Daily WHUFC News - 29th June 2014

Reid targets further improvement
WHUFC.com
West Ham United defender Winston Reid is eyeing up success in the 2014/15 campaign
29.06.2014

As West Ham United's players prepare to return to pre-season training next week, defender Winston Reid is targeting further improvement at his end of the pitch in 2014/15. The Hammers' defensive solidity was the backbone of their 13th place finish last term as they kept 14 clean sheets, and Reid would love to better that tally in the year ahead. He knows success at the other end is key too, with the No2 believing that progression is within the Londoners' grasp.
Reid said: "We already have a good backbone of defensive qualities in our squad - I that was proved with the 14 clean sheets we achieved last season and to add more in the attacking sense on top of that, can only be a good thing for the whole team. "It is just as important though we keep up the standards we have set for ourselves in defence and make sure when we do go on the attack, that we don't let ourselves be open at the back, but hopefully combine both. Arsenal, Manchester City, Southampton and Tottenham were the only other teams that kept more clean sheets than us last season, nobody can say they are just set up defensively. "The Gaffer and the owners have working hard to secure new additions to our squad, including in attack, and these will add to what we have here already and help us to push on next season to finish higher up in the Barclays Premier League and we look forward to that. "The manager has been great. He puts faith in me when he picks me to play, tells me to go out there to do my best and do what I can do best for the team. So that is good for me."

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Hammers receive diplomatic approval
WHUFC.com
High Commissioner of New Zealand to the UK Sir Lockwood Smith has welcomed West Ham United's visit
27.06.2014

High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom Sir Lockwood Smith has welcomed West Ham United's Carlsberg Football United Tour to his homeland. Sir Lockwood, who took up his diplomatic post in London in 2013 following a long and illustrious political career, said his fellow countrymen and women would enjoy the visit of the Hammers - and Newcastle United - this summer. West Ham and Newcastle each take on A-League sides Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC, with fixtures taking place across New Zealand's North and South Island. The Hammers face the Phoenix at Eden Park in Auckland on 23 July before tackling Sydney FC as part of a double-header at the Westpac Stadium in the capital city Wellington on Saturday 26 July. With Newcastle also taking on the Phoenix at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on South Island on 22 July, Sir Lockwood said football fans throughout the country would delight in the opportunity to catch the two Barclays Premier League teams in action. However, he expects his fellow New Zealanders to take the side of Wellington and Sydney when the Hammers take to the pitch against the A-League pair in July. "It's fantastic to see two Premier League teams, West Ham United and Newcastle United, planning to visit New Zealand in July," said Sir Lockwood, who served as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives between 2008 and 2013 and as a Member of Parliament for 29 years. "Sport is one of those things that ties New Zealand and the UK closely together. The rivalries between our two countries are well entrenched in sports like rugby, cricket and netball and it's great to see this visit bringing a focus on football, or as we Kiwis say, 'soccer', too. "New Zealanders are passionate about sport and I'm sure they'll turn out in huge numbers for the opportunity to see teams of this calibre play on home soil, though you probably won't see too many Kiwis blowing bubbles!"

Football United Tour
Wellington Phoenix v West Ham United
Wednesday 23 July 2014, 7.30pm (local time)
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
Sydney FC v West Ham United
Saturday 26 July 2014, 2pm (local time)
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand

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On this day - 29 June
WHUFC.com
Bobby Moore scored one of only two goals for England on this date in 1966
29.06.2014

Anniversary
Norway 1-6 England
29 June 1966
International friendly
Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo

Bobby Moore scored his second and final goal for England on 29 June 1966, on the occasion of his 39th cap in a 6-1 friendly win over Norway in Oslo. Moore, who had opened his account for his country in a 1-1 draw with Poland at Goodison Park in January of the same year, aided England's FIFA World Cup preparations by scoring with a spectacular 25-yard at the Ullevaal Stadium. According to The Times' match report, captain Moore's international future had been 'in the balance' before the game but the No6 put any doubts to bed with a dominant performance alongside central defensive partner Ron Flowers.
It was a future Hammer who stole the show, however, as striker Jimmy Greaves bagged a first-half hat-trick and four goals in total to put England into a commanding 5-1 lead by half-time. Earlier, Harald Sunde had given the Norwegians a shock fourth-minute lead. Moore scored England's fourth goal on 40 minutes, adding to a 24th-minute goal from Manchester United winger John Connolly. A month later, of course, Moore would lift the Jules Rimet Trophy following England's 4-2 FIFA World Cup final win over West Germany at Wembley.

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SOUTH AMERICAN HAMMERS: PART ONE
By Sean Whetstone 28 Jun 2014 at 09:19
West Ham Till I Die

The South American connection with West Ham is a recent phenomenon in the history of West Ham with the first South American only joining us in 1998. When Mauro Zarate joined us recently he became the 15th South American to sign for us. Over three parts I will look back at the success of our South American experiment and what the future holds next season with three more South Americans linked with us in recent weeks.

Chile defender Javier Margas became the first South American import after he signed for the Hammers after impressing for Chile at the France 1998 World Cup, Margas signed from Colo Colo to plug a hole in the centre of defence left by the departing David Unsworth. Javier made just three appearances in his first season. A 0-0 draw against Coventry, coupled with defeats against Wimbledon and Leeds. Added to that, Margas' appearances were limited due to going AWOL. Javier was homesick and went missing. With nobody knowing his whereabouts for approximately five weeks he was eventually tracked back to his homeland of Chile.

Our second South American joined six years later in 2004 but fared no better, Argentine defender Maurico Taricco joined on a free transfer from Spurs but made just one appearance against Millwall in November 2004 two days after signing. He lasted just 27 minutes before he torn his hamstring and was replaced by Anton Ferdinand in a game we eventually lost one nil to our fierce rivals. Later that month he offered to have his contract with the club cancelled, which West Ham accepted, marking Taricco's retirement from professional football. At the time Hammers Manager Alan Pardew commented that it was one of the most honest things he had ever known a footballer to do. He is now assistant manager of Sunderland after doing the same job for Brighton and Hove Ablion.

The third South American hammer was Argentine full back Lionel Scaloni who signed on the 31st Januray 2006. Scaloni joined West Ham United on loan on the final day of the transfer window, in an attempt to heighten his options to attend the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Germany. He took the No. 2 shirt from the departed Tomáš Repka, and made his league debut for the Hammers against Sunderland. He managed just 13 appearances including the FA cup final. Some fans blame him for the loss of the cup final.

During the final West Ham sportingly put the ball out to allow the injured Liverpool forward Cissé to be treated, and, in accordance with accepted protocol Liverpool's throw-in returned the ball to West Ham deep in their defensive end. In a moment which haunts Hammers fans, the Argentinian right back, punted an aimless looking ball into midfield instead of Row Z. Steven Gerrard went on to score and the rest as they say is history.

Possibly one of the most high profile South America signing, the most successful and yet the most disastrous were our fourth and fifth South American signings.

When Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano both 22 at the time joined West Ham from Brazilian side Corinthians none of us could believe it. We appeared to have beaten Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United to the pair's signature and it was a sign West Ham were going places.

Mascherano rarely featured in the team, despite their struggles, prompting rumours about financial clauses related to the amount of time he was actually played. In October 2006, the Argentina national coach at the time, Alfio Basile, declared that he hoped Mascherano would leave West Ham "as soon as possible"

In 2007, Liverpool requested clearance from FIFA to take Mascherano on loan from West Ham. FIFA's rules state that no player can play for more than two different clubs between 1 July and 30 June the following year as Mascherano had already played for both Corinthians and West Ham during this time.

FIFA approved the deal on 31 January 2007.However, however when Liverpool submitted his registration details before the midnight transfer deadline, the Premier League did not immediately announce whether it would allow Mascherano to play for Liverpool, saying that it wanted to "take time to satisfy itself with the proposed arrangements". In a further development, it was announced in March 2006 that the Premier League were charging West Ham with breaking rule B13, concerning acting in good faith, and rule U18, which concerns the influence of third-party ownership. On 27 April the Premier League issued West Ham a world-record fine of £5.5 million. Mascherano made just five appearances for West Ham scoring no goals.

Carlos Tevez is our most successful South American import but the player would eventually cost us tens of millions in fines and court cases.

On 5th July, it was reported that Tevez had agreed to join Manchester United in a deal worth £20 million, which was subject to an appeal from West Ham; West Ham said in turn that they would block any transfer unless they received a majority of the transfer fee. The next day, West Ham released a statement that Tevez was under contract until June 2010, in addition to denying having held negotiations with any other club. Joorabchian contradicted the claim by saying that West Ham had indeed given permission to United to engage in talks.

Manchester United and West Ham sought FIFA's assistance to rule on Tevez's ownership, but on 24th July, FIFA suggested that the case be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Joorabchian intervened by issuing West Ham with a High Court writ to compel West Ham to release the registration of Carlos Tévez in accordance with contracts entered into between the parties.However, the case never made it to court as the Premier League approved an agreement between West Ham and MSI, in which MSI would pay £2 million to West Ham, who in turn released Tevez from his contract.

West Ham and Sheffield United finally reached an out of court settlement with West Ham agreeing to pay Sheffield United £20m over 5 years in compensation.

In the next two parts I move on to the post Tevez era to cover nine more South American players to have worn the West Ham shirt with varying success.

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Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham target Michu PASSES Napoli medical
www.express.co.uk
LIVERPOOL, Arsenal and West Ham all look set to miss out on Swansea striker Michu after the Spaniard passed a medical with Napoli.
By: Ben JeffersonPublished: Sat, June 28, 2014

Michu looks set for a move to Serie A. Reports in Spain suggest that Napoli are still negotiating a fee with the Welsh club with Atletico Madrid also interested.
Michu was a revelation for Swansea two seasons ago, leading to Liverpool and Arsenal both expressing an interest in the forward. But he endured an injury hit campaign last term and failed to hit top form. West Ham were thought to be keen to take the player to east London this summer, but it seems that Michu's injury problems haven't dissuaded Rafa Benitez from making a move.

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Ravel in Chelsea top claims
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 28, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Ravel Morrison is at the centre of a mini Twitter controversy this afternoon (Sat) when a picture of him wearing what appeared to be a Chelsea leisure top emerged on the social network. It had first been allegedly posted on the midfielder's Instagram account amid claims he's been given it by former Hammer Frank Lampard. Some fans recalled the Paul Ince controversy of years ago when the Irons midfielder posed in a Manchester United shirt ahead of his move to the club. One said: OH. MY. GOD Ravel Morrison is wearing a casual Chelsea top in a picture. Sell him immediately. Another declared: "What the hell is ravel Morrison doing wearing a Chelsea shirt." However another said: "I don't think he'd be stupid enough to wear a Chelsea top and post it on instagram" and another concluded firmly "Ravel Morrison is not wearing a Chelsea training top in the picture."

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Irons unfazed by Ravel Chelsea top pic
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 28, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham tonight brushed off suggestions that Ravel Morrison was guilty of any serious misdemeanor after posting a picture of himself on Instagram apparently in a Chelsea leisure top. The pictures didn't take long to appear on Twitter and caused a mini furore among his followers. Some claimed it wasn't a Chelsea top whilst others claimed he should leave the club now after recalling Paul Ince's decision to be pictured in a manchester United short whilst still a Hammer in the late 80s..
However, "given Ravel's track record," sources inside the club remained entirely relaxed about the incident. Once well placed source told ClaretandHugh: "We've seen the pictures, nothing is really a surprise as far as Ravel is concerned – he's just a young boy really."

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Hammers to 'pass' on £5 million teen sensation
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 28, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham are set to 'pass ' on the chance of signing South American teen sensation Ezequiel Ponce. The Newell's Old Boys 17 year old – billed as the most exciting prospect in Argentian football – is the subject of an Argy investment group finacial move with the businessmen wanting to purchase 50 per cent of the player's rights. And West Ham have confirmed to ClaretandHugh that the player – nicknamed 'Tank' – has been offered to them. The story first broke in the Argentinian media – where Upton Park was named as a likely destination – and has been repeated across the internet by various sources. However exclusive ClaretandHugh inquiries have revealed the deal is unlikely to happen despite the fact the Irons being strongly attracted to it. A highly placed Upton Park source said: "We are told he's the best young player in South America but the club want £5 million plus a 50 per cent sell on fee when he becomes a world superstar.
"He's already made around 25 first team starts at 17 years old but we don't have the cash to pay £5 million for a future star. We have limited funds which we have to use on this season's campaign. "But we would love to do it although it's a huge gamble for a 17 year old and with a 50 per cent sell on clause it's almost like paying £10 million for the lad."

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