Skirge Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/07/11/are_west_ham_the_new_newcastle.html Are West Ham the new Newcastle United? Eggert Magnusson's willingness to splash the cash on transfer fees and wages is more than a little reminiscent of Freddy Shepherd. Jeremy Wilson July 11, 2007 12:23 AM The signing yesterday of Craig Bellamy for £7.5m brought West Ham United's total spending under Alan Curbishley to almost £40m. Only Manchester United have been livelier in the transfer market during 2007 and it would certainly be difficult to question the ambition of the chairman, Eggert Magnusson. Yet while Sir Alex Ferguson's spending spree has been underpinned by a plan to revitalise key areas of his squad with the best young talent in world football, it is rather more difficult to detect a clear policy at West Ham. The Hammers seem to find themselves linked with just about every available player, while a central bargaining tool appears simple: the willingness of Magnusson to pay high wages and big transfer fees. It is a strategy that has provoked comparisons with Freddy Shepherd's style at Newcastle United, where Bellamy spent almost four seasons. Shepherd shares Magnusson's high ambitions but, while his various managers were always well backed in the transfer market, a regular air of change and uncertainty hardly contributed to a settled and balanced squad. For years, Newcastle has been regarded as the biggest soap opera in English football but there is certainly now competition from West Ham. As well as the Tevez/Mascherano affair, West Ham were dogged last season by rumours of problems behind the scenes, including stories about a gambling culture and cliques between players. There was also Anton Ferdinand's mid-season birthday trip to the United States when he was supposed to be visiting his grandmother on the Isle of Wight. New players were signed in January but it was almost exclusively the remains of Alan Pardew's squad - notably Carlos Tevez - who inspired the club to survival. Tevez now wants out, the former captain Nigel Reo-Coker has left, along with Yossi Benayoun yesterday, while the futures of Matthew Etherington, Paul Konchesky, Marlon Harewood and Ferdinand are unclear. Scott Parker, Julien Faubert, Richard Wright and now Bellamy have been signed and there is real cause for optimism after Curbishley oversaw the great escape from relegation last season. The new additions have arrived partly because of circumstances at their previous clubs. The Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce allowed Parker to move south after Joey Barton became available, while Bellamy left Liverpool following the signing of Fernando Torres. Faubert had set his sights on a move to Rangers but had little choice except West Ham once Bordeaux had accepted their offer. Of the missed targets, the most notable was Darren Bent, who opted for Tottenham despite being offered higher wages at West Ham. Curbishley then turned his attentions to Bellamy, who yesterday agreed a five-year contract. The current buoyancy of the transfer market is reflected by the fact that Liverpool will have made a £1.5m profit on his sale despite nine goals in 42 club appearances over the past year. West Ham will be Bellamy's seventh club of his career and it will be fascinating to see how he fits in. His falling out with Graeme Souness at Newcastle was well documented while Sir Bobby Robson has described him as the "gobbiest" player that he has ever worked with. At international level, however, John Toshack has been so impressed by Bellamy's attitude and enthusiasm that he has made him Ryan Giggs' successor as Wales captain. Controversy, though, followed him this season when he was alleged to have threatened his Liverpool team-mate John-Arne Riise with a golf club during a "bonding session" in Portugal. Supporters have aired reservations about his signing and there is a sense that the club might be storing up problems. Curbishley, though, believes that Bellamy's effort and will to win should make him a crowd favourite at Upton Park. "He is the right age, with the right experience, and has two qualities that I really like - he is hungry and also a little bit angry," Curbishley said. Bellamy is equally confident that he will settle in east London and adamant that West Ham's ambition can be translated into a serious challenge for European football. "I will be here for the long term," he said. "I've moved around a bit in recent years, and now I want to settle. Some people don't understand it, but the opportunity to be a senior figure at an ambitious club like West Ham is very attractive. "Obviously it would be naive of me to say that we are going to qualify for the Champions League next season but that's one thing we are really going to be pushing for here in the future." Newcastle United The Chairman Freddy Shepherd's respect for the shirt-buying Toon Army - and their wives and girlfriends - has been questioned but 'Baron Greenback' has spent £87.5m in the last three seasons . . . with nothing to show for it Craig Bellamy 'The unacceptable face of capitalism' joined Newcastle for £6m in 2001 and got in to all kinds of scrapes it would be impolite to mention Lee Bowyer See above Fans turning sour Newcastle got upset when Kieron Dyer fell out with the venerable Sir Bobby Robson over his refusal to play on the right Sane goalkeepers In a bizarre inversion of football's natural order, Shay Given is among the most conscientious and reliable members of the Newcastle team When defenders go wrong Titus Bramble crashed a few cars over the years, literally and metaphorically. After losing him to Wigan, the club quickly signed the monkish Joey Barton Glenn Roeder Roeder had the onerous task of keeping the unholy trinity of Freddy, his players and fans happy Terrible in Europe Got cuffed 6-2 in the last 16 of the Uefa Cup last term. The season before, they didn't make it out of the Intertoto Cup West Ham The Chairman 'The Biscuit Baron' Eggert Magnusson, who seems to share Shepherd's indifference for football's little people. At least West Ham have not won anything for only 27 years, unlike Newcastle's 39 Craig Bellamy The Hammers also love a flawed hero. Signed for £7.5m, a year after Liverpool paid £6m for him. Classic Newcastle-style business Lee Bowyer See above Fans turning sour West Ham fans booed Nigel Reo-Coker for a perceived lack of effort. Nigel responded by handing in a transfer request Sane goalkeepers Similarly, Robert Green belies the 'goalkeepers are all crazy' adage, and is one of the few players at Upton Park to talk sense When defenders go wrong In March an out-of-form Anton Ferdinand claimed to be with his sick grandmother in the Isle of Wight, while he was in South Carolina celebrating his birthday Glenn Roeder Experienced similar problems at Upton Park. Both clubs chewed him up and spat him out Terrible in Europe Equally Eurosceptic, West Ham waited seven years to get back, but lost in the first round of the Uefa Cup 4-0 to Palermo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/07/11/are_west_ham_the_new_newcastle.html Are West Ham the new Newcastle United? Eggert Magnusson's willingness to splash the cash on transfer fees and wages is more than a little reminiscent of Freddy Shepherd. Jeremy Wilson July 11, 2007 12:23 AM The signing yesterday of Craig Bellamy for £7.5m brought West Ham United's total spending under Alan Curbishley to almost £40m. Only Manchester United have been livelier in the transfer market during 2007 and it would certainly be difficult to question the ambition of the chairman, Eggert Magnusson. Yet while Sir Alex Ferguson's spending spree has been underpinned by a plan to revitalise key areas of his squad with the best young talent in world football, it is rather more difficult to detect a clear policy at West Ham. The Hammers seem to find themselves linked with just about every available player, while a central bargaining tool appears simple: the willingness of Magnusson to pay high wages and big transfer fees. It is a strategy that has provoked comparisons with Freddy Shepherd's style at Newcastle United, where Bellamy spent almost four seasons. Shepherd shares Magnusson's high ambitions but, while his various managers were always well backed in the transfer market, a regular air of change and uncertainty hardly contributed to a settled and balanced squad. For years, Newcastle has been regarded as the biggest soap opera in English football but there is certainly now competition from West Ham. As well as the Tevez/Mascherano affair, West Ham were dogged last season by rumours of problems behind the scenes, including stories about a gambling culture and cliques between players. There was also Anton Ferdinand's mid-season birthday trip to the United States when he was supposed to be visiting his grandmother on the Isle of Wight. New players were signed in January but it was almost exclusively the remains of Alan Pardew's squad - notably Carlos Tevez - who inspired the club to survival. Tevez now wants out, the former captain Nigel Reo-Coker has left, along with Yossi Benayoun yesterday, while the futures of Matthew Etherington, Paul Konchesky, Marlon Harewood and Ferdinand are unclear. Scott Parker, Julien Faubert, Richard Wright and now Bellamy have been signed and there is real cause for optimism after Curbishley oversaw the great escape from relegation last season. The new additions have arrived partly because of circumstances at their previous clubs. The Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce allowed Parker to move south after Joey Barton became available, while Bellamy left Liverpool following the signing of Fernando Torres. Faubert had set his sights on a move to Rangers but had little choice except West Ham once Bordeaux had accepted their offer. Of the missed targets, the most notable was Darren Bent, who opted for Tottenham despite being offered higher wages at West Ham. Curbishley then turned his attentions to Bellamy, who yesterday agreed a five-year contract. The current buoyancy of the transfer market is reflected by the fact that Liverpool will have made a £1.5m profit on his sale despite nine goals in 42 club appearances over the past year. West Ham will be Bellamy's seventh club of his career and it will be fascinating to see how he fits in. His falling out with Graeme Souness at Newcastle was well documented while Sir Bobby Robson has described him as the "gobbiest" player that he has ever worked with. At international level, however, John Toshack has been so impressed by Bellamy's attitude and enthusiasm that he has made him Ryan Giggs' successor as Wales captain. Controversy, though, followed him this season when he was alleged to have threatened his Liverpool team-mate John-Arne Riise with a golf club during a "bonding session" in Portugal. Supporters have aired reservations about his signing and there is a sense that the club might be storing up problems. Curbishley, though, believes that Bellamy's effort and will to win should make him a crowd favourite at Upton Park. "He is the right age, with the right experience, and has two qualities that I really like - he is hungry and also a little bit angry," Curbishley said. Bellamy is equally confident that he will settle in east London and adamant that West Ham's ambition can be translated into a serious challenge for European football. "I will be here for the long term," he said. "I've moved around a bit in recent years, and now I want to settle. Some people don't understand it, but the opportunity to be a senior figure at an ambitious club like West Ham is very attractive. "Obviously it would be naive of me to say that we are going to qualify for the Champions League next season but that's one thing we are really going to be pushing for here in the future." Newcastle United The Chairman Freddy Shepherd's respect for the shirt-buying Toon Army - and their wives and girlfriends - has been questioned but 'Baron Greenback' has spent £87.5m in the last three seasons . . . with nothing to show for it Craig Bellamy 'The unacceptable face of capitalism' joined Newcastle for £6m in 2001 and got in to all kinds of scrapes it would be impolite to mention Lee Bowyer See above Fans turning sour Newcastle got upset when Kieron Dyer fell out with the venerable Sir Bobby Robson over his refusal to play on the right Sane goalkeepers In a bizarre inversion of football's natural order, Shay Given is among the most conscientious and reliable members of the Newcastle team When defenders go wrong Titus Bramble crashed a few cars over the years, literally and metaphorically. After losing him to Wigan, the club quickly signed the monkish Joey Barton Glenn Roeder Roeder had the onerous task of keeping the unholy trinity of Freddy, his players and fans happy Terrible in Europe Got cuffed 6-2 in the last 16 of the Uefa Cup last term. The season before, they didn't make it out of the Intertoto Cup West Ham The Chairman 'The Biscuit Baron' Eggert Magnusson, who seems to share Shepherd's indifference for football's little people. At least West Ham have not won anything for only 27 years, unlike Newcastle's 39 Craig Bellamy The Hammers also love a flawed hero. Signed for £7.5m, a year after Liverpool paid £6m for him. Classic Newcastle-style business Lee Bowyer See above Fans turning sour West Ham fans booed Nigel Reo-Coker for a perceived lack of effort. Nigel responded by handing in a transfer request Sane goalkeepers Similarly, Robert Green belies the 'goalkeepers are all crazy' adage, and is one of the few players at Upton Park to talk sense When defenders go wrong In March an out-of-form Anton Ferdinand claimed to be with his sick grandmother in the Isle of Wight, while he was in South Carolina celebrating his birthday Glenn Roeder Experienced similar problems at Upton Park. Both clubs chewed him up and spat him out Terrible in Europe Equally Eurosceptic, West Ham waited seven years to get back, but lost in the first round of the Uefa Cup 4-0 to Palermo Stupid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munkey Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 aye, there was something similar (albeit a smaller article) on Footy365 yesterday http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8742_2487959,00.html blind eye to the £30m-plus spent on average players on massive wages, might finally accept that you (West Ham) are the Premier League's least likeable club. This is a mantle previously held by Leeds and then Newcastle - both magnets for mercenary players with roughly 427 zillion times more money than sense, and more court appearances than medals to their names. then this reply in one of their letters...kinda sums it up: Hey, We're A Laughing Stock, Not A Hated Club I'm sorry but since when have Newcastle been anybody's most hated club? (with the obvious exception of the Mackems). I can remember a lot of people frequently saying how enjoyable we were to watch under Keegan and Robson because of our brand of attacking football. More recently Newcastle have been a laughing stock but certainly not hated. But we know that we fully deserve to be viewed as a laughing stock when our players fight each other on the pitch and when we persist with Bramble in our joke of a defence. Also with our absolute blundering fat fool of an ex-chairman. I actually agree with Sarah about West Ham and I find it funny that they have signed Bellamy as a 'senior' player. Although I would like to know why Scott Parker comes under criticism, all he ever was for us was committed. Anyway please lay of Newcastle, we can make idiots of ourselves enough without people like you adding fuel to the fire! Jack Stanley, Newcastle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gggg Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 aye, there was something similar (albeit a smaller article) on Footy365 yesterday http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8742_2487959,00.html The Hammers response to that article http://www.kumb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=90651 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Logic Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 Just another viewpoint, somewhat exaggerated to pass as a good story for whatever audience might enjoy reading it. Not diificult to see some underlying truths in it. I don't let it bother me but content myself in the fact that they are discussing an historical Newcastle that doesn't exist anymore. Maintain faith in the undergoing transfomation that is happening and think of the potential Newcastle of the future instead of letting this bother you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isegrim Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 Ah, good old Sarah Winterburn. Good to see that she still isn't bitter about Newcastle. She failed to have a go at Shearer this time though... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingxlnc Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/07/11/are_west_ham_the_new_newcastle.html Are West Ham the new Newcastle United? Terrible in Europe Got cuffed 6-2 in the last 16 of the Uefa Cup last term. The season before, they didn't make it out of the Intertoto Cup Terrible in Europe Equally Eurosceptic, West Ham waited seven years to get back, but lost in the first round of the Uefa Cup 4-0 to Palermo Well, that's not true for a start - it was 4-4 we only lost on away goals. We can hardly be compared to West Ham in terms of Europe - what about all the semis, quarterfinal appearances in the UEFA, not to mention the 2nd stage of Champs League - more than any other non- top 4 club have done recently - much more so than the media's beloved Spurs even. Although article raises some points - a lot of it is rubbish. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Nguyen Van Falk Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 http://www.football365.com/Images/72545.JPG Five head alert! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Invicta_Toon Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 is she really nigel winterburn's sister? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BONTEMPI Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 http://www.football365.com/Images/72545.JPG Five head alert! Fucking lesbian! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 Thats never a woman! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BONTEMPI Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 Thats never a woman! It's like a female bill bailey Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ebolarama Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 You should have read some of the letters from Hammers fans attacking her for that piece. They were worse than cavemen. Christ alive, why can't people calm down? It's not like she insulted their parents and burned their christmas tree down. It's only football after all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dr. Pongle Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 She's got a point in all honesty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 6-2? what? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicago_shearer Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 She's got a point in all honesty. What is it exactly? True...West Ham have been throwing money around. But they have a very shit squad and need the improvements. If Chopra is going for 5 million and Nugent for 6, then 7 million seems decent for a player like Bellamy. With all the takeovers and billionaire owners in the Premiership, the bar has been raised again. Not good, but not West Ham's fault either. Noboby ever seems bothered when Manchester United or Liverpool spend big, but certain journalists go purple whenever another club shows any ambition. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bonk Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 http://www.football365.com/Images/72545.JPG Five head alert! Hahaha.... her hairline is resenting her face! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest the_guv_nor Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 http://www.football365.com/Images/72545.JPG Five head alert! Hahaha.... her hairline is resenting her face! Shave off the hair and she looks like that cock-eyed bloke from silence of the lambs (the one that collects bugs)!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bonk Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 http://www.football365.com/Images/72545.JPG Five head alert! Hahaha.... her hairline is resenting her face! Shave off the hair and she looks like that cock-eyed bloke from silence of the lambs (the one that collects bugs)!!! MANGINA ALERT!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Liam Liam O Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 west ham are collecting quite a bit in in transfer fees to be fair so theres really no truth in that bit of the comparison at all Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 http://www.football365.com/Images/72545.JPG Five head alert! Hahaha.... her hairline is resenting her face! Shave off the hair and she looks like that cock-eyed bloke from silence of the lambs (the one that collects bugs)!!! She actually looks a bit like a younger version of the new West Ham chairman. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dr. Pongle Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 http://www.football365.com/Images/72545.JPG Five head alert! Hahaha.... her hairline is resenting her face! Shave off the hair and she looks like that cock-eyed bloke from silence of the lambs (the one that collects bugs)!!! She actually looks a bit like a younger version of the new West Ham chairman. Looks fuck all like him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider Jerusalem Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 http://www.football365.com/Images/72545.JPG Five head alert! http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:VV93mNe6Og7McM:http://www.nndb.com/people/687/000082441/brion-sized.jpg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Invicta_Toon Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 class Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogmatix Posted July 12, 2007 Share Posted July 12, 2007 http://www.football365.com/Images/72545.JPG Five head alert! Hahaha.... her hairline is resenting her face! Shave off the hair and she looks like that cock-eyed bloke from silence of the lambs (the one that collects bugs)!!! She actually looks a bit like a younger version of the new West Ham chairman. Looks f*** all like him. Nar ,it looks like George Doors ugly sister. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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