International Duty's

This week Valon Behrami and James Collins have stayed at Chadwell Heath after minor injurys missing the mid week international games but these players have made it.

England - Cole(debut), Green and Upson

Jamaica - Zavon Hines(debut)

Czech Republic - Kovac

Australia - Lucas Neill

Wales - Collison

Arsenal 0-0 West Ham

Neither side managed a chance on target in a dire first half dominated by Arsenal, and this was to prove costly.

After the break Arsenal were all over West Ham but Emmanuel Adebayor wasted the game's two best chances with a shot wide and header straight at the keeper.

The visitors were on the back foot for almost the entire second half but their stout defending earned them a point.

Savio takes the number 10 shirt

West Ham have signed 19 year old Ugandan born German under 20 striker. Savio Nserko has signed from Italian Serie B side Bresica. He has agreed to sign for the hammers on a four and a half year deal for an undisclosed fee rumoured to have broke the clubs transfer record with £9mill.

Nsereko passed a medical and, subject to international clearance, will make his debut in the Barclays Premier League clash against Hull at Upton Park on Wednesday night.

West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury told the club's official website: "We are delighted to sign Savio, particularly with the fierce competition for his services across Europe."

"He is an exciting prospect, who Gianfranco Zola believes will prove a valuable asset for this club now and in the years to come."

"It is a significant investment and shows our determination to continue moving this club forward."

Savio is a replacement for Craig Bellamy who went to Man City last week. This week though West Ham have said good bye to Hayden Mullins who has signed a four and a half year deal down on the South Coast with Tony Adams at Pompey.

Still in the F.A Cup

West Ham travelled north yesterday to meet the challenge of Hartlepool. Hartlepool had knocked out Premiership opposition there in the last round as they saw off Stoke City. The early kick off in the day was on ITV.

A goal from just inside the area saw Behrami hit the back of the net in style after 44mins. Then a long ball looking for Di Michele was handled before it reached him by Michael Nelson. The ref then pointed to the spot and Mark Noble confidently stepped up to slide the ball in to the net making the Irons go in to the break 2-0 up after it was looking like it was going to be stalemate after the first 45mins. Video replays show that the handball was actually outside the area and Hartlepool were unlucky. With no goals in the second half West Ham went bouncing through to the next round.

With the draw just been taken place at Soho Square West Ham have now got a home tie against Middlesbrough in the 5th round. The game will be held on the weekend 14/15 Feb.

Bellamy goes to Eastland

After Bellemy didnt turn up to training on Saturday for West Ham he made his statement clear he didnt want to stay at the Boleyn. Therefore he wasnt in the side on Sunday but in the end we didnt need him.

Man City have expressed they have wanted the player and now they have got him for a fee of around £14mill. Bellamy has signed a 4 and a half year contract at Eastlands. It gives City boss Mark Hughes another chance to work with the striker having previously worked with him at Blackburn and Wales.

West Ham 3 - 1 Fulham

West Ham stopped Fulham going on a 10 game unbeaten run on Sunday.

West Ham are now 5 games unbeaten after Di Michele scored after 6mins to put the hammers in front. Old West Ham full back John Pantsil was to blame for the goal. Then Paul Konchesky another ex hammer was also to blame for the next goal has he hit is first for Fulham from 30 yards out.

With the teams level at half time a Konchesky mistake let Carlton Cole through and he was tripped up in the area by Konchesky who's fortunes were turning. Once the ref had pointed to the spot Mark Noble had put the Hammers back in front. This was West Ham's first penalty of the season and they were the longest team to go through to this stage of the season without getting a penalty. Then a fantastic break from the hammers saw Collison pass to Di Michele who put a great ball through and Cole did the rest making it 5 in 5 for him.

So West Ham climbed above Fulham by the end of the game and saw them self in 8th place after a vintage performance from Carlton Cole.

Bowyer saves Birmingham

After Lee Bowyer has moved from West Ham to Birmingham on loan for the rest of the season he scored on his debut.



His goal came in the 90th minute as he made it Birmingham 1 - 1 Cardiff. Alex McLeish was releaved to see the ball hit the back of the net when the ball kindly fell to him after a miss timed header.

David Di Michele

David Di Michele is one of West Ham's italian strikers. He is currently on a loan spell from Torino.

David started his carreer off at Lodgiani (now Cisco Roma) in serie C1. He made 43 apps for the club scoring 6 goals. He then went on to Foggia in 1996 playing 68 times and grabbing him self 14 goals in just two years. He then went onto to Salernitana where he made his serie A debut but Salernitana were relagted back to Serie B that season. In 2001 he moved onto to Udinese where he made 25 apps scoring 5 goals in one season. Next it was to Reggina where he made 62 apps scoring 15 goals. In 2004 he moved back to Udinese and made 53 apps scoring 18 goals. After just two years he moved to Palermo where he made his name in all Hammers fans memory as he scored against us as Palermo beat us in the UEFA Cup. Whilst at Palermo he was given a $27,000 fine for illegal betting. At Palermo he scored 16 goals in 48 apps. He went to Torino in 2007 and made 25 apps scoring 6 goals. At the start of this season Gianfranco Zola made David his first signing on a loan move. So far he has made 11 apps scoring 2 goals.

Matty bids Hammers fare well for Stoke

Stoke have completed the deal for tricky West Ham winger Matty Etherington. The 27 year old has signed a 3 and a half year deal with the Potters in a deal around £3 million.

Tony Pullis believes that Etherington's experience will help Stoke avoid the drop in a season which could end in tears if Stoke mantain there current league position. "I think Matthew feels it is right to get out of London and start again," Pulis said. "Perhaps we can give him the love and care he has not had for a while."

Etherington is keen to make a fresh start after being troubled by gambling problems.

"No disrespect but we are at a club where we can't deal in the top bracket of players we would like to bring here, " said the Stoke boss. "You are always working below that. We are not at Crufts, we are at Battersea Dogs Home. We are looking for strays. We are looking for people who have gone astray with the aim of bringing them back. You look for players who have gone off the rails and for whatever reason have not fulfilled their potential."

Tevez saga still not over

The Premier League and the Football Association are to launch a new inquiry into West Ham's conduct over the Carlos Tevez affair.

The new investigation, into West Ham's dealings with the striker's after the club had initially been fined £5.5million for breaching league rules over third-party agreements, will be conducted jointly by the FA and the Premier League.

The team who want the Hammers to suffer are Sheffield United who believe West Ham signed Tevez illegally and that was a cause for there relegation back to the Championship.

A joint statement said: "The Premier League and the FA are to institute a joint inquiry into the views expressed by the Independent Arbitral Tribunal chaired by Lord Griffiths in September 2008, which dealt with a compensation claim by Sheffield United against West Ham United brought under FA Rules. The joint inquiry will examine whether the conduct of West Ham United immediately after the Independent Disciplinary Commission's decision of 27 April 2007 amounted to further breaches of Premier League or FA Rules."

West Hams statement on www.whufc.com said: "West Ham United will co-operate fully with the joint inquiry convened by the FA and Premier League. We have acted in good faith throughout the various inquiries and investigations into this matter and fulfilled the undertakings given to the Premier League following the initial penalty. We have nothing to hide and will ensure that this is once again reflected in our evidence to the FA and Premier League."

Hammers draw Hartlepool

After West Ham cruised past Barnsley 3-0 in the F.A Cup 3rd round tie at Upton Park they earnt them self a 4th round tie with giant killers Hartlepool United away at Victoria Park.

Goals from Ilunga, Noble and Cole saw the Hammers beat the South Yorkshire side with ease. The game saw Kieron Dyer return to duty after 17 months out with an injury. Meanwhile Hartlepool beat Premiership new comers Stoke City 2-0 at Victoria Park. Can the hammers win the famous Cup for the first time in 29 years with Gianfranco Zola at the helm?