Daily WHUFC News - 27th May 2012

A message from the Joint Chairmen
WHUFC.com
Joint Chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold have issued a message to fans
26.05.2012

Joint Chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold have issued the following
message to fans. "We both put in a total of £35m last season and will have
to invest a further £25m this coming season to pay for the new players
needed for the Premier League, pay down debt and essentially fund the
survival of the club. "Despite all of this, to show our commitment to
rewarding our most loyal fans, we have frozen season ticket prices from
three seasons ago."

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Green on national service
WHUFC.com
Rob Green started for England in their 1-0 win in Norway on Saturday night
26.05.2012

Robert Green carried on his excellent club form with a clean sheet for
England in their 1-0 win in Norway on Saturday night. The West Ham United
No1 started in goal to earn his 12th international cap and looked assured
throughout. He was only really called into serious action on two occassions.
He needed to be alert to turn a fierce drive from Markus Henriksen round the
post with two hands 15 minutes in and then in the 62nd minute he was forced
to make a similar save when turning John Arne Riise's powerful effort around
the post. England scored the only goal of the game in the 9th minute when
Ashley Young danced through the hosts' defence and finished low into the
corner as new England manager Roy Hodgson started his tenure with a win.
Norway were more impressive in the second period but could not find a way
past the West Ham United stopper.

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Austrian date announced
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 26th May 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United are off to Austria for a second time in three years as part
of a pre-season training exercise. Two years ago the freshly-installed Avram
Grant took his new squad to central Europe where they faced Borussia
Monchengladbach, Wolfsburg and Greek champions Panathinaikos as part of
their pre-season campaign.
This time Sam Allardyce's side will face Austria Wien during the trip which
is set to take place at the beginning of July - unusually early for a
pre-season campaign and the first of two planned for this summer. The
Austrian Football Bendesliga runners-up - who finished six points behind
champions Red Bull Salzberg in the 2011/12 season campaign - have announced
that they are to face West Ham on Saturday, 7th July at the Franz Horr
Stadium. With a ground capacity of just over 10,000 at the stadium, tickets
are likely to be at a premium - should the public be allowed entrance; that
remains to be confirmed. However with Die Veilchen only averaging around
5,000 for home games there should be plenty of spaces for travelling Hammers
fans.

Sam Allardyce's side are set to arrive at their Bad Waltersdorf's
headquarters on July 2nd, where they will remain for the next five days. The
market town, a popular tourist destination plays host to a number of teams
during the close season. Three weeks later the Hammers are due to travel to
Germany where they are set to face Rot-Weiss Erfurt and Dynamo Dresden.

West Ham Utd: confirmed pre-season dates
Unless otherwise stated.

2nd-7th July: Bad Waltersdorf training camp
7th July: Austria Wien (a)
25th July: Rot-Weiß Erfurt (a)
27th/28th July: Dynamo Dresden (a, to be confirmed)

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Akpala admits to Prem liking
Nigeria international flattered by English interest
By Giscard Gourizro. Last Updated: May 26, 2012 3:36pm
SSN

Club Brugge striker Joseph Akpala claims to have received no contact from
England, but admits he would welcome a shot at the Premier League. The
Nigeria international is reported to be attracting interest from West Brom
as they look to bolster their firepower. Newly-promoted West Ham are also
said to be keen, with Sam Allardyce attempting to piece together a squad
that is capable of competing at the highest level. Akpala is aware of the
speculation and claims to be flattered by it. He has made it clear that no
official approach has been made as yet, but the 25-year-old has refused to
rule out the prospect of making a summer switch.

Contract

"I would love to play in the Premier League one day and score goals there
week in, week out," said Akpala. "I am happy to be linked with clubs in the
Premier League, but nothing has been discussed as yet. "Brugges want to keep
me and I have a contract with them. We will have to see what happens. "West
Ham are a London club and I like London, so you never know."

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Olsson considers WBA exit
Swede drops hint over future
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @skygraemebailey. Last Updated: May
24, 2012 9:27am
SSN

West Bromwich Albion ace Jonas Olsson has hinted that he could be ready to
look for a new challenge away from The Hawthorns. The Sweden international
is currently with his national side as he prepares for Euro 2012. He has
just over a year left on his current deal and told Baggies sporting director
Dan Ashworth earlier this month he wanted to know who the new manager would
be before signing an extension. However, he has now admitted that after four
years with the Black Country outfit he could be ready to move on. "I have a
year left and have started to think about the future," he told Expressen.
"I'm very happy with West Brom, the city, and like the way the club is
going. "At the same time, it would be fun to try something new, but we'll
see what happens. "I have been here for four years and feel that, if I am to
move back to Sweden after my career, perhaps you shouldn't spend too much
time in one place. "If I were in Birmingham for seven or eight years, it
will be harder to move back to Sweden when the time comes, so there are many
factors to consider."

Olsson, who joined the club NEC Nijmegen in 2008 for less than £1million,
has been linked with the likes of Tottenham, Aston Villa, Fulham, Everton,
West Ham and Galatasaray.

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Player Reviews 2011/12 - Part 2
Vinny 1:15 Sat May 26
West Ham Online

Player Reviews 2011/12 – Part 2

To view last season's go to:
http://web.archive.org/web/20110702011839/http://westhamonline.net/article.p
hp?5527064

Midfielders

Julien Faubert

At the end of last season I was looking forward to seeing the back of
Faubert given another poor season from a player who has never really repaid
the transfer fee laid out for him in 2007.

The start of the season came and he was still at the club on his nice big
contract given to him in those silly years under the Icelandic regime.

For a player who had played Champions League football and also represented
his country France at full international level playing in the Championship
should be easy for him but as we saw through the campaign it didn't make too
much difference to his performances.

His early season for was quite good and he was no longer player at right
back and instead was playing in a more advanced midfield role which is where
we had brought him to play in the first place.

He made a few sub appearances early on in the season and looked sharp when
he came on. He started away at Nottingham Forest and put in a really good
shift and in a team that was looking quite slow Faubert offered us pace.

During his time at the club he had taken a lot of stick and when he got his
first and only goal of the season at home to Leicester City he instantly ran
to the other end of the pitch to a section where some supporters had been
giving him stick.

As the season wore on his form dipped and he was in and out of the side due
to this. His crossing was at times woeful and whilst one in fifty crosses
would be out of this world the majority would be too high, too long and
never near a team mate.

I am not a big fan of him as a player but I will give him his dues for the
effort and desire he did put in at times. I think he knew he had to do this
to try and win people over but his ambition far exceeded his talent.

His five year contract expires shortly and the club have announced that he
will be leaving. I can't say I'm sad to see him go because having signed for
£6.1m in 2007 he for me has been an expensive flop.

But his crosses for Illan at Everton and Junior Stanislas against Millwall
will for me be his greatest contribution.

Apps: League 27 + 8 Sub Cup 1
Goals: 1
Bookings: 7
Verdict: The injury he picked up in his first season did a lot more damage
than maybe we first realise because he never really got going in his five
years at the club.

David Bentley

Brought in on loan from Tottenham Hotspur on August transfer deadline day
and would hopefully be the player to give us a creative spark in midfield.

He made his debut against Portsmouth in the 4-3 win at Upton Park and played
over 25 minutes as he looked to get some match fitness back. He again came
on as sub in the next home against Peterborough and played a similar amount
of time but looked much better and I predicted that it would not be long
until he was in the starting line-up.

And he was in the starting eleven for the home defeat against Ipswich and
then away at Crystal Palace. Just as it seemed that he was cementing a place
in the side he suffered a knee injury which would rule him out for the next
six months.
He subsequently returned to Spurs having only started two games.

If available for a good price Allardyce might go back for him.

Apps: League 2 + 3 Sub

Jack Collison

Having missed most of last season with injury Collison was clearly going to
take some time to get in the swing of things and his recovery looked
promising when he scored his first goal of the season against Blackpool in
the 4-0 win.

But then his form dipped and there were many months where the question of
what he brought to the team was being asked by many.

My issue with Collison is that he just wasn't getting involved in the game
enough. He would go missing for large chunks and when played on the right or
left he didn't have the necessary attributes to beat a man as he has no
great skill or pace.

For a player over 6 foot he is reluctant to win headers although as the
season came to an end I was seeing an improvement in this area and Robert
Green was happy to play the ball long towards him.

Even through his average form he did strike me as a goal threat as he has a
natural tendency to get into the area and I was surprised he didn't score
more goals. Going over my reports I have noticed Collison popping up for
attempts at goal and half chances quite frequently.

He was sent off once during the season away at Reading when frustration and
a disrespectful Jimmy Kebe saw Collison take him out which in fairness I
don't really blame him for doing.

The positive we can take from his season is the form he picked up toward the
end with a brilliant display away at Cardiff City in the Play Off Semi Final
First Leg where he scored two goals which all but fired us into the final.

The jury is still out on Collison as I've not seen much consistency from him
and it seems a long time since that good season under Gianfranco Zola.
Injury hasn't helped him but he needs to find his best position in the
midfield and hopefully he can make a positive impact next season.

Apps: League 28 + 5 Sub Cup 1
Goals: 5
Bookings: 1
Sent Off: 1 (vs Reading away)
Verdict: His end of season form has certainly made me consider him more as a
player who can still offer something but he needs to find consistency.

Junior Stanislas

I thought he was going to have an impact on this season and be in and around
the first team. My reasoning for this is that he was being used more
frequently by the club in the Premiership so naturally I thought like
Winston Reid that this would be his time to shine and develop.

But because of the system Allardyce likes to employ and that with Kevin
Nolan always the first name on the team sheet we were not going to be a side
who played with natural width which put Stanislas in a bad position.

I am not advocating that Stanislas was an amazing player but I did think
there was something about his game which was good and could get better. I
thought he had got a lot stronger and had a knack for popping up with the
odd goal.

I believe that Stanislas should have been used as a striker and not a winger
as his ability to beat a man is not great but he has pace, strength and a
good finish.

In his only start of the season he played in the centre of midfield and
scored a terrific goal against Aldershot Town in the league cup. It is a bit
of a forgotten goal but he seized on a misplaced pass and curled an
excellent shot past the keeper from outside the area.

Allardyce clearly didn't rate him and on transfer deadline day he signed a 3
year contract with Burnley.

I always thought there was more to come from Junior Stanislas but clearly it
won't be at West Ham.

Apps: League 0+1Sub Cup 1
Goals: 1

Gary O'Neil

Having suffered an injury last season at home to Aston Villa we would not
see Gary O'Neil until late December when he made his first start of the
season away at Derby County in a 2-1 defeat. He lasted an hour in this game
and he would take a while to regain his match fitness and form.

He came back into the fold at a time where we were about to go on a poor run
at Upton Park. He came on as a 58th minute sub for Ricardo Vaz Te against
Crystal Palace in a surprising substitution from Sam Alladryce and one of a
number of strange tactical decisions from the manager around this time.

With the team not performing O'Neil was not exactly the most inspiring of
players to bring on.

O'Neil was again brought on against Doncaster after only 56 minutes for
Henri Lansbury who I had deemed to be having a good game so when O'Neil came
on and offered nothing and we only managed to draw 1-1 he bore the brunt of
criticism from myself considering we had an attacking midfielder in Morrison
and striker Nicky Maynard on the bench.

It was away at Burnley where I noticed a big improvement as he was given a
place in the starting eleven and I was pleased at how effective he was on
the ball and he got an assist for Kevin Nolan's goal.

He took this good display in to the game at Peterborough a few days later
and not only played well but opened his account for the club as he hit a
shot from 25 yards out which put us 2-0 up.

The whole team struggled at home to Reading in a crushing 4-2 defeat but
O'Neil was difficult to find fault with and played the full 90 minutes.

He started the final eight games and of course was in the starting line-up
for the Play Off Final and this inclusion marked a fine comeback from O'Neil
who broke into a side already cluttered with midfielders, worked hard, and
had a big part to play in us getting promotion.

Where Collison and Lansbury were failing O'Neil did not and considering how
low key a signing O'Neil was he has been nothing but solid and professional
in his time at the club. Because of this I expect him to get a number of
games next season because football clubs need players like O'Neil.

Apps: League 12+7 Sub Cup: 1
Goals: 2
Bookings: 3
Verdict: Took a while to find his form but when he did he was a starter in
the team and his energy allowed Noble and Nolan to flourish.

Scott Parker

To have begun the season with Scott Parker in our midfield was a surprise to
many including myself who had thought he would have been long gone following
our relegation and the fact he was voted the Premiership's best player last
season.

He did leave on the August transfer deadline day after much speculation and
joined Tottenham Hotspur for a fee believed to be around £5.5m.

He started four games at the beginning of the season and despite sections of
the support claiming that his heart was not in it and even owner David
Sullivan saying the same he was still one of our best players.

In fact I cannot disagree with the claim that he was not playing as well as
he could enough. Parker for me was fantastic away at Watford and although
the entire team played well he was dominant in the centre of midfield and
scored a goal in the second half with a cracking finish.

At home to Leeds United in the 2-2 draw I gave him my 'Man Of The Match'. I
said in my report:

"I know we all like Scott Parker and I don't want people to think I'm just
saying it because of what he has done at the club but again I thought Scott
Parker was superb. The accusation that he has not been fully committed in
terms of making challenges and putting his foot in surely were dispelled
with this display. The man put his foot in, worked hard, passed well and in
the second half he made us tick."

Three times' Hammer Of The Year' Parker certainly had an impact on the club
and gave his all which saw him break into the England side but sadly it is
only since his move to Spurs that he has cemented a place in the England
starting line-up and even Captained the side at one point.

He has been excellent for Spurs this season which saw them finish 4th in the
Premiership.

I know it may not be rational but his move to Spurs does taint things a
little despite me telling myself that it would not do so. Why can I just
accept that he was excellent at West Ham and has now moved on in what was a
good move for him and a good career decision? I can't because supporting
West Ham is not rational and maybe one day I will look back and discuss how
excellent he was for the club but until then he is just another Tottenham
player.

Apps: League 4
Goals: 1

Mark Noble

Voted the official Hammer Of The Year and whilst it was Tomkins who got my
vote, Noble was not far behind as our longest serving player put in another
excellent season and continues to be heartbeat of our midfield.

Although I was disappointed that Noble did not get the captains armband at
the beginning of the season he still applied himself as if he was the
captain with some dominating displays as he sat the centre of midfield and
spread passes around the pitch.

His penalty taking has been nothing short of breath-taking in a season which
saw him score seven penalties out of a possible seven. It got to the point
that when we were awarded a penalty it was almost as good as a goal given
his conversion rate.

It is disappointing that he did not manage to score more goals from outfield
play but this is something he has never found much joy in over the years and
he scored just the one this season with an excellent finish in the 4-0 away
win at Barnsley.

Whenever Noble was available for selection he would be in the starting
line-up. There would be no second thought about it as Mark Noble is one of
the best players we have at the club. He has been playing for West Ham for
quite some time now and has seen so much happen and he is still only 24
years old.

My favourite performance of the season came at home to Millwall where with
only ten men for the majority, Noble really stepped up and took the game by
the scruff of the net and drove us on to victory.

Mark Noble is West Ham, he is everything we want in a home grown player and
I am delighted that he was part of the side who went to Wembley and won
promotion because if any player deserves it then it is Mark Noble.

Next season I expect him to be one of the first names on the team sheet.

League: 45+2 Sub
Goals: 8
Bookings: 7
Verdict: Strong all season, his penalties have been fantastic and Noble has
had a very good season.

Papa Bouba Diop

34 year old Diop signed for the club on 30th August 2011 on a free transfer
having been released by AEK Athens.

The former Fulham man signed a one year contract and due to injury did not
make his debut until October in the game at Crystal Palace.

Allardyce wanted a strong holding midfielder and in Diop this is exactly
what he got. He is certainly a man mountain and it was comical watching
players trying to go past him at times as he would simply block them off.

He scored his first and only goal for the club against Barnsley at Upton
Park with a header which proved to be the winner.

I felt that he was doing well and this system seemed to be proving a winner
with a number of positive results. Allardyce was so desperate to keep the
same system that when Diop got injured he was playing centre half James
Tomkins in the same role although not with the same effectiveness which is
credit to Diop.

He failed to win his place back when returning from injury as we had altered
our style to accommodate new signings and other players who had found some
form.

The last time he started a game for the club was way back in Janaury in the
home game against Nottingham Forest. He did come on as a 79th minute
substitute in April at Barnsley but he would never regain his place in the
starting line-up.

The club have announced that his contract will not be renewed and that he
will be leaving upon it's expiry.

Apps: League 14+2Sub
Goals: 1
Bookings: 1
Verdict: Did a job and was doing it well but injury stopped his season and
it never started again.

Ravel Morrison

19 year old Morrison signed for the club from Manchester United in the
Janaury transfer window on a three year contract.

Morrison had been hailed as the next wonderkid to break into the Manchester
United team but due to hesitance on renewing his contract with them and some
off the field problems he was allowed to leave for a small fee.

He came with a big reputation but it was clear from very early on that
Allardyce had no intention of using him as someone to aid our promotion
campaign. I would go as far to say that I doubt he was even on the radar of
Allardyce and that it was David Sullivan who instigated the whole deal.

The decision to sign him seems a no lose situation for the club. Like most
young players, either he makes it or he doesn't but there did seem to
certainly be a lot of hype around him.

He made his debut away at Leeds United in the 1-1 as he came on for Jack
Collison for the final nine minutes.

Many supporters were crying out for his inclusion especially when we were
looking for something different in some of the home games where a creative
spark was needed. Trouble is as none of us have seen him play it is
difficult to criticise the manager for not including him and Allardyce is
not a manager to take risks.

Will we see him this season? I'm not quite sure.

Apps: League: 0+1 Sub

Henri Lansbury

Signed on loan from Arsenal in the January transfer window to boost our
midfield numbers with the departute of Scott Parker.

He had been on loan at Norwich City the previous season in the Championship
and they had won promotion so he was certainly a player who could bring that
experience to the club despite being just 21 years old.

Lansbury made his debut in the 4-3 win over Portsmouth at Upton Park in a
game which he would score the second goal and get the man of the match award
from most quarters including myself who thought his display was full of
energy.

He continued his solid displays for the following few games but began to be
more anonymous and after a three game winless run he was dropped to bench
although did return to a much changed starting eleven for the new year's eve
game at Derby which resulted in a loss.

He didn't start another league game till the end of January as he came back
into the side that lost 5-1 at Ipswich so back out of the team he went again
and was dropped completely for the midweek game against Southampton at Upton
Park.

And then he didn't start another game for over two months and that came in
April in the 6-0 win over Brighton.

Lansbury never held down a regular place in our team and when O'Neil found
match fitness he was ahead of him and that was the story of his season –
there was always another player ahead of him in better form be it Collison,
O'Neil or Diop.

I think I had expected him to be better than those players and that he would
be a name you would have down on your team sheet most weeks but he never
really had much impact and therefore I'm not sure I would want him back at
the club next season.

He has gone back to Arsenal where I cannot see him breaking into their first
team but maybe he will surprise me.

Apps: League 13+10Sub Cup 1
Goals: 1
Bookings: 4
Verdict: Very hit and miss. Showed quality at times but never enough and
there were always other players ahead of him.

Kevin Nolan

When Newcastle United only offered Kevin Nolan a 2 year contract he went
looking for a better deal and West Ham under his former boss Sam Allardyce
were more than happy to give him it.

Allardyce had managed Nolan at both Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle so it was
a player who he knew a lot about.

He was instantly made club captain and this was despite Scott Parker still
being at the club. It makes me wonder how Parker would have felt regarding
this if Spurs hadn't had come in for him.

Nolan came with a big reputation and had dropped down a level to play for
the club. We all knew what he was about and that was a goal scoring
midfielder who gets stuck in and winds up the oppositions fans and players.

This is largely what we have got although the first half of the season I
cannot deny I was wholeheartedly underwhelmed by his nonchalant displays and
clever disappearing act.

He scored his first goal for the club just two games in with a good finish
against Doncaster Rovers and one which proved to be the winner.

Nolan would score again three games later at the City Ground in a 4-1 win at
Nottingham Forest and the goals would keep coming as he scored at Selhurst
Park against Crystal Palace.

Throughout the season he would pop up with the odd goal and his tally of 13
goals is as good as any West Ham midfielder I can remember for a long time,
possibly since Frank Lampard Junior.

He was causing much debate amongst the West Ham fans and certain sections
did like to slag him. Behind where I sit at home games he was always
receiving stick although the comment of 'Nolan you're shit' just as he met
the ball on the volley to score against Derby County was comical give that
it was said literally a second before he scored.

His worst moment of the season came at home to Millwall when a rash
challenge saw him sent off early on. This for me a turning point in his
season because when he came back from suspension he was excellent and I
really think his form from then to the end of the season was as good as it
could be.

Leading up to the play offs he was immense and it has made me forget the
poor form earlier in the season because he turned it on when it matter and
led the team to glory in the play off's.

Apps: League 44 Cup 1
Goals: 13
Bookings: 11
Sent Off: 1 (vs Millwall home)
Verdict: He was brought into score goals and show leadership and despite
what you think of him, this he has done.

Pablo Barrera

Yes, he still is at the club.

He came on as a sub in the opening game against Cardiff and did have one
chance with a header but it didn't have enough power. It was clear from the
beginning that he wasn't going to feature much especially as Freddie Sears
was ahead of him in the pecking order.

He started against Aldershot Town in the League Cup and was disappointing.
He looked like a player who really wanted to be elsewhere and after this
game he went out on load to Read Zaragoza. Barrera started 12 games for them
and made a further 8 appearances as sub. He scored one goal away at
Villarreal in October.

He hasn't started a game for Zaragoza since 11th December 2011.

Since that date he has come on as sub 5 times and the last one was as recent
as 13th May as he entered the field of play in the 87th minute in a 2-0 win
over Getafe.

He hasn't taken part in a game for his country since 11th November 2011.

If he has a future in football, I don't see it being at West Ham.

Apps: League 0+1Sub Cup 1

Matthew Taylor

Taylor signed from Bolton Wanderers in the summer in what was another
purchase of a player who could have probably played at a higher level but
chose to come to the club to aid our promotion bid.

He has on the whole been a successful signing with his delivery being
excellent for the majority of the season and he has contributed 10 assists
and 1 goal in 28 games which is not a bad return.

Injury stopped his season from continuing in the positive way it was
developing and when he returned from injury he took a while to pick up his
form which I felt he never really got back despite putting in some excellent
crosses.

His left foot is an asset to the club and if he was a player who got
involved in the game more he would have surely been an England player at
some point in his career considering the lack of left wingers in the
country.

I question his desire at times and feel that he is happy to go through the
motions but when he is on his game he is a very good player and I am unsure
who we are going to bring in to play on the left who has Premiership
experience to replace him.

With this I fully expect him to be a regular in the starting line up next
season.

He scored his first goal for the club against Portsmouth (his former club)
with a free kick which took a slight deflection. Unfortunately he didn't
build on this and only got the one goal all season although was unlucky with
a few long range efforts which were either well saved or hit the woodwork.

When we were short at left back he was called upon to play in this position
which he did well enough but I still believe he is better in a more advanced
position.

Overall Matty Taylor has been a successful signing and has played his part
in our promotion campaign and very much deserves to play a part in the
coming Premiership season.

Apps: League 28+2Sub Cup 0+1 Sub
Goals: 1
Bookings: 1
Sent Off – 1 (vs Southampton home)
Verdict: A wand of a left foot and has had a good season.

Part 3 will be up around Wednesday.

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Give Youth a Chance?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

Speculation on transfer dealings is going in to overdrive right now. And
rightly so, as the squad must be strengthened in key areas for the PL next
season. But here's a question, what about our youth prospects? A number have
realistic chances of making a first team break through next season,
particularly Potts at left-back, Moncur in mdfield, Hall up front and
Montano on the flanks. Beneath them in the youth ranks, there are others
like Voce or Elliott Lee who could suddenly acelerate their development and
claims for a first team debut. I suppose the issue is, do we need to strike
a balance between squad strengthening and ensuring that our own talent is
not crowded out?

Take Dany Potts for instance, should we stick with McCartney and Potts next
season at left-back? Would bringing in yet another left-back just block his
development? Whilst probably needing one or two additions in midfield, is
there not a case for pushing young George Moncur's claims to step up?
Similarly, should not the club's transfer plans factor in Robert Hall's
outstanding ability and the probability that he will 'push on' next season?
Finally, we definitely need new recruits on both flanks, but should not
Christian Montano also be firmly in the mix and pushing for a first team
place? Loans have an important role to play in the development of young
players, but there is nothing like day-to-day involvement with the first
team squad and active competition for a place in the starting line up or on
the bench. Maintaining a club ethos in which youngsters can realistically
hope to progress to the first team is vitally important and one that we lose
at our peril.

My view is that young players ultimately need to prove that they are worthy
of a first team place. But recruiting too many players of a certain type
will only demotivate them and block their path to first team selection.
Whereas they need to be motivated and know that good performances in the
reserves/out on loan will get them in to the first team mix. It is a
difficult issue, without a shadow of a doubt, but a suitable compromise
needs to be struck for the sake of the club's tradition of producing top
class youngsters. And this, in turn, also needs to be balanced against the
imperative to ensure we have the experience, quality and strength indepth to
compete next season. As I said, problematic, but we must get it right!

SJ. Chandos.

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Cottee: Let's go for Ow
The Sun
By VIC HOLLY
Last Updated: 27th May 2012

TONY COTTEE wants West Ham to break the bank to sign Michael Owen. Hammers
boss Sam Allardyce has already started planning for the Premier League and
SunSport revealed yesterday Heerenveen striker Bas Dost is on his radar. But
former Upton Park hero Cottee says landing free-agent Owen, despite his
hefty wage demands, would underline the board's ambition. Cottee said: "West
Ham need to make three or four new signings — and Owen would fit the bill. A
new striker is a must but also a proven Premier League scorer would be
ideal. "Everyone talks about Owen's injury record but you know he guarantees
reaching double figures in goals which would take so much pressure off the
rest of the players. "I know the fans would be excited about signing someone
of his calibre. It would send out a message the board want to back the
manager with quality."

Owen, 32, is not the only former England player who should be on West Ham's
shopping list, according to Cottee. Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson along
with former West Ham favourites Joe Cole and Nigel Reo-Coker have been
touted as potential arrivals. Cottee added: "It would be criminal if the
squad wasn't built on. "The likes of Robinson, Cole or Reo-Coker would be
shrewd signings."

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West Ham United keeper and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder play part as England
win in Norway
10:30pm Saturday 26th May 2012 in News
Guardian Series

Robert Green kept a clean sheet as Roy Hodgson's England reign got off to a
winning start with a 1-0 victory in Norway tonight. The West Ham keeper
played the full 90 minutes in Oslo as England's preparations for Euro 2012
got off to a successful start thanks to what turned out to be the decisive
goal from Manchester United's Ashley Young in the ninth minute. Tottenham's
Scott Parker also started but was replaced by Arsenal's Theo Walcott in the
56th minute.

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Hammers bid £7m for Eredivisie top scorer
Harry Harris
May 26, 2012
ESPN

West Ham have confirmed to ESPN that they have made a £7 million offer for
Heerenveen hotshot Bas Dost. Dost, 22, was top scorer in the Eredivisie this
season, with his 32 goals in 34 games helping Heerenveen to a fifth-place
finish and qualification for the Europa League. Having led the Hammers back
to the Premier League at the first attempt through the play-offs last week,
Sam Allardyce is now keen to bolster his squad ahead of their return to the
top flight. And the Dutchman, who was tipped to make Bert van Marwik's
Netherlands squad for Euro 2012 but surprisingly failed to even make the
30-man preliminary shortlist, is Allardyce's top target. 6ft 4in Dost would
help strengthen the Hammers' striking options, with Carlton Cole and Ricardo
Vaz Te the club's main attacking threat at present, with Nicky Maynard the
chief back-up.

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