South Africa´s McCarthy moves to West Ham

February 1, 2010

South Africa’s Benni McCarthy completed his long anticipated move to West Ham United from Premier League rivals Blackburn Rovers on Monday’s transfer deadline day.

McCarthy joined for an an undisclosed fee on a contract that will keep the 32-year-old at Upton Park until 2012.

“West Ham United are pleased to confirming the signing of South Africa striker Benni McCarthy from Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee,” said a West Ham statement.

McCarthy, who could make his debut for the London side in Saturday’s league match against Burnley, said he had wanted West Ham to be his first club in English football when he left Portuguese side Porto.

“I am very pleased and extremely happy,” McCarthy, South Africa’s record goalscorer, with 32 goals in 77 internationals, told West Ham’s website.

“This is a great club. The reason why I am happy that it has finally happened is because about five years ago I had a disappointing experience when I thought I was going to be a West Ham player until Porto pulled out and I had to go back.

“I would have loved this to be my first Premier League club. I went to Blackburn instead but West Ham kept pursuing me and eventually I am here,” added McCarthy, who scored 37 goals in 109 league matches for Rovers after arriving at Ewood Park in July 2006.

McCarthy had grown disillusioned with his lack of first-team starts under Rovers manager Sam Allardyce and wanted a move to ensure regular football in the run-up to the World Cup finals in his home country in June and July.

West Ham are 15th in the table but just a point above the relegation zone.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: benni mccarthy, debut, english football, Ewood Park, first premier, internationals, league rivals, london, PORTO, portuguese side porto, premier league, relegation zone, South AfricaÂ, striker, transfer deadline, undisclosed fee, upton park, west ham, west ham united, world cup finals

Blackburn frustrate West Ham

January 30, 2010

Blackburn earned a gritty 0-0 draw against struggling West Ham on Saturday to frustrate the east London club’s hopes of kick-starting the new era at Upton Park.

Gianfranco Zola’s side were playing at home for the first time since co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold finally completed their takeover of the Hammers, but there was precious little for the watching duo to get excited about.

Blackburn, who have scored just eight times in 12 away league matches, would have won with better finishing and West Ham – in 15th place – remain precariously close to the relegation zone.

Sullivan and Gold are well aware of West Ham’s troubles and have been attempting to sign several new players before Monday’s transfer deadline.

A deal for Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy is still in the pipeline but Zola may need more than that to save his side from the drop.

Rovers started well and appealed for a penalty when Nikola Kalinic went down under pressure from Jonathan Spector, but referee Peter Walton waved away their protests.

After 35 minutes, an inswinging corner from Morten Gamst Pedersen forced West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green to tip over the crossbar at full-stretch.

Rovers came agonisingly close to taking the lead just before half-time when Pedersen’s free-kick flashed past Green and cannoned back off the bar.

Zola sent on England forward Carlton Cole, in action for the first time since November following a knee injury, with 30 minutes to play but even he couldn’t spark West Ham into life.

Green was called into action again to push Pedersen’s goal-bound drive away, then Cole cleared Gael Givet’s shot off the line after it appeared to hit Mark Noble on the arm.

Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson had barely been troubled all game but he was finally forced to save in the final minutes as he pushed Alessandro Diamanti’s free-kick over to preserve the draw.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Alessandro Diamanti, benni mccarthy, Carlton, Cole, crossbar, david gold, david sullivan, diamanti, east london, England, free kick, gael givet, gianfranco zola, jonathan spector, knee injury, london, london club, Mark Noble, Morten Gamst, morten gamst pedersen, Nikola Kalinic, paul robinson, Peter Walton, playing at home, relegation zone, robert green, transfer deadline, upton park, west ham, Zola

Hammers line up McCarthy-Gudjohnsen strike force

January 27, 2010

West Ham’s battle for Premier League survival is set to be spearheaded by a strike force of Eidur Gudjohnsen and Benni McCarthy.

Former Chelsea and Barcelona striker Gudjohnsen, who is now at Monaco, looks set to join South Africa striker McCarthy at Upton Park after Tottenham admitted defeat in the race to sign the Icelander on loan.

“I like Eidur, but I think he’s going to West Ham,” Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said after his side’s 2-0 win over Fulham on Tuesday evening. “I spoke to his agent today but I’ve left it with chairman.

“I’d take him on loan because he’s a good player and we could play different systems with him.” he added.

Blackburn have agreed to sell McCarthy to the Hammers for a reported fee of 2.25 million pounds and the deal was expected to be wrapped up on Wednesday following a medical and negotiations on the striker’s personal terms.

McCarthy had grown disillusioned with his lack of first-team starts at Blackburn under manager Sam Allardyce and wanted a move to ensure regular football in the run-up to the World Cup finals in his home country in June and July.

He has departed Ewood Park in acrimonious circumstances however after failing to turn up for training sessions this week, conduct which Allardyce branded “unprofessional”.

Allardyce said: “It shows you that the only loyalty a player has got is to himself.

“This is what we deal with today in football, there’s not such a thing as loyalty as there used to be in the older days when I was a player.

“It’s a selfish attitude they have and that’s not just about Benni, that’s all players today. If they want something they do anything to try and get it.”

West Ham are currently hovering just above the relegation zone with only goal difference keeping them out of the bottom three following Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Portsmouth.

The Hammers had looked on track for a valuable win after taking the lead with a scrappy effort from club captain Matthew Upson seven minutes into the second half.

But former Manchester United trainee Danny Webber came off the bench to claim his first Premier League goal and rescue a point for the Premier League’s bottom side, who remain four points adrift of the side above them, Hull, and five away from safety.

Pompey manager Avram Grant admitted afterwards that the lifting of a Premier League transfer embargo may have come too late to help their survival bid.

Grant is hopeful of landing “three or four” new players by the end of the month but the club’s perilous financial position means he can only take players on loan or on free transfers.

“We’ll try to do our best but we have only four days,” Grant said. “It will be very difficult but we’ll do it because the squad is very short.”

Grant hopes to bring left-sided midfielder Jamie O’Hara back to the club on loan from Tottenham and he played down the possibility of Younes Kaboul and Nadir Belhadj leaving.

“If these players go, I would need to play, and I cannot play!” Grant joked.

Portsmouth are however expected to allow England goalkeeper David James to go to Stoke on loan until the end of the season in a move dictated by the financial pressure currently on the club.

LONDON (AFP)

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Angry Allardyce rounds on McCarthy

January 27, 2010

South Africa striker Benni McCarthy received a furious farewell from Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce after the club confirmed Tuesday they have agreed a fee for his transfer with West Ham.

McCarthy has missed training sessions this week, in what has been seen as a bid to force through a move away from Ewood Park, but his controversial action may not have been necessary after the Premier League clubs agreed a fee reported to be 2.25 million pounds.

The 32-year-old striker has grown disillusioned with his lack of first-team starts under Allardyce and has been seeking a move to ensure regular football in the run-up to the World Cup finals in his home country in June and July.

But Allardyce said there was no excuse for McCarthy not turning up at training, branding his conduct “unprofessional” and saying it was symptomatic of too many players in the modern game.

“What he’s done is unprofessional. It shows you that the only loyalty a player has got is to himself,” Allardyce said.

“This is what we deal with today in football, there’s not such a thing as loyalty as there used to be in the older days when I was a player.

“It’s a selfish attitude they have and that’s not just about Benni, that’s all players today. If they want something they do anything to try and get it.”

Allardyce added: “If he is trying to manipulate a move by staying away it’s not the right thing to do.

“Sometimes players will get advised wrongly and I think whoever is advising him to stay away is very wrong as he’s done himself no favours.”

The Hammers are only presently above the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference while Blackburn are five points clear of the bottom three.

BLACKBURN, England (AFP)

Tags: benni mccarthy, controversial action, England, Ewood Park, excuse, farewell, five points, goal difference, loyalty, premier league, premier league clubs, relegation zone, Sam, sam allardyce, sessions, South Africa, striker, west ham, world cup finals

McCarthy ready to quit Rovers as World Cup looms

January 1, 2010

South Africa star Benni McCarthy is ready to leave Blackburn Rovers during the January transfer window to boost his chances of representing his country on home soil at the 2010 World Cup finals.

The 32-year-old forward, who joined the English Premier League side from Portuguese club Porto for 2.5 million pounds in July 2006, feels he is becoming a peripheral figure at Ewood Park under manager Sam Allardyce.

“I’d like to stay in England. This is a great league,” McCarthy told Thursday’s Lancashire Telegraph.

“I’m just unhappy with my situation and need to feel wanted again. I’m not getting any younger but I know I can still make an impact.

“This is a very big year for me. To come from South Africa and have the chance to play for my country in the World Cup is massive.

“I can’t risk that by playing the odd game here and there for Blackburn. I need to play and I hope they will allow me to fulfil that dream.

“They got me for next to nothing and they’ve had a good return with more than 50 goals in about 130 games.

“Hopefully they won’t ask an unreasonable fee and let me go when the window opens,” McCarthy added.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: 5 million, benni mccarthy, England, English Premier League, Ewood Park, games, home soil, lancashire telegraph, london, odd game, PORTO, portuguese, portuguese club, premier league, Sam, South Africa, world cup finals

McCarthy hopes for Blackburn exit

December 30, 2009

South Africa striker Benni McCarthy wants Blackburn to let him leave during the January transfer window.

McCarthy is unhappy at the Premier League club and was booed by Rovers fans after a disappointing performance in Monday’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland.

The 32-year-old has also fallen out with Rovers boss Sam Allardyce and admits he is no longer prepared to put up with being called in for extra early morning fitness sessions.

McCarthy believes a fresh challenge at a new club would revitalise his career and allow him to go into next year’s World Cup on top form.

“Enough’s enough, I feel I’ve been stepped on too much and it’s best I go,” McCarthy said in the Daily Mail.

“I feel I’m being singled out unfairly. I wasn’t any worse than the other lads, yet I’m the only one on duty from that game (against Sunderland) being asked to come in at 7am.

“Yes, I admit I’ve had issues with hitting the weight targets the manager has set and that’s my fault, but I put 100 per cent in on the pitch and always try my hardest. It seems I’m being punished more than others.”

However McCarthy, who joined Blackburn from Porto in 2006, is keen to stay in the Premier League.

“I’d like to stay in the England. This is a great league,” he said. “I’m just unhappy with my situation and need to feel wanted again. I’m not getting any younger but I know I can still make an impact.

“This is a very big year for me. To come from South Africa and have the chance to play for my country in the World Cup is massive.

“I can’t risk that by playing the odd game here and there for Blackburn. I need to play and I hope they will allow me to fulfil that dream.

“They got me for next to nothing and they’ve had a good return with more than 50 goals in about 130 games.

“Hopefully they won’t ask an unreasonable fee and let me go when the window opens.”

BLACKBURN, England (AFP)

Tags: benni mccarthy, daily mail, England, fitness sessions, games, lads, odd game, pitch, PORTO, premier league, Sam, sam allardyce, South Africa, striker, Sunderland, World Cup

Crouch double puts Tottenham in party mood

December 19, 2009

Peter Crouch put Tottenham’s stars back in boss Harry Redknapp’s good books as his double secured a 2-0 win at Blackburn on Saturday.

Just a day after it was revealed that the majority of Redknapp’s squad had defied his ban on Christmas parties by jetting off to Dublin for a secret bash, Crouch put the focus back on the players’ on-field activities.

Redknapp has admitted he will read the riot act to his players on Monday for such a public flouting of his rules, but he may soften his punishment after a victory which kept the north London club on course for a top four finish.

Blackburn were the better team for long periods at Ewood Park, but Crouch put Spurs ahead on the stroke of half time. And the England forward, who only had two Premier League goals before Saturday, buried a late chance to wrap up the victory.

Blackburn’s winless run in the league is now extended to six matches, a spell that has seen them score just one goal.

Recalled South African striker Benni McCarthy immediately went close with a thumping free kick that went just wide.

Slack defending from former Spurs star Pascal Chimbonda almost let Tottenham in, but Crouch pulled the ball back behind an un-marked Tom Huddlestone, who would only have had to roll the ball into an empty net.

Franco Di Santo wasted a great opportunity when Michael Dawson failed to make decent contact to clear McCarthy’s cross, only for the on-loan Chelsea forward to drill well wide.

Just before the quarter of an hour, McCarthy’s whipped free kick looped up off Aaron Lennon and bounced off the cross bar and over.

Midway through the opening period, Jermain Defoe passed up a good opening when he was picked out by Niko Kranjcar and burst into the Blackburn area only to fire wide of Paul Robinson’s goal.

After Huddlestone robbed Australian midfielder Vince Grella he tore into the Blackburn half but, frustrated at the lack of options ahead of him, hit well over from distance.

Gomes was worked once again when McCarthy lobbed in a cross from the right and Di Santo controlled the ball on his chest only to be denied by the Spurs goalkeeper.

As the interval approached, McCarthy just missed the target with a dipping shot from 25 yards.

But in first-half added time, Spurs took the lead when Huddlestone’s wild shot almost went out for a throw, but Kranjcar crossed in from the right and Crouch headed in off the bar at the near post.

Blackburn’s poor luck continued when Grella crossed into the area and McCarthy took the ball on his chest and beat Gomes with a low shot that hit the post and ran across the goal line before being hacked clear.

Di Santo also cut in from the right and had a drilled effort held by Gomes as the pressure continued from Blackburn.

Gomes then denied Steven Nzonzi, just managing to block the French midfielder’s stinging drive.

But after the frenzy of the early stages of the second period, the hosts were growing more and more frustrated and substitute Morten Gamst Pedersen illustrated that by slicing wide from 25 yards.

Tottenham made Rovers pay as they ruthlessly doubled their lead with eight minutes remaining.

Substitute Robbie Keane, the alleged ringleader of Tottenham’s Christmas party plot, clipped the ball down the line and Jermaine Jenas just managed to flick it into the path of Crouch, who fired into the corner of the net.

BLACKBURN, England (AFP)

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Five-star Birmingham keep on climbing

December 16, 2009

A Cameron Jerome double gave Birmingham a 2-1 win over Blackburn as Alec McLeish’s side claimed a fifth consecutive win in the Premier League for the first time in the club’s history on Tuesday.

Ryan Nelsen ensured a nervy finish for Birmingham but McLeish’s men held out for three points that lifted them to sixth place in the table.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce restored Jason Roberts and Nikola Kalinic to his side at the expense of fellow strikers Franco Di Santo and Benni McCarthy, while El-Hadji Diouf and Morten Gamst Pedersen replaced the injured Vince Grella and David Hoilett.

McLeish kept faith with the side that had beaten West Ham at the weekend, which meant former Scotland captain Barry Ferguson lining up against the club where he suffered a serious knee injury during a previous spell in the English top flight.

It was another Scot, James McFadden, however who was at the origin of Birmingham’s opener. The winger played a short corner to Sebastian Larsson whose cross was headed goalwards by Christian Benitez before Jerome scrambled it over the line.

Birmingham immediately looked significantly more confident and Lee Bowyer only just failed to get on the end of a through ball from Benitez after good build-up work.

Benitez was denied a goal of his own by a marginal offside decision and Blackburn were weakened by the loss of Australia’s Brett Emerton to injury shortly afterwards.

Kalinic might have equalised three minutes before the interval after Birmingham failed to deal with a hopeful punt in the box but he mis-kicked at close range.

Blackburn were made to pay for that missed opportunity three minutes into the seocnd half, when Jerome doubled their lead.

Larsson’s overhead pass sent Carr on an overlap and he picked out Jerome with a precise cutback, the striker driving a low shot beyond Paul Robinson in the Blackburn goal.

It was the 50th league goal of Jerome’s career and his celebrations were sufficiently jubilant to earn him a yellow card.

Allardyce reacted by replacing Diouf with Junior Hoilett after 53 minutes and Blackburn gained a lifeline with just over 20 minutes left when Pascal Chimbonda got on the end of Pedersen’s inswinging free-kick.

The defender forced Joe Hart into a fine save but Nelsen was on hand to bundle the ball home.

Blackburn huffed and puffed but it was the home side who came closest to adding to their score in the closing stages, Benitez hitting the bar from close range after Robinson had parried a Jerome shot.

BIRMINGHAM (AFP)

Tags: A Cameron Jerome, Alec McLeish, benni mccarthy, Birmingham, brett emerton, captain barry, captain Barry Ferguson, christian benitez, cutback, David Hoilett, el hadji diouf, franco di santo, jason roberts, league goal, Lee Bowyer, mcleish, morten gamst pedersen, opportunity three, Pascal Chimbonda, paul robinson, ryan nelsen, Sam, sam allardyce, scotland, Sebastian Larsson, west ham, yellow card

Robinson make Chelsea pay League Cup penalty

December 3, 2009

A double penalty save by Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson sent his side into the semi-finals of the League Cup 4-3 in a shootout after an enthralling encounter here with Chelsea.

A Benni McCarthy spotkick in the third minute of extra-time looked like being enough to help Rovers win 3-2 before Paulo Ferreira equalised for the Premier League leaders to make it 3-3 and send the match to spot-kicks.

Robinson then saved from Michael Ballack and French youngster Gael Kakuta to win the encounter and so set up a semi-final against Aston Villa.

Earlier goals by Nikola Kalinic and Brett Emerton for Blackburn and Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou for Chelsea set up a thrilling match at Ewood Park.

Blackburn made five changes and Chelsea even more as they had seven different faces from the starting line-up that defeated Arsenal 3-0 in the Premier League at the weekend.

Kalinic gave the home side an unexpected shock lead after just nine minutes when Pascal Chimbonda threaded a superb delivery through to the Croatian who tapped past Henrique Hilario for a well taken opener.

Kalou then missed the target with a free header from six yards out shortly before Michael Ballack also wastefully shot wide from long-range as Chelsea attempted to get back into the match.

Joe Cole tried to inject some flair into Chelsea’s attacking play but found the home side’s defence eager to close him down while Jason Roberts and South Africa star McCarthy also suffered the same problem for Rovers.

As half-time approached Blackburn’s defence was finally caught asleep allowing Ballack to rifle a Florent Malouda effort goalwards but it finally swerved wide of the post to sum up their first half.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti made three changes at half-time in a bid to kick-start his side and the tactic worked immediately as Drogba brilliantly equalised after 48 minutes.

Frank Lampard called Drogba the “best striker in the world” earlier this week, and he proved his power and ability as he superbly rose above Blackburn?s defence and powered home a header.

Chelsea then took the lead just four minutes later after Kalou made the most of acres off space following Ballack’s fine long ball and he managed to roll past the onrushing Robinson with ease.

Blackburn were not finished there though as Emerton then fooled everybody with a cross-cum-shot that went in to equalise.

He delivered a deep ball into the box that missed everyone, particularly after Hilario was put off by Kalinic’s jump in front of him, and the ball ended up in the net.

Chelsea were then further dismayed as Kalou was forced off with an injury soon after and, as the visitors had made all their substitutions, they were now forced to play with 10 men.

That did not stop Drogba from nearly finding a winner though and he would have done apart from a brilliant stop from Robinson.

Meanwhile Kalinic also went close at the other end.

Rovers thought they had it won when McCarthy swept home in the 91st minute from Emerton’s pass but he was marginally offside.

Kalinic then went achingly close seconds later but a clincher in normal time would not arrive.

However, just three minutes into the first period of extra-time, substitute David Hoilett was brought down directly in front of referee Alan Wiley and McCarthy made no mistake from 12 yards.

There was more to come though as Ferreira’s finish and the subsequent shootout were to prove.

BLACKBURN, England (AFP)

Tags: benni mccarthy, brett emerton, different faces, florent malouda, henrique hilario, jason roberts, league leaders, Michael Ballack, nikola, paul robinson, paulo ferreira, Salomon Kalou, starting line, target, win 3

Few chances as Japan hold WCup hosts S.Africa

November 14, 2009

World Cup hosts South Africa and fellow 2010 qualifiers Japan drew 0-0 in Port Elizabeth on Saturday after a friendly of few scoring chances.

New Brazil-born coach Carlos Alberto Parreira expressed satisfaction that a run of eight South African losses in nine games had ended, but admitted there was considerable room for improvement when it comes to penetration.

“This was a difficult match because Japan came here having scored a lot of goals recently and I’m satisfied with our performance while accepting that we will have to do much better.

“Japan marked very well and that is why Benni McCarthy never got a clearcut chance, but for my first match back in charge it was okay,” said the coach who quit last year to be with his ill wife in Rio de Janeiro.

It was also a new start for striker McCarthy, axed by Brazilian coach Joel Santana after shunning a friendlies call-up, but his Japanese ‘minders’ ensured there would be no dream comeback goals after eight months in the wilderness.

The ‘Blue Samurai’ came closest to scoring through Makoto Hasebe and Shinji Okazaki in the first international staged at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, one of 10 venues where the first World Cup in Africa will be staged.

Man-of-the match and South Africa goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs foiled Hasebe from German champions Wolfsburg by tipping a fierce early drive over the bar before a near-capacity crowd.

Okazaki, hat-trick hero when Japan crushed Togo 5-0 at home last month, then beat Josephs from an acute angle only to see his shot trickle wide millimetres beyond the far post.

Tight marking by Japan, who will represent Asia in South Africa next year with Australia, North Korea and South Korea, meant Bafana Bafana (The Boys) rarely got within range to test goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.

And when the Kawashi Frontale custodian was called into action, he showed his prowess by getting down quickly and parrying a Siphiwe Tshabalala ‘rocket’ away for a corner.

Katlego Mphela, the only South African to score since a fourth-place finish at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, had a chance as half-time loomed but fired wide.

The second half was even tighter with defences on top until 11 minutes from the final whistle when Josephs once again foiled Okazaki and that proved the final chance to end the stalemate.

South Africa complete their friendly schedule for this year against non-World Cup qualifiers Jamaica on Tuesday at Vodacom Stadium in the central city of Bloemfontein.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)