Hammers honoured at new Exhibition
WHUFC.com
West Ham United supporters can pay homage to the greatest achievement of three Academy of Football graduates at the National Football Museum. Fifty years on from England's golden summer of 1966, fans can put themselves in the middle of the FIFA World Cup action at a unique new Exhibition. Captain Bobby Moore, hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst and final goalscorer Martin Peters all feature extensively in the 1966 World Cup Exhibition at the National Football Museum in Manchester – opened this week by the trio's fellow World Cup winners Bobby Charlton, Roger Hunt and Jimmy Armfield. With stories from the people who made the games, played the games and watched the games that made the tournament such an iconic moment in the country's football and cultural history, the Exhibition celebrates England's success and looks at the legacy of that win. West Ham fans will be particularly eager to see the left boot worn by Hurst, which completed his perfect hat-trick with the strike made famous by commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme's words 'They think it's all over… It is now'.
The boot has been dipped in bronze and been loaned to the museum by their manufacturers, and will appear alongside Moore's right size 7 boot, which he wore in the final and to climb the steps to the Royal Box to collect the Jules Rimet trophy from HM Queen Elizabeth II. The trophy itself and ball from the final are also among the star exhibits, while new immersive technology will recreate the atmosphere of Wembley on that famous day, giving visitors their own seat among the 100,000 supporters lucky enough to be at the final half-a-century ago.
The 1966 World Cup Exhibition is a must-visit experience for West Ham fans who remember 1966, or anyone who ever wanted to see England win a World Cup! The Exhibition has been created in partnership with The Football Association (FA) and will be open until January 2017. Admission to the 1966 World Cup Exhibition at the Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester, M4 3BG is free of charge, but donations to this registered charity are welcomed to support the Musuem's work in sharing 150 years of football heritage.
For London-based Hammers, a second Exhibition will open at Wembley Stadium on Monday 11 July. If you were at the 1966 World Cup, you can share your memories of the tournament and become part of the National Football Museum's project. The Sporting Memories Network, a charity which uses the power of stories to reignite connections between generations and combat the effects of dementia, depression and loneliness in communities is also collating memories on Twitter using the hashtag #Memoriesof66.
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Moose - Darren can look back with pride
WHUFC.com
While one Hammer was eliminated from UEFA Euro 2016 at the weekend, another three progressed to the quarter-final stage. West Ham supporter and talkSPORT presenter Ian 'Moose' Abrahams is out in France and gave his verdict on the competition so far…
When two Hammers faced each other in a UEFA Euro 2016 knockout stage fixture at the weekend, it was a great occasion. In the battle between hosts France and the Republic of Ireland, Dimitri Payet may have come out on top in terms of Les Bleus winning and going through, but I actually thought that Darren Randolph had a better game – he was superb and it was one of Dimitri's quieter performances. After Ireland's elimination, Darren can certainly come out the tournament with his head held high. He has shown that he's absolutely at home on the international stage and none of the goals he conceded during the tournament he could do anything about. If the stopper manages to keep up that sort of form, he'll be pushing Adrian for a spot in the West Ham team. Everyone in the Irish squad is obviously disappointed, but Darren put it across really well after the game when he said that they've had a fantastic time here. Nobody gave them a prayer of qualifying from their group.
The Italy win will remain with all of them for as long as they live. Without a question of doubt, Darren has had a fantastic tournament and can certainly look back on his time in France with a great deal of pride. As for the hosts, I don't think they have really got going in any of their games so far and they've relied heavily on Payet to produce. He's certainly delivered. As West Ham fans will testify, he's a fantastic footballer who gets you off his seat, and he can win a game on his own. Against Ireland, it perhaps just wasn't his day, however. France are still up there as one of the favourites to win, but I think you have to look at the Germans, who haven't conceded a goal yet, and the Belgians as tournament contenders too.
Another Hammers man still at the Euros is obviously James Collins with Wales. I think it will be fantastic if Ginge gets on the pitch at some point for The Dragons. He certainly should have come on the other day, when Ashley Williams was injured and Chris Coleman wanted to make the change. Conflicting reports say it could be either nothing or a serious injury for Williams, so we don't know. Either way, Ginge would love to get on the pitch against Belgium in what will be an extremely tough game, but he wouldn't let Wales down in any way, shape or form. He would do his family, friends and country proud and it would be a great moment of his career if he can have some time in the team. He'd be up against players like Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard who he faces in the Premier League week-in, week-out, so there's no doubt he could handle it. I spoke to Ginge before he came out here and he was really looking forward to it, and it will be a huge high of his career, as is the case with the other West Ham players. I spoke to Angelo Ogbonna, who has thoroughly enjoyed his time out here, too. Italy are flying high after beating Spain and in general, it has been a superb tournament for the Hammers out there so far, and it could get even better.
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BBC OS documentary was unfair and bias
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 28, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
The BBC trust has concluded that BBC's editorial standards were not met in the bias documentary called entitled "How the Hammers stuck Gold" presented by Dan Roan. A complaint by the LLDC that the programme was unfair, inaccurate and bias was partially upheld. The trust found no overall bias but conceded some unfairness to the LLDC and bias in relation to the particular points. The production team has been reminded of the need to ensure that contributors' responses to criticisms are properly reflected in programmes.
Full BBC Response to complaint
"The programme looked at the tenancy agreement which had been reached with West Ham FC for the use of the Olympic Stadium and examined a number of concerns which had been raised about the terms of the agreement. It included brief extracts from an interview with David Goldstone, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), other parties involved in the agreement and the background to it having declined to take part. The LLDC complained that the programme had been unfair to it and biased overall, and that it had been inaccurate in a number of respects. The ECU did not find overall bias, but did find that some significant points, which were made by Mr Goldstone in response to criticism of the agreement, about the benefit to taxpayers resulting from long-term arrangements for a multi-use stadium without the need for further subsidy, about the cost of converting the stadium being offset by the economic value brought about by its contribution to regeneration of the area, and about the detailed commercial rationale for not releasing financial details of the agreement with West Ham, had been omitted from the programme, resulting in unfairness to the LLDC and bias in relation to the points in question."
"As a consequence the ECU's finding was that the BBC's editorial standards in the relevant areas had not been met. The ECU found no inaccuracy which would have materially affected viewers' understanding of the issues under discussion."
"Outcome: Partly Upheld. Further information was provided by the ECU: The production team has been reminded of the need to ensure that contributors' responses to criticisms are properly reflected in programmes, particularly when they are the sole representatives of those towards whom criticism has been directed."
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Palace agree fee for Irons target
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 27, 2016 in News
C and H
Crystal Palace are tonight being reported as having agreed a €38m (£31.6m) fee with Marseilles for striker Michy Batshuayi. The Belgian international striker has been the subject of two bids so far in this transfer window from Palace and the Irons. West Ham were reported to have submitted a €40m bid at the start of May, but this was later denied by Bilic. The Hammers remain hopeful of signing him, while Juventus have also made a bid in excess of €30m for the player who scored 17 goals in Ligue 1 last season. However, according to The Guardian Palace's co-owner Steve Parish may have stolen a march on his rivals for Batshuayi's signature after making the offer directly to Marseille president Vincent Labrune.
It is understood that the deal includes a significant bonus payment and sell-on clause, with his former club Standard Liège due 35% of any sale due to a the existence of a previous clause. However, there is stil a way to go with the Irons and Juventus possibly ready to move in again and of course the player has to agree to personal terms with richer clubs than Palace still in the race.
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Thank God Nobes wasn't a part of that
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 27, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
NobleI wasn't surprised or therefore disappointed as we slumped out against Iceland. There was just one overwhelming emotion for me and it was this – thank God our Nobes wasn't a part of the shambles that was Roy Hodgson's England. The geezer has now gone thanking his players …err WHY? They were dreadful and that Mark not being a part of it was a massive result for the skipper. He doesn't deserve that sort of hangover ahead of what is a huge season . He's a top bloke who in missing out on Woy's wasted tournament has escaped a big humiliation. Tonight was thoroughly awful. Mark may have improved things, Andy Carroll was certainy an option Woy should have accepted and Aaron Cresswell should have been on the left side of the back four. But the manager wouldn't listen and has paid a heavy price by falling on whatever sword he may have had left. We have said it many many times to successive England managers:
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OS retractable seating gets final test
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 28, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Stadium Operator, London Stadium 185 are in the process of testing the updated retractable seating over the newly installed running track at the former Olympic Stadium recently renamed the London Stadium. This is the final dress rehearsal for the moving of the seating from athletics mode to football and back again before the stadium is set for the Great Newham run then Sainsbury's Anniversary Games in July. At the moment it takes up to 11 days to move from Athletics mode to football mode with a lot of manual effort and labour costs involved. The french stadium operator has invited external contractors and experts to improve and hopefullt partially automate the process to bring the time down to as short as five days eventually. Stadium owners E20 LLP have invested in a new Mondo running track and new Desso grassmaster pitch to complete their stadium transformation works. Modifications have been made to the lower bowl seating and the corporate lounges and West Ham office space fit outs have been completed. The WestHamIfication of the stadium is also nearing it's final stage. The picture above shows an aerial shot of the retractable seating bought forward close to the newly completed pitch.
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Inter Milan should sign Dimitri Payet after £200million cash boost, says Massimo Moratti
14:47, 28 JUN 2016 UPDATED 14:48, 28 JUN 2016
BY ALEX RICHARDS
The Nerazzurri have fallen into the hands of China's Suning Commerce Group and honorary president Moratti would love to see the West Ham star at San Siro
The Mirror
Inter Milan are set for a summer spending spree after new Chinese owners handed the club a £200million boost - and honorary president Massimo Moratti has called on the Italian giants to sign West Ham and France star Dimitri Payet. Payet has lit up Euro 2016 after a superb debut season with the Hammers, scoring in both of Les Bleus' opening two matches.
The 29-year-old has been linked with a summer move to Real Madrid, where compatriot Zinedine Zidane is in charge, despite only signing a new five-year deal But after fresh investment at San Siro - with the Nerazzurri passing into the hands of China's Suning Commerce Group - Moratti has urged the club to make key reinforcements to the playing staff this summer. The Hammers have no desire to cash in on their attacking midfielder leave and have refused to give his admirers even a sniff of encouragement by putting a valuation on his head. However, that hasn't stopped Moratti from voicing his desire to see Payet in the blue and black next season. "As a fan, I would love to see Payet in an Inter shirt. However, the great champions are currently elusive, you have to be lucky enough to find the right opportunity. "We are missing 2-3 players to be competitive. The important thing is to have solid players that ensure continuity."
On the club's takeover, Moratti declared: "My feeling is good for the new group, it seems to me that with [Erick] Thohir there are positives. "We have to work a lot and we will have some satisfaction." The Suning Commerce Group today completed their purchase of a majority stake in Inter, taking 68.55 per cent of the Italian club. They have pumped £200million into the club's coffers, with an £117million increase in capital and an £83million loan.
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Tottenham set to land Michy Batshuayi despite Crystal Palace bid
Default author imageGOSSIP
Ewan Roberts for Metro.co.uk
Tuesday 28 Jun 2016 3:35 pm
In-demand Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi is closing in on a summer switch to Tottenham despite Crystal Palace having a £31 million bid accepted for the Belgian, according to reports. The 22-year-old, who netted in Belgium's recent Euro 2016 win over Hungary in the last 16, is at the centre of a tug-of-war between Palace, Spurs, West Ham and Juventus.
All four clubs are believed to have entered into negotiations with Marseille, though only Palace have met their huge asking price. But the Daily Mail report that Batshuayi wants to move to White Hart Lane and is set to sign for the club, who will make a counter offer before July 5 – the date by which Marseille must sell the striker in order to raise enough funds to avoid sanctions from the DNCG. Both Spurs and Juve believe Batshuayi can be signed for a lower fee than the amount Palace have offered, especially with the French club in need of around £21 million. Although Palace may miss out on the Belgian striker, they are still hopeful of completing a deal for another Marseille star – long-serving goalkeeper Steve Mandanda
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Slaven Bilic contacts Ante Coric's representatives to register West Ham interest
HITC
Vincent Ralph
According to a report from the Daily Star, West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has personally contacted the representatives of Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Ante Coric to register his interest in the 19-year-old. The Hammers have been linked with the exciting youngster in recent weeks but now it appears their manager has taken the first steps to potentially steal a march on the player's other suitors. Coric may only be a teenager but he has already featured 80 times for the Croatian club, scoring 11 goals and providing 15 assists in the process. Predominantly an attacking midfielder, the alleged West Ham target can also play in a central position, as a holding player or on the right wing if required, and his versatility would come in handy at the Olympic Stadium if he did ultimately move to the Hammers. Bilic pulled off some superb transfer business during his first summer at the club and the pressure will now be on for him to repeat that and ensure West Ham kick on again next season.
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Michelle Keegan to play Bobby Moore's wife in new series
ITV
Former Coronation Street actress Michelle Keegan will play footballer Bobby Moore's wife, Tina, in a new ITV series. The role of Bobby will be played by 26-year-old Lorne MacFadyen, best known for his role in Grantchester. Keegan, 29, will also be joined by former Holby City actress Patsy Kensit, who will star as Tina's mother Betty, alongside Midsomer Murders star David Bamber who will play England manager Alf Ramsey. The three-part drama series, titled Tina and Bobby, will tell the story of England star Moore's life with Tina, from their early days through to the height of their fame as the original 'golden couple'. Moore became a national hero as captain of the England team when they won the World Cup in 1966. The West Ham United captain and defender had married Tina in June 1962, with the West Ham team in the congregation. Former West Ham and Manchester United player Noel Cantwell was best man. The drama is to be based on Tina's memoir titled Bobby Moore: By The Person Who Knew Him Best. Executive Producer for ITV Studios, Kieran Roberts, said:
Most people will know the story of Bobby Moore's achievements as captain of club and country - the only Englishman ever to lift the football World Cup. Far fewer will know the story of his life with Tina - a love story every bit as dramatic and epic as Bobby's exploits on the pitch. We are delighted to be dramatising Tina and Bobby's amazing story for ITV and, in Michelle and Lorne, we think we have the perfect casting of the 'golden' couple and we are thrilled.
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Former West Ham winger joins Margate
By Isle of Thanet Gazette
Posted: June 28, 2016
FORMER West Ham Academy winger Matthias Fanimo has signed for Margate following his release from National League side Eastleigh. The 22-year-old started his career with the Hammers and made one first team appearance in a 2-0 victory of Crewe Alexandra in the League Cup. He also spent time of loan at Tranmere Rovers and Bishops Stortford before signing for the Spitfires. He has also represented the England U16, U17 and U18 age groups. While at West Ham, rapid Fanimo equalled Antonio Valencia as the fastest footballer in the world, 0.2 seconds quicker than Gareth Bale and 0.5 seconds quicker than Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Spurs are biggest losers but West Ham the real winners after England's embarrassing Euro 2016 exit
HITC
Damien Lucas
@damienlucas
4 hours ago
If Tottenham Hotspur were the biggest losers then West Ham United were the biggest winners after England were sent packing from Euro 2016. Roy Hodgson resigned after his side crashed out of Euro 2016 with a 2-1 defeat to Iceland in what goes down as one of the most embarrassing nights in English football history. England limped into the last 16 after toiling to a second place finish in the group stages behind Wales. That failure saw them entered into the perceived tougher side of the draw where it looked like they would face Portugal until a late goal from Iceland in their last group game. But it only provided the platform for the Three Lions to truly embarrass a nation against one of the minnows of international football.
Hodgson failure proves Hammers right?
One thing it has done, though, is prove Hodgson could have done a lot worse than listen to the advice of West Ham fans and several pundits when it came to his squad selection.
Not a single Hammers player made the cut despite recording their best ever Premier League points tally last season and mounting a genuine challenge for Champions League football.
While the East Londoners have a number of players who staked a strong claim for inclusion by the Three Lions boss, none were deemed up to the task by the former Fulham boss.
Hammers fans did not take kindly to Hodgson's blind spot for their club. It did not help that Hodgson decided to include a host of players from West Ham's bitter rivals Spurs in the team, with the likes of Harry Kane wildly underperforming throughout. It was felt skipper Mark Noble - who has been compared to Spain great Iniesta by David James - was worthy of a place in the squad as stats showed he outperformed every other England squad midfielder in key areas while Aaron Cresswell was the outstanding English left back in the top flight last season. Then there was Michail Antonio who could have been a revelation for Hodgson's side in France with his pace, power, energy, skill, workrate and finishing prowess.
Antonio ended the season with 15 goals and assists for West Ham - despite only beginning his Hammers career halfway through the season. And the versatile powerhouse has also been deployed as a makeshift right back for much of that time. He was five clear of Liverpool's Adam Lallana (10), Manchester City's Raheem Sterling (9), Red Devils youngster Marcus Rashford (6) and relegated Magpies winger Andros Townsend (6).
'Crying out for Carroll'
And what of Andy Carroll? Just last week former England boss Glenn Hoddle criticised Hodgson for not bringing the big target man with him to the Euros. England spent most of their time taking pot shots from distance, wasting set pieces or lobbing long balls up to the ineffective Harry Kane during their time in France. Everyone could see the Three Lions were crying out for someone like Carroll, after all almost every nation at the Euros had at least one big target man in their side, many to great effect. Those Hammers have become even better players without kicking a ball in anger this summer. Many of the club's fans are delighted to see the back of Hodgson.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Tuesday, June 28
Daily WHUFC News - 28th June 2016
Randolph devastated but proud after Ireland exit
WHUFC.com
West Ham and Republic of Ireland stopper Darren Randolph was left gutted but proud of his side's achievements after UEFA Euro 2016 hosts France edged past The Boys in Green in the last-16 with a 2-1 win. There was a dream start for Martin O'Neill's side when, after just two minutes, Shane Long was fouled in the penalty area, and Robbie Brady found the back of the net via the post from the spot. But Les Bleus hit back in the second half when Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Greizmann bagged a four-minute brace to put Didier Deschamps' side in front. Randolph played a huge part in keeping the deficit at just a single goal, but the task for Ireland was made even more difficult when Shane Duffy was sent off with 25 minutes remaining.
The Hammers goalkeeper was left dejected at full-time but reflected on the marvellous accomplishment of reaching the knockout stages of the tournament. He said: "We gave everything. Maybe if we had ten minutes more at 1-0, it would have been different, but when they have that much quality in the team, it's hard to stop them all and do it for 90 minutes. "What we've achieved when we've been here will probably sink in more when we've gone away. "You look back and, as the manager said before the game, there are a lot of boys who have stepped up to the plate during this tournament and really put a stamp on the team and really made a name for themselves, which is great considering their age."
With Randolph visibly distraught at the final whistle, the first to console the stopper was Hammers teammate and French star Dimitri Payet, who embraced the West Ham No1 as Ireland's elimination was confirmed. "Payet didn't score but his team did come out on top," continued Randolph. "I just finished speaking to him on the pitch. He's obviously going to be watching [England vs. Iceland] to see who he faces next. "I personally will be rooting for France for the tournament, now."
Conditions for The Boys in Green were difficult in Lyon, with the sweltering heat coupled with the huge backing for the hosts in the shape of support from the stands. But, leading at half time, Randolph revealed the mood was wholly positive in the dressing room despite a likely onslaught coming in the second period. "It was very positive at the break, and we wanted to go out and we knew we'd have to start the second half like we started the first – to frustrate them. We knew they'd have possession of the ball and a few chances but we backed ourselves to ride the wave and hold on. "We went down to ten men and we were trying to keep the game going to see if we could nick an equaliser. We wanted to keep going for as long as possible. "Coming out today, we've been used to seeing a sea of green taking over. We walked out today and we just saw one little pocket of green and the rest was blue. "The noise was ridiculous and any time they got a bit of pressure, it does help them, because they feed off it. But in that heat, it was going to be hard no matter when we played them. "We played more recently than them, but the buzz around the place and the dream of beating the French to get through, that adrenaline drags you on."
Payet's France will now face the winner of Monday night's fixture in Nice – either England or Iceland – in a Paris quarter-final at the Stade de France.
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Cottee - The future looks great
WHUFC.com
Tony Cottee will always be regarded as one of the greatest strikers in the Club's history having scored 146 goals in 336 appearances during his memorable spell with the Hammers.
Cottee believes this is a big summer for West Ham as they prepare for the historic move into the new Stadium and says it is important the Club try to find a 20-goal-a-season forward who can help the Hammers move onto the next level....
A lot of people are talking about the search for a new striker but the answer might already be at the Club with the forwards we have got. We have Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and if we had someone who could score 15 goals plus in the league, who knows where we could be. We could have finished in a Champions League spot. I think the challenge is on for someone who is already at the Club or to get someone in who will cost £25-30million to score the goals. We need a regular goalscorer and if we get one, it will help us improve on where we finished. The objection for the Club over the next five-years is to progress and to help us do that we need a goalscorer. We have got a big move coming up this summer and it is vital that we get off to a good start – having said that we lost the first two home games last season and look at what we did after that. We managed to stay unbeaten at home for the majority of the season. But it will obviously be nice for us to get off to a good start. There are quite a few players who are entering the second season and that is always a bit difficult but in Dimitri Payet we have a top player who can do things that other players can't and Slaven Bilic is the best manager.
The future is looking great.
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Case made for Sounders defence
WHUFC.com
Seattle Sounders blogger Ryan Cowper says a strong defence will help the MLS side challenge West Ham United...
For the Seattle Sounders, their 5 July friendly against West Ham United presents an opportunity to get back to basics.
Sitting in ninth place in the MLS Western Conference and averaging a paltry 1.07 points per game, their season has gone from promising to dismal in relatively short order.
With a single win in their last six matches, the Sounders season has been a rollercoaster. They opened the season with a promising CONCACAF Champions League tie against Mexican powerhouse Club America. While they lost 5-3 on aggregate, it was a bright start.
What followed was a rough and tumble March. Their play style focuses on possession and to a lesser degree fast transition, yet despite domination in many early season matches, they were borderline anaemic in front of goal. Despite having one of the league's very best defences, they kept losing on small, costly errors.
That refrain has been constant throughout the season as injuries and national team call-ups have decimated the Sounders frontline. Youth standouts like Jordan Morris, Aaron Kovar and Oalex Anderson have struggled to carry the team's offensive output while veteran players like Clint Dempsey, Nelson Valdez and Andreas Ivanschitz have fallen short of expectation.
This is a team with a tremendous amount of talent but little to show for it in the goals scored and points columns.
Despite those struggles, the Sounders have a few bright spots they can bring to bear against West Ham United.
This is still a defence in the top-third of MLS and much of that comes down to the play of goalkeeper Stefan Frei and centre-backs Brad Evans and Chad Marshall. The trio has proved to be a wall, keeping the Sounders in almost every match and giving the team a fighting chance.
They haven't allowed more than two goals in a match in more than two months and most second goals conceded come late in matches when chasing a result. That trio is the Sounders backbone right now and they'd likely be lost without them.
In midfield, Erik Friberg and former West Ham trialist Osvaldo Alonso are a dynamic duo. Nicknamed 'Honey Badger' by Sounders fans, Alonso is a workhorse; defensively tenacious and pin-point with his passing, he is the metronome of the Sounders midfield. Capable of incisive through balls, quick one-twos, or lung-busting inside-out runs, the long-haired Friberg is the Sounders' creative brain.
The former Sweden international led Malmo FF to an Allsvenskan title in 2013 before short stints in Serie A and the Danish First Division. When he's not playing, the Sounders can look bereft of ideas.
This is definitely not the same Sounders team that played to a deserved 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last summer. Their struggles in attack are real and they should be no trouble for a disciplined West Ham United defence to deal with.
On the flipside, the Sounders' own strong defence could stifle the likes of Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll, especially given Dmitri Payet will still likely be on international duty at Euro 2016.
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Payet - We are difficult to stop
WHUFC.com
Dimitri Payet believes France can be a match for any team at the European Championship Finals and feels the support from the home fans can see them go all the way in the tournament. Payet has been one of the star performers and played his part once again in helping the host nation produce an impressive comeback as they came from a goal down to beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 to secure their place in the quarter finals.
The West Ham forward is now relishing the chance to make a return to the Stade de France for the first time since his stunning late goal in the opening game against Romania which helped them secure all three points. And Payet feels the passionate support from the France fans can spur them on to great things as they prepare for the latter stages of the competition. Payet said: "When we play our way we are difficult to stop.
"Our fans were great - even though we were losing, they were still behind us. It is the worst thing that could have happened to go 1-0 down with a penalty early on. In the first half we got a bit annoyed and started playing their game. "They tried to gain a bit of time and we wasted a lot of energy, but then we really started to play our game. "We saw Croatia go out and there are no easy opponents. We need to do everything we can to get through."
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EXWHUEMPLOYEE TRANSFER ROUND UP
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 26 JUNE 2016 AT 10:22PM
What is going on with Tore?
The usual Turkish agents were hinting of exciting news for us and it didn't take a genius to work out that it would involve Tore. The deal is slowly edging towards the finishing line but it still isn't quite there yet. David Sullivan wants to loan the player first before buying him because they are not 100 percent sure that he will settle and cope with the Premier League. Rather than matching their high transfer fee we have said we will loan him and if he proves he can play we will pay it. There was a suggestion from within the club that DS may try a like for like loan with Valencia but at this point it was not agreeable. The player 100% percent wants to come and Bilic really wants him. I am pretty sure it will happen but we just have to get the terms agreed.
Lacazette situation?
Pretty much as it was last time I reported it. There has been talk that Arsenal are circulating now. Of course there is the Wenger/French link especially now that Vardy has rejected them. The player is unfortunately more likely to want to join them than us but I am not convinced Wenger would be prepared to pay that much money for a player who doesn't make his national team. The club are still hoping Lyon will accept our terms but that hasn't happened yet.
Batshuayi deal?
We have offered for him but we have offered a lot less than Marseille want for him. We know their financial situation, we know they need to sell by the end of June so we feel we hold the power. The club through a consortium involving other businessmen had contemplated buying Marseille because of their financial problems and then "moving" some of their players over to us. The chairman researched it but it proved to be too complicated.
Change in Transfer Policy: David Sullivan has been concerned about the changing status with the EU and this has meant that he is thinking that buying British could be a better policy (or certainly needs further exploration) and has had a few discussions with Bilic about identifying these players. We know of the Bournemouth bids but a few other domestic players have been identified too. There are a couple of lower league British players that we could take a punt on too.
Campbell to join:
Manchester City youngster and close friend of Samuelsen, Tyrese Campbell is set to join the club. We have been impressed with the forward who is former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell's son whilst watching the final part of the academy league last season. He has currently refused to sign a new deal with his club and could be tempted to join his friend at the Hammers should we offer him a good contract.
Roberto Pereyra interest:
There has been interest in the past but I don't think that a bid has or will be submitted for him at the moment. Many have asked about our other ITK "If I owned the club" and his column. Unfortunately he confirmed when I spoke to him on the phone that he is really busy at the moment. In the next few days it should ease a bit and he will get a new piece over to me.
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OLYMPIC INSIDER: NEWS ON THE PALACE BID FOR BATSHUAYI
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 27 JUNE 2016 AT 10:55PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
During the England defeat to Iceland, news of a 38 million Euro bid by Crystal Palace had been not only made for Batshuayi, but accepted as well. This as broke by the well respected L'Equipe and soon it was being made known that the footballers agent had confirmed this and as well as the fee, there was also some add on's and a future percentage of a sale, should The Eagles sell him. If you read my previous column on The West Ham Way, you will know that I am fortunate to know a Palace fan, and he is someone who know's someone, he is lead to believe that the bid is true and at the same time I spoke with a well known and respected journalist, who also is lead to believe that Palace have been granted permission to chat with the Belgian.
It has been well reported everywhere that Marseille are under pressure to raise funds and it is no secret David Sullivan looked at possibly purchasing the French club. We have always been interested in Michy and Exwhuemployee had stated until recently, he was the number one target. The club have always been looking at their option's and until now, we have had no concrete competition for this man, unlike Lacazette, and we have been able to be patient but I, and am sure Exwhuemployee will agree with me, expect the club to make their move and not allow Crystal Palace to have a free run at him. Our owners are well clued up on the finances at Marseille and at the end of the day, they are shrewd businessmen and it is understandable they had hoped and tried to get this man for cheaper than the Crystal Palace bid but like with Sam Byram in January, the club were happy to play the waiting game as they knew where the stood on Batshuayi as they looked at alternatives, the same as majority of clubs do when seeking a player for a specific position.
It is worth noting that West Ham United have tried to respect the fact that players are on international duty (well not all players are now) and for this reason, to be considerate and allow them to concentrate on Euro 2016 (or Copa America) plus the fact that the transfer window does not open until Friday anyway, but in this instance, with the Palace bid and the unique situation OM find themselves in financially, despite being on a family holiday, I expect news of us lodging a bid similar to the Eagles to reach us very soon and it will be reported here as on the The West Ham Way as soon as we hear of it.
It can be frustrating as fans, but we have to have faith in this board and player recruitment team at our club.
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Irons braced for bids on this player
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 27, 2016 in Fans Forum, News, Whispers
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West Ham will not stand in Darren Randolph's way should the Hammers No 2 keeper receive a top Premier League offer. They stress that at this stage there have been no inquries but won't be surprised if they emerge during the summer transfer window. Randolph enjoyed an excellent Euro 2016 before the Republic of Ireland were sent packing by France yesterday (Sun) in Paris but ony after he had made eight brilliant saves.
And he has been widely pictured in an emtional embrace with Dimi Payet who moved to the Irish end to give him a consoling kiss and cuddle at the end. Today speculation has been growing about the stopper's future despite him having two years left on his deal which includes a year's option in the club's favour. ClaretandHugh was told by a top insider: "We've all been so proud of Darren and it would come as no surprise were the inquiries to start although there has been nothing yet. "He's a top level world class international and were a club to meet our valuation it would be hard to stand in his way."
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Tore hitch update
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 27, 2016 in News, Whispers
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ClaretandHugh understands that talks to conclude a deal which would bring Gokhan Tore to West Ham are continuing but there are big obstacles regarding a loan fee. We revealed last night that despite widespread reports that a permanent deal could be concluded this week, the Hammers are in fact trying to come to a loan arrangement with 24 year old Tore and his club Beskitas. But although the player is desperat to make the move into the Premier League we have now been told by our top insider that the size of the loan fee wanted by the Turkish outfit is "huge." Our insider said: "It is huge but talks will continue." Tore is a big favourite of manager Slaven Bilic and he would love to bring him to the Olympic Stadium. Both manager and the player have regularly declared they would love to be united and we were told the board will continue to work hard to make that happen.
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Irons in chase for Liverpool midfielder
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 27, 2016 in News
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West Ham are claimed to be in a race for Liverpool and Wales midfielder Joe Allen. The Daily Star claims that Swansea are ahead in the chase and that they have had an £8 million bid turned down before claiming the Irons are also involved. West Brom and Celtic too are named as admirers but to be honest it would be a huge surprise if the Irons were anywhere near talks on this one. We look more than covered in the midfield area and with loan talks for Gokhan Tore likely to be more expensive than imagined and at least one striker – possibly two required – an Allen move would be odd. Liverpool are believed to ant £10 million for the player.
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Tore caution – is this the reason?
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 27, 2016 in News, Whispers
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There's never been any doubting Slaven Bilic's deep rooted desire to sign Gokhan Tore and it's likely that will happen via a season-long loan arrangement. However, it's noticeable – at a time when a striker apparently remains the priority – that maybe we could become a little top heavy with right sided midfielders. No doubt Slav has a master plan on how to keep everybody happy but with both Michail Antonio and new signing Sofiane Feghouli on board, the current signing policy is interesting to put it mildly. Perhaps even more interesting is how Feghouli became the permanent signing – despite his free signing status at the time – than Tore – given Slav's relationship and admiration for the German born Trkish international. The answer may be found in David Sullivan's famous quote that he wants to ensure that Slav is not a "one season wonder" before offering him a new deal.
Frankly we don't think there's any doubt at all about a new deal but despite the occasional massive interview with a chosen newspaper David is extremey cautious when making the big decisions. It may therefore be that with Slav's contract talks on hold probably until around January, DS is making sure that he follows up on last seasons promise before adding one of his personal favourites on a permanent basis. We have no doubt that should the winger arrive on loan he will become a permanent part of the Irons scene – along with Slaven – but caution has always been the watchword at the Sullivan mansion. Things on a more general basis are likely to come clearer over the next couple of weeks after the Davids return to their annual week away in Marbella where they meet with agents ahead of the summer transfer windown opening!
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Cheaper to buy Marseille than Batshuayi
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 27, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Marseille Olympique are up reportedly for sale to solve their financial turmoil with one recent report by RMC Sport in France claiming the financially troubled club could be available as little as 40 million Euros. If true that would be the same valuation as Michy Batshuayi who scored his first goal of the Euros last night for Belgium in his debut.
Any buyer would need to take on the debts of Marseille and be prepared to fully fund it in the future rather than just strip assets by selling the best players. Last week, French newspaper Le Parisien revealed Marseille must find €25m by 5th July or face sanctions including a transfer ban by the French football authorities. Le Marsisien say: "Marseille are beset by financial difficulties. According to our information, even after selling Benjamin Mendy to Monaco for just over €10 million, they still have a deficit of €25 million that will need to be sorted by July 5th, as agreed with the financial policeman of french football."
"Three solutions were raised during the hearing with French regulators : either the owner, Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, injected cash in the coming days to balance the books, which seems very unlikely; or the sale of the club is scheduled before the deadline, which is an even more complicated scenario; Marseille must decide either very quickly whether to sell Michy Batshuayi for a sum of around €40 million with Standard Liege receiving 35% of the transaction amount. If money is not found in the next ten days, Marseille would be open to various sanctions, such as a restriction of its wage bill or a transfer ban"
While from the outside it might seem like a better solution for David Sullivan to buy the club instead of the player, the deal would be complex and full of risk. Earlier this year when West Ham were linked with buying another club but we were told by an insider that David Sullivan and Gold have their hands full running West Ham and have no desire or capacity to buy and run another club.
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Bacca's agent breaks silence
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 27, 2016 in News, Whispers
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The football agent of Carlos Bacca has told the Italian press that he is waiting on a decision from AC Milan on whether his client will be sold this summer. The Colombian international has been linked with West Ham but a decision was expected after the Copa America finished. Colombia finished in third place yesterday in the Copa America thanks to a Carlos Bacca goal on 31 minutes against USA. The match finished 1-0 at full time. Speaking to Calciomercato, agent Sergio Barila was asked about the future of his client. Barila said the decision of whether Bacca can leave is now in the hands of AC Milan, and he confirmed his client is being tracked by clubs in Europe including the Premier League. Now we must wait for the decision of Milan, in Europe there are several important teams interested in Carlos" West Ham are likley to face competition from PSG, Roma and Juventus.
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Darren Randolph: Keeping Dimitri Payet will be 'massive' for West Ham
ESPN
Darren Randolph believes it is "massive" that West Ham keep hold of Dimitri Payet this summer following his excellent performances for France at the European Championship. Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Randolph saw Payet's qualities from a different perspective when he played against France in a 2-1 round of 16 defeat. Randolph will be cheering on Payet's France in the wake of that loss and hopes he will get to play alongside him again next season for the Hammers. "For me, Dimitri is different class," he said. "You've seen it in the tournament and against us, he's a match-winner and he makes things happen. He's a special player. That's why he's sought after around the world and it's obvious he could cause England problems. He causes everyone problems. "I'll be watching and I'll be cheering him on. I'm certainly supporting France now for the rest of the tournament. "He came up to me at the end of the match to see if I was all right. That was a nice touch. I went to the changing room to find him afterwards and we spoke for about five or 10 minutes. He told me to keep my chin up and I wished him luck for the rest of the tournament. "It's massive for [West Ham] to keep him. I really hope he stays -- but maybe the manager and the owners aren't as happy as some to see him doing so well in France."
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said Payet would "improve any side in Europe" leading to speculation that clubs may target the former Marseille man.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham and Republic of Ireland stopper Darren Randolph was left gutted but proud of his side's achievements after UEFA Euro 2016 hosts France edged past The Boys in Green in the last-16 with a 2-1 win. There was a dream start for Martin O'Neill's side when, after just two minutes, Shane Long was fouled in the penalty area, and Robbie Brady found the back of the net via the post from the spot. But Les Bleus hit back in the second half when Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Greizmann bagged a four-minute brace to put Didier Deschamps' side in front. Randolph played a huge part in keeping the deficit at just a single goal, but the task for Ireland was made even more difficult when Shane Duffy was sent off with 25 minutes remaining.
The Hammers goalkeeper was left dejected at full-time but reflected on the marvellous accomplishment of reaching the knockout stages of the tournament. He said: "We gave everything. Maybe if we had ten minutes more at 1-0, it would have been different, but when they have that much quality in the team, it's hard to stop them all and do it for 90 minutes. "What we've achieved when we've been here will probably sink in more when we've gone away. "You look back and, as the manager said before the game, there are a lot of boys who have stepped up to the plate during this tournament and really put a stamp on the team and really made a name for themselves, which is great considering their age."
With Randolph visibly distraught at the final whistle, the first to console the stopper was Hammers teammate and French star Dimitri Payet, who embraced the West Ham No1 as Ireland's elimination was confirmed. "Payet didn't score but his team did come out on top," continued Randolph. "I just finished speaking to him on the pitch. He's obviously going to be watching [England vs. Iceland] to see who he faces next. "I personally will be rooting for France for the tournament, now."
Conditions for The Boys in Green were difficult in Lyon, with the sweltering heat coupled with the huge backing for the hosts in the shape of support from the stands. But, leading at half time, Randolph revealed the mood was wholly positive in the dressing room despite a likely onslaught coming in the second period. "It was very positive at the break, and we wanted to go out and we knew we'd have to start the second half like we started the first – to frustrate them. We knew they'd have possession of the ball and a few chances but we backed ourselves to ride the wave and hold on. "We went down to ten men and we were trying to keep the game going to see if we could nick an equaliser. We wanted to keep going for as long as possible. "Coming out today, we've been used to seeing a sea of green taking over. We walked out today and we just saw one little pocket of green and the rest was blue. "The noise was ridiculous and any time they got a bit of pressure, it does help them, because they feed off it. But in that heat, it was going to be hard no matter when we played them. "We played more recently than them, but the buzz around the place and the dream of beating the French to get through, that adrenaline drags you on."
Payet's France will now face the winner of Monday night's fixture in Nice – either England or Iceland – in a Paris quarter-final at the Stade de France.
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Cottee - The future looks great
WHUFC.com
Tony Cottee will always be regarded as one of the greatest strikers in the Club's history having scored 146 goals in 336 appearances during his memorable spell with the Hammers.
Cottee believes this is a big summer for West Ham as they prepare for the historic move into the new Stadium and says it is important the Club try to find a 20-goal-a-season forward who can help the Hammers move onto the next level....
A lot of people are talking about the search for a new striker but the answer might already be at the Club with the forwards we have got. We have Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and if we had someone who could score 15 goals plus in the league, who knows where we could be. We could have finished in a Champions League spot. I think the challenge is on for someone who is already at the Club or to get someone in who will cost £25-30million to score the goals. We need a regular goalscorer and if we get one, it will help us improve on where we finished. The objection for the Club over the next five-years is to progress and to help us do that we need a goalscorer. We have got a big move coming up this summer and it is vital that we get off to a good start – having said that we lost the first two home games last season and look at what we did after that. We managed to stay unbeaten at home for the majority of the season. But it will obviously be nice for us to get off to a good start. There are quite a few players who are entering the second season and that is always a bit difficult but in Dimitri Payet we have a top player who can do things that other players can't and Slaven Bilic is the best manager.
The future is looking great.
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Case made for Sounders defence
WHUFC.com
Seattle Sounders blogger Ryan Cowper says a strong defence will help the MLS side challenge West Ham United...
For the Seattle Sounders, their 5 July friendly against West Ham United presents an opportunity to get back to basics.
Sitting in ninth place in the MLS Western Conference and averaging a paltry 1.07 points per game, their season has gone from promising to dismal in relatively short order.
With a single win in their last six matches, the Sounders season has been a rollercoaster. They opened the season with a promising CONCACAF Champions League tie against Mexican powerhouse Club America. While they lost 5-3 on aggregate, it was a bright start.
What followed was a rough and tumble March. Their play style focuses on possession and to a lesser degree fast transition, yet despite domination in many early season matches, they were borderline anaemic in front of goal. Despite having one of the league's very best defences, they kept losing on small, costly errors.
That refrain has been constant throughout the season as injuries and national team call-ups have decimated the Sounders frontline. Youth standouts like Jordan Morris, Aaron Kovar and Oalex Anderson have struggled to carry the team's offensive output while veteran players like Clint Dempsey, Nelson Valdez and Andreas Ivanschitz have fallen short of expectation.
This is a team with a tremendous amount of talent but little to show for it in the goals scored and points columns.
Despite those struggles, the Sounders have a few bright spots they can bring to bear against West Ham United.
This is still a defence in the top-third of MLS and much of that comes down to the play of goalkeeper Stefan Frei and centre-backs Brad Evans and Chad Marshall. The trio has proved to be a wall, keeping the Sounders in almost every match and giving the team a fighting chance.
They haven't allowed more than two goals in a match in more than two months and most second goals conceded come late in matches when chasing a result. That trio is the Sounders backbone right now and they'd likely be lost without them.
In midfield, Erik Friberg and former West Ham trialist Osvaldo Alonso are a dynamic duo. Nicknamed 'Honey Badger' by Sounders fans, Alonso is a workhorse; defensively tenacious and pin-point with his passing, he is the metronome of the Sounders midfield. Capable of incisive through balls, quick one-twos, or lung-busting inside-out runs, the long-haired Friberg is the Sounders' creative brain.
The former Sweden international led Malmo FF to an Allsvenskan title in 2013 before short stints in Serie A and the Danish First Division. When he's not playing, the Sounders can look bereft of ideas.
This is definitely not the same Sounders team that played to a deserved 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last summer. Their struggles in attack are real and they should be no trouble for a disciplined West Ham United defence to deal with.
On the flipside, the Sounders' own strong defence could stifle the likes of Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll, especially given Dmitri Payet will still likely be on international duty at Euro 2016.
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Payet - We are difficult to stop
WHUFC.com
Dimitri Payet believes France can be a match for any team at the European Championship Finals and feels the support from the home fans can see them go all the way in the tournament. Payet has been one of the star performers and played his part once again in helping the host nation produce an impressive comeback as they came from a goal down to beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 to secure their place in the quarter finals.
The West Ham forward is now relishing the chance to make a return to the Stade de France for the first time since his stunning late goal in the opening game against Romania which helped them secure all three points. And Payet feels the passionate support from the France fans can spur them on to great things as they prepare for the latter stages of the competition. Payet said: "When we play our way we are difficult to stop.
"Our fans were great - even though we were losing, they were still behind us. It is the worst thing that could have happened to go 1-0 down with a penalty early on. In the first half we got a bit annoyed and started playing their game. "They tried to gain a bit of time and we wasted a lot of energy, but then we really started to play our game. "We saw Croatia go out and there are no easy opponents. We need to do everything we can to get through."
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EXWHUEMPLOYEE TRANSFER ROUND UP
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 26 JUNE 2016 AT 10:22PM
What is going on with Tore?
The usual Turkish agents were hinting of exciting news for us and it didn't take a genius to work out that it would involve Tore. The deal is slowly edging towards the finishing line but it still isn't quite there yet. David Sullivan wants to loan the player first before buying him because they are not 100 percent sure that he will settle and cope with the Premier League. Rather than matching their high transfer fee we have said we will loan him and if he proves he can play we will pay it. There was a suggestion from within the club that DS may try a like for like loan with Valencia but at this point it was not agreeable. The player 100% percent wants to come and Bilic really wants him. I am pretty sure it will happen but we just have to get the terms agreed.
Lacazette situation?
Pretty much as it was last time I reported it. There has been talk that Arsenal are circulating now. Of course there is the Wenger/French link especially now that Vardy has rejected them. The player is unfortunately more likely to want to join them than us but I am not convinced Wenger would be prepared to pay that much money for a player who doesn't make his national team. The club are still hoping Lyon will accept our terms but that hasn't happened yet.
Batshuayi deal?
We have offered for him but we have offered a lot less than Marseille want for him. We know their financial situation, we know they need to sell by the end of June so we feel we hold the power. The club through a consortium involving other businessmen had contemplated buying Marseille because of their financial problems and then "moving" some of their players over to us. The chairman researched it but it proved to be too complicated.
Change in Transfer Policy: David Sullivan has been concerned about the changing status with the EU and this has meant that he is thinking that buying British could be a better policy (or certainly needs further exploration) and has had a few discussions with Bilic about identifying these players. We know of the Bournemouth bids but a few other domestic players have been identified too. There are a couple of lower league British players that we could take a punt on too.
Campbell to join:
Manchester City youngster and close friend of Samuelsen, Tyrese Campbell is set to join the club. We have been impressed with the forward who is former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell's son whilst watching the final part of the academy league last season. He has currently refused to sign a new deal with his club and could be tempted to join his friend at the Hammers should we offer him a good contract.
Roberto Pereyra interest:
There has been interest in the past but I don't think that a bid has or will be submitted for him at the moment. Many have asked about our other ITK "If I owned the club" and his column. Unfortunately he confirmed when I spoke to him on the phone that he is really busy at the moment. In the next few days it should ease a bit and he will get a new piece over to me.
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OLYMPIC INSIDER: NEWS ON THE PALACE BID FOR BATSHUAYI
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 27 JUNE 2016 AT 10:55PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
During the England defeat to Iceland, news of a 38 million Euro bid by Crystal Palace had been not only made for Batshuayi, but accepted as well. This as broke by the well respected L'Equipe and soon it was being made known that the footballers agent had confirmed this and as well as the fee, there was also some add on's and a future percentage of a sale, should The Eagles sell him. If you read my previous column on The West Ham Way, you will know that I am fortunate to know a Palace fan, and he is someone who know's someone, he is lead to believe that the bid is true and at the same time I spoke with a well known and respected journalist, who also is lead to believe that Palace have been granted permission to chat with the Belgian.
It has been well reported everywhere that Marseille are under pressure to raise funds and it is no secret David Sullivan looked at possibly purchasing the French club. We have always been interested in Michy and Exwhuemployee had stated until recently, he was the number one target. The club have always been looking at their option's and until now, we have had no concrete competition for this man, unlike Lacazette, and we have been able to be patient but I, and am sure Exwhuemployee will agree with me, expect the club to make their move and not allow Crystal Palace to have a free run at him. Our owners are well clued up on the finances at Marseille and at the end of the day, they are shrewd businessmen and it is understandable they had hoped and tried to get this man for cheaper than the Crystal Palace bid but like with Sam Byram in January, the club were happy to play the waiting game as they knew where the stood on Batshuayi as they looked at alternatives, the same as majority of clubs do when seeking a player for a specific position.
It is worth noting that West Ham United have tried to respect the fact that players are on international duty (well not all players are now) and for this reason, to be considerate and allow them to concentrate on Euro 2016 (or Copa America) plus the fact that the transfer window does not open until Friday anyway, but in this instance, with the Palace bid and the unique situation OM find themselves in financially, despite being on a family holiday, I expect news of us lodging a bid similar to the Eagles to reach us very soon and it will be reported here as on the The West Ham Way as soon as we hear of it.
It can be frustrating as fans, but we have to have faith in this board and player recruitment team at our club.
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Irons braced for bids on this player
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 27, 2016 in Fans Forum, News, Whispers
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West Ham will not stand in Darren Randolph's way should the Hammers No 2 keeper receive a top Premier League offer. They stress that at this stage there have been no inquries but won't be surprised if they emerge during the summer transfer window. Randolph enjoyed an excellent Euro 2016 before the Republic of Ireland were sent packing by France yesterday (Sun) in Paris but ony after he had made eight brilliant saves.
And he has been widely pictured in an emtional embrace with Dimi Payet who moved to the Irish end to give him a consoling kiss and cuddle at the end. Today speculation has been growing about the stopper's future despite him having two years left on his deal which includes a year's option in the club's favour. ClaretandHugh was told by a top insider: "We've all been so proud of Darren and it would come as no surprise were the inquiries to start although there has been nothing yet. "He's a top level world class international and were a club to meet our valuation it would be hard to stand in his way."
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Tore hitch update
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 27, 2016 in News, Whispers
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ClaretandHugh understands that talks to conclude a deal which would bring Gokhan Tore to West Ham are continuing but there are big obstacles regarding a loan fee. We revealed last night that despite widespread reports that a permanent deal could be concluded this week, the Hammers are in fact trying to come to a loan arrangement with 24 year old Tore and his club Beskitas. But although the player is desperat to make the move into the Premier League we have now been told by our top insider that the size of the loan fee wanted by the Turkish outfit is "huge." Our insider said: "It is huge but talks will continue." Tore is a big favourite of manager Slaven Bilic and he would love to bring him to the Olympic Stadium. Both manager and the player have regularly declared they would love to be united and we were told the board will continue to work hard to make that happen.
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Irons in chase for Liverpool midfielder
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 27, 2016 in News
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West Ham are claimed to be in a race for Liverpool and Wales midfielder Joe Allen. The Daily Star claims that Swansea are ahead in the chase and that they have had an £8 million bid turned down before claiming the Irons are also involved. West Brom and Celtic too are named as admirers but to be honest it would be a huge surprise if the Irons were anywhere near talks on this one. We look more than covered in the midfield area and with loan talks for Gokhan Tore likely to be more expensive than imagined and at least one striker – possibly two required – an Allen move would be odd. Liverpool are believed to ant £10 million for the player.
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Tore caution – is this the reason?
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 27, 2016 in News, Whispers
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There's never been any doubting Slaven Bilic's deep rooted desire to sign Gokhan Tore and it's likely that will happen via a season-long loan arrangement. However, it's noticeable – at a time when a striker apparently remains the priority – that maybe we could become a little top heavy with right sided midfielders. No doubt Slav has a master plan on how to keep everybody happy but with both Michail Antonio and new signing Sofiane Feghouli on board, the current signing policy is interesting to put it mildly. Perhaps even more interesting is how Feghouli became the permanent signing – despite his free signing status at the time – than Tore – given Slav's relationship and admiration for the German born Trkish international. The answer may be found in David Sullivan's famous quote that he wants to ensure that Slav is not a "one season wonder" before offering him a new deal.
Frankly we don't think there's any doubt at all about a new deal but despite the occasional massive interview with a chosen newspaper David is extremey cautious when making the big decisions. It may therefore be that with Slav's contract talks on hold probably until around January, DS is making sure that he follows up on last seasons promise before adding one of his personal favourites on a permanent basis. We have no doubt that should the winger arrive on loan he will become a permanent part of the Irons scene – along with Slaven – but caution has always been the watchword at the Sullivan mansion. Things on a more general basis are likely to come clearer over the next couple of weeks after the Davids return to their annual week away in Marbella where they meet with agents ahead of the summer transfer windown opening!
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Cheaper to buy Marseille than Batshuayi
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 27, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Marseille Olympique are up reportedly for sale to solve their financial turmoil with one recent report by RMC Sport in France claiming the financially troubled club could be available as little as 40 million Euros. If true that would be the same valuation as Michy Batshuayi who scored his first goal of the Euros last night for Belgium in his debut.
Any buyer would need to take on the debts of Marseille and be prepared to fully fund it in the future rather than just strip assets by selling the best players. Last week, French newspaper Le Parisien revealed Marseille must find €25m by 5th July or face sanctions including a transfer ban by the French football authorities. Le Marsisien say: "Marseille are beset by financial difficulties. According to our information, even after selling Benjamin Mendy to Monaco for just over €10 million, they still have a deficit of €25 million that will need to be sorted by July 5th, as agreed with the financial policeman of french football."
"Three solutions were raised during the hearing with French regulators : either the owner, Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, injected cash in the coming days to balance the books, which seems very unlikely; or the sale of the club is scheduled before the deadline, which is an even more complicated scenario; Marseille must decide either very quickly whether to sell Michy Batshuayi for a sum of around €40 million with Standard Liege receiving 35% of the transaction amount. If money is not found in the next ten days, Marseille would be open to various sanctions, such as a restriction of its wage bill or a transfer ban"
While from the outside it might seem like a better solution for David Sullivan to buy the club instead of the player, the deal would be complex and full of risk. Earlier this year when West Ham were linked with buying another club but we were told by an insider that David Sullivan and Gold have their hands full running West Ham and have no desire or capacity to buy and run another club.
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Bacca's agent breaks silence
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 27, 2016 in News, Whispers
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The football agent of Carlos Bacca has told the Italian press that he is waiting on a decision from AC Milan on whether his client will be sold this summer. The Colombian international has been linked with West Ham but a decision was expected after the Copa America finished. Colombia finished in third place yesterday in the Copa America thanks to a Carlos Bacca goal on 31 minutes against USA. The match finished 1-0 at full time. Speaking to Calciomercato, agent Sergio Barila was asked about the future of his client. Barila said the decision of whether Bacca can leave is now in the hands of AC Milan, and he confirmed his client is being tracked by clubs in Europe including the Premier League. Now we must wait for the decision of Milan, in Europe there are several important teams interested in Carlos" West Ham are likley to face competition from PSG, Roma and Juventus.
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Darren Randolph: Keeping Dimitri Payet will be 'massive' for West Ham
ESPN
Darren Randolph believes it is "massive" that West Ham keep hold of Dimitri Payet this summer following his excellent performances for France at the European Championship. Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Randolph saw Payet's qualities from a different perspective when he played against France in a 2-1 round of 16 defeat. Randolph will be cheering on Payet's France in the wake of that loss and hopes he will get to play alongside him again next season for the Hammers. "For me, Dimitri is different class," he said. "You've seen it in the tournament and against us, he's a match-winner and he makes things happen. He's a special player. That's why he's sought after around the world and it's obvious he could cause England problems. He causes everyone problems. "I'll be watching and I'll be cheering him on. I'm certainly supporting France now for the rest of the tournament. "He came up to me at the end of the match to see if I was all right. That was a nice touch. I went to the changing room to find him afterwards and we spoke for about five or 10 minutes. He told me to keep my chin up and I wished him luck for the rest of the tournament. "It's massive for [West Ham] to keep him. I really hope he stays -- but maybe the manager and the owners aren't as happy as some to see him doing so well in France."
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said Payet would "improve any side in Europe" leading to speculation that clubs may target the former Marseille man.
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