Parkes on road to recovery
WHUFC.com
West Ham United legend Phil Parkes has undergone successful surgery for
bowel cancer
03.06.2014
West Ham United legend Phil Parkes will make a welcome return to action this
weekend following successful surgery for bowel cancer. The great goalkeeper
was diagnosed with Dukes' A stage bowel cancer - the least developed stage
where the cancer has not penetrated the bowel wall - and went into hospital
for a procedure to remove the growth in May. Thankfully, the surgery went
well and Parkes was able to return home to begin his recuperation just a few
days later.
Showing determination typical of the man who won the FA Cup in 1980 and made
440 appearances for the Hammers, Parkes revealed that he intends to play his
part in a Former Player Stadium Tour of the Boleyn Ground this coming
weekend. "I had the operation two weeks ago and have been home since the
Saturday of the Champions League final," the popular Parkes confirmed. "I
got the news through a from the surgeon last week that everything was good
as it hadn't gone through the bowel wall and it hadn't spread anywhere, so I
haven't got to have chemotherapy. "I've just got to have a reversal
operation in July, and then it's just a case of resting, recuperating and
getting my strength, so it's all good news, really."
"There was always that nagging doubt when I heard that word 'cancer'. It was
as good as news as I could have got. It's getting better each day, so I've
just got to have this operation next month and get myself reconnected back
up and then it's a case of getting back to normal life."
Having spent the past ten days recovering at home, the 63-year-old is
feeling understandably upbeat about the future. On Saturday and Sunday, he
will be alongside 1975 FA Cup hero and close friend Alan Taylor in welcoming
guests to the Boleyn Ground for what promises to be an emotional and
memorable Former Player Stadium Tour. "It's actually not as uncomfortable as
I thought it would be. I have been very surprised at how little pain I've
actually gone through. To go through the operation I have had, I have been
very lucky pain-wise. "It's just a matter of getting some strength. I'm down
to do some Former Player Tours at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday and Sunday
and I'm pretty confident that I'm going to be fine. "I'm not going to do the
whole full Tour, but I'm going to do a little bit. It will be myself and
Alan Taylor, but I'll just do the meet and greet, let Alan go up and down
the stairs, then I'll come back for the question and answer bit."
Those fans who join Parkes and Taylor for this weekend's tours are sure to
offer words of support to the big goalkeeper, following the hundreds who
have sent their own messages to the big man through social media, online
forums and telephone calls. The popular Carlsberg Legends Lounge host has
been moved by the sheer number of well-wishers who have got in touch with
him in recent weeks. "The support I have had has been absolutely amazing,"
he said. "The Moose from talkSPORT said there was a lot of love out there
for me and that has really shown in the messages I have received. "I would
like to thank everybody for the messages that I've had. It's great to know
and a very warming thought to know that I am still thought of that way by
the fans, and it has helped me through the tough times. "I've had loads of
people ringing me up, including [former England goalkeeper] Ray Clemence,
who has not been too well himself, so to have him ring me up was very
humbling."
Parkes put his successful surgery down to not hesitating when he became
aware of the symptoms of his cancer. While many men may be reticent to visit
a doctor for symptoms such as bleeding from the backside, pain in the
abdomen or a change in normal bowel habits, Parkes said there was no need to
be embarrassed about a situation that could ultimately be the difference
between life and death. "I've gone through this myself now and I said to one
of my old team-mates about the procedure of having an edoscopy where they
put a camera up your backside and he said 'I could never do that!', then I
said 'You'd be surprised what you do when you are told you might have cancer
or a tumour, because you'll do whatever it takes'. "I want to get the
message across 'Don't worry about it or be embarrassed' because it is very,
very important and can be a matter of life or death. "The thing is that I
was very lucky because I caught it very early - they categorise it Dukes' A,
B or C and A is the very early stage where they catch only ten per cent of
cancers, and mine was in that because I went there early enough after
spotting the symptoms. "It's so, so important that you have just got to be
checked. I can't make enough of a message to get across to people."
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World Cup Countdown - Guy Demel
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's two-time FIFA World Cup finalist Guy Demel offers his
thoughts on Brazil 2014
03.06.2014
West Ham United defender Guy Demel will be an interested observer when the
FIFA World Cup kicks off in Brazil later this month. The defender
represented Ivory Coast at the last two World Cups, but will have a watching
brief on this occasion as Les Elephants aim to go one better than last time.
On that occasion they were dumped out at the group stage, but facing Greece,
Colombia and Japan this summer, Demel believes they have a great chance of
making a real mark. He said: "The draw wasn't that bad for Ivory Coast this
time, so hopefully they will do better than in the previous World Cup, even
though we went out with four points. "It would be nice to see them get out
of the group phase and after that everything is open. I'm really happy for
my country and my teammates. To be at three World Cups in a row is something
huge. "We all know that Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba are top players. A lot
of the team have played or play in the Premier League - Kolo Toure, Soloman
Kalou. "There is a midfield player at Basel too, Serey Die, who is going to
be the main player for me - the player to watch."
Demel's own World Cup experiences saw him come up against some of the best
players on the planet and that is something he will always cherish. He
added: "Playing at the World Cup was huge - it's the biggest event in the
world, so being a part of that is something you can't really describe. "I
had the chance to play against people like Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi. Of
course, as a footballer, it's the best place you can be at." As for this
year's winners, Demel thinks the European teams could prove hard to beat.
"There are a few teams who can win it, Spain still, Germany, Italy. England,
who knows?"
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Redknapp's Ravel warning
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 3rd June 2014
By: Staff Writer
Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp has warned West Ham United's Ravel
Morrison that he risks wasting his career. Redknapp, who led his side to an
instant return to the Premier League via the play offs last month described
the Hammers youngster as an 'amazing talent' - but warned that without the
right application and focus, he risks missing out on a potentially wonderful
career. "He's got to find a way of putting his game together and he's got to
make sure he focuses 100 per cent on his football for the next ten years,"
said Redknapp, speaking at the launch of a new website. "I think Ravel has
got all the ability to play for England, it's just a case of putting it
altogether. If he does that, the future is fantastic for him. If he doesn't,
it's going to be a waste of talent. "He's an amazing talent so it'll be a
waste if he doesn't really produce what he's capable of producing on a more
regular basis. If he does that there won't be many more talented." Morrison
made 17 appearances for Rangers during his 83-day loan spell, scoring six
goals, but was crucially omitted from the play-off final team and failed to
emerge from the bench.
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£19million Bony a target?
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 3rd June 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are being linked with a move for Wilfried Bony in today's transfer
news - despite Swansea having warned potential suitors the 25-year-old
striker will cost £19million.
West Ham, who passed up the offer to sign Bony last summer are just one of
several clubs linked with the Ivory Coast international by the Mirror.
Arsenal and Newcastle are also reported to have made enquiries into the
player's availability after he informed Swansea that he wanted to move to a
bigger club.
* Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson has signed a new deal with the
Black Cats, keeping him tied to Wearside until 2017. Previously linked with
a move to West Ham this summer, the Swedish international ended rumours of a
possible switch by agreeing a new three-year contract. "I feel that this is
a club moving in the right direction and I want to be part of it", he told
the club's website.
* Valencia have withdrawn from the race to sign Anderlecht defender Cheikhou
Kouyate, according to rumours on Twitter this morning. The Primera Liga side
were thought to be West Ham's only serious competition for the 24-year-old
Senegal international.
* Arsenal have expressed an interest in signing West Ham's Academy star
Reece Oxford. The 15-year-old central defender, an England Under 16
international who already stands 6'3" tall is due to sign his first
professional contract next year. According to the Mail, the Gunners are
hoping to lure the youngster across London this summer.
* Former Hammer Frank Lampard Jnr is on the move after Chelsea confirmed
that he would not be offered a new contract this summer. Lampard, who has
been at Stamford Bridge since 2001 when he signed from West Ham in a
£12million deal has made 648 appearances for the Blues, a record beaten only
by Ron Harris and Peter Bonetti. Now 35, Lamapard has vowed not to make a
decision on his future until after the World Cup Finals.
* Another one to cross off the list of potential signings is Jordan Mutch,
who has agreed to join Sunderland. The 22-year-old former Cardiff forward
will join the Black Cats after the two clubs agreed a £1.5million deal. West
Ham remain interested in Mutch's new team mate Jack Colback.
* Guy Demel is being linked with a return to SV Hamburg. The 32-year-old
full back represented the Bundesliga club for six years between 2005 and
2011 and recently announced on Twitter that he would be happy to return to a
club for whom he retains fond memories. West Ham have already lost full
backs George McCartney (released) and Pablo Armero (end of loan) this last
month.
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WHAT SHOULD BE THE LIMIT TO WEST HAM'S AMBITION?
By Iain Dale 3 Jun 2014 at 18:02
West Ham Till I Die
Guest Post by Jack Webb
What are West Ham's aspirations? In the last decade or so the strength in
depth in English the Premier League has tremendously increased. Though I
concede that we are now part of the strongest league in the world, I believe
the old 'big four' has been transformed into a new big seven. The big seven
that I am referring to, Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester
City, Manchester United and Tottenham, have made up 7 of the top 8 for the
past six seasons. During those years, Fulham, Villa and Newcastle are the
only teams to finish in the top 7 other than this 'big 7' (all managing
once).
In the coming season, it is hard to imagine any team upsetting this trend.
The point I am trying to make here is with a higher number of big teams, it
is going to be very hard for smaller clubs to achieve a high placed finish.
Are we destined to sit between mid-table and relegation until we get bought
by an Arab Sheik or a Russian oil tycoon? The only team in the last decade
or so to be a consistent top 8 team outside this new 'big 7' are Bolton,
coincidentally under Sam Allardyce.
I'm not trying to say we should stick with Allardyce forever because he'll
keep us in the premier league, ideally I'd like to see better football
played but understand in the foreseeable future no manager we can bring in
will achieve particular success in the league. Very few teams that break
into the top 10 manage to fend off a relegation/relegation threatened season
within a few years.
This leads me onto our best approach for success in the next few years. I
wonder whether West Ham fans would agree that as long as we can guarantee
premier league stability, a Capital One or FA Cup final is surely all we can
achieve in terms of real success. It's been far too long since we won a
major trophy and I want to see a manager who will target a cup run. I'm not
sure if this is a very pessimistic opinion of the modern day Premier League
or if fellow West Ham fans will agree that it is hard to see us, or any club
of a similar size, able to make the transition into a European team.
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HAMMERS LEGEND CALLS FOR LIFE BANS
By Sean Whetstone 3 Jun 2014 at 12:48
West Ham Till I Die
West Ham and England's World Cup Legend Geoff Hurst says that match fixing
must carry a lifetime ban for players involved as he debated football's most
pressing issues with Osvaldo Ardiles, Ricardo Villa, and Alan Smith at the
Hay Festival organised by the Daily Telegraph.
Sir Geoff said:
"I do believe the punishment should be a life ban,You see other sports where
they take drugs and they get three or four years. I think if you are caught
fixing a sporting event. Then there is no messing, out, you're finished. Get
lost and get another job. I don't think you should give them a ban for two
or three years."
His comments came days after last Wednesday's Scotland's friendly against
Nigeria in London which is being investigated by police after claims that
attempts have been made to fix the match. Nigeria goalkeeper Austin Ejide
scored a truly unbelievable own goal during the friendly match with Scotland
at Fulham's Craven Cottage. The goalkeeper came to catch a ball into the
box, but despite seemingly having been able to grab it easily, he appeared
to throw the ball into his own net.The strike was eventually ruled out for a
slight foul on Ejide.
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West Ham United – Transfer update
Early days it still is, we thought we would update you with the latest
transfer rumours and gossip surrounding West Ham United.
Claret & Hugh
I suppose we should start with the story that The Guardian ran this morning,
suggesting that Allardyce was considering a swoop for Emile Heskey. Few fans
took this seriously and most laughed it off and lazy journalism. Thankfully
the rumour was quashed by young Jack Sullivan via his much criticised
Twitter account.
With Fulham parting ways with Brede Hangeland tonight, it was inevitable
that we would be linked with the big American born Norwegian defender and
the ITK's didn't let us down.
Apart from the possible likely arrival of Cheikhou Kouyate for advanced
talks later in the week, there really isn't much more to say, other than
that it seems Sam has pulled out of the running to sign M'Baye Niang.
Having scoured various news feeds and twitter accounts, this seems to be the
only worthwhile transfer gossip worth repeating.
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West Ham pull out of move to sign AC Milan youngster M'Baye Niang
Daily Mail
By PAUL COLLINS
PUBLISHED: 22:39, 3 June 2014 | UPDATED: 22:39, 3 June 2014
West Ham have pulled out of a loan deal for 19-year-old AC Milan striker
M'Baye Niang. The striker was chased by Everton, Tottenham and Arsenal 18
months ago while at Caen. The France Under 21 international became the San
Siro club's second youngest scorer in history, but a dip in form and Milan's
disastrous season saw him shipped off to Montpellier on loan in January. He
returned at the end of this season having been in trouble and handed a
suspended jail term for his involvement in a hit-and-run accident earlier in
the year. Niang is available for a fee of around £4million.
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Hammers locked in defender talks
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 3, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & HUGH
West Ham are tonight locked into talks with Anderlecht to make Cheikhou
Kouyaté their big summer signing. Having been given permission to talk to
thCheikhou Kouyatee player, the club's negotiators have all but agreed a
deal with the central defender who is desperately keen to sign up at the
Boleyn.
However, the Hammers have to agree a fee with the Belgian club and at the
moment the two clubs are struggling to agree the figure. Valencia had
earlier offered around £7.5 million for the 24 year old but Cheikhou wants
to continue his career in the Premier League. ClaretandHugh understands the
Hammers offer may be shy of that but talks are continuing in the hope of
resolving the problem. A source told us a few minutes ago: "The player wants
to come but there seems to be a problem with the fee."
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Ravel Morrison transfer target for Swansea as Monk lines up £5m move for
youngster
Daily Mail
By SAMI MOKBEL
PUBLISHED: 17:29, 3 June 2014 | UPDATED: 17:31, 3 June 2014
Swansea are lining up a £5million offer for West Ham midfielder Ravel
Morrison. Morrison, who has just 12 months left on his deal at Upton Park,
is set to leave the east London club this summer. And newly-appointed Swans
boss Garry Monk has identified the England Under 21 international as a
potential summer signing. Morrison spent the second half of last season on
loan at QPR, helping Harry Redknapp's side to promotion into the Premier
League. Rangers are interested in taking Morrison on a permanent basis, but
Swansea are keen to steal a march on their rivals in the race to sign the
talented midfielder. Morrison was a key player for the Hammers during the
first half of last season, but fell out of favour with Allardyce. There is a
willingness to re-integrate the former Manchester United youngster back into
the first team fold at Upton Park. But the club know they will have to sell
Morrison this summer if he does not extend his deal to avoid losing him for
nothing next summer.
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Wednesday, June 4
Tuesday, June 3
Daily WHUFC News - 3rd June 2014
World Cup Countdown - Andy Carroll
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll believes England and host nation Brazil will both go well at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals
02.06.2014
Andy Carroll believes England and host nation Brazil will both go well at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals. West Ham United's No9 believes Roy Hodgson's squad have a great chance of confounding expectations by making an impact in South America. England face a tough challenge just to get out of Group D, but the striker insists his compatriots have the quality and the form to overcome Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica and progress to the knockout stages. Having played alongside and against many of England's 23-man squad for club and country, Carroll is excited about their prospects. "We've got a great team and a great bunch of lads," said Carroll, who has nine England caps himself and was named on Hodgson's list of standby players for this summer's tournament. "I think it will be great for England to go out there with so many lads playing so well in the Premier League at the minute , so I think we can do really well this year."
While he is backing his fellow countrymen to shine in Brazil, Carroll is not looking past the host nation when it comes to picking an overall World Cup winner.
With the likes of Chelsea quartet David Luiz, Oscar, Willian and Ramires, Tottenham Hotspur's Paulinho and Manchester City's Fernandinho joining forces with Barcelona stars Neymar and Dani Alves and Real Madrid's Marcelo, Carroll is tipping the five-times champions to make it six on home turf come 13 July.
"It's going to be tough with the weather and everything so I'm going to have to go for Brazil. Brazil have got a great team and they are the favourites for me.
"They'll have all their fans out there and they know what it's all about, so I can't see anyone else winning it."
England kick-off their 2014 FIFA World Cup challenge when they take on Italy at the Arena Amazonia in Manaus on Saturday 14 June, followed by further Group D fixtures with Uruguay in Sao Paulo on 19 June and Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte on 24 June.
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Season ticket deadline extended
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 2nd June 2014
By: Staff Writer
Have you renewed? If not, it's not too late - the season ticket deadline has been extended until Friday.
There was a a flurry of activity this afternoon with a number of fans rushing to secure their season tickets for the 2014/15 season ahead of this afternoon's 5pm deadline.
Although there were few problems for fans attending the Boleyn Ground in person - with queues reported to be curiously absent - those trying to book via phone were forced to wait up to 20 minutes due to busy lines.
Fortunately the club's online ticket office also fared well with those supporters purchasing via the club's website also reporting no problems.
Although down on last year, early fears of a major drop in sales do not appear to have materialised with the vast majority of supporters - even those who had previously vowed not to - having renewed.
One such supporter was KUMB member Billy Hunt, who wrote: "Despite my head telling me not to my heart won and I've just done it online. A painless process other than watching the money getting sucked out of my account...
"Since my lad was four it's been mine and his day, and that was a bigger factor in doing it again than anything else. He's 16 now."
Despite enjoying a busy day, the club confirmed this afternoon that the deadline was being extended for a further three days, with supporters now able to renew until Friday afternoon.
"Thousands of West Ham United supporters have taken the opportunity to renew their Season Tickets for the 2014/15 season, with a high volume over the weekend and a record high for deadline day leading to the deadline being extended to meet demand," said the club via whufc.com this evening.
Those tickets not previously snapped up by season ticket holders go on general sale next week.
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Teddy tempted by positive atmosphere
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 2nd June 2014
By: Staff Writer
Teddy Sheringham says he was persuaded to return to football after speaking to a number of West Ham's current squad. Sheringham, who is currently undergoing a course to obtain his Uefa B level Coaching License has been out of the game since hanging up his boots in 2008 following a year at Colchester United. And speaking to SSN this afternoon, he revealed that it was the camaraderie at West Ham that persuaded him to accept the offer of part-time attacking coach. "Sam phoned me and offered me the chance to go down and work with the West Ham strikers next year on a part time basis," he said. "I know a few of the players at West Ham and I like the way they speak about what's going on there. They're all quite happy and like the way Sam treats them as people.
"It was important for me to go and work with someone like that in my first job in football, so I snapped up the chance."
Now 48, Sheringham spent three years with West Ham United at the tail end of a long and illustrious career that saw him represent his country at European and World Cups plus win a Champions League medal and the Premier League whilst at Manchester United. Having joined the Hammers on a free transfer in the summer of 2004, Sheringham's goals - 21 from just 36 matches - helped catapult the club back into the Premiership at the second attempt. And despite rapidly approaching 40 the evergreen striker went on to feature for West Ham on 51 further occasions over the course of the next two seasons, scoring nine goals.
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Ex-Hammer lands new club
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 2nd June 2014
By: Staff Writer
Former Academy player Callum McNaughton has joined Welling United on a permanent basis. Now 22, McNaughton spent six years under Tony Carr's wing at Chadwell Heath during which he made just one appearance for the first team - a 2011 Carling Cup defeat to Aldershot, in which he was sent off just two minutes into the second half. The Harlow-born defender left West Ham in January 2012 to join AFC Wimbledon, for whom he made 19 appearances before moving to Kingstonian little more than a year later. 6'4" McNaughton remained at Kingstonian for the remainder of the 2012/13 season before being snapped up on a free transfer by Skrill South outfit Bishop's Stortford with whom he spent the entirety of last season before moving to Welling.
Wings manager Jamie Day told wellingunited.com: "Callum is a die-hard central defender who puts his body on the line but he can also play and pass as well. He knows this level and what is expected of him. "We watched him for a fair chunk of last season so we know all about him. We see him as a key defender this season. He is still young so I'm delighted that we've got him and can help him develop during the coming season."
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Jelle on a plate?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 2nd June 2014
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce is considering making a bid for 5'11" Belgian striker Jelle Vossen, according to the Mail.
* The 14-times capped international currently plies his trade with Genk and hit 19 goals for his club in the 2013/14 season. Rated at circa €9million earlier in the year, West Ham would be willing to pay around £5million for the 25-year-old, who has not been included in Belgium's World Cup squad.
* West Ham transfer target Cheikhou Kouyate is reported to have received a concrete offer from Spanish club Valencia. The 24-year-old Senegalese defender, an international team mate of Mo Diame was the subject of a €9million bid from the Primera Liga outfit over the weekend.
Tedir Bekir, Kouyate's agent told Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad over the weekend that he expects further bids for his client. "Currently there is nothing concrete beyond Valencia's offer," he said. "West Ham could bid, but so far nothing has happened." Red Bull Salzburg are also reported to have expressed an interest in signing Kouyate, who has previously expressed an interest in moving to the Premier League.
* As a potential replacement for Kouyate, Anderlecht are reportedly lining up a move for Polish international Grzegorz Krychowiak - another player West Ham have been keeping tabs on. The 24-year-old defensive midfielder, who currently features for Ligue 1 outfit Stade Reims is available for around €7million.
* Sunderland defender Jack Colback is out of contract this summer and still in with a chance of sealing a move to West Ham. The Sunderland Echo claimed at the weekend West Ham had offered the central midfielder £50,000 to move to London but Colbeck, 24, is thought to prefer to remain in the North East.
* Hammers transfer target Gareth Barry is being courted by newly-promoted Leicester City, say The Sun. The veteran former England international, who was released by Manchester City at the end of last season includes West Ham as one of a number of potential suitors keen to land him on a free transfer this summer.
* The guesswork over Ravel Morrison's situation continues unabated with the Mail suggesting at the weekend that the 21-year-old is keen to quit West Ham this summer in order to land a big-money move. Despite failing to emerge from the bench during Rangers' recent play-off final win, the midfielder is said to be keen to leave the club before the start of next season. QPR are unlikely to be in contention.
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On this day - 3 June
WHUFC.com
Avram Grant was appointed as West Ham United manager on this date in 2010
03.06.2014
Anniversary
Avram Grant
Born: 6 February 1955, Petah Tikva, Israel
Clubs/nations managed: Hapoel Petah Tikva, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Haifa, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa, Israel, Chelsea, Portsmouth, West Ham United, Partizan Belgrade
Avram Grant was appointed as West Ham United manager on a four-year contract on 3 June 2010, becoming the second non-British man to take charge at the Boleyn Ground after Italian predecessor Gianfranco Zola. The former Israel boss had enjoyed success at his two previous English clubs, leading Chelsea to the UEFA Champions League final and a second-place Premier League finish in 2008 before taking Portsmouth to the 2010 FA Cup final, where they were narrowly beaten by the Blues. Grant's reign in east London was less successful as West Ham lost their opening four Premier League matches and climbed out of the relegation zone for just three weeks during the entire 2010/11 season. The Hammers were relegated at the end of the campaign, having won just seven of their 38 league matches, with Grant departing following the 3-2 defeat at Wigan Athletic that confirmed the demotion on 15 May 2011.
Complete record - 3 June
1940 West Ham United 1-2 Millwall (War League South C Division)
Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, Scored 1, Conceded 2
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Family affair for Reid
WHUFC.com
West Ham United defender Winston Reid is looking to put on a show for his friends and family on home turf
02.06.2014
Winston Reid will be looking to put on a show for his family and friends when West Ham United travel to New Zealand in July. The Hammers defender was born and brought up in the Auckland suburb of North Shore until the age of eight, when he moved to Denmark. While he has spent the majority of his life away from home, Reid has retained strong ties with New Zealand, returning regularly and being appointed national team captain in 2013. This summer, the No2 will enjoy the new and welcome experience of representing his Club on home turf, with dozens of his friends and family members expected to attend the Football United Tour fixtures against Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC. "It's going to be nice for me personally to go back," Reid confirmed. "The majority of my family live there and it's where I'm from. It'll be nice for the boys too, to experience a different part of the world. "I only normally get the opportunity to play in front of my friends and family for the national team and now I get to do it with my Club as well, so it's going to be enjoyable for me."
Reid, who played junior football for Milford School and Takapuna AFC in his childhood, is excited about the opportunity to return home. Supporters from across Australasia are also relishing the chance to catch the Hammers in action, with capacity crowds expected for the fixtures with the Phoenix at Eden Park on 23 July and Sydney FC at Westpac Stadium on 26 July. The centre-back praised the Phoenix for enticing West Ham and Newcastle United to become the first English top-flight clubs to visit New Zealand in 29 years. "I've known about the trip for a while," he revealed. "There were a couple of representatives from the Phoenix here [in London] recently and I had a meeting with them where they talked about the interest in bringing the Club down." "I thought it sounded exciting and fair play to them, they've done a lot to make it happen and I think the guys are looking forward to it." Reid and his West Ham team-mates are used to spending their pre-season camps training in hot and sweaty conditions, but conditions in New Zealand are set to be a much cooler. Average July temperatures in Auckland and Wellington are just 11C (52F) and 10C (49F) respectively, meaning the Hammers are more likely to putting on tracksuits than sun cream! However, Reid is remaining optimistic about the weather conditions that await him and his colleagues during what is, first and foremost, a week aimed at getting them fit and sharp ahead of the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League campaign. "Hopefully the weather will be alright in July!" he continued. "I know it will be winter down there, but Auckland is a beautiful city and all the people in New Zealand are very friendly, so I think it'll be ten days of enjoyment, while obviously we'll be working hard in our pre-season. "We're going down there for hard work."
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Wilfried Bony transfer will cost Arsenal, Newcastle or West Ham £19m warn Swansea
Jun 02, 2014 22:30 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror
Arsenal, Newcastle and West Ham have been told they will have to cough up £19million if they want Swansea striker Wilfried Bony. The fee is the buyout clause for the 25-year-old, who has had a stunning first season in the Premier League – smashing 25 goals in all competitions and earning a place in the Ivory Coast's World Cup squad. The former Vitesse marksman – who cost the Swans £12m last summer – is understood to be pushing for a transfer to a bigger club.
And the Welsh side have signed FC Twente frontman Luc Castaignos as a replacement. Castaignos, 21, is a Holland Under-21 international who scored 14 goals in 31 games in the Dutch League last season before moving to the Liberty Stadium.
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Sam Allardyce, Jose Mourinho announce star-studded teams for Soccer Aid
By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter
Filed: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at 00:01 UK
Sam Allardyce and Jose Mourinho will coach teams including ex-footballers, singers, actors and comedians when they take to Old Trafford for Soccer Aid this Sunday. The annual event, which will benefit charity UNICEF, will be spearheaded by Take That star Robbie Williams, who will act as assistant manager to Allardyce. While the West Ham United manager will coach an England side, Chelsea boss Mourinho will oversee the Rest of the World team. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has been included in the England squad, alongside comedians Jack Whitehall and John Bishop, as well as singer Olly Murs. For the opponents, A-list actor Michael Sheen will captain the side, while celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, former striker Andriy Shevchenko and Glee star Mark Salling will also feature.
England squad: Stephen Moyer, Jack Whitehall, Dominic Cooper, Marvin Humes, Mark Owen, Paddy McGuinness, Olly Murs, Ben Shephard, Jonathan Wilkes, Jamie Theakston, John Bishop, Danny Jones, Jamie Redknapp, Jamie Carragher, Teddy Sheringham, David Seaman, Des Walker, Matt Le Tissier
Rest of the World squad: Michael Sheen, Jeremy Renner, Sam Worthington, Gordon Ramsay, James McAvoy, Mark Salling, Adam Richman, Nicky Byrne, Patrick Kielty, Santiago Cabrera, Kevin Bridges, Martin Compston, Edgar Davids, Edwin van der Sar, Clarence Seedorf, Jaap Stam, Andriy Shevchenko, Alessandro del Piero
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Cheikhou Kouyate keeps West Ham waiting as Anderlecht defender mulls over future
By SIMON JONES
PUBLISHED: 22:43, 2 June 2014 | UPDATED: 01:35, 3 June 2014
Daily Mail
West Ham are waiting on Cheikhou Kouyate to decide his future after making a bid for the Anderlecht defender. Valencia are the main competition as they have matched the offer and look set to bring in some big names over the summer. The 24-year-old Senegal international joined Anderlecht in 2008 on a free transfer and was a key figure for the Belgian club last season, making six Champions League starts. Kouyate was part of the Senegal squad at the London 2012 Olympics and helped them reach the quarter-finals, in which they lost 4-2 to Mexico after extra time.
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Ravel Morrison must focus on football or he'll waste his talent, warns Harry Redknapp
Monday 2 Jun 2014 10:00 pm
Metro.co.uk
Ravel Morrison must focus fully on football or risk wasting his talent, Harry Redknapp warns. The West Ham midfielder was talked of as a possible World Cup star after a brilliant solo goal against Spurs before Christmas but was loaned to Redknapp's QPR after falling out of favour with Sam Allardyce and ended the season kicking his heels on the Loftus Road bench. The 21-year-old has been linked with a return to QPR next season but, while rising stars such as Raheem Sterling and Ross Barkley made the plane to Brazil, Redknapp says Morrison must change his ways if he's to join them in the England set-up. 'I think Ravel has got all the ability to play for England, it's just a case of putting it altogether for him,' he said. 'He's got to find a way of putting his game together and he's got to make sure he focuses completely, 100 per cent on his football for the next ten years and if he does that the future is fantastic for him. If he doesn't, it's going to be a waste of talent.'
Morrison was involved in a number of incidents off the field while a trainee at Manchester United but Redknapp denied the midfielder is a troublemaker. 'He's a smashing boy, he's not a bad lad in any way shape or form, he's a really lovely boy,' added the Rangers boss. 'He's an amazing talent so it'll be a waste if he doesn't really produce what he's capable of producing on a more regular basis. If he does that there won't be many more talented. 'I watched the Brazilian U20s win the Toulon tournament and everyone was raving about them but there was nothing any of them could do that Ravel Morrison can't do.'
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WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll believes England and host nation Brazil will both go well at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals
02.06.2014
Andy Carroll believes England and host nation Brazil will both go well at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals. West Ham United's No9 believes Roy Hodgson's squad have a great chance of confounding expectations by making an impact in South America. England face a tough challenge just to get out of Group D, but the striker insists his compatriots have the quality and the form to overcome Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica and progress to the knockout stages. Having played alongside and against many of England's 23-man squad for club and country, Carroll is excited about their prospects. "We've got a great team and a great bunch of lads," said Carroll, who has nine England caps himself and was named on Hodgson's list of standby players for this summer's tournament. "I think it will be great for England to go out there with so many lads playing so well in the Premier League at the minute , so I think we can do really well this year."
While he is backing his fellow countrymen to shine in Brazil, Carroll is not looking past the host nation when it comes to picking an overall World Cup winner.
With the likes of Chelsea quartet David Luiz, Oscar, Willian and Ramires, Tottenham Hotspur's Paulinho and Manchester City's Fernandinho joining forces with Barcelona stars Neymar and Dani Alves and Real Madrid's Marcelo, Carroll is tipping the five-times champions to make it six on home turf come 13 July.
"It's going to be tough with the weather and everything so I'm going to have to go for Brazil. Brazil have got a great team and they are the favourites for me.
"They'll have all their fans out there and they know what it's all about, so I can't see anyone else winning it."
England kick-off their 2014 FIFA World Cup challenge when they take on Italy at the Arena Amazonia in Manaus on Saturday 14 June, followed by further Group D fixtures with Uruguay in Sao Paulo on 19 June and Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte on 24 June.
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Season ticket deadline extended
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 2nd June 2014
By: Staff Writer
Have you renewed? If not, it's not too late - the season ticket deadline has been extended until Friday.
There was a a flurry of activity this afternoon with a number of fans rushing to secure their season tickets for the 2014/15 season ahead of this afternoon's 5pm deadline.
Although there were few problems for fans attending the Boleyn Ground in person - with queues reported to be curiously absent - those trying to book via phone were forced to wait up to 20 minutes due to busy lines.
Fortunately the club's online ticket office also fared well with those supporters purchasing via the club's website also reporting no problems.
Although down on last year, early fears of a major drop in sales do not appear to have materialised with the vast majority of supporters - even those who had previously vowed not to - having renewed.
One such supporter was KUMB member Billy Hunt, who wrote: "Despite my head telling me not to my heart won and I've just done it online. A painless process other than watching the money getting sucked out of my account...
"Since my lad was four it's been mine and his day, and that was a bigger factor in doing it again than anything else. He's 16 now."
Despite enjoying a busy day, the club confirmed this afternoon that the deadline was being extended for a further three days, with supporters now able to renew until Friday afternoon.
"Thousands of West Ham United supporters have taken the opportunity to renew their Season Tickets for the 2014/15 season, with a high volume over the weekend and a record high for deadline day leading to the deadline being extended to meet demand," said the club via whufc.com this evening.
Those tickets not previously snapped up by season ticket holders go on general sale next week.
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Teddy tempted by positive atmosphere
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 2nd June 2014
By: Staff Writer
Teddy Sheringham says he was persuaded to return to football after speaking to a number of West Ham's current squad. Sheringham, who is currently undergoing a course to obtain his Uefa B level Coaching License has been out of the game since hanging up his boots in 2008 following a year at Colchester United. And speaking to SSN this afternoon, he revealed that it was the camaraderie at West Ham that persuaded him to accept the offer of part-time attacking coach. "Sam phoned me and offered me the chance to go down and work with the West Ham strikers next year on a part time basis," he said. "I know a few of the players at West Ham and I like the way they speak about what's going on there. They're all quite happy and like the way Sam treats them as people.
"It was important for me to go and work with someone like that in my first job in football, so I snapped up the chance."
Now 48, Sheringham spent three years with West Ham United at the tail end of a long and illustrious career that saw him represent his country at European and World Cups plus win a Champions League medal and the Premier League whilst at Manchester United. Having joined the Hammers on a free transfer in the summer of 2004, Sheringham's goals - 21 from just 36 matches - helped catapult the club back into the Premiership at the second attempt. And despite rapidly approaching 40 the evergreen striker went on to feature for West Ham on 51 further occasions over the course of the next two seasons, scoring nine goals.
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Ex-Hammer lands new club
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 2nd June 2014
By: Staff Writer
Former Academy player Callum McNaughton has joined Welling United on a permanent basis. Now 22, McNaughton spent six years under Tony Carr's wing at Chadwell Heath during which he made just one appearance for the first team - a 2011 Carling Cup defeat to Aldershot, in which he was sent off just two minutes into the second half. The Harlow-born defender left West Ham in January 2012 to join AFC Wimbledon, for whom he made 19 appearances before moving to Kingstonian little more than a year later. 6'4" McNaughton remained at Kingstonian for the remainder of the 2012/13 season before being snapped up on a free transfer by Skrill South outfit Bishop's Stortford with whom he spent the entirety of last season before moving to Welling.
Wings manager Jamie Day told wellingunited.com: "Callum is a die-hard central defender who puts his body on the line but he can also play and pass as well. He knows this level and what is expected of him. "We watched him for a fair chunk of last season so we know all about him. We see him as a key defender this season. He is still young so I'm delighted that we've got him and can help him develop during the coming season."
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Jelle on a plate?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 2nd June 2014
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce is considering making a bid for 5'11" Belgian striker Jelle Vossen, according to the Mail.
* The 14-times capped international currently plies his trade with Genk and hit 19 goals for his club in the 2013/14 season. Rated at circa €9million earlier in the year, West Ham would be willing to pay around £5million for the 25-year-old, who has not been included in Belgium's World Cup squad.
* West Ham transfer target Cheikhou Kouyate is reported to have received a concrete offer from Spanish club Valencia. The 24-year-old Senegalese defender, an international team mate of Mo Diame was the subject of a €9million bid from the Primera Liga outfit over the weekend.
Tedir Bekir, Kouyate's agent told Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad over the weekend that he expects further bids for his client. "Currently there is nothing concrete beyond Valencia's offer," he said. "West Ham could bid, but so far nothing has happened." Red Bull Salzburg are also reported to have expressed an interest in signing Kouyate, who has previously expressed an interest in moving to the Premier League.
* As a potential replacement for Kouyate, Anderlecht are reportedly lining up a move for Polish international Grzegorz Krychowiak - another player West Ham have been keeping tabs on. The 24-year-old defensive midfielder, who currently features for Ligue 1 outfit Stade Reims is available for around €7million.
* Sunderland defender Jack Colback is out of contract this summer and still in with a chance of sealing a move to West Ham. The Sunderland Echo claimed at the weekend West Ham had offered the central midfielder £50,000 to move to London but Colbeck, 24, is thought to prefer to remain in the North East.
* Hammers transfer target Gareth Barry is being courted by newly-promoted Leicester City, say The Sun. The veteran former England international, who was released by Manchester City at the end of last season includes West Ham as one of a number of potential suitors keen to land him on a free transfer this summer.
* The guesswork over Ravel Morrison's situation continues unabated with the Mail suggesting at the weekend that the 21-year-old is keen to quit West Ham this summer in order to land a big-money move. Despite failing to emerge from the bench during Rangers' recent play-off final win, the midfielder is said to be keen to leave the club before the start of next season. QPR are unlikely to be in contention.
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On this day - 3 June
WHUFC.com
Avram Grant was appointed as West Ham United manager on this date in 2010
03.06.2014
Anniversary
Avram Grant
Born: 6 February 1955, Petah Tikva, Israel
Clubs/nations managed: Hapoel Petah Tikva, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Haifa, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa, Israel, Chelsea, Portsmouth, West Ham United, Partizan Belgrade
Avram Grant was appointed as West Ham United manager on a four-year contract on 3 June 2010, becoming the second non-British man to take charge at the Boleyn Ground after Italian predecessor Gianfranco Zola. The former Israel boss had enjoyed success at his two previous English clubs, leading Chelsea to the UEFA Champions League final and a second-place Premier League finish in 2008 before taking Portsmouth to the 2010 FA Cup final, where they were narrowly beaten by the Blues. Grant's reign in east London was less successful as West Ham lost their opening four Premier League matches and climbed out of the relegation zone for just three weeks during the entire 2010/11 season. The Hammers were relegated at the end of the campaign, having won just seven of their 38 league matches, with Grant departing following the 3-2 defeat at Wigan Athletic that confirmed the demotion on 15 May 2011.
Complete record - 3 June
1940 West Ham United 1-2 Millwall (War League South C Division)
Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, Scored 1, Conceded 2
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Family affair for Reid
WHUFC.com
West Ham United defender Winston Reid is looking to put on a show for his friends and family on home turf
02.06.2014
Winston Reid will be looking to put on a show for his family and friends when West Ham United travel to New Zealand in July. The Hammers defender was born and brought up in the Auckland suburb of North Shore until the age of eight, when he moved to Denmark. While he has spent the majority of his life away from home, Reid has retained strong ties with New Zealand, returning regularly and being appointed national team captain in 2013. This summer, the No2 will enjoy the new and welcome experience of representing his Club on home turf, with dozens of his friends and family members expected to attend the Football United Tour fixtures against Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC. "It's going to be nice for me personally to go back," Reid confirmed. "The majority of my family live there and it's where I'm from. It'll be nice for the boys too, to experience a different part of the world. "I only normally get the opportunity to play in front of my friends and family for the national team and now I get to do it with my Club as well, so it's going to be enjoyable for me."
Reid, who played junior football for Milford School and Takapuna AFC in his childhood, is excited about the opportunity to return home. Supporters from across Australasia are also relishing the chance to catch the Hammers in action, with capacity crowds expected for the fixtures with the Phoenix at Eden Park on 23 July and Sydney FC at Westpac Stadium on 26 July. The centre-back praised the Phoenix for enticing West Ham and Newcastle United to become the first English top-flight clubs to visit New Zealand in 29 years. "I've known about the trip for a while," he revealed. "There were a couple of representatives from the Phoenix here [in London] recently and I had a meeting with them where they talked about the interest in bringing the Club down." "I thought it sounded exciting and fair play to them, they've done a lot to make it happen and I think the guys are looking forward to it." Reid and his West Ham team-mates are used to spending their pre-season camps training in hot and sweaty conditions, but conditions in New Zealand are set to be a much cooler. Average July temperatures in Auckland and Wellington are just 11C (52F) and 10C (49F) respectively, meaning the Hammers are more likely to putting on tracksuits than sun cream! However, Reid is remaining optimistic about the weather conditions that await him and his colleagues during what is, first and foremost, a week aimed at getting them fit and sharp ahead of the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League campaign. "Hopefully the weather will be alright in July!" he continued. "I know it will be winter down there, but Auckland is a beautiful city and all the people in New Zealand are very friendly, so I think it'll be ten days of enjoyment, while obviously we'll be working hard in our pre-season. "We're going down there for hard work."
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Wilfried Bony transfer will cost Arsenal, Newcastle or West Ham £19m warn Swansea
Jun 02, 2014 22:30 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror
Arsenal, Newcastle and West Ham have been told they will have to cough up £19million if they want Swansea striker Wilfried Bony. The fee is the buyout clause for the 25-year-old, who has had a stunning first season in the Premier League – smashing 25 goals in all competitions and earning a place in the Ivory Coast's World Cup squad. The former Vitesse marksman – who cost the Swans £12m last summer – is understood to be pushing for a transfer to a bigger club.
And the Welsh side have signed FC Twente frontman Luc Castaignos as a replacement. Castaignos, 21, is a Holland Under-21 international who scored 14 goals in 31 games in the Dutch League last season before moving to the Liberty Stadium.
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Sam Allardyce, Jose Mourinho announce star-studded teams for Soccer Aid
By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter
Filed: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at 00:01 UK
Sam Allardyce and Jose Mourinho will coach teams including ex-footballers, singers, actors and comedians when they take to Old Trafford for Soccer Aid this Sunday. The annual event, which will benefit charity UNICEF, will be spearheaded by Take That star Robbie Williams, who will act as assistant manager to Allardyce. While the West Ham United manager will coach an England side, Chelsea boss Mourinho will oversee the Rest of the World team. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has been included in the England squad, alongside comedians Jack Whitehall and John Bishop, as well as singer Olly Murs. For the opponents, A-list actor Michael Sheen will captain the side, while celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, former striker Andriy Shevchenko and Glee star Mark Salling will also feature.
England squad: Stephen Moyer, Jack Whitehall, Dominic Cooper, Marvin Humes, Mark Owen, Paddy McGuinness, Olly Murs, Ben Shephard, Jonathan Wilkes, Jamie Theakston, John Bishop, Danny Jones, Jamie Redknapp, Jamie Carragher, Teddy Sheringham, David Seaman, Des Walker, Matt Le Tissier
Rest of the World squad: Michael Sheen, Jeremy Renner, Sam Worthington, Gordon Ramsay, James McAvoy, Mark Salling, Adam Richman, Nicky Byrne, Patrick Kielty, Santiago Cabrera, Kevin Bridges, Martin Compston, Edgar Davids, Edwin van der Sar, Clarence Seedorf, Jaap Stam, Andriy Shevchenko, Alessandro del Piero
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Cheikhou Kouyate keeps West Ham waiting as Anderlecht defender mulls over future
By SIMON JONES
PUBLISHED: 22:43, 2 June 2014 | UPDATED: 01:35, 3 June 2014
Daily Mail
West Ham are waiting on Cheikhou Kouyate to decide his future after making a bid for the Anderlecht defender. Valencia are the main competition as they have matched the offer and look set to bring in some big names over the summer. The 24-year-old Senegal international joined Anderlecht in 2008 on a free transfer and was a key figure for the Belgian club last season, making six Champions League starts. Kouyate was part of the Senegal squad at the London 2012 Olympics and helped them reach the quarter-finals, in which they lost 4-2 to Mexico after extra time.
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Ravel Morrison must focus on football or he'll waste his talent, warns Harry Redknapp
Monday 2 Jun 2014 10:00 pm
Metro.co.uk
Ravel Morrison must focus fully on football or risk wasting his talent, Harry Redknapp warns. The West Ham midfielder was talked of as a possible World Cup star after a brilliant solo goal against Spurs before Christmas but was loaned to Redknapp's QPR after falling out of favour with Sam Allardyce and ended the season kicking his heels on the Loftus Road bench. The 21-year-old has been linked with a return to QPR next season but, while rising stars such as Raheem Sterling and Ross Barkley made the plane to Brazil, Redknapp says Morrison must change his ways if he's to join them in the England set-up. 'I think Ravel has got all the ability to play for England, it's just a case of putting it altogether for him,' he said. 'He's got to find a way of putting his game together and he's got to make sure he focuses completely, 100 per cent on his football for the next ten years and if he does that the future is fantastic for him. If he doesn't, it's going to be a waste of talent.'
Morrison was involved in a number of incidents off the field while a trainee at Manchester United but Redknapp denied the midfielder is a troublemaker. 'He's a smashing boy, he's not a bad lad in any way shape or form, he's a really lovely boy,' added the Rangers boss. 'He's an amazing talent so it'll be a waste if he doesn't really produce what he's capable of producing on a more regular basis. If he does that there won't be many more talented. 'I watched the Brazilian U20s win the Toulon tournament and everyone was raving about them but there was nothing any of them could do that Ravel Morrison can't do.'
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Monday, June 2
Daily WHUFC News - 2nd June 2014
World Cup Countdown - Sir Geoff Hurst
WHUFC.com
Hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst kicks-off West Ham United's FIFA World Cup
Countdown
01.06.2014
If anyone is qualified to talk about the FIFA World Cup finals, it is 1966
hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst. Sir Geoff, of course, fired England to their
one and only World Cup triumph on home soil 48 years ago, lilfting the
trophy alongside West Ham United team-mates Bobby Moore and Martin Peters.
Now 72, Sir Geoff recently returned to Chadwell Heath to take a trip down
memory lane, revealing that the goals that secured the Jules Rimet Trophy
were the result of hours of hard work on there under visionary Hammers
manager Ron Greenwood. "The significant things we did for West Ham and
England in big games and cup finals were due a great deal, if not all, to
Ron Greenwood's brilliant coaching," said Sir Geoff. "Much of the stuff we
did and goals we scored in the quarter-final against Argentina and in the
final against West Germany were a direct result of what we worked on, talked
about and thought about at Chadwell Heath. "It had a huge impact and having
three players from one club also made a huge difference. People said myself
and Martin had a telepathic understanding, but really it was because we had
been playing and training together since the age of 16, so over the years
you developed an understanding that we took to another level when we played
for England. "Some of the goals we scored between the three of us were a
direct result of what we did at West Ham, so it was very enjoyable and
fulfilling."
While Hurst was an established England international by the time the finals
kicked-off in June 1966, club-mate Peters had only forced his way into Alf
Ramsey's squad the previous month. By 30 July, he had scored England's
second goal in their 4-2 final victory over West Germany at Wembley and was
a World Cup winner!
Sir Geoff is hoping one of Roy Hodgson's 2014 squad can make a similarly
huge impact in Brazil, with the five-strong Liverpool contingent among those
who could do just that, as long as they are not played out of position.
"Martin didn't play his first game for England until May 1966, when he made
his debut in a 2-0 win over Yugoslavia, then he went on and scored what was
almost the winner in the World Cup final," said the West Ham legend, who
scored 249 goals in 503 games in Claret and Blue. "I do think having five
Liverpool players could make a difference, having had the experience of the
three of us doing it ourselves. I think it's an important area if you have
three or four players from one club who can play together, because it adds
that cohesion that it is difficult to infuse in a national squad which only
meets up every few months. "Alf Ramsey had a way of playing, which was
4-4-2, and he simply selected players from the clubs to fit into his
pattern. All he asked us to do was to play as we did at our clubs. "We've
seen Steven Gerrard, our best player of the last ten years, who at one stage
was playing out wide left for England, which was astonishing. He has only
played in his best position a handful of times, which is poor. You didn't
play Bobby Moore at right-back or Jimmy Greaves at left-back - you play the
key players in their best positions and fit the other players around them,
which is what Alf did. "It's nice to see Steven now doing so well and that's
important for England."
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Boa happy for Hammers#
WHUFC.com
Ex-West Ham United player Luis Boa Morte was pleased to see his old Club
stay in the Barclays Premier League
01.06.2014
Luis Boa Morte was pleased to see West Ham United steer safely clear of
relegation at the end of the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League season.
However, the former Hammers and Portugal international forward admitted to
having mixed emotions as another of his old clubs, Fulham, were relegated to
the Championship. Concentrating on West Ham, Boa Morte was an interested
observer as Sam Allardyce guided his squad out of the bottom three to the
safe waters of mid-table come the season's end. "They did well to turn
things around so I am pleased for them that they managed to stay in the
Premier League," said the 36-year-old, who pulled on his boots again
recently for the F30 Legends Tournament at Brisbane Road. "People were
saying that they were going to go down, but they didn't so that's one more
London team that has stayed up when another of my old London clubs, Fulham,
went down. "West Ham did well to get themselves up to 13th in the end."
Boa Morte, who also represented Arsenal, Southampton and Chesterfield during
his playing days, said West Ham remaining in the Premier League will become
increasingly important as the Club plans to move to the Olympic Stadium in
2016. "They know what they are looking for and what they are trying to do in
moving to the Olympic Stadium, so it will be in their best interests to be
in the Premier League rather than the Championship. "They managed to do that
last season, so fair play to them."
While the Olympic Stadium is West Ham's future, Boa Morte retains fond
memories of his time at the Boleyn Ground - most notably the 'Great Escape'
that he helped the Club to pull off following his arrival in January 2007.
In all, Boa Morte made 109 appearances in Claret and Blue, scoring twice,
but it was his early months at the Club that he remembers most clearly. "My
favourite memory of Upton Park was the first six months I was at the Club,
when we had a very tough run but we kept ourselves in the Premier League."
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Ernie eager for West Ham United visit
Whufc.COM
Wellington Phoenix head coach Ernie Merrick is relishing the visit of West
Ham United to New Zealand
01.06.2014
Wellington Phoenix head coach Ernie Merrick is relishing the visit of West
Ham United to New Zealand. The Hammers take on the Phoenix in Auckland as
part of their two-match Football United Tour of the country on 23 July
before tackling Sydney FC in Wellington three days later. As part of his
preparations for West Ham's visit, Merrick visited Chadwell Heath in the
closing weeks of the 2013/14 season before watching the Hammers register a
2-0 Barclays Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Boleyn
Ground. Originally from Scotland, the former Melbourne Victory and Hong Kong
coach enjoyed getting up close to Sam Allardyce and his squad in their
working environment.
"My visit was about professional development and, since your boys are coming
over to play against us, I thought it would be great to make contact and
have a look at your pre-match preparations, game analysis and the final
coaching session before a match," the 61-year-old told West Ham TV. "I
really learned a lot, actually. It's been a real insight into life at
English Premier League level."
While Merrick enjoyed watching Big Sam and his staff in action, he is a
successful coach in his own right, having won the A-League twice with
Melbourne Victory and been named A-League Coach of the Year on two
occasions. Now preparing for his second season with the Phoenix, Merrick
lifted the lid on his nomadic career path. "I was a very average footballer
who went over to Australia in the 1970s and never came back," he revealed.
"I've lived over there for quite a while and more recently I moved over to
New Zealand to coach the Wellington Phoenix, where I have been for about ten
months. "I'm looking forward to my second season there and I'm a big
believer in pre-season preparation and conditioning and setting the team
strategy-wise for matches, so to play a team like West Ham is tremendous
preparation for us."
Wellington did not enjoy great success in 2013/14, finishing second bottom
of the A-League standings, but Merrick is hopeful of better performances and
results when the new campaign kicks-off in October. "We didn't do very well
last season. We turned over half the squad, but we showed signs of what we
are capable of during the middle of the season, when we had a very good run,
but we finished second bottom. We hope to improve on that in a big way next
year.
"There is a lot of newness about the Phoenix - we have new owners, have
turned over more than half of the squad and have a lot of new staff along
the lines of improving our coaching, analysis and strength and conditioning.
"We will play a more possession-based, attacking style of football so it
will take a little time to come together, but there are signs next year will
be much better for us."
West Ham's visit is just part of a four-month long pre-season schedule for
the Phoenix which will also include a fixture with Barclays Premier League
side Newcastle United. Merrick's side face the Hammers at Eden Park in
Auckland on Wednesday 23 July and it is a date that the Scot and football
fans in New Zealand are really looking forward to. "It's a good squad to
bring over and I think you'll pull in the big crowds in New Zealand. I'm
sure the fans are looking forward to seeing a team like West Ham touring. A
Premier League side has never visited New Zealand before to play matches
there and now we have two coming in yourselves and Newcastle. "Football is a
game that is growing in New Zealand and Wellington Phoenix are the only club
playing in the A-League, so the sport and the club are extremely popular
now."
Football United Tour
Wellington Phoenix v West Ham United
Wednesday 23 July 2014, 7.30pm (local time)
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
Sydney FC v West Ham United
Saturday 26 July 2014, 2pm (local time)
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
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WHUFC.com
Hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst kicks-off West Ham United's FIFA World Cup
Countdown
01.06.2014
If anyone is qualified to talk about the FIFA World Cup finals, it is 1966
hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst. Sir Geoff, of course, fired England to their
one and only World Cup triumph on home soil 48 years ago, lilfting the
trophy alongside West Ham United team-mates Bobby Moore and Martin Peters.
Now 72, Sir Geoff recently returned to Chadwell Heath to take a trip down
memory lane, revealing that the goals that secured the Jules Rimet Trophy
were the result of hours of hard work on there under visionary Hammers
manager Ron Greenwood. "The significant things we did for West Ham and
England in big games and cup finals were due a great deal, if not all, to
Ron Greenwood's brilliant coaching," said Sir Geoff. "Much of the stuff we
did and goals we scored in the quarter-final against Argentina and in the
final against West Germany were a direct result of what we worked on, talked
about and thought about at Chadwell Heath. "It had a huge impact and having
three players from one club also made a huge difference. People said myself
and Martin had a telepathic understanding, but really it was because we had
been playing and training together since the age of 16, so over the years
you developed an understanding that we took to another level when we played
for England. "Some of the goals we scored between the three of us were a
direct result of what we did at West Ham, so it was very enjoyable and
fulfilling."
While Hurst was an established England international by the time the finals
kicked-off in June 1966, club-mate Peters had only forced his way into Alf
Ramsey's squad the previous month. By 30 July, he had scored England's
second goal in their 4-2 final victory over West Germany at Wembley and was
a World Cup winner!
Sir Geoff is hoping one of Roy Hodgson's 2014 squad can make a similarly
huge impact in Brazil, with the five-strong Liverpool contingent among those
who could do just that, as long as they are not played out of position.
"Martin didn't play his first game for England until May 1966, when he made
his debut in a 2-0 win over Yugoslavia, then he went on and scored what was
almost the winner in the World Cup final," said the West Ham legend, who
scored 249 goals in 503 games in Claret and Blue. "I do think having five
Liverpool players could make a difference, having had the experience of the
three of us doing it ourselves. I think it's an important area if you have
three or four players from one club who can play together, because it adds
that cohesion that it is difficult to infuse in a national squad which only
meets up every few months. "Alf Ramsey had a way of playing, which was
4-4-2, and he simply selected players from the clubs to fit into his
pattern. All he asked us to do was to play as we did at our clubs. "We've
seen Steven Gerrard, our best player of the last ten years, who at one stage
was playing out wide left for England, which was astonishing. He has only
played in his best position a handful of times, which is poor. You didn't
play Bobby Moore at right-back or Jimmy Greaves at left-back - you play the
key players in their best positions and fit the other players around them,
which is what Alf did. "It's nice to see Steven now doing so well and that's
important for England."
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Boa happy for Hammers#
WHUFC.com
Ex-West Ham United player Luis Boa Morte was pleased to see his old Club
stay in the Barclays Premier League
01.06.2014
Luis Boa Morte was pleased to see West Ham United steer safely clear of
relegation at the end of the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League season.
However, the former Hammers and Portugal international forward admitted to
having mixed emotions as another of his old clubs, Fulham, were relegated to
the Championship. Concentrating on West Ham, Boa Morte was an interested
observer as Sam Allardyce guided his squad out of the bottom three to the
safe waters of mid-table come the season's end. "They did well to turn
things around so I am pleased for them that they managed to stay in the
Premier League," said the 36-year-old, who pulled on his boots again
recently for the F30 Legends Tournament at Brisbane Road. "People were
saying that they were going to go down, but they didn't so that's one more
London team that has stayed up when another of my old London clubs, Fulham,
went down. "West Ham did well to get themselves up to 13th in the end."
Boa Morte, who also represented Arsenal, Southampton and Chesterfield during
his playing days, said West Ham remaining in the Premier League will become
increasingly important as the Club plans to move to the Olympic Stadium in
2016. "They know what they are looking for and what they are trying to do in
moving to the Olympic Stadium, so it will be in their best interests to be
in the Premier League rather than the Championship. "They managed to do that
last season, so fair play to them."
While the Olympic Stadium is West Ham's future, Boa Morte retains fond
memories of his time at the Boleyn Ground - most notably the 'Great Escape'
that he helped the Club to pull off following his arrival in January 2007.
In all, Boa Morte made 109 appearances in Claret and Blue, scoring twice,
but it was his early months at the Club that he remembers most clearly. "My
favourite memory of Upton Park was the first six months I was at the Club,
when we had a very tough run but we kept ourselves in the Premier League."
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Ernie eager for West Ham United visit
Whufc.COM
Wellington Phoenix head coach Ernie Merrick is relishing the visit of West
Ham United to New Zealand
01.06.2014
Wellington Phoenix head coach Ernie Merrick is relishing the visit of West
Ham United to New Zealand. The Hammers take on the Phoenix in Auckland as
part of their two-match Football United Tour of the country on 23 July
before tackling Sydney FC in Wellington three days later. As part of his
preparations for West Ham's visit, Merrick visited Chadwell Heath in the
closing weeks of the 2013/14 season before watching the Hammers register a
2-0 Barclays Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Boleyn
Ground. Originally from Scotland, the former Melbourne Victory and Hong Kong
coach enjoyed getting up close to Sam Allardyce and his squad in their
working environment.
"My visit was about professional development and, since your boys are coming
over to play against us, I thought it would be great to make contact and
have a look at your pre-match preparations, game analysis and the final
coaching session before a match," the 61-year-old told West Ham TV. "I
really learned a lot, actually. It's been a real insight into life at
English Premier League level."
While Merrick enjoyed watching Big Sam and his staff in action, he is a
successful coach in his own right, having won the A-League twice with
Melbourne Victory and been named A-League Coach of the Year on two
occasions. Now preparing for his second season with the Phoenix, Merrick
lifted the lid on his nomadic career path. "I was a very average footballer
who went over to Australia in the 1970s and never came back," he revealed.
"I've lived over there for quite a while and more recently I moved over to
New Zealand to coach the Wellington Phoenix, where I have been for about ten
months. "I'm looking forward to my second season there and I'm a big
believer in pre-season preparation and conditioning and setting the team
strategy-wise for matches, so to play a team like West Ham is tremendous
preparation for us."
Wellington did not enjoy great success in 2013/14, finishing second bottom
of the A-League standings, but Merrick is hopeful of better performances and
results when the new campaign kicks-off in October. "We didn't do very well
last season. We turned over half the squad, but we showed signs of what we
are capable of during the middle of the season, when we had a very good run,
but we finished second bottom. We hope to improve on that in a big way next
year.
"There is a lot of newness about the Phoenix - we have new owners, have
turned over more than half of the squad and have a lot of new staff along
the lines of improving our coaching, analysis and strength and conditioning.
"We will play a more possession-based, attacking style of football so it
will take a little time to come together, but there are signs next year will
be much better for us."
West Ham's visit is just part of a four-month long pre-season schedule for
the Phoenix which will also include a fixture with Barclays Premier League
side Newcastle United. Merrick's side face the Hammers at Eden Park in
Auckland on Wednesday 23 July and it is a date that the Scot and football
fans in New Zealand are really looking forward to. "It's a good squad to
bring over and I think you'll pull in the big crowds in New Zealand. I'm
sure the fans are looking forward to seeing a team like West Ham touring. A
Premier League side has never visited New Zealand before to play matches
there and now we have two coming in yourselves and Newcastle. "Football is a
game that is growing in New Zealand and Wellington Phoenix are the only club
playing in the A-League, so the sport and the club are extremely popular
now."
Football United Tour
Wellington Phoenix v West Ham United
Wednesday 23 July 2014, 7.30pm (local time)
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
Sydney FC v West Ham United
Saturday 26 July 2014, 2pm (local time)
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
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Sunday, June 1
Daily WHUFC News - 1st June 2014
JC says fond farewell
WHUFC.com
Midfielder Jack Collison has penned an open letter to supporters on his
departure from West Ham United
30.05.2014
Hello everyone,
The time has come for an end to my West Ham United career. What a
rollercoaster it has been - I have experienced plenty of ups and downs
during my nine-year spell at West Ham! Signing at 16, I wasn't sure if I was
ready for the challenge but with the love and care of Bob and Val, who run
the Academy digs, I soon settled and found the new challenge exciting. I had
to pinch myself at times, moving from a quiet village into a big house in
Essex under the guidance of the one and only Tony Carr - the man who brought
through the likes of Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand.
I went from being star-struck by the first-team players at Cambridge United
to rubbing shoulders with the likes of Teddy Sheringham. I often doubted my
ability in my early days, but Teddy was one of the senior players who gave
me confidence to go out on the training pitch and express myself. I always
felt he believed in me and, with a man like that behind me, I felt there was
nothing I couldn't accomplish.
I made steady progress over the next couple of seasons and went on to
captain both the youth team and reserves, as well as be in and around the
first team. Alan Pardew allowed me to travel with the first team on a couple
of occasions while he was in charge and both trips will stay with me for
very different reasons.
On my first away trip to West Brom, I found out I had to sing In front of
the first team at dinner. Needless to say, I was an absolute wreck the whole
journey up. I spent my time watching the older pros, trying to learn the
words to Wonderwall and sweating at the thought of what the night may bring.
Dinner soon came around and the tapping on the glasses began, so I knew it
was time. I stood up shaking, sweating and nearly tumbled off my chair. I
closed my eyes and produced the worst ever rendition of Wonderwall!
To be fair to Christian Dailly, he tried his hardest to help me along in
between taking the mickey with the rest of lads. Once it was over, I felt
like my shoulders were lighter immediately - now I could concentrate on
playing football!
Unfortunately I didn't make it onto the pitch the next day, but being in and
around it made me hungrier for more. Kyel Reid made his debut that night and
I remember how excited I was to see one of the young boys out on the pitch
playing and putting in a fantastic performance. After that experience, I had
a new belief that maybe I could make an impact on the first team.
The second time I travelled that season was with the squad for the FA Cup
final. I knew I wouldn't be involved, but it was great to be part of it and
to witness first-hand one of the greatest finals in history. The boys went
so close that day, I was devastated they didn't take the trophy home. I
remember Kevin Keen taking James Tomkins and myself onto the pitch before
the lads went out to warm-up and I couldn't believe the atmosphere.
It was also on this trip that Nobes and Chrissy Cohen trashed our room! It
was little things like this that made me feel part of it. I went home over
the summer and came back more motivated than ever before.
The next couple of seasons, I worked very closely with Kevin Keen and still,
to this day, I believe he is one of the best coaches in the game. I felt he
really developed my game and every session was a joy to be involved in. Alan
Curbishley was in charge now and I was close to the first team, but not
quite there.
My debut finally came and it was Arsenal away at the Emirates. What a start!
I remember the whole day as if it was yesterday. Tonks and myself had been
travelling with the first team a lot that season but never made the bench -
we'd had lots of close calls that always ended in disappointment.
That morning, Curbs caught us both in the lift on the way to breakfast. It
was that awkward lift ride with the manager and two young lads who didn't
know what to say. It was at that point he turned to us and said 'Make sure
you're ready lads. You're both on the bench today'. Of course, we acted cool
until the Gaffer stepped out, then we couldn't contain the excitement any
longer. Left alone, we celebrated like we had won the World Cup, then off we
went to prepare. Curbs must have heard the celebrations and had a laugh to
himself but I'm not sure he will ever know how happy he made me at that
precise moment .
I'm not sure the Gaffer had any intention of playing me but Freddie
Ljungberg picked up a knock early on and before I knew it I was prepping
myself and getting ready to come on. I couldn't believe it - that feeling
from the lift was back, but even stronger this time. It was a mixture of
sheer joy and disbelief but I didn't have any time to worry about what could
go wrong, I was floating at that point.
The manager soon brought me back down to Earth when his last words were:
'Try and get close to Fabregas'. I tried my hardest, and covering 7.5 km in
the second half alone was some sort of record that season. I never did
manage to get close to Fabregas in that game, though. He didn't give me a
sniff and, in fact, I probably only had about ten touches in 60 minutes of
football. I didn't care, though, as I had made my debut, and where better
than Arsenal away. What an experience and a day I will never forget. I
remember leaving the game disappointed as I thought I had a bad game, but
Anton Ferdinand had some words of encouragement that picked me up again.
I only featured once more that season, in a loss to Bolton, but the
following year was my breakthrough season. Gianfranco Zola was now in
charge. I couldn't believe it. One of my heroes was teaching me how to play
the beautiful game!
His first session I will never forget - we were playing a game of two-touch
and, of course, he wanted to play. The ball was fired into him and with his
first two touches, without thinking, he managed to swivel on a sixpence,
nutmeg one of the lads and then dink Robert Green from 20 yards. Silence
spread across the training pitch as the boys stood there in amazement,
mouths on the floor. I think at this point the manager realised what he had
done as the whole team gave our new Gaffer of 24 hours a round of applause.
Instead of lapping up the attention, the Gaffer seemed slightly embarrassed
and gave a genuine apology to the boys. This showed the character of the man
- an absolute wizard on the pitch and possibly the nicest man I have met to
this day in football. He was different to any manager I had worked with as
he seemed to care about everyone - even the young boys who were nowhere near
it like myself.
We spent hours on the training pitch after training, working on ball skills
and areas where I could improve. I finally made my breakthrough around
October time and came in at Manchester United, and this time I left feeling
pleased. I felt like I could make an impact and here I was playing for a
manager I would run through a brick wall for, as would the rest of the team.
I think this was the reason why we did so well that year.
We finished ninth but really should have got into Europe, along the way
playing some great football, and scoring some great goals. I also scored my
first goal for West Ham that season against Everton at home. Although we
ended up losing the match, it was a moment I will never forget. Scott Parker
made a great run and flicked the ball back for me and I managed to open my
body up and stick it in the top corner.
At that point as the ball struck the net, I felt a feeling I will maybe
never feel again - so much excitement, so much emotion and so much relief. I
had made history. I had scored in the Premier League. Not just for anyone,
but wearing the famous Claret and Blue.
It was at this point I felt the start of my special relationship with the
fans - one that has helped me through tough times and also many shared great
times. It was at this point I felt part of the West Ham family, a family I
was desperate to be part of I finally felt like I belonged.It was the
following season when tragedy struck and that I really realised what it was
to be part of that special family.
That night against Millwall in the Carling Cup will be remembered for many
reasons, but for me it showed me what the West Ham family is truly about -
real people, with real feelings who pulled me through the toughest time in
my life.
After playing Tottenham at home the previous weekend, my Dad unfortunately
died on the way to watch the game. At 20-years-old I was distraught to say
the least. I had lost not only my Dad but the man I had looked up to my
entire life. I made the decision to play in the Millwall game - something my
Dad would have wanted me to do. I was a mess, I remember walking onto the
team bus before the game and nearly bursting into tears. It was at that
point it began - team-mates picking me up, staff giving me words of
encouragement and then I walked out onto the pitch.
Wow! I was carried that night by every single person inside that stadium. My
legs were jelly, my head was all over the place and the lights were brighter
than ever before. I ran my socks off that night, so desperate to win and
when we went 1-0 down it was disaster. It was not looking like a memorable
way to give my Dad a proper send off, then Junior Stanislas scored and took
it to extra-time.
Then we won a penalty and I'm not a man of many regrets, but one of my
regrets is not stepping up and taking it. I knew Junior would score so I let
him take it and of course he did. I was so desperate to score and I even hit
the post.
As extra-time continued I slowly found myself looking round the stadium,
everywhere I looked I could feel people willing me to do well and showing me
support like you wouldn't believe. Zavon Hines nicked the next goal to make
it 3-1, and so much relief went through my body as I ran over to celebrate.
I remember thinking 'That's it, we've won' and it was at that point Zav
whispered to me, 'That's for your Dad'. At that moment I could feel the
tears starting to come.
What a gesture. Who better to score than someone I had shared digs with,
come through the youth team with and spent hours talking rubbish with. Zav
will never know how much that meant to me that evening and I'm not sure the
West Ham fans will either, but hopefully this will go some way towards that.
Jack Collison
That game should be remembered for one thing - the West Ham family uniting
and all coming together for one of their own. The staff, the players and the
fans carried me that night and that will live with me for the rest of my
life. I tried my hardest to thank everyone after the game when I walked
around the pitch, and it was at that precise moment I was overcome with
emotion and tears started to flow as reality once again set in.
Football was my escape, and I wasn't playing for anyone, I was playing for
West Ham, I was playing for every fan who carried my night, every fan who
took the time to write to me. I was playing for the memory of my father and,
after that night in particular, I always felt a special bond with the fans.
After this I experienced a nasty injury and witnessed the boys going through
relegation, helpless until the very last games, pulling my hair out, feeling
how every fan felt, kicking every ball from the stand.
I was chucked in for the Wigan game, and as hard as I tried I was helpless
to stop the end result and it was that day we were relegated. It was a
serious low in my career but it's after that game I promised myself I would
do everything in my power to help get West Ham back where they belong - the
Premier League.
The following season was possibly one of my most enjoyable in a West Ham
shirt. I made my biggest contribution towards the team in terms of goals and
games and was thoroughly enjoying my football under Sam Allardyce. Kevin
Nolan was a fantastic captain and we built an amazing team spirit that year.
Although we didn't get automatic promotion, the Play-Offs were one of the
best experiences of my life. I hope those two goals in the Play-Off
semi-final will go some way to paying the people back who stuck by me and
supported me.
Of course we won the final and celebrating on the pitch afterwards was an
amazing experience. Not just winning promotion, but winning promotion with
some of my best friends, was really fantastic.
I got another injury at the beginning of our first season back in the
Premier League and struggled after that to make enough of an impact. I hope
I'm remembered as someone who gave his all in every game. Even when things
weren't going well, I always tried my best to have a positive impact, not
just on pitch, but also off the pitch and around the training ground.
It's at this point I must thank the medical staff at West Ham. They have
stuck with me through everything and have been fantastic throughout. The
moody days, the down days, the rainy days, I have experienced every moment
alongside some of the best medical guys I have ever had the privilege of
working with. Through my darkest days, they keeping me going, but we also
experienced some great moments and my goal at Arsenal in January 2013 was
dedicated to the medical team for getting me back fit time and time again.
That moment has a special place and although we lost the game I had been
through an awful lot the previous seasons and felt we deserved to enjoy that
moment together, where it all began.
I must also thank all the other staff members who work day after day behind
the scenes making West Ham what it truly is. There are lots of unsung
heroes, too many to mention. They know who they are and I hope they know I
have fond memories with every single one of them.
And lastly, as I move forward with my own career, I would like to take this
opportunity to thank the fans once more. You have a fantastic set up, great
staff and some wonderful players. As you move closer to the Olympic Stadium
I wish you lots of luck.
I'm looking forward to coming back to the Boleyn before then, of course. You
deserve good times and I'm sure they are on the horizon. I'm sorry I didn't
get chance to say goodbye but I hope I will in the near future.
Not many can say they have had the honour of wearing the famous Claret and
Blue but I hope they know I truly feel blessed for the opportunity. I have
been lucky enough to work with some great people and during my time and have
played alongside some truly inspirational and talented players. As we part
ways I have many fond memories of West Ham as a Club and would like to once
more thank you for letting me be part of a very special family, one that you
will never truly understand until your part of it, one that I have
experienced every emotion known to man with - the West Ham family.
JC x
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'West Ham are my team'
WHUFC.com
West Ham United fan Lee Bowyer says Sam Allardyce knows the Barclays Premier
League inside out
31.05.2014
Lee Bowyer has played for England, in UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup
semi-finals and made nearly 400 Premier League appearances during a
successful career. The midfielder is also a lifelong West Ham United
supporter, played 71 games for the Club during two spells and keeps close
tabs on how his old side are progressing by chatting to former Hammers
team-mates Mark Noble and James Collins. Now 37, Bowyer believes West Ham
have a bright future to look forward to, both on and off the pitch, with a
third season back in the Barclays Premier League starting in August and a
move to the 54,000-capacity Olympic Stadium to follow in summer 2016. "I
always keep an eye out on how West Ham are doing," said Bowyer, who recently
pulled on a claret and blue shirt again to take part in a charity match at
the Boleyn Ground for Great Ormond Children's Hospital. "They're my team,
always will be. I still speak to some of the lads there like Nobes and
Ginge.
"I think they have done really well. They are still in the Premier League
again for another season. Some of it was tough during the last season but
when you look at what has gone on over the year, with the injuries to big
players, it's been a decent year considering all of that. "The team got
those players back and were able to push on a bit and get safe, which is
what they said they would do. I believe as long as Sam is there, West Ham
will remain in the Premier League."
Bowyer might have never played under Sam Allardyce himself, but he locked
horns with Big Sam's sides regularly during spells with Leeds United, West
Ham, Newcastle United and Birmingham City. During those duels, the Canning
Town-born player developed a great respect for the manager who he now
believes will steer West Ham safely towards the Club's move to Stratford.
"He is a manager that knows the league inside out and he gets results. He
can grind a result out and sometimes that is what you have to do, grind
results out. West Ham beat Spurs three times in one season. I don't think it
has been a bad season, ometimes you can't win pretty, you have to grind it
out and we did what we had to do at times when it was needed. "The Club,
although it is sad to leave the Boleyn Ground, are moving in the right
direction with the move to the Olympic Stadium."
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Strong squad to visit New Zealand
WHUFC.com
Manager Sam Allardyce is looking forward to taking his West Ham United squad
to New Zealand this summer
31.05.2014
Sam Allardyce has confirmed that he will be taking a strong West Ham United
squad to New Zealand this summer. The manager also revealed that he is
personally relishing the Hammers' Football United Tour, which will see his
players take on A-League sides Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC during a
week-long visit to the country. With tickets selling fast for the matches in
Auckland and Wellington on 23 and 26 July respectively, Big Sam is looking
forward to leading West Ham to a country that the Club has never visited
previously. "Myself, my staff and my players are all hugely looking forward
to visiting New Zealand in July," said the manager, whose squad includes New
Zealand national team captain Winston Reid. "Aside from taking West Ham
United to a part of the world where football and interest in the Club and
the Barclays Premier League continue to grow rapidly, the Football United
Tour will also form a central and important part of our pre-season schedule.
"We will be bringing a strong first-team squad to New Zealand, will be
training every day and playing two fixtures against quality opposition in
Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC."
More than 20,000 tickets have already been sold for the 26 July
double-header at Wellington's Westpac Stadium which also includes Newcastle
United's meeting with the Phoenix. With interest in the Football United Tour
high across New Zealand and Australia and only set to intensify as the
Hammers' visit approaches, Big Sam said everyone associated with the Club is
excited by the prospect of playing in front of large crowds. At the same
time, the matches will provide the manager with two opportunities to run the
rule over his squad ahead of the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League season. "I
understand that tickets are selling very well and for West Ham to play in
front of a sell-out crowd would be something special," he enthused. "There
will be less than a month to go until the start of the 2014/15 Barclays
Premier League season when we visit and I am sure fans are excited about the
prospect of seeing the likes of Winston Reid, Andy Carroll and Mark Noble in
action alongside the exciting new signings we hope to have made by then. "I
have heard so many fantastic things about New Zealand from Winston, the
former All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen, who I worked with at Blackburn
Rovers, and my assistant Neil McDonald, who visited the country as a player.
I am sure we will enjoy a productive trip, on and off the pitch. "The
Football United Tour is an event everybody associated with West Ham is
relishing and I, for one, cannot wait!"
Football United Tour
Wellington Phoenix v West Ham United
Wednesday 23 July 2014, 7.30pm (local time)
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
Sydney FC v West Ham United
Saturday 26 July 2014, 2pm (local time)
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WEST HAM LINKED WITH THE OTHER VIDAL
By Sean Whetstone 1 Jun 2014 at 08:58
West Ham Till I Die
Not to be confused with Arturo Vidal who Manchester United are thought to
tempting Serie A champions Juventus with 50 million euro bid.
West Ham are rumoured to be tracking Spanish striker/winger Aleix Vidal. The
24-year-old scored six goals and assisted five other in 38 games as he
helped Almeria remain in the top-flight by the skin of their teeth and his
performances have alerted several Premier League clubs including Aston
Villa, Everton and Newcastle.
Vidal is valued around £4-million and widely recognised as talented but
unproven outside of La Liga, He has scored 17 goals from 120 first team
appearances fro Almeria.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
THE UNLIKELY TRANSFER
By Sean Whetstone 31 May 2014 at 16:21
West Ham Till I Die
My favourite transfer rumour this summer has got to be free agent Ashley
Cole being linked to a move to West Ham.
The 33 year old Left back who was born in East London was released by
Chelsea last week after his £200,000 per week contract came to an end. The
far fetched rumour suggests an un-named West Ham player spoke to Ashley in
attempt to lure him to East London at £100,000 per week. Carlton Cole is
known to be good friends with Ashley and he is reported to have met him
several times after training at Chadwell Heath.
Last January rumours also surfaced after Ashley Cole was pictured at West
Ham training ground on transfer deadline day with some Academy graduates. He
that occasion he transpired that Ashley had innocently gone to watch his
mates son play for the West Ham Under 16's.
With Ashley reportedly wanted Liverpool, Man City, Real Madrid, Arsenal.
Monaco and AC Milan I am not going to get my hopes up too high on this daft
rumour but it did make me smile. However the rumour was enough for Sky Bet
and Bet Victor to slash their odds on him joining West Ham to 14/1 from 25/1
before the rumour surfaced.
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Zarate wage shows things are changing
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 1, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Skipper Kevin Nolan is expected to come under serious pressure for his place
from new signing Mauro Zarate from the first kick of the new season. The 27
year old Argentine has arrived at Upton Park as a front line striker who has
everything in his locker. He is well known to the owners who took him to
Birmingham City on loan back in 2008 and although the team was relegated, he
showed enough for the pair to bring him back to West Ham six years later.
ClaretandHugh has learned that Zarate is a very serious arrival on wages
understood to be in the region of £40,000 a week over three years – an
outlay of just under £6 million plus bonuses. And although manager Sam
Allardyce has rarely been associated with a 'Little and Large' combination
upfront – more often than not relying on just a big target man – Zarate will
be expected to play from the start. A senior source explained exclusively to
ClaretandHugh: "Given their knowledge of the player this looks like a
signing driven by the co owners. "Zarate has lots of pace, movement and
trickery and on the wages that are being paid out he will be expected to
play. "And with a full pre-season ahead of him there can be no claims about
fitness issues so it seems that the style of play is definitely going to
change. "Obviously, someone is going to have to make way and there's a big
feeling around the place the main sufferer may be the captain but it's early
days. "However, Nolan has been Andy Carroll's main foil previously but it's
now Zarate who will be seen as the one to feed off those tasty knockdowns."
The cynical view that this may have been a buy to sweeten season ticket
sales is simply not true with Zarate's understood wages to be the giveaway.
This is a serious footballer who is here to help take West Ham back to their
entertaining roots. Without a doubt things are changing at the Boleyn!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ross McCormack set to leave Leeds over treatment of Brian McDermott... with
West Ham, Celtic and Leicester interested
By DAVID KENT
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 31 May 2014 | UPDATED: 22:30, 31 May 2014
Ross McCormack is set to leave cash-strapped Leeds United after manager
Brian McDermott lost his job. McCormack, 27, was the Championship's top
scorer last season with 29 goals and the Scotland striker handed much of the
credit to McDermott, who spent less than 14 months in the job. McCormack,
rated by Leeds at about £8million, is wanted by a host of clubs headed by
Celtic, West Ham, Leicester and Malaga.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Irons plan heart to heart with Ravel as QPR wait
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 31, 2014 in Whispers
ClaretandHugh Exclusive
West Ham plan heart to heart talks with Ravel Morrison when he returns to
Chadwell Heath for pre-season training! The club will do everything in its
power to ensure that the England under 21 is as settled, happy and as "back
at home" as possible ahead of the new season. After a difficult 2013-14
which finally saw the player sent out on loan to Queens Park Rangers,
ClaretandHugh has learned there's "no way the club is giving up on Ravel and
a Boleyn future."
A trusted ClaretandHugh source was keen to point out that the controversies
surrounding Ravel and his contractual position have been "vastly blown out
of all proportion." That was a reference to allegations that efforts had
been made to woo him into agent Mark Curtis' stable. Our source said:
"Forget all that – it was never a serious issue. Rav is a man who knows his
own mind and has his own advisers – end of story. "The real problem was that
Sam Allardyce – as is his right – decided in the middle of a relegation
battle that Matt Taylor was a better for the circumstances and Ravel was
perhaps disappointed by that having been playing regularly." He added: "We
intend being there for Rav – we understand his personality and that he
needs to feel wanted, included and valued. "We shall be assuring him he has
the same chances as every other player and we will listen to everything he
has to say. "He has a year left on his contract at West Ham and we would
love to believe he can settle down to a long term future with us. "It's all
in his hands and we'll do all we can for him. We don't want unhappy players
in the squad."
Our source confirmed that there had been no contact from QPR whom it is
believed may be hoping to make Morrison's loan deal permanent. However,
having been ignored by manager Harry Redknapp for the Championship play-off
final amid fresh stories of a groin injury, interest may have waned.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
David Gold criticises Glen Johnson performance
on March 5, 2014© Getty Images
By Sian Cowper, Reporter
Filed: Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 12:55 UK
Last Updated: Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 13:17 UK
David Gold has described Glen Johnson's performance as "poor" following
England's 3-0 win over Peru in their final home match before the World Cup.
The Liverpool defender was in Roy Hodgson's starting lineup for the
international friendly at Wembley Stadium. The West Ham United co-chairman
wrote on Twitter: "I thought Glen Johnson was poor tonight but I was really
impressed with Adam [Lallana]." The 29-year-old started his career at West
Ham before moving to Chelsea in 2003.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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WHUFC.com
Midfielder Jack Collison has penned an open letter to supporters on his
departure from West Ham United
30.05.2014
Hello everyone,
The time has come for an end to my West Ham United career. What a
rollercoaster it has been - I have experienced plenty of ups and downs
during my nine-year spell at West Ham! Signing at 16, I wasn't sure if I was
ready for the challenge but with the love and care of Bob and Val, who run
the Academy digs, I soon settled and found the new challenge exciting. I had
to pinch myself at times, moving from a quiet village into a big house in
Essex under the guidance of the one and only Tony Carr - the man who brought
through the likes of Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand.
I went from being star-struck by the first-team players at Cambridge United
to rubbing shoulders with the likes of Teddy Sheringham. I often doubted my
ability in my early days, but Teddy was one of the senior players who gave
me confidence to go out on the training pitch and express myself. I always
felt he believed in me and, with a man like that behind me, I felt there was
nothing I couldn't accomplish.
I made steady progress over the next couple of seasons and went on to
captain both the youth team and reserves, as well as be in and around the
first team. Alan Pardew allowed me to travel with the first team on a couple
of occasions while he was in charge and both trips will stay with me for
very different reasons.
On my first away trip to West Brom, I found out I had to sing In front of
the first team at dinner. Needless to say, I was an absolute wreck the whole
journey up. I spent my time watching the older pros, trying to learn the
words to Wonderwall and sweating at the thought of what the night may bring.
Dinner soon came around and the tapping on the glasses began, so I knew it
was time. I stood up shaking, sweating and nearly tumbled off my chair. I
closed my eyes and produced the worst ever rendition of Wonderwall!
To be fair to Christian Dailly, he tried his hardest to help me along in
between taking the mickey with the rest of lads. Once it was over, I felt
like my shoulders were lighter immediately - now I could concentrate on
playing football!
Unfortunately I didn't make it onto the pitch the next day, but being in and
around it made me hungrier for more. Kyel Reid made his debut that night and
I remember how excited I was to see one of the young boys out on the pitch
playing and putting in a fantastic performance. After that experience, I had
a new belief that maybe I could make an impact on the first team.
The second time I travelled that season was with the squad for the FA Cup
final. I knew I wouldn't be involved, but it was great to be part of it and
to witness first-hand one of the greatest finals in history. The boys went
so close that day, I was devastated they didn't take the trophy home. I
remember Kevin Keen taking James Tomkins and myself onto the pitch before
the lads went out to warm-up and I couldn't believe the atmosphere.
It was also on this trip that Nobes and Chrissy Cohen trashed our room! It
was little things like this that made me feel part of it. I went home over
the summer and came back more motivated than ever before.
The next couple of seasons, I worked very closely with Kevin Keen and still,
to this day, I believe he is one of the best coaches in the game. I felt he
really developed my game and every session was a joy to be involved in. Alan
Curbishley was in charge now and I was close to the first team, but not
quite there.
My debut finally came and it was Arsenal away at the Emirates. What a start!
I remember the whole day as if it was yesterday. Tonks and myself had been
travelling with the first team a lot that season but never made the bench -
we'd had lots of close calls that always ended in disappointment.
That morning, Curbs caught us both in the lift on the way to breakfast. It
was that awkward lift ride with the manager and two young lads who didn't
know what to say. It was at that point he turned to us and said 'Make sure
you're ready lads. You're both on the bench today'. Of course, we acted cool
until the Gaffer stepped out, then we couldn't contain the excitement any
longer. Left alone, we celebrated like we had won the World Cup, then off we
went to prepare. Curbs must have heard the celebrations and had a laugh to
himself but I'm not sure he will ever know how happy he made me at that
precise moment .
I'm not sure the Gaffer had any intention of playing me but Freddie
Ljungberg picked up a knock early on and before I knew it I was prepping
myself and getting ready to come on. I couldn't believe it - that feeling
from the lift was back, but even stronger this time. It was a mixture of
sheer joy and disbelief but I didn't have any time to worry about what could
go wrong, I was floating at that point.
The manager soon brought me back down to Earth when his last words were:
'Try and get close to Fabregas'. I tried my hardest, and covering 7.5 km in
the second half alone was some sort of record that season. I never did
manage to get close to Fabregas in that game, though. He didn't give me a
sniff and, in fact, I probably only had about ten touches in 60 minutes of
football. I didn't care, though, as I had made my debut, and where better
than Arsenal away. What an experience and a day I will never forget. I
remember leaving the game disappointed as I thought I had a bad game, but
Anton Ferdinand had some words of encouragement that picked me up again.
I only featured once more that season, in a loss to Bolton, but the
following year was my breakthrough season. Gianfranco Zola was now in
charge. I couldn't believe it. One of my heroes was teaching me how to play
the beautiful game!
His first session I will never forget - we were playing a game of two-touch
and, of course, he wanted to play. The ball was fired into him and with his
first two touches, without thinking, he managed to swivel on a sixpence,
nutmeg one of the lads and then dink Robert Green from 20 yards. Silence
spread across the training pitch as the boys stood there in amazement,
mouths on the floor. I think at this point the manager realised what he had
done as the whole team gave our new Gaffer of 24 hours a round of applause.
Instead of lapping up the attention, the Gaffer seemed slightly embarrassed
and gave a genuine apology to the boys. This showed the character of the man
- an absolute wizard on the pitch and possibly the nicest man I have met to
this day in football. He was different to any manager I had worked with as
he seemed to care about everyone - even the young boys who were nowhere near
it like myself.
We spent hours on the training pitch after training, working on ball skills
and areas where I could improve. I finally made my breakthrough around
October time and came in at Manchester United, and this time I left feeling
pleased. I felt like I could make an impact and here I was playing for a
manager I would run through a brick wall for, as would the rest of the team.
I think this was the reason why we did so well that year.
We finished ninth but really should have got into Europe, along the way
playing some great football, and scoring some great goals. I also scored my
first goal for West Ham that season against Everton at home. Although we
ended up losing the match, it was a moment I will never forget. Scott Parker
made a great run and flicked the ball back for me and I managed to open my
body up and stick it in the top corner.
At that point as the ball struck the net, I felt a feeling I will maybe
never feel again - so much excitement, so much emotion and so much relief. I
had made history. I had scored in the Premier League. Not just for anyone,
but wearing the famous Claret and Blue.
It was at this point I felt the start of my special relationship with the
fans - one that has helped me through tough times and also many shared great
times. It was at this point I felt part of the West Ham family, a family I
was desperate to be part of I finally felt like I belonged.It was the
following season when tragedy struck and that I really realised what it was
to be part of that special family.
That night against Millwall in the Carling Cup will be remembered for many
reasons, but for me it showed me what the West Ham family is truly about -
real people, with real feelings who pulled me through the toughest time in
my life.
After playing Tottenham at home the previous weekend, my Dad unfortunately
died on the way to watch the game. At 20-years-old I was distraught to say
the least. I had lost not only my Dad but the man I had looked up to my
entire life. I made the decision to play in the Millwall game - something my
Dad would have wanted me to do. I was a mess, I remember walking onto the
team bus before the game and nearly bursting into tears. It was at that
point it began - team-mates picking me up, staff giving me words of
encouragement and then I walked out onto the pitch.
Wow! I was carried that night by every single person inside that stadium. My
legs were jelly, my head was all over the place and the lights were brighter
than ever before. I ran my socks off that night, so desperate to win and
when we went 1-0 down it was disaster. It was not looking like a memorable
way to give my Dad a proper send off, then Junior Stanislas scored and took
it to extra-time.
Then we won a penalty and I'm not a man of many regrets, but one of my
regrets is not stepping up and taking it. I knew Junior would score so I let
him take it and of course he did. I was so desperate to score and I even hit
the post.
As extra-time continued I slowly found myself looking round the stadium,
everywhere I looked I could feel people willing me to do well and showing me
support like you wouldn't believe. Zavon Hines nicked the next goal to make
it 3-1, and so much relief went through my body as I ran over to celebrate.
I remember thinking 'That's it, we've won' and it was at that point Zav
whispered to me, 'That's for your Dad'. At that moment I could feel the
tears starting to come.
What a gesture. Who better to score than someone I had shared digs with,
come through the youth team with and spent hours talking rubbish with. Zav
will never know how much that meant to me that evening and I'm not sure the
West Ham fans will either, but hopefully this will go some way towards that.
Jack Collison
That game should be remembered for one thing - the West Ham family uniting
and all coming together for one of their own. The staff, the players and the
fans carried me that night and that will live with me for the rest of my
life. I tried my hardest to thank everyone after the game when I walked
around the pitch, and it was at that precise moment I was overcome with
emotion and tears started to flow as reality once again set in.
Football was my escape, and I wasn't playing for anyone, I was playing for
West Ham, I was playing for every fan who carried my night, every fan who
took the time to write to me. I was playing for the memory of my father and,
after that night in particular, I always felt a special bond with the fans.
After this I experienced a nasty injury and witnessed the boys going through
relegation, helpless until the very last games, pulling my hair out, feeling
how every fan felt, kicking every ball from the stand.
I was chucked in for the Wigan game, and as hard as I tried I was helpless
to stop the end result and it was that day we were relegated. It was a
serious low in my career but it's after that game I promised myself I would
do everything in my power to help get West Ham back where they belong - the
Premier League.
The following season was possibly one of my most enjoyable in a West Ham
shirt. I made my biggest contribution towards the team in terms of goals and
games and was thoroughly enjoying my football under Sam Allardyce. Kevin
Nolan was a fantastic captain and we built an amazing team spirit that year.
Although we didn't get automatic promotion, the Play-Offs were one of the
best experiences of my life. I hope those two goals in the Play-Off
semi-final will go some way to paying the people back who stuck by me and
supported me.
Of course we won the final and celebrating on the pitch afterwards was an
amazing experience. Not just winning promotion, but winning promotion with
some of my best friends, was really fantastic.
I got another injury at the beginning of our first season back in the
Premier League and struggled after that to make enough of an impact. I hope
I'm remembered as someone who gave his all in every game. Even when things
weren't going well, I always tried my best to have a positive impact, not
just on pitch, but also off the pitch and around the training ground.
It's at this point I must thank the medical staff at West Ham. They have
stuck with me through everything and have been fantastic throughout. The
moody days, the down days, the rainy days, I have experienced every moment
alongside some of the best medical guys I have ever had the privilege of
working with. Through my darkest days, they keeping me going, but we also
experienced some great moments and my goal at Arsenal in January 2013 was
dedicated to the medical team for getting me back fit time and time again.
That moment has a special place and although we lost the game I had been
through an awful lot the previous seasons and felt we deserved to enjoy that
moment together, where it all began.
I must also thank all the other staff members who work day after day behind
the scenes making West Ham what it truly is. There are lots of unsung
heroes, too many to mention. They know who they are and I hope they know I
have fond memories with every single one of them.
And lastly, as I move forward with my own career, I would like to take this
opportunity to thank the fans once more. You have a fantastic set up, great
staff and some wonderful players. As you move closer to the Olympic Stadium
I wish you lots of luck.
I'm looking forward to coming back to the Boleyn before then, of course. You
deserve good times and I'm sure they are on the horizon. I'm sorry I didn't
get chance to say goodbye but I hope I will in the near future.
Not many can say they have had the honour of wearing the famous Claret and
Blue but I hope they know I truly feel blessed for the opportunity. I have
been lucky enough to work with some great people and during my time and have
played alongside some truly inspirational and talented players. As we part
ways I have many fond memories of West Ham as a Club and would like to once
more thank you for letting me be part of a very special family, one that you
will never truly understand until your part of it, one that I have
experienced every emotion known to man with - the West Ham family.
JC x
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'West Ham are my team'
WHUFC.com
West Ham United fan Lee Bowyer says Sam Allardyce knows the Barclays Premier
League inside out
31.05.2014
Lee Bowyer has played for England, in UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup
semi-finals and made nearly 400 Premier League appearances during a
successful career. The midfielder is also a lifelong West Ham United
supporter, played 71 games for the Club during two spells and keeps close
tabs on how his old side are progressing by chatting to former Hammers
team-mates Mark Noble and James Collins. Now 37, Bowyer believes West Ham
have a bright future to look forward to, both on and off the pitch, with a
third season back in the Barclays Premier League starting in August and a
move to the 54,000-capacity Olympic Stadium to follow in summer 2016. "I
always keep an eye out on how West Ham are doing," said Bowyer, who recently
pulled on a claret and blue shirt again to take part in a charity match at
the Boleyn Ground for Great Ormond Children's Hospital. "They're my team,
always will be. I still speak to some of the lads there like Nobes and
Ginge.
"I think they have done really well. They are still in the Premier League
again for another season. Some of it was tough during the last season but
when you look at what has gone on over the year, with the injuries to big
players, it's been a decent year considering all of that. "The team got
those players back and were able to push on a bit and get safe, which is
what they said they would do. I believe as long as Sam is there, West Ham
will remain in the Premier League."
Bowyer might have never played under Sam Allardyce himself, but he locked
horns with Big Sam's sides regularly during spells with Leeds United, West
Ham, Newcastle United and Birmingham City. During those duels, the Canning
Town-born player developed a great respect for the manager who he now
believes will steer West Ham safely towards the Club's move to Stratford.
"He is a manager that knows the league inside out and he gets results. He
can grind a result out and sometimes that is what you have to do, grind
results out. West Ham beat Spurs three times in one season. I don't think it
has been a bad season, ometimes you can't win pretty, you have to grind it
out and we did what we had to do at times when it was needed. "The Club,
although it is sad to leave the Boleyn Ground, are moving in the right
direction with the move to the Olympic Stadium."
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Strong squad to visit New Zealand
WHUFC.com
Manager Sam Allardyce is looking forward to taking his West Ham United squad
to New Zealand this summer
31.05.2014
Sam Allardyce has confirmed that he will be taking a strong West Ham United
squad to New Zealand this summer. The manager also revealed that he is
personally relishing the Hammers' Football United Tour, which will see his
players take on A-League sides Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC during a
week-long visit to the country. With tickets selling fast for the matches in
Auckland and Wellington on 23 and 26 July respectively, Big Sam is looking
forward to leading West Ham to a country that the Club has never visited
previously. "Myself, my staff and my players are all hugely looking forward
to visiting New Zealand in July," said the manager, whose squad includes New
Zealand national team captain Winston Reid. "Aside from taking West Ham
United to a part of the world where football and interest in the Club and
the Barclays Premier League continue to grow rapidly, the Football United
Tour will also form a central and important part of our pre-season schedule.
"We will be bringing a strong first-team squad to New Zealand, will be
training every day and playing two fixtures against quality opposition in
Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC."
More than 20,000 tickets have already been sold for the 26 July
double-header at Wellington's Westpac Stadium which also includes Newcastle
United's meeting with the Phoenix. With interest in the Football United Tour
high across New Zealand and Australia and only set to intensify as the
Hammers' visit approaches, Big Sam said everyone associated with the Club is
excited by the prospect of playing in front of large crowds. At the same
time, the matches will provide the manager with two opportunities to run the
rule over his squad ahead of the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League season. "I
understand that tickets are selling very well and for West Ham to play in
front of a sell-out crowd would be something special," he enthused. "There
will be less than a month to go until the start of the 2014/15 Barclays
Premier League season when we visit and I am sure fans are excited about the
prospect of seeing the likes of Winston Reid, Andy Carroll and Mark Noble in
action alongside the exciting new signings we hope to have made by then. "I
have heard so many fantastic things about New Zealand from Winston, the
former All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen, who I worked with at Blackburn
Rovers, and my assistant Neil McDonald, who visited the country as a player.
I am sure we will enjoy a productive trip, on and off the pitch. "The
Football United Tour is an event everybody associated with West Ham is
relishing and I, for one, cannot wait!"
Football United Tour
Wellington Phoenix v West Ham United
Wednesday 23 July 2014, 7.30pm (local time)
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
Sydney FC v West Ham United
Saturday 26 July 2014, 2pm (local time)
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
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WEST HAM LINKED WITH THE OTHER VIDAL
By Sean Whetstone 1 Jun 2014 at 08:58
West Ham Till I Die
Not to be confused with Arturo Vidal who Manchester United are thought to
tempting Serie A champions Juventus with 50 million euro bid.
West Ham are rumoured to be tracking Spanish striker/winger Aleix Vidal. The
24-year-old scored six goals and assisted five other in 38 games as he
helped Almeria remain in the top-flight by the skin of their teeth and his
performances have alerted several Premier League clubs including Aston
Villa, Everton and Newcastle.
Vidal is valued around £4-million and widely recognised as talented but
unproven outside of La Liga, He has scored 17 goals from 120 first team
appearances fro Almeria.
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THE UNLIKELY TRANSFER
By Sean Whetstone 31 May 2014 at 16:21
West Ham Till I Die
My favourite transfer rumour this summer has got to be free agent Ashley
Cole being linked to a move to West Ham.
The 33 year old Left back who was born in East London was released by
Chelsea last week after his £200,000 per week contract came to an end. The
far fetched rumour suggests an un-named West Ham player spoke to Ashley in
attempt to lure him to East London at £100,000 per week. Carlton Cole is
known to be good friends with Ashley and he is reported to have met him
several times after training at Chadwell Heath.
Last January rumours also surfaced after Ashley Cole was pictured at West
Ham training ground on transfer deadline day with some Academy graduates. He
that occasion he transpired that Ashley had innocently gone to watch his
mates son play for the West Ham Under 16's.
With Ashley reportedly wanted Liverpool, Man City, Real Madrid, Arsenal.
Monaco and AC Milan I am not going to get my hopes up too high on this daft
rumour but it did make me smile. However the rumour was enough for Sky Bet
and Bet Victor to slash their odds on him joining West Ham to 14/1 from 25/1
before the rumour surfaced.
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Zarate wage shows things are changing
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 1, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Skipper Kevin Nolan is expected to come under serious pressure for his place
from new signing Mauro Zarate from the first kick of the new season. The 27
year old Argentine has arrived at Upton Park as a front line striker who has
everything in his locker. He is well known to the owners who took him to
Birmingham City on loan back in 2008 and although the team was relegated, he
showed enough for the pair to bring him back to West Ham six years later.
ClaretandHugh has learned that Zarate is a very serious arrival on wages
understood to be in the region of £40,000 a week over three years – an
outlay of just under £6 million plus bonuses. And although manager Sam
Allardyce has rarely been associated with a 'Little and Large' combination
upfront – more often than not relying on just a big target man – Zarate will
be expected to play from the start. A senior source explained exclusively to
ClaretandHugh: "Given their knowledge of the player this looks like a
signing driven by the co owners. "Zarate has lots of pace, movement and
trickery and on the wages that are being paid out he will be expected to
play. "And with a full pre-season ahead of him there can be no claims about
fitness issues so it seems that the style of play is definitely going to
change. "Obviously, someone is going to have to make way and there's a big
feeling around the place the main sufferer may be the captain but it's early
days. "However, Nolan has been Andy Carroll's main foil previously but it's
now Zarate who will be seen as the one to feed off those tasty knockdowns."
The cynical view that this may have been a buy to sweeten season ticket
sales is simply not true with Zarate's understood wages to be the giveaway.
This is a serious footballer who is here to help take West Ham back to their
entertaining roots. Without a doubt things are changing at the Boleyn!
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Ross McCormack set to leave Leeds over treatment of Brian McDermott... with
West Ham, Celtic and Leicester interested
By DAVID KENT
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 31 May 2014 | UPDATED: 22:30, 31 May 2014
Ross McCormack is set to leave cash-strapped Leeds United after manager
Brian McDermott lost his job. McCormack, 27, was the Championship's top
scorer last season with 29 goals and the Scotland striker handed much of the
credit to McDermott, who spent less than 14 months in the job. McCormack,
rated by Leeds at about £8million, is wanted by a host of clubs headed by
Celtic, West Ham, Leicester and Malaga.
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Irons plan heart to heart with Ravel as QPR wait
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 31, 2014 in Whispers
ClaretandHugh Exclusive
West Ham plan heart to heart talks with Ravel Morrison when he returns to
Chadwell Heath for pre-season training! The club will do everything in its
power to ensure that the England under 21 is as settled, happy and as "back
at home" as possible ahead of the new season. After a difficult 2013-14
which finally saw the player sent out on loan to Queens Park Rangers,
ClaretandHugh has learned there's "no way the club is giving up on Ravel and
a Boleyn future."
A trusted ClaretandHugh source was keen to point out that the controversies
surrounding Ravel and his contractual position have been "vastly blown out
of all proportion." That was a reference to allegations that efforts had
been made to woo him into agent Mark Curtis' stable. Our source said:
"Forget all that – it was never a serious issue. Rav is a man who knows his
own mind and has his own advisers – end of story. "The real problem was that
Sam Allardyce – as is his right – decided in the middle of a relegation
battle that Matt Taylor was a better for the circumstances and Ravel was
perhaps disappointed by that having been playing regularly." He added: "We
intend being there for Rav – we understand his personality and that he
needs to feel wanted, included and valued. "We shall be assuring him he has
the same chances as every other player and we will listen to everything he
has to say. "He has a year left on his contract at West Ham and we would
love to believe he can settle down to a long term future with us. "It's all
in his hands and we'll do all we can for him. We don't want unhappy players
in the squad."
Our source confirmed that there had been no contact from QPR whom it is
believed may be hoping to make Morrison's loan deal permanent. However,
having been ignored by manager Harry Redknapp for the Championship play-off
final amid fresh stories of a groin injury, interest may have waned.
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David Gold criticises Glen Johnson performance
on March 5, 2014© Getty Images
By Sian Cowper, Reporter
Filed: Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 12:55 UK
Last Updated: Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 13:17 UK
David Gold has described Glen Johnson's performance as "poor" following
England's 3-0 win over Peru in their final home match before the World Cup.
The Liverpool defender was in Roy Hodgson's starting lineup for the
international friendly at Wembley Stadium. The West Ham United co-chairman
wrote on Twitter: "I thought Glen Johnson was poor tonight but I was really
impressed with Adam [Lallana]." The 29-year-old started his career at West
Ham before moving to Chelsea in 2003.
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Saturday, May 31
Daily WHUFC News - 31st May 2014
Sheringham returns
WHUFC.com
Former West Ham United and England forward Teddy Sheringham has joined the
Club as an attacking coach
29.05.2014
West Ham United are delighted to announce the news that former West Ham
United and England striker Teddy Sheringham has returned to the Club as an
attacking coach. Sheringham will join Sam Allardyce's existing backroom
staff for the start of pre-season, with the specific remit of developing the
Club's attacking play. The 48-year-old, who joins the Club on a part-time
basis, admitted he jumped at the chance to join forces with Big Sam at the
Boleyn Ground.
"I'm very excited. Sam phoned me a week or so ago and asked me if I fancied
it. It was far too good to resist really," said childhood West Ham fan
Sheringham, who played alongside Big Sam at Millwall as a youngster and has
known the manager for more than 30 years. "Being a West Ham boy and coming
from the area, it fits nicely in all that I'm about, what with working
alongside Sam and knowing a few of the players as well. They've got a lot of
respect for Sam, they speak very highly of him and to know that's the case
made me want to get involved. "I know the environment, I know everything
about West Ham, so it was just too good an opportunity to turn down. "I've
had a couple of offers since I've been out of the game, which didn't feel
quite right but, when this came along, it felt just right for me. I'm
delighted to be coming back to the Club."
With the likes of Andy Carroll, Carlton Cole and the newly-recruited Mauro
Zarate set to be under his tutelage, Sheringham is keen to share all his
experience and expertise. He continued: "Having played as a striker for
years, Sam wants me to add something along those lines. Anything I can do to
be of help, I'm very willing. "I obviously know Carroll, Cole and Kevin
Nolan and I understand there'll be a few more forward players that I could
be working with and alongside to help improve."
A former Premier League Golden Boot winner and scorer of 147 top-flight
goals, Sheringham will be asked to pass on his extensive knowledge to the
Hammers' forwards as the Club targets more entertainment on the pitch next
season. The 48-year-old already possesses a deep understanding of the
culture at West Ham, having spent three seasons at the Boleyn Ground as a
player from 2004. In his first year, he helped the Club earn promotion to
the Premier League via the Play-Offs, before featuring in the FA Cup final
with Liverpool the following year. He was voted Hammer of the Year and the
league's Player of the Year for his efforts during the 2004/05 campaign.
Sheringham enjoyed a glittering playing career prior to joining the Hammers,
winning the UEFA Champions League, three Premier League titles and an FA Cup
with Manchester United. After starting his career with Millwall, the forward
also starred in the colours of Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur and
Portsmouth before ending his career with Colchester United in 2008 at the
age of 42. He also excelled for England, earning 51 caps and scoring eleven
goals and playing at two FIFA World Cups and the UEFA European Championship
finals in 1996.
In addition to the individual honours he won with West Ham, Sheringham was
voted into the Premier League Team of the Year and named both PFA Players'
Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year in for 2000/01.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam hails Sheringham signing
WHUFc.com
Manager Sam Allardyce was delighted to secure Teddy Sheringham as West Ham
United's new attacking coach
30.05.2014
Sam Allardyce is looking forward to seeing what old friend Teddy Sheringham
can do as West Ham United's new attacking coach. Big Sam has added the
former Hammers, Manchester United and England forward to his backroom staff,
with Sheringham initially returning to the Club on a part-time basis.
Having known the 48-year-old since his days as an apprentice at Millwall in
the early 1980s, the West Ham manager knows that his new charge has the
quality to make a real difference to his team's offensive play. "Teddy was
interested in coming into coaching at this stage so we're obviously glad to
have him on board to give us a new outlook on how we are working with our
attacking players," confirmed Big Sam. "We hope he can give some individual
expertise and one-on-one coaching with our attacking lads to hopefully help
us to score a few more goals. "Everybody knows how long he played, into his
forties, and he spent the latter part of his career at West Ham so he knows
all about the Club and we're all looking forward to him joining us and being
part of our very highly qualified staff. "Teddy is somebody who I knew as a
very young apprentice at Millwall when I was playing there, so obviously
from those days it was interesting to see how he developed into an
outstanding individual in terms of what he achieved as a footballer."
The manager revealed that Sheringham, who scored nearly 361 goals in 959
games for club and country during a glittering 24-year playing career, had
no hesitation in agreeing to his request to join the Hammers. "I rang Teddy
up to see if he was interested and he jumped at the chance," Big Sam
confirmed. "Obviously, he will come in and work specifically with the
attacking players, so it's a part-time role to start with and we'll how it
goes and develops after that.
"He brings many things - his experience and knowledge as a player, his
technical ability and then the sort of things he might have done in the box
to make that little bit more space. "It's breaking it down into a very
specific basis so the players can take it on board, learn from it and
hopefully adapt it on the field to use those techniques to make space and
put the ball in the back of the net."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Teddy Sheringham returns to West Ham as attacking coach
BBC.co.uk
Former West Ham forward Teddy Sheringham has rejoined the Premier League
club as an attacking coach. Sheringham, who spent three seasons at Upton
Park between 2004-07, joins Sam Allardyce's back-room staff with the aim of
improving the club's goal tally. The Hammers scored just 40 league goals in
38 games last season and signed Argentine striker Mario Zarate on Wednesday
to help address the problem. Sheringham, 48, said of the job offer: "It was
far too good to resist really."
Teddy Sheringham fact file
1988 - Wins promotion to the First Division with Millwall
1993 - Wins Premier League Golden Boot with Tottenham
1999 - Wins Champions League, Premier League & FA Cup with Manchester United
2000 - Wins Premier League with Manchester United
2001 - Wins Premier League with Manchester United and voted PFA Players'
Player of the Year award
2005 - Wins promotion to Premier League with West Ham
He added: "Being a West Ham boy and coming from the area, it fits nicely in
all that I'm about, what with working alongside Sam and knowing a few of the
players as well." West Ham finished 13th last season and Allardyce has been
asked by the board to deliver a more attacking style of play. Sheringham is
a former Premier League Golden Boot winner and scorer of 147 top-flight
goals. As a player, he won the Champions League, three Premier League titles
and an FA Cup with Manchester United following a transfer from Tottenham in
1997. Upon joining the Hammers in 2004 - via a second spell at Spurs and a
season at Portsmouth - he helped the club earn promotion to the Premier
League and played in the FA Cup final defeat against Liverpool the following
year. He was voted Hammer of the Year and the league's Player of the Year
for his efforts during the 2004-05 campaign. He also excelled for England,
earning 51 caps and scoring 11 goals and playing at two World Cups and the
European Championship finals in 1996. Sheringham played alongside Allardyce
at Millwall as a youngster and has known the Hammers manager for more than
30 years. He is currently completing his coaching qualifications.
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Teddy as she goes
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th May 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have confirmed the appointment of Teddy Sheringham as the
club's new attacking coach. Following an end-of-season board meeting it was
decided that Sam Allardyce incorporate a new, forward-thinking coach ahead
of the new 2014/15 campaign which begins in August. And as revealed here on
KUMB earlier in the week, Sheringham has been appointed to the part time
role. "Sam phoned me a week or so ago and asked me if I fancied it. It was
far too good to resist really," Sheringham told whufc.com. "I know the
environment, I know everything about West Ham, so it was just too good an
opportunity to turn down. "Having played as a striker for years, Sam wants
me to add something along those lines. Anything I can do to be of help, I'm
very willing. "I obviously know Carroll, Cole and Kevin Nolan and I
understand there'll be a few more forward players that I could be working
with and alongside to help improve. "I've had a couple of offers since I've
been out of the game, which didn't feel quite right but, when this came
along, it felt just right for me. I'm delighted to be coming back to the
Club." Sheringham, now 48, spent three years at West Ham as a player between
2004 and 2007. His 87 appearances for the club produced 30 goals.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham confirm Teddy Sheringham as attacking coach
Last Updated: 30/05/14 4:44pm
SSN
Former West Ham striker Teddy Sheringham has returned to Upton Park as an
attacking coach. Sheringham spent three years at West Ham between 2004 and
2007, scoring 30 goals in just 49 appearances. The 48-year-old will join the
club on a part-time basis, and Sheringham admitted he had no hesitation in
taking the role after talks with West Ham boss Sam Allardyce. Sheringham
said: "I'm very excited. Sam phoned me a week or so ago and asked me if I
fancied it. It was far too good to resist really. "Being a West Ham boy and
coming from the area, it fits nicely in all that I'm about, what with
working alongside Sam and knowing a few of the players as well. "I know the
environment, I know everything about West Ham, so it was just too good an
opportunity to turn down."
Teddy Sheringham "They've got a lot of respect for Sam, they speak very
highly of him and to know that's the case made me want to get involved. "I
know the environment, I know everything about West Ham, so it was just too
good an opportunity to turn down. "I've had a couple of offers since I've
been out of the game, which didn't feel quite right but, when this came
along, it felt just right for me. I'm delighted to be coming back to the
club." The Hammers struggled to score goals last season, managing just 40 in
38 Premier League matches. And the team's top scorer in the league was
midfielder Kevin Nolan, with seven
goals.
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ive Premier League clubs chasing French striker Bafetimbi Gomis
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo | Last Updated: 30/05/14
3:37pm
SSN
Sky Sports understands five Premier League clubs are battling it out to land
former Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis. Gomis is one of the most sought-after
free agents in the transfer market after seeing out his contract at Lyon.
The 28-year-old is being chased by a number of clubs across Europe, having
scored over 100 goals in Ligue 1 during his career. The likes of West Ham,
Sunderland and Swansea are all thought to be admirers of Gomis and the
player has been in England to talk to interested clubs this week. Gomis'
representative, Willie McKay, has confirmed he has spoken to five clubs
about the striker and that one club in particular are making a concerted
effort to land the France international. "I am speaking to five Premier
League clubs about Bafetimbi and it is no surprise there is a lot of
interest in him as he is one of the best free agents out there," McKay told
Sky Sports. "I am speaking to one very ambitious chairman of an ambitious
club and they are very keen to sign him and Bafetimbi will go to a club who
proves they really want him. "The club who are really pushing for him have
held a long-term interest in him and made a big bid for him before when he
was under contract at Lyon."
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WILL WEST HAM CASH IN ON ONE OF THEIR FIRST TEAM REGULARS?
By S J Chandos 30 May 2014 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
So, its one incoming deal dompleted and, if reports are to be believed, a
number of other targets lined up. Zarate is a good addition because, as Sam
Allardyce has stated, he brings something different that has hitherto been
absent from the squad. The Argentinian has skill, pace and the ability to do
the unexpected. The interesting thing is where he will be regularly
deployed, whether playing behind the main striker, alongside him in a 4-4-2,
as the main focal point of the attack or on the left of a front three in a
4-3-3. But, of course, the key thing is that he can play in all four roles
and that brings flexibility and alternative options that can be utilised in
different matches/phases of matches. However, this will be the ultimate
litmus test of a 'born again,' attack minded, Sam Allardyce; will he
actually actively use those options to best effect or will he revert to type
and stick to the same old favoured approach that we saw far too often last
season. Personally, I feel that 'reverting 'to type' is not an option and
the Manager will seek to exploit the new found diversity of tactical
alternatives in the squad. If the board fund the acquisition of new players,
to facilitate a more attacking style, then it would make no sense for the
manager not to utilise the improved tools/assets at his disposal. And
especially so in the current climate of heightened board expectation and
scrutiny!
Signing Zarate is a good start, especially on a Bosman deal. He has prior
Premier League experience and hopefully has matured, as a player, since his
Lazio days. We must encourage him to apply his undoubted creativity and do
the 'unexpected,' the only caveat being that he should also demonstrate good
decision-making on the ball to determine when to release the ball or make an
individual attempt on goal. With a player like Zarate, a balance needs to be
struck between giving free reign to his creative instincts and ensuring he
plays effectively within a team framework. I am sure that crucial balance
will be successfully struck next season. Although, it was formerly a factor
at Milan and Lazio, where the latter club allegedly had a 'assist' incentive
payment scheme to encourage him to resist going it alone, when better goal
scoring options were available.
Arguably, the ideal follow up deal would be to sign a striker of Bafetimbi
Gomis' quality. As his agent, Willie McKay correctly states, 'he is quick,
strong and, most importantly, scores goals.' Gomis can both play alongside
Carroll and provide direct competition in leading the attack. Indeed, unlike
a recent import from the French League, such as Maiga, he appears very well
equipped to adapt to the peculiar demands/challenges of PL football and
proceed to make a positive impact. We face competition from Swansea and
Sunderland, but hopefully, we can offer winning Bosman terms and exploit the
geographical advantage deriving from being London based. A lot will depend
upon the Manager's input and convincing Gomis that there will be genuine
competition with Carroll and, indeed, that a Carroll-Gomis combination is a
viable selection. But, again, this is the name of the game, having options,
different formations/tactics and healthy, keen and ongoing competition
within the squad. That is what I have consistently called for over the last
two seasons and, hopefully now, it is finally materialising! That is the
path forward, the way that we will drive up performance standards and
progress as a club.
In terms of other transfer targets, M'Baye Niang undoubtedly has talent and
potential. The question is whether he will knuckle down and productively
apply his talent or if other issues/factors might predominate? At 19 years
of age, time is on his side and with careful handling, he could become an
asset. At the end of the day, Niang might not fancy a loan move to east
London, he certainly does not appear to be rushing with undecent haste to
open negotiations with the club! One player I sincerely hope that we do land
is Anderlecht's Cheikhou Kouyate. He is posed to become a major talent and
brings the flexibility to play both at centre-back and as a defensive
midfielder. If selected in the latter role, he could form a great dual
midfield anchor with Mark Noble, providing strength and power along side
Noble's workrate, vision and passing ability. They would certainly shield
the defence, provide the extra assurance for the likes of Zarate, Gomis and
Downing to be adventurous going forward and, crucially, allow the full-backs
to provide vital attacking support down the flanks. I guess a Noble-Barry
could also do likewise; you certainly know what you are getting with Gareth
Barry, with the experience and track record that he brings to the table. Its
just whether, if we can close a deal for Kouyate, its better to go for the
long-term over the more immediate, short-term option. Personally, I think
Kouyate is the way to go, if there is a choice.
We are also being linked with a number of other players, such as Martin
Olsson, Seb Larson, Jack Colbeck and Robert Snodgrass. Time will tell if
these stories have any substance. However, it is an interesting question
whether Sam Allardyce might need to supplement the alleged c.£20m transfer
budget to complete the rebuilding of the squad this summer? If so, could
that mean an exit for at least one first team regular (preferably not
Winston Reid) to facilitate new incoming deals? Could we, for instance, sell
Diame, or even Jarvis, to generate new funds and shuffle the pack within the
squad? Maybe, if circumstances dictate and the position(s) are covered by
new arrivals. But in the first instance, the club should try to generate
some income from the sale of fringe players, like Maiga and Vaz Te. The club
has freed up the wage bill by granting free transfers to the likes of
McCartney, Cole and Collison, but it is important that outgoing sales are
also well managed. We must avoid the retention of surplus players, on large
salaries, who are sitting on and winding down their contracts. The objective
must be to avoid future Bosmans and secure some sort of sell on value that
can then be re-invested in the first team squad rebuild.
Finally, a word on the pending appointment of Teddy Sheringham to the
coaching staff. It is potentially a very smart move. Sheringham was a
striker of intelligence, technique, vision and touch and he has the
experience/knowledge to positively improve our forward play. I have no doubt
that he can be a success as our new Attacking Coach, but more than that, he
could eventually even develop in to a future West Ham manager. What would be
ideal is if the likes of Teddy Sheringham, Steve Potts and one or two other
ex-Hammers came to form the spine of the coaching staff, we started to
develop future management prospects internally and there was a system of
succession planning adopted. The type of succession system that Liverpool
formerly operated via their so-called 'boot room' and Ron Greenwood sought
to introduce to England in the 1980s.
Now that would be another positive step forward in re-affirming the 'West
Ham Way.' Whether it could happen under the present management set up is a
point of conjecture!
SJ. Chandos.
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QPR in for Joleon Lescott transfer swoop after West Ham talks fell through
May 30, 2014 22:30 By Football Spy
The Mirror
Newly promoted QPR are close to signing central defender Joleon Lescott. The
out-of-contract Manchester City defender has also held talks with West Ham,
but they were put off by his wage demands. QPR boss Harry Redknapp will also
sign Wolves' on-loan striker Kevin Doyle in a £1m deal. Wolves are ready to
sell, as they want Doyle off their wage bill. Doyle joined Rangers on loan
in January and scored two goals in 11 appearances. He has a year left on his
contract at Wolves. Doyle, 30, has spent the last five years at Wolves,
following his £6.5m move from Reading, and he has scored 33 goals in 173
games.
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Jack Colback may leave Sunderland for £50,000-a-week deal at West Ham
The Guardian
Louise Taylor
Friday 30 May 2014 17.26 BST
West Ham United seem set to prise Jack Colback away from Sunderland. The
midfielder is a free agent and finds himself in demand from not only his
current manager, Gus Poyet, but also Newcastle United and Swansea City.
Sam Allardyce, though, is prepared to offer Colback a four-year contract
worth around £50,000 a week – a sum his rivals will not compete with and
which would quadruple the 24-year-old's current deal.
In the wake of their escape from relegation, Sunderland are fighting hard to
keep the boyhood Newcastle fan – who was receptive to a switch to St James'
Park – but fear they may have lost a player they attempted to tie to a new
contract throughout much of the season just ended. Indeed the only hope
Poyet and Pardew can cling to is Colback's reluctance to relocate his wife
and two small children from the north-east.
Allardyce believes the Tynesider, regularly watched by Everton last season,
as precisely the sort of technically adroit midfielder who can assist him in
his attempts to appease both fans and the Upton Park board by making West
Ham rather more easy on the eye.
Although, at first glance, the package on offer seems extraordinarily
generous West Ham believe the lack of a transfer fee justifies such
investment on wages.
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£5 million wage savings at Upton Park
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 30, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
The Hammers have made £5 million available to themselves on the wage bill to
help with new signings this summer. And it looks as though most of that will
be used in the bid to tempt Sunderland's Jack Colback to join the Boleyn
boys. News broke earlier today that the Sunderland midfielder is to be
offered around £50k a week to join the Irons. However, a source has revealed
to Claretandhugh exclusively that in fact "it's nearer £45k or about £5.5
million over a three year contract. A ClaretandHugh exclusive probe shows
that already that £5 million of that has been released off the Hammers
annual wage bill with the departures of Joe Cole, Jack Collison and George
McCartney. Cole's combined weekly wage with add-ons was thought to add up to
£40,000 per week while Collison and McCartney were closer to £30,000 per
week. This has left sufficient funds to bring in Colback who may well be
heralded as the club's marquee signing having been hailed by Sam Allardyce
as the best free signing on the market. The ending of loan deals with Roger
Johnson, Pablo Armero, Antonio Nocerino and Marco Borriello will also push
up the amount available on wages as West Ham look to balance the budget
while keeping within the Premier League financial fair play rules.
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COLBACK 'TREBLE YOUR MONEY' OFFER
By Sean Whetstone 31 May 2014 at 08:08
West Ham Till I Die
West Ham look in a good place to beat Newcastle to signing of out of
contract Sunderland midfielder Jack Colback
West Ham have upped the ante in the race for Jack Colback's signature with a
'treble your money' offer to the 24 year old. It is claimed that deal is all
but certain to scupper both Sunderland and Newcastle United's hopes of
keeping the player in the North East.Sam Allardyce has identified
Sunderland's young Academy product as the best value of the Bosman
midfielders around.A wage offer in the region of £50,000 a week is seen as
economically justifiable for a player who would have been rated in the £4m
bracket had he been under contract, and who was on Everton's radar last
season. It is believed Sunderland and Newcastle are not prepared to go
anywhere near that figure for the player.
Sunderland had substantially improved the derisory offer made to Colback
last summer by former director of football Roberto De Fanti.Newcastle have
been monitoring Colback's situation closely, but have yet to make an offer
and are not expected to do so now in light of the West Ham development. The
only hope of newly-married Colback staying in the North East is if the
player himself and his family decide to stay in the region. But it is hard
to see how he can turn down such a lucrative offer. Colback is still
believed to be on his honeymoon and will make a decision on his return.
Former Hammer and Sunderland chief scout Bryan 'Pop' Robson said: "He is a
tidy player – a very good player for Sunderland and I think he has really
come on in the last couple of seasons" Jack is often compared to Paul
Scholes, a comparison he is more than happy with.
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WHUFC.com
Former West Ham United and England forward Teddy Sheringham has joined the
Club as an attacking coach
29.05.2014
West Ham United are delighted to announce the news that former West Ham
United and England striker Teddy Sheringham has returned to the Club as an
attacking coach. Sheringham will join Sam Allardyce's existing backroom
staff for the start of pre-season, with the specific remit of developing the
Club's attacking play. The 48-year-old, who joins the Club on a part-time
basis, admitted he jumped at the chance to join forces with Big Sam at the
Boleyn Ground.
"I'm very excited. Sam phoned me a week or so ago and asked me if I fancied
it. It was far too good to resist really," said childhood West Ham fan
Sheringham, who played alongside Big Sam at Millwall as a youngster and has
known the manager for more than 30 years. "Being a West Ham boy and coming
from the area, it fits nicely in all that I'm about, what with working
alongside Sam and knowing a few of the players as well. They've got a lot of
respect for Sam, they speak very highly of him and to know that's the case
made me want to get involved. "I know the environment, I know everything
about West Ham, so it was just too good an opportunity to turn down. "I've
had a couple of offers since I've been out of the game, which didn't feel
quite right but, when this came along, it felt just right for me. I'm
delighted to be coming back to the Club."
With the likes of Andy Carroll, Carlton Cole and the newly-recruited Mauro
Zarate set to be under his tutelage, Sheringham is keen to share all his
experience and expertise. He continued: "Having played as a striker for
years, Sam wants me to add something along those lines. Anything I can do to
be of help, I'm very willing. "I obviously know Carroll, Cole and Kevin
Nolan and I understand there'll be a few more forward players that I could
be working with and alongside to help improve."
A former Premier League Golden Boot winner and scorer of 147 top-flight
goals, Sheringham will be asked to pass on his extensive knowledge to the
Hammers' forwards as the Club targets more entertainment on the pitch next
season. The 48-year-old already possesses a deep understanding of the
culture at West Ham, having spent three seasons at the Boleyn Ground as a
player from 2004. In his first year, he helped the Club earn promotion to
the Premier League via the Play-Offs, before featuring in the FA Cup final
with Liverpool the following year. He was voted Hammer of the Year and the
league's Player of the Year for his efforts during the 2004/05 campaign.
Sheringham enjoyed a glittering playing career prior to joining the Hammers,
winning the UEFA Champions League, three Premier League titles and an FA Cup
with Manchester United. After starting his career with Millwall, the forward
also starred in the colours of Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur and
Portsmouth before ending his career with Colchester United in 2008 at the
age of 42. He also excelled for England, earning 51 caps and scoring eleven
goals and playing at two FIFA World Cups and the UEFA European Championship
finals in 1996.
In addition to the individual honours he won with West Ham, Sheringham was
voted into the Premier League Team of the Year and named both PFA Players'
Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year in for 2000/01.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam hails Sheringham signing
WHUFc.com
Manager Sam Allardyce was delighted to secure Teddy Sheringham as West Ham
United's new attacking coach
30.05.2014
Sam Allardyce is looking forward to seeing what old friend Teddy Sheringham
can do as West Ham United's new attacking coach. Big Sam has added the
former Hammers, Manchester United and England forward to his backroom staff,
with Sheringham initially returning to the Club on a part-time basis.
Having known the 48-year-old since his days as an apprentice at Millwall in
the early 1980s, the West Ham manager knows that his new charge has the
quality to make a real difference to his team's offensive play. "Teddy was
interested in coming into coaching at this stage so we're obviously glad to
have him on board to give us a new outlook on how we are working with our
attacking players," confirmed Big Sam. "We hope he can give some individual
expertise and one-on-one coaching with our attacking lads to hopefully help
us to score a few more goals. "Everybody knows how long he played, into his
forties, and he spent the latter part of his career at West Ham so he knows
all about the Club and we're all looking forward to him joining us and being
part of our very highly qualified staff. "Teddy is somebody who I knew as a
very young apprentice at Millwall when I was playing there, so obviously
from those days it was interesting to see how he developed into an
outstanding individual in terms of what he achieved as a footballer."
The manager revealed that Sheringham, who scored nearly 361 goals in 959
games for club and country during a glittering 24-year playing career, had
no hesitation in agreeing to his request to join the Hammers. "I rang Teddy
up to see if he was interested and he jumped at the chance," Big Sam
confirmed. "Obviously, he will come in and work specifically with the
attacking players, so it's a part-time role to start with and we'll how it
goes and develops after that.
"He brings many things - his experience and knowledge as a player, his
technical ability and then the sort of things he might have done in the box
to make that little bit more space. "It's breaking it down into a very
specific basis so the players can take it on board, learn from it and
hopefully adapt it on the field to use those techniques to make space and
put the ball in the back of the net."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Teddy Sheringham returns to West Ham as attacking coach
BBC.co.uk
Former West Ham forward Teddy Sheringham has rejoined the Premier League
club as an attacking coach. Sheringham, who spent three seasons at Upton
Park between 2004-07, joins Sam Allardyce's back-room staff with the aim of
improving the club's goal tally. The Hammers scored just 40 league goals in
38 games last season and signed Argentine striker Mario Zarate on Wednesday
to help address the problem. Sheringham, 48, said of the job offer: "It was
far too good to resist really."
Teddy Sheringham fact file
1988 - Wins promotion to the First Division with Millwall
1993 - Wins Premier League Golden Boot with Tottenham
1999 - Wins Champions League, Premier League & FA Cup with Manchester United
2000 - Wins Premier League with Manchester United
2001 - Wins Premier League with Manchester United and voted PFA Players'
Player of the Year award
2005 - Wins promotion to Premier League with West Ham
He added: "Being a West Ham boy and coming from the area, it fits nicely in
all that I'm about, what with working alongside Sam and knowing a few of the
players as well." West Ham finished 13th last season and Allardyce has been
asked by the board to deliver a more attacking style of play. Sheringham is
a former Premier League Golden Boot winner and scorer of 147 top-flight
goals. As a player, he won the Champions League, three Premier League titles
and an FA Cup with Manchester United following a transfer from Tottenham in
1997. Upon joining the Hammers in 2004 - via a second spell at Spurs and a
season at Portsmouth - he helped the club earn promotion to the Premier
League and played in the FA Cup final defeat against Liverpool the following
year. He was voted Hammer of the Year and the league's Player of the Year
for his efforts during the 2004-05 campaign. He also excelled for England,
earning 51 caps and scoring 11 goals and playing at two World Cups and the
European Championship finals in 1996. Sheringham played alongside Allardyce
at Millwall as a youngster and has known the Hammers manager for more than
30 years. He is currently completing his coaching qualifications.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Teddy as she goes
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th May 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have confirmed the appointment of Teddy Sheringham as the
club's new attacking coach. Following an end-of-season board meeting it was
decided that Sam Allardyce incorporate a new, forward-thinking coach ahead
of the new 2014/15 campaign which begins in August. And as revealed here on
KUMB earlier in the week, Sheringham has been appointed to the part time
role. "Sam phoned me a week or so ago and asked me if I fancied it. It was
far too good to resist really," Sheringham told whufc.com. "I know the
environment, I know everything about West Ham, so it was just too good an
opportunity to turn down. "Having played as a striker for years, Sam wants
me to add something along those lines. Anything I can do to be of help, I'm
very willing. "I obviously know Carroll, Cole and Kevin Nolan and I
understand there'll be a few more forward players that I could be working
with and alongside to help improve. "I've had a couple of offers since I've
been out of the game, which didn't feel quite right but, when this came
along, it felt just right for me. I'm delighted to be coming back to the
Club." Sheringham, now 48, spent three years at West Ham as a player between
2004 and 2007. His 87 appearances for the club produced 30 goals.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham confirm Teddy Sheringham as attacking coach
Last Updated: 30/05/14 4:44pm
SSN
Former West Ham striker Teddy Sheringham has returned to Upton Park as an
attacking coach. Sheringham spent three years at West Ham between 2004 and
2007, scoring 30 goals in just 49 appearances. The 48-year-old will join the
club on a part-time basis, and Sheringham admitted he had no hesitation in
taking the role after talks with West Ham boss Sam Allardyce. Sheringham
said: "I'm very excited. Sam phoned me a week or so ago and asked me if I
fancied it. It was far too good to resist really. "Being a West Ham boy and
coming from the area, it fits nicely in all that I'm about, what with
working alongside Sam and knowing a few of the players as well. "I know the
environment, I know everything about West Ham, so it was just too good an
opportunity to turn down."
Teddy Sheringham "They've got a lot of respect for Sam, they speak very
highly of him and to know that's the case made me want to get involved. "I
know the environment, I know everything about West Ham, so it was just too
good an opportunity to turn down. "I've had a couple of offers since I've
been out of the game, which didn't feel quite right but, when this came
along, it felt just right for me. I'm delighted to be coming back to the
club." The Hammers struggled to score goals last season, managing just 40 in
38 Premier League matches. And the team's top scorer in the league was
midfielder Kevin Nolan, with seven
goals.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ive Premier League clubs chasing French striker Bafetimbi Gomis
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo | Last Updated: 30/05/14
3:37pm
SSN
Sky Sports understands five Premier League clubs are battling it out to land
former Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis. Gomis is one of the most sought-after
free agents in the transfer market after seeing out his contract at Lyon.
The 28-year-old is being chased by a number of clubs across Europe, having
scored over 100 goals in Ligue 1 during his career. The likes of West Ham,
Sunderland and Swansea are all thought to be admirers of Gomis and the
player has been in England to talk to interested clubs this week. Gomis'
representative, Willie McKay, has confirmed he has spoken to five clubs
about the striker and that one club in particular are making a concerted
effort to land the France international. "I am speaking to five Premier
League clubs about Bafetimbi and it is no surprise there is a lot of
interest in him as he is one of the best free agents out there," McKay told
Sky Sports. "I am speaking to one very ambitious chairman of an ambitious
club and they are very keen to sign him and Bafetimbi will go to a club who
proves they really want him. "The club who are really pushing for him have
held a long-term interest in him and made a big bid for him before when he
was under contract at Lyon."
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WILL WEST HAM CASH IN ON ONE OF THEIR FIRST TEAM REGULARS?
By S J Chandos 30 May 2014 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
So, its one incoming deal dompleted and, if reports are to be believed, a
number of other targets lined up. Zarate is a good addition because, as Sam
Allardyce has stated, he brings something different that has hitherto been
absent from the squad. The Argentinian has skill, pace and the ability to do
the unexpected. The interesting thing is where he will be regularly
deployed, whether playing behind the main striker, alongside him in a 4-4-2,
as the main focal point of the attack or on the left of a front three in a
4-3-3. But, of course, the key thing is that he can play in all four roles
and that brings flexibility and alternative options that can be utilised in
different matches/phases of matches. However, this will be the ultimate
litmus test of a 'born again,' attack minded, Sam Allardyce; will he
actually actively use those options to best effect or will he revert to type
and stick to the same old favoured approach that we saw far too often last
season. Personally, I feel that 'reverting 'to type' is not an option and
the Manager will seek to exploit the new found diversity of tactical
alternatives in the squad. If the board fund the acquisition of new players,
to facilitate a more attacking style, then it would make no sense for the
manager not to utilise the improved tools/assets at his disposal. And
especially so in the current climate of heightened board expectation and
scrutiny!
Signing Zarate is a good start, especially on a Bosman deal. He has prior
Premier League experience and hopefully has matured, as a player, since his
Lazio days. We must encourage him to apply his undoubted creativity and do
the 'unexpected,' the only caveat being that he should also demonstrate good
decision-making on the ball to determine when to release the ball or make an
individual attempt on goal. With a player like Zarate, a balance needs to be
struck between giving free reign to his creative instincts and ensuring he
plays effectively within a team framework. I am sure that crucial balance
will be successfully struck next season. Although, it was formerly a factor
at Milan and Lazio, where the latter club allegedly had a 'assist' incentive
payment scheme to encourage him to resist going it alone, when better goal
scoring options were available.
Arguably, the ideal follow up deal would be to sign a striker of Bafetimbi
Gomis' quality. As his agent, Willie McKay correctly states, 'he is quick,
strong and, most importantly, scores goals.' Gomis can both play alongside
Carroll and provide direct competition in leading the attack. Indeed, unlike
a recent import from the French League, such as Maiga, he appears very well
equipped to adapt to the peculiar demands/challenges of PL football and
proceed to make a positive impact. We face competition from Swansea and
Sunderland, but hopefully, we can offer winning Bosman terms and exploit the
geographical advantage deriving from being London based. A lot will depend
upon the Manager's input and convincing Gomis that there will be genuine
competition with Carroll and, indeed, that a Carroll-Gomis combination is a
viable selection. But, again, this is the name of the game, having options,
different formations/tactics and healthy, keen and ongoing competition
within the squad. That is what I have consistently called for over the last
two seasons and, hopefully now, it is finally materialising! That is the
path forward, the way that we will drive up performance standards and
progress as a club.
In terms of other transfer targets, M'Baye Niang undoubtedly has talent and
potential. The question is whether he will knuckle down and productively
apply his talent or if other issues/factors might predominate? At 19 years
of age, time is on his side and with careful handling, he could become an
asset. At the end of the day, Niang might not fancy a loan move to east
London, he certainly does not appear to be rushing with undecent haste to
open negotiations with the club! One player I sincerely hope that we do land
is Anderlecht's Cheikhou Kouyate. He is posed to become a major talent and
brings the flexibility to play both at centre-back and as a defensive
midfielder. If selected in the latter role, he could form a great dual
midfield anchor with Mark Noble, providing strength and power along side
Noble's workrate, vision and passing ability. They would certainly shield
the defence, provide the extra assurance for the likes of Zarate, Gomis and
Downing to be adventurous going forward and, crucially, allow the full-backs
to provide vital attacking support down the flanks. I guess a Noble-Barry
could also do likewise; you certainly know what you are getting with Gareth
Barry, with the experience and track record that he brings to the table. Its
just whether, if we can close a deal for Kouyate, its better to go for the
long-term over the more immediate, short-term option. Personally, I think
Kouyate is the way to go, if there is a choice.
We are also being linked with a number of other players, such as Martin
Olsson, Seb Larson, Jack Colbeck and Robert Snodgrass. Time will tell if
these stories have any substance. However, it is an interesting question
whether Sam Allardyce might need to supplement the alleged c.£20m transfer
budget to complete the rebuilding of the squad this summer? If so, could
that mean an exit for at least one first team regular (preferably not
Winston Reid) to facilitate new incoming deals? Could we, for instance, sell
Diame, or even Jarvis, to generate new funds and shuffle the pack within the
squad? Maybe, if circumstances dictate and the position(s) are covered by
new arrivals. But in the first instance, the club should try to generate
some income from the sale of fringe players, like Maiga and Vaz Te. The club
has freed up the wage bill by granting free transfers to the likes of
McCartney, Cole and Collison, but it is important that outgoing sales are
also well managed. We must avoid the retention of surplus players, on large
salaries, who are sitting on and winding down their contracts. The objective
must be to avoid future Bosmans and secure some sort of sell on value that
can then be re-invested in the first team squad rebuild.
Finally, a word on the pending appointment of Teddy Sheringham to the
coaching staff. It is potentially a very smart move. Sheringham was a
striker of intelligence, technique, vision and touch and he has the
experience/knowledge to positively improve our forward play. I have no doubt
that he can be a success as our new Attacking Coach, but more than that, he
could eventually even develop in to a future West Ham manager. What would be
ideal is if the likes of Teddy Sheringham, Steve Potts and one or two other
ex-Hammers came to form the spine of the coaching staff, we started to
develop future management prospects internally and there was a system of
succession planning adopted. The type of succession system that Liverpool
formerly operated via their so-called 'boot room' and Ron Greenwood sought
to introduce to England in the 1980s.
Now that would be another positive step forward in re-affirming the 'West
Ham Way.' Whether it could happen under the present management set up is a
point of conjecture!
SJ. Chandos.
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QPR in for Joleon Lescott transfer swoop after West Ham talks fell through
May 30, 2014 22:30 By Football Spy
The Mirror
Newly promoted QPR are close to signing central defender Joleon Lescott. The
out-of-contract Manchester City defender has also held talks with West Ham,
but they were put off by his wage demands. QPR boss Harry Redknapp will also
sign Wolves' on-loan striker Kevin Doyle in a £1m deal. Wolves are ready to
sell, as they want Doyle off their wage bill. Doyle joined Rangers on loan
in January and scored two goals in 11 appearances. He has a year left on his
contract at Wolves. Doyle, 30, has spent the last five years at Wolves,
following his £6.5m move from Reading, and he has scored 33 goals in 173
games.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jack Colback may leave Sunderland for £50,000-a-week deal at West Ham
The Guardian
Louise Taylor
Friday 30 May 2014 17.26 BST
West Ham United seem set to prise Jack Colback away from Sunderland. The
midfielder is a free agent and finds himself in demand from not only his
current manager, Gus Poyet, but also Newcastle United and Swansea City.
Sam Allardyce, though, is prepared to offer Colback a four-year contract
worth around £50,000 a week – a sum his rivals will not compete with and
which would quadruple the 24-year-old's current deal.
In the wake of their escape from relegation, Sunderland are fighting hard to
keep the boyhood Newcastle fan – who was receptive to a switch to St James'
Park – but fear they may have lost a player they attempted to tie to a new
contract throughout much of the season just ended. Indeed the only hope
Poyet and Pardew can cling to is Colback's reluctance to relocate his wife
and two small children from the north-east.
Allardyce believes the Tynesider, regularly watched by Everton last season,
as precisely the sort of technically adroit midfielder who can assist him in
his attempts to appease both fans and the Upton Park board by making West
Ham rather more easy on the eye.
Although, at first glance, the package on offer seems extraordinarily
generous West Ham believe the lack of a transfer fee justifies such
investment on wages.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
£5 million wage savings at Upton Park
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 30, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
The Hammers have made £5 million available to themselves on the wage bill to
help with new signings this summer. And it looks as though most of that will
be used in the bid to tempt Sunderland's Jack Colback to join the Boleyn
boys. News broke earlier today that the Sunderland midfielder is to be
offered around £50k a week to join the Irons. However, a source has revealed
to Claretandhugh exclusively that in fact "it's nearer £45k or about £5.5
million over a three year contract. A ClaretandHugh exclusive probe shows
that already that £5 million of that has been released off the Hammers
annual wage bill with the departures of Joe Cole, Jack Collison and George
McCartney. Cole's combined weekly wage with add-ons was thought to add up to
£40,000 per week while Collison and McCartney were closer to £30,000 per
week. This has left sufficient funds to bring in Colback who may well be
heralded as the club's marquee signing having been hailed by Sam Allardyce
as the best free signing on the market. The ending of loan deals with Roger
Johnson, Pablo Armero, Antonio Nocerino and Marco Borriello will also push
up the amount available on wages as West Ham look to balance the budget
while keeping within the Premier League financial fair play rules.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
COLBACK 'TREBLE YOUR MONEY' OFFER
By Sean Whetstone 31 May 2014 at 08:08
West Ham Till I Die
West Ham look in a good place to beat Newcastle to signing of out of
contract Sunderland midfielder Jack Colback
West Ham have upped the ante in the race for Jack Colback's signature with a
'treble your money' offer to the 24 year old. It is claimed that deal is all
but certain to scupper both Sunderland and Newcastle United's hopes of
keeping the player in the North East.Sam Allardyce has identified
Sunderland's young Academy product as the best value of the Bosman
midfielders around.A wage offer in the region of £50,000 a week is seen as
economically justifiable for a player who would have been rated in the £4m
bracket had he been under contract, and who was on Everton's radar last
season. It is believed Sunderland and Newcastle are not prepared to go
anywhere near that figure for the player.
Sunderland had substantially improved the derisory offer made to Colback
last summer by former director of football Roberto De Fanti.Newcastle have
been monitoring Colback's situation closely, but have yet to make an offer
and are not expected to do so now in light of the West Ham development. The
only hope of newly-married Colback staying in the North East is if the
player himself and his family decide to stay in the region. But it is hard
to see how he can turn down such a lucrative offer. Colback is still
believed to be on his honeymoon and will make a decision on his return.
Former Hammer and Sunderland chief scout Bryan 'Pop' Robson said: "He is a
tidy player – a very good player for Sunderland and I think he has really
come on in the last couple of seasons" Jack is often compared to Paul
Scholes, a comparison he is more than happy with.
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