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Season Preview- Goal
2007-08-06 20:17:00
West Ham: Ready To Usher In A New EraBy Max De LucaWith the Carlos Tevez saga - haunting the club like a midsummer nightmare - finally having drawn to a close, the focus at Upton Park can finally shift towards what Alan Curbishley has been up to. The former Charlton miracle worker has efficiently built a squad well capable of finishing in the top half, and with some luck, even in the top six. Or perhaps have a good Cup run like two years ago! The Tevez saga has stolen all the headlines from the plethora of signings made by the club during the summer transfer window. Enigmatic chairman Eggert Magnusson must have wondered what he got himself into last year, just barely surviving the plunge into the Championship, but he has opened up his chequebook and the players have been flocking to Upton Park. The club had a few envious glances cast towards them when they plucked midfield maestro Julien Faubert from Bordeaux for 9 million euros. He was bought as a direct replacement for Yossi Be...
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Season Preview- Setanta
2007-08-06 14:03:00
With the start of the new season less than a week away, every media outlet will be producing their season preview guides. Below is Setanta's view of the season ahead for West Ham United, doubtless the first of numerous such efforts to appear over the next few days..."I hope I never have to go through that again," sighed West Ham manger Alan Curbishley after keeping his side in the Premiership on the final day of last season. West Ham already possessed a squad that shouldn't have been flirting with relegation, and after buying half a new team in the last six months they should have even less to worry about. Expect to see the Hammers hovering between sixth and 10th this season. Strengths: He was never likely to rival Billy Bonds' appearance record, so Carlos Tevez's expected departure (to be confirmed as we went to press) shouldn't cause too much concern, especially as stepping into the breach is the potentially exciting new partnership of Dean Ashton, back from injury, and Crai...
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Ashton Muscles In
2007-08-06 11:24:00
Sam Allardyce has hit back at Alan Curbishley over the breakdown of Kieron Dyer's move to West Ham United. Curbishley criticised Newcastle officials for the way the deal collapsed at the 11th hour on Friday, insisting he had never seen anything like it in football after the price for the 28-year-old was pushed up late in negotiations. In several of today's papers, Allardyce has blamed West Ham officials for the farce. "If Curbs started it, then we are more upset than they are, that is a fact," he said. "Why? That is confidential. He is not as upset as we are about West Ham. In the end, we decided he was undervalued. We escalated the valuation to what we thought was realistic and West Ham did not want to roll with it. "Kieron is back with us, a top player with a squad who are growing. Will it be difficult for Kieron? It's life, isn't it? He has got a contract. You sign it. The length of the contract means you are employed by an employer, something happens, it doesn't work, you c...
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West Ham United 2 AS Roma 1
2007-08-05 21:32:00
Ashton Returns With Style by Kaveh SolhekolIt is debatable whether West Ham United should be kicking off the season in the Barclays Premier League this weekend, but Alan Curbishley?s team proved to be more than a match for one of the best teams in Serie A on Saturday... The Sunday TimesAshton's Finishing Touch Lifts Hammers by Richard GillisWest Ham may have had a more interesting close season than they would have liked, but the long queues for season tickets, which delayed the start of this match, are testimony to the rising expectations in east London... The ObserverDyer's Hammers Deal 'Definitely Off' by Ronald AtkinThe news for West Ham from this niggly friendly is that Deano is back. Having missed last season with a broken ankle, Dean Ashton thumped the impressive, brute force winner which destroyed Roma 's earlier, classy domination... Independent on SundayWinner Ashton Ready To Take Tevez Mantle by Malcolm BrownDean Ashton put his injury torment behind him and showed West...

Casino Turmoil
2007-08-05 14:37:00
A quick glance at the Sunday gossip sections reveals a few interesting items. The People claim Real Madrid mentalist Antonio Cassano is being offered to various Premier League clubs as new boss Bernd Schuster makes changes. West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers are said to be the main ones interested in a loan deal for the 25 year old striker, although Real would prefer a permanent transfer. In the same paper, it is claimed we will step up our £5million bid for Nicky Shorey after Reading boss Steve Coppell finally admitted defeat in trying to persuade the England left back to sign an extension on the two years left on his contract. The Mirror has the same story and state that Coppell is now resigned to cashing in on his highly regarded defender. Reading do not want to be left in a situation where players run down their contracts and leave as free agents, like Steve Sidwell who joined Chelsea in the summer. Coppell said of Shorey: "He's not going to negotiate any more with us. He's ...
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The Cockney Deepthroat
2007-08-05 11:02:00
West Ham Spy FailedBy Patrick BarclayWest Ham had a saboteur in their dressing room last season, the source of the continual leaks that left the club on the cusp of foundering. Robert Green, the West Ham goalkeeper, does not know the identity of the perpetrator. All he is sure of is that it cannot be allowed to happen again. "The stuff that was getting out was very strange," Green said. "It was obviously coming from within because it was happening every week. It wasn't one person listening in at a changing room door. It was from somewhere within. I'm sure now that this season has come about it will change."The dressing room is supposedly a privileged forum, where managers and players can say exactly what they think of each other. It is a bit like the Cabinet only, perhaps, more civilised. Green was the victim of one such leak himself, when it was reported that he had rowed with manager Alan Curbishley in the aftermath of the 6-0 defeat at Reading on New Year's Day. "That was a lo...
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A Circle Squared
2007-08-04 11:15:00
Carlos Tevez is free to begin his new life as a Manchester United player after the Premier League ratified the Argentina international's drawn-out transfer last night. Tevez underwent a routine medical examination at the club's practice ground yesterday and the paper- work regarding his signing will go through next week. With a mixture of relief and elation, United then intend to unveil Tevez , confirming him officially as their latest recruit in an extensive period of summer buying. That is possible because of an agreement that has been struck between West Ham United and Tevez's management company, Media Sports Investment, that will see the London club receive £2million in compensation following the protracted and messy row about the player's ownership. The impasse was gradually broken during extensive talks over the past 72 hours and with the dispute finally settled, United will pay MSI around £10million for a two-year loan arrangement with the option to buy Tevez permanently ...
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Dyer Situation
2007-08-04 11:10:00
Kieron Dyer 's proposed £6million transfer to West Ham United collapsed last night after sources revealed that Newcastle United inflated the fee to £8million at the 11th hour. Although Dyer, who nurses an undisclosed liver complaint and has a history of hamstring and shin trouble, passed a day-long medical at a London hospital on Thursday, West Ham sent the England midfielder away unsigned yesterday, complaining that Newcastle had reneged on an agreement reached on Wednesday by increasing his price at the last minute. The two clubs had agreed that West Ham would pay £5million plus a further £1million related to appearances but that basic outlay was raised to £7million shortly before the player was due to put pen to paper. The Guardian claim sources close to the player first suspected a hitch when Newcastle failed to return West Ham a signed copy of the originally mutually approved transfer forms.George Caulkin, writing in The Times, says that Newcastle United dramatically raised the...
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KUMB Q & A: Alan Curbishley (part three)
2007-08-03 18:23:00
Here is the third part of an exclusive interview given by Alan Curbishley on the recent pre-season tour of Austria. It is taken from KUMB and credit goes to Gary Jones and Colin Wells for their excellent work in making this happen...KUMB.com: This is your team now?Alan Curbishley: It?s my backroom staff - and I feel all the players here today want to be here. At the end of the season I asked the players if they wanted to be here or if they wanted to go. If they didn?t want to be here we did something about it - simple as that. There were no big bust ups; football is not that way now - it?s a totally different game altogether. The only one who was a disappointment was Yossi, because he had agreed to stay. He agreed a five year contract - I was on holiday when he agreed it and I was happy as could be. Then Liverpool changed his mind, so that was a disappointing one. Nigel [Reo-Coker] intimated [that he wanted to leave] at Christmas, after Christmas and at the end of the season. So end...
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Last Minute Talks
2007-08-02 12:53:00
Hopes were rising yesterday of a negotiated settlement to the Carlos Tevez affair as West Ham executives met representatives from Media Sports Investment and Just Sports Inc. According to The Guardian, the talks are thought to be the first held in person between executives of the two sides since a writ was served on the club by MSI-JSI last week. Eggert Magnusson was not involved in the negotiations because he is expected to be called as a witness if the case reaches the high court for a three-day hearing from August 22. Although the meeting broke up last night without an agreement, a positive outlook was being maintained by both sides as they look to secure a last minute deal. A compromise must now be reached within the next 24 hours before Joorabchian and his company Media Sports Investment are compelled to lodge all their papers with the High Court.Speaking in the Mail, Carlos Tevez has pleaded for his move to Manchester United to be speeded up to prevent his performances sufferi...
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The Smoking Gun
2007-08-01 11:13:00
The Carlos Tevez saga took a dramatic twist in the high court yesterday when West Ham United's lawyers challenged the authenticity of a document presented by Media Sports Investment and Just Sports Inc. The document, filed at a depositions hearing, was sent by Eggert Magnusson to Kia Joorabchian on 1 December after he had examined the nature of the Tevez deal which would ultimately end in a record £5.5million fine for its "third-party" element that broke Premier League rules. The West Ham chairman, who had then only gained control of the club 10 days earlier, drew up the contract. It made amendments to the original third-party deal agreed last summer when Tévez and Javier Mascherano arrived at Upton Park. The new agreement was signed by Scott Duxbury, the club?s deputy chief executive who was legal director at the time, and proposed that on July 1 Tevez would be released from the club and stipulated that, if he remained at Upton Park, MSI-JSI would have to make payments that would ...
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Spanish Inquisition
2007-07-31 19:12:00
The dispute over the future of Carlos Tevez has been scheduled for the High Court on 22 August. The court date was set at the preliminary hearing this morning and it would mean the 23-year-old missing the first three games of the season but should ensure he can still join United before the transfer window shuts on 31 August. Joorabchian's lawyers have applied to the court for an interim injunction in a bid to speed up the legal process. Barrister Charles Hollander QC stressed the need to hear the injunction element of the case before the transfer window closes on 31 August. He said: "The end of the transfer window is looming and Manchester United may be starting to look in other directions." Should they win, the ruling would allow Tevez to move to Old Trafford with the financial elements of the dispute sorted out at a later trial. West Ham oppose the injunction, claiming their third-party agreement with Joorabchian is legally "invalid and unenforceable", but the club made no attemp...
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The Subpoena
2007-07-31 10:54:00
Kia Joorabchian, who fronts the two companies that hold Carlos Tevéz?s ?economic rights?, Media Sports Investments (MSI) and Just Sports Inc (JSI), will turn up the pressure on West Ham United today when he serves the particulars of claim documents at the High Court, detailing allegations about how the club breached their contract. The companies issued a writ against the club last week, seeking the court?s intervention to compel West Ham to release the registration of Tevéz in accordance with a contract that was agreed last summer when he and Mascherano arrived at Upton Park. Those deals were deemed to be in breach of Premier League rules by a commission that fined West Ham £5.5 million in April. MSI and JSI will ask the court for a quick hearing, arguing that the extensive delay is causing hardship to Tevéz and preventing him from playing football and earning a living.According to The Times, West Ham United have offered the companies £5 million in exchange for the release of the ...
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The Compromise
2007-07-30 12:59:00
The Carlos Tevez saga could edge closer to a conclusion today with the Premier League's chairman, Sir Dave Richards, apparently having indicated a softer line from his organisation. Central to the recent progress is what should be perceived as the market value of Tevez, which would nominally be upwards of £20million. But meetings took place last week between West Ham United and Richards, in which the Hammers argued that there are several mitigating factors which reduce his value to them; namely the threat of court action and the fact that the player has already declared his desire to leave. Matt Scott, writing in The Guardian, states Richards has indicated a readiness to relinquish the demand that, having torn up the contracts with Media Sports Investment and Just Sports Inc that governed Tevez's career, the club should treat him as their own asset and demand a market-rate fee for him to move to Manchester United.The Mail suggest West Ham will instead demand £6million compensation...
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KUMB Q&A: Alan Curbishley (part two)
2007-07-29 18:06:00
Here is the second part of an exclusive interview given by Alan Curbishley on the recent pre-season tour of Austria. It is taken from KUMB and credit goes to Gary Jones and Colin Wells for their excellent work in making this happen...KUMB.com: On transfers Alan ? do you work out a list of targets with Eggert?Alan Curbishley: Yeah. I have nothing to do with the finances - Scott Duxbury deals with transfers and [when signing a player] if we get him, we get him. If he?s too expensive, or if they think it?s getting out of hand then they?ll call me into it and we?ll have a discussion. It?s totally different to what I did at Charlton ? there I did the lot, and I don?t feel that that?s my brief at the moment. So much goes into a transfer ? it doesn?t happen in a day, it can take weeks - Bellamy took two weeks, and it goes on ?KUMB: And why is that ? because of the player?s agent, or different circumstances?AC: They don?t need to haggle over a price because we pose the price first. When the...
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Captain Neill
2007-07-28 11:23:00
Lucas Neill says he is honoured to become the captain of West Ham United and hopes it will finally silence his detractors. Neill was heavily criticised last January after he rejected a move to Liverpool and opted for a move to east London, although West Ham were facing a relegation battle at the time. Doubters suggested the Australian international chose Upton Park because of the salary he was reportedly offered but Neill demonstrated his commitment by fighting his way back from injury to help keep the club in the Premier League. "I think my decision has been vindicated to some extent," he said. "I don?t need to prove anything to anybody and being announced as the captain shows I was always going to be part of this team. It wasn't ever promised, but I was told I would be important. If I was only joining for money, I would have sat on the sidelines and just picked up my wages. I didn't do that. I got in the trenches and helped dig us out. Now I?m hoping the gamble comes good becaus...
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KUMB Q&A: Alan Curbishley (part one)
2007-07-27 02:22:00
Here is the first part of an exclusive interview given by Alan Curbishley on the recent pre-season tour of Austria. It is taken from KUMB and credit goes to Gary Jones and Colin Wells for their excellent work in making this happen...Alan Curbishley took time out during the recent pre-season tour of Austria to talk to Gary Jones and Colin Wells. In the first of a three-part interview, Curbs talks about the 'Great Escape', Raymond Domenech and a certain job offer in 2001 ...KUMB.com: Alan ? thanks for agreeing to talk to us. We're going to ask you some questions about the circumstances of you becoming manager, pre-season, the run-in last season and expectations for next year.Alan Curbishley: Yeah, fine.KUMB: The first question we?ve got came from one of the supporters - when the West Ham job came up, did you apply personally for it or did the chairman come calling?AC: I was actually doing a Bolton v West Ham game live for Sky, and obviously West Ham got beat 4-0. That was a Saturda...
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Anelka Next?
2007-07-26 11:21:00
Reports in two papers this morning name Nicolas Anelka as the the latest striker set for a big money move to West Ham United. The Mail claim the Hammers have already bid a club-record £12million for the Bolton forward as they seek the attacking spearhead to lead their ambitious assault on the top six. Meanwhile, Sam Wallace, writing in The Independent, believes Anelka will be offered the club's biggest pay deal to move to Upton Park but is under the impression that a bid of £6million will be enough to tempt Bolton into selling. In both cases, it is thought the France international will command wages of £90,000 a week as the Premier League's new television deal takes effect.The West Ham chairman has already missed out on signing Andy Johnson and Darren Bent this summer, says Wallace, but the club believe they have a real chance with Anelka, 28, who has been told by Bolton Wanderers that he can leave at the right price. Sammy Lee said at the weekend that he would allow Anelka to go ...
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The Endgame
2007-07-25 10:59:00
West Ham United were last night facing a multimillion-pound lawsuit in the battle over the future of Carlos Tévez after the player?s agents issued a writ against the club. Legal proceedings began after Fifa refused to rule on the player?s potential transfer to Manchester United, referring the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. The Premier League had hoped that Fifa would mediate to resolve the situation, but football?s world governing body backed away from making a ruling that it feared could be challenged in a court of law. "It is not a matter of refusing to arbitrate but a recommendation in the interest of all parties involved in the complicated affair," a Fifa spokesman simpered. Instead, lawyers for Media Sports Investments and Just Sports Inc - the companies who held the economic rights relating to Tevez when he moved to Upton Park last August - have lodged a breach-of-contract claim with the courts.So the Carlos Tevez chess match marches resolutely t...
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Leyton Orient 1 West Ham United 1
2007-07-25 09:30:00
Dean Ashton scored his first goal for West Ham in almost a year as the Hammers claimed a 1-1 draw in yesterday's pre-season friendly against Leyton Orient at The Matchroom Stadium. The England striker hit an unstoppable shot from 30 yards after quarter of an hour, the ball swerving past Glenn Morris in goal. The Orient keeper was subsequently replaced after suffering a head injury following an aerial collision with Callum Davenport, and in a very competitive first half, Adam Boyd fired narrowly wide for the Coca-Cola League One club before scoring a stunning equaliser after 20 minutes. The 25-year-old, a new signing from Luton, sent a 25-yard volley dipping over England goalkeeper Robert Green to mark his debut for the east London club in style.In the second half Kyel Reid sent a fierce shot over the bar for the visitors, before Ashton failed to claim his second of the game when he contrived to miss a glaring opportunity when he headed over from four yards following Matthew Etheri...
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The Writ Is Served
2007-07-24 21:47:00
Kia Joorabchian tonight confirmed that he has instigated court proceedings against West Ham United over the Carlos Tevez transfer affair. The player's representative has decided to take his fight to the High Court despite Fifa's recommendation that the dispute be settled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). It is believed a writ was served this afternoon on the club's solicitors by lawyers acting on behalf of Joorabchian's companies MSI and Just Sports Inc. Solicitor Graham Shear of lawyers Teacher Stern Selby said in a statement: "I can confirm the companies (MSI and Just Sports Inc) have today begun High Court proceedings against West Ham. This afternoon a High Court writ was served on the football club's solicitors. The companies seek the court's intervention to compel West Ham to release the registration of Carlos Tevez in accordance with contracts entered into between the parties. We are asking the court to intervene so that Carlos Tevez can be registered to play...
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Passing The Buck
2007-07-24 16:42:00
Fifa have recommended that the Carlos Tevez dispute should go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The world football's governing body came to their decision following a high level meeting with FA and Premier League officials in Zurich yesterday, and believe their decision is in the best interests of all concerned. Fifa spokesman Andreas Herren said: "The recommendation from Fifa to the FA and the Premier League is to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Under the circumstances it was felt it would be in the best interest of all parties to take this course. It looks like being the fastest way of resolving this matter. It is not a refusal by Fifa to get involved, quite the contrary. It is a recommendation by Fifa to opt for this way."The legal team considered the case overnight before recommending CAS rule on the matter and Fifa's senior legal counsel has already been in touch with the Football Association and the Premier League to advise them of their decision. The ...
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Head Between Legs
2007-07-24 10:27:00
If a man isn't willing to take some risk for his opinions, either his opinions are no good or he's no good~ Ezra PoundDid he jump or was he pushed? Whatever the motivation behind Freddie Ljungberg's move across the capital- and there are many theories- the one thing that all parties seem to agree on is that the timing was right. The midfielder has signed on a three-year deal (with an option for an extra year) for an undisclosed fee - although it is thought it could rise to £3million - and anticipates a European challenge from his new club this season, but admitted it wouldn't be easy. "We need experience as the Premiership is the most difficult league in Europe. We need a good calm start," he said, referring to the controversial transfers of Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez that disrupted the Upton Park club last season. Alan Curbishley said that he believes Ljungberg can help transform the club this season and that his experience will be crucial in helping them challenge for ...
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Ljungberg Signs
2007-07-24 00:52:00
West Ham United have officially announced the signing of Swedish international captain Fredrik Ljungberg. The 30-year-old midfielder agreed a four-year contract with the club today after successfully passing a medical, and was unveiled to the media at Upton Park this afternoon. The player moves across London after nine years at Arsenal, where he made a total of 216 league and cup appearances - including a Champions League Final against Barcelona in May 2006. He was appointed captain of the Swedish national team following last year's World Cup finals and has won 67 senior caps, scoring 13 goals for his country. The exact financial breakdown of the deal has not been revealed but the Mail think the move is for an initial £2million ? with a further £1million dependant on performance-related factors. They say it is a £60,000-a-week deal, which replicates the player's contract at Arsenal.Ljungberg completed his move from north to east London and admitted that it was the ambition of Egg...
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Troubleshooting
2007-07-23 11:47:00
Fifa are today expected to give the green light for its troubleshooters to take on the Carlos Tevez affair. Officials from football's world governing body will meet a representative of the FA today to discuss the Argentina striker's proposed move to Manchester United as fears continue to grow that any transfer may not go ahead until January. A Fifa spokesman confirmed: "A meeting will take place on Monday. My understanding is that it will be with members of the FA, not the Premier League. It could be that someone from the Premier League comes along as well. My understanding is that a senior lawyer from the FA will come to Zurich to meet our senior legal people."West Ham and Tevez's representatives remain at loggerheads over the player's Upton Park contract and both sides believe the paperwork should be passed on to Fifa's Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC), which has specialised in sorting out such arguments - without the need for court action - since its formation in 2002. But, ...
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