Daily WHUFC News - 31st August 2012

Hammers net Carroll
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have signed England international Andy Carroll on loan from
Liverpool
30.08.2012

West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of England striker
Andy Carroll on a season-long loan deal. The 23-year-old has moved to the
Boleyn Ground from Liverpool for the remainder of the 2012/13 Barclays
Premier League campaign, with the Hammers having the option to complete a
permanent deal for an undisclosed fee next summer. Carroll, a powerful
forward who is an outstanding header of the ball and blessed with superb
technical ability, led the line for his country at EURO 2012 and has been
named in the England squad for the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
with Moldova and Ukraine. The signing of Carroll, who became the
most-expensive English footballer in history when he joined Liverpool from
Newcastle United for a reported fee of £35m in January 2011, represents a
huge statement of the Board's intentions to make West Ham a force to be
reckoned with in the Barclays Premier League. The Gateshead-born frontman,
who could make his Hammers debut in Saturday's home fixture with Fulham, has
expressed his happiness at completing a move that sees him reunited with his
former Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce and captain Kevin Nolan. "It's great
to be here at West Ham and all signed up - I just can't wait to get started
now," Carroll said. "I want to be playing games and obviously hoping to
score some goals. I know the manager well and some of the lads, so it is
nice for me to come to a place where I know people. "I'm hoping to add a lot
of goals and create a few chances. I know Sam from Newcastle and he was a
massive reason for me coming. When I worked with him at Newcastle it was
great so it was a no-brainer really."

His new manager was understandably pleased to welcome Carroll to east
London. He said: "I think for all parties this is a great signing. Andy is
an all-round footballer, but because he is 6'3" and one of his strengths is
his aerial power, everybody dismisses the ability he possesses on the floor.
"Hopefully he can score goals for us and we will be in a very good position
at the end of the year in the Barclays Premier League."

Carroll burst into the Newcastle first-team at the age of 17, making his
first-team debut as a replacement for future Hammer Nolberto Solano in a
UEFA Cup victory over Palermo on 2 November 2006 - an appearance that made
him the youngest-ever player to represent Newcastle in Europe. After scoring
his maiden first-team goal past FIFA World Cup winner Gianluigi Buffon in a
friendly win over Juventus in July 2007, Carroll embarked on a six-month
loan spell with Championship side Preston North End. On his return to St
James' Park, the centre forward forced his way into the Magpies starting XI,
scoring on his full home debut with a towering header against West Ham in a
2-2 Premier League draw on 10 January 2009. The 2009/10 season saw Carroll
come into his own as he combined with Nolan to shoot Newcastle to the
Championship title and promotion back to the Premier League at the first
attempt. The striker finished the campaign as the club's top scorer with 19
goals in all competitions and be voted into the Championship Team of the
Year. At the start of 2010/11, he then took the top-flight by storm, netting
a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Aston Villa and eleven goals in just 19 league
appearances before completing his record-breaking move to Anfield. Last
season, Carroll collected a League Cup winner's medal as Liverpool beat
Cardiff City before returning to Wembley to score the winning goal against
Everton to take the Reds into the FA Cup final. Carroll's performances for
Newcastle earned him a senior England debut in a friendly international with
France on 17 November 2010. His first senior international goal arrived in a
friendly with Ghana at Wembley on 29 March 2011. The striker's all-round
ability saw him named in England's squad for the 2012 UEFA European
Championship finals, where he impressed by scoring a trademark header in a
group-stage victory over Sweden.

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Big Sam on Fulham
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce looks ahead to Saturday's Barclays Premier League encounter
with Fulham.
30.08.2012

Sam Allardyce was in a positive mood ahead of Saturday's lunch-time Barclays
Premier League clash with Fulham at the Boleyn Ground. After last weekend's
disappointing defeat at the Liberty Stadium, West Ham United are hoping to
bounce back against a team they have enjoyed playing against in recent
times. Big Sam talked all things football, discussing the threat posed by
Fulham, players vying for a starting berth and deadline day madness.

Sam what kind of threat do you think Fulham will pose?

SA - "I watched them last week and they recovered well after looking dead
and buried at Old Trafford. That is something we have to have in mind
because if they play the way they did last weekend from the start of the
game it is going to be very difficult. Every Premier League game is a
challenge and we need to make sure we are ready. We need to get in amongst
them and restrict them from having time on the ball. If we can impose our
home advantage and carry on from our opening-day win we can expose the
Fulham defence. Sheffield Wednesday did just that in the Capital One Cup and
Manchester United did last weekend. I believe there are a few weaknesses we
can take advantage of. However, Fulham have been an established Premier
League side for more than ten years now and they will be very difficult to
beat."

You made a lot of changes against Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday. Have any of
those squad players done enough to make their way into your plans to face
Fulham?

SA - "There will be some included in the team. We have had one or two
injuries from last week and I think we have to make sure that they are fully
recovered if we are going to select them. So yes, some of the players who
were involved on Tuesday may feature. We will see how well the players have
recovered on Friday and Saturday morning. There will be some changes, but
other than that we are looking forward to the game."

Have you got any news on the transfer front, or have you concluded your
business?

SA - "There will probably be another player brought in. A player we are
interested in has become available. Hopefully we can bring in that quality
player who will come in and make an immediate impact."

You mentioned last week that you would prefer to have the transfer window
end before the start of the season, so what is your take on deadline day?

SA - "I think an experiment for one season might be the answer. If we all
came together and said the window has to end before the start of the season
that could work. We shouldn't set it in stone, but experiment and see how it
goes. There has to be a better solution out there."

What do you do when you have concluded all your business?

SA - "I turn both of my phones off, I don't look at the TV and focus on the
game ahead. The one thing this window brings is far too many distractions
ahead of the games you play. If I have concluded all of my business by
Friday lunch-time, then hopefully I have no need to bother with what
everyone else is saying. So my phone and the TV will be turned off."

Last weekend at Swansea City was a blip after a terrific start in the
Barclays Premier League. What have you done during the week to ensure you do
not make any errors?

SA - "I think that the two lads responsible know that it was an unusual
situation for them to make those errors. They do not make them often and
they happen to everyone. If you look all over the Premier League last
weekend and before that, teams make mistakes. We did not want to be the team
that made them because they are very very costly and teams who make those
types of errors haven't won a game of football yet. You only have to look at
Liverpool who drew 2-2 with Manchester City. They made two very big errors
and if they hadn't made them they would have won. That is how much it costs
you in the Premier League. If you make mistakes teams will punish you."

Do you think you will be making any changes from last Saturday?

SA - "The only changes we will make will be forced through injury. Some
players may not have recovered from minor knocks in time. Some were rested
on Tuesday but most of them were injured. That game against Crewe has
encouraged me because, if we do need to make changes, we have players who
can come in and make an impact.

It looks like Fulham will be bringing in Dimitar Berbatov. They have lost
Moussa Dembele, but what sort of challenge will they bring?

SA - "I hope he doesn't play. He is a terrific player and I hope he isn't
fit enough to feature. I think the loss of Dembele to Fulham is a big one.
But the size of the replacement and the quality of the player is an
exceptional piece of business by Fulham. This is one of the best Premier
League goalscorers in recent years and even though he hasn't had the best of
times recently he will be a massive threat if he plays a part in the game on
Saturday. It will be a terrific signing by Fulham if they clinch it."

You got off to a winning start against Aston Villa, how important is it that
you make Upton Park a fortress?

SA - "I think that home form is critical to us all at any football club,
whatever the level. The whole week is based on making sure your fans go home
from the game happy. There will be 30,000 fans here and they pay their money
for us to excite them and win the game. They want to be entertained. That is
what we try to do, but the only way of making sure of that is by winning. If
you can win by a handsome margin then that is great, but our main aim is to
make sure we win the game and send the fans home happy."

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Latics next up for Hammers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will host Wigan Athletic in the Capital One Cup third round
next month
30.08.2012

West Ham United will host Wigan Athletic in the Capital One Cup third round.
The Hammers were drawn at home to the Latics when the draw was held on
Thursday evening, with the tie set to be staged at the Boleyn Ground in the
week commencing Monday 24 September. The two sides have never met before in
the League Cup competition.

Sam Allardyce's side won through to the last-32 courtesy of a 2-0 home win
over Crewe Alexandra in the secound round, with Nicky Maynard and Modibo
Maiga getting the goals. The Hammers reached the final of the competition in
both 1966 and 1981, when they finished as runners-up. Managed by Roberto
Martinez, the Latics got through to the second round this term courtesy of a
fine 4-1 second-round win at Nottingham Forest.

Barclays Premier League side Wigan reached the League Cup final in 2006 -
the same year the Hammers reached the FA Cup final - before losing to
Manchester United in the final. West Ham have added incentive to win through
to the fourth round as it was Wigan whose 3-2 victory at the JJB Stadium
condemned the Hammers to relegation from the Barclays Premier League in
2011.

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Andy Carroll: Liverpool striker joins West Ham on loan
By Ben Smith
BBC Sport

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has joined West Ham on a season-long loan.
The 23-year-old England international had wanted to stay at Anfield but the
realisation that he was out of manager Brendan Rodgers's plans persuaded him
to take a move. The move reunites Carroll with his former Newcastle United
manager Sam Allardyce and captain Kevin Nolan. "It's great to be here at
West Ham and all signed up - I just can't wait to get started now," Carroll
said. "I want to be playing games and obviously hoping to score some goals.
I know the manager well and some of the lads, so it is nice for me to come
to a place where I know people. "I'm hoping to add a lot of goals and create
a few chances. I know Sam from Newcastle and he was a massive reason for me
coming. When I worked with him at Newcastle it was great so it was a
no-brainer really."

Allardyce said: "I think for all parties this is a great signing. Andy is an
all-round footballer, but because he is 6ft 3in and one of his strengths is
his aerial power, everybody dismisses the ability he possesses on the floor.
"Hopefully he can score goals for us and we will be in a very good position
at the end of the year in the Premier League."

It is understood there is no commitment to buy the player, although the
Hammers do have the option to complete a permanent deal for an undisclosed
fee next summer. However the deal could allow Liverpool to free up funds to
move for Fulham striker Clint Dempsey.

Andy Carroll career stats
Newcastle (2006-11): 91 games, 33 goals
Preston (loan Aug 2007-08): 12 games, 1 goal
Liverpool (2011-present): 57 games, 11 goals
England (2010-present): 7 games, 2 goals

Liverpool manager Rodgers said: "It is very simple - the club have made a
monumental investment in big Andy. At the moment he is not playing. He made
it very clear he wanted to play games and this is his last chance to do
that." Having conceded defeat in their chase for Carroll earlier this month,
West Ham were given signs of encouragement on Thursday. Liverpool manager
Rodgers is desperate to raise funds for new signings and made it clear
Carroll was a "third choice" striker at Anfield. He said: "You don't need to
be a rocket scientist to see Andy has been a cover player for us and has
been excellent in terms of his attitude and acceptance of where he is at.
"But I don't think we are in a position to have £35m players as third-choice
strikers, or wingers who are on £5m-£6m a year." Liverpool must raise funds
to step up their interest in Dempsey, while Arsenal's Theo Walcott also
remains a target.

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West Ham v Fulham
KO 12:45
30 August 2012
Last updated at 18:18
By Jonathan Pearce
BBC Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 1 September

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble and striker Carlton Cole should play, despite
having been linked with moves. But the Hammers will still be without injured
Wales midfielder Jack Collison.

Fulham could have Kieron Richardson and Dimitar Berbatov if they complete
their respective signings from Sunderland and Manchester United. Wantaway
forward Clint Dempsey could again be left out, while Kerim Frei (pelvis) and
Philippe Senderos (foot) are still unavailable.

MATCH PREVIEW

Fulham's unsettling week could take a turn for the worse at Upton Park,
where the Cottagers haven't won since their first Premier League meeting
there 11 years ago. A shadow has been cast over their early optimism by the
Clint Dempsey Liverpool transfer saga, the loss of Mousa Dembele, and the
Capital One Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

This comes on top of the loss of Andrew Johnson, Danny Murphy, Pavel
Pogrebnyak and Bobby Zamora. Martin Jol has worked hard to bring in
replacements, but his squad now looks unbalanced. West Ham can take
advantage of their upheaval, and must do so.

If the Hammers are to stay up, they have to win home matches like this.
They've won five in a row at Upton Park and lost just two of their last 23
games in all competitions. New boys Mohamed Diame and Alou Diarra give them
a solid if rather functional look at the heart of midfield. The return of
James Collins was an inspired signing. Kevin Nolan will always get goals at
any level and Carlton Cole has a good record in this fixture, scoring six
times against Fulham. The visitors will know, though, that the longer they
can hold the Hammers, the more frustrated the home fans will become. Sam
Allardyce has done all that was asked of him by getting the club back into
the Premier League, but he still doesn't seem to have been taken to heart
fully by the Boleyn bubble-blowers. The spectre of Harry Redknapp, now back
in the job market, will be on his shoulder and on the lips of West Ham fans
who yearn for his return. That is so unfair on 'Big Sam'. He's done a great
job and can lead West Ham to a top-half finish if their home form holds up.
For Fulham, it'll be a while before Martin Jol's new team gels. Home win for
me.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

Fulham have only won one of their eight Premier League visits to Upton Park.
That came in the first-ever Premier League meeting between the two clubs on
3 November 2001 (a 2-0 win, with Sylvain Legwinski and Steed Malbranque the
goal-scorers).
The highest-scoring match between the two clubs was at Upton Park in 1968,
when West Ham won 7-2 on 3 February.
West Ham took four points off Fulham when they were last in the Premier
League (in the 2010/11 season).

West Ham
They have only lost two of their past 23 competitive fixtures in all
competitions.
The Hammers won just five of their 19 home matches the last time they were
in the Premier League (2010/11).
Since the start of last season, Hammers captain Kevin Nolan has never gone
more than four games without scoring.

Fulham
Fulham have only won 30 of their 210 Premier League away matches (the fewest
wins of any club to have played at least 150 away matches in the division).
The Cottagers have drawn just one of their past 17 Premier League matches.
With two goals from two games, Irish winger Damien Duff has already matched
his Premier League goals total for last season (when he made 23 starts).

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Cardiff City set to capture West Ham's Nicky Maynard
BBC.co.uk

Cardiff City are poised to sign Nicky Maynard from West Ham United for a fee
understood to be close to £2.5m. If the 25-year-old striker can agree
personal terms with Cardiff, the deal should be concluded before the
transfer window shuts on Friday. Maynard joined the Hammers for £2m from
Bristol City in January 2012 but his first-team chances have been limited.
The Crewe product would be Cardiff's 10th summer signing after Brighton wing
Craig Noone joined on Thursday. Cardiff boss Malky Mackay has already signed
Craig Bellamy, Tommy Smith, Heidar Helguson, Matthew Connolly, Joe Lewis,
Jordon Mutch, Kim Bo-Kyung and Etien Velikonja this summer.

Maynard started his career as a trainee at Crewe Alexandra, scoring 32 goals
in 59 league appearances, before joining Bristol City in a £2.25m deal in
July 2008.
The striker was equally prolific during his time at Ashton Gate, hitting 45
goals from the 124 league games, but the Robins were forced to sell Maynard
before his contract ran down. He scored in West Ham's 2-0 League Cup win
over former club Crewe on Tuesday night, making his first appearance of the
season, but now seems to be headed for Cardiff to help boost the Bluebirds'
Championship campaign.

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Wigan await
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 30th August 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham will face Wigan Athletic in the third round of the Capital One Cup.
The Hammers - who beat Crewe Alexandra 2-0 last week in the second round -
will host the Latics at the Boleyn Ground in what will be only the third
ever meeting between the two sides in a Cup competition and the first in the
League Cup in all its various guises. The two sides met for the first time
ever in an FA Cup tie back in January 1984 which West Ham won 1-0 courtesy
of a Ray Stewart penalty; a game which also saw Alan Devonshire tear ankle
ligaments which left him sidelined for the rest of the season. The most
recent meeting came in May 2011 when the Hammers, under Avram Grant, threw
away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at the DW Stadium - a defeat that condemned
United to relegation.

All third round ties will be played in the week commencing 24th September.
Full draw as follows:

Manchester United v Newcastle
Manchester City v Aston Villa
MK Dons v Sunderland
West Brom v Liverpool
Crawley v Swansea
QPR v Reading
Norwich v Doncaster
Bradford v Burton
Preston v Middlesbrough
Arsenal v Coventry
Southampton v Sheffield Wednesday
Chelsea v Wolves
Carlisle v Tottenham
Swindon v Burnley
West Ham Utd v Wigan
Leeds v Everton

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Maynard may go
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 30th August 2012
By: Staff Writer

Nicky Maynard is set to hold talks with Cardiff City after the Welsh club
agreed a fee with West Ham. The former Bristol City striker - who netted the
first goal in West Ham's 2-0 Capital One Cup win against Crewe Alexandra
earlier in the week - is set to joing the Championship club on a permanent
basis after United accepted the Bluebirds' £2.5million offer. Speaking after
the Crewe game, Maynard expressed his disappointment at not featuring in the
starting XI for either of West Ham's two Premier League fixtures thus far
this season. "I've not had my chance in the Premier League which has been a
bit frustrating," he said. "But it is a team game and I have to keep working
and waiting for a chance."

However it would appear that that chance has now disappeared with the news
that he is set to make a return to the Championship just seven months after
moving to West Ham on the final day of the previous transfer window. Should
Maynard complete a move to Cardiff he will face stiff competition from the
likes of ex-Hammer Craig Bellamy, Kim Bo-Kyung, Heidar Helguson, Etien
Velikonja and former Brighton striker Craig Noone, who joined City
yesterday.

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Carroll signs
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 30th August 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United have completed the signing of Liverpool striker Andy Carroll
on loan. The 23-year-old England international has joined West Ham on loan
for the season with view to a permanent transfer next summer. Carroll - who
joined Liverpool just 18 months ago for a British record fee of £35million -
put pen to paper on a season-long loan deal this evening after he flew into
Stapleford Abbotts airfield earlier in the day, as exclusively revealed on
the KUMB.com forum. Speaking to whufc.com tonight, Carroll said: "It's great
to be here at West Ham and all signed up - I just can't wait to get started
now. "I want to be playing games and obviously hoping to score some goals.
I know the manager well and some of the lads, so it is nice for me to come
to a place where I know people. "I'm hoping to add a lot of goals and create
a few chances. I know Sam from Newcastle and he was a massive reason for me
coming. When I worked with him at Newcastle it was great, so it was a
no-brainer really."

KUMB.com revealed this morning how Sam Allardyce remained keen on tieing up
a deal for the former Newcastle forward despite several other sources
claiming that the move was dead in the water. Earlier this evening news
broke that the two parties were close to agreeing a deal - and shortly
before 8pm tonight the club confirmed that Carroll had indeed completed a
move to West Ham. United boss Sam Allardyce was clearly delighted to have
landed a player he had long sought. "I think for all parties this is a great
signing," he told whufc.com. "Andy is an all-round footballer, but because
he is 6'3" and one of his strengths is his aerial power, everybody dismisses
the ability he possesses on the floor. "Hopefully he can score goals for us
and we will be in a very good position at the end of the year in the
Barclays Premier League."

The centre forward, who is Allardyce's tenth signing of the summer is
represented by agent Mark Curtis, who now exerts a major influence on the
dressing room at West Ham. Curtis also boasts Kevin Nolan, Matt Jarvis,
James Tomkins and Jack Collison amongst his clientele - plus manager Sam
Allardyce.

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The same old mistakes
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 30th August 2012
By: Dan Ordidge

After the Swansea game I was left feeling confused, as I had previously
written in my last article I genuinely thought we had a chance to at least
come back through the border with a point.

We started brightly, and for the first 20 or so minutes we controlled
Swansea, we pressed them, not letting them have time on the ball and when we
gained possession we managed to work the ball well. But alas, our old ways
came back to haunt us in the form of defensive mistakes!

I will never forget the mistakes that we made in that fateful season with
Avram when we were relegated into the abyss of the Championship. At times in
the Swansea game I felt like it was that season all over again. Don't get me
wrong, I do not blame individual players for mistakes that lead to goals, I
believe it's the team that makes mistakes.

During the Swansea game it looked like the back line weren't switched on,
the communication between the players was poor and once Jussi Jaaskelainen
spilled the ball into the net (even though it was not technically classed as
an own goal) the team tactics seemed to go out the window, and pardon the
phrase, it all went a bit Pete Tong.

Then Collins popped up, who had a fantastic debut and mis-guided a horrible
ball towards the keeper only to be latched onto by Michu. I talked about
Michu in my last article, a fantastic bit of talent and is a brilliant
signing for Swansea, when that goal went in I felt like I had just eaten my
own words, and it tasted bitter!

These were the types of mistakes that were made in seasons gone by, along
with giving away goals in the final few minutes and it needs addressing. In
the top flight clubs can make you pay dear for silly little mistakes, and
they will not go easy on us. Every point matters and it is going to be a
tough season, without those mistakes we could have come out with something.

The performance against Crewe was to be expected playing a League One team,
they were never going to test the defence's weaknesses, and a lot of the
regular players were rested. So in my opinion we can't take that result as a
confidence booster for the team. The real test will of course be Fulham on
Saturday.

A lot of fans have also commented on the lack of danger that we possessed
going forward against Swansea, it was a hard game for Cole, who received a
poor service throughout the game and was left an uphill task to form the
simplest of attacks. Furthermore Jarvis was phased out of the game
completely, and that was good tactics on Swansea's part, they knew his pace
and skill along with his lethal crosses would be our main goal threat along
with set pieces.

The reaction by a fan on that 'Twitter' thing to Cole was repulsive I must
say, to treat a player who has been loyal to us in such a racist way really
annoyed me. For those readers who use it, be supportive to the players,
because at the end of the day they play to get us the points, if they don't
play they still get paid so let's give them that reason to play for the
points, for us the fans!

So now is the time to look toward the Boleyn on Saturday and the appearance
of Fulham on our holy turf. Fulham started the season well with a 5-0
thrashing of Norwich; the absence of Dembele could make a big impact on the
team, but with players like Sidwell and the old favourite Duff who has
started the season well it will be a hard game.

Fulham look good going forward, especially when they played Manchester
United despite losing. This a game when we will have to put the mistakes me
made against Swansea behind us and move on, the quicker we can achieve this
harmony at the back the better we will do. If we play defensively like
Hurricane Isaac is approaching the ground like we did in Swansea we will be
in big trouble.

I believe we could achieve three points; we play better at home, the roar of
the terraces pumping adrenaline through the player's bodies. But this
achievement will not come easy, things need to be corrected but if we get
behind the squad, like any match of our beloved beautiful game, anything can
happen.

If you are attending the match, have your voice in good pitch and your heart
on your sleeve! The transfer window nears its end and this is our squad and
our chance for the three points.

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The midfield dilemma
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 30th August 2012
By: Callum Hurley

Admittedly, I'm not sure this is a problem that has plagued philosophers for
centuries, nor will the answer win the next Nobel prize, but it's certainly
an issue that needs addressing. In our current formation, we allow for three
central midfielders, two wide men, and a target man as striker. So how do
you pick three from a central midfield roster that is oozing with quality?

With last season's departure of the talismanic Scott Parker, it seemed this
area could prove a problem in the rebuilding work of Sam Allardyce. However,
the co-chairmen, David Gold and David Sullivan, saw fit to reinvest the
transfer fee, and sizeable wage (especially for a Championship club) in the
industrious Kevin Nolan, who was promptly made captain.

This was a clear statement from the owners that we had no intention of
staying in the division for more than a year and this faith was repaid,
thanks in no small part to Nolan's goals. As captain, and with the
experience and goalscoring threat that Nolan provides, he seems to be the
stalwart of Big Sam's first eleven.

However, whilst Nolan brings a vast skill set to the team, he, like any
other player, has his limitations. His preference is to advance into the
final third as often as possible is the reason he scores such important
goals, however this can at times leave his tracking back to be a little
suspect. Of course, playing as the head of a central midfield triangle means
that Nolan will have at least one more defensive minded player behind him.
Although therein, it seems, lies the problem: there are more candidates than
there are positions.

Nolan's principal partner last year, whether the centre midfield was a two
or a three, was the ever-present Mark Noble. Noble's combination of ability,
work-rate and 'local boy' status have made him probably the most popular
player amongst the fans, and his improvement last year was staggering. In a
season that saw him named in the Championship team of the year, he
deservedly won the coveted 'Hammer of the Year' award for what was
undoubtedly his finest season at the club, which proved very fitting for the
club's longest serving player.

Besides settling into a more defensive role by making great strides in his
tackling, Noble's ever-improving abilities from set-pieces, including a
fantastic penalty record, have made him an invaluable asset to the team.
Recent rumours of a move to Fulham are sure to be greeted with trepidation
from the fans, who will not want to see a fantastic player, and fan
favourite, leave the club.

As impressive as this duo was last season, a promotion to the Premier League
will invariably bring quality signings that create a high standard of
competition for many positions, and in our case it seems the midfield has
been strengthened the most. Whilst the exciting signing of Matt Jarvis
proved costly for the club, Sam Allardyce's legendary transfer acumen has
been lauded again with the acquisitions of Mohammed Diame and Alou Diarra.

Diame, signed on a free transfer from Wigan, is a hugely underrated player
and is the epitome of what Big Sam likes in his team. He is strong,
confident and enjoys having the ball at his feet, as well as having
incredible stamina, and an engine that allows him to seemingly run all day.
This was demonstrated fantastically on his debut against Aston Villa, in
which Diame looked a constant threat with the ball, as well as pressing so
quickly that it placed a perpetual pressure on the Villa midfield to
distribute the ball quicker than they would like.

This element of Diame's play is complimented perfectly by Noble and Nolan,
the former's style allowing him to get forward if the opportunity presents
itself, and the latter meaning that he doesn't have to force himself forward
if he doesn't perceive there to be an opportunity. In theory, this trio
could be perfect for the stability the club is trying to achieve at the
moment, as they could be instrumental in grinding out victories in tough
games, as well as protecting slender leads. However, in reality, one injury
or poor form could disrupt this, which is why Big Sam brought in another
option.

The other option is indeed a star in his own right; Alou Diarra is not only
a player with 41 international caps, but was also Laurent Blanc's preferred
choice as captain, and featured in all of France's Euro 2012 fixtures. At
31, Diarra may be around his peak for a midfielder who plays in his more
defensive role, and has the experience and ability to cover for centre-back
in a crisis.

A tremendous player signed for a bargain £2 million from cash-strapped
Marseille, Diarra's international and Champion's League experience could
prove pivotal when it comes to fixtures against bigger teams, and could
prove vital in aiding some of the younger players. But the question remains,
if Diarra is to play, which of the aforementioned trio is out? Does Diame
suffer as the new arrival? Noble, who occupies Diarra's preferred position?
Or would Big Sam push Diame further forward, for his increased work-rate
compared to Nolan? Many questions with no straightforward answer, especially
when you add a fifth variable.

The fifth piece of the three-pieced jigsaw is the seemingly forgotten man,
Jack Collison. After barely featuring in pre-season, mostly due to injury,
the Welsh international may be set for a year with limited opportunities
unless he can prove his fitness in training. Collison has had an unfortunate
career with injuries, which has hampered the progression that his enormous
potential promised (so much potential that he and other academy product Mark
Noble were, at one time, drawing comparisons to a young Joe Cole and Michael
Carrick). Despite this, he was truly instrumental in last year's playoff
charge, particularly in both legs of the semi-final against Cardiff.

After spending much of the season unable to really cement a position, and
being tried in many, his performances alongside Nolan and Noble at the back
end of the season is a large factor in why we continue to play with a
three-pronged central midfield. Certainly, everyone at West Ham would like
to see Collison succeed, after a career that has seen constant injury and
personal tragedy, as his ability and work-rate, like Noble, have seen him
become a fan-favourite. If he can rediscover his form then maybe he can turn
Big Sam's selection headache into a selection migraine.

I can imagine that Sam Allardyce is delighted with this particular dilemma,
as he has five top quality midfielders, each of whom could comfortably
cement a place in a similar Premier League team. Undoubtedly, all five
possess the quality and varied abilities to play together, so it seems Sam
can afford to base his selection purely on form and performance. So, it
seems we can afford to have a very optimistic outlook, at least in one area
of the pitch.

Plus, I can think of worse dilemmas to be in, like choosing between Andy
Melville and Darren Powell at centre back...

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West Ham confirm Carroll loan
I want to be playing games, says England striker after Anfield exit
Last Updated: August 30, 2012 11:01pm
SSN

West Ham have confirmed the signing of Andy Carroll on loan from Liverpool
with a view to a permanent deal. The Hammers have worked hard to do a deal
for the England forward with Liverpool initially reluctant to do a loan deal
for the man they paid £35million for last year. But the newly-promoted side
have persuaded the 23-year-old to move to London and confirmed they have an
option to make the signing a permanent one for an undisclosed fee next
summer. The player himself insists he is just looking forward to playing
games - and scoring goals for Sam Allardyce's side. "It's great to be here
at West Ham and all signed up - I just can't wait to get started now,"
Carroll told the club's official website. "I want to be playing games and
obviously hoping to score some goals. I know the manager well and some of
the lads, so it is nice for me to come to a place where I know people. "I'm
hoping to add a lot of goals and create a few chances. I know Sam from
Newcastle and he was a massive reason for me coming. When I worked with him
at Newcastle it was great so it was a no-brainer really."

Great signing

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is delighted to have got his man and believes he
has acquired the services of an all-round talent. He said: "I think for all
parties this is a great signing. Andy is an all-round footballer, but
because he is 6'3" and one of his strengths is his aerial power, everybody
dismisses the ability he possesses on the floor. "Hopefully he can score
goals for us and we will be in a very good position at the end of the year
in the Barclays Premier League."

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Are Chris Solly and Miralem Sulejmani the Next to Sign?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

Well, it has actually happened! Much as Sam Allardyce recently hinted, West
Ham have sealed a loan deal at the 11th hour of the transfer window. And our
Manager must be absolutely delighted to now have Andy Carroll on board.
Carroll is an aggressive, hard running centre forward, with the ability to
both disrupt opposition defences and score goals. As Allardyce has stated,
Carroll is very strong in the air, but is also useful on the ground. Talking
to a older Hammers supporter, earlier today, he argued that Carroll was like
the legendary Vic Keeble (another former Newcastle Utd N. 9!) in his playing
style and I know why he made that connection. Carroll's physicality, ability
to link up the play and score goal is very much like Keeble in his 'hay day'
and lets hope that his arrival has the same positive impact! Another famous
West Ham centre forward in this category is David Cross, a hard running,
unselfish front man, who also used to terrorise defenders with his awkward
physicality and was equally proficient in converting his chances.

So, the board have secured another vital peice in Allardyce's jigsaw. It is
a move that will surprise many supporters, particularly after the recent
public admisson that the club's summer transfer business was completed with
the signing of Matt Jarvis. The same applies to Nicky Maynard's move to
Cardiff City, only on Tuesday evening the management were asserting that he
had an important role to play in the squad this season. Yet 48 hours later,
Maynard is out of the door, presumably to help fund Carroll's loan deal! I
have some mixed feelings about the deal, because we really do not know just
how good a striker Maynard is? He certainly has a lot of potential, but at
least we can comfort ourselves with the probability that we are effectively
trading up to a better class of striker. Maynard's departure could also be
good news for Robert Hall and Elliott Lee and a recognition of their ability
to impact at first team level this season. The Carroll and Maynard deals
might also indicate that the club have been unusually 'canny' in publicly
down playing transfer movement, whilst simultaneously working frantically in
the background to make it happen. It is far more preferable to do transfer
business that way, than publicly trumpeting potential deals and then failing
to follow through.

The question now is whether the Carroll deal really is the end of West Ham's
summer transfer actvity? There is persisent speculation that we also have
deals lined up for Charlton's Chris Solly and Ajax's Miralem Sulejmani.
Chris Solly is a highly rated young right-back and would be a good addition,
especially if we could secure his signature for a mooted £2m fee. I would
like to see the deal go through, but we shall just have wait and see? While
a deal for Sulejmani makes perfect sense. He is a fast, skillful forward,
who scores goals. He can play on either flank or through the middle, but
generally tends to prefer the right wing. His signing would perferctly
complement Matt Jarvis on the left flank and would give us so many more
options up front, whether in a 4-5-1, 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 formation. As such, it
adds both balance and variety to our forward line and would be a positive
move, as long as Sulejmani is over the various injury niggles that he has
suffered in recent seasons.

And what about the additional centre-back that we are supposed to be looking
to land? It seems that the club's priority is the forward positions and if a
deal for a centre-back is completed, then it is more likely to be a Boseman
type deal. Unless of course, the club have been even more 'canny' than we
thought, having spun a yarn about us reaching the limits of summer our
transfer budget, while there is actually more money available than we were
led to believe? Or would further deals need to be funded through departures?
Will anything come of the mooted outward deals for Mark Noble to Fulham
and/or Carlton Cole to Reading or the Turkish league? I certainly hope not
because I believe that we need both Noble and Cole in the squad. After all,
what is the point of improving the essential quality of the squad only to
undermine competition for places and its improved strength in-depth?

It could very well be an interesting final 24 hours of the transfer window.
Lets see what transpires?

SJ. Chandos.

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Andy Carroll Joins the Happy Hammers - Officially Confirmed
West Ham Till I Die

Well, it seems to be true. Andy Carroll is in London having a medical and
will sign on a season long loan deal. Reports suggest we will be meeting his
wage bill in full.
More as I get it.

UPDATE 20:38: Signing is confirmed on the club's official website.

West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of England striker
Andy Carroll on a season-long loan deal. The 23-year-old has moved to the
Boleyn Ground from Liverpool for the remainder of the 2012/13 Barclays
Premier League campaign, with the Hammers having the option to complete a
permanent deal for an undisclosed fee next summer.

Carroll, a powerful forward who is an outstanding header of the ball and
blessed with superb technical ability, led the line for his country at EURO
2012 and has been named in the England squad for the upcoming 2014 FIFA
World Cup qualifiers with Moldova and Ukraine.

The signing of Carroll, who became the most-expensive English footballer in
history when he joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for a reported fee of
£35m in January 2011, represents a huge statement of the Board's intentions
to make West Ham a force to be reckoned with in the Barclays Premier League.

The Gateshead-born frontman, who could make his Hammers debut in Saturday's
home fixture with Fulham, has expressed his happiness at completing a move
that sees him reunited with his former Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce and
captain Kevin Nolan.

"It's great to be here at West Ham and all signed up - I just can't wait to
get started now," Carroll said. "I want to be playing games and obviously
hoping to score some goals. I know the manager well and some of the lads, so
it is nice for me to come to a place where I know people.

"I'm hoping to add a lot of goals and create a few chances. I know Sam from
Newcastle and he was a massive reason for me coming. When I worked with him
at Newcastle it was great so it was a no-brainer really."

His new manager was understandably pleased to welcome Carroll to east
London. He said: "I think for all parties this is a great signing. Andy is
an all-round footballer, but because he is 6'3" and one of his strengths is
his aerial power, everybody dismisses the ability he possesses on the floor.

"Hopefully he can score goals for us and we will be in a very good position
at the end of the year in the Barclays Premier League."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Maynard Exits to Cardiff
West Ham Till I Die

So farewell, Nicky Maynard, we never really saw you at your best. A bit like
Sam Baldock, Maynard wasn't really ever given enough of a chance to shine at
Upton Park, and I think it's a real shame that he's apparently gone to
Cardiff for £3 million. I don't blame Sam Allardyce here at all. He must do
what he thinks is best, and if he can bring in strikers who he thinks are
superior to what we have got, then that will necessarily involve some
departures. But with Baldock and Maynard both gone, it's clear that he
expects to bring in at least one further striker before 11pm tomorrow.
Presumably it is Sulejmani, or possibly Berbatov.

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Hammers roll out the Carroll
The Sun
By PHIL THOMAS
Last Updated: 31st August 2012

ANDY CARROLL'S Anfield agony came to an end last night. And Liverpool boss
Brendan Rodgers will try to fill the gap with a deadline-day swoop for
Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge. Carroll, 23, has joined West Ham on a
season-long loan with the option of a £17million transfer next summer. The
Hammers will pay a £1m fee, plus another £5m in wages — but Rodgers still
does not have the funds to bring in a permanent replacement. And that has
seen him switch his sights to Sturridge, who could now move to Merseyside
for the rest of the campaign. Rodgers had hoped to bring in Clint Dempsey
yet is still unable to pay the fee Fulham are demanding, with Sunderland his
likeliest destination. And although Liverpool still retain a faint hope of
landing the American before tonight's deadline, Jordan Henderson's refusal
to move the other way as part of the deal proved another obstacle. Despite
ending the Carroll saga, the struggle to bring in a top-line replacement
before the transfer window closes took the gloss off Liverpool reaching the
Europa League group stages last night. Now Rodgers will switch his focus to
today's deadline, with midfielder Charlie Adam set to pack his bags for
Stoke although Everton are lurking in the wings. If Rodgers fails to bring
in a striker, he will have just Luis Suarez, Fabio Borini and rookie Adam
Morgan as out-and-out attackers. Rodgers admitted: "I've been given as much
confidence as I can possibly get that we will have someone to come in.
"Hopefully tomorrow we can get something complete. I am hoping for one or
two." Carroll, meanwhile, said: "It's great to be at West Ham — I just can't
wait to get started now. "I want to be playing games and hopefully scoring
goals."

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YOSSI BENAYOUN SET FOR POSSIBLE WEST HAM LOAN MOVE
Friday August 31,2012
By Daily Express reporter

YOSSI Benayoun could be set for a deadline-day return to former club West
Ham, who are understood to be one of two clubs chasing his loan signing from
Chelsea.
The Israeli tweeted yesterday: "I can confirm that I'm in talks with two
Premier League clubs about a loan move." Aston Villa are believed to be the
other club interested in the 32-year-old.

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Bluebirds in talks with Hammers' Nicky Maynard
by Terry Phillips, Western Mail
Aug 31 2012

CARDIFF CITY are holding talks with West Ham striker Nicky Maynard about a
potential £2.5m move. The transfer would have to be completed today with the
transfer window closing at 11pm. The two clubs agreed a fee yesterday and
Premier League Hammers gave Cardiff manager Malky Mackay the go-ahead for
talks with the goal ace. A source close to the London club said: "A fee has
been agreed, but talks on personal terms could not start until that point.
There is still a lot of work before anything is finalised." Maynard would be
Cardiff's 10th signing for the season and has been trailed by Mackay
throughout the summer. If Cardiff can secure Maynard's services, he will
join an offensive line-up that already contains the likes Craig Bellamy, Kim
Bo-Kyung, Heidar Helguson, Etien Velikonja and new signing Craig Noone.
Maynard wants more first-team football than he is getting at West Ham where
he has yet to see league action. He scored four goals in 17 Hammers
appearances last season as they were promoted, but says: "I haven't had my
chance in the Premier League which has been a bit frustrating." Mackay
reckons wideman Noone, who he captured from Brighton for £1m, will be a huge
plus for the Bluebirds. "He is a player who is exciting," said Mackay. "He
has personality, pace and skill, and he can get at opposing teams and commit
defenders. "He has two good feet and, at the age of 24, is young enough to
develop as a player. "I believe there is a lot more to come from Craig and
he has the hunger to take his game to another level." Noone – who will wear
the No. 16 shirt – hopes to make an instant impact against Wolves on Sunday
after training with his new team-mates yesterday. "My aim is promotion to
the Premier League as quickly as possible," he said. "I knew there was some
interest from Cardiff for me in January and that went right down to the last
day of the transfer window. I'm glad it's done and can't wait to play."
Noone played 82 minutes for Brighton during the goalless draw against
Cardiff City at the Amex Stadium, producing a number of dangerous runs.
"It's a bit strange signing for Cardiff having played against them for
Brighton a week or so ago," he said. Mackay has plenty of options within his
squad and some big decisions to make when he decides on a starting XI to
face Wolves. Noone will almost certainly fill one of the wide berths in the
absence of the injured Bellamy.

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Sam Allardyce offers support to QPR goalkeeper Robert Green
Green's QPR place threatened by Júlio César arrival
Allardyce believes Brazilian may struggle in England
Jacob Steinberg
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 30 August 2012 23.17 BST

Sam Allardyce has offered his support to Robert Green, who left West Ham
United for Queens Park Rangers in the summer but whose place is now
threatened by the arrival of the Internazionale goalkeeper Júlio César at
Loftus Road. César, who won the Champions League with Inter two years ago,
has undoubted pedigree but Allardyce believes the Brazilian will take time
to settle in English football and backed Green to rise to the challenge.
"He's a very experienced goalkeeper, an England international, so I don't
think he'll worry too much about the competition from César," said
Allardyce. "He [César] won't be ready for the Premier League. They'll
probably play him because of the size of the name but he won't have seen
anything like the Premier League when it comes in and at him. "I know he's
been at a top club for many, many years but this league is different to what
he's used to playing in and that takes some adjusting to. Rob's proven he's
one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League over the last nine or 10
years."

Allardyce admitted his disappointment at not being able to convince Green to
sign a new contract and stay at West Ham but still wishes him well. Green
has endured a difficult start to life at QPR, a poor performance on his
debut against Swansea City convincing Mark Hughes to move for César. "There
are decisions made by players and managers when we think it is a better time
for us to move on," said Allardyce. "And then when we finally get there it's
not quite as good as we thought it was. In the end from Robert's point of
view he's at a very good club that must have given him a very good contract.
"He's at the prime time of his career. For a goalkeeper just into his 30s
that is the most golden moment, I suppose, or should be because you know all
about the goalkeeping, you know all about the pressure, you know all about
the demands and the level of football and consistency you've got to hit.
It's all there, locked into the brain ready to use. "He's at his peak. His
fitness levels are brilliant, he works hard on the training ground. He tries
to get better all the time and not rest on his laurels."

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