West Ham in for Dunne

This story is a day late.

Yesterday various web sites (including the BBC) were saying that The Daily Express were reporting that West Ham were offering £6 million for Man City's Richard Dunne. I couldn't find the original story - and the fact that the same sources said that Dunne's current contract could be bought out for £1 million but West Ham were offering £6 million anyway made the story seem a little dubious to my tired and ageing eyes.

However the story seems to be getting off it's feet and jogging around the park. So there you are - I don't believe it - and don't think Dunne is worth £6 million - but I wouldn't say no at around the £3 million mark.

Ljungberg Makes Sweden Squad

Despite suffering a cracked rib against Newcastle United Freddie Ljungberg has been named in the Sweden squad for the European Championship this summer.

Young West Ham midfielder Jack Collison is part of the Wales side taking on England in an Under-21 friendly on Thursday. Mark Nobel had to pull out of the England side for the same game because of back and hamstring trouble picked up against Villa.

Terry Brown Claims for Loss of Chauffeur

The Daily Mail are reporting that ex-West Ham chairman Terence Brown is claiming £5m-plus from the club through a High Court writ for damages and compensation.

The contract and benefits Brown agreed with the new owners when he sold the club were terminated in May 2007 following the unravelling of the Tevez registration fiasco. Brown is claiming loss of annual salary of £492,000 and bonuses with two years running on his director's contract plus pension provision of £42,240 per year. Also in the claim are the loss of a chauffeur and mileage allowances and the use of on-site parking spaces at home and away matches.

The Mail says that West Ham have written to Brown advising him of a significant counter-claim against him over the cost to the club from the Tevez wrangling that includes the record Premier League fine of £5.5m and legal expenses.

Ashton to Be Offered New Contract

West Ham have announced that the club will sit down with Dean Ashton this Friday "to discuss terms for a new long-term contract at the club."

West Ham United Chief Executive Scott Duxbury said: "The end of the season was the appropriate time to discuss such matters and to meet Dean Ashton and his representatives. We will sit down on Friday with a view to agreeing a new long-term contract to keep Dean Ashton at Upton Park. Everyone at West Ham United is committed to taking the club forward and we will keep all supporters up to date with developments via the official website as and when we have them to report."

West Ham Close on 'New Ronaldo'

According to Sky Sports West Ham are close to clinching a loan deal for Italian starlet Davide Lanzafame.

The 21-year-old striker is a product of Juventus' youth system and made his first-team debut for them last season. He has spent this season on loan at Bari, whose coach Anontio Conte believes he could be the next Christian Ronaldo,

"Lanzafame has improved tactically," he told the Gazzetta dello Sport. "He is explosive, he sniffs the goal, and imposes his speed outside the area. If he improves and learns he can become like Cristiano Ronaldo."

Sky say he is set to sign a one year loan deal with West Ham.

On the evidence of this video he looks like he is happy with the ball at his feet and can score from anywhere.

West Ham Fifth in Average Attendance League

Someone on the KUMB forum produced this table showing stadium capacities - this year's average attendance and that average as a percentage of the capacity (the percentage of tickets sold).

The figures come from an ESPN table of this season's average attendances, that has West Ham eleventh with an average attendance of 34,601. I prefer this table, not only because we come higher :), but because it is probably a better indication of how well a club is supported.

For example, even though Everton average 300 more fans than us a game - they have a far higher capacity and only sell 87% of their tickets. Considering the season they have had that it a shocking lack of support.

Compare that to Derby, whose fans have only had one victory all season, but who sold nearly 10% more of their capacity than Everton.

1. Man Utd-------------------------76312----------75961-----------99.54%
2 Arsenal---------------------------60432---------60070-----------99.4%
3 T*ttenham-----------------------36240---------35967-----------99.25%
4 Portsmouth----------------------20224---------19914-----------98.47%
5 West Ham Utd-------------------35146---------34601-----------98.45%
6 Chelsea--------------------------42055---------41397-----------98.44%
7 Newcastle------------------------52387---------51321-----------97.97%
8 Reading--------------------------24161---------23532-----------97.4%
9 Fulham--------------------------24600---------23774-----------96.64%
10 Derby County------------------33597---------32432-----------96.53%
11 Liverpool-----------------------45362---------43532-----------95.97%
12 Aston Villa---------------------42640---------40372-----------94.68%
13 Sunderland--------------------49000---------43344-----------88.46%
14 Manchester City---------------47726---------42126-----------88.26%
15 Birmingham--------------------30016---------26181-----------87.22%
16 Everton------------------------40170---------34985-----------87.09%
17 Blackburn----------------------31367---------23916-----------76.25%
18 Middlesbrough-----------------35100---------26708-----------76.09%
19 Wigan Athletic-----------------25138---------19046-----------75.77%
20 Bolton-------------------------27879---------20901-----------74.97%

West Ham New Away Shirt

West Ham are returning to the traditional sky blue for their new away shirt.

The new away kit will be officially launched on Thursday 22 May.

On first viewing I didn't much like it but it has grown on me. However having that XL sitting above the old beer belly I always think is asking for trouble.

Ashton Pitches for New West Ham Contract

Dean Ashton has spoken about his desire to 'talk' to West Ham about his future. Despite having two years left on his current contract with the club he claims to be unaware where his 'future stands at the moment'.

There have been previous rumours that Ashton has been unhappy at earning a lot less than players signed last summer and in January 2007.

"I suppose it is flattering to be linked with United, but you don't really read a lot about what goes into the papers," said Ashton. "The thing I'm more worried about is what West Ham think of me and whether they want to keep me.

"As far as I know I'll be here. I haven't heard anything myself and the only worry is that the club haven't spoken to me yet so I don't know where I stand with the club at the moment.

"Obviously I'd like to speak to the club about my future. I'd just like to know where my future stands. I haven't really been told particularly where my future stands at the moment.

"West Ham is the team I play for. I've got two years (left) here and I want to talk to the club because I've really enjoyed myself here and that's all I'm really thinking about."

West Ham vs Villa Goals

Green for West Ham, Ashton for England

Robert Green has been named West Ham Player of the Year and Dean Ashton has been named in England's 31-man squad to face the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.

Robert Green took 52 per cent of the poll, carried out by the West Ham United Supporters Club. Fellow ever-present George McCartney was the runner-up, getting 31 per cent, with Matthew Upson in third place.

"I am very pleased. I have got a good rapport with the fans," said Green.

"I love playing in front of them, I love playing for the club ... It is a wonderful achievement for myself, it is something I failed to do in ten seasons at Norwich so I am really pleased to do it in my second season at West Ham."

Ashton scored five goals in his last eight games. Overall Ashton netted 10 goals in 23 starts in all competitions this season.

West Ham 2 Villa 2

Ferdinand was back from injury to partner Tomkins at the back with Neil returning to right back. Solano started on the right wing and Boa Morte on the left.

In glorious sunshine the game started at a fair crack. The first chance of the game came to Zamora on 60 seconds. However Zamara could only head Solano's cross wide and high of the Villa goal. Two minutes later, at the other end of the pitch, Ashley Young fired in a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area 12 yards out and the ball hit the far post.

In the seventh minute West Ham won a free-kick just outside the Villa area when Ferdinand was brought down by Bouma. Solano curled the free-kick into the net for a goal for West Ham. Carson should have done better in goal.

After the West Ham goal Villa started to pile on some pressure and in the next few minutes both Parker and Neil were booked for rash challenges. It took Villa only five minutes to get the equaliser. Ashley Young's earlier effort that hit the bar should have warned West Ham, but no - they let him have another go from roughly the same spot and this time his effort hit the back of the net. Young was played in by a little midfielder whose name eludes me.

In the 15th minute Boa Morte was clean through on goal but the referee decided to stop the game because Tomkins was down injured. In the 23rd minute Carew just failed to connect properly with a Petrov through ball, a decent connection and Villa would have taken the lead. In the 23rd minute Young's picked out Agbonlahor with a through-ball, but he lashed his shot well wide.

In the 35th minute Zamora shot right-footed from the right side of the penalty area, 18 yards out, but his shot was blocked by Bouma. In the 37th minute Mark Noble shot right-footed from 20 yards but missed right of the goal. In the 43rd minute Carew got his head to a Young cross but sent his near-post effort wide. A minute later Zamora shot from 18 yards and missed left.

In injury time at the end of the first half Zamora's shot left-footed from just outside the box. His shot beat Carson in goal but just flew wide.

After the break Pantsil came on instead of McCartney (hamstring). Within 40 seconds of the restart Boa Morte forced a save from Carson after a run at the Villa defence and a 20 yard effort. In the 49th minute Carew shot right-footed from the left side of the penalty area from 12 yards and Green saved. Then in the 52nd minute Carew had a header cleared off the line by Noble.

In the 56th minute Reo-Coker (I remember his name now) shot from twelve yards, his shot was parried by Green. Barry pounced on the rebound and scored from 12 yards.

Two minutes after the Villa goal Solano took another great free-kick. This time Carson managed to tip the ball around the post. From the resulting corner Ashton got his head to the ball only to see Mellberg block his shot on the line. Two minutes after that and Zamora headed a Boa Morte cross against the post from 12 yards.

West Ham continued to pile on the pressure. In the 62nd minute Parker shot over the bar from 20 yards. In the 65th minute Mark Noble forced a save from Carson with an 18 yard effort.

At this point elsewhere Sp#rs decided to roll over and die - and Liverpool scored two goals in five minutes to secure tenth place for West Ham.

In the 73rd minute Cole came on for Zamora. However an exciting game up until this point then seemed to peter out. In the 80th minute Sears came on for Solano. In the 81st minute Ashton shot from 12 yards but missed right.

With two minutes left of the ninety minutes and the game seemingly over - enter Deano. Dean Ashton drilled a right-footed shot first time into the bottom right of the goal from 20 yards to earn West Ham their final point of the season.

A reasonable result to end a reasonable season.

Man United win the title. Reading, Birmingham and Derby are relegated.

Boa Morte Not Happy at West Ham

It looks like Boa Morte could be one of the players out of the door in the summer. The News of the World quote Boa Morte as saying,

"I've got another two years on my contract. I can't say I'm completely happy at West Ham. In the end we'll see."

Which doesn't sound like the sort of thing someone staying at the club would say. Of course the quote could have been taken slightly out of context. He might well have been asked something about whether he was happy with the way the West Ham fans have reacted to him this season.

West Ham vs Aston Villa

The only links I could find for live streaming were posted on a forum. I have no idea whether any of these will work.

As of 3pm none of the below links seem to be working:

Sopcast: Truesports1 sop://202.190.75.149:3912/3606
Sopcast Ben1 sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/22260
TVants Truesports5 tvants://list.tvants.com/tvants/?k=297d ... f9f91fb51f
Tvants Truesports1 tvants://list.tvants.com/tvants/?k=3505 ... 6859370068
Windows Media Player Truesports1 mms://61.19.248.56/sport3

I can't find radio commentary for today's game. Being the last day of the football season and today's games being hugely important BBC Radio London are commentating live on two rugby games!

If anyone does have any leads to live streams please leave a comment!

West Ham Keeping Ashton

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley says that Dean Ashton will not be sold during the summer break. Curbishley is under orders to reduce the size of the West Ham squad but he insists the club won't be selling their star players.

"Every club outside the top four has this problem every summer. Even Spurs and people like that are going to come under pressure," said Curbishley.

"But since the new group took over West Ham we have tried to push forward and I don't see selling players as a way of pushing forward. The people who left last summer (Nigel Reo-Coker, Marlon Harewood, Yossi Benayoun) asked to go and we wanted to have a change around.

"I want to see certain combinations of players that I haven't had a chance to see. I want to play Craig Bellamy with Dean Ashton. I am enthusiastic about when we join up again."

Bellamy Training With Cardiff

The West Ham official site has announced that Craig Bellamy will train with Cardiff in the lead up to their FA Cup final. Bellamy has been out injured since playing against Wigan in February and will be training with The Bluebirds in a bid to regain full fitness.

Alan Curbishley said,

"Bellamy is in full training and has been doing everything. We're going to hopefully continue that.

"Obviously we finish at the weekend but kindly Dave Jones has allowed Craig to train with them for a week as they prepare for the cup game so he can get another week's football in."

West Ham Contract Renewals

It is reported that West Ham will hold a board meeting on Monday which will include chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson and manager Alan Curbishley. One item on the agenda is the three players out of contract this summer. Alan Curbishley said,

"We've only got a couple of contracts up this summer. Young Tony Stokes, Nobby Solano, who came in on deadline day, and on-loan Henri Camara, who will go back to Wigan."

Curbishley has been told by Gudmundsson to cut down his 34-man squad and slash the club's wage bill. At 33 years of age Nobby Solano could well be the first player to suffer from West Ham's belt tightening.

West Ham Bid for Diego Confirmed

Antonio Fiuza president of Gil Vicente claims the club are negotiating with West Ham for the transfer of 26 year old centre back Diego Gaucho.

Portuguese sources claim the move could initially be on loan from August with a view to a permanent deal for the Brazil-born defender, who is hoping to complete the process of becoming a European citizen.

Coincidently Gil Vicente are managed by Paulo Alves who made four substitute appearances for West Ham on loan to the club in 1998.

West Ham vs Villa: The Predictions

West Ham are confirmed tenth place tomorrow if we beat Aston Villa. If we lose and Sp#rs beat Liverpool at WHL then Sp#rs will snatch tenth spot.

The omens aren't good as far as the Curse of Lawro goes. He actually predicts West Ham to win and Sp#rs to only draw.

Lawro predicts:
A 2-1 win for West Ham against Villa
A 1-1 draw for Sp#rs vs Liverpool
Result: 10th spot

Sky predict:
A 0-2 loss for West Ham
A 1-1 draw for Sp#rs vs Liverpool
Result: 10th spot.

Setanta predict:
A 2-2 draw
A 3-2 win for Sp#rs vs Liverpool
Result: 11th spot

BBC Say West Ham to Cut Costs

News of the West Ham's owners orders to Curbishley to reduce the squad size has reached the BBC.

The BBC are reporting that West Ham boast "a first-team squad of 40 players - one of the biggest in the Premier League - and a wage bill approaching £50m a year." They say that "turnover for the 2006/7 season was £57.3m", so West Ham are far from reaching their target of "being self sustaining".

The BBC say they have been told by a senior source at the club that Curbishley will still be in charge at the start of next season but has to trim the wage bill and sell players before he buys new ones.

"Mr Gudmundsson is used to looking at long-term factors and knows you don't judge a manager in any business after 18 months," the source said.

"Now is a time to stabilise, because we are convinced that success comes through stability. The ratio between wages and turnover is too high at the moment. We have probably the biggest first-team squad in the Premiership and our transfer strategy has to be carefully planned going forward.

"West Ham have a first-team squad of 40, so there is considerable room for manoeuvre. The last thing you should do when you have a problem is to throw money at it."

However this frugality is not due to Gudmundsson's finances, which remain healthy,

"Lansbanki is still running with considerable, healthy profits," the source insisted.

"Gudmundsson also has interests in several other companies and they are doing well. In the Forbes rich list last April he was the second wealthiest man in Iceland (behind his son) and one of the 1,000 richest men in the world.

"We finalised the financial arrangements of West Ham before the credit crisis hit and the club is on a very stable footing. That financial framework hasn't changed a bit."

The source also said that West Ham are looking to improve the medical facilities at the club.

"The medical and training facilities are better than those at a lot of other Premier League clubs but not as good as AC Milan's, which is the level we are aiming for," the source said.