Daily WHUFC News - 5th January 2015

Adrian eyes winning return
WHUFC.com
Adrian is keen to celebrate his 28th birthday with victory at Everton on
Tuesday
04.01.2015

Birthday boy Adrian is determined to help the Hammers get back to winning
ways when they take on Everton in the FA Cup on Tuesday evening. The No13
celebrated his 28th birthday on Saturday, rounding off a fine spell for him,
which has seen him win many plaudits in the West Ham goal and take the
Club's Player of the Month prize for December. However, the team's results
dipped slightly over Christmas and Adrian is more concerned with changing
that at Goodison Park. "We had some chances to win against West Brom on
Thursday, but didn't score the second goal to take the points," he
reflected. "Maybe there was a little fatigue because it was a long week,
with three games in seven days. "The boys need to relax and recover, but we
did show good performances in the games and now we need to come back to our
form. "It's my job to make saves as a goalkeeper and sometimes you can save
the goal, and other times it's not possible. "I'm happy and need to continue
in this vein. It's my second season here and have really adapted to London,
the city, the weather and my English is much better now."

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SHOULD WEST HAM REALLY ASPIRE TO BE THE BEST?
By Iain Dale 4 Jan 2015 at 14:55
West Ham till I Die

Guest Post by DC

Much has been made recently of West Ham's chances of securing Champions
League football next season, or worst case scenario (by the sounds of it) a
lowly Europa League spot. Apparently, Arsenal are all over the place. Spurs
and Liverpool too! A recent suggestion was that only Chelsea and Man City
have better teams than us. The natural progression from this is that we must
therefore be on par with both Man Utd and Southampton. Goes without saying.

It's easy to look at the Top Teams on MOTD and watch how vulnerable they
look on a given day of the season, more often than not after a midweek
flight back from Europe. It's also easy to forget that these teams have
already played around 10 games more than the Mighty Hammers at this half-way
point of the season.

So what exactly does a team realistically contending for a Champions League
spot look like? ….. tell you what , lets stretch it out to the Top 6 just to
be on the safe side. How many points do the Hammers actually need to make
the grade? Take a look at the last 5 seasons of Premier League Football (190
games) and it makes for pretty daunting reading when you look at the average
points tally.

1st 86 pts | 2nd 81 pts | 3rd 75 pts | 4th 72 pts | 5th 68 pts | 6th 64 pts

What about the so-called "Big Six"? How did their points average out over
the same period?

Man U = 81 pts | Man C = 78 pts | Chelsea = 76 pts | Arsenal = 73 pts |
Spurs = 68 pts | Liverpool = 64 pts

Now, I'm no Data Analyst Expert, but I do detect a slight pattern emerging
here. YAWN! Why is the truth so boring?

I'm all for positive mental attitude. It seems vital that our lads really
believe they can turn the big boys over. It seems vital that our Board
aspire to be in and amongst these teams at the end of each season. In fact,
I'd go so far as to say it should be a non-negotiable that Gold and Sullivan
aspire to have the best team in the land – surely that's the only way we
will ever end up being the best team in the land!

Yet, there is a 'not so subtle' difference between aspiration and false
expectations. Recent history suggests that the so called "Big Six" – with
particular reference to Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool – are maybe not about
to roll-over quite as easily as some might think they are. It's tough at the
top!

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WOULD WEST HAM UNITED BE BETTER OFF UNDER FOREIGN OWNERSHIP WITH UNLIMITED
FINANCIAL BACKING?
By Iain Dale 4 Jan 2015 at 09:45
West Ham till I Die

Guest Post by Florida Hammer

I've been a frequent visitor to this site now for a while and there are
often some interesting opinions on WHTID, it can be clearly stated that most
folks do not hold back when commenting on this site. Whether it is football,
religion or politics there are always varied opinions on here often leading
to some spicy discussion.

Recently an off-topic discussion centered on foreign ownership; would West
Ham United Football Club be better off with a "sugar daddy owner" worth
billions rather than the paltry $629 million net worth of principal owner
David Sullivan? As fans of a traditional family club how do you feel about
selling the West Ham United franchise to a corporate entity, multi-national
conglomerate or faceless owner in return for a multi-billion dollar bankroll
and unlimited investment potential? The ultimate question remains do we sell
our soul to an unknown billionaire devil in return for Champions League
Football, a regular shot at the title and cup runs?

Before you answer the above questions take a look at the following synopsis
of each club with current foreign ownership in the Premier League. See how
these principal owners made their fortunes prior to purchasing a majority
stake at their respective football clubs. Then decide if this path is the
way to move forward and upwards for our beloved Hammers.

Arsenal
Arsenal is majority owned by American billionaire Stan Kroenke, according to
Forbes he is worth approximately $6 billion. Kroenke is married to Wal Mart
co-founder Bud Walton's daughter Ann, he also owns the Denver Nuggets
(National Basketball Association), Colorado Rapids (Major League Soccer),
Colorado Avalanche (National Hockey League), Colorado Mammoth (National
Lacrosse League), and the Saint Louis Rams (National Football League).
Kroenke is a sports enterprise and real estate mogul in the USA, but is
known as "silent Stan" as he rarely interferes in his teams day to day
operations nor does he give many interviews to the press.

Aston Villa
Aston Villa is owned by Randy Lerner, American businessman who once owned
the Cleveland Browns NFL franchise (sold in 2012). Lerner, who is worth
approximately $1.5 billion according to Forbes started out in life as a
Lawyer, graduating Columbia University in New York (he spent a year at
Cambridge in 1983) where he started to develop a passion for proper
football. Lerner is a major philanthropist who donates heavily to the
National Portrait Gallery and Clare College, Cambridge. The club is
currently up for sale as Lerner does not believe he can take them any
further.

Chelsea
Chelsea is owned by the infamous Russian oil baron Roman Abramovich. He has
a strong political background as he was once the governor of Chukotka
(2000-2008), a peninsular location in the far east of Russia. Abramovich has
a multitude of business and political interests and is considered an
extremely close confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin and former
President Boris Yeltsin. However, he got his start in business by selling
imported rubber ducks from his apartment in Moscow with his first wife Olga.
Largely a product of "Perestroika" and the loosening of restrictions in
Russia, Abramovich is no stranger to controversy in terms of bribery and
corruption charges. He has an estimated fortune of $14.6 billion according
to Forbes.

Hull City
Hull is owned by the Allam family of Egypt (estimated net worth of $982
million), Assam and his son Ehab purchased Hull in 2010 stating a need to
pay back the area that adopted him many years ago. Assam fled Egypt and the
brutal regime of Gamel Abdel Nasser in 1968 and arrived in East Riding,
Yorkshire with barely £20 pounds to his name. He studied Economics at the
University of Hull before embarking on his own business interests; his
fortune is created primarily on his success with industrial generators
(Allam Marine). Recently, Assam Allam shockingly put up his team for sale
within 24 hours (as he promised) after the FA refused to allow the football
club to be renamed Hull Tigers. Apparently the matter has been forwarded to
CAS on appeal by Allam.

Leicester City
Leicester is owned by Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who amassed
his $1.6 billion fortune (per Forbes) as the founder and CEO of King Power
Duty Free. Vichai also owns a minority stake in budget airline Nok Air, and
is an avid Polo player with ownership in a club outside of Bangkok. Upon
winning the Championship title last season Srivaddhanaprabha predicted his
team could finish in the top five of the Premiership within three years and
he pledged to spend up to £180 million pounds in order to get there. So far
Leicester is struggling upon their return to the Premiership and has seen
just a mild level of investment in the squad since its return to the top
flight of English football.

Liverpool
Liverpool is owned by American businessman John Henry (worth $1.4 billion
per Forbes) and the Fenway Sports Group; which includes the Boston Red Sox
(Major League Baseball), the Boston Globe newspaper and part ownership of
Roush Fenway racing. Henry bought Liverpool from Tom Hicks and George Gillet
Jr. at the end of the 2011 season. However, Henry subsequently fired
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish at the end of the 2012 season despite
Liverpool having won the League Cup. Henry is also somewhat of a sports
mogul who started out by purchasing a minor league baseball team, over time
he has owned the Florida Marlins baseball team and negotiated for the
Orlando Magic Basketball team. No matter what he accomplishes in the future
Henry will be best remembered for ending the 86 year Major League Baseball
championship drought endured by the Boston Red Sox and ending the "curse" of
the Bambino (Babe Ruth).

Manchester City
Manchester City is owned in principal by Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Sheikh
Mansour) who has an estimated personal fortune worth $31.4 billion; however
this is part of a family fortune that is closer to $1 trillion. The majority
of the Sheikh's income derives from the International Petroleum Investment
Company & Aabar Investments, which is wholly owned by the Government of Abu
Dabhi. Other investments include a stake in Virgin Galactic, Daimler, Tesla
Motors, Falcon Private Bank, and XOJET to name just a few. The Sheikh is an
accomplished horse rider and has won a number of endurance racing events, in
addition to his role as the Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE (United Arab
Emirates).

Manchester United
Manchester United is owned by the Glazer family and was purchased initially
by the late Malcolm Glazer for his sons Avram and Joel Glazer; the Glazer
takeover became official from 2003 to 2005 when he controversially spent the
clubs own assets to complete the buyout leaving the club in debt by over
£525 million pounds. Joel, along with brothers Bryan and Edward are
co-Chairmen of Malcom's other sports team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL),
which has experienced an upswing in fortunes from perennial doormats in the
NFL. Since the Glazers took over (they won Super Bowl 37) and have finished
with multiple winning seasons. There are six total Glazer children who now
share the family fortunes which according to Forbes is $4 billion. The
family also owns and operates a real estate holding firm First Allied
corporation which is responsible for 6.7 million square feet of shopping
mall space over 20 States.

Queens Park Rangers
QPR is owned by Asian power duo (Malaysian) Tony Fernandes (a self-professed
Hammers fan who failed to buy the club in 2011) and Indian steel magnate
Lakshmi Mittal. Fernandes is the principal owner with his 66% stake in the
club after his purchase of shares owned by Bernie Ecclestone in August 2011.
Fernandes is another British educated entrepreneur that got his start with
Sir Richard Branson at Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Records. After joining
Warner music Fernandes decided to leave the company when the merger with
America Online was announced to revive budget, no frills Air Asia which at
the time was $11 million in debt. Within a year of takeover Fernandes had
cleared all debts and was operating with profits. Fernandes has invested in
the Caterham Formula One team, also known as Lotus Racing; his fortune per
Forbes is now estimated at $650 million.

Southampton
Southampton is currently owned by Katharina Liebherr, daughter of the late
Markus Liebherr; a German born Swiss entrepreneur and owner of MALI
International AG. Markus Leibherr took Southampton out of administration in
2009 when he purchased the club and they started play in League 1. Liebherr
had brought in Italian banker Nicola Cortese to run the show. Cortese &
Liebherr had a grand vision of making Southampton into a European power. It
was Cortese who fired Pardew, brought in Adkins and eventually Pochettino
all the while leading the Saints meteoric rise back to the Premier League.
Unfortunately Markus would not live to see out his vision of creating a
European power in Southampton FC as he died of a heart attack in 2010. But
Cortese continued until late October 2013 when a power struggle for MALI
International took place with Katharina who took over operations of her
father's company in January of 2014. Liebherr inherited the $3 billion
fortune of her father and is now in charge of day to day operations.

Sunderland
Sunderland is owned by Irish-American businessman Ellis Short, who is based
in London and the founder of Kildare Partners (a private equity fund that
deals in distressed European real estate). Short started out his career at
General Electric but made his reputation at Lone Star Funds in Dallas,
Texas. Short has incidentally bought Skibo Castle in Scotland (the location
of Madonna's wedding to Guy Ritchie). His ownership of Sunderland began in
2008 and subsequent firing of Roy Keane (who recently trashed Ellis Short in
his biography). Short has hired and fired Steve Bruce, Martin O'Neill and
Paulo Di Canio before finally settling on Gus Poyet as his team continue to
struggle for survival in the Premier League. Short is a very quiet and
unassuming man that prefers to stay out of the limelight, his net worth is
estimated at $6.3 billion.

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Irons won't budge as 14 clubs wait in wings
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on January 4, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham are in no rush to push through the Mauro Zarate loan deal to Queens
Park Rangers. Harry Redknapp and the club are understood to be trying to get
a cut price arrangement and the Irons are having none of it. With 14 other
clubs interested, including Newcastle, Sunderland, Torino, Valencia and
others as far afield as Mexico, the Hammers have no need to lower the loan
terms Reknapp remains keen on the player but a Hammers source told
ClaretandHugh: "Things should become a lot clearer on the Rangers thing this
week but we are certainly not short on other options. "And despite the
public fall-out between Mauro and the manager, with Diafra Sakho injured
there's no need for us to be rushing a deal through for the sake of it. "We
all understand how frustrated Mauro feels at the moment but the deal has to
suit all parties when it gets donme. "And with that amount of interest out
there, it's pretty obvious that this is a very decent player we are talking
about regardless of what may or may not have been said. "There's certainly
no way we'll be held to ransom by QPR. They know the terms if they want the
him."

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Time to forgive and truly be BIG Sam
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on January 4, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

We have reached the season-defining time of the year that Sam Allardyce has
been alluding to for a few weeks. At regular intervals he has made it clear
that he won't be discussing end of season objectives until the end of this
month. Tuesday night and the third round of the FA cup beckons with the
pressure mounting on him and the team with every successive game. In
different circumstances, with injuries and the African Nations Cup
intervening, this might have been the perfect game for Mauro Zarate to take
the pressure off himself and Allardyce. With the alternative being Kevin
Nolan for a game which calls for us to play with as much flair and adventure
as possible after looking shy in front of goal lately, how brave would it be
for manager and Argentinan striker to put their antagonism towards each
other aside. Ego is a highly destructive force and the stupid war of words
which broke out between the pair has not done them or the club any good at
all.

With three games yielding one point, the top scorer again injured, along we
are told with the guy on who has proved himself the heartbeat of things this
season – Alex Song – things don't look great for the trip to Goodison Park.
. Chiek Kouyate has joined the Senegal squad and there are persistent
rumours that Song himself will get a late call up for Cameroon. Brave
decisions are called for so and this one only needs a handshake and an arm
around the shoulder. Live up to the nickname Mr Allardyce – truly be BIG
SAM!. The board of directors are still looking for a decent FA Cup run after
the disappointment of the early departure from the Capital One Cup. In part
an end of season contract for the manager undoubtedly rests on an FA Cup
run. So from everybody's point of view this is something of a must win game.
We really can't be slipping out of the two domestic cups at the first hurdle
and there's absolutely nothing lost in telling Zarate: "Go on my son – prove
me wrong!"

I don't expect it to happen and I'm certainly not holding my breath but I am
convinced that given such a chance, Zarate would shine like never before. It
could be a managerial masterstroke and if it doesn't come off Sam Allardyce
has lost absolutely nothing!

Be bold …be BIG Sam!

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Song doubt for Hammers
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on January 4, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham could be without Alex Song for the Tuesday night's FA cup clash
with Everton at Goodison Park. And with Diafra Sakha injured and Cheik
Kouyate having joined Senegal for the African Cup of Nations tournament, we
are likely to be relying on the 'old firm' to help us through a difficult
Third Round clash. Mark Noble is likely to return to the midfield with
skipper Kevin Nolan for a clash which begins to look very tricky indeed.
ClaretandHugh has been told that Song has played the last couple of games
with a sore knee and is likely to be replaced by Noble for a match which has
the potential to define the Hammers season. A source said: "Alex is expected
to be rested as he played two quick games with a sore knee whilst Kouyate
has now joined the Senegal squad. "Logic dictates that it will be Carroll
and Valencia up front with Noble and Nolan coming in to fill the midfield
berths."

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Henry signs …but may have to wait!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on January 3, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

The Hammers have confirmed that 21 year old Canadian defender Doneil Henry
from Cypriot side Apollon Limassol has been signed on a year three year
contract. However, a club source told ClaretandHugh: "He's about six months
away from becoming a first team regular and will be carefully looked after
as he is prepared for the Premier League. "It's our policy to look for
promising young players this window although you can never rule out a bigger
name coming in! Watch this space" Co chairman David Sullivan's son Jack
announced the news on his Twitter account today but the news was expected as
soon as the window opening with Sam Allardyce having explained a few days
back the player had been recommended to him from former Blackburn defender
Ryan Nelsen.

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