Daily WHUFC News - 14th August 2012

Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is ready to make his final tweaks to the squad this week ahead
of Aston Villa
13.08.2012

The countdown to West Ham United's return to the Barclays Premier League is
nearly over and manager Sam Allardyce for one cannot wait to get started.
After 49 tough npower Championship games last season, culminating in a
superb Play-Off final victory against Blackpool, West Ham will see the fruit
of their labour this Saturday when Aston Villa visit the Boleyn Ground. Big
Sam has the benefit of years of experience in the top tier and knows the
Hammers will need to be at their best as they face some of world's best on a
weekly basis. "I'm always slightly nervous, apprehensive and not too sure
what we're going to be like against Premier League opposition. I think if
we're at our best we can do very well but the bottom line is we've got to be
at our best every game. We cannot afford a dip or a slip up. "In the
Championship last season we could have been at 80% and still won a game.
We'll have to be 100% every game to win in the Premier League but I'm
really, really looking forward to getting started."

With the Boleyn Ground set to be a sell-out for his first game in the
Premier League as Hammers manager, Big Sam cannot wait to hear the roar as
the team head out of the tunnel at 3pm. Confidence among the squad will be
have been boosted by the 1-1 draw with UEFA Champions League qualifiers SC
Braga on Friday evening. "It will be a special moment. Particularly with the
game being at home in the Boleyn Ground, it's important we get off to a
positive start. "The performance against Braga is more like what you want to
achieve going back into the Barclays Premier League. We've got just over a
week to work on the smaller things in terms of how we approach the Villa
game. "We will brush up our tactics both in possession and out of possession
and making sure we're spot on in getting our basics right to get the best
performance and best result we can right at the very start of the season."

With five new signings already confirmed, Big Sam's new-look Premier League
side was further boosted with the arrival of highly-rated France
international Alou Diarra on Friday. The 31-year-old midfielder will join up
with his new team-mates this week and with at least two training sessions
planned for the Boleyn Ground this week, he has plenty of scope to show his
new manager what he can do. "He's a class player with a huge amount of
experience at international and Champions League level and at the top of the
league in France. His game ratio is outstanding and his fitness is looking
good and he flew through the medical. "This lad is available to play every
week. He'll bring an awful lot to our team and we're looking forward to
settling him in and seeing what he can do".

Diarra will complement a midfield already boasting plenty of talent with
Premier League experience through the likes of Kevin Nolan, Mark Noble, Gary
O'Neil, Matt Taylor and fellow new recruit Momo Diame. Diame in particular
caught the eye against Braga on just his second appearance for the club and
Big Sam is excited to see what he can add to his midfield. "He's a talented
player and I think he will grow with us and get better and better with us.
He has that bit of quality you need when you go into the Premier League.His
passing, his closing down and his tackling and getting forward all look very
positive. "Modibo Maiga played wide right and then, moved up front and we
saw a bit of what he's about as a frontman. He received the ball well and
had a good spring in the air."

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Diarra dreaming of debut
WHUFC.com
New signing Alou Diarra cannot wait to pull on a West Ham United for the
first time
13.08.2012

Alou Diarra is counting down the days until his West Ham United debut. Aston
Villa visit the Boleyn Ground for the Barclays Premier League opener on
Saturday 18 August and Diarra is keen to play in front of the West Ham fans
for the first time. With supporters grabbing Season Tickets and Academy
memberships ahead of the big kick-off, Diarra is keen to reward their
passion by making his mark on his maiden appearance. "I know a lot about the
club, the history but that we have a lot of fans, who have passion for their
club and their football," said the France international. "I hope to show
them I give everything in each game and try to do my best for the team. I am
looking forward to playing for them in the Premier League this season."

For West Ham supporters, Diarra is a versatile player who operates in
defensive midfield areas and with a host of international experience playing
for his country. A double title-winner in his homeland, the 31-year-old
appeared three times for France at EURO 2012. "What can our supporters
expect from me is to work hard and give my all in every game, I like to keep
the ball, press with it and help start the attacks as well looking to help
out defensively. I know the West Ham fans will be happy if they see the team
working hard and trying to win. Sometimes it is more difficult, but you just
have to do your best."

Diarra trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Monday ahead of
the Villa clash and he received a warm welcome from his colleagues, three of
whom he knows well. "I know of Guy Demel, Mo Diame and Modibo Maiga as he
played in the French league last year, so it is nice to see those boys
here.I spoke with the manager and I know what he wants from me and it is all
about doing well for the team."

The player is well aware of the club's rich history and says he is excited
to be at West Ham as they start a fresh journey in the Barclays Premier
League. "I know of the players here before like Paolo Di Canio, Scott Parker
and before that, years ago, Bobby Moore. It is exciting for me to be here
and I am looking forward to the challenge. We know that it will be tough but
the aim is to get into a good position and keep it. "I have experience and I
hope I can help my younger team-mates and everyone around me, so we can
create a good place for the team in the Premier League this year."

Diarra is also looking to complete some unfinished business with regards the
Premier League, as he joined Liverpool as a youngster a decade ago but never
got the opportunity to show what he could do at Anfield. "I am 31 now and
ready to play in the Premier League. It is a chance I want to take well with
West Ham and want to show what I can do and help the team do as well as we
can this season. I am very much looking forward to it and I hope our fans
are too."

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New season, new system?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 13th August 2012
By: Tom Kilbey

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our latest recruit Tom Kilbey.
Tom opens his KUMB account by looking at Sam Allardyce's current squad and
examining its strengths and weaknesses ahead of this weekend's season-opener
against Aston Villa...

With little over a week to the start of the season, now is the time to start
thinking ahead to the opener against Aston Villa. With the board still
frantically trying to secure the services of new players, our team is
starting to shape up. Let's take a look through our squad, and at a
potential new system for next year.

Goalkeeper

When going through the team, it doesn't take long before there's a debate.
Henderson or Jaaskaleinen? Youth or experience? Through pre-season, Big Sam
has alternated between the two goalkeepers, giving both a chance to impress.
I'd like to see Henderson given a chance since Jussi is definitely not the
keeper he used to be. Only time will tell.

Full Back

Unfortunately, there isn't much of a debate here. I say 'unfortunately'
because I feel that this is perhaps our weakest area. Allardyce's style is
going to be based on a solid defence, and I don't think we have this,
especially at left back.

Demel will start on the right side of defence and although he looked far
from comfortable at times last season, he is highly rated and after a few
games in pre-season he should hopefully step up.

I'd also like Jordan Spence to be given a final chance this season. Despite
not making an impact at Bristol City last season, what I've seen of him
tells me that he is a capable defender and he is reaching the age at which
we need to decide to either give him a run in the side, or let him go.

On the left side of defence our only real option is George McCartney and I
don't think he is of sufficient quality despite having a solid, if not
spectacular spell for us last season.

In the youth ranks we have Danny Potts. I am fully aware he has the
potential to be an excellent player but we are perhaps guilty of over-hyping
our youngsters. After one excellent game last season he had a couple of very
shaky performances; should we believe he can step into the role of a Premier
League player after just three first team appearances?

Centre Back

This is one position where there isn't too much of a debate. Some people are
seeing the signing of James Collins as a step back but I have always rated
him, so consider him as a good signing.

Besides him, we have the ever improving James Tomkins who should build on
his performances last season - plus we also have Winston Reid. I had my
doubts about him for the first year and a bit, but I think life in the
Championship allowed him to come on leaps and bounds and isn't a bad back up
to have.

We could perhaps do with one more centre back, but our new signing Alou
Diarra can play there if needed so we are in fairly good shape here.

Holding Midfield

We seemingly have two defensive midfielders in our team, both of whom are
among the most talented players in the squad. For this reason, I cant help
but thinking we will play with two holding midfielders.

Diarra and Diame in front of the back four would fit an Allardyce-style
defensive tactic and could be effective with the right balance. Of course,
we still have Mark Noble who could play a similar role, although I do fear
for him in a system like this as he could easily find himself shunned from
the first team.

Central Attacking Midfielder

If we did play with two defensive-minded midfielders, we would need to play
with three in front of them whose primary job would be to create and score
goals. In the middle, we would inevitably play Kevin Nolan, although we also
have the option of Jack Collison who only really impressed last season when
playing in a more advanced role.

Wingers

More than anything else, I hope that we play with genuine wingers next
season. Since we lost Matthew Etherington, we have been hugely lacking in
width, making us look bereft of ideas.

In the centre we have absolutely no creativity, making it even more critical
that we get the ball wide. I despise seeing players like Collison play out
wide like he did so often last season. Quite frankly, if we try to fit all
our midfielders into our side, we will not have a chance last season.

Although we would all like to see players like Jack in our side, we have to
realise that we must play players in the correct position so inevitably,
some will have to miss out. I hope we play with Ricardo Vaz Te and Modibo
Maiga, which would give us a genuine forward threat.

It is promising to see that we are pursuing new wingers.With a bid lodged
for Matt Jarvis and reported interest in the exciting Senegalese prospect
Pape Moussa Konaté, hopefully by Saturday we will be in a position where we
can play out-and-out wingers rather than central midfielders playing out of
position.

Strikers

I don't think there's much of a debate up top. Maiga may want to play in a
central role but surely he can be best utilised on the wing, leaving Carlton
Cole with the unenviable responsibility of being our only striker.

I think Maynard will fall short of Premier League quality and with Baldock
being sold, this only leaves us with the single striker. According to
reports, we will only sell Baldock once we get a replacement, which make
sense.

One name being mentioned is that of Louis Saha, which has been greeted with
an avalanche of criticism from many West Ham fans. I would happily have him
on a short term, free transfer. If he can get eight goals for us, and share
the workload of Carlton Cole, and provide competiton for his place, I dont
really see the problem.

People are complaining it's only a short term solution, but surely that's
exactly the point? If he can get us a few critical goals over the next two
years and help us establish ourselves as a Premier League side, I'll be very
happy. This is, of course, providing we sign young talent as well, and if we
can seal the signing of Konaté - and perhaps one other forward player - I'd
be fairly happy with our attacking options.

My system therefore, would look something like this (which could obviously
switched round in terms of personnel):

Henderson/Jaaskelainen
Demel; Tomkins; Collins; New Left Back
Diarra; Diame
Vaz Te; Nolan; Maiga
Cole


Besides this, our only other real option would be to play Diarra at centre
half alongside Tomkins and play a more conventional 4-5-1 with Noble, Diame
and Nolan across the middle. Either system could work, although I'd prefer
to play our most experienced player, with the most pedigree in his best
position which would favour the system I've outlined.

It's interesting to think that Noble will struggle to get in the team this
year with such strength in the middle of the park; I guess this is a sign of
a vast improvement in our midfield. It's just a shame that we have primarily
had success in the transfer window in the position that was already the
strongest.

Hopefully, in the next week or two, we will have similar success in the
positions that still look weak.

*Tom Kilbey may also be found on Twitter at twitter.com/tom29whu.

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Allardyce in stadium warning
West Ham boss insists stadium must be used by football
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @skygraemebailey. Last Updated:
August 13, 2012 10:17am
SSN

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has warned that London needs to make
sure that the Olympic Stadium does not become a 'white elephant'. The
Hammers are one of the bidders to take the tenancy of the Stratford venue,
which hosted the closing ceremony of the London Games on Sunday. But its
future has long been the subject of debate, with the Hammers initially
denied tenancy last October following a legal dispute involving Tottenham
and Leyton Orient. The need to preserve a home for athletics at the stadium
was central to London 2012's legacy aims and they intend on hosting the
World Championship in 2017, but Allardyce insists the stadium and
surrounding park will fall into decline without the regular use provided by
Premier League football.

Crowds

"If they keep it for athletics, the only time it will ever get a big crowd
again after the Olympics is when they hold the World Championships there in
five years' time," he told The Times. "You only have to look around the
world at some of the Olympic Stadiums that have been built. They're white
elephants now. There are weeds growing there. Look at the 'Bird's Nest' in
Beijing. Look at Athens. "The Olympic Park is a fantastic place, but it
can't be left to rack and ruin. If a club with the history and fanbase and
potential of West Ham don't go there, the concern would be that the park is
left empty the vast majority of the time. "I can understand some West Ham
fans feeling that they don't want to leave the history and tradition of
Upton Park, but it's an incredible opportunity for the club to move
forward."

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Are the Hammers Targeting Loic Remy?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

There is a rumour this evening that West Ham are enquiring about the
availability of Marseille striker, Loic Remy. There appears to be two
obstacles to a potential move. Firstly, Marseille allegedly want a £18m fee
for the striker. Secondly, although open to a move to the PL, Loic allegedly
wants to move to a club competing in Europe next season. There is little
doubt that Loic Remy would be a great signing. But is he currently within
our reach?

Elsewhere, West Ham are reported to be especially keen to finalise a deal
for Wolves' winger, Matt Jarvis. The two clubs are currently in a stand-off
over West Ham's initial offer of £6m up front and £3m in add ons. Wolves
value Jarvis at £10m and West Ham will probaby need to meet that valuation,
with a deal being struck on the structure of the payments. Will Sam
Allardyce and the Board go the extra mile to land a player that they
obviously covet?

Also, the signs are that Adam Johnston could be out of favour at Man City.
The rumour is that City are preparing a £8m bid for Swansea's Scott Sinclair
and that deal could adversely impact on Johnston's postion in the squad.
Would Johnston not be a good loan option for West Ham, perhaps a one year
loan with a view to a permanent deal? Johnston is a real talent, who seems
to have lost his way at City. Could we help him get back on track? And might
the acquisition of the player give us another attacking option down the
flanks?

Finally, so it's the big kick-off this Saturday and a winning start is
essential. We can only guess what Sam Allardyce's starting line up will be?
But one thing is certain, our success or otherwise in the first two fixtures
wil probably determine the scale of our activities in transfer market in the
run up to the closure of the summer window on 31 August 2012.

SJ. Chandos.

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