the
future I will deal with situations like this even better. "But my love for
the game is massive and that won't change. The fans have been very
supportive and the love from them is the best thing that as happened this
year."
Bilic was close to taking the job two years ago - before Zola was appointed
- but decided to stay with Croatia for their World Cup qualifying campaign.
The former West Ham defender has a first-class coaching reputation and
remains hugely popular with Hammers fans. Despite Gold and Sullivan's
prudent financial plans, they intend to make funds available to strengthen
the team and intend to make an approach to the Croatian FA when Zola's
future is resolved.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ROY HAS THE MIDAS TOUCH AS FULHAM SEAL DERBY
Fulham 3 West Ham 2
News Of The World
02/05/2010

EVERYTHING Roy Hodgson touches at the moment seems to turn to gold - and he
was at it again as Fulham beat West Ham at home for the first time in 44
years. The 62-year-old looks a shoo-in for Manager of the Year after taking
the Cottagers to the Europa League Final, and has even been rumoured as the
potential successor to Rafa Benitez at Liverpool should the Spaniard leave.
A goal just before half-time by Clint Dempsey was followed by a Carlton Cole
own goal and a Stefano Okaka strike in the second half, putting to bed any
fears of a European hangover. England hopeful Cole restored some pride not
only for himself but his side also with a header and Mexican striker
Guillermo Franco scored a late consolation for Gianfranco Zola's now-safe
side. The Hammers had, of course, all but secured their Premier League
status last week with their 3-2 victory over Wigan, and with Fulham's
exploits in Europe, the game seemed a dead rubber on paper. But the crowd of
24,201 were pleasantly surprised by a well-contested derby, despite
Hodgson's understandable decision to rest several key players. Dempsey
provided a warning of what was to come when his chipped effort clipped the
crossbar early on and it was a warning the Hammers failed to heed as the
American opened the scoring with a neat finish seconds before the interval.
It was 2-0 shortly after half-time when Chris Baird was afforded too much
time to way up a shot, which took a huge deflection off Cole to deceive
keeper Rob Green. The former Chelsea frontman soon made up for his mistake
by dispatching Mark Noble's free-kick minutes later, but it wasn't long
before the home side recaptured their two-goal advantage. Bjorn Helge Riise,
brother of Liverpool old-boy John Arne, crossed in for Roma loanee Okaka to
tap home to effectively end the contest. Zola can consider his side unlucky
with the amount of chances they created and perhaps it was only fair that
they scored again through Franco's close finish from Scott Parker's centre,
but once again, it was Roy's day.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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Daily WHUFC News - 1st May 2010

Fulham match preview
WHUFC.com
All the early team news and background for Sunday afternoon's derby trip
across London
30.04.2010

Fulham v West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
Craven Cottage
Sunday 2 May 2010
3pm
Referee: Andre Marriner

• West Ham United make the short journey to UEFA Europa League finalists
Fulham looking to make it three wins out of four games and continue the
strong end to the Barclays Premier League campaign. Fulham won through to
their first European final in front of the watching Gianfranco Zola on
Thursday.

• An away win - which would be the first since the opening day - would take
the Hammers to within six points of their hosts, who sit in 12th place and
can at best hope for a ninth-placed finish this campaign - equal to last
year's best-ever showing in the Barclays Premier League.

• West Ham United are looking to make it 13 Barclays Premier League matches
unbeaten against Fulham.

• The last time the Hammers lost to Fulham was a 3-0 home defeat in an FA
Cup fifth-round replay in February 2004.

• The Hammers have not lost at Craven Cottage in all competitions since a
League Cup tie in the 1974/75 season, the year West Ham beat Fulham 1-0 in
the FA Cup final - a run of nine matches unbeaten.

• After a turbulent season, Zola will be targeting a 14th-place finish at
best to go with the ninth place achieved in his first campaign.

• Zola's side crucially moved six points clear of the drop zone with last
weekend's 3-2 home win against Wigan Athletic, meaning Hull City can only
catch them with a huge goal difference swing of 23 in their favour -
provided they win two from two and the Hammers do not pick up another point.

• Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is being tipped to win the coach of the year
award. The 62-year-old began his coaching career in 1976 with Swedish side
Halmstads, eight years before Zola, 43, made his playing debut with USD
Nuorese Calcio in his native Sardinia.

• Fulham's last home league victory over West Ham was 44 years ago, a 4-2
victory at Craven Cottage just three months after a Bobby Moore-inspired
England won the FIFA World Cup in 1966.

• The last meeting at Craven Cottage was Zola's first away league game in
charge of the Hammers on 27 September 2009. Two goals from Carlton Cole and
Matthew Etherington just before half-time put the Hammers in the driving
seat before Danny Murphy made for a nervy finish with a second-half penalty.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Paintsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Gera, Murphy,
Bullard, Davies, Andrew Johnson (sent off 45), Zamora
Subs not used: Zuberbuhler, Seol, Nevland, Dempsey, Andreasen, Kallio, Baird
Goal: Murphy 59 pen

West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Neill, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker (Boa
Morte 89), Noble, Etherington (Mullins 80), Cole, Di Michele (Bellamy 74)
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Davenport, Sears
Goals: Cole 43, Etherington 45

Last time out

Saturday 24 April 2010
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 3-2 Wigan Athletic
West Ham United: Green, Upson, Spector, Da Costa, Parker, Kovac, Noble
(Daprela 89), Behrami, Faubert, Cole, Ilan (Franco 71)
Subs not used: Kurucz, Gabbidon, Diamanti, Stanislas, McCarthy
Goals: Ilan 31, Kovac 45, Parker 77

Thursday 29 April 2010
UEFA Europa League
Fulham 2-1 Hamburger SV
Fulham: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Hangeland, Paintsil (Nevland 75), Hughes,
Etuhu, Duff, Murphy, Gera, Davies, Zamora (Dempsey 58)
Subs not used: Zuberbuhler, Greening, Riise, Dikgacoi, Smalling
Goals: Davies 69, Gera 76

Last meeting

The teams last met on Sunday 4 October 2009, when a last-gasp equaliser from
Junior Stanislas earned the Hammers a 2-2 draw, having seen Carlton Cole put
them in front in the 16th minute.

West Ham: Green, Upson, Ilunga, Tomkins, Parker (Behrami 71), Noble,
Jimenez, Faubert, Cole, Diamanti, Hines (Stanislas 72)
Subs not used: Kurucz, Spector, Da Costa, Payne, Nouble
Goals: Cole 16, Stanislas 90

Fulham: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Hangeland, Paintsil, Hughes, Murphy, Gera,
Dempsey (Riise 84), Dikgacoi (sent off 41), Kamara (Eddie Johnson 82),
Andrew Johnson (Baird, 45 )
Subs not used: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Greening,
Goals: Murphy 47 pen, Gera 57

Head to head (last six meetings, league unless stated)

4 October 2009 - West Ham United 2-2 Fulham
18 January 2009 - West Ham United 3-1 Fulham
27 September 2008 - Fulham 1-2 West Ham United
23 February 2008 - Fulham 0-1 West Ham United
12 January 2008 - West Ham United 2-1 Fulham
13 January 2007 - West Ham United 3-3 Fulham

Overall record v Fulham (all competitions) W 36, D 19, L 27

Next up

• West Ham United will welcome Manchester City on the final day of the
top-flight season next Sunday when Fulham travel to Arsenal. However,
Hodgson's men also have to play at home against Stoke City this coming
Wednesday. The 2009/10 UEFA Europa League final against Atletico Madrid will
take place in Hamburg on 12 May.

Referee

• Sunday's referee is Andre Marriner.

• He was the man in the middle for the Barclays Asia Trophy defeat by
Tottenham Hotspur in Beijing on 29 July.

• He also took charge of the 3-2 defeat by Liverpool on 19 September, the
2-2 draw with Sunderland on 31 October, when Radoslav Kovac and Kenwyne
Jones were both sent off, and the 3-1 defeat by Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday
15 December. He then refereed the Hammers in the 1-1 draw at Portsmouth on
26 January and the 1-0 home defeat by Stoke City on 26 March.

• In six Marriner-officiated matches this season, including that summer date
with Spurs, the Hammers have yet to win.

• He has taken charge of four Fulham matches this campaign. They include
home and away defeats by Chelsea, a 2-0 home win against Hull City and a
goalless draw away to Liverpool. That 0-0 at Anfield was the most recent,
coming on 11 April.

• Marriner began refereeing in 1992. The official joined the Select Group of
officials in 2005 and is now on the list of FIFA international referees.

West Ham United

• Alessandro Diamanti will be celebrating his 27th birthday on Sunday.

• Carlton Cole, with nine goals to date this campaign, has still never
scored two goals in a game for West Ham.

• Robert Green is on a run of 124 consecutive starts in the Barclays Premier
League.

• Alessandro Diamanti's eight goals in all competitions put him just one
behind top scorer Carlton Cole.

• In terms of attacking ambition, Diamanti leads the Hammers statistics in
terms of shots (81), shots on target (44), shots off target (37) and assists
(4).

• Valon Behrami has gone 38 fouls without a yellow card, the most in the
Barclays Premier League.

• West Ham have scored 44 goals this season in the league with 15 different
players on target. Carlton Cole leads the way (nine), with Alessandro
Diamanti (seven), Guille Franco and Ilan (four), Matthew Upson (three) next
in line. Jack Collison, Mark Noble, Junior Stanislas, Manuel da Costa,
Radoslav Kovac and Scott Parker have each scored twice. Finally, the
departed Luis Jimenez, Zavon Hines, Valon Behrami and Julien Faubert have
also registered. An own-goal from Everton's Tony Hibbert completes the
tally.

• No team has been awarded more penalties than West Ham in the top flight
this season, with nine awarded to the Hammers and seven converted.

Fulham

• No Fulham player has featured in every one of their 35 league games this
season, Mark Schwarzer has played in all but one.

• Former Hammers striker Bobby Zamora has scored eight times in the Barclays
Premier League this season to be the club's top scorer, and has another
eleven in cup competitions.

• Zamora also leads his team with assists (six) while Clint Dempsey actually
has had more shots than any other player in the team with 86.

• Fulham have only lost at home in the league to four teams this season -
Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa.

Team news

• Luis Boa Morte, after missing the whole season to date with an anterior
cruciate ligament injury suffered on 24 July, is back in contention for a
place in the midfield. Boa Morte has now got three reserve-team appearances
under his belt.

• James Tomkins is also fit again after a foot injury and will join Danny
Gabbidon in trying to get past Manuel da Costa and into the team alongside
Matt Upson.

• Ilan has shaken off the knock that forced his substitution against Wigan a
week ago. Benni McCarthy also played 45 minutes for the reserves in midweek.

• Herita Ilunga (tendon injury) and Kieron Dyer (hamstring) are both unable
to return to the squad. It remains to be seen if they will figure again this
season.

• Zavon Hines will not play again this season with a knee injury, while Jack
Collison will also not feature any more this campaign with his own knee
problem.

• Fulham could make a number of changes with Zamora unlikely to be risked
after feeling an achilles injury again in the midweek European tie that
forced him off. Clint Dempsey, Chris Baird, Nicky Shorey, Stefano Okaka and
Manchester United-bound Chris Smalling could all come into the starting
lineup.

• Andy Johnson, sent off in this fixture last year, is out with a knee
injury.

Old boys

• Luis Boa Morte made 250 appearances for Fulham in all competitions between
July 2000 and January 2007, scoring 54 goals. Boa Morte scored 18 goals as
the Cottagers secured promotion to the Premier League in 2000/01. He was
voted the club's player of the season in 2004/05.

• Three Fulham players could turn out against their former club this
afternoon. Striker Bobby Zamora scored 40 goals in 152 league and cup
appearances for West Ham United between February 2004 and July 2008.
Full-back John Pantsil played 24 matches for the Hammers between August 2006
and July 2008. Left-back Paul Konchesky made 70 appearances for West Ham
between July 2005 and July 2007, scoring one of only two goals for the club
in the 2006 FA Cup final.

• Bobby Moore MBE played for both West Ham United and Fulham during his
glittering career. Moore made 544 appearances for the Hammers before moving
to Craven Cottage for £25,000 in 1974. England's World Cup-winning captain
remained at Fulham for three years, making a further 124 appearances and
facing his former side in the 1975 FA Cup final, which West Ham won 2-0.

• Among the other players who have represented both sides are Jan Lastuvka,
Jimmy Bullard, Ian Pearce, Rufus Brevett, George Carter, Brian Dear, Tony
Gale, Ron Greenwood, Jon Harley, Fred Harrison, Jack Hebden and George
Horler.

General information

• For ticket information, click here. For details on getting to Craven
Cottage, click here

• Sunday's weather forecast is for heavy rain with temperatures around the
11C mark.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola aims for big finish
WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola wants his players to finish the Barclays Premier League
season with two victories
30.04.2010

Gianfranco Zola is thinking only of going for two wins out of two starting
with a win at Fulham on Sunday in order to finish an eventful Barclays
Premier League season on a high.
The West Ham United manager was delighted to see safety all but secured with
last weekend's 3-2 defeat of Wigan Athletic but will not be celebrating just
yet. Similarly no discussions will take place about plans for next season
until after the 9 May home fixture with Manchester City. "Everybody is much
more relieved. I knew that we were going to stay up. I knew it would have
been difficult because of all the things going on. I was 100 per cent
convinced that this club would stay up. I never had a doubt about that.
"Despite everything, the players, the staff and the supporters have stayed
close and we thought very hard. We fought also against the difficulties that
were around us. So that is the very good thing about it. That is really what
makes a big difference. "We have been through many things. Everybody was
expecting us to do more but, considering all the situations, at the end of
the day when I look at my players I will say 'Well done'. It wasn't easy.
There were a lot of things not working very well. Despite that we stuck
together and we fought all together." "One thing is to be relaxed. Another
thing is to be sloppy. We are more relaxed because we can play and we can
train. Now we are training with a little more freedom but still working
hard. "We have 34 points and we have the possibility to pass other teams
that are in front of us and teams that they have been saying have done such
a good job. When they speak a bout West Ham they say it has been a terrible
year."There are teams a point in front of us and they say it has been a
terrific year. We will see. Maybe if we pass them they will be talking
differently."
He also found time to praise his opposite number on Sunday, with Roy Hodgson
having just steered Fulham to the UEFA Europa League final next month. Zola
was at Craven Cottage on Thursday night to see them win through with a 2-1
defeat of Hamburger SV. "He has done a brilliant job. I watched them and
they were really good considering the team he has got. Roy has done very
well. I was really impressed. Personally I voted for him to be manager of
the year. "I am not an envious person. I appreciate and I admire what he has
done because he has achieved a big result with his team. I just respect what
he has done and I will tell him Sunday when I see him. "Fulham have been
working hard, they have a good manager. They have had a very good
atmosphere. All of these things create a perfect recipe to have success."
Fulham may well rest players after their midweek exertions, while Zola could
have the fit-again James Tomkins and Luis Boa Morte back in contention. He
agreed with the view that it may not be a bid time to be making the short
journey from east to west London. "It is maybe a good time to play them.
"They have just won a very important game and hopefully on Sunday they will
rest players. At the same time we will be playing with a little more
freedom. We are not tense like we were before so it is a perfect time to
play this game. "You can put this season in different ways. We have been
struggling as much as the teams below us. We have been lucky and we have
been good to fight against the end and never give up. "Before we played
Everton, not many people had the opinion that we could have done what we
have done. It is a matter of opinion. Considering all that has been going
on, this team has done to still be Premier League."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
MK date for Hammers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will travel to MK Dons for a pre-season friendly on
Wednesday 28 July
30.04.2010

West Ham United are happy to announce the first of their pre-season
friendlies ahead of the 2010/11 season. With Barclays Premier League status
all but assured barring a mathematical miracle, the club is already making
plans for the new campaign. With that in mind, the Hammers will make the
short trip up the M1 to take on League One outfit MK Dons on Wednesday 28
July, with kick-off at 7.30pm. The Dons are currently managed by former West
Ham midfielder Paul Ince, but the Academy graduate has already announced
that he will be leaving stadium:mk at the end of the season. This summer's
meeting will constitute the club's second trip to the Buckinghamshire new
town, having gone down to a 3-2 defeat in July 2007. The match saw Freddie
Ljungberg make his debut for the Hammers, while Hogan Ephraim and Matthew
Upson scored the visitors' goals.
Tickets for the 28 July fixture will be priced at £10 for adults, £6 for
OAPS and disabled supporters (with the career admitted free of charge), £1
for Under-16s, with Under-7s being admitted for free. The club will announce
a number of other pre-season fixtures over the next few weeks. Keep a close
eye on whufc.com for updates.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Junior hoping for Fulham call
WHUFC.com
Junior Stanislas is itching to be involved in Sunday's Barclays Premier
League fixture at Fulham
30.04.2010

Junior Stanislas is hoping to be given the chance to turn in a second
match-winning performance against Fulham in the space of five days. The
England Under-21 midfielder was in scintillating form in Tuesday's 3-2
Barclays Premier Reserve League over the Cottagers at the Boleyn Ground,
scoring one fine goal and coming close to scoring at least two more. That
performance was witnessed by manager Gianfranco Zola and first-team coach
Steve Clarke, and Stanislas is hopeful his display will earn him a start in
Sunday's Barclays Premier League date with the UEFA Europa League finalists
at Craven Cottage. The 20-year-old also insisted that he and his team-mates
are determined to finish a largely disappointing campaign on a high note by
securing what would be just the second away win of 2009/10. "I'm hoping to
play, but obviously you have to be performing on a daily basis in training.
Reserve games, it obviously helps if you can play well, so hopefully I'll
get a chance. "It's obviously been lively at Chadwell Heath, but even if
we'd lost on Saturday, as it was when we've lost previously, we've been down
on the day but always been normal and tried to improve immediately. It's
been upbeat this week, but we've never let our heads drop. "We know we're a
lot better than being just outside the relegation zone. We should be in the
top half of the table. Hopefully, next year will be a lot better. "I don't
think you ever switch off and go out on your summer break and forget about
everything. You're always trying to better yourself and the team, so
hopefully next year we'll be better."
One player who has stood tall throughout the season is England midfielder
Scott Parker, and Stanislas was quick to praise the massive influence of the
Hammers No8. "The man is an unbelievable player. He's obviously got bags of
ability, his energy, his drive and his determination get the other lads
really on it. He's good to have around. "You definitely need to up your game
[when you're on the pitch with him] because he's a massive character, a
massive player and a massive part of the team. If you see him diving around
making challenges and working hard, then you want to do the same as well.
"He just does that naturally and expects everyone else to do the same - it's
just normal."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Parker the April ace
WHUFC.com
Guess who? Scott Parker was the star man according to whufc.com users in the
past four weeks
30.04.2010

Scott Parker has once again taken the accolade for SBOBET Player of the
Month - despite playing just twice in April. The midfield maestro was
impressive away to Everton at the start of the month, when the Hammers
battled back to earn a 2-2 draw. He was then even better when at the heart
of the team in the 3-2 win against Wigan Athletic last Saturday. He was
suspended for the matches against Liverpool and Sunderland. Parker has now
won the coveted prize, voted by whufc.com users, on four separate occasions
this season - with the three previous occasions being November, December and
March. The other winners this season have been Julien Faubert, Zavon Hines,
Carlton Cole, James Tomkins and Alessandro Diamanti.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Zola 'surprised' by Dorrans bid
BBC.co.uk

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has revealed he was not told the club had
made a bid for West Bromwich Albion midfielder Graham Dorrans. The Hammers
had a £4m offer for Dorrans rejected on Tuesday and co-owner David Gold said
they may try a second bid. But Zola, whose future at Upton Park appears
uncertain, admitted: "Dorrans is a good player but I didn't know the club
was interested in him. "I just found out in the newspaper and it was quite a
surprise."
Zola added: "I don't know what I would have done if he had been signed. It
is not a nice situation. "And if I was Mark Noble or Robert Green or Valon
Behrami I wouldn't be very pleased to hear that (I had been put up for
sale). I didn't know. "I have been surprised so many times this year - so I
am not surprised that I am surprised."
However, Gold insisted Zola was involved in the decision to make a move for
the Scotland midfielder. "Everyone was involved in the decision making.
Nobody is precluded from it," said the 73-year-old. "A second bid is
possible. He is one of the players we are looking at. "We'll have to wait
and see what happens on that. The player is a favourite of mine. "He is a
young British player who we like but having said that, sometimes deals don't
work out and you have to move on."
West Ham are planning a summer of rebuilding with Gold promising to "push
the boat out" on "quality" players. Co-owner David Sullivan said on Tuesday
that West Ham would consider offers for all their players apart from captain
Scott Parker - something Zola also claimed he was not made aware of. "If I
was Mark Noble or Rob Green or Valon Behrami I wouldn't be very pleased to
listen to that," said the Italian. "I didn't know that it was something like
this but it's ok. We have been through so many things we are going to get
through this as well."
Gold said on Thursday Sullivan's comments had been misinterpreted and
assured worried fans he wanted the Hammers' best players to stay at the
club. After struggling to avoid relegation this season Zola's position at
West Ham has been questioned. The Hammers effectively secured their Premier
League safety on Saturday with a 3-2 victory over Wigan but several
managers, including Martin Jol, Steve McClaren and Mark Hughes, have been
linked with Zola's job.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fulham v West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Sunday, 2 May 2010 Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, local radio & highlights on
Match of the Day 2

TEAM NEWS
Fulham are unlikely to risk top scorer Bobby Zamora after he required a
pain-killing injury to play against Hamburg. Roy Hodgson will again rotate
his squad with Clint Dempsey, Chris Baird, Nicky Shorey and Stefano Okaka
all expected to start for the west London side.

West Ham could be boosted by the return of James Tomkins and Fulham old boy
Luis Boa Morte after long spells out. The Hammers are still without several
players, with Kieron Dyer among those who will miss the rest of the season.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

Fulham

Doubtful: Zamora (Achilles)
Injured: A Johnson (knee)

West Ham

Doubtful: Boa Morte (fitness)
Injured: Collison & Hines (both knee), Dyer (hamstring), Ilunga (calf)

MATCH PREVIEW
Thirty five years ago almost to the day these two London clubs were doing
battle in the FA Cup final. Now it's a first European final that has Fulham
fans licking their lips after a sensational 14-match run in the inaugural
Europa League.

It's been a wonderful journey that I'm really proud of. The team have
produced better football than we're entitled to ask of them

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
Having disposed of Hamburg at the semi-final stage, Fulham return to the
German city on 12 May for a showdown against Atletico Madrid, conquerors of
Liverpool. Roy Hodgson's side were the first English side to enter European
competition this season, and 10 months on they are now the country's last
hope of European glory.

Officially, visitors West Ham still require a point to be mathematically
certain of a place in next season's Premier League, something Gianfranco
Zola will be keen for his players to achieve against a weakened Fulham side.

All somewhat ironic considering the Hammers officially complained to the
Premier League over Fulham's team selection for their trip to Hull in March.

West Ham co-owner David Gold said at the time that Fulham had put out "their
ladies team", comments he now admits were uttered in "haste and passion".

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

• West Ham are unbeaten in 12 Premier League matches against Fulham, and are
yet to lose at Craven Cottage since the west London side returned to the top
flight in 2001.

• Fulham's last home league victory over West Ham was 44 years ago, a 4-2
victory at Craven Cottage just three months after England won the World Cup
in 1966.

• West Ham needed a last-minute Junior Stanislas equaliser earlier this
season at Upton Park to rescue a point in a 2-2 draw. Carlton Cole had
initially fired them ahead.

• Roy Hodgson's men have won just one of their last eight league matches.

• Fulham have scored just 10 goals in their last 15 league games. They have
failed to score in nine of those games.

• Only Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa have left Craven
Cottage with all three points so far this season.

• Fulham have gone 11 London derbies without victory, since a 2-1 win at
home to Tottenham in November 2008.

West Ham

• The Hammers are without an away win since the opening day of the season,
when they were 2-1 winners at Wolves.

• It's two wins in their last three matches for West Ham but on their
travels it's a different story, losing four of their last five games.

• Gianfranco Zola's side have conceded 62 goals this campaign, the most they
have let in during a Premier League season.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Fulham

Zamora: 19 goals (8 league); Duff: 9 goals (6 league)

West Ham

Cole: 9 goals (9 league); Diamanti: 8 goals (7 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Andre Marriner

Assistant referees: Ceri Richards & Adam Watts

Fourth official: Lee Probert

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Fulham (L1-2 v Everton, a): Schwarzer, Pantsil, Smalling, Baird, Shorey,
Dempsey, Dikgacoi, Greening, Riise, Okaka (Stoor 89), Nevland (Elm 78). Subs
Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Kelly, Teymourian, Briggs, Buchtmann.

West Ham (W3-2 v Wigan, h): Green, Faubert, da Costa, Upson, Spector,
Behrami, Parker, Kovac, Noble (Daprela 90), Ilan (Franco 71), Cole. Subs Not
Used: Kurucz, Gabbidon, McCarthy, Diamanti, Stanislas.

MOST RECENT MEETING

West Ham 2-2 Fulham (4 October 2009)

Fulham scorers: Murphy pen 47, Gera 57

West Ham scorers: Cole 16, Stanislas 90+2

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The KUMB.com Q&A: Tony Carr
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th April 2010
By: Staff Writer

Earlier this week KUMB.com sat down with the man dubbed 'Mr West Ham' for a
chat ahead of next week's testimonial match.

Tony Carr has been on the books at West Ham United since signing an
apprenticeship in the late 1960s as a player, although it is for his
considerable work behind the scenes that he is better known.

Since being appointed as part-time youth coach in 1973, Carr has mentored
scores of young players who went on to enjoy careers as professional
footballers - and none more notable than those who will lead England's bid
for the World Cup in South Africa this summer.

Of Fabio Capello's preferred line-up, Carr's products include Glen Johnson,
John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, Jermain Defoe
(and possibly Joe Cole) - a staggering array of talent that is worth around
£175million in today's transfer market.

As for his contribution to West Ham, the sale of Carr products - Joe Cole
and Glen Johnson - to Chelsea in 2003 is credited as the reason the club
were able to avoid administration during that difficult summer. Three years
earlier Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard raised a record-breaking £31million
when sold to Leeds and Chelsea respectively within the space of six months.

Meanwhile Carr continues to provide fresh blood to the first team; Zavon
Hines, Jack Collison, Fabio Daprela, Jordan Spence, Bondz N'Gala, James
Tomkins, Josh Payne, Junior Stanislas, Freddie Sears and Frank Nouble have
all tasted first team experience this season alone.

In our exclusive interview, part one of which you can read here, Tony talks
about:

* How his playing career was destroyed by a broken leg
* How he was offered a lifeline by John Lyall
* Working under nine of West Ham's twelve managers - and his favourites
* Harry Redknapp's influence on the youth recruitment programme
* The Billy Bonds/Harry Redknapp fall-out
* John Lyall's departure
* Lou Macari's arrival - and swift departure
* Applying to become first team manager - and being turned down
* Turning down job offers from elsewhere
* His eventual retirement
* His favourite players - and those he most regrets releasing
* Why he's anti-season long loans
* Life under the new owners

On Wednesday, 5th May, Carr's considerable contribution is being recognised
with a testimonial, sponsored by Ricoh Altodigital, at which many of those
players whose careers started with him at Chadwell Heath, home of the
world-famous Academy, will feature.

In addition to players such as Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole
other luminary figures in West Ham's history - such as Paolo Di Canio, who
is set to make his much anticipated return in claret and blue - will appear
(those unable to play for various reasons are set to be presented to the
crowd at half time).

Tickets for the game are available by visiting the West Ham United online
box office or by calling the Boleyn Ground ticket office on 0871 222 2700.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tony Carr: Part One
Filed: Friday, 30th April 2010
By: Staff Writer
KUMB.com

Tony Carr is having a hectic day at Chadwell Heath, the home of the
world-famous West Ham United Academy.

With less than a week to go before his much-deserved - and much delayed -
testimonial at the Boleyn Ground the club's Youth Academy Director is busy
organising interviews (like this one), TV slots and undergoing various other
tasks like arranging insurance for those players due to feature on Wednesday
night. No mean feat when you're expecting players worth in the hundreds of
millions to appear.

Despite all this, the man dubbed 'Mr. West Ham' still managed to squeeze
KUMB.com in for what proved to me one of the most open, revealing and
complete interviews that Tony has ever given. The interview, split into
three parts will be published over the course of the next few days; firing
the questions on behalf of KUMB.com and its readers were Gordon Thrower and
Graeme Howlett.

KUMB.com: Tony - who were your idols as a boy?

Tony Carr: When I first started supporting West Ham - because that was
always my team - my family lived on a big council estate where everybody was
West Ham. Well, a couple of Arsenal but mostly West Ham. The first team I
can ever remember supporting was like John Dick, Mike Bryce, Muzzy (Malcolm
Musgrove] that era...

KUMB: So we're talking late 50s?

TC: Yeah, when I was a youngster. On a Saturday you used to get the old
football paper and my granddad was one of the sellers outside the ground, he
used to sell the football papers. So on a Saturday night, he always used to
bring the football paper home. I didn't go to games when I was very young
but when I started going they were the players when I was there.

KUMB: Who did you go with back then?

TC: I used to go with my brother; my dad followed football but never used to
go to the games. So I used to go with friends and when I was 11-years-old I
started to go regularly myself; this was around the start of the 1960s. Then
there was young Bobby [Moore] coming through, I can remember him making his
debut, I believe - Wolves I think? Your usual idols, Johnny Dick, David
Dunmore, Mike Grice - they were the first team I knew.

KUMB: So when did you start playing yourself?

TC: Well we always played together as kids in the street and in our
playground - we used to have a little playground on our estate where we
played football, or we used to go over Viccy [Victoria] Park on a Sunday and
play, just put coats down and have a little match - get a dozen kids and go
and have a match. You taught yourself the game really.

There was a little green where we always used to play football and the old
caretaker always used to kick us off, so we used to wait for him to go
around the corner and then go back on the green again! Typical kids. But
that's how I learnt the game really, I didn't start playing in a team until
I went to secondary school which was St Paul's Way school in Bow. Then I
started playing for Senrab, I got picked up by them.

KUMB: This must have been when they just started?

TC: Yeah, they'd just started. Then West Ham asked me to go training, I was
13. I'd also started playing for East London schools under 14s and they said
'come down training'. I played up front and scored a few goals for East
London and got invited to Tuesday and Thursday evening training over at
Upton Park in the winter and over here [Chadwell Heath] in the summer for a
couple of months.

KUMB: Who was running the kids then, Tony?

TC: Well the guy who was doing it part time in the evenings was John Lyall,
I think he was part-time then but he'd already started. I don't remember
anyone else; Bill Landsdown did the seniors but I don't seem to remember too
many others. Jimmy Barrett used to do a little bit as well.

KUMB: So this was pretty much right after John had given up playing?

TC: Yeah, just after - that was 63/64 when he hurt his knee; I remember the
date because of the FA Cup win. I started training around the same time and
used to do a little bit of coaching so it was obviously just after he packed
up playing. I didn't realise that at the time, I didn't know the history.

KUMB: So this is when the bond between you and John formed?

TC: Yeah, John had known me from a schoolboy. Then I had a very good year in
my last year at school, we won the English schools trophy for East London
and West Ham wanted to sign me as an apprentice. Obviously it was a
no-brainer, so I signed.

KUMB: Can you remember what they were paying you at the time?

TC: Yeah, it was £6 a week. I can remember being a little bit disappointed
because I thought 'footballers earn more than that a week, don't they?' -
forgetting that I'd got to do an apprenticeship first! So that's how it
started, I had my time there, signed professional in 68/69 and then had a
couple of years playing in the youth team and reserves and then not really
being able to get any better. Looking back now I probably wasn't good enough
to go much further.

KUMB: You've been quite honest about that in the past, in previous
interviews you've said that you weren't quite up to standard?

TC: No, I didn't think I was. There was Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters and
you thought... And then they brought Clyde Best in and Clyde went more or
less straight into the team. And I thought 'well, I'm not going to get in,
I'm not ever going to get a chance'.

KUMB: Do you think it was a genuine case of you weren't actually good enough
- or was it a case of you might be good enough but didn't think you were in
that company?

TC: Yeah, I think it might have been a little bit of that. And when you're
that age - certainly myself, not sure of yourself, not with the brash
confidence you might need to push your way into the team, I didn't really
have that at that time. So I went to Barnet and played for Barnet for a year
and then got a job coaching in the schools. The beauty of that was while we
were here [West Ham] as apprentices Ron Greenwood encouraged us to do our
coaching badges which I did. I quite enjoyed it and I took to it, I felt
quite comfortable in that role.

I used to do a little bit in the schools in the afternoon so when I got a
free transfer I got a couple of offers from abroad - one from South Africa,
one from Australia - I had a chance to go to the North East with Hartlepool
but again, being a bit of a homely kid I didn't have the confidence to go up
there - especially in those days when you didn't have the transport links
you have today, you didn't travel the country to that great length whereas
now you travel the world. So I chose to go part time with Barnet which
looking back, was the wrong thing I did.

They'd just sold a centre forward called Billy Meadows, he'd played for
Hereford against Mooro and roughed Mooro up. He was like rough and tumble,
all action, smash people around - and I wasn't physically built for that, I
was quite quick, I liked the ball in behind. I was more a
runner-off-the-ball really. I didn't really settle there and it didn't work
out well for me.

KUMB: How did that come about? Did you know someone at Barnet?

TC: No, not really - it was just the fact that there weren't a great many
offers coming in and Barnet came in and said 'we've seen you playing in the
reserves and we need a centre forward, we've lost Billy Meadows and we think
you could fill the role'. They made me feel wanted and I thought 'well I've
got nothing to lose, let's go for it'. I then got a job working in schools,
coaching football.

Barnet gave me part time what I was earning at West Ham anyway - when I left
West Ham I was earning £14 a week and they gave me £14 a week plus £5
appearance money if I was in the first team. Then I got the job in the
schools so I was earning twice the amount of money I would have done if I'd
stayed at West Ham. I can remember coming back and talking to some of the
lads, they asked how much I was earning and they said 'you're earning more
than us!' - and they're still playing for West Ham! Barnet was part time and
the schools full time.

Anyway, it didn't work out very well and I spent the summer again trying to
get a club. I went for trials at a couple of clubs that didn't work out,
then a mate of mine who ran Leyton said to me 'do you fancy a game for us?'
so I had a couple of games for him - and I broke my leg. That was the last
thing [I needed] - I was non-contract so had no fallback, no insurance or
anything. I still had the job in the schools fortunately so I had an income,
but I didn't know what to do.

The leg took a long time to heal, it was a quite straightforward broken
tibia but it just wouldn't knit. They kept putting it back in plaster and it
took the best part of all the next season [to heal] really, so I was without
a club. Then I got a phone call out of the blue from John Lyall and he said
'I've heard you've been injured and you're struggling, we've got a vacancy
for a part time coach as Johnny Dick's just left', who was a legend at West
Ham.

The part time position was with the schoolboys that came in on Tuesday and
Thursday evenings. He said 'the role's Tuesday and Thursday nights and take
a team on Saturday. The only proviso is that we're going to run a team on
Sunday under the guise of Poplar Boys Club because we've got two young
players that we really fancy and we want them to play in a team'. He said
'that's Alan Curbishley and Paul Brush. Could you run that team as well?'

So I said 'yeah, I'll do that'. He said 'if you don't take to it or want to
go back into the game at least you'll get fit and we'll try and help you'.
Well that was in 1973, and I've been here ever since.

KUMB: You were only 23 at the time...

TC: I started young, but fortunately I'd done all my coaching badges and was
an A Licensed coach, or Full Badge as they called it. I was one of the
youngest guys to get it at that point. So that set me in good stead and I
had a season or two here and thought 'I like this', I really enjoyed it - so
I just stuck with it. I missed playing but I kept saying to myself 'Tony,
you'd never have been good enough to play at the top so try and make a
career out of this'. I had one voice saying 'you should be playing' and
another voice saying 'well look, you've got a gift for coaching - do it.
That's a career.'

KUMB: It must have been tough because you had talent, whether you say you
were good enough or not?

TC: Well lots of kids fall by the wayside, we know only the best 2-5% go all
the way and make a good career out of it so I've got no complaints, it was a
fantastic experience at a golden era for the club. Training out here with
the likes of Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst and sort of saying that you knew
them is something quite magical, I must admit. I feel quite proud to be able
to say it today that I was in their company.

To be fair, in the long term it's worked out ok for me. I've had a career 37
years long in the professional game working for a club I love and as you
know as diehard West Ham fans we've definitely had our ups and downs, it's
not been an easy ride has it! Least of all this season.

KUMB: Is it nine managers you've worked under from Ron downwards?

TC: We've had 12 in our existence and I think I've worked for nine of them,
which is quite unique really!

KUMB: At what point did you start to get involved with the administration,
the selection of players? Presumably you came in just coaching.

TC: Yes, obviously I wasn't in charge at that point and the system we had
when I was first here [differed]. Wally St Pier was still here because he
didn't have his testimonial until 1975 after the Fulham FA Cup win. The
system was quite antiquated at that time. Ronnie wasn't involved in players
coming in, Wally St Pier and Wilf Chitty, they did that. To be fair we were
getting trumped a little bit by a lot of the bigger clubs because they'd
developed their system. They were becoming a bit more organised than we
were, and I have to say that, at this point.

Wally? He couldn't drive a car, went everywhere on the bus or train, he
would rely on people giving him a lift - so how's he going to get to
matches? 'You've got to get over to so and so' ... 'How am I going to get
there mate?' - that was his favourite! So Wally retired and I think the
club... I was only part time; I was coming in, doing my bit then going home.
Then Eddie Bailey came in as Chief Representative - that was his official
title as it was Wally St Pier's title - Chief Representative. But that meant
he was scouting for the first team, senior players and youth.

When I got the job full time in 1980 after Wally had been retired a few
years and Eddie had been in charge I had a good first year and we won the FA
Youth Cup. You know, when Paul Allen won an FA Cup medal before winning an
FA Youth Cup medal which is quite unique and I don't think has ever happened
since! So I started to have more of a voice, because I was here every day
and I was full time I could start to have an opinion and give an opinion.

I said to John [Lyall] one day 'I think we need a scout purely for youth
because Eddie's working for you, he's working for us and there's a
compromise there. The game's developing and we need to get our scouts out in
the field and be more aggressive'. Well Eddie and John took a little bit of
umbrage to that, that I'd spoken out, so Eddie said, 'right, we better have
a meeting' in Eddie's poshest Cockney! So we sat in the meeting in John's
old office in the pavilion, there [points to the main building]. 'What's
this Youth Development Officer business then?'

So I said, 'well Eddie, you're doing too much. You're scouting for John,
trying to find players for John then you're trying to filter players into
the system at 13, 14'. I said, 'your brief's too wide, I think we need to be
more specific. You do the seniors and we'll bring someone in who does the
youth. Someone responsible for developing and scouting, a system finding the
best kids'. So I won the day and we brought in a guy that used to work for
the gas board, a guy named Len Hurford who had been a part time scout for
us. We worked with Len for two or three years but Len didn't enjoy it, he
had a lot of ideas and wasn't getting a lot of support from above.

Then they changed the Tuesday and Thursday nights and called it the Centre
of Excellence as you could open an FA Centre of Excellence if you had
certain criteria, certain coaches. You didn't get any funding, but what they
were trying to do is raise standards throughout the game. That's when they
gave me the title of Director of the Centre of Excellence, as everyone had
to have one. So I then started getting all hands on and to develop the role.

After Len Hurford we had a little interim period where we were not doing
particularly well, a barren time. That was in the mid 80s, after Incey and
[Stuart] Slater. There were probably four or five years when the youth
system recruitment side wasn't very good, we were still being dragged into
the modern era. So we appointed Jimmy Hampson. Harry [Redknapp] had come in
and said, 'your youth system is a shambles, you haven't produced anyone for
five years and you should do, because there's players out there and it's
just because you haven't got people out there doing the job'.

So Jimmy came in with a brief: be more aggressive, get scouts in, get out
amongst the local kids and let's get our fair share. Myself and Jimmy have
been working together ever since and I think we've made a decent job of it
since that point. We're still working basically to the same format.

KUMB: So you would credit Harry for that?

TC: I think we were aware of it but Harry helped to kick the decision makers
to say 'come on, we've got to improve our budget, we need someone full
time'. Not give him 15 grand a year, a couple of tickets and he's alright or
whatever the going rate was at the time. You've got to give them a decent
wage, a decent budget and let them go and get some scouts - and I think
Harry pushed that. Because Harry said it - and said it quite publically -
the Board went, 'oh well, go ahead and do it then', as they'd got dragged
into it.

So Harry was the catalyst behind it I think, but we were aware of it. The
wheels were in motion but obviously I wasn't a decision maker and I could
only say my little bit. I think the single factor in our favour was that we
got more aggressive, we weren't afraid to upset people. In the past with
Wally St Pier and Ron Greenwood you did it properly, nice and polite and if
they're in there first you just walk away...

KUMB: Which brings to mind the Bobby Ferguson/Gordon Banks story...

TC: Exactly. Ron wouldn't want to upset anybody. So we said don't worry
about upsetting anybody, they've been upsetting us for years! You know; as
long as you're not running old ladies over, don't worry about it! So we
started to get a little bit more aggressive in that department - and we
started to get our fair share of players.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola fires back as war of words esculates
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th April 2010
By: Staff Writer

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has reacted with bemusement to the club's
apparent bid for West Bromwich Albion midfielder Graham Dorrans, claiming
that he had no idea an offer was set to be made.

It was revealed earlier this week that a £4million bid for the Scottish
midfielder has been rejected by Albion, who recently confirmed their return
to the Premier League. However Zola - who both David Gold and David Sullivan
have suggested this week is considering resigning from his post - confirmed
today that he had not been involved in the procedure.

When asked if he had been consulted about the bid for Dorrans, Zola said:
"No, I just found out in the newspaper, which was quite a surprise. I know
he's a good player, I know he's had a very good season but i didn't know the
club was interested in him. The point is that I didn't know anything about
it. He's a good player but I'm not prepared to say whether he's in my
interests for the next year."

Last weekend, following the win over Wigan which all but assured West Ham of
their Premier League status next season joint Chairman David Gold hinted
that all may not be well with Zola himself, telling Sky Sports that "Franco
might be telling us it's time for a change". On Wednesday fellow joint
chairman David Sullivan told the Daily Telegraph "he did indicate he might
resign at the end of the season" and that "In interviews he has not
committed his future to the club beyond the end of the season".

But Zola has refused to be drawn on the issue, preferring instead to keep
his own counsel. When asked today whether he was set to leave the club at
the end of the season, the Italian replied: "I said that I would talk about
my future at the end of the season and the season is not over yet. I'm not
prepared to talk about my future until then."

But he was rather more forthcoming when replying to Sullivan's recent
comment regarding putting the entire squad bar Scott Parker up for sale.
"Well if I was Mark Noble, if I was Robert Green or Valon Behrami, I
wouldn't be very pleased to listen to that," he said. "So what can I make of
that? It's not pleasant, you don't want to hear that - but that's the way it
goes."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola in dark over Dorrans bid
Hammers boss claims he knew nothing about player sales either
By Ben Collins Last updated: 30th April 2010
SSN

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has claimed he knew nothing about the
club's transfer dealings until reading about it in the newspapers. Zola will
not confirm his plans for the summer until the end of the season and is set
for talks with joint-owners David Gold and David Sullivan to clarify his
position after what appears to be their latest attempt to undermine him. The
Italian boss was stunned to learn that the Hammers had lodged a £4million
bid for the West Brom and Scotland midfielder Graham Dorrans. And Zola, who
was appointed by the previous owners in September 2008, was equally
surprised when Sullivan revealed that every member of the squad had been put
up for sale apart from star midfielder Scott Parker, who is set to be named
the club's player of the year for the second straight season. "I just found
out in the newspapers. It was quite a surprise," said Zola. "I know he
(Dorrans) is a good player and had a very good season but I didn't know the
club was interested in him. "He is a good player but I am not prepared to
say at the moment whether he would be in my interests for next year. "If I
was Mark Noble or Robert Green or Valon Behrami, I wouldn't be very pleased
to hear that (I had been put up for sale). I didn't know. "It is not
pleasant. You don't like it but this is the way it goes. "I have been
surprised so many times this year - so I am not surprised that I am
surprised."
Gold and Sullivan took charge of the Hammers in January, saving them from
the prospect of entering administration, but their relationship with Zola
has not always been healthy.
Sullivan publicly accused the team of being "pathetic" and "shambolic"
following the 3-1 defeat by Wolves in March, while the club made an official
complaint about Fulham playing a much-changed side against Hull the
following weekend - something Zola did not agree with and which Gold now
admits was wrong. The Italian tactician has since steered the Hammers to
the brink of Premier League survival and Gold has said he would like to see
Zola continue as manager, although they will have talks in the summer.
"At the end of the season, when I talk to them, they will let me know what
their regime will be," Zola added. "David Gold has always been supportive
and he has stayed close to us. It is good. He is always here before the
matches and that is something I appreciate. "Regarding my future, it is
something that will have to be discussed at the end of the season when I
will have a meeting with the owners."
Parker made it clear Zola has the backing of the players as they celebrated
his winner in Saturday's 3-2 victory against Wigan. "That togetherness was
one of the reasons I was always convinced we were going to stay up," said
Zola. "Despite everything, the players and managerial staff and supporters
stayed close and we have fought very hard. "The team has been through so
many difficult situations and achieved their task. We have fought against
the difficulties that were around us. "We know we didn't do brilliantly.
Everyone was expecting us to do more but when you consider the situation I
will look at my players and say 'Well done'. "It wasn't easy. There were a
lot of things that weren't working very well but we stuck together."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Palermo link pleases Behrami
Midfielder happy to stay at West Ham despite interest from Italy
By Simone Bargellini Last updated: 30th April 2010
SSN

Valon Behrami's agent respects the fact that West Ham do not want to sell
the midfielder, but admits the interest of Palermo is flattering. The
Italian side, currently competing for fourth place in Serie A, were linked
with a move for the Switzerland international in January. They have since
admitted they are keen on Behrami and his representative Alessandro Beltrami
has met with Palermo sporting director Walter Sabatini. Beltrami insists the
discussions centred around a topic other than Behrami, because he is aware
that West Ham want to keep the player. The versatile 25-year-old has
established himself as a key figure at Upton Park and Beltrami maintains
that he is still happy with the London club. I came to see Walter for other
reasons," the agent told palermo24.net. "At this moment it is hard to talk
about Behrami. West Ham have said the player is unsellable and we take note.
"The player is fine and is linked to the fans, team-mates and coach Zola.
"The interest of Palermo for Behrami fills us with pride because Palermo is
an important club and there is a president who loves football. "But the
player is non-transferable and I understand West Ham because he is an
important player."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fulham v West Ham preview
Both sides go into derby clash on a high
Last updated: 30th April 2010
SSN

Fulham entertain West Ham in what should be a hotly-contested London derby
on Sunday. Both sides go into the tie on a high after the Cottagers reached
their first-ever European final with Thursday's 2-1 victory over Hamburg,
while Gianfranco Zola's side are now safe. The Hammers ensured their
survival in the top flight for another season after a 3-2 victory over Wigan
last time. Although third-from-bottom Hull City could end up on the same
number of points as Zola's side, the Hammers' vastly superior goal
difference will keep them up. The Italian boss will be demanding no let-up
against the Cottagers as he seeks to end the season on a high. It has been a
turbulent season for the Hammers both on and off the field and Zola will
want to try and win to build momentum for next term. The Cottagers, in stark
contrast, have enjoyed a settled season, which was capped when they reached
the Europa League final on Thursday. But Roy Hodgson's side have not won
domestically in three top-flight outings and the Fulham boss will be looking
to reverse this trend, with the 12th-placed Cottagers just one point behind
10th-placed Sunderland, having played a game less.

Team news

With their Europa League commitments, Hodgson recently rung the changes when
his side faced Everton and Hull and he could be tempted to do the same after
Thursday night's memorable victory. But with the final against Atletico
Madrid not until 12th May, Hodgson may keep faith with his heroes as he
seeks to finish as high up the Premier League table as possible with the
cash rewards that this brings. The Cottagers are set to be without leading
scorer Bobby Zamora after the striker passed a late fitness test on his
Achilles injury but then limped out of the victory over Hamburg. He was
replaced by Clint Dempsey in the 57th minute at Craven Cottage and the
American could start in his place on Sunday. The fit again John Pantsil
returned to the side at right-back in Thursday's memorable victory for the
suspended Chris Baird. Baird is available again and comes back into
contention, as do Stefano Okaka and Nicky Shorey, who were both ineligible
for selection on Thursday.

For the Hammers, influential midfielder Scott Parker returned in last
Saturday's 3-2 victory over Wigan following a two-match suspension and
netted the all-important winner which kept Zola's side up. With safety now
assured, Junior Stanislas is hoping to join him in midfield after a top
performance in the reserves' victory over Fulham on Tuesday when he scored
in the 3-2 win and almost added two more. Fellow midfielders Kieron Dyer
(hamstring) and Jack Collison (knee) and defenders Herita Ilunga (knee) and
James Tomkins (ankle) missed the Wigan clash.

Possible XIs
Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Murphy, Davies,
Etuhu, Duff, Gera, Dempsey.

West Ham: Green, Faubert, Upson, Da Costa, Spector, Behrami, Parker, Noble,
Kovac, Cole, Ilan.

Skysports.com prediction: 2-2

One to Watch: Scott Parker

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola is close to exit Dorr
The Sun
By CHARLIE WYETT
Published: Today

GIANFRANCO ZOLA took another step towards the West Ham exit last night by
revealing his disbelief that the club's owners bid for a player without his
knowledge. Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold had a £4million offer
turned down for West Brom star Graham Dorrans, with Zola admitting he only
learned about it in a newspaper. The Italian is under increasing pressure to
resign as he is clearly being undermined. And Zola is also angry that
Sullivan has put all of the club's players up for sale - apart from
midfielder Scott Parker. The Hammers gaffer, whose team face Fulham at
Craven Cottage tomorrow, insists he will decide whether to stay at the end
of the season. Asked about the Dorrans bid, he said: "It is not nice, is it?
"I just found out in the newspaper. It was quite surprising. I know he is a
good player and has played regularly this season. "But I did not know the
club was interested. The point is, I didn't know anything about it, whether
I am interested in him or not. "I've been surprised so many times so I'm not
surprised I'm surprised!"
As for Sullivan admitting most of the club's players could leave, Zola
added: "If I was Mark Noble, Robert Green or Valon Behrami, I would not be
pleased to listen to that. "It's not pleas-ant to find out. That's the way
it goes. Despite everything, the players, staff and supporters have stayed
close. We have fought very hard against difficulties. That is a very good
thing. "I will talk about my future at the end of the season and the season
has not finished yet."
You get the impression that West Ham want Zola to walk away rather than be
forced to sack him. And the former Chelsea ace admits he is incredibly
relieved now the club is safe from the drop. He said: "I knew it would be
difficult but I was 100 per cent convinced the club would stay up. "I would
not have forgiven myself if I could not have kept the club up. I have become
stronger. It has not been easy, trust me. It has not been easy at all. But
my managerial skills have gone up. "It has been a very, very difficult and
tiring season. "I recover very quickly from my difficult moments but I will
talk about that at the end of the season."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola takes swipe at club owners
The Sun

GIANFRANCO ZOLA put himself back on a collision course with West Ham owners
David Sullivan and David Gold by slamming their public transfer dealings.
The Italian was stunned to learn the club had made a £4million bid for West
Brom's Graham Dorrans, admitting he had never even spoken about the
midfielder. And he was just as shocked when Sullivan claimed he would
consider offers for ANY player except Scott Parker. Zola, who is expected to
leave the club this summer, said: "I just found out in the newspapers. It
was quite a surprise. "I know Dorrans is a good player and had a very good
season but I didn't know the club was interested in him. "He is a good
player but I am not prepared to say at the moment whether he would be in my
interests for next year. "If I was Mark Noble or Robert Green or Valon
Behrami I wouldn't be very pleased to hear I'd been put up for sale. I
didn't know. "It is not pleasant. You don't like it but this is the way it
goes. "I have been surprised so many times this year — so I am not surprised
that I am surprised."
There has been a frosty relationship between Zola and his bosses since Gold
and Sullivan took control of the club in January and his future looks
increasingly uncertain. After West Ham effectively secured their Premier
League survival with victory over Wigan last weekend, Gold said he would
like to see Zola continue. Zola simply said he will discuss his future with
the owners at the end of the season, but added: "David Gold has always been
supportive and he has stayed close to us. It is good. "He is always here
before the matches and that is something I appreciate." With West Ham in
dire financial straits, they can barely afford to sack Zola and pay up his
contract. But Gold this week hinted the former Chelsea star may be ready to
quit and take a break from football after a difficult season. And several
names have already been linked with the job, including Steve McClaren, Avram
Grant and even a return for former manager Alan Curbishley.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Schalke eye £6 million Green
The Sun
By CHARLIE WYETT
Published: Today

WEST HAM keeper Rob Green is a £6million summer target for German side
Schalke. The Bundesliga outfit are looking for a new No 1 as Manuel Neuer is
being chased by Bayern Munich and Manchester United. England international
Green, 30, looks set to leave the Hammers after co-owner David Sullivan said
everyone except Scott Parker was up for sale. Schalke have watched Green
over the last month but could have some rivals for his signature if he
enjoys a good World Cup.

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Zola heading for West Ham exit door after being undermined by owners
Published 23:00 30/04/10 By Marc Isaacs
The Mirror

Gianfranco Zola looks certain to leave West Ham during the summer after
again being ­undermined by owners David Gold and David Sullivan. Zola was
left fuming at comments by Sullivan that the whole squad would be put up for
sale during the summer except Scott Parker. The West Ham boss is angry that
his players were not given more credit for keeping the club up. Zola said:
"If I was Mark Noble, Robert Green or Valon Behrami, I wouldn't be pleased
to hear that. We have been through so much and this is not necessary." To
make matters even worse, Zola knew nothing about the club's £4million bid
for West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans. Zola added: "It was quite a
surprise. I know he is a good player and had a very good season, but I
didn't know the club was interested in him."

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Mariner trying to persuade N'Gala to commit to Argyle
This Is Plymouth

HEAD COACH Paul Mariner is still trying to convince centre-back Bondz N'Gala
to sign for Argyle on a permanent basis. N'Gala has played eight games for
the Pilgrims since signing on loan from Premier League club West Ham United
in March, and has put in some impressive performances. He and Reda Johnson
have formed a promising partnership in the centre of defence. N'Gala, 21, is
being released by West Ham this summer and talks about a full-time move to
Argyle have been taking place over recent weeks — but without resolution, as
yet. Mariner said: "His contract is there to be signed but until he puts pen
to paper it's not done. "I spoke to him again yesterday morning and told him
exactly what I feel about him. I think he has done exceptionally well for a
young player." Argyle have also offered new contracts to goalkeeper Romain
Larrieu, winger Yannick Bolasie and utility player Karl Duguid (pictured
below). All three are set to be in the Pilgrims' squad for the season-ending
game against Peterborough United tomorrow. But whether all — or some of them
— will still be at Home Park next term is far from certain. What does seem
certain, though, is that defender David McNamee and midfielder Yoann Folly
will be released by the Pilgrims this summer. Both are out of contract and
have not been offered new deals.

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Zola is Not Surprised to be Surprised, as the Time Comes to Take Stock!
"I have been surprised so many times this year – so I am not surprised that
I am surprised."
GF Zola (At Friday's Fulham Pre-Match Press Conference)
West Ham Till I Die

On Thursday I posed the question, 'who is calling the shots on transfer
policy.' Yesterday's revelations shed significant light on that very
pertinent question. At the Friday pre-match conference, Zola confirmed that
he had not been involved in the decision to bid for WBA's Scottish play
maker, Graham Dorrans!

He stated that:

"I just found out in the newspapers. It was quite a surprise. I know he is a
good player and had a very good season but I didn't know the club was
interested in him. He is a good player but I am not prepared to say at the
moment whether he would be in my interests for next year."

It was also made clear that Zola had not been consulted about the recent
public statement that the club will listen to offers for all of the current
squad, apart from Scott Parker. In referring to the statement he asserted
that:

"If I was Mark Noble or Robert Green or Valon Behrami I wouldn't be very
pleased to hear that. I didn't know. It is not pleasant. You don't like it
but this is the way it goes."

Yes, that does appear to be the way that it is going! The line of
demarcation between the executive and team management of the club appears
to have broken down. The question now is whether this is just a product of
Zola's possible exit in the summer? Or, more substantially, is this the
way that club's transfer policy will be conducted in the foreseeable future,
with the owners deciding on sales and potential transfer targets? If the
latter scenario is the case, what alternative manager is going to be happy
to be dictated to about something as fundamental as transfer policy?

To be honest, I can understand the owner's sense of urgency in restructuring
the playing squad. With Newcastle, WBA and possibly Notts Forest coming up
from the Championship, there will be no obvious 'cannon fodder' next season.
However, it needs to be progressed the right way, by promoting morale at the
club and building upon the strengths of the current first team squad.

It does not bode well when the appointed manager/coach of a football club
does not have effective control of team affairs. A board should concentrate
upon the executive management and development of the club, establish
transfer budgets, negotiate player terms, set year-on-year
objectives/performance targets and oversee them. While the role of the
coach is to manage team affairs, oversee training, tactics and selection,
assess the squad, identify transfer targets and be responsible for player
discipline and on-pitch performance.

The effective coach/manager must be given the space to run team affairs,
whilst being accountable for player discipline and on-pitch performance. If
playing objectives/targets are not achieved then that is when the board
intervenes, offering support, but also ultimately having recourse to
changing the team management.

I am a lifelong supporter of West Ham Utd FC and I will accept it if
managerial changes need to be made for the good of the club. But it needs
to be positive change that improves us, not just change for its own sake!
There is much to admire about Zola and I have consistently willed him to
succeed. I also acknowledge the extreme difficulties that he has faced and
the fact that he has been the victim of a dire set of circumstances. My
instincts are that we should retain Zola and give him a proper opportunity
to excel, but is that now possible in the aftermath of recent developments
at the club.?

Perhaps, as a club, we need to take stock of our overall situation.
Arguably, the key pre-requisites of footballing achievement are enlightened
leadership, stability and consistency. It requires the board of a club to
get the key decisions right and stand by them, giving support and
demonstrating patience as necessary. Clubs constantly in flux, with a rapid
and increasingly desperate turnover of managers usually only go one way,
into decline. It speaks volumes about our recent club history that we have
now had 7 managers since 1989, more than in the previous 90 years or so!

Do not get me wrong, I am not overly traditionalist in outlook. Nor am I
blind to West Ham's historical faults as a club. As admirable as our
traditions are, they have been accompanied by conservatism, a lack of
ambition and an amateurish mentality that has meant that we have spurned
golden opportunities to join the giants of English football.

As such, if we are to prosper in future, we need to make the right decision
on our team management and give the necessary control, time and resources to
make it pay dividends! Moreover, we must retain and build upon the
positives of our history and traditions such as our playing philosophy and
commitment to youth development; whilst simultaneously developing a new
professionalism and, hard headed, winning mentality!

Only then can our club finally aspire to achieve its true potential.

SJ. Chandos.

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Gianfranco Zola reveals he knew nothing about West Ham player sell-off
Gianfranco Zola's growing sense of anger at the behaviour of West Ham United
co-chairman David Sullivan was laid bare on Friday when the manager declared
he knew nothing about his squad being put up for sale or bids being made for
new players.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 11:28PM BST 30 Apr 2010

Gianfranco Zola is bemused by the goings on at Upton Park. "If I was Mark
Noble or Robert Green or Valon Behrami I wouldn't be very pleased to hear
that," Zola said of Sullivan's announcement that every player, bar Scott
Parker, can go this summer. "What can I make of that? I didn't know. We have
been through so many things and we will go through this as well." Parker
excluded from West Ham fire sale Zola reiterated that his own future would
be decided "at the end of the season" at a meeting he has scheduled with
Sullivan and co-chairman David Gold, but it is clear his position has become
increasingly untenable. There are strong suggestions that Sullivan and Gold
are split as to whether or not they should retain the manager, with Gold
remaining supportive. "They will let me know their regime," Zola added.
Portsmouth manager Avram Grant, who is lobbying for the job, is emerging as
the favourite to take over, especially as West Ham are already interested in
signing players such as Kevin-Prince Boateng and Jamie O'Hara.
West Ham have bid £4 million for West Bromwich Albion midfielder Graham
Dorrans, but Zola says he found out about the offer "in the newspapers". "It
was quite a surprise," he added. "I know he is a good player and had a very
good season but I didn't know the club was interested in him."
Clearly irritated, he added: "I don't know what I would have done if he had
been signed. I haven't been contacted but this is part of what will happen
at the end of the season after I speak to the owners. I cannot talk about a
hypothetical situation. It is not nice, is it?" Asked whether he was alarmed
to hear it first in the media, Zola said: "I have been surprised so many
times this year. So I am not surprised that I am surprised." That includes
reading that his players are for sale? "It is not pleasant, for sure," the
Italian added. "You don't like it but this is the way it goes." It would,
certainly, add to the sense that the manager has been undermined. He
sidestepped this, but commented on the co-chairmen: "I haven't spoken to
them [about his future]. Some time ago we said we'd talk at the end of the
season. That is what we are going to be doing. Regarding what they say in
the press, it's their responsibility for what is the best thing to say."
Yet Zola hinted at a difference of opinion between Sullivan and Gold. It is
thought Gold is concerned at how the supporters will react should the
manager be sacked and also that he has, in trying circumstances, kept the
team up. "At least I appreciate he [Gold] comes over here and talks and
tries to be supportive," said Zola, who dismissed Gold's suggestion that he
might need a "sabbatical". "I know it has been a very difficult and tiring
season but I recover very quickly from my difficult moments," he said. There
is, also, a sense of relief at West Ham, who face Fulham on Sunday, now that
the fear of relegation has been banished. "I would not have forgiven myself
if we didn't do that," Zola added. He can leave without that stain and
continue his managerial career.

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Juventus Tracking West Ham United's Valon Behrami - Report
The Old Lady are hot on the trail of the 25-year-old..
By Adam Scime
Apr 30, 2010 5:12:00 PM
Goal.com

Juventus are interested in versatile West Ham United player Valon Behrami,
according to tuttojuve.com. The Serie A giants are looking to reinforce
their squad for next season after a disastrous campaign and have targeted
the full-back position as an area that needs improvement. At right-back,
neither Zdenek Grygera, Martin Caceres, or Jonathan Zebina have impressed
consistently and the Hammers player could be in the starting XI next season.
The Switzerland international already has plenty of experience in Italy,
playing for Genoa, Hellas Verona, and Lazio before moving to England in
2008. The player suffered a massive dip in the Castrol Rankings from
November, but has started to rebound back up to his usual standards as of
February. Behrami has made 26 appearances in the Premier League in the
2009-10 campaign.

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Gianfranco Zola fumes at West Ham owners over club's transfer policy
Zola admits he knew nothing about Graham Dorrans bid
'I am not surprised that I am surprised,' says Italian
guardian.co.uk, Friday 30 April 2010 16.16 BST

The West Ham United manager, Gianfranco Zola, admitted today that he first
heard about his club's £4m bid for West Bromwich Albion's Graham Dorrans
when he read about it in the newspapers, and hit out at the joint owners
David Sullivan and David Gold for undermining his position by briefing the
media about transfer dealings before informing him.

Zola will not confirm his plans for the summer until the end of the season,
but his relationship with the West Ham ownership appears to have passed the
point of no return.

The Italian was stunned to learn that West Ham had lodged a bid for the
Scotland midfielder, someone he had never even spoken about. Zola was
equally surprised when Sullivan revealed in an interview that every member
of the Hammers squad had been put up for sale, bar Scott Parker.

"I just found out in the newspapers. It was quite a surprise," he said. "I
know he [Dorrans] is a good player and had a very good season but I didn't
know the club was interested in him. He is a good player but I am not
prepared to say at the moment whether he would be in my interests for next
year.

"If I was Mark Noble or Robert Green or Valon Behrami I wouldn't be very
pleased to hear that [they had been put up for sale]. I didn't know. It is
not pleasant. You don't like it but this is the way it goes.

"I have been surprised so many times this year – so I am not surprised that
I am surprised."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham fitness coach Antonio Pintus set for Juventus as Gianfranco Zola's
exit looms
There has been another significant sign that Gianfranco Zola's time at West
Ham is drawing to a close with the decision of the club's fitness coach,
Antonio Pintus, to accept a similar role at Juventus.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 9:42AM BST 30 Apr 2010

Pintus and Steve Clarke were part of a coaching triumvirate at West Ham,
although it is he, rather than the Scot, who is closest to Zola. Pintus has
now told friends that he thinks it's best to move on and that he expects
Zola to do so too. The trio worked together at Chelsea and Zola stipulated,
when taking the West Ham job, that fellow Italian Pintus – who has also
previously been employed by Juve – be recruited along with Clarke. It
remains to be seen if Pintus will be joined at the Italian club by Rafael
Benítez. Gold: Zola deserves another chance Meanwhile another one of the
complaints voiced by new owners - who remain adamant they have an open mind
over Zola's future - about their manager is that he does not go to watch his
team's opponents often enough and relies on others to do his scouting for
him.

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