Daily WHUFC News - 13th July 2015

Samuelsen delighted to take Posh chance
WHUFC.com

Thursday's UEFA Europa League tie at Lusitans gave several of West Ham United's youngsters the chance to impress, and it was another of the Development Squad starlets who caught the eye at Peterborough United on Saturday. Norway youth international Martin Samuelsen was a summer arrival from Manchester City and the 18-year-old marked his first game in Claret and Blue with a goal as the Hammers drew 3-3 in their first pre-season friendly. Playing as part of a front three with Diafra Sakho and Modibo Maiga, Samuelsen was a lively presence and he was thrilled to grab his opportunity with both hands. "I was really happy to get this chance so early, and with getting a goal it couldn't have been better," he beamed. "For the goal, I just got the ball and did what I do in training, tucked it away in the bottom corner. "I was close to scoring earlier too when the goalkeeper touched my shot onto the post. That was just unlucky. "I think I did some good things in the game, but it was the first game of the season and I got really tired, so there were some silly errors but it's just about getting the fitness at this stage. "Playing in front of the West Ham fans was amazing, I didn't expect so many of them to come down today. "I didn't expect to get this opportunity this quickly, but I was really happy when he called out my name for the starting team and I hope to get more chances now."

Samuelsen's first couple of weeks with the Hammers has been spent with the first team, as he was part of the group which travelled to train in Ireland, and he is already feeling the benefits of being around the senior players. He added: "It was fantastic to be away with the first team group in Cork. I learned a lot from the senior players and got to know them better, so it was a good trip. "Playing with Diafra and Modibo in the front three was a brilliant experience – they're great players so they make it easy for me. I know where they are and they have good movement. It's a good connection. "It looks like it's going to be a good season for us. We have a good squad and it seems like a good group. "I can only hope that I'm involved in the Europa League game on Thursday, but if I'm not I'll be supporting the boys playing."

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IS THIS OUR STRONGEST CENTRAL DEFENSIVE LINEUP EVER?
By Iain Dale 12 Jul 2015 at 09:26
West Ham Till I Die

Looking at the number and quality of our central defenders you'd have to say that it is the strongest we have ever had. And with the number of games we'll be playing this year, it will need to be. It really is strength in depth…


Winston Reid
Angelo Ogbonna
James Tomkins
James Collins
Doneil Henry
Reece Burke
Reece Oxford

And of course Joey O'Brien and Cheikhou Kouyate can play in central defence too. Even if we have a really bad run of injuries, we are well covered.

But of course seven into two won't go, so Slaven Bilic has some awkward selection decisions to make. You don't pay nearly £10 million for a player and then leave him on the bench so I assume Ogbonna will start against Arsenal, but who should his partner be? I imagine it will be Winston Reid, but you never know.

Which pairing would you pick?

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Iron may be on move this week
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Middlesbrough hope to complete the signing of Stewart Downing this week. The Hammers have made it clear via ClaretandHugh that they want to bring in players before allowing Downing to move on but Boro believe they have got their man. And his absence from the squad at Peterborough yesterday and any Europa Cup action suggests he could be on his way quickly Sunderland are still hoping they can tempt the player to opt for the Stadium of Light but we have been told a Riverside move is the more likely option. We understand that a fee of between £5m-£6m is likely to involved for a player who is one of the highest earners at Upton Park. He is believed to earn the same £50,000 per week basic wage plus bonuses which totals round around £2.4 million a year. The Hammers are believed to be keeping an eye on Everton's Kevin Miralles as a possible replacement for Downing.

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Elliot Lee: I can be the next Harry Kane!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Elliot Lee is using Harry Kane as his inspiration as he seeks to launch his long delayed Irons career. The Spurs striker used the early rounds of the Europa Cup to clinch a place in the Spurs line-up and Lee wants some of the same. Kane started the season as an unknown quantity but ended it with 32 goals and the nation's most hyped striker in years. Lee opened his account for the Irons against FC Lusitans to help them into the second qualifying round, which will see them host Malta's Birkirkara next Thursday. And talking to The Mirror the 20 year old said:"Look at Harry Kane in the Europa League – that put him where he is today. "He got his chance and he scores goals and I hope to emulate that. Harry took his chances and he is a late developer. Football changes in the blink of an eye. I will always be both positive and optimistic. "I am confident in my ability. If I get my chance in the Europa League, I think I can score goals." He added: "I really see it [having a famous footballing father] as an advantage. He comes to a lot of my games and tells me what I did right and what I did wrong. "To have someone who can give you this advice, as he has done it, has bought the t-shirt, is great – not many lads can say that."

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Emotional Ogbonna: "OS better for the Hammers"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Angelo Ogbonna may have been playing for the best team in Italy admitting: ""I am very emotional and excited to be playing at the new Stadium. I know the story and everything around it but I am also sorry that it will be the final season at the Boleyn Ground. The former Juve star said: "When I played for Juventus we were the best team and I am very sorry to leave Italy but I am very happy to come to England because this is an opportunity that I want." He told the official site: "Moving to the new Stadium is better for West Ham and the mentality will change. It is better to move to another stadium and everyone knows that something is changing and there is a lot to look forward to. "I know the club is back in Europe but we need to take it step by step. We cannot look too far ahead and need to take it game by game. But it will improve everyone in the squad and help us move forward. "I like everything at West Ham and I have the opportunity to move forward."

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Irons Europa Cup clash goes to National Stadium
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

West Ham are heading into an 18,000 seater stadium when they travel to Malta for the second leg of the second round of the Europa Cup.
Their Maltese hosts – Birkirkara FC – have switched the game from their own 2,500 capacity stadium to the National Stadium. The news has been announced on the club's official website at www.birkirkarafc.com and the game will kick off at 8.45pm.

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DG: 'Fans are buzzing and we are looking good'
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

David Gold is thrilled at the new atmosphere around Upton Park and ready for more signings. He revealed earlier in the year that the club were hoping to bring in around eight new players and once again it looks as though the club will be true to its promises. He said: "Slaven has told us his requirements and we are doing everything to meet them as we do with all our managers. "You can't build a club in five minutes. Year by year you bring in another marquee signing and finish up with a team of stars! "You can feel the new atmosphere around the club. There's a real feel good factor. There's a lot of optimism and the fans are buzzing. It's great to be part of it all." "Unlike many other clubs we don't have directors and shareholders to pay. Karren Brady gets a salary of course and earns it but apart from that every penny goes back into the team and that's how it will continue."

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Hammers and four others chase winger
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Watford have joined West Ham, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Sunderland in being linked with former Leeds – now St Etienne winger Max Gradel The Ivory Coast international scored 19 goals from out wide last season, including 13 in his last 12 appearances but whilst LeEquipe reports that Bournemouth have reached an agreement with the player, they have yet to match St Etienne's €10m (£7.2m) asking price. Gradel wants a move back to England saying: "I want to play in big competitions and push further. I will sit down at the table with St Étienne representatives to discuss and see if they harbour even greater ambitions for next season. "Then I will take my decision. England welcomed me, adopted me, made me feel confident and allowed me to realise my dream of becoming a professional footballer. This country is my heart's desire. That is no secret."

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Teddy gives former Irons keeper a trial
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Stevenage manager Teddy Sheringham has confirmed that former West Ham goalkeeper Peter Kurucz is on trial with Stevenage. The 27-year-old Hungarian was on the Hammers' books between 2009-2012, coming on as substitute for Rob Green against Manchester United. The former Hammer's time at The Boleyn Ground was cut short after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament. Sheringham confirmed the trial saying: "We have got Peter Kurucz from Hungary on trial with us, who was with West Ham a couple of years ago, so we are having a look at him."

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Jack reckons three or four more on way
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Hammers Chairman's son Jack Sullivan has hinted we should expect three or four more signing in addition to the five already signed. When asked by one West Ham fan whether we can expect anymore signing 15 year old replied: 'Always more, signing maybe 3-4′ Darren Randolph, Stephen Hendrie , Pedro Obiang, Dimitri Payet and Angelo Ogbonna have all signed so far this summer. Arsenal right back Carl Jenkinson is likely to become signing No.6 on a season-long loan on Monday or Tuesday. Despite his injury Alex Song is also likely to sign before the transfer window closes assuming a second medical gives him the all clear. The remaining two signings are thought to be a midfielder and a winger. The midfielder on a season long loan could be Argentine midfielder Manuel Lanzini from UAE-based club Al Jazira. Lanzini was previously linked with West Ham in the past but the former River Plate star opted for a move to Al Jazira for a fee of around £5.25million. The striker is a harder to gauge with the Hammer being linked with a number of targets. One of those heavily linked in recent weeks is Mattia Destro who appeared on the verge of signing for Monaco over the weekend. However, reports in Italy suggest Roma's deal with AS Monaco for striker Destro looks to be in jeopardy as the Italian has reportedly rejected the move. If we do sign a total of nine players by the time the summer transfer window ends we would have shown serious ambition in our final season at the Boleyn Ground.

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Legal rep may save Payet a court appearancce
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Dimitri Payet's driving ban after a speeding incident while holidaying on the Indian Ocean island Reunion may have no effect on his season whatsoever. Reports in a national newspaper today claim the £10 million Hammer "will now have to face a judge on the island in September." However, ClaretandHugh has been told exclusively that the player and club are currently in the process of discovering whether he can be represented by a legal representative rather than travel thousands of miles for the hearing. Cops caught the midfielder doing 106mph on a 55mph road in his Audi Quattro RS5 on July 3. They seized the supercar and confiscated the 28-year-old's licence. He risks a three-year ban and £1,000 fine. Former Saint-Etienne ace Payet was born on Reunion, a former French colony, and was visiting family and friends.

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ExWHUemployee Column: Swap deal for Austin, Danish players linked, Jenkinson, Song & more
by WHUFCTV.com on July 12th, 2015

​Since my last column we have advanced to the next round of the Europa League and now face a Maltese team in the second round of the qualifiers on Thursday which I am very excited about. The club expect the game to be a sell-out again and the website had some issues this morning when the tickets opened up at 10am to the general public.

​In the next round we will have Slaven and Julian in the dugout and we should get our first glimpse of a few of our new players as well. There is a strong chance that the new away kit will be released this week so that it can be bought at the club shop before the match. I have booked my ticket up and I am excited to go as I missed the first game. Thankfully Sakho will only serve a one match ban following his sending off in Andorra and because of the lack of TV coverage I think the authorities will find it hard to prove it is more deserving than one game, which they have the power to do.

​We completed the signing of Angelo Ogbonna on Friday, a transfer that I had said was close a few days before and canvased opinion on. The opinion seems to be split and I don't think it was helped by the Boleyn Insider describing him as "one of the best performing centre-backs in Europe last year" which was a questionable description. Of course some of the "ITKs" jumped on this statement and took a gamble by claiming we were back in for Abdennour, Dragovic or loosely saying it is none of them. This simply was never the case. We were interested in both these centre-backs as I said in my previous column but there was a huge difference in the asking price. We have picked up Ogbonna for more than half what we would have had to pay for the other two. We were quoted £20m plus for the other targets and of course we got Ogbonna for a lot less. People will try to claim this is because he isn't as good as the other two but I am lead to believe this isn't the case. Ogbonna is an Italian international defender and as we all know the Italians are known for their defending. He is also at Juventus and played a part in winning Serie A and getting to the Champions League final so he must be able to play somewhat.

​I expect us to sign at least four other players as I said during the week (before Jack backed it up) with one being Carl Jenkinson on loan from Arsenal for a second time. He should complete his move on Monday/Tuesday as Jack has also confirmed. This transfer has been on the cards all summer and he was never going to join Sunderland, despite their fans "informing me" (amongst other things) that he would and that my information was not accurate. It is hard to be inaccurate when you have heard it from the horses' mouth twice in the last month and it is no surprise that he wasn't included in Arsenal's squad to tour Asia.

​Johnson was never a target (again I have covered this in previous columns) as we always wanted Jenkinson and Johnson didn't fit the age criteria we have set for new signings. He wanted to join us, we didn't want him, similar to Cabaye. We were keen on Cabaye but not for that price or the wages, personally I would have liked him but the board feel we are strong in that position. Johnson has now joined Stoke City so thankfully this inaccurate rumour can stop. Likewise the recycled N'Zonzi signing. As I have explained so many times, he was only a target under Sam as they worked together at Blackburn, never under Bilic. He has now joined Sevilla so that is that one finished as well.

​We now turn our attention to a goalscorer. I have mentioned him a number of times before but the club are keeping an eye on Austin still. Clubs will not move for him yet because they know that QPR will have to lower their value and eventually sell him. We are weighing up an offer or a down payment plus Jarvis and/or Nolan being used in the deal. This is not an offer we have made but one that is being considered. Stewart Downing is also very likely to leave the club soon as the club had not been expecting the amount that has been offered for him. He is one of the highest earners at the club too and he leaving would free up substantial wages. The club were not looking to sell him but the offers and Downing expressing an interest in moving back north has changed our stance.

​We have scouts looking at a number of forwards and wingers as well, as this is the next target position. Kevin Mirallas is someone who we are keen on, as has been reported elsewhere, but we face very strong competition for him and so I don't believe that it is close at all. Townsend is another that has been reported but Spurs will not deal with us and we won't pay the reported £15m. We have learnt from the Adebayor rubbish in January which means we will not get a player from them in the near future, this also therefore rules out Lennon.

​We have been searching the continent for forwards in the hope that we discover another Sakho. One French player of African descent that we were keen on is Paul-Georges Ntep of Rennes. We had an initial enquiry for him knocked back and it is believed that he wants Champions League football. He is highly rated and recently broke into the French team. Another player who we were very close to signing in the past only for Big Sam to change the terms of the deal is Max Gradel. Max flew in to join us and was in England set to sign only for the manager to want him on loan first rather than permanent and the deal fell through. The chairmen has kept a keen interest on him since and he could be another option explored.

​We have looked across many European countries and a couple of names have jumped out from Denmark. As far as I know these have not been reported elsewhere but after appearing in the column I expect that will be soon! These players are Yussuf Poulsen who is a Danish international currently playing for German side RP Leipzig. He is a 21 year old 6 foot 4 forward, who has already scored for his national side. Pione Sisto is another with an African background who plays for Fc Midtjylland in Denmark. He is a 5'7 midfielder so not top priority but one that has also been scouted. The big clubs have also looked at him with Arsenal reportedly having made an offer that was rejected. Of course we have also been looking at Lanzini too as an option on loan which I described in more detail last week.

​Alex Song was at the last European home game and has his move to West Ham all sorted out. He is currently injured, with an injury he was carrying towards the end of last season. This injury is delaying the transfer as it is expected that he is out for approximately three months. I think the club will still sign him but want to hold out a bit longer to see what the recovery is like from it.

​The ladies team are currently searching for a new manager still and I believe an announcement could be made at the end of this week. It was pleasing to see that some of the players were invited to model the new home kit at the club and the away kit too (which we have yet to see) although I hear that the ladies were equally as impressed with it as others have been too. After the Women's World Cup and the success of the Lionesses, I really see that the ladies game is moving in the right direction. As a club, the profile of the ladies team has increased recently but I hope the club further their backing to enable the ladies to move onto the next level even quicker and to keep up with the times. There is still more that could still be done. Season tickets will be available to watch the ladies team at a very good price for next season.

​I expect this week will be another great one as a fan, this is becoming my catchphrase at the moment. There is such a positivity around the club both with the staff and the supporters. It really is something that has been missed in recent years and I hope that it continues. Another win on Thursday will certainly help. As I have said before the club expect to sell all their season tickets for the new stadium! This is a great sign of what the future holds.

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