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Is Bellamy on his way?

Controversial Welsh striker Craig Bellamy is at the height of speculation this afternoon after he was left out of the West Ham team which beat Fulham.

The Hammers saw off their London neighbours by three goals to one at Upton Park, yet many of their loyal fans will be returning home wondering what is going on with their star striker rather than celebrating the result.

Bellamy has become the target of transfer speculation in the lat week with Manchester City and Spurs said to be interested. The most serious connection has seemingly come fro White Hart Lane and it is here where the Welshman is expected to go.

Speaking to the West Ham official website, manager Gianfranco Zola stated that Bellamy had been omitted from the team due to the fact that he did not train on Saturday. This does seem a rather fragile excuse of course and will do nothing to dilute the fears of the Hammers fans that Bellamy is on his way out of Upton Park.

Harry Redknapp has kept understandably quite about the episode which increases speculation further and it is suspected that the move will be complete within the next week.

Sheffield United still fighting on the Tevez front

You might remember some years ago, when Tevez and Mascherano joined West Ham (and everyone wondered how, why and how???) the little Argentinean was so effective for the Hammers that he saved them from relegation, scoring the winner on the last day of the season away at Old Trafford against champions United.

This was all well and good, except that it meant Sheffield United were relegated, and Tevez shouldn’t have been playing at all. Naturally Sheffield United were aggrieved, and took their fight to remain in the Premiership to the courts. They lost, but still fought on. Now they’re actually starting to get somewhere as an independent tribunal has decided that West Ham were in the wrong when they continued to play Tevez at the end of the 2006-2007 season.

Now United are seeking over £30 million in compensation from West Ham, for their relegation that season. No amount has been confirmed yet for the compensation, but that will be decided later.

The ruled from the FA states:

the parties shall be deemed to have waived irrevocably any right to appeal, review or any recourse to a court of law.

West Ham were found guilty, but instead of being docked points they were fined, which didn’t help Sheffield United (or any of the other teams in truth) who were battling against relegation at the time.

Zola poised for Hammers

It is believed that West Ham are have decided that they want Gianfranco Zola as their new manager. This has come after a board meeting yesterday where the directors were unanimous in their decision of opting for the mercurial Italian.

Former manager Alan Curbishley walked out on the club just over a week ago amid complaints that players were being sold without his knowledge, including the sale of defender Anton Ferdinand.

Zola was in a shortlist drawn up by West Ham, that included Roberto Donadoni and John Collins.

A spokesman for West Ham stated:

We are now negotiating with Gianfranco, although a final decision will be subject to board approval.

We were very comfortable with the three options we had - Zola, Donadoni and Collins - but Gianfranco was the first choice.

The board gave Scott Duxbury authorisation to approach him and will meet Gianfranco before any contract is signed.

Zola seems very keen to move to West Ham, and is currently the assistant manager of Italy’s under 21 side.

West Ham are also very keen on Zola, believing he is the right man for the job.

It’s true that he has no experience of managing a club side, but he knows the Premier League very well

His English is very good and he can talk about football with English players and inspire them.

He has a record of developing young footballers, which is very important to us, and was obviously a world-class player.

We expect an announcement of Zola’s appointment as West Ham manager very soon.

Alan Curbishley leaves the Hammers

While it looked at the way that Keegan would be the first departure of the Premiership season, Alan Curbishley just nipped in there and beat him to it. Curbishley resigned as West Ham manager amid speculation over the last few weeks that he would be sacked.

Poor results for West Ham, including a scare against Macclesfield Town in the cup, led to Hammers fans calling for Curbishley’s head, but a thumping home win on the weekend against Blackburn won the fans back onside.

However just days later and Curbs quit as manager over the board selling players without his consent. Both Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney were sold by West Ham, when Curbishley wanted to keep them in his squad.

Curbishley, a lifelong Hammers fan and former player, stated:

The selection of players is critical to the job of manager and I had an agreement with the club that I alone would determine the composition of the squad.

I started my West Ham career when I left school in 1974 and have remained a lifelong fan.

I have been incredibly proud to manage such a great club and my decision to resign has been very tough.

Nevertheless, I wish the club and the players every success in the future.

West Ham will now be looking for a successor to Curbishley, but they’ll struggle to find anyone as accomplished as him.

Thatcher to join the Hammers?

When it comes to unpopular footballers, Ben Thatcher must be right up there near the top, and not because he shares a surname with the second most hated woman in England (after Heather Mills of course). No, Thatcher was the player who elbowed Pedro Mendes in the face, sending the player to hospital. It was a brutal challenge that landed in Thatcher receiving a six-match ban.

Now it seems the brutal Welsh defender could be joining the Hammers, as Alan Curbishley looks to cover for his injured players. He is currently without a recognised leftback after two players picked up injuries.

Thatcher played in the Hammers’ friendly against Villarreal yesterday, and was universally booed by the West Ham fans.

Curbishley however remains undaunted at Thatcher’s apparent lack of popularity.

We’ve a few injury niggles at the back and I am looking for some experienced cover.

Ben is steady but he has a couple of clubs interested in him and I will have to have a think about it.

With Jonathan Spector and George McCartney both injured, Thatcher may get his chance at the Premiership once more, which spells bad news for any opposing right-wingers.

Bolton 1 - 0 West Ham

1 point out of a possible 24 for the home side coming into the match, the Wanderer’s have been slowly wandering into the Championship, last season the Trotters were in fifth pushing for a Champions League spot at this stage of the season while West Ham were fighting for their lives.

Things didn’t start well for the away side when Ferdinand had to go off injured after a few minutes. Bolton came near to the opener Kevin Davies header being cleared off the line by Jonathan Spector. Davies had a second effort cleared off the line by Scott Parker, as Bolton pilled on the pressure from corners and throw-ins. Diouf thought he grabbed the first of the game when he tapped in a free kick but he was ruled offside, on second viewing an incorrect decision.

Bolton kept up the pressure from the first half and it didn’t take long into the second period to break the deadlock. Kevin Davies smashing in from a yard after Spector inpeded Green when he went to clear a the Bolton corner.

Dean Aston came the closest to grabber in a goal for West Ham, his overhead kick tipped onto the bar by Al Habsi. Kevin Nolan did have the ball in the net, that effort was disallowed correctly for offside.

The win moved Bolton onto 29 points two away from Birmingham.

West Ham 2 - 1 Blackburn

After some heavy defeats in recent weeks West Ham managed a win at home. Rovers took the lead when Roque Santa Cruz headed in a Gamst Pedersen’s from a counter attack. Dean Ashton grabbed a goal to make it all level a turn and then slotted past Friedal.

In the second half a home grown player Fred Sears came on to make his debut and what an impact he made. His shot was saved by Fiedal but he flung himself at the rebound to head in the winner.

Curbishley rues disastrous week

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley has responded to this afternoon’s four nil defeat to Spurs by describing the last week as been “disastrous”.

Defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool by the same score preceded the clash with Tottenham as Curbishley looked for a positive response to a growingly depressing situation at Upton Park.

Yet braces from Berbatov and Bent gave the Carling Cup winners all three points without them having to break into that much of a sweat.

The former Charlton supremo has placed much of the blame for the recent downturn in fortunes on his defense which has looked increasingly suspect over recent weeks. Speaking to Sky Sports, Curbishley stated –

“This week has seen our goal difference shot to pieces. It was worth about a point to us and our defensive record was probably the fifth best in the Premier League, but that’s been shot to pieces as well.”

Curbishley also made specific reference to Luis Boa Morte’s sending off for the midfielder’s late tackle on Aaron Lennon, stating that “He’s professional enough and experienced enough that he should have avoided that, so I’m massively disappointed.”

The Hammers are currently tenth in the Premier League, nine points off a European place which is a massive improvement on last year but still a big disappointment, considering their excellent start to the campaign.

Curbishley will no doubt be making changes ahead of Blackburn’s visit to Upton Park next Saturday!

Premiership Round Up

Another great Premiership Saturday, it was good to get back to watching football after the weeks major news of the announcement of the possibility of a 39th game to be played overseas. With the top 3 not playing the concentration was on the battle for 4th place and the battle of the bottom.

Aston Villa 4 - 1 Newcastle

Kevin Keegan is still without a win in his second spell at Newcastle. Micheal Owen had given the away side the lead in the first half. The second half with a few chances Villa came out on top, a deflected Bouma shot, two Carew headers and a Carew penalty sealed the match. Carew was awesome and fully deserves his hattrik

Everton 1 - 0 Reading

Yakubu was left out after coming back late from the African cup of Nations. The first half of the match was pretty quiet at Goodison Park. The addition of James Vaughan at half time helped, and Everton took the lead when a second ball from a corner found Phil Jageilka who looped in a header at the far post. That defeat for Reading and other results meant that the Royals moved into the bottom three for the first time this season.

Sunderland 2 - 0 Wigan

Sunderland recorded their fourth straight home win, and over fellow relegation rivals meant they moved out of the bottom three. Dickson Etuhu back from the African Cup of Nations grabbed a goal just before half time heading in from a free-kick. The Black Cats doubled the lead in the second half, this was after Wigan hit the woodwork twice, a cracking ball from Andy Reid found Daryl Murphy who thumped in a shot of the underside of the bar form all of 25 yards.

Middlesborough 1 - 0 Fulham

Afonso Alves who signed last week for £12 million started the game on the bench, it was another stirker who grabbed the only goal of the game in the frist half, Jeremie Aliadiere slotting in after breaking the offside trap. Alves came on the second half but was unable to make an impact.

Bolton 0 - 1 Portsmouth

The first half saw former Pompy player Matt Taylor miss a sitter, an open goal from all of 3 yards. The only goal came late in the game for the away side Lassana Diarra with his first goal in the Premiership. He did look offside which compounded the misery for the home side who had been the better side and had been denied by an inform David James on numerous occasions, no doubt that James is England’s number 1.

Derby 0 - 3 Tottenham

Well the Rams managed to hang on till the second half but then Spurs class shone. Robbie Keane tabbed in after Roy Carroll saved from Malbranque. The second from Kaboul when Derby couldn’t clear from a corner. The third form the spot for Berbatov after Stubbs handballed.

West Ham 1 - 1 Birmingham

James McFadden grabbed his first goal for Birmingham again West Ham, the Scot equalized from the spot after he was brought down in the box by Lucas Niell. West Ham had taken the lead in the first half, a long throw was flicked on by Cole and Ljungberg stole in at the far post to tap smash in the opener. Lee Bowyer decide to get himself sent off for a lunge on Johnson, bit of a shocker from Mr Battenburg.

Two games tomorrow complete the weekends football, and you don’t better than Liverpool Chelsea and the Manchester derby.

Barclays Premier League
Chelsea v Liverpool, 16:00
Man Utd v Man City, 13:30

winningiseverything Premiership round-up

The results are in for the weekends matches, the Premiership finished with for another week.

The big winners this weekend were those at the wrong end of the table really. Fulham, Wigan and Bolton all won their respective games against Villa (2-1), West Ham (1-0) and Reading (2-0) to leave Derby further adrift at the bottom and some worried faces at clubs such as Reading (who are in free-fall), Sunderland and Birmingham.

Arguably anyone up to Tottenham are still in the relegation fight, but with Spurs having an upturn in fortunes and a scoring record the envy of many European contenders they will be fine. After their perhaps surprising 1-1 draw with champions Manchester United they will be looking to move onward and upward toward top-half status.

Newcastle and Middlesbrough played out a dull 1-1 draw as did Derby and Birmingham.

Jermain Defoe will be pleased with his weekends work, as he scored on his debut for Portsmouth against Chelsea to push the London club further behind the leaders.

Speaking of which, Arsenal maintained their excellent form this season with a 3-1 win at Manchester City, with two goals form the superb Adebayor. Wenger just seems to have a knack of selling players when he sees that they are holding up the progression of others. He did it with Viera to allow Fabregas to progress and now he has done it this season, letting Henry go to give Adebayor room to shine. As for Manchester City, they suffered their first home defeat this season and will be hoping that the Benjani deal goes through so that they have a striker that can actually score.

European contenders Blackburn and Everton played out a 0-0 draw at Ewood, but the Toffees will be disappointed that Andy Johnson’s goal in the second half was ruled out by the officials.

Finally, Liverpool recaptured some form as they beat Sunderland 3-0 at home. With their game in hand they may now feel a little more confident for that fourth spot.

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