Friday, October 10

Daily WHUFC News - 10th October 2014

Cresswell wants more clean sheets
WHUFC.com
Defender wants more of the same after Queens Park Rangers shut out
08.10.2014

Aaron Cresswell hopes Sunday's shut out against Queens Park Rangers was a
sign of things to come from West Ham United. Although they have been in top
form going forward this season, the Hammers' defensive solidity has not
matched that at times over the first two months of the campaign. But victory
over the R's married a goalscoring threat with a meanness at the back and
the summer signing from Ipswich Town wants that to be the case on a regular
basis. He is delighted with how he has settled in since making the move from
Portman Road and would love to keep the Hammers in the Barclays Premier
League's top ten. He explained: "It's always nice to get a win, and a clean
sheet as well. That was our first one of the season, so it was important to
go into the international break with the three points to push us further up
the table. "On Sunday we went 1-0 up and then controlled the game in the
first half. Of course it helped to score the early goal. It was the same
when we played Liverpool - we got the two early goals that day and it was
the same kind of situation against QPR. "I thought the whole eleven were
excellent on Sunday. We controlled the game very well in the first half and,
although they had a spell in the first ten minutes after half time when they
changed formation, overall we deserved to win the game."

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Army football team visit Hammers
WHUFC.com
The British Army women's football team visited Chadwell Heath last week
09.10.2014

Last week the British Army women's football team were invited to watch the
West Ham United first team in training as part of their pre-season
preparations. Having won the annual Inter-Services Cup for a fourth
consecutive year, the tean comprises of servicewomen from a range of units
across the British Army.

Speaking at the training session the manager, Major Sandra Hodgson said:
"This is the culmination of a week's trial for the ladies. We've had them in
all week as we're getting ready for the new season. Today we're having a day
off here at West Ham, watching the men's first team in training which is
brilliant, it's fantastic to be here."

Major Hodgson continued to explain how the team was formed: "The team's been
in existence for around 14 years now. It started off on quite a small scale
with a few girls from the UK bases only. The German based girls had their
own team too. "After a period of time that was amalgamated. Now a group of
girls from Germany, the UK and Cyprus are together for training. We only get
one day's training and then we play our games in the Southern Counties
division. The team comes from a range of different units."

The team's captain is Sergeant Krissy Wright, who has been part of the setup
for a number of years. "The role and importance of all sports in the Army is
huge. The pressure the girls are under through operational requirements,
exercises and courses is huge, so sport offers us an opportunity to get
together, relax a little bit and make the most of being in the army.
"Luckily fitness is not an issue as it is something we can work on when
we're back in our units. We don't get much opportunity to train together as
we only have a day before a game to train properly, so maintaining fitness
is really important."

The required standard to impress at trials are high, and according to Wright
are improving each year: "The standard is very good. I've been playing for a
number of years now and the quality of the girls is definitely improving.
"We've got a few girls who have played at U16 level for England and Wales.
We've got a player who plays for Portsmouth, she's currently injured. One of
the girls used to play for Blackburn. So we're lucky that we've got girls
who have got good experience of high level football."

With the sport's popularity increasing over the last decade, a trend set to
continue, Major Hodgson concurs that standards within the women's game are
improving too: "We've seen with the improvement of the quality of the
players that we've had, that standards are going up. "We've now got girls
who are very good players. We're lucky that now we can use Army and Army
reserve girls too. The standard is improving year on year and every time we
have trials it gets harder and harder to pick players."

For Major Hodgson, unlike a normal football manager, there are a number of
unique circumstances that hinder the team selection: "Obviously their Army
duties are the priority and that can affect the players that are available
for selection. But we try to ensure we have the strongest squad possible,
especially for the Inter Services tournament. Speaking about their hopes for
the upcoming season. Both manager and captain are positive that their side
can enjoy a successful campaign. Sergeant Wright pinned her colours to the
mast saying: "Hopefully a title challenge is on the cards. We came very
close last season. The quality is very high but we push ourselves every
season. With the players we have got this year we've got a very good squad
and could well be successful."

While Major Hodgson continued to say: "We want to retain the Inter-Services
trophy that we won last year. It would be devastating if we didn't win it
again this year. "It'll be our fifth consecutive win. As a player and a
coach I've lost it twice over a period of about eleven years. We don't focus
on losing. We will win the Inter-Services cup."

That sounds like fighting talk!

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Mediawatch - 9 October
WHUFC.com
Our daily look at the West Ham United stories making the news
09.10.2014

The Evening Standard reports on the positive progress made by the Hammers'
injured players. Their story says that Mark Noble is back in training and
Cheikhou Kouyate has an outside chance of being fit for next Saturday's trip
to Burnley.

In the Daily Mail, Harry Redknapp says Ravel Morrison has the ability to 'be
the next Gareth Bale' if he can apply his undoubted talent on the pitch.

London24 carries an extract from Sir Trevor Brooking's new autobiography, in
which he states his belief that England will win the World Cup again in his
lifetime, as long as the progress in developing young players is maintained.

Another Mail story examines the work done by all Premier League clubs in the
summer transfer window, praising the Hammers for 'having one of their best
windows for a long time.'

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Jimmy Walker: I would've saved Steven Gerrard's FA Cup equaliser
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 9th October 2014
By: Staff Writer

Former Hammers goalkeeper Jimmy Walker ‌insists he would have saved the shot
that cost West Ham United the 2006 FA Cup Final. With just seconds remaining
in the game, Alan Pardew's underdogs led reigning European Champions
Liverpool 3-2 in Cardiff when Reds captain Steven Gerrard picked up the ball
35 yards from goal. Without hesitation, Liverpool's talisman took aim and
fired past West Ham 'keeper Shaka Hislop from some 35 yards - a goal that
took the Final into extra time and a resulting penalty shootout, which the
Reds won 3-1.

Walker, who had been stretchered off the same ground a year earlier in the
Championship play off Final against Preston was an unused substitute on the
day, having made just three appearances that season as a result of the
career-threatening injury he'd sustained.
However he firmly believes that had Alan Pardew taken his advice and
reinstated him to the team for the Final, West Ham would have emerged
victorious - as he would have saved Gerrard's last-gasp equaliser. "One
million percent. That's what made it even more devastating,"

Walker told the KUMB Podcast. "It wouldn't have been Gerrard's Final, it
would just have been a West Ham win. But those things happen, it's fine
margins. "I was so getting into Pardew's head," he recalled. "To be fair to
Shaka he'd played in every round and was fantastic but before the final, at
the start of the week, I was knocking on his door going, 'this is fate Pards
- it's a year to the day that I done my knee and everyone thought I was
finished. I'm back, at the same spot it happened. This is fate, you've got
to play me!' "I was doing well at the time, really enjoying my football and
the fittest I've ever been. He called me in on the Thursday [before the
game] and it was 50/50. I was thinking 'please just play me, just play me!'
Pards said, 'look, I'm going to have to go with Shaka. It'd kill him as he'd
played in every round'. "I understood what he was saying but I still told
him after the game - which didn't go down too well - that I would have
changed history because that was my game, low down from 40 yards!"

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Redknapp pans 'petulant' Ravel
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 9th October 2014
By: Staff Writer

Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp has revealed how he lost his
temper with West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison. The 67-year-old former
Hammers boss took Morrison to Loftus Road on loan for the second half of
last season - only to end up dropping him due to a perceived attitude
problem. Speaking in his new book, which is being serialised by the Daily
Mail this week, Redknapp recalled an incident during a game which caused him
to lose his temper with the England under 21 international. "There was one
game last season when we'd lost confidence and were losing," he explained.
"I asked him to change his position, to play on the left - and his face fell
into a petulant pout. "I pulled him away from the rest, took him outside and
explained as patiently as the time allowed. 'Ravel, we are losing the
f***ing game,' I said. 'I just want you to play there and do a job for the
team. We have to win the game. It's not about you, OK? It's about the team.
"People look at your face in there when I've asked you to do something, and
they will all go away and think you are a big-headed bastard, because your
attitude stinks. That's what people say about you.'

"Second half he was absolutely different class. He ran the game, everything
good we did came from him and we were all watching it thinking, 'What a
talent'. You looked at that performance and thought he could get us promoted
on his own if he put his mind to it.
"It was like watching a player with Gareth Bale's class in the Championship.
If Morrison had played consistently at his best, he might have gone to the
World Cup. "But by the time we came to the end of the season he couldn't
get in our starting line-up and on his bad days, you wouldn't have put him
in our reserve team."

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THIRTY MINUTES WITH SIR TREVOR BROOKING
By Iain Dale 9 Oct 2014 at 20:35
West Ham Till I Die

Earlier today I sat down with Sir Trevor Brooking to do an interview for my
LBC Drivetime show. Because of the Ebola breaking news we had to curtail
what we broadcast live on the show to only seven minutes, but I deliberately
recorded a lot more than we would ever have been able to use on the show,
and virtually all of it is about West Ham. When I went down to meet him in
the Global Radio reception he was being mobbed by several West Ham and
Norwich (fans).. So, sit down for half an hour as Sir Trevor and I chew the
West Ham fat. It was an absolute pleasure to meet the great man.

Oh, and by the way, the auction was won by someone who bid £3,900. I wonder
if they were readers of this site. I guess I will soon find out! It's an
astonishing sum to raise, and thanks once again to David Sullivan for making
it possible.

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HARRY ON RAVEL
By Iain Dale 9 Oct 2014 at 14:08
West Ham Till I Die

Harry Redknapp has a new book out – A MAN WALKS ON TO A PITCH. Here's what
he says about Ravel Morrison…

I had Ravel Morrison at QPR last season. Sir Alex Ferguson said he was the
most naturally gifted player he had seen at Manchester United since Paul
Scholes – and then sold him because he could do nothing with him. He'd been
at West Ham, scored one of the goals of the season against Tottenham but
they, too, found it hard to control him. He'd already had one loan spell at
Birmingham City, but ended up with me. The kid can really play. He goes past
people and makes them look silly. He's like the strolling England player
Alan Hudson in the 1970s. He doesn't run, he glides. By the time we came to
the end of the season, though, he couldn't get in our starting line-up.
There was one game last season when we'd lost confidence and were losing. I
asked him to change his position, to play on the left. His face fell into a
petulant pout.

I pulled him away from the rest, took him outside and explained as patiently
as the time allowed. 'Ravel, we are losing the f****** game,' I said. 'I
just want you to play there and do a job for the team. We have to win the
game. It's not about you, OK? It's about the team. 'People look at your face
in there when I've asked you to do something, and they will all go away and
think you are a big-headed bastard, because your attitude stinks. That's
what people say about you.'

Second half he was absolutely different class. He ran the game, everything
good we did came from him and we were all watching it thinking, ''What a
talent''. You looked at that performance and thought he could get us
promoted on his own if he put his mind to it. It was like watching a player
with Gareth Bale's class in the Championship.

Lee Clark, the Birmingham City manager, said to Ravel that he was the best
player since Gazza. His response: 'Who's Gazza?' Should that surprise us?
Admittedly that World Cup in Italy is 24 years ago now, and Ravel is 21, but
however long ago it was I think he can be expected to know who Paul
Gascoigne is. But it does show you that when you've gone, when you've had
your day, nobody cares. If Morrison had played consistently at his best, he
might have gone to the World Cup; on his bad days you wouldn't have put him
in our reserve team.

Not a lot you could argue with there.

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SUPER SAKHO
By Bianca Westwood 9 Oct 2014 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die

If two out of three ain't bad then Meatloaf would be over the moon with
Diafra Sakho's stellar start to the season. I know I am. Five goals in five
starts is a terrific return by anyone's standard. For a Premier League
newbie who has just joined our little club from France's Ligue 2, it makes
his splash all the more spectacular. And just think if it was down to Sam he
wouldn't even be here.

I heard once on the grapevine that we turned down Alvaro Negredo in June
2013 in favour of signing Andy Carroll on a permanent deal. I don't know
this to be certain and you can decide amongst yourselves whether, if true,
that was the right thing to do but at least this time, the correct decision
was made and the right striker was acquired. The fact that it was down to
David Sullivan that we are now the proud beneficiaries of the Senegalese
player's obvious talents makes it even more interesting.

What our chairman saw in Sakho is becoming more and more apparent. He's
strong, he's quick, he works his socks off and, hallelujah, the boy can
score goals. Metz's top scorer and last season's Ligue 2 player of the year
is fast becoming a fans' favourite. Why Sam thought he was a gamble is
unknown but we have Mr Sullivan to thank for his personal intervention and
perseverance in getting him to Upton Park. Seems like he does know a thing
or two about football after all!


There's always been a lot of negativity surrounding Sullivan and Gold. From
football fans both inside and outside of the club. Something I've never
really understood. Maybe it's because of how they made their money I don't
know. People do like to get on the old high horse about these things but
it's never bothered me. When they took over the reins at West Ham most of my
colleagues and people I knew in the game were quick to make fun of us and
suggest we'd all be going to hell in a handcart. But I knew we were already
half way there anyway after the Icelandic debacle. The way I see it, apart
from the handling of Zola and the introduction of the subsequent manager,
they got us out of a monstrous hole and they've always done their best by
the club. No they haven't got a bottomless pit of cash. But then who has
these days? And even if you do you're not allowed to spend it all at once.
After what I've seen happen over the years to the likes of Leeds,
Portsmouth, and what is now hanging over QPR like the sword of Damocles, I
think we got a decent deal.

Ok, so he's on fire now and if Sakho's prolificacy ends tomorrow we may be
having a different debate next week but the evidence suggests his star has
only just begun to shine and will continue to do so.

When I interviewed Alex Song last week he singled Sakho out for high praise.
He admitted he hadn't heard of him before he came to the club but he was
really impressed, and a little surprised, with what he'd seen so far. He is
well liked in the dressing room, he has a will and a desire to win, he
doesn't shirk from putting in the graft on the training field and he is
intent on giving his best whenever he steps onto the pitch. We've not always
had players like that in recent years and I don't think that hunger will
leave him in a hurry.

At the risk of sounding like an X Factor sob story Sakho has had a difficult
journey to get to where he is today. But in actual fact his background
really is no joke. He grew up playing football barefoot in the streets of
Senegal before leaving the abject poverty of West Africa at 18 years old to
find his fame and fortune in French football. Soon after he joined Metz he
learned his father had died, leaving his mother to look after his three
siblings alone. As anyone who has lost a loved one knows, it's a tragedy
that changes you forever. He admits the loss hardened him. He has certainly
gained strength from his experiences and used them as motivation to succeed
in his trade. He shows no fear on the pitch that's for sure and you won't
see him ducking out of a challenge in a hurry. Apparently questions were
asked about his attitude before he joined but I see no indication of a
problem there. He's definitely a fighter but that's no bad thing, the West
Ham fans will love that about him.


He's broken a 26 year club record already. He's exciting. He has great
vision. He is a poacher of goals. He always seems to be in the right place
at the right time and if he's not nicking them inside the box, he has a deft
touch that can send the ball sumptuously looping over a goalkeepers head. As
Simon Mignolet will testify.
West Ham haven't had an out and out goal scorer in quite some time. I often
wistfully wonder what delights would have been bestowed upon our fans and
our club if Dean Ashton hadn't tragically lost his career so prematurely.
I'll never forget that goal he scored in the FA cup quarter final at
Manchester City. The future looked like it was Ashton's for the taking.
Unfortunately for him it wasn't to be. I felt a similar level of excitement
when Andy Carroll first graced our pitch with his presence…again the
treatment table has claimed another victim, although thankfully not forever
in his case and a return is looking imminent.

Wouldn't it be nice if we finally found ourselves a goal machine! I know
it's only early days and it's only five goals but when you've been in the
middle of a desert for so long you get a little excited at the first sign of
water. Let's hope Sakho isn't a mirage!! He wears the number 15 shirt of his
idol Didier Drogba and dreams of emulating the Ivorian's stratospheric
success. As long he sticks around if he does I'm not complaining.

And what a snip he could be at £4.5m!!

Only time will tell, but the optimism I was told would die out around about
now is still alive and kicking in East London. This could be an oasis.
Hallelujah!

B x

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Stewart Downing believes West Ham can 'aim for Europe' after bright start to
Premier League campaign
Stewart Downing is hoping West Ham can target European football for next
season
West Ham have made bright start to Premier League campaign and sit in
seventh place
Downing has been key to West Ham's success so far this season
By MATT LAWLESS FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 15:30, 9 October 2014 | UPDATED: 16:38, 9 October 2014
Daily Mail

Stewart Downing believes West Ham should target European football for next
year after their impressive start to the new season. After last weekend's
2-0 win over QPR, Sam Allardyce's seventh-placed side sit above Arsenal and
Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League and are just three points behind
third-placed Southampton. The Hammers have earned plaudits for their
attacking brand of football with Downing the heartbeat of their positive
performances.The former £20million Liverpool star's magnificent form
prompted boss Allardyce to hail him as the 'best midfielder in the league'.
Downing is quick to play down his manager's glowing praise, however. But he
does hope to continue to shine as he looks to guide West Ham into Europe for
the first time since 2006. 'It's a great compliment. Maybe exaggerated a
little! But as a player it gives you great confidence and I'm really
enjoying playing right now,' he said, answering questions from West Ham
supporters on the club's official Twitter feed. 'Realistically, I don't see
why we can't aim for Europe if we carry on like how we've started.' Downing
has been successfully remoulded by boss Allardyce as a central midfielder in
recent weeks, playing behind strikers Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho. And
the former Middlesbrough and Aston Villa winger revealed he is relishing his
new role in the team.'The new players have settled quickly and the formation
is working well,' he said. 'At the minute, the way the team's playing, I
prefer playing behind the strikers.' 'Obviously I'd like to score more
goals, but as long as I'm playing well and the team is I don't think about
it.' Despite calls for Downing to win back his place in national side, boss
Roy Hodgson has overlooked him for England's Euro 2016 qualifiers against
San Marino and Estonia. Speaking exclusively to Sportsmail's Matt Lawton
last week, Downing admitted he was disappointed to have been overlooked,
adding the likes of fellow Hammers' Mark Noble and James Tomkins also
deserve a chance. 'Maybe he just wants to go for younger players, which I
guess is fair,' said the 30-year-old. '(Noble) has been doing it
consistently for seven or eight years. And James Tomkins. 'I think there are
a few players who should feel disappointed. 'But sometimes it's difficult.
You see the squad and there are a lot of players who are not playing for
their clubs, but they're getting picked.' Downing, who has 34 international
caps to his name, insists he would love to pull on the Three Lions jersey
again telling Hammers' fans on Thursday that he would be delighted to answer
any future call-ups. 'Realistically, I'm not sure I'll get picked but if I
am I'd love to play.' Downing, meanwhile, revealed West Ham's 2016 move to
the Olympic Stadium played a huge part in his £5million switch from Anfield
last summer. 'It's a big part of why I came here,' said Downing, who also
confessed to enjoying the East End's favourite dish pie and mash. 'If we
keep going the way we're going we'll head there in a good position.'

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West Ham signs deal to sell stadium in 2016
BY TOM WALKER
http://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/

West Ham United Football Club (WHU) has agreed to sell its Upton Park
stadium to developer The Galliard Group when the club completes its move to
the Olympic Stadium in 2016. According to WHU, Galliard won the bidding due
to its links to the local community and its commitment to "honour the
history of the Hammers" at the Boleyn Ground as part of its proposed
development. Galliard's plans include a mixed-used projects with leisure,
retail and new homes and there are plans to establish a central garden park
named after the late WHU legend Bobby Moore. Fans and local residents will
also be invited to enter a poll to name each building after a legendary
player or an historic event at the Club. Galliard has appointed Sculptress
Frances Siegelman to create a statue of Bobby Moore and other artwork
celebrating the heritage of the Football Club. The current West Ham
memorial garden by the front entrance to the grounds will also be retained,
protected and incorporated into the new development. The development, which
will have a construction programme of some 30 months, has an anticipated
completion date of late 2018. WHU vice chair Karren Brady said: "We opted
to reach an agreement with Galliard because it is a local London developer
and employer with origins in east London. "We know it is committed to
working closely with the local community and Newham Council on proposals to
transform the site into a residential and retail village, which will benefit
the local community and east London's regional economy. "The deal
demonstrates that we have been true to our word by securing the regeneration
of two areas of east London through our move to the Olympic Stadium in
2016."

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Sakho 'no escape' deal gets big welcome
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 9, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Diafra Sakho's West Ham deal – as revealed by Claretandhugh – has no release
clauses! Such deals are becoming increasingly rare in the Premier League
with many professionals wanting the opportunity to move on should a suitable
deal be available. That's why clauses are included which often beg the
quesrtion: "When is a contract not a contract?" as players move around
seemingly at will. ClaretandHugh columnist Leroy Rosenior was delighted to
learn of the 'no frills' deal the Irons had concluded with the former Metz
striker. He said: "I think it's absolutely shocking that players are in a
position to call the shots to that extent. "When a club pays a load of money
in transfer fee and wages surely they should be able to expect total
loyalty."My attitude would be: ' You either want to play for us or not' and
if this is how you feel, we'll look elsewhere."

And he smiled: "I wonder how acceptable they would be to a clause being
inserted which allows a club to dock money if they aren't playing well?
"Sakho meanwhile looks the buy of the season so far. I'm thrilled for the
lad – ghe's going to become a very big star I'm sure. "That he and his
advisers have committed to such a contract is really refreshing and shows
how badly he wants to be with us."

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Gold: Carroll return will make life interesting
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 9, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

David Gold – having appeared to accurately predict a November return to
action for Andy Carroll – has accepted the striker will have a tough call
getting back into the team. But he believes that things change so quickly in
the game that its foolhardy to start getting a crystal ball at work on what
may or may not happen in team terms The medics are claiming privately that
the big man will be available for the home match against Newcastle on the
29th of November but the co-chairman believes it could be earlier. He said:
"Andy welcomes the competition he is facing from other strikers and he is
working really hard. He knows the pressure is on and that's a good thing. It
helps everybody's game "There's always the chance he could be back earlier
and the new signings have given the manager options he didn't have before.
"When all the strikers are fit and firing we face a very interesting
situation – we're all looking forward to that. "Diafra Sakho and Enner
Valencis have been a total revelation and will get better. Things look great
and it throws up some very interesting selection issues."

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Tony Henry starts work as Hammers talent finder
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 9, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham have now appointed former Everton and Sunderland chief scout Tony
Henry to his new job as 'recruitment director to the board.'
Henry – who was formerly chief scout at Sunderland before resigning – was
placed on gardening leave by the Black Cats and was unable to take up his
new role until recently. However, he is now actively involved in his new
role which ClaretandHugh has learned sees him reporting directly to
co-chairman David Sullivan who has the responsibility of reporting targets
to the board. It's a separate set up to that involving manager Sam Allardyce
and his scouting team but is seen as a step in ensuring that the Hammers are
aware of every top target. A highly placed source told ClaretandHugh: "Tony
reports directly to the co-chairman and this is seen very much part of the
the closer consultative process on new signings between the board and
manager. The more talent there is available in that area of operations the
better it is for the future of West Ham United."

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Gold: 'This guy is a brand new player '
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on October 9, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

David Gold described Stewart Downing as "the most improved player" on his
Twitter feed today but in an exclusive interview with ClaretandHugh he gets
much closer to the truth dubbing him "a new player." Gold has been an even
more regular visitor to Twitter than usual over the last few days clearly
determined to enjoy this moment. And speaking to this site he declared:
"It's clear hes the most improved player but I'll go further – he's a brand
new player. "Playing in that diamond has been the making of him and it's him
who is making things tick in there. "His passing is absolutely spot on and
although I've said it before I believe he is our new Alan Devonshire this
season. "Dev of course was different in that he ghosted past players but
there's elements of Stewart's game that are similar. "It's such a joy to be
able to talk positively about West Ham. I'm enjoying what's happening as
much as any fan because that's what I am. "The new players have allow
Stewart to play in a different role but it's down to him that he has done so
successfully. "West Ham have had many bad times and I'm thrilled to bits
that our fans are so high this season and being given so much to cheer and
enjoy."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com



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