Archive for the ‘Featured Article’ Category

It is almost certain that Craig Bellamy will be on his way to Man City by next weekend after presuming he passes a medical which will happen early this week.

Should we feel disheartened and sorry for Zola? of course not, Gianfranco Zola has been assured that he will be allowed to reinvest the proceeds from Bellamy’s sale, and the first player on his shopping list will be his formal Italy under 21 pupil Pablo Daniel Osvaldo at Fiorentina.

West Ham’s Gianluca Nani has been in regular contact over the last 2 months with Fiorentina, and the former Italy Under-21 striker was told that he can leave Fiorentina if they receive a £7 million transfer fee.

If all goes well then we could see Pablo playing for the Hammers before the transfer window shuts on Feb 2nd.

Video Footage of Pablo showing his skills.

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Hammers technical director Gianluca Nani hopes to finalise a double-deal for Brescia pair Salomon Bartosz and Savio Nsereko this month, with the highly-rated teenage pair likely to be loaned back to the Italian club until the summer.

And here’s some footage of Nsereko in action for the German youth side:

“Gianluca Nani knows very well the qualities of Savio,”

Nsereko’s agent Patrick Bastianelli said this week.

“We talked about Savio no more than a week ago. In those talks Gianluca confirmed his will, and that of Zola’s, to bring the player to West Ham.

Meanwhile Steve Clarke has confessed that players Quashie, Bowyer and Boa Morte could be sold off before the end of the transfer window, in order to cut West Ham’s outfield players down to 20 with 3 goalkeepers, he said:

“Ideally you want 20 outfield players and three goalkeepers and at the moment we are operating with 26 and three keepers, which is a little bit too much,”

“You can’t have an 11 v 11 match in training - it doesn’t work in terms of organising - so it is better to have smaller numbers. You can work better with your team that way.”

Selling Bowyer, Boa Morte and Quashie would bring funds needed to buy the 2 Brescia young duo.

This post was submitted by GoalFanzine.com.

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Im back after a few days break expecting half the West Ham team to be sold off in what the media have called the West Ham fire sale, but it seems we have only have Widdowson out on loan to Grimsby, not quite what the red tops promised us.

Its early days yet and a few players will obviously be found new homes, but it will only be our fringe players. The rumour about Parker being offered £100k a week by Man City is interesting and a new offer for him around £12m could actually see him go, if its true.

The daily Mail have this amazing ability to see through walls and hear what is going on in every Premier League boardroom about who’s being sold, we all love the Daily Mail.

I cant see Zola letting any of his best players go unless the player wanted to go and an amazing silly amount of money was offered to the Hammers for him.

English Premier League Transfers

All English Premier League transfers are listed on this page.

If you find a transfer not listed here let us know and we’ll add it.

Last Updated: 6 January 2009

Arsenal

In:

Out:

Jay Simpson (loan, West Brom)

Aston Villa

In:

Out:

Blackburn Rovers

In:

Out:

Eddie Nolan (undisclosed, Preston),

Sergio Peter (undisclosed, Sparta Prague)

Bolton Wanderers

In:

Out:

Heidar Helguson (undisclosed, QPR)

Chelsea

In:

Michael Mancienne (loan return, Wolves)

Out:

Jack Cork (loan, Watford),

Wayne Bridge (undisclosed, Manchester City),

Ben Sahar (loan, De Graafschap)

Everton

In:

Out:

Lee Molyneux (free, Southampton)

Fulham

In:

Out:

T.J. Moncur (free, Wycombe)

Hull City

In:

Out:

Liverpool

In:

Out:

Manchester City

In:

Wayne Bridge (undisclosed, Chelsea)

Out:

Sam Williamson (loan, Wrexham)

Manchester United

In:

Zoran Tosic (undisclosed, Partizan Belgrade),

Adem Ljajic (undisclosed, Partizan Belgrade)

Out:

David Gray (loan, Plymouth),

Adem Ljajic (loan, Partizan Belgrade)

Middlesbrough

In:

Out:

Newcastle United

In:

Out:

Portsmouth

In:

Nadir Belhadj (£4.4m, Lens)

Out:

Lassana Diarra (£20m, Real Madrid),

Jermain Defoe (£15.75m, Tottenham)

Stoke City

In:

Out:

Sunderland

In:

Out:

Tottenham

In:

Jermain Defoe (£15.75m, Portsmouth)

Out:

Paul Staltieri (free, Borussia Monchengladbach)

West Brom

In:

Jay Simpson (loan, Arsenal)

Out:

Joss Labadie (loan, Shrewsbury)

West Ham - Fire Sale latest

In:

Out:

Joe Widdowson (loan, Grimsby)

Wigan

In:

Out:

This post was submitted by Joe J.

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It is reported that Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson is looking in the region of £230-£250m for West Ham in the coming months, a slightly exaggerated price considering the club initially cost him somewhere in the region of £100m inc Eggy’s shares.

So what would happen if we sold Craig Bellamy and Mathew Upson? disaster thats what would happen, BG has to take into consideration that the sale of these 2 players could mean relegation problems which could result in losing around £40m in TV rights as a premiership club, and also the clubs for sale banner would drop to a bargain basement price of around £60m, partly because the few good players we do have will jump ship as they have done in the past.

Bellamy is considered to be worth around £7m and Upson i would guess around the same price, so even if it is true and we are a financially struggling club it would be suicide to sell these players, it is these players that are just keeping our heads above water at the moment.

BG, Nani and Duxbury have to keep these players at all costs, we still need 23+ points to believe we are safe from relegation, lets not make the mistake that Portsmouth are making by selling Diarra and what Wigan will be making if they sell Heskey.

Its better to be safe then sorry.

ALL FIGURES ARE ESTIMATED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES AND ARE NOT THOSE STATED BY WHUFC

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Gianfranco Zola at an interview with sportinglife, again insisted that Bellamy is staying at Upton Park after the January transfer window closes.
The media have had a field day with West Ham speculating about our best players, and some even to the fact that the whole team will be sold, which is pathetic, the rumours that Man City and Spurs will be bidding for Bellamy could be true and if he was to be sold then West Ham are supposed to be looking for around £12m for him.

Zola said to Sportinglife:

“It’s a pity he is suspended because he’s going through a very good spell,” he said. “When he plays the way he’s playing he’s very important for us.

“Me, (technical director) Gianluca Nani and (chief executive) Scott Duxbury have a total understanding and are working together as a team.

“There’s so much speculation but as far as I’m concerned he’s our player. It’s as simple as that.

“Now we have a match on Sunday and we have to focus on winning because if we don’t it will cancel out what we did against Portsmouth.”

This season is very different from other seasons at both the top and bottom of the Premier league, where 1 game lost or won can put you up or down 4 places, which means its a very open contest and no team is safe (except for the top 6 of course).

Zola also spoke about Ashton and how much he needs him back as soon as possible, but it seems we may have to wait until the season 09/10 before we see him play again.

Zola said about Ashton:

“This is the season so far,” said Zola. “I’ve lost him, probably the best finisher in the team.

“I can’t say whether he will be back in March, April, February… it depends how he progresses.

“I don’t think we will have him back in January or February, but I hope soon.

“He had something causing problems with the cartilage in his ankle but because of his previous injuries it couldn’t be a quick thing because they don’t want to do any more damage.”

Lets be honest, Carlton was at the right place at the right time on Friday when he scored but i am sure it would have given him a little bit more confidence, which is what he needs, as a striker, i think he has great potential and could even be as good as Anelka (Don’t laugh) but his finishing is still that of a 12 year old girl.

Even without Bellars on Sunday i can see the Hammers having a great game and lets hope another thumping for Stoke.
My Prediction is 3-1 to the Hammers.

This post was submitted by Mike DiAntoni.

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I was a little disturbed when i read that Upson said he was happy playing for West Ham at the moment, mainly because it showed me that he may move on if the right offer came along.

Speaking to the Daily Star he said:

“There is speculation that every player is for sale, but the owners haven’t come out and clarified anything,”

said Upson, who was bought for £6m from Birmingham just under two years ago.

“Whether things happen or not we have to wait and see.

“I’m happy playing here at the moment. I’m enjoying my football and in a good run of form.”

Nobody could blame Upson if he jumped ship if the worst happens and we was to relegated, but his future at West Ham at present has made him what he is today, a fantastic England international and the backbone to the West Ham defence.

As a team i have noticed some great changes to our performance and passing skills, we obviously need to work more on Cole to SLAM those easy ahota on goal into the back of the net and i am sure Zola Will make him work non stop until he does.

As for doubts about Zola as our manager, i have none, i think in the next few weeks we will see some great games being won and West Ham climbing the Premier League table.

In January we do have 4 or 5 players to sell to which we could put a bid in for some new blood which i dare say Nani will have already lined up.

Overall: Table wise its a shit season so far but Team wise i can see a bright future, especially if BG sells the club.

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Lo and behold, West Ham are officially up for sale and at £250m that should make BG a nice little earner for his 2 years of greif even after a probable payout to Sheffield Utd.

The vice Chairman Asgeir Fridgeirsson has admitted that BG has been considering a sale since November after a lot of interest was shown in purchasing the club from potential buyers and what BG is looking for has to be a heavy investor like the Abu Dhabi group whom purchased Man City.

AF said in a phone interview to the Associated Press:

“We are reviewing the asset, looking at what might be the value of the club, There is a great interest in the club and many interested parties are calling to show interest. It is part of reviewing the assets of Mr. Gudmundsson and what might be the possible value of each asset. Following such a review we will take a decision whether to sell or not. We don’t have to sell. It’s a process where we are gathering options and information to see what is out there in terms of demand.”

WHUFC For Sale

Well i cant speak for the demands of BG but i can for the demands of the fans, BG obviously does not have the funds to take the club forward and selling the club will be the best thing all round.

The most likely buyer will be Prince Shaikh Hamdan who is on par wealth wise as the Abu Dhabi group, this is the guy who was on the brink of buyin Charlton a few months ago but backed out at the last moment when rumours were ripe that West Ham were looking to sell the club.

As a fan, my major worry is, if and when we sell and take on a new owner, will West Ham be his/her toy or will he/she show passion for the club as we do, which is very doubtful as it takes years of pain and misery and love to feel about West Ham as we do.

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Is Zola right about the top 4 clubs (we know who they are) becoming less and less of a threat to the smaller clubs?

and are we expecting too much from our clubs?

West Ham were the latest team to come away from Stamford Bridge with something after yet another disappointing performance from Chelsea but good from West Ham. 
The Blues have already dropped 14 points at home, the same amount as the whole of last season.

3 wins, 4 draws & 2 defeats is hardly the form of champions, yet the 1-1 draw leaves Scolari’s Chelsea 2nd in the league, a point behind leaders Liverpool, who are hardly convincing at Anfield themselves.

Stamford Bridge was a fortress under Jose Mourinho and Avram Grant as Chelsea went unbeaten for 4 years, a run of 86 matches.

In stark contrast, Chelsea haven’t dropped a single point away from home, winning 11 conservative games including 8 in the Premier League, scoring 21 times and conceding a measly 1 goal in the process.

As the boo’s rang round The Bridge I found myself questioning the state of the game today. Is this a new phenomenon or has it always been with us?

Liverpool, Arsenal & West Ham respectively have all received the same treatment this season.  Do we expect them to win every game? Chelsea are battling on all 4 fronts and are still favorites to win the league. So why are their fans booing?

Well it is a only a minority of the fans that Boo and have every right too, the cost of season tickets and match day tickets gives them that right.

As a West Ham fan, i am happy to stick with Zola and his tactics, alot of  West Ham fans would not agree, he needs time and lets hope he gets it, what other options do we have? Fat Sam? errr no thanks.

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Liverpool have a chance of moving back into first place when they host West Ham United at Anfield Road tonight.

The Reds will have to do better than in their last two games though, a goalless draw with Fulham and an uninspired narrow win over Marseille.

Liverpool are without Spaniard Fernando Torres, who suffered a new injury and should again be replaced with Robbie Keane. Fabio Aurelio is out with a calf injury.

Hammers coach Gianfranco Zola has a fit squad to work with.

Bellamy will be eager to score against his old club and prove to his old boss Benitez he was wrong to let him go.

Read more Liverpool v West Ham United - Its a LIVE Shocker Tonight!

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After watching the Spurs match and how they only just beat a 10 man Blackburn, West Ham for 50 minutes were sitting in 17th place until Valon Behrami saved the day.

Roy Keane was dissapointed at not at least getting a share of the points and had this to say:

“I don’t think we deserved to lose,” Keane said after the match on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s questionable if we’ve done enough to win, but we could not provide the goal at the end.

“We got the opportunities. At least test the keeper but we didn’t really test him and we gave a bad goal away.

“It’s hard to take.

“I’ve no problem with the effort, we just need a bit more quality in the attacking third.”

Gianfranco Zola on the other hand was over the moon with his team and said to SkySports:

“Football is strange - sometimes you play well and get nothing.

“In those times you have to keep faith you are going to be rewarded and today is one of them.

“Today my smile is bigger. I am pleased for the boys because they were playing well and not getting results.

“We know that it is important to defend properly and the three points proved that.

“We are going to try and build (on) that.”

Match analysis

Valon Behrami handed Zola his first Barclays Premier League victory in eight attempts as Sunderland suffered a third successive home defeat.

The Switzerland international fired West Ham ahead with 20 minutes gone and could have made what followed far more comfortable had he not shot against the crossbar from just six yards on the stroke of half-time.

But in the end, his contribution proved enough to win a game which the home side dominated for long periods, but failed to make the most of the chances they created.

Manager Roy Keane has admitted in the past that the relative lack of goals his side scores often makes life difficult for them, and that shortcoming was painfully evident once again.

Djibril Cisse in particular had a series of chances, but the Wearsiders did not work goalkeeper Robert Green anywhere near often enough and ultimately paid the price.

The Hammers had to defend for long periods, but in Matthew Upson and James Collins, had willing workhorses, while former Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy was at his irritating best in front of a disgruntled crowd of 35,222.

Keane has seen and done most things in football, and little surprises him any longer.
However, he headed for the dressing room at half-time having seen his side create more than enough chances to win the game, but lucky still to be in it.

With recalled midfielder Andy Reid tormenting the Hammers down the left to provide a series of inviting cross for Cisse, it seemed only a matter of time before the home side took the lead.

Cisse sent one header just over and another narrowly wide, and then drilled a right-foot shot into the side-netting.

Reid landed a curling shot on top of Green’s crossbar and Danny Collins forced a good save from the keeper four minutes before the break, and there was fury inside the Stadium of Light went Cisse went down on the edge of the box under James Collins’ challenge and referee Mike Dean waved away his penalty appeals.

But in the meantime, Zola’s men had taken the lead against the run of play.

Reid was penalised for a foul on Lucas Neill wide on the right, and although Nyron Nosworthy cleared Julien Faubert’s free-kick, Behrami picked up the rebound and drilled a low shot past Marton Fulop with the help of a deflection off Kenwyne Jones.

Chances were few for the Londoners, but they should really have been 2-0 up in first-half injury-time after former Hammer Anton Ferdinand was left red-faced.

The defender attempted to control a high ball on halfway when he should really have headed it and succeeded only in giving it to Bellamy.

The Welsh international striker sprinted into the box and although he was forced wide as he attempted to round Fulop, he managed to squad for Behrami on the edge of the six-yard box - only for the midfielder to fire against the bar.

Keane’s side returned determined to make the most of their escape, and they were appealing for a penalty again within two minutes when Cisse smashed the ball against Upson’s arm from point-blank range - although Dean turned them down

The Frenchman was finding space with ease and headed wide once again from Phil Bardsley’s 49th-minute cross, and Green was relieved not to be punished for losing out in an aerial battle with Jones five minutes later.

Having spent 10 minutes pinned back inside their own half, the Hammers eventually fought their way into enemy territory and went close to a second goal with 56 minutes gone when Lee Bowyer headed just over.

The former Magpie was in on goal again on the hour when he ran on to Behrami’s pass, but Fulop smothered his cross with the blue shirts gathering.

Cisse was unable to capitalise on James Collins’ misjudgement when he allowed Reid’s 65th-minute cross to reach the Frenchman, who totally miscued his header.

Keane’s withdrew Steed Malbranque and Reid and sent on Daryl Murphy and Carlos Edwards, the latter having been recalled from his loan spell at Wolves.

Dean Whitehead forced a smart save from Green with a glancing 84th-minute header, but Sunderland’s fightback simply dwindled away to nothing.

Sunderlands biggest mistake was taking off Andy Reid which brought a sigh of relief to West Ham players and Fans as Reid was a definite danger to the Hammers and was more likely to bring on a goal for Sunderland with his accurate crosses to the 6 yard box.

COYI MOTM goes to James Collins

A massive 50 points each goes to Bobshep53 and shahirenayet for the correct Sunderland V West Ham prediction

This post was submitted by west ham fan.

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