Daily WHUFC News - 17th August 2012

Aston Villa match preview
WHUFC.com
All the build-up ahead of West Ham United's opening Barclays Premier League
fixture
16.08.2012

WEST HAM UNITED v ASTON VILLA
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 18 AUGUST 2012
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: MIKE DEAN
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV

Introduction
• West Ham United welcome Aston Villa to the Boleyn Ground for the first
game of the Barclays Premier League 2012/13 season.
• The Hammers are currently unbeaten in 2012 at the Boleyn Ground and will
hoping to keep up their superb record as they enter the top flight and look
to get off to a good start.
• As many as five summer signings could be making their competitive debut
for the club, with Jussi Jaaskelainen, Stephen Henderson, Mohamed Diame,
Alou Diarra and Modibo Maiga all hoping to feature.
• Two players could make their second debuts for the Hammers after
re-joining the club over the summer, George McCartney has signed a permanent
deal after spending last season on loan in east London from Sunderland,
while James Collins has also returned following a three-year spell with
Saturday's visitors Aston Villa.
• The Hammers clash with Aston Villa is one of six Barclays Premier League
ties kicking-off at 3pm on Saturday, the other games are as follows: Arsenal
v Sunderland, Fulham v Norwich, QPR v Swansea, Reading v Stoke, West
Bromwich Albion v Liverpool and Newcastle v Tottenham.
Last time out
Pre-season match
Friday 10 August 2012
SC Braga 1-1 West Ham United
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel (Potts 79), Reid, Collins (O'Neil 76),
O'Brien, Tomkins, Diame (Moncur 84), Noble, Vaz Te, Maiga, Cole (Taylor 71)
Sub not used: Henderson
Goal: Reid 89
Pre-season match
Saturday 11 August 2012
Werder Bremen 3-3 Aston Villa
Aston Villa: Given, Lichaj, Clark, Vlaar, Stevens (Bannan 65), Holman
(Ireland 65), El Ahmadi, Delph, N'Zogbia (Gardner 77), Bent, Weimann
Subs not used: Marshall, Guzan, Baker
Goals: Bent 16, 68 Clark 22
Previous meeting
• The last meeting between the two sides came in a Barclays Premier League
fixture at the Boleyn Ground on 16 April 2011. The match ended in a 2-1
defeat for West Ham United as substitute Gabriel Agbonlahor scored an
injury-time winner. The Hammers got off to the best possible start when
on-loan striker Robbie Keane opened the scoring within two minutes. After
going behind, Villa struck back in the 36th minute when Bent headed home.
Carlton Cole had an appeal for a penalty turned down before the Hammers'
misery was compounded in added-time when Agbonlahor headed home the winner.
West Ham United: Green, Jacobsen, Upson, Bridge, Da Costa (Gabbidon 14),
Noble, O'Neil (Ba 63), Hitzlsperger, Cole, Keane, Obinna (Hines 58)
Subs not used: Boffin, Spector, Piquionne, Boa Morte~
Goal: Keane 2
Aston Villa: Friedel, Dunne, Young, Walker, Collins, Downing, Reo-Coker,
Young, Petrov, Bent, Heskey (Agbonlahor 78)
Subs not used: Marshall, Cuellar, Pires, Clark, Makoun, Albrighton
Goals: Bent 36, Agbonlahor 90

Background
• West Ham United and Aston Villa have met 105 times in total in competitive
fixtures. Each club has tasted victory on 37 occasions, with 31 draws.
• The Hammers travelled to Villa Park exactly 60 years ago today on 18
August 1962. Unfortunately, Aston Villa ran out 3-1 Division One winners in
front of 37,000 fans, with Johnny Byrne bagging the visitors' goal.
• Today's game is the second time in three seasons that West Ham United and
Aston Villa have met on the opening day. Villa won 3-0 at Villa Park on 14
August 2010.
• The first-ever meeting between the two clubs proved to be a forgettable
one for West Ham United, who were beaten 5-0 at Villa Park in the FA Cup
second round on 1 February 1913.
• West Ham United's largest victory over Aston Villa came in Division One on
30 August 1958, when the newly-promoted Hammers won 7-2 at the Boleyn
Ground. A 30,506-strong crowd saw John Dick, Vic Keeble and Malcolm Musgrove
scored twice apiece and Bill Lansdowne once.
• Sam Allardyce faced Aston Villa five times as a manager during the 2009/10
season, when his Blackburn Rovers side were eliminated from the FA Cup and
League Cup by the Villans.
• West Ham United's all-time record goalscorer Vic Watson netted 18 goals in
15 appearances against Aston Villa, including three hat-tricks in November
1926, December 1929 and April 1930.
• Marlon Harewood scored West Ham United's most-recent Premier League
hat-trick when he bagged three times in a 4-0 home win over Aston Villa on
12 September 2005. He later went on to play for Villa.
• A total of 13 West Ham United players have made their debuts against
today's opponents Aston Villa - Alfred Earl, Ernest England, Alvin Martin,
Carlos Tevez, Winston Reid, Pablo Barrera, Frederic Piquionne, Archibald
Macauley, Ian Crawford, Bill Green, Craig Forrest, Paulo Alves and Matthew
Upson.

Last six metings
(Premier League unless stated)
16 April 2011 - West Ham United 1-2 Aston Villa
14 August 2010 - Aston Villa 3-0 West Ham United
17 January 2010 - Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham United
4 November 2009 - West Ham United 2-1 Aston Villa
18 April 2009 - Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham United
21 December 2008 - West Ham United 0-1 Aston Villa
Overall record v Aston Villa (all competitions) W 37 D 31 L 37

Ten-year record
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
2000/01 Premier League 15th (42 points)
Aston Villa
2011/12 Premier League 16th (38 points)
2010/11 Premier League 9th (48 points)
2009/10 Premier League 6th (64 points)
2008/09 Premier League 6th (62 points)
2007/08 Premier League 6th (60 points)
2006/07 Premier League 11th (50 points)
2005/06 Premier League 16th (42 points)
2004/05 Premier League 10th (47 points)
2003/04 Premier League 6th (56 points)
2002/03 Premier League 16th (45 points)
2001/02 Premier League 8th (50 points)
2000/01 Premier League 8th (54 points)

Referee
• Saturday's referee is Mike Dean.
• Select Group official Dean, 44, took charge of just one West Ham United
fixture last season - the 2-0 npower Championship victory at Middlesbrough
on 29 November 2011.
• The previous campaign, Dean was the man in the middle for six Hammers
fixtures - most notably the 3-2 Barclays Premier League defeat at Wigan
Athletic on 15 May that confirmed the club's relegation. That season, the
experienced referee also took charge of West Ham's 3-0 opening-day defeat at
today's opponents Aston Villa. In all, Dean has taken charge of 29 West Ham
fixtures.
• Dean refereed Aston Villa just once last term - a 1-1 home draw with Stoke
City on 9 April 2012 - but has taken charge of the Midlands side 28 times
during his career.
• He began refereeing in 1985, starting out his career in senior football in
the Northern Premier League.
• In 2004, Dean took charge of his first international match, a friendly
between the Netherlands and Republic of Ireland at Amsterdam Arena. That
same year, he took control of the FA Community Shield between Arsenal and
Manchester United.
• In May 2006, he refereed the Championship play-off final between Leeds
United and Watford at the Millennium Stadium. In 2008, he was in charge for
the FA Cup final between Portsmouth and Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium.

Team news
• As many as nine players could make their competitive debuts for their
respective new clubs at the Boleyn Ground this weekend - Jussi Jaaskelainen,
Stephen Henderson, Mohamed Diame, Alou Diarra and Modibo Maiga for West Ham
United and Matthew Lowton, Ron Vlaar, Karim El Ahmadi and Brett Holman for
Aston Villa.
• Jack Collison is unlikely to play after failing to feature in any of the
Hammers pre-season games as he continues to manage his long-term knee
issues. However, captain Kevin Nolan is hoping to return after missing the
final pre-season match at SC Braga with a toe problem suffered at Colchester
United last month.
• France midfielder Alou Diarra is yet to make an appearance for the
Hammers, having signed on the day of the final pre-season game in Braga.
However, he has trained with his new team-mates all week and could be named
in the matchday squad.

Old boys

• James Collins swapped east London for Birmingham on 1 September 2009 for
an undisclosed fee after making 65 appearances in all competitions for West
Ham United, scoring two goals. The Wales centre-back returned to West Ham on
1 August, having scored six goals in 109 games for the Villans.

• Carlton Cole would be playing against the team where he spent the 2004/05
season on loan. Cole scored three goals in 30 league and cup appearances for
Aston Villa.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Billy Askew,
Alan Curbishley, Mervyn Day, Marlon Harewood, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Ray
Houghton, David James, Fred Norris, Nigel Reo-Coker, Tony Scott, Les Sealey,
Nolberto Solano, Tommy Southren, David Unsworth and Phil Woosnam.

General Information
• Less than 1,000 tickets for Saturday's season-opener are still available
and can be purchased online here.
• The weather forecast for Saturday is for sunny intervals with a maximum
temperature of 27C (81F).
• There are no planned engineering works on the London Underground this
weekend.

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Big Sam on Aston Villa
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce spoke to the media ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League
opener at the Boleyn Ground
16.08.2012

Sam Allardyce has revealed his excitement, expectations and thoughts on West
Ham United's Barclays Premier League return. Big Sam and his side trained at
the Boleyn Ground on Thursday and the manager was in a positive mood ahead
of the season opener against Aston Villa on Saturday when he spoke to the
media.

Welcome back. Are you more excited than most after leading West Ham United
back into the Barclays Premier League?

SA - "I think so. There is a lot of excitement around the place and it is
building the closer and closer we get to the kick-off. We will have to wait
and see how we will perform in the end, I think the only slow process has
been getting players in. We have been working extremely hard but being able
to complete signings has been very difficult indeed. We are pleased with who
we have brought in already and we are still working to bring in a few more
before the end of the window."

David Sullivan believes Alou Diarra is the best signing the club have made
this summer What are your thoughts on his view?

SA - "I'm not sure about that - time will tell. I think that everybody we
have signed will have a big part to play in how successful we are this year
because unlike most promoted football clubs we have released a lot of
players. We needed to increase the talent of the squad and decrease the age
of the squad, so we released seven or eight players which is unusual for a
promoted side. Then you have to replace those players and we are not there
yet so we have taken a risk by trying to get these players in. We have done
well but we are still a little short."

Would you agree that facing Aston Villa at home represents a comfortable
start to the season?

SA - "Everybody said that Cardiff City at home was a comfortable start last
season and we ended up getting beat 1-0 in the last minute. I don't think
there is any kind of comfortable start in the Premier League. I think there
is a possibility that we could get off to a good start if we give a good
account of ourselves. We are looking for a good performance by our players
and that may give us a chance to win the first game here at Upton Park at
the start of a new Premier League season. I think we all need to be a little
apprehensive, certainly myself. It doesn't matter how good or bad I think we
are as I won't really know until we play in the
Barclays Premier League."

Would you agree that you have a reasonable start against typically mid-table
sides?

SA - "I would agree to a certain extent in the sense that they are a
reasonable set of games because we have avoided getting the top boys on a
regular basis which is always going to be tough no matter when you play
them. We have a group of games that give us the opportunity to get off to as
good a start as we possibly can."

What are your dreams for the coming season?

SA - "My dreams are to try and get the team to finish in a position where
there has been little or no pressure on them from a relegation point of
view, so as near to a top-ten finish as we can."

Can you give us an update on the current fitness situations of James Collins
and Jack Collison?

SA - "James Collins will train tomorrow with us and Jack Collison still
hasn't trained fully with the first team since the Play-Off final last year.
James is OK but Jack is a big concern for me having missed the summer and
having not played in any of the pre-season games like we expected him to.
It's his knee - the one he had operated on two years ago. We probably played
him more than we should have towards the end of last season and he gave that
much effort and desire that it has exaggerated the injury. It's been a great
shame for him that he hasn't been able to come in with the rest of the squad
and enjoy the excitement we are all feeling ahead of the new season. He
won't need another operation but he does need some tender guidance. We
mustn't rush him back or think about rushing him back, we need to wait for
the right time for him to come back."

What kind of Aston Villa side are you expecting?

SA - "A very determined and organised side. Paul Lambert's record in terms
of moving into a new club and instantly getting results stands for itself. I
think he will get them playing a system that suits the players and get them
playing the best they possibly can. For us it's about making sure we play at
the top of our game against a side that has been established in the top
league for a very long time now. We have got some players with Premier
League experience but it's been a year since we have been there. We are
looking forward to getting back, we will deliver our best and of course try
and win as many games as we can. The first game is as important as the last
game in my opinion, and if we win the first game it gets everybody off to a
nice pleasant start. If you get three points in the bag it builds the
confidence of the club getting rid of any anxiety anybody may have or at
least reduce it."

Do you hope the euphoria of the Olympics is brought into the Boleyn Ground
this weekend?

SA - "We would certainly like to continue the atmosphere the Olympics has
brought to the East End and the entire country. It's been an outstanding
game from every aspect and every angle. I hope the euphoria spills into
Upton Park on Saturday and we can deliver the same kind of entertainment
that the Olympics provided, it was absolutely outstanding for me. I wish we
hadn't planned as far from London as I did, we tried to avoid the mayhem
when in actual fact it's been easier to get around when the Olympics is on.
Unfortunately for me I took myself out of the equation and I didn't get to
see any of the events. If I had knew what it would be like I would have
stayed here longer and gone to one or two. But what a fantastic Olympics it
has been not just for London but for everybody in Britain."

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Joint-Chairman ready for big kick-off
A positive David Gold is looking forward to Saturday's Barclays Premier
League opener with Aston Villa
16.08.2012
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Joint-Chairman David Gold has revealed his excitement, desire and
apprehension ahead of the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League season. Cutting
the figure of a true West Ham United fan, Mr Gold explained that despite his
optimism he still finds it hard to shun the nerves from his mind ahead of
Saturday's big kick-off at home to Aston Villa. Speaking at a special
community event at the Boleyn Ground which also saw Olympic Silver medal
winner Mark Hunter make an appearance, Mr Gold admitted to having mixed
emotions. "It is very exciting but at the same time I am very nervous," he
said. "We just want to get started now. We have a good squad and it
certainly looks like a determined one, but we won't be able to judge until
after the first game. "Even though I am nervous I think we can come out
firing on all cylinders and start well. Confidence will play a massive part
and if we get off to a good start it will be sky high."

The Hammers have only lost once at home this calendar year and after
promotion back to the big time there is a good vibe around the club, but Mr
Gold insists the Premier League will offer a very different challenge.
"There is a big difference going back into the Premier League. Each of us
have different ways of dealing with the pressure of a new season. I'm
confident, but I still can't stop myself from being equally nervous. "Around
ten years ago when I was at Birmingham City I thought we had the best team
we had ever had, but things went against us, we had injury after injury and
a lot of bad luck. "That said the lads have looked terrific this week, and
to be honest with you if we didn't come out on Saturday looking like a
Premier League team I would be very disappointed."

Mr Gold also took the time to chat to rowing hero and West Ham fan Hunter,
and the Joint-Chairman believes everyone can be inspired by the 2008 Olympic
lightweight double sculls champion. "He is a very inspirational figure, but
I must tell you I've beaten him in five sets of tennis and I want everyone
to know I've beaten the champion!" joked Mr Gold, alluding to the pair
joining local youngsters playing tennis on the Boleyn Ground pitch. "It is
amazing what he has achieved, his determination and his courage is
outstanding. "But from a motivational point of view he is a young man who
has worked very hard and quite rightly reaped the rewards. "He is not only
inspirational to the team but also the youngsters here today, it is great to
see him here."

Mr Gold, like Hunter is a lifelong West Ham supporter, and like all of us he
has been in awe of the 2012 London Olympic Games. Looking ahead, the
Joint-Chairman hopes the club can continue to embrace the Olympic spirit as
he and the club continue to champion the ethos of 'Moore Than a Club'.
"Seeing the success and positive effect of the Olympics is unbelievable,
especially seeing as I was born and raised in east London," explained Gold.
"You wouldn't have seen community days like this in the past where young
people are allowed out onto the hallowed turf, but the policy of the club is
now to make everyone feel a part of it. "We want them to embrace what we're
trying to accomplish whereas in yesteryears the only way you could get into
Upton Park was to bunk in before being chased out by the groundstaff!
"People have a good feeling that has been generated from the Olympics and we
want to keep that going, if we win on Saturday we can do that and keeping
the momentum going which is key for everybody within the community."

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Hammers to face Crewe
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have been drawn against Crewe Alexandra in the Capital One
Cup second round
15.08.2012

West Ham United will host Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the newly
branded Capital One Cup, following Wednesday afternoon's draw. It will be
the first time the two sides have met since a 1-1 draw in the Championship
back in 2005, when Teddy Sheringham looked like he had bagged the winner
until Steve Jones scored an added-time equaliser. The match could see Nicky
Maynard line up against the side he played for until 2008 before moving to
Bristol City. West Ham United will be looking to improve on last season's
League Cup showing, when they were knocked out at the first hurdle by
Aldershot Town after being reduced to ten men. The Hammers have reached the
League Cup final twice before, finishing as runners up to West Bromwich
Albion in 1966 and Liverpool in 1981. All ties will take place in the week
commencing 27 August, with the final taking place on 24 February 2013.
whufc.com will bring ticket news as soon as it is available.

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Olympic Stadium move could make West Ham giants - Allardyce
BBC.co.uk

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says the club could grow to the size of
Manchester United or Arsenal if they move to the Olympic Stadium. The
Hammers want to take over the 80,000-capacity venue after the Paralympic
Games end next month. And Allardyce claims it could see West Ham rival Old
Trafford and Emirates Stadium for size and atmosphere. "We could be that
size in a brand new stadium, with that atmosphere," he said. West Ham are
one of four bidders under consideration for the Olympic Stadium. An original
deal for the club to lease the £486m stadium was scrapped last year amid
legal wrangling. Allardyce added: "It would be awesome to walk a team out on
that pitch and say 'this is West Ham's new home and the creation of what
could possibly be a new modern history hopefully'."

Upton Park, which has a 35,000 capacity, has been West Ham's home for the
past 108 years. Meanwhile, Allardyce says West Ham's move for winger Matt
Jarvis is "stuck" as they have yet to agree a deal with Wolves. Allardyce
wants Jarvis for his team's new Premier League campaign, but Allardyce has
written off signing the 26-year-old before Saturday's opening game with
Aston Villa. "For me, it is on the backburner because Saturday is the most
important thing," said Allardyce.
"Then if it is to be done after Saturday we'll see where we are."

While Allardyce hopes to push through a deal for Jarvis, West Ham have all
but conceded defeat in their attempt to sign Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.
The Hammers made an audacious bid to prise the £35m England international
from Anfield. But Allardyce revealed: "We never agreed with Liverpool any
deal to be able to speak to Andy Carroll to see if he would join us.
"Whatever deal we put forward to Liverpool was not agreed by Liverpool. "He
would have been a massive signing for us and, like everything else, when you
see an opportunity you try to go for it."

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Matt Taylor says West Ham United will play an attacking game
BBC.co.uk

West Ham midfielder Matt Taylor says the side aim to adopt an attacking
style of play in the Premier League. The Irons are back in the top flight
after winning the Championship play-off final last season. He told BBC
London: "I think we are going to see a team that goes all-out to win
football matches. "It's not going to be beautiful Barcelona football all the
time but I think you'll see us playing football as we've definitely got the
players." Hammers fans voiced their displeasure at what they saw as direct
tactics used by manager Sam Allardyce last season. Despite the desire for a
passing style, Taylor believes the Upton Park outfit will have to be
pragmatic about their chances in the Premier League. "The stadium will be
near enough full every week and people will want to see attractive football
but first and foremost, we need to win football matches," the 30-year-old
continued. "How we do that doesn't really worry me. "You want to pass and
play attractive football but at the same time you want to play football
that's effective so we're going to have to mix it and match it. "We're going
to need to keep the ball in spells. "There's going to be times when we'll
need to pass it but when we play the bigger teams we won't have as much
possession. "There are not any easy games. For the start of the season, it's
all about making sure we give a good account of ourselves in every game we
play." West Ham begin their campaign at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.

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Allardyce: Morrison could have West Ham future
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 15th August 2012
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce has refused to rule out a return for Ravel Morrison - despite
the youngster being packed off to Birmingham for the season. Amid a string
of rumours regarding his behaviour, the former Manchester United midfielder
- who joined West Ham just seven months ago - was loaned to the Championship
club for the season. However Allardyce has refused to rule out a return for
the higly-talented yet flawed 19-year-old former England youth international
- adding that he was rarely used last season due to inexperience. "What
Ravel needs for the first time in his life is first team football,"
Allardyce told KUMB.com. "I was striving for promotion last year and I
wasn't in the position to risk Ravel not because of his talent, but because
of his inexperience as a first team player. "So going into the Premier
League and getting where we wanted to go, he'd never played there before.
Going to Birmingham and playing for them in the Championship with a very
good young manager/coach with a great backroom staff in Terry McDermott and
Fazackerley [will do him good]."

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Hammers face home tie
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 15th August 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham will face Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the League Cup.
Sam Allardyce's side will face The Railwaymen at the Boleyn Ground in the
week commencing 27th August. Crewe, who have faced West Ham in the League
Cup just once previously - when they won a 1992 replay 2-0 after the first
leg ended in a goalless stalemate at the Boleyn - made the second round
having thrashed Hartlepool 5-0 last weekend.

The full draw is as follows:

Preston v Crystal Palace
Watford v Bradford City
Swansea v Barnsley
Yeovil v West Brom
Coventry City v Birmingham City
West Ham United v Crewe
Doncaster v Hull
Carlisle v Ipswich
Reading v Peterborough
Sheffield Wed v Fulham
Leicester City v Burton Albion
Burnley v Plymouth
QPR v Walsall
Stevenage v Southampton
Nott'm Forest v Wigan
Stoke v Swindon
Aston Villa v Tranmere
Crawley v Bolton
Gillingham v Middlesbrough
Northampton v Wolves
Everton v Leyton Orient
MK Dons v Blackburn
Leeds United v Oxford United
Sunderland v Morecambe
Norwich v Scunthorpe

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Sullivan explains Carroll bid
West Ham had lined up 'terribly expensive' deal for Liverpool striker
Last Updated: August 15, 2012 12:21pm
SSN

David Sullivan says West Ham United had agreed a deal with Liverpool for
Andy Carroll, but the striker turned down the chance to be the focal point
of Sam Allardyce's side. Carroll's future at Liverpool has been uncertain
following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as manager and he has been
linked with several rival Premier League clubs. West Ham were among those to
show an interest and a season-long loan deal with a view to a permanent
£17million transfer had been lined up by the promoted club. Sullivan says
the proposed deal was 'terribly expensive' for the Hammers, but he was
prepared to back Allardyce, who wanted Wolves winger Matt Jarvis to supply
the crosses for Carroll.

Perfect

"I can only talk about this because it has been put in the public domain
already," co-owner Sullivan told the Daily Mirror. "My manager wanted Andy
Carroll, so we backed him. "It was a terribly expensive deal with the loan
fee and with his wages, which were enormous - too much for a club like ours.
But, as the manager really wanted him, we were prepared to pay it." "Andy
was the perfect player for him and the style of football we play. "We play a
lot of high balls, a lot of crosses - quite exciting football, not just
humping it but clever crossing - and Sam wanted Jarvis to supply the crosses
because he is a fantastic crosser. "We had a deal in place with Liverpool to
borrow the player which automatically became a purchase if we stayed up. "We
hoped, as he had the same agent as our manager - a man we had done a lot of
business with - and he was very friendly with Kevin Nolan, our captain, that
Andy would want to come. "It was a terribly expensive deal with the loan fee
and with his wages, which were enormous - too much for a club like ours.
But, as the manager really wanted him, we were prepared to pay it. "But he
really wants to stay at Liverpool. He believes that he will get back into
the side by his performances - coming off the bench or for the reserves. He
believes the manager will have to put him back in the side. But it's wrong
to discuss what is in his mind. Only he knows that."

The England international is reported to favour a return to former club
Newcastle United, but Sullivan doubts Carroll will head back to St James'
Park. He added: "We were paying all of his wages and a huge loan fee.
Newcastle didn't even want to pay all of his wages. "This is what we are led
to believe. So Liverpool were not prepared to let him go to Newcastle. But
it may all change. Who knows?"

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Hammers' Jarvis move 'stuck'
Collins fit to face former club Villa; Collison struggling for opener
Last Updated: August 16, 2012 9:36pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce does not know if West Ham United will be able to agree a deal
with Wolverhampton Wanderers for winger Matt Jarvis. Sky Sports sources on
Thursday morning revealed the Hammers had failed in a third bid, believed to
be in the region of £9.5million, for the wide-man. Reports suggest Wolves
are holding out for £10m and it remains to be seen whether Jarvis will join
the likes of Alou Diarra and Mohamed Diame in moving to Upton Park. "It is
stuck - that's the answer," Allardyce said, speaking ahead of the season
opener against Aston Villa, when asked about the move for Jarvis. "I don't
know how that will pan out now. I think that we'll just have to wait and
see.

Backburner

"For me, it is on the backburner because Saturday is the most important
thing for me and then if it is to be done after Saturday we'll see where we
are. "We have got to try to agree something with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That is the issue we have at the moment, before we get into what the player
wants or doesn't want." Allardyce has made no secret of his desire to add
more faces this month and he had been interested in Liverpool's Andy
Carroll, but for now he only wants a good result against Villa. "I think
there is a lot of excitement around the place, obviously because we're
getting closer and closer to kick-off," he said. "I think we have prepared
pretty well, I think the only slow process, as always, is (bringing) players
in. That has been the only slow process.

Hard work

"We have been working extremely hard at it, but to be able to complete the
signings has been very difficult indeed. "We are pleased with the players we
have brought in, but we're still waiting to bring a few more in before the
end of the window." One of the additions, James Collins, came from
Saturday's opponents Villa and is fit to face his former club after a groin
injury. However, Collins' fellow Wales international, Jack Collison,
continues to struggle with a knee injury. "James Collins will train tomorrow
fully with us and Jack Collison still hasn't trained with the first-team
squad since the play-off final," said Allardyce.

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Allardyce gives up on Carroll
Hammers boss insists a deal was never agreed for Liverpool striker
Last Updated: August 16, 2012 7:55pm
SSN

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce appears to have given up the pursuit
of signing Andy Carroll after claiming a deal was never agreed with
Liverpool for the striker. The Upton Park club's co-chairman, David
Sullivan, had on Wednesday announced England international Carroll had
snubbed a move to London.
But ahead of Saturday's Premier League season-opener against Aston Villa,
Allardyce insists no £17million fee had ever been agreed with Liverpool.
Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers is thought to be prepared to sell Carroll, who
was signed by Kenny Dalglish for £35m in January 2011, but the club want as
much money as possible. And Allardyce seems to think West Ham's interest is
dead in the water, as he said: "We never agreed with Liverpool any deal to
be able to speak to Andy Carroll to see if he would join us. "Whatever deal
we put forward to Liverpool was not agreed to by Liverpool. "He would have
been a massive signing for us and, like everything else, when you see an
opportunity you try to go for it. "Then you get onto negotiations and once
that is exhausted you move on, which was a lot sooner than people actually
talked about in the media. "The negotiations were over in a couple of weeks
or so regarding whether Andy was or wasn't going to come to West Ham."

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Carlton Cole Interview (Part 1): 'Why I Took a Pay Cut'
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Di e

The last time I interviewed any West Ham players was back in the mid 1990s,
when I spoke to Tony Cottee and Stan Lazirides. To be honest, I don't find
many footballers that interesting. Hanging around Upton Park hoping for a
brief word with a player has never been my idea of fun, and in six years I
have never interviewed a player for this site. So why start now? Well, I had
intended to interview Sam Allardyce, but then again so did everyone else. In
the end I decided that I'd stand aside and leave him to KUMB or OLAS as I
felt it might be interesting to talk to him later in the season rather than
now. The club then asked if I'd like to interview a player. Initially, I
thought I'd say no, but then I started thinking about Carlton Cole. I've
always found him to be a bit different to most footballers. He always seemed
to me to be a really nice guy, with a bit more about him. From his tweets
you can see he has quite a range of interests. So I thought, OK, let's see
if Carlton will do it. 'How long would you need' asked the press officer.
'At least 45 minutes,' I said. There was an audible gulp. Well, I said,
these sort of conversational interviews don't really work unless they are at
least 45 minutes long. And so it was, that I rolled up at Upton Park
yesterday lunchtime for an appointment at 1pm. Several of the players were
doing press stuff on the pitch, but by 2.15 I was starting to get a bit
twitchy. And then the moment came. 'Would you like to do the interview
pitchside?' I was asked. Not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth I
said yes, of course. So off we went, through the doors, and there it was,
the tunnel that the players walk through to get onto the pitch - home
dressing room on the right, away dressing room and media interview room on
the left. And so it was that for the first time in my life I emerged onto
the Upton Park pitch. What a feeling! Carlton was there in his white T shirt
and designer jeans, looking slightly smaller than I thought he would. And we
spent the next 45 minutes or so sat in the dugout on the Recaro seats
chatting about life, football and whatever else came into my mind. There
will be three or four parts to this interview. I hope you enjoy it.

ID: Have you been to any of the Olympic events?
CC: No, I haven't had a chance. We have been away a lot. I have been
watching it, though. It was a massive thing for East London, for the whole
community – schools, neighbourhoods. Everywhere got an upgrade. We've been
lucky to have it over here. I really enjoyed the athletics, and it was great
to see Mark Hunter get a medal [Mark Hunter was sitting a few yards away
from us talking to Kevin Nolan]. I'm not from Jamaica, but to see the
Jamaican 4x100 relay team get the world record was really exciting as well.
There's a massive Jamaican community here. I've also known Mo Farah since I
was at school. He's from the area where I grew up. It was great to see how
the crowd supported him and pulled him through.

ID: Have you been to the Olympic Stadium?
CC: Yes, before it was fully finished. It was still a construction site.
Scott Parker, Mark Noble and I got a tour around it before they put all the
fittings in.

ID: Do the players talk much about playing there?
CC: No. We haven't been discussing because nothing's been confirmed, so
we're just concentrating on our own little pitch here! [laughs and gestures
towards the pitch]. As players we're not really monitoring that situation.
We know it's a massive season for us so we are not really bothered with off
the field stuff at the moment.

ID: There's a lot of stuff in the press about how footballer could learn a
lot from the example set by our Olympic athletes. Do you think there's
anything footballers can learn from the way the athletes conducted
themselves?
CC: People say we don't give back to the community in any way, and we're
spoilt brats. I think that's unfair. A lot of footballers I know do huge
amounts of charity work and conduct themselves properly off the field. When
you're an athlete, you have four years to train just for that one moment. We
train for every Saturday. It's a different lifestyle. Yes, we do get paid
very well for what we do. I know how hard Mo Farah has worked, because I've
seen what he has done to get to where he is today. Sometimes these things do
work out in different ways money-wise, but that's just the way it is.

ID: Karren Brady said the other day that there are people working here in
the ticket office on £15,000 a year and players who earn double that in a
week, and she likes the players to mix with other staff so they don't lose
touch.
CC: I'm not into this big earning thing anyway. Obviously I want to have a
good lifestyle and provide for my family. If you look into the money side of
it, all people see is just the money instead of what you do as a profession.
Obviously to get me where I am today, football has treated me really well,
and I know I am privileged to be a footballer. The money bit is just a
bonus. I never concentrate on that too much. If you're driven by money, it's
a different scenario.

ID: When I asked my readers what I should ask you, several of them said:
"Can you thank him for taking a pay cut last season, because not many
footballers would have done that?"
CC: No one has to thank me for taking a pay cut. I felt I had to pay back a
bit because I had had a poor season. I can't take all the blame but I felt
responsible for what happened the season before. I was nearly driven to
Stoke as a makeweight, so I said, if I have to take a pay cut, I'll have to
take a pay cut. It would drive me on more to get us back in the Premiership.
There's no bigger reward than that, and in the fashion we did as well. I
just felt such a weight off my shoulders. It was a question of honour. I
believed in something and I went for it. I took a gamble and it paid off.

ID: When you thought you were going to Stoke, did you feel as if you were
being traded as a commodity rather than a human being? Because you clearly
didn't want to go.
CC: I can't join a football club if my heart's not really in it. I wouldn't
be happy. And to play the best football, I need to be happy. I need the
support of people and my family around me. I spoke to my family and they
said 'if you don't want to do it, don't go'. So I decided to just chill out
and work with what I had.

ID: You say you need to be happy to play good football. When Gianfranco Zola
was here he got the best out of you because he gave you more confidence. How
important is it for the manager to recognise he needs to give you confidence
to get the most out of you?
CC: It's always important but not just with me, with any player. If the fans
are on your back you can either go one way or the other. Some people will
cave in, with others it makes you stronger. You fight through it and
concentrate on what you've got to do and what is going to be best for the
team. As long as you put the team first in anything that you do, then you
can't go wrong. Obviously as a striker I have got to score goals. I have got
that added pressure on me. As long as we win the game, that's the most
important thing and if I haven't scored, then I haven't scored. If I have
contributed in the best way I could, whether it be a goal or an assist or
just being a nuisance up front, as long as we win that game, that's what
matters to me.

ID: I remember one game where you came on as a substitute and you actually
got booed before you'd even stepped onto the pitch. What goes through your
mind when you're standing there, waiting to go onto the pitch, and all you
can hear is people booing you?
CC: To be honest I don't know what to feel. I wouldn't have known, because I
am fully focussed on what I have to do. It's only afterwards when people say
'how come you got booed?' I say 'did I?' I just don't hear it as much. There
will be times when I'm getting booed and I'm not, it's a decision that's
gone against me. I don't notice it as much as people really think I do.

ID: Before you came here there was a player called Samassi Abou, and we'd
all shout 'Aboooooooo' and the TV commentators couldn't understand why we
were booing one of our own players.
CC; [laughs]. That's quite funny, that.

ID: Have you noticed a difference in the crowd response to you?
CC: Yes, definitely.

ID: I think people 'get' you as a player now in a way that they didn't a few
years ago.
CC: My sort of player is as more of a team player. Yes, I am here to score
goals but I am a team player. I've been criticised for that, which is a bit
strange. My team mates appreciate me. They get what I do. And so does the
manager. That's the most important thing. I might not be pleasing to the eye
for some fans, they might not like the way I play, but as long as I know
what I am in the team for, and I am doing my job I know the manager
appreciates what I am doing, and he needs my input for us to get the result.

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Carlton Cole Interview (Part 2): 'Zola Was Fantastic For Me But Avram Lost
The Dressing Room'
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

ID: You've played under five different managers at West Ham. What's the
difference between Sam Allardyce and the others?
CC: Obviously Sam has got vast experience in the Premiership and he believes
in his way of playing. He believes that there's his way, but he believes in
going with the times as well. He will go the sports science way to prove
that you're not fit enough and that's why you're not going to play this
week. He really adapts to the times, he's been really impressive, and he's
open to suggestions as well. He knows where he wants to go. If you're not
achieving that, he'll tell you straight away. He'll sit you down. He's a
straight up guy. I think everyone knows that and if you don't like it,
you've just got to deal with it because he isn't going to change.

ID: There were a lot of games last season where we expected you to start,
but you didn't. Do you expect to start every game, or does the modern trend
for rotating a squad mean that you accept you won't start every time?
CC: I don't expect to start any game. If the manager sees fit to start with
another player that means he is fit for that game. He takes a lot of
pressure of me if I have another central striker up there. It means I can
rest, recharge my batteries and then go again. If that's the way he feels he
can get the best out of me then I am all for it. It's not that he's dropping
you, he wants the best for the team. I'll train midweek and the week after
and prove myself so I can get in the team. Competition is what you need
otherwise there's a danger you get comfortable and complacent.

ID: Is it true you can't play two games in a week.
CC: No, it's not. As long as I am managed properly. Say I play on a Saturday
and there's a game on the Tuesday, I'll probably play 70 minutes on the
Saturday, so I can recover in time. My injury hasn't been like Ledley King's
injury, it's been a bit more manageable, but at the start, when I was trying
to get used to it and my body was trying to adapt, it was a bit hard for me,
but now I've got the flow, I know what I'm doing, I know how much I can
train and how much I can't train, there's a balance there so I know my body.

ID: Are you ready for Saturday.
CC: Yeah, I'm raring to go! We had a training session today and all the lads
look sharp. We've been trying to get sharp in the matches we've had. We've
had a lot more friendlies this year in pre-season than we did last year. I
think we have had five or six more than last year. We have been trying to
get match-fit in the pre-season games. There's been a bit less training and
more matches.

ID: What's Madibo Maiga like as a player?
CC: He's a great talent, a great signing. As soon as he acclimatises, which
he is starting to do now. With the way we play, he will be a great asset to
have.

ID: Where exactly does he play?
CC: If he plays up front he would play along another striker, but in 4-5-1
or 4-3-3 he'd play on the wing. He can adapt to different positions and
that's what we need, players who can adapt and be a bit more versatile.

ID: When you read all the transfer speculation about Andy Carroll coming in,
do you think to yourself 'well, that's me done for?'
CC: I'm a central striker, we haven't got another big man up top, so what
happens if I get injured? We need someone else as well. I have already told
the manager that! [laughs]. If you want to improve yourself you have to have
competition for places. And that can only be healthy for West Ham.

ID: How important was Gianfranco Zola to you? He brought things out of you
that we hadn't seen in you before, didn't he? When he went, people wondered
how you would progress from there.
CC: Zola was fantastic for me personally. That's when I got my England
call-up and it was a turning point for me. Because he was a striker he
understood me, understood how I can play, and he believed in me. Curbs
always knew I was a good player but he just wanted me to be 100% all the
time and go at it, gung ho. But my type of striker, to be a Number 9, a hold
up player, you have to grow into it. That's what Zola found out that I
needed to do. He focussed on that in training.

ID: When you heard he had been sacked?
CC: I was obviously disappointed. I had played with him at Chelsea as well,
Steve Clarke too. So I knew him personally. These things happen, you know. I
was disappointed for him, but then again, you've got to look forward.
Forward to who was going to come in. That was obviously Avram, and I had to
try and work for him as well. I'm only a player, but I felt bad for Zola.

ID: What was it like under Avram Grant. People said that in the end he lost
the dressing room.
CC: [hesitates and laughs]. It was a weird season, a very weird season. It
was a tough season as well.

ID: Because you started on fire – was it 8 goals in 10 games? And then you
got injured for a long period. It could have been very different…
CC: Exactly. It happened. I'm not about the 'what ifs', I just focus on the
future and right now my future's with West Ham. The future's on Saturday and
I am predicting a win! I'm doing my mystic Meg!

ID: What did Scott Parker say in that half time team talk he did after we
were 3-0 down against West Brom?
CC: [laughs]. Do you know what? I actually played that up a bit too much. He
didn't really say too much but he said we had to do much better. He was
really emotional about it as well. But so was everybody else in the room. It
wasn't just about Scott Parker. It was everybody in the room. Everyone was
together. I just mentioned Scott Parker because it was the first thing that
came into my mind. But he was one of the real influences on that game.

ID: Didn't that sum up what had gone wrong under Avram Grant? That he had
lost it. It should have been him doing that rallying call, shouldn't it?
CC: Exactly, and that's one of the reasons I came out and said it. But you
had to read between the lines to understand what was going on.

ID: We all did! What formation do you prefer playing in? Obviously the way
Sam Allardyce plays is very different to what went before. Do you like a
smaller, Sam Baldock striker playing off you, or do you feel the 4-3-3 or
4-51 plays to your strength?
CC: Any of them play to my strength as I am always going to be the big guy,
but there's always going to be other players buzzing around me. As long as
there's support around me it doesn't matter whether it's 4-3-3 or 4-4-2.
It's up to players around me to get into effective positions.

ID: What did it mean to you to get an England call-up?
CC: Some players don't really care – as long as they give 100%, but if
you're an ambitious player, that's what you play for, it's the pinnacle and
it means you're doing something right for your club. Some players never get
an England callup but play brilliantly. Look how long it took Scott Parker
to get called up. Sometimes even if you're playing well at your club you
just don't get the call. Look at Nobby here [gestures over to Kevin Nolan,
who is nearby], a consistent Premiership player but I don't think he has
ever had an England call-up. Sometimes it doesn't work.

ID: Is there a bit of competition between you and Kevin Nolan. Last season
every time you scored, he seemed to. There was a point when we thought he
might overtake you!
CC: Do you know what it was? The manager gets into our heads as well. He
says 'Ah, Nobby's going to overtake you!' No way! He can't! Yes, there was a
bit of competition there, but it's all good. We've got other strikers doing
the same thing this year who will hopefully get double figures, so that can
only be a good thing for the club.

ID: Has Roy Hodgson given you a call? Do you think you are in his plans?
CC: No, we haven't been in touch. If it happens, it happens but I am not
really focussed on that right now. I am focussed on my form at club level.
That's what needs to gain me recognition, but if it doesn't that's cool.

ID: But you'll only just be 30 for the next World Cup in two years' time in
Brazil. That's got to be an aim for you?
CC: Yes, of course. You always have to have aims and targets. If I am doing
the business with West Ham, hopefully I would get the chance. There's a good
history of West Ham players playing for England!

Part Three will follow tomorrow.

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WOLVES REJECT WEST HAM'S BID FOR MATT JARVIS
Daily Express
Friday August 17,2012
By Daily Express reporter

WOLVES have rejected an improved £9.5m bid from West Ham for winger Matt
Jarvis, worth £6m up front and the remainder in add-ons.

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