From the Boardroom: David Sullivan
WHUFC.com
First of all, I would like to thank each and every West Ham United supporter
for their kind messages of condolence following the sad passing of my
mother. The have all lifted our spirits during a difficult week.
The job of running this fantastic football club goes on, though, and we are
fast approaching another set of important landmarks in the history of West
Ham United. With a memorable final season at the Boleyn Ground and the
momentous move to our world-class new Stadium to look forward to, there are
plenty of reasons for us to get excited as Hammers supporters.
On Friday at 5pm, we have the deadline for current Season Ticket Holders to
pay a £75 deposit to renew their seat for next season - the final season at
the Boleyn. I am pleased to report that the vast majority of Season Ticket
Holders have already made sure they will be here for a special campaign, so
if you haven't renewed yet, please make sure you do because the deadline
cannot be extended.
That is because this weekend, any remaining Season Tickets for 2015/16 will
go on sale to the friends and family members nominated by current Season
Ticket Holders, with each being given the chance to bring two additional
fans along to each match.
Existing Season Ticket Holders will also have an opportunity to relocate to
a new seat, should you fancy a different view of the game.
Finally on the ticket front, Academy Members will have a special window next
Tuesday when they can add their names to the Priority list for Season
Tickets for the first season in Stratford.
On the playing side, we would all have rather results had been better in
recent weeks.
Last weekend's draw with Stoke City was disappointing and frustrating in
equal measure, particularly after Aaron Cresswell had got us off our feet
with that magnificent free-kick.
However, we have six matches left to play and must give our all in those
games to ensure we pick up as many points as possible.
The prize money for each finishing place could be the difference between
signing a new player in the summer and improving the squad, so every point
we gain is potentially vital.
On that front, I can assure you we are already casting our scouting and
recruitment far and wide in the hunt for talent to make us better next
season.
Targets are being identified and you can expect us to be doing plenty of
exciting business in the transfer market this summer, as we did last year.
Finally, I would like to wish everyone travelling to Manchester City on
Sunday a safe trip. Let's hope we can achieve a fantastic double over the
champions.
Come on you Irons!
David Sullivan
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Burke targeting win over Canaries
WHUFC.com
Development Squad defender Reece Burke said he is delighted to be back
playing after a while out on the sidelines with an ankle injury.
The 18-year-old has been a key member for the Development Squad, making a
total of 12 starts this season as well as five appearances for the U18s.
Having returned to action in the narrow 3-2 loss away to Manchester United
on Tuesday 7 April, Burke is now looking ahead to the Dev Squad's next game
– against Norwich City on Friday 17 April at Rush Green."Obviously being
injured is not the best time. I love playing so it was frustrating. Your
first game back is always tough but away at Manchester United was about as
hard as it gets. To come through it OK and play the full game was very
pleasing. Hopefully I can stay fit for the rest of the season. "I rolled my
ankle so there was a little bit of ligament damage which meant I was out for
a few weeks, thankfully it's fully healed. "It was good to play against
some of the Manchester United first team players. Despite losing, I thought
we did well."
Having lost 1-0 to Friday's opponents Norwich in the reverse fixture – a
game that hinged on Lewis Page's controversial red card early on - Burke is
keen to avenge the defeat on Friday evening. "Every team we've played this
season has been good. I'm just hoping we can get a win, we haven't won for a
while. I thought we did well against Manchester United and hopefully we can
put in another good performance. "It's nice to play at Rush Green, for me I
don't feel like it makes too much of a difference. For other players it
might make them feel more comfortable, I'm not sure."
Following Friday night's game, the Dev Squad have just four games left of
their league campaign, including tough games against Manchester City at the
Boleyn Ground on Friday 24 April and away at title chasing Chelsea.
Looking back on a successful season, which saw Burke make his first team
debut in the League Cup, he assessed: "I think my season has been alright.
I've picked up a few injuries now and then which is annoying. I think I've
improved and hopefully I'll continue to do that. "We've got quite a few
centre backs at the moment, as much as we're all friends, you have to try
and do better than them. I think competition for places is good for everyone
because it pushes you to do your best. That competitiveness drives you on."
The Development Squad play Norwich City on Friday 17 April at Rush Green,
kick off is 7pm. Admission is FREE for all Season Ticket olders and U16s, £3
for all other fans.
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Busy Boleyn Ground Open Weekend expected
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are expecting a busy weekend at the Boleyn Ground as Season
Ticket Holders look to snap up remaining seats for the Hammers' final season
at the Boleyn Ground.
As of 9am on Saturday 18 April, all Season Ticket Holders who have renewed
for the 2015/16 campaign are invited to purchase up to two additional Season
Tickets or to relocate their current seat.
Supporters wishing to do so can either visit the Ticket Office in person at
the Boleyn Ground or call the Stadium Ticket Office on 0871 529 1966.*
Given the unprecedented interest in seeing the final season at the Boleyn
Ground, demand for additional Season Tickets is expected to be exceptionally
high and requests will be dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Ticket Office will be open from 9am until 5pm on Saturday and from 10am
until 4pm on Sunday. All ten windows of the Betway Stand Ticket Office will
be in use throughout, as will the five windows in the East Stand Ticket
Office.
Supporters planning to attend the Open Weekend in person are strongly
advised to check the Club's website and Social Media channels before they
travel to ensure that additional Season Tickets are still available.
Should Season Tickets remain following the weekend, they will then be made
available to supporters on the final season waiting list.
Supporters will be contacted in order of priority on the waiting list and
should therefore ensure they are contactable throughout Monday 20 April.
Anyone wishing to join the waiting list can still do so by visiting the Box
Office here.
The final season at the Boleyn Ground is one that no Hammers fan will want
to miss, and a Season Ticket is the only way to guarantee your seat for West
Ham's very last game at the Club's home of more than a century.
Crucially, all 2015/16 Season Ticket Holders will also receive priority
status when it comes to selecting seats at the new Stadium, with the
opportunity to choose seats at our New Stadium Reservation Centre in
Westfield Stratford City.
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Swansea City: Garry Monk dismisses West Ham link
BBC.co.uk
Swansea City manager Garry Monk has distanced himself from reports linking
him to West Ham. Monk has been touted as a potential successor to current
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
In his first full term in charge of Swansea, Monk has led the club to a
record-equalling 47 Premier League points with six games left. "West Ham
have a fantastic manager in place," said Monk. "For them to be looking
elsewhere - if they are - I think they've already got the manager there
who's had a fantastic season. "I look at that type of speculation as a
compliment to the way myself and the team have worked this season, showing
we're progressing and going in the right direction."
Monk succeeded Michael Laudrup as Swansea's manager in February 2014, and
his impressive first full campaign at the helm has reportedly attracted
interest from other clubs. West Ham enjoyed an excellent start to the season
and, although they are still comfortably positioned in ninth place, their
manager Allardyce has yet to agree a new contract with the club.
Swansea's rise to eighth place in the Premier League table has also seen
them linked to some high-profile players. Marseille and Ghana forward Andre
Ayew and Schalke left-back Christian Fuchs have been linked to the Welsh
club. Both players are out of contract and, although Monk has highlighted
striker and left-back as two areas of his team he would like to strengthen,
the Swans boss would not be drawn on speculation regarding the pair. "We're
constantly getting linked - you could probably name 20, 30, 40 players that
we're supposedly linked to," said Monk. "We reflect on the history and where
we've been in recent seasons and, to have our name thrown into the hat among
other big names in world football, it's a massive progression. "We're
talking to the recruitment side of it [the club] and analysing players, of
course we are. At this moment in time, that speculation will come but it's
not where I'm at."
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West Ham consider rejecting European spot
Kumb.COM
Filed: Thursday, 16th April 2015
By: Staff Writer
West Ham may be on course to qualify for Europe via the Fair Play League -
but it is by no means certain that the club would accept an invitation to
enter. Ireland, the Netherlands and England were leading the pack in the
most recently published UEFA Respect Fair Play table. With West Ham
neck-and-neck with Burnley at the top of the English division, the Hammers
are poised to land a spot in UEFA's second tier competition. But despite it
being nine years since the Hammers last qualified for Europe - during Alan
Pardew's tenure as runners-up to Liverpool in the 2006 FA Cup Final - West
Ham are seriously considering pulling out this time around, should they be
invited to compete. The cause of considerable concern at the club is the
first qualifying round's start date of 2 July. In order to enter, the
Hammers would need to recall the first team squad from their summer break at
least a fortnight earlier than usual which, it is feared, could result in
problems with injury and fatigue as the season progresses. An additional
problem is the sheer number of games required to qualify for the Europa
League proper; with three qualifying rounds and a play-off to navigate, West
Ham will have to play no less than EIGHT matches before September to win a
place in the group phase.
Additionally, all events planned for the Boleyn Ground this summer -
including a number of charity events - would have to be cancelled, as the
pitch would need to be ready to host home games far earlier than usual. The
indecision over Europe has also played havoc with the club's pre-season
plans. So far little to no information has been released by West Ham with
view to their summer programme, which will not be determined until a
decision on the Europa League has been made.
UEFA Fair Play League: how it works
The three nations finishing atop UEFA's Fair Play League, which covers every
European nation and began in 1995, are each allocated one space in the
preliminary stage of the Europa League. Teams are adjudged on several
criteria, including but not exclusive to the number of yellow and red cards
received. Other factors include positive play, respect to the opponents and
referee plus the behaviour of the team's officials and supporters.
The first qualifying round begins on 2 July, whilst last season included
teams from luminary football nations such as Kazakhstan (FC Kairat),
Lithuania (FK Atlantas) and the Faroe Islands (Víkingur).
Should West Ham qualify for the Europa League via the Fair Play route, they
will become one of the last clubs to do so. Starting from the 2016/17
season, clubs winning their respective Fair Play tables will be rewarded not
with a place in UEFA's competition, but with a financial bonus.
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Monk plays down West Ham rumours
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 16th April 2015
By: Staff Writer
Swansea boss Garry Monk has played down speculation linking him with a move
to West Ham United this summer.
The carefully-coiffured 36-year-old was linked with Sam Allardyce's job by
the Daily Star yesterday - a surprise to most monitoring the situation
closely, but still enough for Monk to comment this morning during his
pre-match press conference.
When asked about the link, Monk explained: "West Ham have a fantastic
manager in place. For them to be looking elsewhere - if they are - I think
they've already got the manager there who's had a fantastic season.
"I look at that type of speculation as a compliment to the way myself and
the team have worked this season, showing we're progressing and going in the
right direction."
Born in Bedford in 1979, the former centre half enjoyed an unspectacular
playing career with the likes of Torquay and Barnsley before moving on to
Swansea, where he spent a decade.
He is one of a handful of players - including Hammers legend and this week's
KUMB Podcast guest Tony Cottee - to have featured in all four professionals
levels in England.
Monk was placed in temporary charge at the Liberty Stadium in February 2014
following the sacking of Michael Laudrup, since when he has guided the Swans
into the top ten of the Premier League.
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BALOTELLI BARGAIN
By Iain Dale 16 Apr 2015 at 16:01
Guest Post by Jim Stuart
West Ham Till I Die
I'm aware this is a seemingly random post, but the season is winding down,
West Ham continue to concede goals after 90 minutes, there are no English
teams left in Europe, and no senior International football in the summer.
Thus I have arrived at the conclusion West Ham should sign Mario Balotelli
in the summer.
Realistically would Liverpool accept an offer of £8m, so they recoup half of
their original investment. He took a wage cut to join Liverpool, and to
escape I'm sure he would be able to be convinced to take another.
Despite his obvious talent, Mario admittedly does often come across
slovenly, walking around the pitch, getting obviously frustrated when things
don't go his way, and sailing dangerously close to red cards. But the talent
remains. He is a difficult beast to tame, lets not pretend, but he is
capable of the spectacular. The reason I think he could really kick on at
West Ham as opposed to any of his former clubs is because of our biggest
asset, our fans.
If we at West Ham feel a connection to a player, feel he is special, we make
him feel special. Why is it Carlos Tevez is still happy to reminisce about
his West Ham days, despite only scoring 7 goals, in a relegation dog fight.
He received the adoration of every West Ham fan, for 90 minutes a match,
even before he scored a single goal 'One Carlos Tevez' was bellowed down
from the stands. I know Liverpool are supposed to be excellent fans, the Kop
laa di da di daa. But I genuinely believe at West Ham, we the fans are the
most capable at appreciating a player that gives everything for us, just ask
Di Canio's tattoo, or Julian Dicks to name but a few.
I think Mario Balotelli has similar traits to the aforementioned players, if
he felt the connection with us, I think he would wear his heart on his
sleeve and really play for the colours, and be excellent. But hey, that's
just my end of season feelings, I can't see it happening and many may
disagree. I'd get him on my shirt though.
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THE LATE LATE NO-SHOW
By Bianca Westwood 16 Apr 2015 at 08:02
West Ham Till I Die
Ok. It's time to have a bit of a moan up. I've kept quiet for a few weeks, a
busy Easter football schedule put paid to any public airing of gripes but to
be honest, I wasn't in the mood to state the bleeding obvious. Plus, my mum
always used to say "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at
all." And yet, I couldn't avoid it forever, I had to write something sooner
or later, so here it is, my first proper whinge of the season…
It was an oh-so-familiar story against Stoke. Unfortunately it's become a
bit of a broken record. Start strong, get on top, a magical goal, sit back,
try to conserve the lead, fail miserably, concede. Repeat to fade.
What on earth is going on? Why are we capitulating like this? Where has the
dynamism and creativity from earlier on in the season disappeared to? It's
like chalk and flamin' cheese.
It has been a gradual decline of sorts, but now the "could have won/should
have won/deserved a point" performances have made way for what I like to
call origami football. We've folded. Again and again and again.
There are a few reasons given, injury setbacks, late season fatigue, lack of
Premier League experience from some of our signings, but really these are
all issues that every team in the league has to face. It's just not good
enough. We all know it. From the stands, to the dressing room, to the
boardroom to the manager's office and back again.
I don't get to see many of the games live so I'm no authority on the full
ninety minutes but from what I've seen on the box and heard from other fans
is that, for the most part, the desire has gone. That all-consuming urgency
and hunger to win has left the building.
You can be forgiven for dropping points to the likes of Palace or Leicester.
They're fighting for their survival. But Stoke? They've got just as much (or
as little) to play for as we have, and yet they dominated in virtually every
area of the pitch, they won their personal battles, they never gave up.
Arnautovic epitomised what it looks like to fight for every ball, to face
disappointment and perceived injustice and to keep going. Twice he had goals
denied him for offside, one of those perhaps debatable, but when he got a
final opportunity, deep into stoppage time, he wanted that goal badly, and
he made it happen with every fibre and sinew of his body.
And it showed.
We've thrown away a total of seven points on four separate occasions so far
this year, which would have only seen us a place higher in the table but the
mood around West Ham would definitely have been brighter. James Collins says
we're not streetwise. Well it's time to toughen up. Go hood. This is not the
way this season is supposed to end.
Our determination seems to have vanished into the abyss. We're living in a
state of limbo and after what promised to be an incredibly exciting season
it appears to be petering out into nothingness. I know we've got nothing to
play for now. Nothing but pride. But that's ok. Why not go for it? Go out on
a high! Why not take the game to teams, grasp it by the short and curlies,
make our opponents work harder for their chances? Sitting back and inviting
pressure on has never been a strong part of anyone's game…let alone ours.
Sam Allardyce says he's bewildered as to why we can't kill teams off or at
least see games out. He's not the only one. I just don't understand why we
aren't throwing everything forward, attacking at pace, getting balls into
the box, putting a decent shift in…right to the final whistle. Some players
have gone AWOL, some lack purpose, and some have simply surrendered. I'm not
saying they don't care…I know that they do, but it seems like they have lost
their energy for battle. They've given up. They're over it. I don't think
they're mentally getting out the passports, suitcases and sunscreen but they
do appear to be MIA.
It can't be helpful to have the manager's job debated and picked apart at
every opportunity by all and sundry either. It has to have an effect. It
feels like the long goodbye for Sam Allardyce which seems a tad unfair. Even
Carlton Cole admitted midweek that the gaffer is in the dark about his
future. He may be Marmite but Big Sam does deserve better than this. From
all concerned. Maybe he's thrown in the towel himself, but knowing him as we
do, it's unlikely he would favour such an anti-climatic exit. It looks
increasingly likely that he will not have his contract renewed in the
summer. Surely it would have been done but now. If only to silence the
nay-sayers and provide some security for our players.
But no announcement is forthcoming. It's a shame that the man who helped
rebuild our club now faces such a sorry and indifferent ending.
I don't know what the answer is, but if he's not going then why not sign
something now, and if he is, for pity's sake people, let's give the guy a
decent send off. On and off the pitch!
I don't expect much at the Etihad, unless the West Ham team of early-season
turns up. Then we have the daunting prospect of two teams fighting for their
lives. Points would have been nailed on a few months ago. Now I just don't
know.
Might be a good time to stay quiet…some things are best left unsaid.
Come On You Irons!!!
B x
Ps – it's #FootballShirtFriday this week. Give £2 in aid of the Bobby Moore
Fund and wear yours with pride…
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Hammers refuse to give up on Benitez
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 16, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham are continuing to keep an eye on Rafa Benitez's situation following
the shock news that Jurgen Klopp interests Napoli. The Hammers are aware the
former Liverpool boss is keen on a move back to the north west but should
Jurgen Klopp take over at Roma ,the Irons reckon they still have an outside
chance of taking Benitez to Upton Park. It has been suggested that Rafa may
be fancied by Manchester City as a caretaker boss should they fire Manuel
Pellegrini ahead of a move for Pep Guardiola in a year's time. But a top
Upton Park source who watches this site closely has since been in touch
with us and said: "Don't rule Rafa out – we haven't! Yes he's a longshot
but the Klopp development may have helped us rather than hindered things.
"We know Rafa wants the north west where his family is based but it's not a
given that Manchester City will take him so we have some sort of chance."
Klopp – as reported on the site earlier – was very much a wanted man by
Napoli who spoke to him last year. Club president Aurelio De Lauretiis said;
"At the time I appointed Rafa I spoke to Jurgen. "He was under contract to
Dortmund until 2016 which is why we couldn't sign him as manager then."
Klopp said: "It would be a joy to work at a stadium where Diego Maradona was
such a star." And that has given the Irons hope that they have a real chance
with Benitez and could be ready to push out the financial boat seriously to
get him if the opportunity arises.
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Klopp out of Irons frame
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 16, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Much admired Jurgen Klopp – whose decision to walk away from Borussia
Dortmund and the end of the season to immediately excite West Ham fans – is
being linked with Naples.
And that will again send a wave of possibilities across the latest
managerial merry-go-round speculation given that current boss Rafa Benitez
is being discussed by some hopeful Irons as a new Boleyn boss.
rafa_a_2494019bBut the Hammers may be left out in the cold in their hunt for
a mega managerial name with both men having their eyes fastened in north
western giants should they make a move to the Premier League.
Having revealed that he will leave Dortmund , Klopp was immediately linked
with Napoli where preseident Aurelio De Lauretiis admitted; "At the time I
appointed Rafa, I spoke to Klopp.
"He told me he was under contract with Dortmund until 2016 which is why we
couldn't sign him as manager then."
Klopp himself is keen on the Premier League but is reported as saying of
Napoli: "It would be a joy to work at a stadium where Diego Maradona was
such a star ."
Benitez is lined up for further contract talks with De Lauretiis in a few
weeks time but like Klopp fancies a move to the north west if that falls
through.
And Klopp added: "If my English gets better and better and I understand
people from Liverpool and Manchester, then maybe if someone asks me I will
come to England."
Meanwhile polls on ClaretandHugh and West Ham World show that many fans want
a change at the Irons managerial helm.
Benitez – despite him being an unlikely arrival – heads the WHW poll with
Slaven Bilic, Klopp and Marcelo Bielsa filling the next three places.
Current boss Allardyce is in eighth position.
Meanwhile on this site – where we have listed those who we believe are more
readily available – Bielsa leads, followed by Bilic with Allardyce in third
place ahead of David Moyes, Eddie Howe and Roberto Di Matteo.
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Irons kill Valencia/Chelsea chit chat
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 16, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Enner Valencia is this morning again being reported as a Chelsea target as a
replacement for Oscar. This tale of course first emerged in December and
despite it attracting yards of coverage was eventually found to be baseless.
A West Ham senior source said then – and has repeated again during an early
morning call from this website – "The agents seem to be warming up a little
early this spring! "In January there was a huge amount of talk in the
background but at no stage was there anything close to an offer. "Until
somebody puts something on the table there's nothing to talk about. You can
never rule anything out of in until that happens but Enner is a highly
valued West Ham player, "As has been made clear by David Sullivan himself
the club is looking to strengthen up front , not be getting into selling."
The story this morning claims that Chelsea are keen on the Ecuadorian along
with Aaron Cresswell but our source said: "We have made it clear Aaron is
locked into a long term deal with an improvement in the pipeline. "Enner too
has no get outs whatsoever in his deal. Everything is entirely in our hands
and we are building for the future and Olympic Stadium era."
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Jenkinson says he has no divine right to start
By Thomas Hallett
Posted on April 16, 2015
www.squawka.com
Carl Jenkinson says he had no divine right to start at West Ham this season
upon his arrival on loan from Arsenal during the summer, but is thankful for
the increase in playing opportunities, via TalkSport. In an interview with
TalkSport, the right-back expressed his desire to get away from the Emirates
so as to secure regular first-team football, having just seen Arsenal secure
deals for Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers. Jenkinson, who arrived in
north London from Charlton in 2011, has played a bit-part role for much of
his time with Arsenal, but has quickly become an important part of the setup
at West Ham this season. The player is quoted as saying: "I wanted to get
into the team here as soon as possible, but just because I came from Arsenal
doesn't mean I have a divine right. "West Ham are a big team, so I had to
work to get in. The main person you want to impress is the manager, but if
you can get the fans and team-mates onside, then that's great – and I think
I've done that."
West Ham enjoyed a very good campaign under Sam Allardyce up until a few
weeks ago, where their unlikely challenge for a Champions League place in
the league table fell away. The team are currently ninth in the league on 43
points. Jenkinson wins an average of 39 percent of his duels. Jenkinson is
unlikely to have a future at Arsenal, certainly next season. Having already
signed Debuchy and Chambers from Newcastle and Southampton respectively,
Arsene Wenger has also overseen the development of Hector Bellerin, who has
worked his way ahead of Chambers in the pecking order. Jenkinson has made 26
league appearances for West Ham this season, averaging five defensive
actions per game.
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Tony Carr explains why Noble and Tomkins contracts are great for West Ham's
future
HITC
Billy Hawkins
Tony Carr is delighted with West Ham United securing Mark Noble and James
Tomkins to long-term contracts. Speaking to the official West Ham website,
Carr has explained why West Ham securing Noble and Tomkins to long-term
contracts hints at a great future for the club.
The director of youth development said: "I'm delighted that Mark Noble and
James Tomkins have signed new long-term contracts. It is fantastic for the
club and the fans and it just shows how the club is growing. "Not long ago
we were producing the players but finding it hard to keep them so it's great
to see them commit their futures to the club."
Midfielder Noble and defender Tomkins both agreed new long-term deals
earlier this season, having progressed through the Hammers academy and into
consistent first-team players. Noble especially is a key figure in Sam
Allardyce's side, and is current vice-captain with very real hopes of
securing an England call-up. The 27-year-old has passed the 300-game mark,
and his career in East London does not look to be ending any time soon.
Tomkins is one year younger than Noble, and his role in the team is more
rotational than the midfielder, due to the ability of the centre-backs ahead
of him. However, he always impresses when called upon, and there is no
denying that his career can still reach new heights.
Carr has developed the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole,
only to see them move onto bigger clubs to further their careers. To tie
Noble and Tomkins down suggests that the Hammers have become a more
respectable club to stay with in search of success, and the upcoming move to
the Olympic Stadium furthers this opinion even more.
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Friday, April 17
Thursday, April 16
Daily WHUFC News - 16th April 2015
Reid expecting strong final six games
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid said he is expecting his side to produce a better performance
than the one against Stoke City when they travel to play current champions
Manchester City on Sunday 19 April. Despite not playing to their best, the
Hammers were just seconds away from taking the three points after Aaron
Cresswell's arrowed free kick had put them ahead in the seventh minute.
However, it was not to be as Stoke's Marko Arnautovic equalised with a fine
solo goal in the fifth minute of injury time. Speaking ahead of the tough
time trip to the Etihad, Winston Reid said in his latest column for
Fanbookz: "Sometimes, especially lately, we haven't been concentrating
fully and in the last ten minutes we've been conceding unnecessary amounts
of points, which is extremely disappointing. "Obviously the performances
recently have not been reflective of what we are capable of, as we showed in
the first half of the season. From the outside, people might think that
we're already on holiday, but we've tried to maintain the effort on the
training pitch and in games. "The run we've been on in the past 15 games,
we've only gained 12 points from - which, considering where we were before,
is not good enough so our season's gone from being fairly high up in the
table to a mid-table season."
With six league game left of the season, Reid is targeting a strong finish,
for his team as well as personally after missing a month through injury. The
New Zealand international made his return to action against Leicester City
having picked up an injury in the game against Chelsea on 4 March. Speaking
about his return from the sidelines, the commanding centre-back said: "I've
had a couple of games since returning, against Leicester and Stoke, and the
injury was just one of those things that had to be managed within the time
period that it took to get me fit again. "I wanted to make sure I was fit
for the last six games of the campaign and make sure I can participate fully
within those matches. "I don't want to lose out any more time through
injury, as I've picked up a few annoying little injuries over the course of
the season which I accept is part of the toughness and number of games you
play, but hopefully I'll stay fit for the next few weeks."
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From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com
We are firstly pleased to confirm that Enner Valencia completed an
individual training session on Wednesday morning, after suffering a foot
injury in Saturday's draw with Stoke City. Enner has a good chance of being
available for selection for the trip to Manchester City on Sunday.
Diafra Sakho, Andy Carroll, James Tomkins and Doneil Henry are all
continuing with their rehabilitation as planned and are progressing as we
would expect at this stage.
Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science
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Former Player Blog - Julian Dicks
WHUFC.com
As a player, Julian Dicks made 326 appearances in a claret and blue shirt,
scoring an impressive 65 goals. The four time Hammer of the Year is
currently in charge on the West Ham United Ladies team who are set to face
Charlton Athletic in the London FA Capital Women's Cup Final on Wednesday 6
May. Speaking exclusively to www.whufc.com, Dicks discussed the Ladies' 1-0
win over league leaders Cardiff City, Aaron Cresswell's goal against Stoke
City and the best free kick he ever scored…
Last weekend we beat Cardiff City 1-0 thanks to a 93rd minute goal by Vicky
Kinsman. We worked hard but if I'm honest we were lucky to win. That's
football sometimes, if you're keeping clean sheets you always give
yourselves a chance. We worked hard but our quality wasn't quite there.
Having said that, we've got seven points out of nine from the top teams.
Two weeks ago, we had a team meeting, a very honest chat about where we are
and what we want to achieve because I felt we were better than our
performances.
We won our first game back 2-1 away at Cardiff City, which was a fantastic
result. The following Tuesday we played Charlton who are a good side, we
were pretty poor but a point is a point.
Since our talk we've improved and we've only lost game in the last six. Some
we didn't deserve to win but that's football. We've played really well in
some games and lost so you have to take the rough with the smooth.
This weekend we play Lewes. Earlier in the season we beat them 1-0 but I'm
expecting a lot more because we could've played much better. Our work rate
was good but the quality let us down. Football is about keeping the ball and
we struggled to do that.
Overall, I've really enjoyed the season, there's times where I want to tear
my hair out and times where I want to bury my head. But that's football,
that happened throughout my career. I'm very passionate, I kick every ball
and the girls are probably sick of my voice. They are a good group, there
are no egos in the side which is a good thing.
On a different note, I thought Aaron Cresswell's goal against Stoke City was
a fantastic strike. It reminded me of the strike I put away against
Nottingham Forest, but mine was further out!
Cresswell's free kick was a great hit, to get it up and down the wall and
reverse it to the far corner was fantastic, it's just a shame it wasn't the
winning goal. I haven't had the chance to watch the men's team this season,
but from what I have seen I think he is a very good player.
He's still pretty young, hopefully he can go on leaps and bounds and keep on
improving. He's a very good player and I hope he builds on it.
As for my best free kick? My free kick against Nottingham Forest was a
special goal because we were chasing them at the top of the table.
There was another one going back a long time against Peter Shilton, I
remember hitting it from about 25 yards. Because it was against Peter
Shilton it was special but all my goals stand out for different reasons.
I used to practise free kicks a lot after training, I used to absolute
batter whoever was in goal, they'd be out there for as long as I wanted.
Sometimes I'd stay out there for an hour after training. Back then we didn't
have mannequins so I used some of the apprentices for the wall, they weren't
too happy!
When Lou Macari was here, he'd have me hitting balls from all over the
place, even the centre circle. For me it wasn't about bending them, it was
about putting my foot through it and testing how hard the wall was!
All the best,
Julian
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The Big Interview - Cheikhou Kouyate
WHUFC.com
There was a change of scenery for West Ham United powerhouse Cheikhou
Kouyate this week, as he swapped Chadwell Heath for London City Airport to
surprise Season Ticket Holder Gavin Bayer. The Senegal midfielder was keen
to remind Hammers fans just how important they are to the playing staff and
took great delight in thanking a gobsmacked Bayer for renewing his seat in
the Bobby Moore Stand.
All in a day's work for the 25-year-old, who is now setting his sights on
Sunday's Barclays Premier League showdown with Manchester City. Fresh from
their derby defeat at Old Trafford, Kouyate says beware the wounded animal,
though he admits if ever there is a good time to take on Manuel Pellegrini's
men, this is likely it.
Cheikhou, we've come down here to meet a supporter this afternoon and
clearly he was shocked…
CK: "We came to surprise him and thank him because the supporters are really
important to us and Gavin has renewed his Season Ticket for next season. So
we came here to thank him and to show that the supporters are really
important for the Club but also for us, the players. I enjoyed coming here
to say thank you and hand over his gift."
Next season, of course, is going to be particularly special, with it being
the last at the Boleyn Ground…
CK: "Next season is the last one at Upton Park, after that we're off to the
Olympic Stadium, so next season will really be special. We hope the
supporters will come in their numbers, to really try with us to get into the
top six or seven and try to grab a European place. The players are
important, but the supporters are also really important for the Club."
You'd imagine it's going to be tough to get tickets next season…
CK: "Upton Park is legendary, that's where West Ham has grown up and they've
played a lot of games there. The atmosphere there is top phenomenal, a lot
of people are going to miss it, even me who's not been there so long, it's
as if I've been playing there for years. But we'll see next year how it
goes."
Manchester City on Sunday, it's obviously going to be difficult, but
anything's possible…
CK: "Anything's possible in football, but we mustn't forget who we're up
against. They're a wounded animal, because they need points, so they have to
wake themselves up to win.
"We need the points as well, because we want to remain in the top ten. It's
not going to be easy because we'll be up against one of the best teams in
the country and last year's champions of England. If we're going to get
anything there, we have to enjoy it and really play as a team and work as a
team.
We've beaten them once already this season, does that boost confidence?
CK: "It's not going to be easy. It's away from home and they'll be out to
win, because they've played three or four matches, I think, without winning.
A team like Manchester City can't afford to make mistakes, so for us it's a
good time to catch them. It's a good time to face them. But we mustn't
underestimate them, there's life in them yet."
You'll be going head to head with Yaya Toure, a formidable battle…
CK: "Yaya is a role model of mine, an idol. I dreamed of being like him when
I was younger. He has played for top clubs and given great performances. For
three, four years, he was the best African player.
"He's a top man who is ready to help, ready to help all the African players.
For me it's always a pleasure to come up against him on the pitch. It's
always special when I play against him. I've played against him for Senegal
against the Ivory Coast and we've generally lost, I think we drew the once.
Hopefully Sunday will be the day for West Ham."
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Tony Cottee: 'it's Bilic for me'
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 14th April 2015
By: Staff Writer
Hammers legend Tony Cottee has revealed his choice should West Ham choose to
replace Sam Allardyce with a foreign manager.
Allardyce - whose contract is up at the end of this season - is highly
unlikely to be offered a new deal by the club, who have already begun to
look into alternative options.
The Board's number one choice appears to be Real Sociedad manager David
Moyes, who is contracted to the La Liga club until the summer of 2016.
However should the club fail to lure the former Everton boss back to
England, Cottee is unequivocal in his backing for one man - his former
colleague, Slaven Bilic.
"If we decide we're going to go down the foreign route, I would have Slaven
as my number one choice," said Cottee, speaking on the latest episode of the
KUMB West Ham Podcast.
"I was a team mate of his back in the 90s and he's a great lad. What I liked
about him was his British mentality when he arrived. He mucked in with the
lads, he spoke fantastic English and he had a drink and a fag at the back of
the bus with everybody else, as you did at the time!
"He's a real character and an excellent player. I really got on well with
Slaven and if there's to be a foreign manager coming in I'd like them to
understand what it means to be part of West Ham United Football Club.
With Slaven you'll get that and someone with passion who's proved himself;
he was brilliant as Croatia manager and is doing well at Besiktas."
Whilst he may be banging the drum for Bilic, Cottee was also receptive to
the possibility of Moyes returning to the Premier League for the first time
since leaving Manchester United. "I don't see it as a bad thing if we go for
David," he said.
"I keep coming back to the business side of things. I know football is
football, but from a business point of view we must retain our Premier
League status. If we get someone like David Moyes, who assures of of that, I
don't see that as too much of an issue.
"I like David Moyes as a person and I like what he did at Everton. He did a
really good job, he built the club with some good young players and made
some really good signings from lower league clubs. So, I don't have a
problem with Moyes coming."
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WHO WE KEEP IS AS IMPORTANT AS WHO WE BUY
By Iain Dale 15 Apr 2015 at 08:19
West Ham till I Die
Guest Post by Voice of Reason
We are getting very close to that time when the Silly Season Transfer Window
creaks open, agents feed the media unfounded rumours, the media invent
stories to fill space and fans start to express their, sometimes
unrealistic, expectations of who their club should, could or will buy.
As fans we will all probably have our own "shopping list" of players who
will improve the team and getting Jenkinson permanently, more central
defensive cover, a creative midfielder and maybe another striker would be on
mine, so I'd go for Matt Hummels, Eden Hazard and Christiano Ronaldo – yeah,
right!
Within the next few weeks we will probably know if we have another year or
two of Sam Allardyce or a new manager and this decision will surely have an
impact of who we might see come in – unless David Sullivan has decided that,
as well as being majority owner and joint chairman, he will now take on the
role of Director of Football.
However, I believe that it is just as important that we hang on to the key
members of the squad that we have if we are to move forward. A couple of
players – Tomkins, Noble – have recently signed long-term contracts and Reid
has also sorted out his immediate future. Any bids we get for these, plus
players such as Downing, Adrian and Collins would probably be from mid to
lower ranking clubs and we should be able to resist them. Fringe players
like Jarvis, Cole, O'Brien and Demel would free up space on the wage bill
were they to leave and that will be necessary to enable the club to bring in
any new players and meet FFP requirements. And, of course, we would all love
to see one of the youngsters breaking through.
But I think that we have three players who it is essential we keep, although
bids from the so-called "bigger" clubs (those who can afford to lash out
£20million plus) may prove harder to resist.
Firstly, there is the danger that a large bid for Cresswell, Sakho or
Kouyate may be seen as attractive by the club from a business standpoint
and, secondly, if a big club wants to double a players wages and offer
European football it can, as has been seen numerous times in the past, make
it impossible to keep a player if he really wants to go.
I didn't give any credence to the stories recently that Chelsea were
prepared to pay £30million for Enner Valencia and don't think anyone would
ever offer that sort of money for him during this window.
However, of the spendthrift clubs in the Premier League, Chelsea are
reported to be interested in Aaron Cresswell, as back up in case Felipe Luis
leaves (not good career development for Cresswell in my view) and the Man
City story may have some legs as they are shaky at the back and need to
increase their home-grown player quantity for the Champions League.
Liverpool also don't have a left back of Cresswell's quality and he is a
better left back – in my opinion – than Danny Rose at Tottenham.
Watching City fold to United yesterday it is easy to see how Kouyate could
improve their squad also, as he could with both Liverpool and Tottenham. If
Chelsea had Kouyate alongside Matic and moved Fabregas forward it could be
scary.
Diafra Sakho will always attract attention as long as he is scoring goals as
putting it in the onion bag is still the most valuable commodity in
football. Most of the big boys are pretty strong on the striker front but
Liverpool could use another decent one as they really only have Sturridge
who's injury record is iffy (Ballotelli will surely leave and Rodgers
doesn't seem to want to play Lambert) and Tottenham, apart from Kane, seem a
bit thin up front.
This, of course, doesn't take into account any big foreign club coming on
for any one of these three as well, with Sakho and Kouyate being the more
likely targets. It will be interesting to see if there are any serious bids
for these three key players and how determined the owners are to keep them
if they are confronted with a hefty bid. Also, how badly would the players
want to stay if they knew there was a substantial pay increase on the table.
Time alone will tell, but I believe it is crucial we do everything we can to
keep these three.
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Chelsea ready for Oscar transfer as they eye West Ham's Enner Valencia in
summer window
22:30, 15 April 2015 By Darren Lewis
The Hammer's pace and work-rate have impressed while the Brazilian doesn't
put in the sort of shift Mourinho wants and is among the Prem's most subbed
players
The Mirror
Jose Mourinho is finally set to axe Oscar this summer - and reignite
Chelsea's interest in West Ham forward Enner Valencia. Attacking midfielder
Oscar, bought for £25million in summer 2012 when Roberto di Matteo was
manager, has fallen down the pecking order after initially impressing when
he arrived from Internacional in his Brazilian homeland. The 23-year-old is
among the most substituted players in the Premier League this season, after
failing to maintain the work-rate Mourinho demands of his players. Oscar has
not started or finished a full 90 minutes in any competition since the end
of January. Italian champions Juventus are interested in him, with Valencia
being lined up by the Blues after impressing for West Ham since his £12m
arrival from Mexican side Pachuca last July.
Valencia - linked with the champions-elect Chelsea in the winter window -
has scored five goals, but has also impressed with his versatility, pace and
work-rate. Defiant West Ham have already insisted they will do all they can
to keep the 25-year-old Ecuador international. They have vowed to hold on to
ALL of their top stars this summer, with Chelsea and Manchester City also
keen on left-back Aaron Cresswell The Irons are well aware, however, that
they face a battle to avoid being asset-stripped at the end of the season.
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Cheikhou Kouyate insists West Ham players want Sam Allardyce to keep his job
as Hammers boss
16:35, 15 April 2015 By Adrian Kajumba
Allardyce looks unlikely to renew his contract with the Hammers at the end
of the current season but the players are doing all they can to keep him at
the club
The Mirror
Cheikhou Kouyate insists boss Sam Allardyce is the man for West Ham and the
players are fighting to keep him in a job. Allardyce's Upton Park future is
in doubt with his contract up this summer. A 2015 slump has dented his
chances of getting an extension when talks take place at the end of the
season while West Ham are also eyeing up possible successors including Real
Sociedad's David Moyes and Napoli's Rafa Benitez. But midfielder Kouyate,
who joined last summer from Anderlecht, said: "Football can be very
difficult sometimes to get the results you need but the players are all
fighting for the manager. "Sam has been a father for me. He wanted me at
West Ham and said he would make me a big player at West Ham and I could
continue my dream. "I signed for the club and that has happened. I love this
guy. He is very happy and is a big trainer."
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Tottenham transfers: West Ham risk seeing rivals gazump them for Basel
centre-back Fabian Schar
22:30, 14 April 2015 By Darren Lewis
Hammers have opened the door by putting player moves on hold until they know
who their manager will be next season PLUS: Spurs eye German starlet
The Mirror
Tottenham are ready to hijack neighbours West Ham's move for Basel defender
Fabian Schar - as the Hammers have put transfers on hold until they resolve
their managerial situation. West Ham have been keen on the talented
23-year-old for some time. The Swiss centre-back's contract expires this
summer - although he does have a one-year option, triggered if certain
clauses are met. Schar has Champions League and Europa League experience,
and has 12 caps for his country, including two appearances at the World Cup
finals last summer. The Irons, however, have yet to decide on whether Sam
Allardyce will remain as their manager beyond this season and are do not
want to commit themselves on transfers until that issue has been resolved.
Big Sam's contract expires in the summer and former Everton and Manchester
United manager David Moyes, now at Spain's Real Sociedad, has been linked
with his job - along with Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa.
West Ham are unlikely to sign players until Allardyce's future is resolved
Napoli's ex-Liverpool and Chelsea coach Rafa Benitez has also been in the
frame, although it's said the Spaniard would prefer a club higher up the
Premier League table than the ninth-placed Hammers.
Spurs are monitoring the Schar situation, with their Champions League hopes
fading this season because of their poor defending.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool and Chelsea old boy Raul Meireles eyeing a Premier League return
22:30, 14 April 2015 By Darren Witcoop
Midfielder who had a year at both Anfield and Stamford Bridge wants to leave
Turkish side Fenerbahce - West Ham and Everton will be sounded out
The Mirror
Raul Meireles has set his sights on a Premier League return. Meireles, who
spent two years with Liverpool and Chelsea, is eyeing a move back from
Fenerbahce. The Portuguese midfielder, 32, has a year left on his current
deal in Turkey but wants out now. He has instructed his super-agent Jorge
Mendes - the most powerful deal-maker in football - to fix him up back in
England. West Ham and Everton - known admirers of Meireles - will be among
the clubs sounded out.
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Moyes has a stand out record with youth!
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
David Moyes may or may not become the next Hammers boss but what is not in
question is his successful blooding of young players. He nurtured two
England superstars by giving them their professional starts and while some
Hammers fans see him as a Sam Allardyce clone – a boring replacement sghould
that be the case, history shows he has an eye for talented youth. Both Wayne
Rooney and Ross Barkley had their professional debuts under Moyes during his
Everton reign. Only last year Moyes revealed: "Let me tell you a story about
Wayne. We were training at Everton's old training ground, at Bellefield, and
Wayne would train with us every day and he'd be kicking the balls
everywhere. I'd be shouting at him: 'Wayne!' But he just wanted to kick
them. "Then we had a game one day and Wayne had the ball close to the byline
and he chipped the goalie. All the staff were watching and you could see
them all look up the line at each other."They all had the same look on their
face: 'Did you see that? Did that really happen?' "Everyone turned and
looked. No-one shouted 'What a goal!' Maybe everyone was wondering whether
he really mean it. But he did. From that moment we were all thinking: 'Wow,
what a player. What a player we have'."
Moyes joined Everton from Preston North End in April 2002 giving Wayne
Rooney his first professional debut later that year, he sold Wayne to
Manchester United two years later for a record £25.6m when Rooney was just
18. Ross Barkley also had his debut in 2010 at Everton under Moyes before
suffering a broken leg. Moyes was reported ready to pay £20m to buy Barkley
during his short stint as Manchester United manager. Moyes and Allardyce
differ greatly in their approach to youth development and should the
appointment happen the youth issue is one that looks as if it will fall into
very good hands.
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The hidden West Ham tax
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 15, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
With Friday's 5pm deadline of £75 season ticket deposits fast approaching
many season ticket holders will be taking to the West Ham Ticket office
hotline over the next few days. The West Ham 0871 529 1966 number is
regarded as a premium rate number with West Ham sharing revenue with a
telecoms provider based on the length of time you remain on the phone. While
the pricing starts at 10 pence per minute from a BT land line it can cost as
much as 41p per minute from a mobile phone and 0871 numbers are never
included as part of your monthly call package. This has left some Hammers
fan facing an unexpected bill of more than £4 for each 10 minute call to the
Ticket office at the end of the month. In 2013 the Government outlawed
companies using these premium rate numbers for post sales, customer services
or complaints but West Ham have stuck firm in their continued use of these
numbers and claims a loop hole that they are used for sales transactions
only.
While many ticket transactions can be now be done online through the website
there remains certain processes that can only be achieved by ringing the
premium rate number. For example if you want to use any Epurse credits to
pay for a ticket or the £75 deposit you need to call the premium rate number
to achieve this.
Claret and Hugh calls on West Ham to stop ripping off their season ticket
holders and loyal customers by charging up to 41p to buy tickets and instead
change their number to a London geographical number which would be free to
call in most people's monthly mobile call allowance.
From the 1st July Ofcom is forcing companies such as West Ham to clearly
advertise the cost of these calls and the service charge West Ham will make
from it's customers calling them.
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Changing tunes and sound of silence on Sam
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 15, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
The strident sound of changing tunes is becoming almost deafening across the
West Ham world. For it appears that even among those who a few weeks ago
doubted the stories of a managerial change the message that this may be the
last few weeks of Sam's controversial reign is now beginning to penetrate.
In the interests of professionalism and good taste I won't name any of them
but we too have had a change of heart in one particular direction – more of
that later .
Sufficient to say one – seemingly a long term supporter – wrote that "he is
highly unlikely to be offered a new deal by the club, who have already begun
to look into alternative options."
A little late on parade, they add that David Moyes appears to be the
preferred choice by the board – well yes!
A second long term supporter – and a guy for whom we have some real respect
over here at ClaretandHugh – writes that whilst he has always supported Sam,
he found Saturday very hard to take and is now much more open to change.
A veil of silence, meanwhile, has been drawn over things elsewhere. On the
official site the regular comments in the "From the Boardroom" haven't
appeared this week.
David Gold's look ahead at the Stoke City match remains in place with no
further updates from board level.
Over here our chief pundit and analyst Leroy Rosenior wrote last night that
Sam would surely have been told by now about his position by any other
manager who may have been approached and watching the carryings-on from a
distance had not been a pretty sight.
And before anyone accuses us of becoming holier than thou we too have had a
change of tune!
We cannot believe that so much uncertainty surrounding the manager is a good
thing at any time and that it has dominated the minds of fans for far too
long.
The sound of silence from the boardroom has become deafening and we reckon
the time has come for a clear statement from on high.
It can say much or little but as season ticket deposit time arrives on
Friday we believe the position should be made as clear as the club can
possibly make it.
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Hammers solve a big problem
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 15, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham are planning to blood Reece Oxford next season after an initial
Championship loan deal after the club reinforced its central defensive
situation. Following Winston Reid's decision to sign a new deal, the club
will also offer James Collins a new deal following the new contract agreed
with James Tomkins. And they will also allow Doniel Henry to go out on loan
– probably to Blackburn – once he is fully recovered from injury with the
player being seen as a massive future prospect. The club has cooled on Basel
defender Fabian Scher who was believed to be a target at around £9 million.
However, ClaretandHugh was told at the start of that piece of speculation
there was little more than a 10 per cent chance of the Swiss international
joining the club and that he was just one of several defenders they were
looking at. All of that preceded the Reid decision to commit to a new six
year deal in the east end and earlier yesterday we were told: "We are now
looking at the right back and central striking position. "Winston's decision
to sign saved the club a big problem in that area and we can look to
strengthen elsewhere. We're looking decent in that position"
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Time for Nene
Posted by bubbles fanzine on April 15, 2015 in News Agenda, Whispers
By Richard Oses
Claret & Hugh
founder of Bubbles Fanzine which can be found at
https://www.facebook.com/bubblesfanzine?fref=ts
Richard's views – like those of all other bloggers – are his own and are not
do not necessarily reflect those of ClaretandHugh
Nene has to play our next game. As simple as that!
In fact, being that Diafra Sakho is likely to miss the rest of the season,
Enner Valencia (should he return as expected) will be leading the line on
his own and one can only assume Nolan will be sat behind him.
What I would love to see is Downing sat behind Valencia and Nene on the
wing, the pace and creative play that trio would bring to our attack would
be streets ahead of what we have seen playing one upfront so far this
season.
It is a frustrating head scratcher as to why a former PSG winger is finding
himself even behind the likes of Nolan and Cole, especially in games where
some magic skill, a nippy runner and a seasoned finisher would have made the
required difference and perhaps helped convert draws into wins.
There are some who have voiced their Sam isn't keen on the Nene signing
therefore will not play him opinion – who knows but it's difficult to come
up with alternative theories.
Performances are poor, the players' confidence is fragile which may well be
due to the uncertainty surrounding the manager's own future. The fans are
fed up and the club has nothing to play for except more money and pride.
Get Nene on the pitch to add a touch of class to our misfiring front line
and we may just see the team scoring the required amount of goals in
remaining games to actually seal all three points and put some smiles back
on the faces of our fans.
Sam wouldn't even need to tweak the formation too much either, but one
simple addition to the starting XI to inject some pace and flare could make
a small change return huge results for the good of the team.
Not only that, but Big Sam can bow out with some dignity at the end of the
season which he surely deserves like any other human being.
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Leroy: "No secrets in football – Sam will know"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
This managerial situation at West Ham is doing nobody any good and hasn't
been well handled at all.
Football is a tiny village where it's impossible to keep a secret and the
idea that Sam Allardyce won't have heard if someone else is approached over
his job is crazy. He will know.
sam-allardyce_1712364cBet your life away that were a boss to be approached
via an agent he would have got in touch with Sam to let him know the score.
It goes with the territory.
Sam's agent will have been on the case with other clubs. I'm certain of that
and he will never be out of work.I would reckon he is at the top or close to
the top of the wanted list at several clubs.
My own view is that given a contract hasn't been handed to him by now –
regardless of this stuff about only doing the deed at the end of each season
– means that the owners are on the case trying to find a new manager.
We hear the names Moyes and Bielsa. No doubt there are others but David
Sullivan and David Gold won't appoint until they are 100 per cent sure they
have the right man.
Only if they don't find him can we expect them to turn back and offer Sam
another deal but it may well be by then that he has another job anyway and
tells them 'thanks but no thanks.'
He could of course tell them to shove it even if he hasn't got another
position lined up but if it were me I wouldn't.
It's a bit of a blow to the ego to only be offered a contract because they
can't find anyone else but West Ham United is a great club with fabulous
young players coming through like Cressie, Sak and Cheik Kouyate.
Nobody would walk away from that in a hurry but of course he may not get
that chance because it seems to me that the circumstances show conclusively
they are gonna get themselves a new man.
That's their call but like I say it's all been badly handled with leaden
feet. The story has been running for months and has become a distraction to
everything else that's been going on and has possibly finally affected the
performances.
It's all too late now to do anything about that but it's not been great to
watch.
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West Ham release new image of 'The Academy' ahead of their move to the
Olympic Stadium
Evening Standard
CHARLIE DORIS
Published: 15 April 2015 Updated: 18:38, 15 April 2015
West Ham United have released a fresh image of their new supporter's bar
which will feature in their new home at the Olympic Stadium.
Pictures of 'The Academy' were released shortly after the club confirmed
that the high demand for corporate hospitality ahead of their move to
Stratford had forced them to build an additional state of the art companion
lounge.
Similar to the Hammers original supporters' bar 'The Boleyn', the club's
newest lounge promises fans a memorable match day experience, a gourmet meal
and a perfect view of West Ham's Premier League campaign.
Although the club will cut ties with its historic home when they make their
move across East London in 2016, 'The Academy' will pay homage to the club's
past and its famous academy with portraits celebrating Hammers legends and
current stars like Mark Noble.
The West Ham captain spoke of his excitement for the new development and
said that the new bar will give young players coming through an added
incentive to achieve at the club.
Noble stated "As a player, I am already dreaming of creating memories at
West Ham's new Stadium on the pitch, but the idea that Academy graduates
like me will also be honoured with a dedicated space is a big thrill, it
makes you proud."
West Ham Academy manager Terry Westley also spoke of his determination to
continue the club's tradition of developing world-class talent after
visiting the new site with his current crop of young stars.
"You look back at Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Trevor Brooking
and then I think of the Ferdinands, Lampard, Cole, Defoe, Carrick. That is
what this lot have got to do, that is now the task.
Members of 'The Academy' will be entitled to entry to every Premier League
home game, three cup games, priority for cup semi-finals and finals and a
dedicated VIP entrance to the stadium.
Current Hammers season ticket holders will have the opportunity to gain
membership to 'The Academy' from the club's Reservation Centre in May 2015.
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WHUFC.com
Winston Reid said he is expecting his side to produce a better performance
than the one against Stoke City when they travel to play current champions
Manchester City on Sunday 19 April. Despite not playing to their best, the
Hammers were just seconds away from taking the three points after Aaron
Cresswell's arrowed free kick had put them ahead in the seventh minute.
However, it was not to be as Stoke's Marko Arnautovic equalised with a fine
solo goal in the fifth minute of injury time. Speaking ahead of the tough
time trip to the Etihad, Winston Reid said in his latest column for
Fanbookz: "Sometimes, especially lately, we haven't been concentrating
fully and in the last ten minutes we've been conceding unnecessary amounts
of points, which is extremely disappointing. "Obviously the performances
recently have not been reflective of what we are capable of, as we showed in
the first half of the season. From the outside, people might think that
we're already on holiday, but we've tried to maintain the effort on the
training pitch and in games. "The run we've been on in the past 15 games,
we've only gained 12 points from - which, considering where we were before,
is not good enough so our season's gone from being fairly high up in the
table to a mid-table season."
With six league game left of the season, Reid is targeting a strong finish,
for his team as well as personally after missing a month through injury. The
New Zealand international made his return to action against Leicester City
having picked up an injury in the game against Chelsea on 4 March. Speaking
about his return from the sidelines, the commanding centre-back said: "I've
had a couple of games since returning, against Leicester and Stoke, and the
injury was just one of those things that had to be managed within the time
period that it took to get me fit again. "I wanted to make sure I was fit
for the last six games of the campaign and make sure I can participate fully
within those matches. "I don't want to lose out any more time through
injury, as I've picked up a few annoying little injuries over the course of
the season which I accept is part of the toughness and number of games you
play, but hopefully I'll stay fit for the next few weeks."
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From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com
We are firstly pleased to confirm that Enner Valencia completed an
individual training session on Wednesday morning, after suffering a foot
injury in Saturday's draw with Stoke City. Enner has a good chance of being
available for selection for the trip to Manchester City on Sunday.
Diafra Sakho, Andy Carroll, James Tomkins and Doneil Henry are all
continuing with their rehabilitation as planned and are progressing as we
would expect at this stage.
Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science
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Former Player Blog - Julian Dicks
WHUFC.com
As a player, Julian Dicks made 326 appearances in a claret and blue shirt,
scoring an impressive 65 goals. The four time Hammer of the Year is
currently in charge on the West Ham United Ladies team who are set to face
Charlton Athletic in the London FA Capital Women's Cup Final on Wednesday 6
May. Speaking exclusively to www.whufc.com, Dicks discussed the Ladies' 1-0
win over league leaders Cardiff City, Aaron Cresswell's goal against Stoke
City and the best free kick he ever scored…
Last weekend we beat Cardiff City 1-0 thanks to a 93rd minute goal by Vicky
Kinsman. We worked hard but if I'm honest we were lucky to win. That's
football sometimes, if you're keeping clean sheets you always give
yourselves a chance. We worked hard but our quality wasn't quite there.
Having said that, we've got seven points out of nine from the top teams.
Two weeks ago, we had a team meeting, a very honest chat about where we are
and what we want to achieve because I felt we were better than our
performances.
We won our first game back 2-1 away at Cardiff City, which was a fantastic
result. The following Tuesday we played Charlton who are a good side, we
were pretty poor but a point is a point.
Since our talk we've improved and we've only lost game in the last six. Some
we didn't deserve to win but that's football. We've played really well in
some games and lost so you have to take the rough with the smooth.
This weekend we play Lewes. Earlier in the season we beat them 1-0 but I'm
expecting a lot more because we could've played much better. Our work rate
was good but the quality let us down. Football is about keeping the ball and
we struggled to do that.
Overall, I've really enjoyed the season, there's times where I want to tear
my hair out and times where I want to bury my head. But that's football,
that happened throughout my career. I'm very passionate, I kick every ball
and the girls are probably sick of my voice. They are a good group, there
are no egos in the side which is a good thing.
On a different note, I thought Aaron Cresswell's goal against Stoke City was
a fantastic strike. It reminded me of the strike I put away against
Nottingham Forest, but mine was further out!
Cresswell's free kick was a great hit, to get it up and down the wall and
reverse it to the far corner was fantastic, it's just a shame it wasn't the
winning goal. I haven't had the chance to watch the men's team this season,
but from what I have seen I think he is a very good player.
He's still pretty young, hopefully he can go on leaps and bounds and keep on
improving. He's a very good player and I hope he builds on it.
As for my best free kick? My free kick against Nottingham Forest was a
special goal because we were chasing them at the top of the table.
There was another one going back a long time against Peter Shilton, I
remember hitting it from about 25 yards. Because it was against Peter
Shilton it was special but all my goals stand out for different reasons.
I used to practise free kicks a lot after training, I used to absolute
batter whoever was in goal, they'd be out there for as long as I wanted.
Sometimes I'd stay out there for an hour after training. Back then we didn't
have mannequins so I used some of the apprentices for the wall, they weren't
too happy!
When Lou Macari was here, he'd have me hitting balls from all over the
place, even the centre circle. For me it wasn't about bending them, it was
about putting my foot through it and testing how hard the wall was!
All the best,
Julian
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The Big Interview - Cheikhou Kouyate
WHUFC.com
There was a change of scenery for West Ham United powerhouse Cheikhou
Kouyate this week, as he swapped Chadwell Heath for London City Airport to
surprise Season Ticket Holder Gavin Bayer. The Senegal midfielder was keen
to remind Hammers fans just how important they are to the playing staff and
took great delight in thanking a gobsmacked Bayer for renewing his seat in
the Bobby Moore Stand.
All in a day's work for the 25-year-old, who is now setting his sights on
Sunday's Barclays Premier League showdown with Manchester City. Fresh from
their derby defeat at Old Trafford, Kouyate says beware the wounded animal,
though he admits if ever there is a good time to take on Manuel Pellegrini's
men, this is likely it.
Cheikhou, we've come down here to meet a supporter this afternoon and
clearly he was shocked…
CK: "We came to surprise him and thank him because the supporters are really
important to us and Gavin has renewed his Season Ticket for next season. So
we came here to thank him and to show that the supporters are really
important for the Club but also for us, the players. I enjoyed coming here
to say thank you and hand over his gift."
Next season, of course, is going to be particularly special, with it being
the last at the Boleyn Ground…
CK: "Next season is the last one at Upton Park, after that we're off to the
Olympic Stadium, so next season will really be special. We hope the
supporters will come in their numbers, to really try with us to get into the
top six or seven and try to grab a European place. The players are
important, but the supporters are also really important for the Club."
You'd imagine it's going to be tough to get tickets next season…
CK: "Upton Park is legendary, that's where West Ham has grown up and they've
played a lot of games there. The atmosphere there is top phenomenal, a lot
of people are going to miss it, even me who's not been there so long, it's
as if I've been playing there for years. But we'll see next year how it
goes."
Manchester City on Sunday, it's obviously going to be difficult, but
anything's possible…
CK: "Anything's possible in football, but we mustn't forget who we're up
against. They're a wounded animal, because they need points, so they have to
wake themselves up to win.
"We need the points as well, because we want to remain in the top ten. It's
not going to be easy because we'll be up against one of the best teams in
the country and last year's champions of England. If we're going to get
anything there, we have to enjoy it and really play as a team and work as a
team.
We've beaten them once already this season, does that boost confidence?
CK: "It's not going to be easy. It's away from home and they'll be out to
win, because they've played three or four matches, I think, without winning.
A team like Manchester City can't afford to make mistakes, so for us it's a
good time to catch them. It's a good time to face them. But we mustn't
underestimate them, there's life in them yet."
You'll be going head to head with Yaya Toure, a formidable battle…
CK: "Yaya is a role model of mine, an idol. I dreamed of being like him when
I was younger. He has played for top clubs and given great performances. For
three, four years, he was the best African player.
"He's a top man who is ready to help, ready to help all the African players.
For me it's always a pleasure to come up against him on the pitch. It's
always special when I play against him. I've played against him for Senegal
against the Ivory Coast and we've generally lost, I think we drew the once.
Hopefully Sunday will be the day for West Ham."
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Tony Cottee: 'it's Bilic for me'
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 14th April 2015
By: Staff Writer
Hammers legend Tony Cottee has revealed his choice should West Ham choose to
replace Sam Allardyce with a foreign manager.
Allardyce - whose contract is up at the end of this season - is highly
unlikely to be offered a new deal by the club, who have already begun to
look into alternative options.
The Board's number one choice appears to be Real Sociedad manager David
Moyes, who is contracted to the La Liga club until the summer of 2016.
However should the club fail to lure the former Everton boss back to
England, Cottee is unequivocal in his backing for one man - his former
colleague, Slaven Bilic.
"If we decide we're going to go down the foreign route, I would have Slaven
as my number one choice," said Cottee, speaking on the latest episode of the
KUMB West Ham Podcast.
"I was a team mate of his back in the 90s and he's a great lad. What I liked
about him was his British mentality when he arrived. He mucked in with the
lads, he spoke fantastic English and he had a drink and a fag at the back of
the bus with everybody else, as you did at the time!
"He's a real character and an excellent player. I really got on well with
Slaven and if there's to be a foreign manager coming in I'd like them to
understand what it means to be part of West Ham United Football Club.
With Slaven you'll get that and someone with passion who's proved himself;
he was brilliant as Croatia manager and is doing well at Besiktas."
Whilst he may be banging the drum for Bilic, Cottee was also receptive to
the possibility of Moyes returning to the Premier League for the first time
since leaving Manchester United. "I don't see it as a bad thing if we go for
David," he said.
"I keep coming back to the business side of things. I know football is
football, but from a business point of view we must retain our Premier
League status. If we get someone like David Moyes, who assures of of that, I
don't see that as too much of an issue.
"I like David Moyes as a person and I like what he did at Everton. He did a
really good job, he built the club with some good young players and made
some really good signings from lower league clubs. So, I don't have a
problem with Moyes coming."
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WHO WE KEEP IS AS IMPORTANT AS WHO WE BUY
By Iain Dale 15 Apr 2015 at 08:19
West Ham till I Die
Guest Post by Voice of Reason
We are getting very close to that time when the Silly Season Transfer Window
creaks open, agents feed the media unfounded rumours, the media invent
stories to fill space and fans start to express their, sometimes
unrealistic, expectations of who their club should, could or will buy.
As fans we will all probably have our own "shopping list" of players who
will improve the team and getting Jenkinson permanently, more central
defensive cover, a creative midfielder and maybe another striker would be on
mine, so I'd go for Matt Hummels, Eden Hazard and Christiano Ronaldo – yeah,
right!
Within the next few weeks we will probably know if we have another year or
two of Sam Allardyce or a new manager and this decision will surely have an
impact of who we might see come in – unless David Sullivan has decided that,
as well as being majority owner and joint chairman, he will now take on the
role of Director of Football.
However, I believe that it is just as important that we hang on to the key
members of the squad that we have if we are to move forward. A couple of
players – Tomkins, Noble – have recently signed long-term contracts and Reid
has also sorted out his immediate future. Any bids we get for these, plus
players such as Downing, Adrian and Collins would probably be from mid to
lower ranking clubs and we should be able to resist them. Fringe players
like Jarvis, Cole, O'Brien and Demel would free up space on the wage bill
were they to leave and that will be necessary to enable the club to bring in
any new players and meet FFP requirements. And, of course, we would all love
to see one of the youngsters breaking through.
But I think that we have three players who it is essential we keep, although
bids from the so-called "bigger" clubs (those who can afford to lash out
£20million plus) may prove harder to resist.
Firstly, there is the danger that a large bid for Cresswell, Sakho or
Kouyate may be seen as attractive by the club from a business standpoint
and, secondly, if a big club wants to double a players wages and offer
European football it can, as has been seen numerous times in the past, make
it impossible to keep a player if he really wants to go.
I didn't give any credence to the stories recently that Chelsea were
prepared to pay £30million for Enner Valencia and don't think anyone would
ever offer that sort of money for him during this window.
However, of the spendthrift clubs in the Premier League, Chelsea are
reported to be interested in Aaron Cresswell, as back up in case Felipe Luis
leaves (not good career development for Cresswell in my view) and the Man
City story may have some legs as they are shaky at the back and need to
increase their home-grown player quantity for the Champions League.
Liverpool also don't have a left back of Cresswell's quality and he is a
better left back – in my opinion – than Danny Rose at Tottenham.
Watching City fold to United yesterday it is easy to see how Kouyate could
improve their squad also, as he could with both Liverpool and Tottenham. If
Chelsea had Kouyate alongside Matic and moved Fabregas forward it could be
scary.
Diafra Sakho will always attract attention as long as he is scoring goals as
putting it in the onion bag is still the most valuable commodity in
football. Most of the big boys are pretty strong on the striker front but
Liverpool could use another decent one as they really only have Sturridge
who's injury record is iffy (Ballotelli will surely leave and Rodgers
doesn't seem to want to play Lambert) and Tottenham, apart from Kane, seem a
bit thin up front.
This, of course, doesn't take into account any big foreign club coming on
for any one of these three as well, with Sakho and Kouyate being the more
likely targets. It will be interesting to see if there are any serious bids
for these three key players and how determined the owners are to keep them
if they are confronted with a hefty bid. Also, how badly would the players
want to stay if they knew there was a substantial pay increase on the table.
Time alone will tell, but I believe it is crucial we do everything we can to
keep these three.
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Chelsea ready for Oscar transfer as they eye West Ham's Enner Valencia in
summer window
22:30, 15 April 2015 By Darren Lewis
The Hammer's pace and work-rate have impressed while the Brazilian doesn't
put in the sort of shift Mourinho wants and is among the Prem's most subbed
players
The Mirror
Jose Mourinho is finally set to axe Oscar this summer - and reignite
Chelsea's interest in West Ham forward Enner Valencia. Attacking midfielder
Oscar, bought for £25million in summer 2012 when Roberto di Matteo was
manager, has fallen down the pecking order after initially impressing when
he arrived from Internacional in his Brazilian homeland. The 23-year-old is
among the most substituted players in the Premier League this season, after
failing to maintain the work-rate Mourinho demands of his players. Oscar has
not started or finished a full 90 minutes in any competition since the end
of January. Italian champions Juventus are interested in him, with Valencia
being lined up by the Blues after impressing for West Ham since his £12m
arrival from Mexican side Pachuca last July.
Valencia - linked with the champions-elect Chelsea in the winter window -
has scored five goals, but has also impressed with his versatility, pace and
work-rate. Defiant West Ham have already insisted they will do all they can
to keep the 25-year-old Ecuador international. They have vowed to hold on to
ALL of their top stars this summer, with Chelsea and Manchester City also
keen on left-back Aaron Cresswell The Irons are well aware, however, that
they face a battle to avoid being asset-stripped at the end of the season.
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Cheikhou Kouyate insists West Ham players want Sam Allardyce to keep his job
as Hammers boss
16:35, 15 April 2015 By Adrian Kajumba
Allardyce looks unlikely to renew his contract with the Hammers at the end
of the current season but the players are doing all they can to keep him at
the club
The Mirror
Cheikhou Kouyate insists boss Sam Allardyce is the man for West Ham and the
players are fighting to keep him in a job. Allardyce's Upton Park future is
in doubt with his contract up this summer. A 2015 slump has dented his
chances of getting an extension when talks take place at the end of the
season while West Ham are also eyeing up possible successors including Real
Sociedad's David Moyes and Napoli's Rafa Benitez. But midfielder Kouyate,
who joined last summer from Anderlecht, said: "Football can be very
difficult sometimes to get the results you need but the players are all
fighting for the manager. "Sam has been a father for me. He wanted me at
West Ham and said he would make me a big player at West Ham and I could
continue my dream. "I signed for the club and that has happened. I love this
guy. He is very happy and is a big trainer."
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Tottenham transfers: West Ham risk seeing rivals gazump them for Basel
centre-back Fabian Schar
22:30, 14 April 2015 By Darren Lewis
Hammers have opened the door by putting player moves on hold until they know
who their manager will be next season PLUS: Spurs eye German starlet
The Mirror
Tottenham are ready to hijack neighbours West Ham's move for Basel defender
Fabian Schar - as the Hammers have put transfers on hold until they resolve
their managerial situation. West Ham have been keen on the talented
23-year-old for some time. The Swiss centre-back's contract expires this
summer - although he does have a one-year option, triggered if certain
clauses are met. Schar has Champions League and Europa League experience,
and has 12 caps for his country, including two appearances at the World Cup
finals last summer. The Irons, however, have yet to decide on whether Sam
Allardyce will remain as their manager beyond this season and are do not
want to commit themselves on transfers until that issue has been resolved.
Big Sam's contract expires in the summer and former Everton and Manchester
United manager David Moyes, now at Spain's Real Sociedad, has been linked
with his job - along with Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa.
West Ham are unlikely to sign players until Allardyce's future is resolved
Napoli's ex-Liverpool and Chelsea coach Rafa Benitez has also been in the
frame, although it's said the Spaniard would prefer a club higher up the
Premier League table than the ninth-placed Hammers.
Spurs are monitoring the Schar situation, with their Champions League hopes
fading this season because of their poor defending.
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Liverpool and Chelsea old boy Raul Meireles eyeing a Premier League return
22:30, 14 April 2015 By Darren Witcoop
Midfielder who had a year at both Anfield and Stamford Bridge wants to leave
Turkish side Fenerbahce - West Ham and Everton will be sounded out
The Mirror
Raul Meireles has set his sights on a Premier League return. Meireles, who
spent two years with Liverpool and Chelsea, is eyeing a move back from
Fenerbahce. The Portuguese midfielder, 32, has a year left on his current
deal in Turkey but wants out now. He has instructed his super-agent Jorge
Mendes - the most powerful deal-maker in football - to fix him up back in
England. West Ham and Everton - known admirers of Meireles - will be among
the clubs sounded out.
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Moyes has a stand out record with youth!
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
David Moyes may or may not become the next Hammers boss but what is not in
question is his successful blooding of young players. He nurtured two
England superstars by giving them their professional starts and while some
Hammers fans see him as a Sam Allardyce clone – a boring replacement sghould
that be the case, history shows he has an eye for talented youth. Both Wayne
Rooney and Ross Barkley had their professional debuts under Moyes during his
Everton reign. Only last year Moyes revealed: "Let me tell you a story about
Wayne. We were training at Everton's old training ground, at Bellefield, and
Wayne would train with us every day and he'd be kicking the balls
everywhere. I'd be shouting at him: 'Wayne!' But he just wanted to kick
them. "Then we had a game one day and Wayne had the ball close to the byline
and he chipped the goalie. All the staff were watching and you could see
them all look up the line at each other."They all had the same look on their
face: 'Did you see that? Did that really happen?' "Everyone turned and
looked. No-one shouted 'What a goal!' Maybe everyone was wondering whether
he really mean it. But he did. From that moment we were all thinking: 'Wow,
what a player. What a player we have'."
Moyes joined Everton from Preston North End in April 2002 giving Wayne
Rooney his first professional debut later that year, he sold Wayne to
Manchester United two years later for a record £25.6m when Rooney was just
18. Ross Barkley also had his debut in 2010 at Everton under Moyes before
suffering a broken leg. Moyes was reported ready to pay £20m to buy Barkley
during his short stint as Manchester United manager. Moyes and Allardyce
differ greatly in their approach to youth development and should the
appointment happen the youth issue is one that looks as if it will fall into
very good hands.
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The hidden West Ham tax
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 15, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
With Friday's 5pm deadline of £75 season ticket deposits fast approaching
many season ticket holders will be taking to the West Ham Ticket office
hotline over the next few days. The West Ham 0871 529 1966 number is
regarded as a premium rate number with West Ham sharing revenue with a
telecoms provider based on the length of time you remain on the phone. While
the pricing starts at 10 pence per minute from a BT land line it can cost as
much as 41p per minute from a mobile phone and 0871 numbers are never
included as part of your monthly call package. This has left some Hammers
fan facing an unexpected bill of more than £4 for each 10 minute call to the
Ticket office at the end of the month. In 2013 the Government outlawed
companies using these premium rate numbers for post sales, customer services
or complaints but West Ham have stuck firm in their continued use of these
numbers and claims a loop hole that they are used for sales transactions
only.
While many ticket transactions can be now be done online through the website
there remains certain processes that can only be achieved by ringing the
premium rate number. For example if you want to use any Epurse credits to
pay for a ticket or the £75 deposit you need to call the premium rate number
to achieve this.
Claret and Hugh calls on West Ham to stop ripping off their season ticket
holders and loyal customers by charging up to 41p to buy tickets and instead
change their number to a London geographical number which would be free to
call in most people's monthly mobile call allowance.
From the 1st July Ofcom is forcing companies such as West Ham to clearly
advertise the cost of these calls and the service charge West Ham will make
from it's customers calling them.
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Changing tunes and sound of silence on Sam
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 15, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
The strident sound of changing tunes is becoming almost deafening across the
West Ham world. For it appears that even among those who a few weeks ago
doubted the stories of a managerial change the message that this may be the
last few weeks of Sam's controversial reign is now beginning to penetrate.
In the interests of professionalism and good taste I won't name any of them
but we too have had a change of heart in one particular direction – more of
that later .
Sufficient to say one – seemingly a long term supporter – wrote that "he is
highly unlikely to be offered a new deal by the club, who have already begun
to look into alternative options."
A little late on parade, they add that David Moyes appears to be the
preferred choice by the board – well yes!
A second long term supporter – and a guy for whom we have some real respect
over here at ClaretandHugh – writes that whilst he has always supported Sam,
he found Saturday very hard to take and is now much more open to change.
A veil of silence, meanwhile, has been drawn over things elsewhere. On the
official site the regular comments in the "From the Boardroom" haven't
appeared this week.
David Gold's look ahead at the Stoke City match remains in place with no
further updates from board level.
Over here our chief pundit and analyst Leroy Rosenior wrote last night that
Sam would surely have been told by now about his position by any other
manager who may have been approached and watching the carryings-on from a
distance had not been a pretty sight.
And before anyone accuses us of becoming holier than thou we too have had a
change of tune!
We cannot believe that so much uncertainty surrounding the manager is a good
thing at any time and that it has dominated the minds of fans for far too
long.
The sound of silence from the boardroom has become deafening and we reckon
the time has come for a clear statement from on high.
It can say much or little but as season ticket deposit time arrives on
Friday we believe the position should be made as clear as the club can
possibly make it.
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Hammers solve a big problem
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 15, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham are planning to blood Reece Oxford next season after an initial
Championship loan deal after the club reinforced its central defensive
situation. Following Winston Reid's decision to sign a new deal, the club
will also offer James Collins a new deal following the new contract agreed
with James Tomkins. And they will also allow Doniel Henry to go out on loan
– probably to Blackburn – once he is fully recovered from injury with the
player being seen as a massive future prospect. The club has cooled on Basel
defender Fabian Scher who was believed to be a target at around £9 million.
However, ClaretandHugh was told at the start of that piece of speculation
there was little more than a 10 per cent chance of the Swiss international
joining the club and that he was just one of several defenders they were
looking at. All of that preceded the Reid decision to commit to a new six
year deal in the east end and earlier yesterday we were told: "We are now
looking at the right back and central striking position. "Winston's decision
to sign saved the club a big problem in that area and we can look to
strengthen elsewhere. We're looking decent in that position"
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Time for Nene
Posted by bubbles fanzine on April 15, 2015 in News Agenda, Whispers
By Richard Oses
Claret & Hugh
founder of Bubbles Fanzine which can be found at
https://www.facebook.com/bubblesfanzine?fref=ts
Richard's views – like those of all other bloggers – are his own and are not
do not necessarily reflect those of ClaretandHugh
Nene has to play our next game. As simple as that!
In fact, being that Diafra Sakho is likely to miss the rest of the season,
Enner Valencia (should he return as expected) will be leading the line on
his own and one can only assume Nolan will be sat behind him.
What I would love to see is Downing sat behind Valencia and Nene on the
wing, the pace and creative play that trio would bring to our attack would
be streets ahead of what we have seen playing one upfront so far this
season.
It is a frustrating head scratcher as to why a former PSG winger is finding
himself even behind the likes of Nolan and Cole, especially in games where
some magic skill, a nippy runner and a seasoned finisher would have made the
required difference and perhaps helped convert draws into wins.
There are some who have voiced their Sam isn't keen on the Nene signing
therefore will not play him opinion – who knows but it's difficult to come
up with alternative theories.
Performances are poor, the players' confidence is fragile which may well be
due to the uncertainty surrounding the manager's own future. The fans are
fed up and the club has nothing to play for except more money and pride.
Get Nene on the pitch to add a touch of class to our misfiring front line
and we may just see the team scoring the required amount of goals in
remaining games to actually seal all three points and put some smiles back
on the faces of our fans.
Sam wouldn't even need to tweak the formation too much either, but one
simple addition to the starting XI to inject some pace and flare could make
a small change return huge results for the good of the team.
Not only that, but Big Sam can bow out with some dignity at the end of the
season which he surely deserves like any other human being.
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Leroy: "No secrets in football – Sam will know"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
This managerial situation at West Ham is doing nobody any good and hasn't
been well handled at all.
Football is a tiny village where it's impossible to keep a secret and the
idea that Sam Allardyce won't have heard if someone else is approached over
his job is crazy. He will know.
sam-allardyce_1712364cBet your life away that were a boss to be approached
via an agent he would have got in touch with Sam to let him know the score.
It goes with the territory.
Sam's agent will have been on the case with other clubs. I'm certain of that
and he will never be out of work.I would reckon he is at the top or close to
the top of the wanted list at several clubs.
My own view is that given a contract hasn't been handed to him by now –
regardless of this stuff about only doing the deed at the end of each season
– means that the owners are on the case trying to find a new manager.
We hear the names Moyes and Bielsa. No doubt there are others but David
Sullivan and David Gold won't appoint until they are 100 per cent sure they
have the right man.
Only if they don't find him can we expect them to turn back and offer Sam
another deal but it may well be by then that he has another job anyway and
tells them 'thanks but no thanks.'
He could of course tell them to shove it even if he hasn't got another
position lined up but if it were me I wouldn't.
It's a bit of a blow to the ego to only be offered a contract because they
can't find anyone else but West Ham United is a great club with fabulous
young players coming through like Cressie, Sak and Cheik Kouyate.
Nobody would walk away from that in a hurry but of course he may not get
that chance because it seems to me that the circumstances show conclusively
they are gonna get themselves a new man.
That's their call but like I say it's all been badly handled with leaden
feet. The story has been running for months and has become a distraction to
everything else that's been going on and has possibly finally affected the
performances.
It's all too late now to do anything about that but it's not been great to
watch.
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West Ham release new image of 'The Academy' ahead of their move to the
Olympic Stadium
Evening Standard
CHARLIE DORIS
Published: 15 April 2015 Updated: 18:38, 15 April 2015
West Ham United have released a fresh image of their new supporter's bar
which will feature in their new home at the Olympic Stadium.
Pictures of 'The Academy' were released shortly after the club confirmed
that the high demand for corporate hospitality ahead of their move to
Stratford had forced them to build an additional state of the art companion
lounge.
Similar to the Hammers original supporters' bar 'The Boleyn', the club's
newest lounge promises fans a memorable match day experience, a gourmet meal
and a perfect view of West Ham's Premier League campaign.
Although the club will cut ties with its historic home when they make their
move across East London in 2016, 'The Academy' will pay homage to the club's
past and its famous academy with portraits celebrating Hammers legends and
current stars like Mark Noble.
The West Ham captain spoke of his excitement for the new development and
said that the new bar will give young players coming through an added
incentive to achieve at the club.
Noble stated "As a player, I am already dreaming of creating memories at
West Ham's new Stadium on the pitch, but the idea that Academy graduates
like me will also be honoured with a dedicated space is a big thrill, it
makes you proud."
West Ham Academy manager Terry Westley also spoke of his determination to
continue the club's tradition of developing world-class talent after
visiting the new site with his current crop of young stars.
"You look back at Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Trevor Brooking
and then I think of the Ferdinands, Lampard, Cole, Defoe, Carrick. That is
what this lot have got to do, that is now the task.
Members of 'The Academy' will be entitled to entry to every Premier League
home game, three cup games, priority for cup semi-finals and finals and a
dedicated VIP entrance to the stadium.
Current Hammers season ticket holders will have the opportunity to gain
membership to 'The Academy' from the club's Reservation Centre in May 2015.
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Wednesday, April 15
Daily WHUFC News - 15th April 2015
Backroom Blog - Tony Carr
WHUFC.com
Club Ambassador Tony Carr MBE has had an illustrious and successful career
at West Ham United, helping to nurture some of the best Academy graduates
the Club has ever produced. Reflecting on his 42 years at the Club for an
upcoming Premier League World documentary due to air this summer, Carr
reminisced about his life from an emerging prospect himself in the 1960s to
his current role as Club Ambassador.
Speaking after the end of filming, on a gloriously sunny day at the Boleyn
Ground, Carr spoke to www.whufc.com...
The documentary came about after I was approached by Premier League
Productions and Premier League World to do a piece about my 40 odd years at
West Ham United. I was delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate what
we've achieved over the years. They've contacted some of the old players who
came through the youth system here, the likes of Frank Lampard, Rio
Ferdinand and Joe Cole. Hopefully when it comes out, the fans will enjoy it
because these were some incredible years for the club. Looking back, 42
years is a long time and there are a lot of memories so you can't cover
everything, I hoped I haven't missed anyone out – if I have I apologise!
It's nice to look back, but at the same time I'm really enjoying my new role
as Club Ambassador.
Obviously I'm still keeping my finger on the pulse on what's going on at the
Academy. I still love watching the youth team play and it's great to see so
many young coaches as well as players involved with the Academy. Since he's
come in, Terry Westley has done a fantastic job, he's trying to implement
new ideas which is great for everyone because I think the Academy needed a
new impetus and fresh eyes and Terry has done that. Nothing stays the same,
especially in football, and we need to evolve. Hopefully he can get some of
our promising young players across that line and into the first team because
we've struggled to do that over the last few years.
Currently, we've got some outstanding young players in our Academy, Reece
Oxford, Vashon Neufville and Anthony Scully are all internationals who are
doing very well. In the U21s, Josh Cullen is a great talent, and on the
fringes of getting an opportunity for the first team. He was Academy player
of the year last season after having an outstanding year. He's in the Mark
Noble mould, he's got great character and desire and he's West Ham through
and through. He just needs an opportunity and I'm sure he'll get it soon.
The production line may not be as fast as it once was but I think we're
getting there. We've had a number of youth players on the first team bench
who have not quite made it onto the pitch yet. Reece Burke played in the
League Cup and a few pre-season games which was fantastic for him. It's
incredibly tough to blood you talent, tougher than I was doing it and it's
getting tougher. Now, you get more than a million pounds per place in
Premier League prize money so it's a big incentive to fight for every place.
It used to be the case that if you were safe from relegation with a few
games to go you'd give the younger places a go but it's very hard to do that
now.
On another note, I'm delighted that Mark Noble and James Tomkins have signed
new long-term contracts. It is fantastic for the club and the fans and it
just shows how the club is growing. Not long ago we were producing the
players but finding it hard to keep them so it's great to see them commit
their futures to the club.
Tony Carr
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Dev Squad drawn against Hong Kong Champions
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Development Squad have been drawn in Group B of the HKFC
Citibank Soccer Sevens tournament due to be held between May 29-31. The
Hammers will travel to Hong Kong to participate in the prestigious
tournament following the end of their Barclays U21 Premier League Campaign,
where they will face Hong Kong champions and last year's finalists Kitchee,
Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG and HKFC Captain's Select. This is
the first time the Hammers have taken part in the international competition
since 2012. Speaking ahead of the competition, Academy manager Terry Westley
said: "We were invited to participate which is nice. I've been to the
tournament before when I was at Birmingham City, so I know a little bit
about it.
"It's a very fast, physically demanding seven-a-side tournament played in
challenging conditions and presents a different type of experience. It's a
nice thing for us to be involved in at the end of the season. "It's a real
challenge for them. As its seven-a-side we'll be taking mainly attacking
players. We're hoping it'll be a great experience."
Alongside West Ham, fellow Premier League teams Stoke City, Aston Villa,
Leicester City and Newcastle United will all be sending teams to compete
During the tournament, we'll have match reports, pictures and reaction on
www.whufc.com and across all our platforms.
The full draw for the HKFC Soccer Sevens is:
Group A: Newcastle United (ENG), Leicester City (ENG), HK Premier League
Club 1 (HKG), Singapore Cricket Club (SIN)
Group B: West Ham United (ENG), Kitchee (HKG), Shanghai SIPG (CHN), HKFC
Captain's Select (HKG)
Group C: Aston Villa (ENG), Wellington Phoenix (NZL), HK Premier League Club
2 (HKG), Hong Kong Football Club (HKG)
Group D: Stoke City (ENG), Atletico Madrid (SPA), HKFA U-20 (HKG), Yau Yee
League Select (HKG)
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New Stadium priority window for Academy Members
WHUFC.com
Academy Members will have an exclusive 24-hour priority window on Tuesday 21
April to join the Season Ticket Priority List for the new Stadium. This is
the only way for Academy Members to guarantee priority when it comes to
Season Tickets for the 2016/17 campaign, the Club's first on Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park.
All existing Academy Members will be eligible to join the Season Ticket
Priority List free of charge from 9am on Tuesday 21 April. To do so, they
will need to visit reservations.whufc.com and submit their details.
The Season Ticket Priority List will then become available from 9am on
Wednesday 22 April to all supporters, who will be required to pay a £10
deposit to join. The deposit is non-refundable but will be redeemed against
the purchase of a 2016/17 Season Ticket.
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Collins pulls no punches
WHUFC.com
James Collins pulled no punches after West Ham United saw another lead
disappear in the dying seconds on Saturday. With the Hammers seemingly on
course to record successive Barclays Premier League home wins, Stoke City's
Marko Arnautovic plundered a 95th minute leveller to floor Collins and co.
It is a feeling that the Wales international is becoming all too accustomed
to and he insists that the Hammers have to be more professional in the
game's final throes. "It's a loss," he said. "The game's over, we've got to
be more street wise and know how to win games. We've done it too many times
this season and we haven't learned from it. Everyone's bitterly
disappointed. "We've only ourselves to blame. The game's over, we've got to
keep it in the corner, do anything to win the football match and we're not
doing that. "It was three points in the bag, not the prettiest game again.
But three points are three points, especially with the run we're on. There's
not a lot more you can say."
On a more positive note, Collins was suitably impressed with Aaron
Cresswell's splendid opener, one that was certainly worthy of winning the
game. He continued: "It's a great free-kick and he's worked on it a bit. We
haven't scored too many from direct free-kicks, I can hardly remember any,
so for him to do that was great. Obviously it would have been better for him
if we'd hung on for the win, but that hasn't happened."
The No19 felt the Hammers could and should have made more of their perfect
start, rather than being forced to retreat in the game's latter stages.
"They had a lot of chances. They've hit the post and the two goals are
offside, I know. But if you go 1-0 up in the first seven minutes, you feel
like you've got to push on and go to score more goals, not sit back and hang
on, as we did on Saturday."
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Allardyce, Sheringham, Bilic and Sakho: Tuesday's news
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 14th April 2015
By: Staff Writer #2
Get the very latest West Ham news in one place, with our new daily media
round-up!
On this day - 14 April
West Ham United 6-0 Brighton & Hove Albion, npower Championship, 14 April
2012
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2014/04/14/on-this-day-14-april_2236884_3
765693
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho ruled out for the rest of the season with
suspected torn thigh muscle
The 25-year-old marksman, who has scored 12 goals this season, is understood
to have sustained the injury in Saturday's draw at home to Stoke.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/west-ham-striker-diafra-sakho-55
13664
Slaven Bilic rubbishes rumours of a West Ham switch
SLAVEN BILIC has dismissed rumours that he's holding talks with West Ham,
according to reports in Turkey.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/436361/Slaven-Bilic-rubbishes-rumo
urs-West-Ham-switch
West Ham confirm double injury blow ahead of Manchester City clash
West Ham Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke has
confirmed strike pair Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho picked up injuries at
the weekend.
http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/west-ham/west_ham_confirm_doubl
e_injury_blow_ahead_of_manchester_city_clash_1_4033177
West Ham stars deliver a masterclass to the kids
Hammers first-teamers plus attacking coach Teddy Sheringham take Academy
boys through their paces
http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/west-ham/west_ham_stars_deliver
_a_masterclass_to_the_kids_1_4032987
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West Ham will struggle to land David Moyes, says Graham Hunter
Last Updated: 14/04/15 12:08pm
SSN
West Ham will find it difficult to lure David Moyes to Upton Park this
summer, according to Spanish football expert Graham Hunter. He told Revista
de la Liga's live Periscope Q&A that Moyes is happy at Real Sociedad in La
Liga, where he has been in charge since November.
And Hunter says West Ham would find it difficult to convince the former
Manchester United and Everton boss to return to the Premier League, should
they look to replace Sam Allardyce at the end of the season. "If you'd
asked me that question six or seven months ago, when David Moyes was
beginning to find his feet (at Real Sociedad), not just at the club but in
the city, away from his family, the changing culture and climate, I would
have said it's feasible," said Hunter. "But he's enjoying himself,
absolutely finding that the thing he's always aspired to, working with a
high-profile club on the continent, can be as rewarding and interesting as
he imagined it to be.
"The players are working for him, his team is playing better, he has the
director of football more onside than ever and the club president is
beginning to think about some of the reforms he wants implemented. "So for
West Ham or anybody to drag him away will be much tougher now than it would
have been a few months ago."
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I'M NOT BEING ANTI-SAM, BUT...
By Iain Dale 14 Apr 2015 at 08:00
West Ham till I Die
Guest Post by Iron Fish
First of all, this is NOT an anti-Sam or pro-Sam thread, it is a thread from
someone who has wavered between the 2 for far too long now, but a poster who
feels it is time for change.
I would like to say a massive Thank-you to Sam Allardyce. Big Sam saved this
club, re-built our failing squad, brought back a "winning" mentality and has
turned this club around in the space of 4 years.
I remember being sat in the stands after we lost our final game of the
season in 2011 against a poor Sunderland team, we lost 3-0 with no
leadership, no fight and very little footballing quality. I thought then we
were doomed – I could not see how we would ever get back to the Premiership.
But we did, and we have one man to thank for that, and that man is Sam
Allardyce. Yes, he had great support from the board, who have always dipped
into their own pockets, but the one man who turned our great club around,
was Sam Allardyce.
But, ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for change – we have the greatest
opportunity in our footballing history, to get this club into the top 6, in
the next few years, with a fantastic new stadium, then build us into a top 4
side, within the next 5-10 years. We can do it, but to do that, it is of my
opinion, we need to change our manager in June of this year.
So, who should be the next manager? Well the board are insisting on
Premiership management experience, which would rule out Bielsa, Bilic, De
Boer, Rijkard, Simeone and Howe – all names we are linked with on a daily
basis. The only names that will tick that box are Redknapp, Rafa and Moyes.
Redknapp would probably cause even more divide against our loyal fan base,
Rafa would want at least £6m a year, plus another £50m – £75m on transfer
funds, which leaves one man………David Moyes.
He would make the perfect successor to Big Sam. It would keep the pro-Sam
supporters happy, as Moyes would set-up a similar way to Sam, but would want
wing backs, a pacey midfield and a big striker. He would set-up for us to
defend well, but might be more pleasing on the eye going forward. I think he
would bring more exciting football to our club, with a focus on scoring
goals too, which would keep our anti-Sam supporters happy. David Moyes could
re-UNITE our brilliant fan base.
It just seems to be the logical choice. David Moyes did a great job at both
Preston North End (achieving a 48.29% win ratio), and did a great job at
Everton, with limited resources (42.08% win ratio). If you look at his Man
Utd stats (52.94% win ratio), he actually did a pretty good job there too,
but the fans were never going to take to him, he just was not a big enough
name for them. Don't forget, he brought in Fellani, and look what he is
doing for Man Utd now. All of these are very impressive stats, and would
clearly move us forward from where we are now with Sam (38.29% win ratio –
he achieved 41.24% at Bolton, 33.33% at Newcastle and 34.88% at Blackburn).
Other key factors include, he would be working again with Tony Henry, our
new Recruitment Director. Tony would be the ideal middle man, working
closely with the board and working closely with David Moyes. We would not
need to completely change the current squad. The likes of Nolan, Cole,
O'Brien and Jussi would surely leave, but David Moyes would build a team
around the likes of Carroll, Sackho and Valencia, and might even add the
likes of Mirallas and Baines-type players, adding pace and creativity.
Surely, we would all be happy with that? A winning mentality, good solid
defence, but more creativity and looking to score goals. More energy, more
pace and more creativity – who does not want any of that?
Finally, and probably most importantly to the board, David Moyes would not
be a risk to our great club. We would not get us relegated in our last year
at the Boleyn Ground or the 1st year at the Olympic Stadium. David Moyes
would build on very strong foundations, the same foundations that Sam has
set-up and built for us over the last 4 years. Thank-you Sam Allardyce, you
are handing over a stable team and club to your younger successor, David
Moyes………..COME ON YOU IRONS !!!!
PS. I've got my tin hat at the ready, but I really do think this will
happen.
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Chelsea and Manchester City to battle it out for West Ham defender Aaron
Cresswell in the summer
17:42, 14 April 2015 By Darren Lewis
The 25-year-old joined the Hammers from Ipswich last summer for £2million
and has been hugely impressive since
The Mirror
Chelsea have joined Manchester City in the chase for West Ham left-back
Aaron Cresswell . The Irons have been digging their heels in after City's
initial interest but Chelsea 's admiration has presented them with a fresh
problem. The Blues are considering their options because Filipe Luis is
mulling over a move back to Atletico Madrid after just one season at
Stamford Bridge. Cresswell, 25, has been outstanding since his arrival at
Upton Park last summer for just £2million from Ipswich. West Ham believe
they can hold on to him without handing him a new deal as he signed a
lucrative five-year contract when he signed for the club last July. But both
Chelsea and City could test that defiance if they follow through with their
interest. Cresswell has scored twice for the Hammers, including last
Saturday's stunning free-kick in the 1-1 draw against Stoke.
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Hammers press on with player targets
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham insiders were today dismissing reports that Sam Allardyce's
uncertain position was hindering the club's summer signing policy.
It's the time of year when all sorts of stories get planted in the media
about any number of transfer related situations and it's not hard to work
out who the beneficiary of each of them may be. One national 'paper reported
this morning the club could "miss out on summer targets due to doubts over
who will be in charge at Upton Park next year."
This was dropped into a gossip section where the suggestion was made that
players wouldn't be ready to sign until the "identified targets" knew who
was in charge! However, that report assumed no decision has been made on the
next manager and that the club and person – whoever he may be – doesn't
already know the position! With David Sullivan's recruitment director Tony
Henry (above right) having a bigger and bigger say on the positions that
need filling no problems are expected in attracting the right players.
We were told: "The managerial situation would be explained clearly to any
potential signings but the report doesn't add up because that process
doesn't start until we have permission to talk to them anyway …and that's
not now! "Obviously we know who and who isn't available in the summer and by
that time we will have settled the managerial situation anyway."
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Hammers on Hernandez
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham are refusing to deny an interest in Manchester United's Javier
Hernandez. The Mexican striker – on loan at Real Madrid – is today being
linked with a move to Italian outfit Lazio. But ourselves, Liverpool, Spurs
and Southampton have also been linked with the player who has suffered a
serious loss of form whilst in Spain. The Hammers have promised to bring in
a couple of well known world names this summer and Hernandez would fit the
bill as one of them. We were told: "We're aware of his availability and
anything else on the transfer front is possible in the summer. We will
certainly need front line reinforcements."
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Collins: "We haven't learned…it's our fault"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret 7 Hugh
James Collins has admitted the Hammers have only themselves to blame for
surrendering points in the dying minutes of games. His admission comes soon
after Enner Valencia made it clear the side was falling back too far
defensively after going in front. Collins is as fed-up as everybody else
with the situation declaring on the official site: "It's a loss. The game's
over, we've got to be more street wise and know how to win games. "We've
done it too many times this season and we haven't learned from it.
Everyone's bitterly disappointed. "We've only ourselves to blame. The game's
over, we've got to keep it in the corner, do anything to win the football
match and we're not doing that. And Enner Valencis said: It's true that
after the result we can say that after we scored we went back a bit too far,
but they are a good side and looked after the ball well." Earlier today we
reported sources inside the club unhappy that we appear to be defending one
goal leads and the players are clearly showing a measure of agreement."
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Deep gloom but no public announcements
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in News Agenda, Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham United will be making absolutely no public declarations on Sam
Allardyce's position until the last ball of the season has been kicked.
ClaretandHugh has taken very much on board the worries and frustrations of
fans wanting an end to the constant speculation over the manager's position.
But despite constant nagging, the club is keeping the shutters closed until
the end of the season in line with their well known and oft stated policy.
However, there is desperate gloom about the team's inability to hold onto
leads with one source saying: "It's become a pschological thing and people
aren't helping themselves in trying to protect one goal leads. "We are
allowing teams to dominate us at home and at times look like a League Two
side defending against a Premier League side. " However, the board is
remaining entirely tight-lipped on the managerial issue given that all sides
involved have given each other their word nothing will be said before the
end of the season.
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Benitez Irons link fading and dying
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham's link with Rafa Benitez is this morning reported as 'fading and
dying' as he finds himself linked with Manchester City next season. This is
in line with reports ClaretandHugh has been bringing over the past fortnight
after being told that the former Liverpool boss was eyeing the Etihad or
Anfield jobs. Latest reports suggest that City may want the Spaniard as a
caretaker boss on the likely firing of Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the
season before the club moves for Pep Guardiola next summer. Benitez had been
a provisional candidate for the Hammers until it became clear the talking
would start at £6 million a year. But the major stumbling block was the
manager's desire to take one of the country's big clubs preferably in the
north west close to the family's Liverpool home. Benitz's wife Maria still
lives in the Merseyside area and with her husband out of contract this
summer, a reunion in the UK is now on the cards.
A source told Claretandhugh this morning: "As we told you several weeks back
it was a hopeful thing rather than a truly confident one.
"You never say never but he's a top manager who will be hunted by a lot of
clubs although the north west looks his most likely destination if it can be
made to happen."
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Carlton Cole eyes MLS switch if West Ham deal falls through
Simon Osborn for Metro.co.uk
Tuesday 14 Apr 2015 8:53 am
West Ham striker Carlton Cole says he will move abroad if the Hammers do not
offer him a new contract to stay at Upton Park. The former England star's
current deal expires at the end of the season and it is unlikely he will not
be offered new terms by the East End club.
'I love the place, I love the fans, I love everything about West Ham,' said
Cole. 'But I know all good things do come to an end sometimes and you have
got to just crack on. 'I'm trying my best to put myself in the best position
to have a new contract, if not at West Ham then somewhere else. 'I'm quite
open, I am an adventurous guy. I wouldn't mind a bit of China or even the
MLS, you never know. I'm really open and I just want to see what offers are
on the table and take it from there.' The 31-year-old joined West Ham in
2006 and has scored 67 goals in just under 300 games for the club.
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West Ham 'making £10m offer to sign Arsenals Carl Jenkinson'
Jamie Sanderson for Metro.co.uk
Monday 13 Apr 2015 7:20 am
West Ham are reportedly looking to win the race for Carl Jenkinson by
offering Arsenal £10million for his services. Jenkinson had impressed during
a season-long loan at Upton Park, and the Hammers have been looking into
making the deal permanent. Liverpool have also been sniffing around, as they
look to replace Glen Johnson, but reports say West Ham will blow them out of
the water with a £10million offer. Arsenal would likely accept that, with
Mathieu Debuchy, Hector Bellerin and Calum Chambers all ahead of him in the
right-back slot.
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West Ham boys need a rocket up their backsides
13:30 14 April 2015
London 24
Dave Evans
West Ham fan James Corden is getting rave reviews in the States for his new
Late, Late Show – but for the Hammers it is nothing but misery and
condemnation. Sam Allardyce was chuckling away on The Clare Balding Show on
Friday night, but there was nothing much to laugh about from this dismal
late, late show which culminated in Stoke's deserved injury-time equaliser.
From the moment that Aaron Cresswell arrowed a superb free kick into the top
corner, until the final minute of injury time, West Ham were second best
against a Potters side who had little to play for either. Manager Sam
Allardyce rued the late goals that the Hammers have conceded in recent
games, but if you don't play well enough in the other 90 minutes, you don't
really deserve to hang on for the three points.
Mark Hughes' side had more attacking intent. They hit the post and had two
goals ruled out for offside before they finally scored, while the best West
Ham had to offer was Cheikhou Kouyate's shot which was saved and Carlton
Cole's header which went wide from Stewart Downing's cross. "We should have
50 points by now," insisted the boss. "We've now thrown away seven points in
the last few minutes.
"Had we not conceded those late goals against Manchester United, Tottenham
and Leicester we would have our record number of points since being back in
the Premier League. "We are struggling to find the key element that will
help us to close out games. We are panicking towards the end of games and
not keeping possession. "I think their goal was a very good one, but we
should have dealt with it better than we did. We are very nervous because
we've conceded late goals before."
With the likes of Alex Song and Mark Noble in the middle of the park, as
well as Downing further forward, the Hammers really should have dominated
possession. But they gave it away too often and put pressure on their
defence. This was not the fault of the back four, it was those further
forward to blame. With West Ham safe in the Premier League and leading in
this game, surely it was time for some more attacking endeavour. But Enner
Valencia played for much of the game on the wing, denying Diafra Sakho the
support he needed, while when Noble and Song are in the same team, they seem
to get in each other's way instead of complementing each other. Why
Allardyce does not give a start to Brazilian Nene remains a mystery. When he
comes on he seems to have some useful trickery, but once again the manager
opted for Kevin Nolan to come off the bench. Surely it is also time to have
a look at someone like Reece Oxford in defence or Diego Poyet in midfield,
as well as Nene up front just to freshen things up a little, though maybe
not next Sunday at Manchester City! This West Ham team needs a rocket up
their backside. Too many seem to have run out of steam and perhaps
predictably there is not the urgency there was earlier in the season.
Unless they can find it then they will not make the top 10.
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Diafra Sakho out for the season as West Ham suffer blow with striker's
injury
West Ham drew 1-1 with Stoke City in the Premier League on Saturday
Diafra Sakho was forced off after 59 minutes due to an injury
It is understood the striker has torn a thigh muscle during the match
Sakho is unlikely to be able to feature for West Ham again this season
By KIERAN GILL FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 07:59, 14 April 2015 | UPDATED: 12:40, 14 April 2015
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho is out for the remainder of the season after
tearing a thigh muscle on Saturday against Stoke City.
The 25-year-old is West Ham's runaway top scorer this season with 12 goals
and was forced off after 59 minutes during their 1-1 draw at home. West Ham
claimed Sakho could return 'before the end of the season' on their official
website, but it appears unlikely the Senegal international will be fit
enough to feature before the next campaign. Ten of Sakho's 12 goals came in
the Barclays Premier League, with Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing the
club's next top scorers with just five apiece. It comes as a blow for
manager Sam Allardyce who is aiming to finish in eighth position as he
fights for a new contract with West Ham. Allardyce's current deal expires at
the end of the season and it is not certain co-owners David Gold and David
Sullivan will keep him on, despite already beating last season's total by
three points.
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WHUFC.com
Club Ambassador Tony Carr MBE has had an illustrious and successful career
at West Ham United, helping to nurture some of the best Academy graduates
the Club has ever produced. Reflecting on his 42 years at the Club for an
upcoming Premier League World documentary due to air this summer, Carr
reminisced about his life from an emerging prospect himself in the 1960s to
his current role as Club Ambassador.
Speaking after the end of filming, on a gloriously sunny day at the Boleyn
Ground, Carr spoke to www.whufc.com...
The documentary came about after I was approached by Premier League
Productions and Premier League World to do a piece about my 40 odd years at
West Ham United. I was delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate what
we've achieved over the years. They've contacted some of the old players who
came through the youth system here, the likes of Frank Lampard, Rio
Ferdinand and Joe Cole. Hopefully when it comes out, the fans will enjoy it
because these were some incredible years for the club. Looking back, 42
years is a long time and there are a lot of memories so you can't cover
everything, I hoped I haven't missed anyone out – if I have I apologise!
It's nice to look back, but at the same time I'm really enjoying my new role
as Club Ambassador.
Obviously I'm still keeping my finger on the pulse on what's going on at the
Academy. I still love watching the youth team play and it's great to see so
many young coaches as well as players involved with the Academy. Since he's
come in, Terry Westley has done a fantastic job, he's trying to implement
new ideas which is great for everyone because I think the Academy needed a
new impetus and fresh eyes and Terry has done that. Nothing stays the same,
especially in football, and we need to evolve. Hopefully he can get some of
our promising young players across that line and into the first team because
we've struggled to do that over the last few years.
Currently, we've got some outstanding young players in our Academy, Reece
Oxford, Vashon Neufville and Anthony Scully are all internationals who are
doing very well. In the U21s, Josh Cullen is a great talent, and on the
fringes of getting an opportunity for the first team. He was Academy player
of the year last season after having an outstanding year. He's in the Mark
Noble mould, he's got great character and desire and he's West Ham through
and through. He just needs an opportunity and I'm sure he'll get it soon.
The production line may not be as fast as it once was but I think we're
getting there. We've had a number of youth players on the first team bench
who have not quite made it onto the pitch yet. Reece Burke played in the
League Cup and a few pre-season games which was fantastic for him. It's
incredibly tough to blood you talent, tougher than I was doing it and it's
getting tougher. Now, you get more than a million pounds per place in
Premier League prize money so it's a big incentive to fight for every place.
It used to be the case that if you were safe from relegation with a few
games to go you'd give the younger places a go but it's very hard to do that
now.
On another note, I'm delighted that Mark Noble and James Tomkins have signed
new long-term contracts. It is fantastic for the club and the fans and it
just shows how the club is growing. Not long ago we were producing the
players but finding it hard to keep them so it's great to see them commit
their futures to the club.
Tony Carr
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Dev Squad drawn against Hong Kong Champions
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Development Squad have been drawn in Group B of the HKFC
Citibank Soccer Sevens tournament due to be held between May 29-31. The
Hammers will travel to Hong Kong to participate in the prestigious
tournament following the end of their Barclays U21 Premier League Campaign,
where they will face Hong Kong champions and last year's finalists Kitchee,
Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG and HKFC Captain's Select. This is
the first time the Hammers have taken part in the international competition
since 2012. Speaking ahead of the competition, Academy manager Terry Westley
said: "We were invited to participate which is nice. I've been to the
tournament before when I was at Birmingham City, so I know a little bit
about it.
"It's a very fast, physically demanding seven-a-side tournament played in
challenging conditions and presents a different type of experience. It's a
nice thing for us to be involved in at the end of the season. "It's a real
challenge for them. As its seven-a-side we'll be taking mainly attacking
players. We're hoping it'll be a great experience."
Alongside West Ham, fellow Premier League teams Stoke City, Aston Villa,
Leicester City and Newcastle United will all be sending teams to compete
During the tournament, we'll have match reports, pictures and reaction on
www.whufc.com and across all our platforms.
The full draw for the HKFC Soccer Sevens is:
Group A: Newcastle United (ENG), Leicester City (ENG), HK Premier League
Club 1 (HKG), Singapore Cricket Club (SIN)
Group B: West Ham United (ENG), Kitchee (HKG), Shanghai SIPG (CHN), HKFC
Captain's Select (HKG)
Group C: Aston Villa (ENG), Wellington Phoenix (NZL), HK Premier League Club
2 (HKG), Hong Kong Football Club (HKG)
Group D: Stoke City (ENG), Atletico Madrid (SPA), HKFA U-20 (HKG), Yau Yee
League Select (HKG)
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New Stadium priority window for Academy Members
WHUFC.com
Academy Members will have an exclusive 24-hour priority window on Tuesday 21
April to join the Season Ticket Priority List for the new Stadium. This is
the only way for Academy Members to guarantee priority when it comes to
Season Tickets for the 2016/17 campaign, the Club's first on Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park.
All existing Academy Members will be eligible to join the Season Ticket
Priority List free of charge from 9am on Tuesday 21 April. To do so, they
will need to visit reservations.whufc.com and submit their details.
The Season Ticket Priority List will then become available from 9am on
Wednesday 22 April to all supporters, who will be required to pay a £10
deposit to join. The deposit is non-refundable but will be redeemed against
the purchase of a 2016/17 Season Ticket.
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Collins pulls no punches
WHUFC.com
James Collins pulled no punches after West Ham United saw another lead
disappear in the dying seconds on Saturday. With the Hammers seemingly on
course to record successive Barclays Premier League home wins, Stoke City's
Marko Arnautovic plundered a 95th minute leveller to floor Collins and co.
It is a feeling that the Wales international is becoming all too accustomed
to and he insists that the Hammers have to be more professional in the
game's final throes. "It's a loss," he said. "The game's over, we've got to
be more street wise and know how to win games. We've done it too many times
this season and we haven't learned from it. Everyone's bitterly
disappointed. "We've only ourselves to blame. The game's over, we've got to
keep it in the corner, do anything to win the football match and we're not
doing that. "It was three points in the bag, not the prettiest game again.
But three points are three points, especially with the run we're on. There's
not a lot more you can say."
On a more positive note, Collins was suitably impressed with Aaron
Cresswell's splendid opener, one that was certainly worthy of winning the
game. He continued: "It's a great free-kick and he's worked on it a bit. We
haven't scored too many from direct free-kicks, I can hardly remember any,
so for him to do that was great. Obviously it would have been better for him
if we'd hung on for the win, but that hasn't happened."
The No19 felt the Hammers could and should have made more of their perfect
start, rather than being forced to retreat in the game's latter stages.
"They had a lot of chances. They've hit the post and the two goals are
offside, I know. But if you go 1-0 up in the first seven minutes, you feel
like you've got to push on and go to score more goals, not sit back and hang
on, as we did on Saturday."
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Allardyce, Sheringham, Bilic and Sakho: Tuesday's news
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 14th April 2015
By: Staff Writer #2
Get the very latest West Ham news in one place, with our new daily media
round-up!
On this day - 14 April
West Ham United 6-0 Brighton & Hove Albion, npower Championship, 14 April
2012
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2014/04/14/on-this-day-14-april_2236884_3
765693
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho ruled out for the rest of the season with
suspected torn thigh muscle
The 25-year-old marksman, who has scored 12 goals this season, is understood
to have sustained the injury in Saturday's draw at home to Stoke.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/west-ham-striker-diafra-sakho-55
13664
Slaven Bilic rubbishes rumours of a West Ham switch
SLAVEN BILIC has dismissed rumours that he's holding talks with West Ham,
according to reports in Turkey.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/436361/Slaven-Bilic-rubbishes-rumo
urs-West-Ham-switch
West Ham confirm double injury blow ahead of Manchester City clash
West Ham Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke has
confirmed strike pair Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho picked up injuries at
the weekend.
http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/west-ham/west_ham_confirm_doubl
e_injury_blow_ahead_of_manchester_city_clash_1_4033177
West Ham stars deliver a masterclass to the kids
Hammers first-teamers plus attacking coach Teddy Sheringham take Academy
boys through their paces
http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/west-ham/west_ham_stars_deliver
_a_masterclass_to_the_kids_1_4032987
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West Ham will struggle to land David Moyes, says Graham Hunter
Last Updated: 14/04/15 12:08pm
SSN
West Ham will find it difficult to lure David Moyes to Upton Park this
summer, according to Spanish football expert Graham Hunter. He told Revista
de la Liga's live Periscope Q&A that Moyes is happy at Real Sociedad in La
Liga, where he has been in charge since November.
And Hunter says West Ham would find it difficult to convince the former
Manchester United and Everton boss to return to the Premier League, should
they look to replace Sam Allardyce at the end of the season. "If you'd
asked me that question six or seven months ago, when David Moyes was
beginning to find his feet (at Real Sociedad), not just at the club but in
the city, away from his family, the changing culture and climate, I would
have said it's feasible," said Hunter. "But he's enjoying himself,
absolutely finding that the thing he's always aspired to, working with a
high-profile club on the continent, can be as rewarding and interesting as
he imagined it to be.
"The players are working for him, his team is playing better, he has the
director of football more onside than ever and the club president is
beginning to think about some of the reforms he wants implemented. "So for
West Ham or anybody to drag him away will be much tougher now than it would
have been a few months ago."
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I'M NOT BEING ANTI-SAM, BUT...
By Iain Dale 14 Apr 2015 at 08:00
West Ham till I Die
Guest Post by Iron Fish
First of all, this is NOT an anti-Sam or pro-Sam thread, it is a thread from
someone who has wavered between the 2 for far too long now, but a poster who
feels it is time for change.
I would like to say a massive Thank-you to Sam Allardyce. Big Sam saved this
club, re-built our failing squad, brought back a "winning" mentality and has
turned this club around in the space of 4 years.
I remember being sat in the stands after we lost our final game of the
season in 2011 against a poor Sunderland team, we lost 3-0 with no
leadership, no fight and very little footballing quality. I thought then we
were doomed – I could not see how we would ever get back to the Premiership.
But we did, and we have one man to thank for that, and that man is Sam
Allardyce. Yes, he had great support from the board, who have always dipped
into their own pockets, but the one man who turned our great club around,
was Sam Allardyce.
But, ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for change – we have the greatest
opportunity in our footballing history, to get this club into the top 6, in
the next few years, with a fantastic new stadium, then build us into a top 4
side, within the next 5-10 years. We can do it, but to do that, it is of my
opinion, we need to change our manager in June of this year.
So, who should be the next manager? Well the board are insisting on
Premiership management experience, which would rule out Bielsa, Bilic, De
Boer, Rijkard, Simeone and Howe – all names we are linked with on a daily
basis. The only names that will tick that box are Redknapp, Rafa and Moyes.
Redknapp would probably cause even more divide against our loyal fan base,
Rafa would want at least £6m a year, plus another £50m – £75m on transfer
funds, which leaves one man………David Moyes.
He would make the perfect successor to Big Sam. It would keep the pro-Sam
supporters happy, as Moyes would set-up a similar way to Sam, but would want
wing backs, a pacey midfield and a big striker. He would set-up for us to
defend well, but might be more pleasing on the eye going forward. I think he
would bring more exciting football to our club, with a focus on scoring
goals too, which would keep our anti-Sam supporters happy. David Moyes could
re-UNITE our brilliant fan base.
It just seems to be the logical choice. David Moyes did a great job at both
Preston North End (achieving a 48.29% win ratio), and did a great job at
Everton, with limited resources (42.08% win ratio). If you look at his Man
Utd stats (52.94% win ratio), he actually did a pretty good job there too,
but the fans were never going to take to him, he just was not a big enough
name for them. Don't forget, he brought in Fellani, and look what he is
doing for Man Utd now. All of these are very impressive stats, and would
clearly move us forward from where we are now with Sam (38.29% win ratio –
he achieved 41.24% at Bolton, 33.33% at Newcastle and 34.88% at Blackburn).
Other key factors include, he would be working again with Tony Henry, our
new Recruitment Director. Tony would be the ideal middle man, working
closely with the board and working closely with David Moyes. We would not
need to completely change the current squad. The likes of Nolan, Cole,
O'Brien and Jussi would surely leave, but David Moyes would build a team
around the likes of Carroll, Sackho and Valencia, and might even add the
likes of Mirallas and Baines-type players, adding pace and creativity.
Surely, we would all be happy with that? A winning mentality, good solid
defence, but more creativity and looking to score goals. More energy, more
pace and more creativity – who does not want any of that?
Finally, and probably most importantly to the board, David Moyes would not
be a risk to our great club. We would not get us relegated in our last year
at the Boleyn Ground or the 1st year at the Olympic Stadium. David Moyes
would build on very strong foundations, the same foundations that Sam has
set-up and built for us over the last 4 years. Thank-you Sam Allardyce, you
are handing over a stable team and club to your younger successor, David
Moyes………..COME ON YOU IRONS !!!!
PS. I've got my tin hat at the ready, but I really do think this will
happen.
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Chelsea and Manchester City to battle it out for West Ham defender Aaron
Cresswell in the summer
17:42, 14 April 2015 By Darren Lewis
The 25-year-old joined the Hammers from Ipswich last summer for £2million
and has been hugely impressive since
The Mirror
Chelsea have joined Manchester City in the chase for West Ham left-back
Aaron Cresswell . The Irons have been digging their heels in after City's
initial interest but Chelsea 's admiration has presented them with a fresh
problem. The Blues are considering their options because Filipe Luis is
mulling over a move back to Atletico Madrid after just one season at
Stamford Bridge. Cresswell, 25, has been outstanding since his arrival at
Upton Park last summer for just £2million from Ipswich. West Ham believe
they can hold on to him without handing him a new deal as he signed a
lucrative five-year contract when he signed for the club last July. But both
Chelsea and City could test that defiance if they follow through with their
interest. Cresswell has scored twice for the Hammers, including last
Saturday's stunning free-kick in the 1-1 draw against Stoke.
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Hammers press on with player targets
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham insiders were today dismissing reports that Sam Allardyce's
uncertain position was hindering the club's summer signing policy.
It's the time of year when all sorts of stories get planted in the media
about any number of transfer related situations and it's not hard to work
out who the beneficiary of each of them may be. One national 'paper reported
this morning the club could "miss out on summer targets due to doubts over
who will be in charge at Upton Park next year."
This was dropped into a gossip section where the suggestion was made that
players wouldn't be ready to sign until the "identified targets" knew who
was in charge! However, that report assumed no decision has been made on the
next manager and that the club and person – whoever he may be – doesn't
already know the position! With David Sullivan's recruitment director Tony
Henry (above right) having a bigger and bigger say on the positions that
need filling no problems are expected in attracting the right players.
We were told: "The managerial situation would be explained clearly to any
potential signings but the report doesn't add up because that process
doesn't start until we have permission to talk to them anyway …and that's
not now! "Obviously we know who and who isn't available in the summer and by
that time we will have settled the managerial situation anyway."
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Hammers on Hernandez
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham are refusing to deny an interest in Manchester United's Javier
Hernandez. The Mexican striker – on loan at Real Madrid – is today being
linked with a move to Italian outfit Lazio. But ourselves, Liverpool, Spurs
and Southampton have also been linked with the player who has suffered a
serious loss of form whilst in Spain. The Hammers have promised to bring in
a couple of well known world names this summer and Hernandez would fit the
bill as one of them. We were told: "We're aware of his availability and
anything else on the transfer front is possible in the summer. We will
certainly need front line reinforcements."
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Collins: "We haven't learned…it's our fault"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret 7 Hugh
James Collins has admitted the Hammers have only themselves to blame for
surrendering points in the dying minutes of games. His admission comes soon
after Enner Valencia made it clear the side was falling back too far
defensively after going in front. Collins is as fed-up as everybody else
with the situation declaring on the official site: "It's a loss. The game's
over, we've got to be more street wise and know how to win games. "We've
done it too many times this season and we haven't learned from it.
Everyone's bitterly disappointed. "We've only ourselves to blame. The game's
over, we've got to keep it in the corner, do anything to win the football
match and we're not doing that. And Enner Valencis said: It's true that
after the result we can say that after we scored we went back a bit too far,
but they are a good side and looked after the ball well." Earlier today we
reported sources inside the club unhappy that we appear to be defending one
goal leads and the players are clearly showing a measure of agreement."
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Deep gloom but no public announcements
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in News Agenda, Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham United will be making absolutely no public declarations on Sam
Allardyce's position until the last ball of the season has been kicked.
ClaretandHugh has taken very much on board the worries and frustrations of
fans wanting an end to the constant speculation over the manager's position.
But despite constant nagging, the club is keeping the shutters closed until
the end of the season in line with their well known and oft stated policy.
However, there is desperate gloom about the team's inability to hold onto
leads with one source saying: "It's become a pschological thing and people
aren't helping themselves in trying to protect one goal leads. "We are
allowing teams to dominate us at home and at times look like a League Two
side defending against a Premier League side. " However, the board is
remaining entirely tight-lipped on the managerial issue given that all sides
involved have given each other their word nothing will be said before the
end of the season.
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Benitez Irons link fading and dying
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham's link with Rafa Benitez is this morning reported as 'fading and
dying' as he finds himself linked with Manchester City next season. This is
in line with reports ClaretandHugh has been bringing over the past fortnight
after being told that the former Liverpool boss was eyeing the Etihad or
Anfield jobs. Latest reports suggest that City may want the Spaniard as a
caretaker boss on the likely firing of Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the
season before the club moves for Pep Guardiola next summer. Benitez had been
a provisional candidate for the Hammers until it became clear the talking
would start at £6 million a year. But the major stumbling block was the
manager's desire to take one of the country's big clubs preferably in the
north west close to the family's Liverpool home. Benitz's wife Maria still
lives in the Merseyside area and with her husband out of contract this
summer, a reunion in the UK is now on the cards.
A source told Claretandhugh this morning: "As we told you several weeks back
it was a hopeful thing rather than a truly confident one.
"You never say never but he's a top manager who will be hunted by a lot of
clubs although the north west looks his most likely destination if it can be
made to happen."
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Carlton Cole eyes MLS switch if West Ham deal falls through
Simon Osborn for Metro.co.uk
Tuesday 14 Apr 2015 8:53 am
West Ham striker Carlton Cole says he will move abroad if the Hammers do not
offer him a new contract to stay at Upton Park. The former England star's
current deal expires at the end of the season and it is unlikely he will not
be offered new terms by the East End club.
'I love the place, I love the fans, I love everything about West Ham,' said
Cole. 'But I know all good things do come to an end sometimes and you have
got to just crack on. 'I'm trying my best to put myself in the best position
to have a new contract, if not at West Ham then somewhere else. 'I'm quite
open, I am an adventurous guy. I wouldn't mind a bit of China or even the
MLS, you never know. I'm really open and I just want to see what offers are
on the table and take it from there.' The 31-year-old joined West Ham in
2006 and has scored 67 goals in just under 300 games for the club.
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West Ham 'making £10m offer to sign Arsenals Carl Jenkinson'
Jamie Sanderson for Metro.co.uk
Monday 13 Apr 2015 7:20 am
West Ham are reportedly looking to win the race for Carl Jenkinson by
offering Arsenal £10million for his services. Jenkinson had impressed during
a season-long loan at Upton Park, and the Hammers have been looking into
making the deal permanent. Liverpool have also been sniffing around, as they
look to replace Glen Johnson, but reports say West Ham will blow them out of
the water with a £10million offer. Arsenal would likely accept that, with
Mathieu Debuchy, Hector Bellerin and Calum Chambers all ahead of him in the
right-back slot.
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West Ham boys need a rocket up their backsides
13:30 14 April 2015
London 24
Dave Evans
West Ham fan James Corden is getting rave reviews in the States for his new
Late, Late Show – but for the Hammers it is nothing but misery and
condemnation. Sam Allardyce was chuckling away on The Clare Balding Show on
Friday night, but there was nothing much to laugh about from this dismal
late, late show which culminated in Stoke's deserved injury-time equaliser.
From the moment that Aaron Cresswell arrowed a superb free kick into the top
corner, until the final minute of injury time, West Ham were second best
against a Potters side who had little to play for either. Manager Sam
Allardyce rued the late goals that the Hammers have conceded in recent
games, but if you don't play well enough in the other 90 minutes, you don't
really deserve to hang on for the three points.
Mark Hughes' side had more attacking intent. They hit the post and had two
goals ruled out for offside before they finally scored, while the best West
Ham had to offer was Cheikhou Kouyate's shot which was saved and Carlton
Cole's header which went wide from Stewart Downing's cross. "We should have
50 points by now," insisted the boss. "We've now thrown away seven points in
the last few minutes.
"Had we not conceded those late goals against Manchester United, Tottenham
and Leicester we would have our record number of points since being back in
the Premier League. "We are struggling to find the key element that will
help us to close out games. We are panicking towards the end of games and
not keeping possession. "I think their goal was a very good one, but we
should have dealt with it better than we did. We are very nervous because
we've conceded late goals before."
With the likes of Alex Song and Mark Noble in the middle of the park, as
well as Downing further forward, the Hammers really should have dominated
possession. But they gave it away too often and put pressure on their
defence. This was not the fault of the back four, it was those further
forward to blame. With West Ham safe in the Premier League and leading in
this game, surely it was time for some more attacking endeavour. But Enner
Valencia played for much of the game on the wing, denying Diafra Sakho the
support he needed, while when Noble and Song are in the same team, they seem
to get in each other's way instead of complementing each other. Why
Allardyce does not give a start to Brazilian Nene remains a mystery. When he
comes on he seems to have some useful trickery, but once again the manager
opted for Kevin Nolan to come off the bench. Surely it is also time to have
a look at someone like Reece Oxford in defence or Diego Poyet in midfield,
as well as Nene up front just to freshen things up a little, though maybe
not next Sunday at Manchester City! This West Ham team needs a rocket up
their backside. Too many seem to have run out of steam and perhaps
predictably there is not the urgency there was earlier in the season.
Unless they can find it then they will not make the top 10.
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Diafra Sakho out for the season as West Ham suffer blow with striker's
injury
West Ham drew 1-1 with Stoke City in the Premier League on Saturday
Diafra Sakho was forced off after 59 minutes due to an injury
It is understood the striker has torn a thigh muscle during the match
Sakho is unlikely to be able to feature for West Ham again this season
By KIERAN GILL FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 07:59, 14 April 2015 | UPDATED: 12:40, 14 April 2015
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho is out for the remainder of the season after
tearing a thigh muscle on Saturday against Stoke City.
The 25-year-old is West Ham's runaway top scorer this season with 12 goals
and was forced off after 59 minutes during their 1-1 draw at home. West Ham
claimed Sakho could return 'before the end of the season' on their official
website, but it appears unlikely the Senegal international will be fit
enough to feature before the next campaign. Ten of Sakho's 12 goals came in
the Barclays Premier League, with Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing the
club's next top scorers with just five apiece. It comes as a blow for
manager Sam Allardyce who is aiming to finish in eighth position as he
fights for a new contract with West Ham. Allardyce's current deal expires at
the end of the season and it is not certain co-owners David Gold and David
Sullivan will keep him on, despite already beating last season's total by
three points.
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