News Update

Yesterday may have lacked action on the pitch but the news was still rolling. This site is a one man operation so it was a struggle to post here, but what happened yesterday?
Well Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier was admitted to hospital yesterday morning suffering from chest pains. It is expected the Frenchman will not be back on the sidelines until the new season. Until then Villa number 2 Gary McAllister will take charge of the first team.
Much was mentioned about Arsenals failure to capitalize on a two goal lead against Tottenham which saw then lead 3-1 and leave White Hart Lane with one point, and an entertaining (for the neutrals) 3-3 draw.
Norwich won the 'Old Farm Derby' beating Ipswich 5-1 at Portman Road, there biggest victory there since the second world war'
North of the border parcel bombs were intercepted by Royal Mail destined for Celtic manager Neil Lennon, Paul McBride QC and Labour politician Trish Godman (both have Celtic connections). Its not known who sent the parcels but the investigation into the incident on March 26 is ongoing.
And finally congratulations go to West Ham's Scott Parker who last night won the Footballer Of The Year by the Football Writers Association just pipping Tottenhams Gareth Bale to the award.


Quite a busy day then yesterday, I endeavour to update the site with more tales from the world of football as well as the news from the Emirates as regining 'Unofficial Premier League Champions' Arsenal are preparing for their trip north to face Bolton Wanderers.


Have a great Good Friday


Jamie

Robbie Keane In West Ham Switch Fee: Loan

WorldwideFootball can reveal Tottenham striker Robbie Keane has crossed the Olympic Stadium divide and joined West Ham United on loan and should the Hammers stay in the Premier League then he will join permanently on a two year deal.
Keane, who is Republic of Irelands leading marksmen has struggled to get games this year making 7 appearances (5 as sub) and althought he has remained in Giovanni Trappatoni's national side Keane was warned he would lose his place iif he wasn't playing first team football.
West Ham have been long time admirers of Robbie Keane, they were interested in signing him when he was playing in Italy for Internazionale but instead he headed to Elland Road and joined Leds United but ten years later they have finally got their man!!
Keane could make his debut next Wednesday when West Ham head north to play Ian Holloways Blackpool but Hammers supporters everywhere will be hoping the man who has been prolific in the Premier League can score the goals to ensure Premier League football next season.


Robbie Keane's career:


1997-1999 - Wolverhampton Wanderers - 74 apps (24 goals)
1999-2000 - Coventry City - 31 apps (12 goals)
2000-2001 - Internazionale - 14 apps (3 goals)
2001 - Leeds United (loan) - 18 apps (9 goals)
2001-2002 - Leeds United - 28 apps (4 goals)
2002-2008 - Tottenham Hotspur - 197 apps (80 goals)
2008-2009 - Liverpool - 19 apps (5 goals)
2009 - Tottenham Hotspur - 41 apps (11 goals)
2010 - Celtic (loan) - 16 apps (12 goals)

Demba Ba Joins West Ham Fee: Undisclosed

Senegal striker Demba Ba has joined Premier League side West Ham United for an undisclosed fee.
It was thought Ba, 25 would be heading for a multi-million pound move to Stoke City until he failed a medical last week but West Ham, who have been chasing the player for a while have decided to not only sign the striker but also make it a permanent transfer and not the loan as originally planed.
Ba, capped 8 times by his country had been on strike at Hoffenheim after the German club decided he wasn't allowed to move clubs but the offer West Ham put forward, which includes additional fees after appearances was satisfactory enough for the club to decide it was time to sell the striker.
After scoring 37 goals in 97 appearances for Hoffenheim, West Ham manager Avram Grant will be hoping Ba will settle into the Premier League quickly to start scoring the goals to ensure survival for the Hammers who currently find themselves languishing at the bottom of the table.
After signing Ba, Wayne Bridge and Gary O'Neil, West Ham are expected to sign more players before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday.


Demba Ba's career:


2005-2006 - Rouen - 26 apps (22 goals)
2006-2007 - Mouscron - 12 apps (8 goals)
2007-2011 - 1899 Hoffenheim - 97 apps (37 goals)

Arsenal Late Show Denies Hammers A Point Arsenal 1 (Song 88) West Ham 0

Alex Song headed an 88th-minute winner as Arsenal snatched a dramatic victory to keep West Ham bottom of the table.
The visitors looked on course for a hard-earned point thanks to a string of outstanding saves from Robert Green.
He reacted brilliantly to repel a Cesc Fabregas shot in the first half and later thwarted Theo Walcott and Fabregas for the second time.
Samir Nasri hit the bar and Walcott the post before Song nodded in Gael Clichy's cross to seal the points.
The result keeps Arsenal second in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Chelsea, while West Ham stay 20th, cut three points adrift of any other team after Wolves shocked Manchester City.
Arsene Wenger's side looked to have hit a brick wall as Green and the tireless Hammers defence saw off attack after attack in the second half.
But their pressure eventually told thanks to Song's late intervention and Wenger's men can head into Wednesday's Champions League game at Shakhtar Donetsk in high spirits.
West Ham must now regroup ahead of their trip to Birmingham next Saturday and, despite this demoralising late defeat, they deserve plenty of credit for a resilient display.
Both sides arrived off the back of morale-boosting victories in the Carling Cup, but a return to league action brought with it a reminder of the current disparity between the two clubs.
While financially-sound Arsenal appear well set to launch a sustained challenge for the Premier League title, cash-strapped West Ham have struggled badly in Avram Grant's first season at the helm.
Having collecting just six points from their first nine matches, midfielder Valon Behrami had admitted his side were taking to the field "a little bit scared" - and a lack of belief was apparent in the early stages as they struggled to make it out of their own half.
The busy Andrey Arshavin shot wide after a flowing move and it took a superb challenge from Danny Gabbidon to deny Nasri, whose corner was then headed over by Song.
West Ham did well to emerge from the opening quarter unscathed and they soon settled into a tidy rhythm, looking dangerous from both set-pieces and on the counter-attack.
Free-kicks by Mark Noble and Victor Obinna caused trouble, Frederic Piquionne squandered a promising opening after surging in from the right and Arsenal had to be alert following Obinna's run and cross from the left.
The Gunners carved out the best chance of the first half when Song and Bacary Sagna combined to tee up Fabregas, but Green showed quick reaction to save the Spaniard's curling effort with an athletic dive to his right.
Arsenal were not at their fluent best but still carved out chances and Green did well to thwart Song and Sebastien Squillaci before the break.
There was a greater sense of urgency about the hosts after half-time and Nasri rattled the woodwork with a 35-yard free-kick to set the tone.
West Ham were working hard to keep their opponents at bay but Nasri, Fabregas and Arshavin began to station themselves higher up the pitch in support of lone-striker Marouane Chamakh and Walcott came on for Denilson as Arsenal went all out for the win.
Chamakh glanced an Arshavin free-kick straight at Green before Walcott latched on to Fabregas's sublime through-ball and watched his low strike come come back off a post.
West Ham once again had Green to thank for a one-handed save from Fabregas and, with time ticking, Wenger introduced Nicklas Bendtner in place of Arshavin.
Arsenal continued to press and it eventually paid off as Song rushed on to Clichy's floated ball in from the left and won the match with a close-range header.


Line-Ups:


Arsenal: 21-Fabianski, 03-Sagna, 04-Fabregas, 06-Koscielny, 08-Nasri, 15-Denilson, 17-Song, 18-Squillaci, 22-Clichy, 23-Arshavin, 29-Chamakh Subs Used: 14-Walcott, 27-Eboue, 52-Bendtner
West Ham: 01-Green, 04-Gabbidon, 08-Parker, 13-Boa Morte, 16-Noble, 21-Behrami, 22-Da Costa, 23-Ilunga, 30-Piquionne, 33-Obinna, 37-Jacobsen Subs Used: 09-Cole, 12-Barrera, 20-Faubert


Todays Other Scores:
Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Chelsea: BR-Benjani, CH-Anelka, Ivanovic
Everton 1-0 Stoke: EV-Yakubu
Fulham 2-0 Wigan Athletic: FU-Dempsey (2)
Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur: MU-Vidic, Nani
Wolverhampton Wanderes 2-1 Manchester City: WW-Milijas, Edwards MC-Adebayor

West Ham Hammered By Pensioners West Ham United 1 (Parker 85) Chelsea 3 (Essien 2 & 83, Kalou 18)

The Premier League took a 2 week break for international commitments but it took Chelsea 2 minutes to get back into the swing of things against a West Ham side low on confidence.  This defeat for the Hammers makes it the worst start to a season in the clubs history and already there is uncertainty over the future of Avram Grant.

Chelsea on the other hand have a perfect 100% record this season and have already scored 17 goals in their 4 games conceding just the one by Scott Parker today.

We may only be 4 games into the season but West Ham find themselves rooted at the bottom of the table, 4 points adrift from safety and with games against Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur they could be in danger of being further away from safety.

Back to the game and after 2 minutes Didier Drogba's cross from a corner found Essien unmarked to head his team in front, despite Carlton Cole's efforts to head the ball clear.

Chelsea's second goal had more than a hint of farce about it as Hammers goalkeeper Rob Green failed to cling on to a low Drogba free-kick. Upson pounced on the loose ball but his clearance cannoned into Kalou's heel and looped into the net.

Most people in the crowd knew the game was already over yet we hadn't reached the 20 minute mark.  The rest of the first half Chelsea were in control but West Ham managed to create some chances but nothing to worry Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal.

The second half saw West Ham try to take control but they couldn't get behind Chelsea and make Cech work, Chelsea seemed to have all the answers and then with 7 minutes left Essien got his second goal of the game.  Paulo Ferreira's cross found Essien who nodded home from close range.

Five minutes from time and West Ham got themselves on the scoresheet.  Cech cleared a West Ham corner but his punch found Parker who volleyed the ball over Cech and into the net.  If you heard the cheer of the West Ham crowd you wouldn't have realised they had scored.  The usual noise from the crowd had dwindled as the realisation of a relegation battle was starting to hit home.

Lineups:

West Ham: 01-Green, 3-Ben Haim, 08-Parker, 09-Cole, 13-Boa Morte, 15-Upson, 16-Noble, 21-Behrami, 23-Ilunga, 33-Obinna, 37-Jacobsen Subs Used 07-Dyer, 30-Piquionne

Chelsea: 01-Cech, 02-Ivanovic, 03-Cole, 05-Essien, 07-Ramires, 11-Drogba, 12-Obi Mikel, 19 Ferreira, 21-Kalou, 26 Terry, 39-Anelka Subs Used: 15-Malouda, 33-Alex, 44-Kakuta

Todays Other Scores:

Arsenal 4-1 Bolton Wanderers: AR-Koscielny, Chamakh, Song, Vela BW-Elmander

Everton 3-3 Manchester United: EV-Pienaar, Cahill, Arteta MU-Fletcher, Vidic, Berbatov

Fulham 2-1 Wolves: FU-Dembele (2) WW-Van Damme

Manchester City 1-1 Blackburn Rovers: MC-Viera BR-Kalinic

Newcastle United 0-2 Blackpool: BP-Adam(pen), Campbell

West Brom 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur: WB-Brunt TH-Modric

Wigan Athletic 1-1 Sunderland: WA-Alcaraz SU-Gyan

Obinna Inters The Boleyn Fee: Loan

Worldwide Football can reveal West Ham have signed striker Victor Obinna on a season-long loan from Inter Milan.

The Hammers had been in talks to sign the 23-year-old, who has been deemed surplus to requirements by new Inter boss Rafa Benitez

These have now come to fruition as Avram Grant seeks to bolster his squad which has only netted once in their opening two Premier League games - and that from a spot-kick in the 3-1 home defeat to Bolton.

The Nigeria international came close to a move to Everton two years ago only for work permit problems to scupper the deal but has now got his chance to shine in the Premier League.

He becomes the club's sixth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Thomas Hitzlsperger, Tal Ben Haim, Winston Reid, Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne

The Hammers' deal for Obinna includes an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

Obinna made two appearances for Nigeria in the 2010 World Cup where the Super Eagles failed to get out of a group containing Argentina, South Korea and Greece.

He joined Inter in the summer of 2008 from another Italian club Chievo.

Victor Obinna's career:

2005 - 2008 - Chievo - 82 apps (19 goals)

2008 - Inter Milan - 9 apps (1 goal)

2009-2010 - Malaga (loan) - 26 apps (4 goals)

International career:

2005 - Nigeria - 34 apps (11 goals)

Reid is All White For West Ham

Worldwide Football can confirm West Ham have completed the signing of New Zealand defender Winston Reid from Danish side FC Midtjylland.
The 22-year-old, one of the stars of his country's unbeaten World Cup campaign, has joined on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
Reid, who passed a medical on Thursday, is the Hammers' fifth summer signing, following in the footsteps of Thomas Hitzlsperger, Pablo Barrera, Frederic Piquionne and Tal Ben Haim.
Reid, who can play centre-half or right-back, put himself in the shop window this summer when he scored a dramatic late equaliser in New Zealand's World Cup opener against Slovakia.
He also helped his country secure impressive draws with Italy and Paraguay but those results were not enough to see them progress to the last 16.
He spent the last five seasons with Midtjylland and cannot wait to test himself in the Barclays Premier League.
"I am looking forward to getting started," he told the Hammers' website.
"My dream has been to come and play in the Premier League and I am happy that I am a West Ham player.
"It has been a mad couple of weeks and the last couple of days have been pretty hectic, so I am just happy to be here now. I am pretty decent fitness-wise. I had a game last Sunday so I am in pretty good nick."
Reid, who is of Maori heritage, moved to Denmark at the age of 10 and represented them up to under-21 level before switching allegiance to his native New Zealand shortly before the World Cup.
He added: "The World Cup was a life-changing experience and something I will remember forever.
"I want to bring the positives from that here on the pitch at West Ham.
"This club has great history and the league is one of the best in the world. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead."


Winston Reid's Career:


2005-2010 - FC Midtjylland - 84 apps (2 goals)


2007 - Denmark U19 - 4 apps
2008 - Denmark U20 - 1 apps
2008-2010 - Denmark U21 - 10 apps
2010 - New Zealand - 6 apps (1 goal)

West Ham In Possible Takeover?

West Ham seem to be in for a windfall if rumours in East London turn out to be fact.

The Hammers,who are in the market for Brazilian wonderkid Neymar and French striker Loic Remy of Nice we're last season close to going into administration, now they have the funds to go for these two promising players so where is the money coming from, well we may well have the answer.

Davids Gold and Sullivan currently own 60% of West Ham and the other 40% is going to be owned by Saudi Arabian billionaires.  The destiny of West Ham is actually in the hands of the government.  If they give West Ham the go-ahead and allow them the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Olympics then the Saudi's will buy the other 60% at top dollar price and plough money into West Ham taking them onto the next level.  We are trying to find out who the family are so if we hear anymore we will let you know, like we say, at the moment it is only a rumour but if it comes to fruition then it looks like the good times could be returning to West Ham.