Daily WHUFC News - 21st May 2013

O'Brien delighted with Royals revenge
WHUFC.com
West Ham United defender Joey O'Brien was thrilled to end the 2012/13
campaign on a high
20.05.2013

Positive results against Reading have been few and far between for the
Hammers in recent years, so Joey O'Brien was delighted to give the Royals a
taste of their own medicine at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday. Reading beat
West Ham to automatic promotion from the Championship last season and
defeated them 1-0 at the Madejski Stadium back in December. But they were
undone by a Kevin Nolan hat-trick and a Ricardo Vaz Te bullet as they were
beaten 4-2 in the final game of their Barclays Premier League stay. It
looked for a while they may continue their hoodoo over the Londoners when
they battled back from 2-0 down to level 10 minutes after the break, but
West Ham rode out the storm and pulled away again at the death. O'Brien told
West Ham TV: "They've given us a hiding the last few times they've played
us, so we're pleased to get one back there today. "It's nice to end on a win
from the last game of the season too. We wanted to end a good season on a
high and we managed to do that. "It was a bit scary for the first 15 or 20
minutes of the second half, and they caught us cold after the break. They
made a couple of changes and scored two good goals, but we settled it down
and we managed to grind it out there. "It's great for Kev to score the hat
trick - he's very, very good with the goals and he has ended up as the top
goalscorer."

The three points gained meant West Ham hit their pre-season target of 10th
and O'Brien felt it was a great way to end a fine season. He continued:
"During pre-season in Portugal the manager said we wanted a top ten finish
and we've achieved that. "There's no better feeling than when you achieve
your objectives in football and it was good to end with a win today. That
was the main thing for the fans."

West Ham's win over Reading also came a year to the day after their npower
Championsip Play-Off final victory over Blackpool and defender O'Brien feels
the progress made in the intervening 12 months has been vast. He explained:
"Last year was a relief, but this year the lads are able to celebrate. We
couldn't really celebrate last year - it was just utter relief that we were
back in the Premier League. "It's a different feeling for us now."

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Stand up Sit down at the Olympic stadium
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 19th May 2013
By: Paul Walker

So the Olympic Stadium survey has been completed and shows vast support for
West Ham's move to Stratford. Surprised by the finding? No, neither was I.

Such was the campaign in favour of the move by our owners, with a long list
of legendary players wheeled out to give their support - from Martin Peters
to Sir Geoff - in an orchestrated PR campaign, I would have been shocked by
anything less than the 80 per cent plus who voted of favour.

With a heavy heart, I was one of them, because I love the Boleyn and four
generations of my family have called it their football home. But I am
determined to be enthusiastic about the move.

I accept that moving to a bigger ground is the only way we will ever be able
to consider competing for a top six position, and it's the sort of progress
that is inevitable in today's modern game.

Over 12,000 completed the on-line survey, and by the very nature of our
attendance figures and 20,000 plus seasons ticket holders, a vast majority
of that 12,000 will have been in the season ticket category.

Not quite so many said that they trusted our owners, but I will let that one
pass for now. What is certain is that the local authority and the police in
Newham would not have allowed us planning permission now to expand the
Boleyn, the infrastructure of the Upton Park area could not cope with
another 15,000 on match days. So, frankly, we had little choice if we wanted
any form of progress.

The survey co-incided for me with having a book pressed firmly into my hand
and told by one of my younger match day mates, that I should read it, such
was my known opposition to any changes in the all-seater stadium
regulations.

The book, 'Stand Up Sit Down' by Peter Caton, proved more of an eye-opener
than I expected. And I only agreed to read it because Peter is a West Ham
fan!

Much of the book , published last year and well researched and argued,
sought to make the point that we have standing in most stadiums because the
authorities have virtually given up trying to make people sit down in large
sections of grounds, because many thousands just stand in front of their
seats.

Peter's point, among many other compelling ones too plentiful to explore
here, was that if you now allow 'managed' safe standing in front of seats,
then serious consideration should be given to organising safe standing
properly if only in small areas of stadiums.

And that got me thinking. The Bobby Moore Lower at the Boleyn is an almost
totally standing area, as is the corner of the ground between the main stand
and the Sir Trevor Brooking stand, plus a small section right next to the
away support in the Chicken Run.

So, I ask our greater leaders, if they tolerate this now - and it has been
going on for seasons without a hint of a problem - what will you do when we
all move to the Olympic Stadium? The same people who prefer to stand, or are
in the cheapest areas of the Boleyn and really have little choice, will be
needed to fill our new home at Stratford.

There is going to be a Kop-like end there, we are told, for singing and
atmosphere. So will not thousands of our faithful decide to stand there? The
same may apply to the other end of the stadium or, heaven forbid, along the
sides in the cheaper seats if there is going to be such a thing (and I'm
back to the 'trust' bit now.)

Stratford will be much higher profile that the little old Boleyn, supposedly
matches being beamed world-wide and watched by 54,000.

Can any one believe that the club will employ vast armies of stewards to try
to make people sit down, who have been doing the exact opposite for years.
West Ham, back in previous years after the Taylor Report, had plenty of
trouble from Newham Council and the licensing authority over the persistent
standing in the Bobby Moore Lower. There were plenty of threats to close the
enclosure.

But as time has progressed, things have changed. I have never been asked to
sit down at West Ham by any steward, and I cannot remember an away match I
have attended in years that has seen any problem with the vast majority of
our following standing.

Last season I saw 15 away games in the Championship, and our hosts couldn't
wait to get enough of us in the ground. Places like Barnsley, Doncaster,
Bristol City, Coventry, were overjoyed we were there standing or not.

This season I have stood at Wigan, Manchester City and Stoke without a
flicker of complaint from anyone.

What ever the law says, and Caton's book continually makes the point that
standing is not illegal, most clubs seem to have come to a happy compromise
and just turn a blind eye to certain sections of their own support as well
as their visitors. Will that happen at our new home in Stratford (that's if
Barry Hearn finally allows us to go there).

I am told by friends who have travelled with me to Boleyn matches as away
fans, that it is virtually impossible not to stand in our away end, in
particular the section that overhangs the East Stand now that the pitch has
been moved.

Caton is clearly enraged by the lack of logic over the way all-seater
stadiums are managed, pointing out that rugby fans of both codes can stand
and drink alcohol in view of the pitch.

What impressed me about the book and the people behind it in the national
fans' groups, was the detail and the righteous indignity of being treated
differently to fans of other sports, as well as fans at rock concerts in
football stadium who seem too be able to do what they like.

The laws clearly are illogical. But I am sure that Peter Caton is not naive.
He's in his early 50s and must realise that the establishment - police and
government - don't want to be bothered by football, they just want it
controlled and put away quietly in it's own box. There is no appetite for
any sort of change.

I still have mixed views. I spent the past 20 years of my professional
career working in Liverpool. I also had a friend who somehow escaped the
Bradford fire by deciding to run towards the pitch rather than to the,
closer, exits behind the main Valley Parade stand.

Several of my friends were also at Heysel. I can recall writing my paper's
match report of that European final from a black and white TV in the
Manchester newsroom because all our reporters in Brussels had been ordered
from the press box to cover the carnage on the terraces that night.

And working in Liverpool I have known, supported, interviewed and been proud
of members of the Hillsborough Families Support Group.

They are now finally getting the truth and justice. And they desperately
don't want to see the return of terraces, even if it was fences that killed
those fans and not the fact that they were in a standing enclosure.

Caton argues, with some justification, that there has to be respect, support
and sympathy but that the Hillsborough families should not have undue
influence on a government policy. Trouble is, the fear of being blamed if
anything like Hillsborough was to happen again, makes people scared witless.

Caton concludes that there is a massive, fear driven, establishment cover-up
going on. It is clear from the officials he has dealt with, that nobody
wants any sort of change from Taylor. It's too much bother.

While I was reading the book, the Prime Minister got in on the act when
responding to a question from Margaret Aspinall of the HFSG, who lost a son
at Hillsborough.

Cameron, not surprisingly, showed a total lack of understanding, much like
his smirking sidekick Jeremy Hunt - you remember him, the sports minister
who did not know the offside law and called Liverpool fans hooligans.

Cameron was asked last week if there was going to be any change in the
all-seater regulations. He said: "I think we should listen t the experts,
and so far the experts seem to have said that all-seater stadiums are the
right approach and we should not change anything unless someone produces
some overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

"But to me football matches now are about all-seater stadiums, particularly
when you consider the size of the crowds. I went to watch my team, Villa,
being beaten 8-0 by Chelsea, and when you looked around the idea of
replacing seats with standing would have all sorts of dangers. So there are
no plans to do that."

What ever side of the debate you are on, those words are lacking in any sort
of genuine understanding - or more importantly - desire to open the debate
any further. No doubt though, he could see Villa fans in the cheap seats,
standing at Stamford Bridge, just like Villa fans do in the Holte End
(that's the stand to the right of the directors' box at Villa Park, David).

Now I have to admit I have come into this debate rather late in life, having
spent some 40 years in press boxes and separated from the rank and file I
now occupy.

And I do recall, though, that the last time my late father saw a match was
in 1975 at Wembley when we beat Fulham, and dad was sent spinning down the
terraces when a great surge cascaded through our fans at the Cup Final. He
was 55, and never went to a game again.

Personally, I prefer to have a seat. At my age with a bad back and dodgy
knees - as well as permanent scars on my shins from hitting the back of the
seat in front of me - I want to be able to sit down occasionally.

Now I know it can be said that I should move to a different part of the
ground and leave standing to the youngsters, but I cannot afford such seats.
Standing, if re-introduced, would certainly be behind the goals and that is
where the cheaper seats are that I can afford.

German style convertible terraces would, I fear, be too expensive to
introduce here. And as Caton has found, there is just not the will from any
level of authority, to change what we now have.

He's discovered he and his likeminded mates are banging their heads against
a brick wall that is our political establishment. But I must admit the book
did open my eyes widen than I expected.

So bring on the standing Kop at the Olympic stadium. COYI.

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Allardyce on... Reading
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 20th May 2013
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce runs out of superlatives for Andy Carroll, who may have been
playing his last game for West Ham United, in his final press conference of
the season which we bring you in full...

Sam: Mr Nolan did a job for you. Captain Fantastic today?

In the opposition's box he's always been top class and it's another
double-figure, Premier League scoring job he's done yet again. He's achieved
many of those throughout his career. Finishing the season with a hat-trick
has got to be thrilling for him, his family, the fans and everybody
connected with West Ham.

It was a thrilling performance and a thrilling game. We all thought we were
going to come out at the start of the second half and carry on where we'd
left off, but Reading stunned us and scored two very clever goals.

But the team got their composure back and Kevin [scored the goals]. That's
what he's good at; when he scores his goals they're often very important.
When you see the variety of goals he scored today...

We knew they were going to try and play it out of the back so our tactics
were to hunt them down and try to stop that. It paid off brilliantly with
the first goal. It was a tactic that worked very well, forcing the
opposition into a mistake in their own box.

For his second goal, when he was one-on-one with the 'keeper, he showed
great composure; he kept cool, didn't panic and slotted it into the bottom
corner. Then his third goal - arriving late in the box to meet a great cross
by Maiga - was headed into the back of the net.

The other one that he missed was probably the easiest one - but it was a
wonder save from McCarthy, who touched it onto the bar. Then of course the
quality of Vaz Te's goal, not just the finish but the build up. That means
we weren't very good for 15 minutes today, but for the rest we provided
great entertainment and it was a great way to finish the season.

Andy Carroll played a big role in setting up some of those goals again?

Yes. He'll be disappointed that he hasn't scored today but you can see his
all-round ability showing through more and more in every game that he plays.

It's not just about his aerial prowess in the box, it's about his overall
game; his hold-up play; his quality on the ball; his retaining of
possession. He's fighting for 50/50 balls and he makes life very difficult
for centre-halfs - and his all-round game is getting better and better. He
is our target; we'll try and make it a permanent situation if we can.
Hopefully we can do that in the near future.

The West Ham fans made it clear they want him to stay here. How close do you
think you are to making that happen?

It's our main priority at the moment; we have to pursue that to the end, one
way or the other. We'll find out as quickly as we can whether it's going to
be a "yes" or a "no". That'll be our first priority.

If we can start with Andy Carroll [next season] that would be a great
achievement for us. At the young age he is, he can only get better and
better in terms of his playing prowess, I think. Then we build around that
in terms of what we want to improve next. Not building a bigger squad, but a
squad with better quality. They're my main priorities once we've finished
pre-season friendlies off.

There are negotiations on both sides then?

There are negotiations between the club and Liverpool at the moment, yes.

He looked like an England player today, didn't he?

Yeah, especially the way his all-round game came together. He's a player
who's wanting to enjoy his football.

He lives for his football and he wants to play every game. He wants to enjoy
himself every time he goes out on the field; he wants to use his strength
and score as many goals as he possibly can, but also work very hard for the
team. There was a 60-yard chase back at one stage today when he ended up
tackling a Reading midfield player; I think that says it all.

Have you made a decision yet on people like Carlton [Cole]?

There's Carlton and Gary O'Neil; I'll be talking to those tomorrow [Monday]
morning and a decision will be made then.

Ok? Thank you.

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Alvaro Negredo wants Champions League club after West Ham link
By Francisco Acedo. Last Updated: May 20, 2013 11:25am
SSN

Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo only wants to leave for a club in the
Champions League, his agent has stated. The Spanish international striker is
reported to have emerged as a target for West Ham United in recent weeks but
he appears unmoved by the prospect. Negredo, who was linked with Everton in
January, is now believed to covet a team that is in the Champions League,
should he leave Sevilla this summer. "We are calm and at the end of the
season, we will look at things but the choice lies with Sevilla," his agent
Juanma Lopez told Sky Sports. Lopez added to Marca: "He would only accept an
offer from a club that is in the Champions League." Sevilla have said they
want the 27-year-old's release clause paying which is believed to be just
below £20million. Negredo enjoyed another hugely successful season in La
Liga for Sevilla, scoring 20 goals to record his seventh season in
succession that he has hit double figures.

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Kevin Nolan says Andy Carroll deal not crucial to West Ham
Last Updated: May 20, 2013 4:27pm
SSN

West Ham captain Kevin Nolan does not believe that signing Andy Carroll on a
permanent deal this summer is crucial for the club. Hammers boss Sam
Allardyce has made no secret of his desire to push through a deal for
England international Carroll, who scored seven times during a loan spell
from Liverpool this season. However, there are a number of stumbling blocks
to a deal being completed, most notably the size of the fee Liverpool would
demand and the 24-year-old's wage demands. Nolan, who played with Carroll
during their spells at Newcastle, hopes to see his good friend back in
claret and blue, but feels the club must not pin all of their hopes on his
signing. "It will be massive if we do get Andy, but it is not the be all and
end all," said Nolan. "I have been with Sam a long time. When he did not
manage to get his first man, he has always managed to get his second man and
we always manage to do well. "If he gets the chance to bring the quality of
the players he wants, then I am sure we will be aiming for the higher
echelons of the Premier League. "I have a lot of faith that Sam will get the
men he wants in the summer and will be working hard with the chairman to do
that."

Nolan also understands that Carroll's own ambitions will be a bit factor in
his final decision. "Andy is a clever lad, he knows he has got to play
football," added Nolan. "If he gets offered someone who are in the Champions
League or the Europa League, then he has got to make the decision. "I know
he has enjoyed his time here, you can see that on the pitch, he gets on well
with all the lads, so we will see what happens."

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West Ham look to have won the race to sign Razvan Rat on a free transfer
Last Updated: May 18, 2013 11:14pm
SSN

Razvan Rat looks set to complete a free transfer move to West Ham, according
to the player's agent. The Romania international's contract at Shakhtar
Donetsk is expiring and the left-back is believed to have been a target for
the Hammers since the January transfer window. Agent Florin Manea claims
that a deal could be concluded as soon as Monday with Sam Allardyce a big
fan of the 31-year-old defender. "I am with Razvan in England, we are
negotiating with the West Ham officials," Marin told Sport in Romania. "We
will probably sign the contract on Monday. The trainer has put him on the
top of the wishlist and the owner has approved the move." West Ham have
reportedly fought off interest from Marseille by bettering the deal that the
French club could offer the player.

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West Ham linked with AC Milan's Massimo Ambrosini
By Simone Bargellini. Last Updated: May 16, 2013 2:42pm
SSN

AC Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini has emerged as a possible transfer target
for West Ham United, according to his agent, Moreno Roggi. The Hammers are
planning for next season having secured their Premier League status and are
believed to have offered Ambrosini a two-year deal. The 35-year-old, a
multiple UEFA Champions League and Serie A winner, is out of contract next
month and had initially planned to see out his career at the San Siro.
However, he is bellieved to be tempted by the prospect of ending his 18-year
stay at Milan to try his hand in the Premier League. Roggi said: "There is
interest from West Ham and it's a real interest, like that of other English,
German and American teams, although there have not been conc rete
contacts."But, like every year, the first thing Massimo will do at the end
of the season is speak with Adriano Galliani (AC Milan CEO)."

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Chelsea youngster could make sensational loan switch to rivals West Ham
Posted by Chris Swann 20th May 2013, 03:05pm
Fanatix

Hammers have enquired about the availability of Romelu Lukaku next season.
West Ham United have asked Chelsea about the availability of striker Romelu
Lukaku next season, according to the Daily Mail. The Belgian striker has
enjoyed a successful season on loan at West Brom this year, scoring 14
goals, three of which came as substitute against Manchester United in the
thrilling 5-5 draw on Sunday. This good form so early on in his Premier
League career has alerted the Upton Park club to the 20-year-old's potential
availability. The Hammers are said to have asked Chelsea about the
possibility of a loan move for Lukaku, which could be made permanent in the
future. With Hammers boss Sam Allardyce keen to make the loan move of Andy
Carroll a permanent one, the idea of putting another powerful striker to
partner him would suit the club's direct style of football. Carlton Cole is
out of contract this summer, so the move can be seen as a way of filling the
Englishman's shoes, with a younger and more explosive forward. Swansea have
also shown an interest in the former Anderlecht star, although neither would
be able to afford Chelsea's £20m asking price, making a loan the most likely
option.

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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce would welcome Jose Mourinho's return
Last Updated: May 21, 2013 12:38am
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce insists he would relish the return of Jose
Mourinho to Chelsea. Mourinho's expected move back to Chelsea looks even
more likely after Real Madrid confirmed he will leave the Bernabeu at the
end of the season. Allardyce locked horns with Mourinho during his last
spell at Stamford Bridge and admits he would look forward to more touchline
battles with his old managerial foe. "I think it will be great to have him
back," Allardyce told Sky Sports News. "He had a very good spell last time.
I know it didn't finish so well in the end at Chelsea with Roman Abramovich.
"Obviously they have repaired the damage and he comes back to apply his
talents in the Premier League. It sounds like he is looking forward to
coming back to England. "We'll be glad to see him and obviously pit our wits
against him as well."

Mourinho failed to land any silverware during his last season in charge with
Real Madrid, but he guided the club to the La Liga title in the previous
campaign and secured the Champions League title during his spell at Inter
Milan. Allardyce does not think the 'Special One' has lost any of his
talents and expects him to be a more dangerous adversary if he does take
charge of the Blues again. "I suppose it depends on whether he can recapture
what he did when he first moved to Chelsea," he said. "I think, looking at
his experience since those days, he should be better than what he was when
he left. I think that his spells in Italy and Spain, he will have matured
and learnt a lot from that time. "I suppose when he comes back to Chelsea,
he'll use that experience and probably try to be better than when he left."

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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce confirms move for Razvan Rat
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated: May
21, 2013 12:39am
SSN

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has confirmed the club are on the verge of
signing Romanian defender Razvan Rat. Rat is available on a free transfer
after seeing out his contract at Shakhtar Donetsk and Allardyce has targeted
the 31-year-old to help fill the club's problematic left-back spot. Talks
are thought to be at an advanced stage and Allardyce is hopeful of making
Rat his first signing of the summer. "I think at the moment it is talking
terms and conditions and if we get through that then hopefully it's a chance
of a medical and then see where we go from there," Allardyce told Sky Sports
News. Allardyce believes Rat will prove a valuable addition to his squad
next season. "He has played Champions League this year, if everything goes
to plan we get a player that has played at the highest level for his country
and for Shaktar Donetsk at the moment," added Allardyce. "His experience and
talents from abroad bringing them into the Premier League would be a great
asset for us if we can sort it out."

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KEVIN NOLAN FEARS ANDY CARROLL WILL SNUB WEST HAM
Daily Star
Kevin Nolan
21st May 2013 By Jon West

KEVIN Nolan admits the lure of European ­football could ­persuade Andy
Carroll to turn down West Ham. England star Carroll, 24, has just completed
a season-long loan at Upton Park from Liverpool, scoring ­seven goals in 24
games. West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has declared his top priority is to build
a team around the striker. But club captain Nolan, ­Carroll's friend and
former team-mate at Newcastle, is not confident that will happen. The
Hammers finished 10th in the Premier League but are ­highly unlikely to be
challenging for a Champions League place anytime soon. And that means the
door is wide open for a bigger club to tempt Carroll away from Anfield, with
Tottenham and cash-rich French outfit Monaco already linked. Nolan said:
"Andy is a clever lad, he knows he has got to play football. "If he gets
offered a club in the Champions League or the Europa League, then he has got
to make the decision. "I know he has enjoyed his time here, you can see that
on the pitch. He gets on well with all the lads, so we will see what
happens."

Liverpool paid Newcastle £35m for Carroll in January 2011. And although he
is not in ­manager Brendan Rodgers' plans, they are still keen to recoup
around half of that fee. But West Ham co-owners David ­Sullivan and David
Gold are ­reluctant to pay more than £10m. Nolan, who netted a hat-trick in
Sunday's 4-2 victory over ­Reading, was adamant the Hammers could still do
well without Carroll. The midfielder added: "It will be massive if we do get
Andy but it is not the be-all and end-all. I have been with Sam a long time.
"When he did not manage to get his first man, he has always managed to get
his second man, and we always ­manage to do well. "If he gets the chance to
bring in the quality of players he wants, then I am sure we will be aiming
for the higher echelons of the Premier League. "That is what we want, what
the fans want and what the ­ owners want. "I have a lot of faith that Sam
will get the men he wants in the summer and he will be working hard with the
chairman to do just that." One man who appears to have already rejected the
Hammers is Sevilla's prolific striker Alvaro Negredo, 27. Reports in Spain
claim the ­forward has told the East London club they are not big enough to
tempt him to leave.

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