U18s overcome Real Madrid
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U18s scored a memorable win to finish third at the Champions
Cup
06.09.2014
West Ham United U18s recorded a memorable victory over Real Madrid as they
secured third place at the Champions Cup invitational tournament. Without a
league game due to the international break, the Hammers were invited to the
two-day tournament by hosts Tottenham Hotspur. Featuring matches of two
30-minute halves, the first day of competition saw West Ham defeat Liverpool
2-0 and lose 1-0 to Portuguese side Benfica in Group B on Friday. In-form
striker Jordan Brown scored both goals against the Reds. However, the
narrow defeat by Benfica left the Hammers second in Group B and paired them
with Group A runners-up Real Madrid. But Steve Potts' squad rose to the
occasion against their illustrious opponents and took the lead through
Marcus Browne's direct free-kick after just two minutes. West Ham dominated
the opening half and could have extended their lead, with Kieran Bailey
twice going close. Into the second half and Madrid came into the game
slightly more, but it was the Hammers who continued to create the better
chances. After Bailey had again been denied, West Ham were rewarded midway
through the second half when Djair Parfitt-Williams' corner was headed into
the net by Emmanuel Onariase. Now in full control, the Londoners relaxed and
could easily have extended their lead, only for Grady Diangana to shoot wide
when well-placed. The final whistle sparked celebrations among those in
Claret and Blue, with the victory completing an encouraging and very
worthwhile two days' work.
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Haycock happy with early-season form
WHUFC.com
Nick Haycock is hoping a midweek win will inspire his U21s players in their
next league game
06.09.2014
West Ham United's Development Squad have had a tough start to their Barclays
U21 Premier League campaign results-wise. Despite good performances in each
of their three games, Nick Haycock's men have only got one point to show for
their efforts. A cruel equaliser late on away to Manchester City prevented
a deserved first win of the season following defeats by Tottenham Hotspur
and Southampton. The U21s' next game is at 7pm kick-off against Liverpool on
Friday 12 September at the Boleyn Ground. Speaking after the West Ham
United XI 5-1 win over an Ipswich Town XI on Thursday, Haycock said: "The
scoreline wasn't the most important thing, it was the performance and what
each player individually could get out of the game." For everybody it was
about getting minutes on the pitch under their belts, and to put in a good
performance at the same time." Haycock has given his squad the weekend off
to ensure the players come back refreshed and focused, ready to return to
training on Monday in preparation for Friday's match. "The boys are going
to get a few days off, the group will be off Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We
will be back on the training field, Monday and Tuesday preparing for the
Liverpool game. "We had a meeting about the Manchester City game and the
first three games as a whole. We know we are a little unlucky in terms of
the amount of points we have, but the performances are improving with a
young side playing together."
When asked if there was anything specific the team needs to work on, Haycock
replied: "It's pretty much more of the same of what we have been doing. We
just need to be a little more clinical at the top end of the pitch, as well
as keeping that defensive security. If we do that, we'll give a good account
of ourselves against Liverpool." Liverpool have started the season well,
securing four points from their opening two games after a 1-0 away win at
Sunderland, followed by a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United.
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Little demands Lewes performance
WHUFC.com
Stacey Little has demanded an improvement when West Ham United Ladies head
to Lewes
06.09.2014
Captain Stacey Little has demanded an improvement when West Ham United
Ladies head to Lewes on Sunday. The Hammers began the 2014/15 campaign with
a 2-1 FA Women's Premier League Southern Division victory at Queens Park
Rangers, only to follow that up with a League Cup first-round exit at
Keynsham Town and home league defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
Little, who was the driving force behind Julian Dicks' appointment as Ladies
manager in the summer, has issued a rallying cry her boss would no doubt be
proud of ahead of this weekend's trip to Sussex. "We do a lot of travelling
and we don't want to be going to places like Lewes and not come back with
the three points," said Little, whose side travelled to Somerset last
weekend and face trips to Coventry, Portsmouth and Plymouth in the coming
weeks. "We want and need to start getting points on the board now. "From our
performance against QPR to what we have shown in the past two games, we need
to pick it up massively and we need to get back to the level of performance
we produced at QPR.
On Thursday, Little was disappointed that the Ladies could not produce a
performance or result to mark the occasion of Dicks' first home match in
charge.
Hundreds of fans turned out for the visit of Spurs following a determined
social and digital media campaign to attract more support, only for West Ham
to end up on the losing side. The skipper hopes those supporters will not be
dissuaded from making their way to Aveley FC's Mill Field for future
matches, with home fixtures against Copsewood, Plymouth Argyle and
Portsmouth scheduled for 14, 21 and 28 September respectively. Kick-off for
all three league matches is 2pm.
"West Ham fans are fantastic, whether they are men, women or kids," Little
confirmed. "They have shown their support for us this season already and are
fully behind us. I'm just gutted we couldn't give them the result they came
along and hoped to see on Thursday night."
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Academy Ace - Djair Parfitt-Williams
WHUFC.com
Attacker Djair Parfitt-Williams knows hard work, dedication and ability are
a winning combination
06.09.2014
Djair Parfitt-Williams is determined to fulfil his English football dream
after journeying from across the Atlantic Ocean. Academy forward Djair
Parfitt-Williams' path to West Ham United was not the typical one taken by
the majority of his contemporaries. Parfitt-Williams did not come to the
Club having impressed in the local London or Essex leagues. Instead, his
route into English football came via Hammers legend and former Bermuda
international Clyde Best MBE. Best, who played 219 games for the Hammers
between 1968 and 1976, now lives in the United States and spotted his
countryman Parfitt-Williams when he was playing for San Jose Earthquakes. A
recommendation to his former Club in London later, the youngster found
himself at West Ham for a trial, and three years down the line he is now
starting out on the second year of his scholarship. He explained: "I came
here in summer 2011, and I has been playing at San Jose Earthquakes in
California previously. "Clyde Best had heard about me before and he wanted
to come in and have a look at me. He said as soon as he saw me on the ball,
that he knew I had abilities. "I'm glad that he gave me the opportunity and
hopefully if I make it to where I want to make it, I can give back. That was
a great day, I was just so happy, I was excited to get over here. I just
wanted to come to England so badly. When I got my opportunity I knew I had
to take it."
Growing up in Bermuda, then moving to the United States, and now pitching up
in England, Parfitt-Williams has certainly covered the miles in chasing his
football dream, but every sacrifice has been worth it to get him to this
stage. He explained: "At times, you miss your people, you miss your family,
your boys. You miss everybody, but in the back of your head you know that
you've got to make sacrifices to get to where you want to get. You've got to
be mentally strong, if this is what you really want to do then you've got to
get on with it."
Parfitt-Williams is grateful to the Academy staff for helping him settle
with the Hammers and he is keen to repay them with a strong campaign. He
continued: "When I first came here Paul Heffer helped me a lot, he spoke to
me after my games, spoke to me after training. He would tell me what I need
to do and then there's Steve Potts, who I've been with since I came here. Me
and Steve have a good relationship. It has helped because I can talk to them
sometimes. It's good. "
The forward managed nine goals in 28 games last season and is already off
the mark for the current campaign. He has the appetite for more, too. "I
would say last season's performance was good overall, but I think it could
have been betterI wanted to get more goals, I wanted to get more assists. It
just means that I need to work harder. Overall it was good but there's room
for more."
As for his own abilities, Parfitt-Williams says he has become a better
all-round player since coming to the Hammers. He explained: "When I first
came here I would say I was more of a skilful player and didn't really like
defending. Those are more English sides of the game and I'm getting better
at them, I can still improve. I need to bring these things together with
tricks and all the skills. There's Joga Bonito, play beautiful, have fun
with it, but at the same time you need to do some hard work. If you can
bring those things together then there's no stopping you."
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WOULD PAOLO HAVE BECOME A LEGEND UNDER ALLARDYCE?
By Iain Dale 7 Sep 2014 at 08:08
West Ham Till I Die
Guest Post by Josh
Perhaps my favourite West Ham player of all time, Paolo Di Canio, is quite
rightly a modern West Ham legend, an icon who was adored by our own fans and
at the same time gained tremendous respect from opposition supporters for
his passionate and hugely entertaining playing style. At times, he was as
frustrating as he was resplendent, but perhaps it was this unpredictability
that made him so endearing. The man oozed passion, charisma, and had an
unquenchable thirst for victory. He knew he was loved, but most importantly,
the love was reciprocated - Paolo had, and still does have, a genuine love
for West Ham.
But my question is this - if Paolo had been born 15 years later and signed
for us this summer (for a bargain 1.5m), would he have gone on to achieve
the same legendary status under our current manager?
Whilst not wanting to cover old ground, Sam Allardyce is well known for
being a statistics loving, conservative manager. He likes players that he
knows what to expect from every week, often giving preference to a 'grafter'
rather than someone who is more skilful but less consistent. You can argue
whether these are positive or negative traits as long as you like, but
whichever way you look at it, this selection policy would not cater to 'Mr
Unpredictable' Paolo Di Canio.
Whilst we all loved him for it, would Paolo's character have been deemed
acceptable by Allardyce? It could be argued that he wasn't much of a team
player, and he certainly wasn't the best at following instructions. Who can
forget the demands to be substituted after failing in three penalty appeals
against Bradford? Or him pushing over the referee, albeit when in Sheffield
Wednesday colours? Whilst his ability on the pitch was unquestionable, these
eccentricities that we loved as fans would not have been well received by
Big Sam. Indeed, would he have seen him as too much of a risk to play in
important games? Would Paolo's tendency to crack a speculative shot away
from outside the box, or his attempts to dribble past four people rather
than play the simple pass be frowned upon? Or worse still, would these be
elements of his game that Allardyce would try to 'iron out'?
Another thing that makes me doubt whether Paolo would have made it under Sam
Allardyce is his preference for 4 - 3 - 3 / 4 - 5 - 1. Whilst capable of
playing on the left of a front three, it certainly wasn't his best position,
and Paolo certainly wasn't a target man. He thrived in a 4-4-2 formation,
his best form for us coming in a partnership with Kanoute or Defoe, with the
likes of Joe Cole, Trevor Sinclair and Michael Carrick supplying the
ammunition. If Paolo were to sign today, where would he fit in the side? And
if he did, would he be supplied with the through balls he craved, or would
he have to rely on floated crosses from Jarvis and Downing?
Whilst this is very much a rhetorical question, there may be one way to tell
whether or not Paolo would have gone down in history if he had played in
this current era - Mauro Zarate. From my short glimpses of him so far, and
from the stories we read about his 'character', I think Mauro could be
considered a player of a similar mould to Paolo. Only time will tell what
sort of impact he will make at the club, but if he leaves me with even a
quarter of the memories Paolo did, he will arguably achieve 'legend' status
himself.
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GOLD & SULLIVAN: INNOCENT OF 'MUGGING US OFF'!
By Iain Dale 6 Sep 2014 at 21:35
West Ham till I Die
Guest Post by 'DC'
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I put it to you that the defendants, Gold,
Sullivan, Brady and Allardyce are innocent of the alleged crime
'mugging-us-off'. Let us look at the evidence.
This summer, the defendants claimed they would employ a new attacking coach
(20/5/14). They recruited a one Mr. Edward 'Teddy' Sheringham, a reputable
striker of his day.
They claimed they would employ a new Director of Player Recruitment. They
recruited a one Mr. Tony Henry (currently in transit somewhere near
Spaghetti Junction).
They claimed they would continue to value The Academy and Youth Player
Development. They are currently developing and offering opportunities to
young players such as Reece Oxford, Reece Burke, Leo Chambers, Daniel Potts,
Diego Poyet, Ravel Morrison and Elliott Lee, among others.
They claimed they would adopt a Summer Transfer Policy in which players aged
27 or under would be recruited - Cresswell (24), Jenkinson (22), Kouyate
(24), Poyet (19), Sakho (24), Song (26), Valencia (24), Zarate (27). Only
the acquisition of Morgan Amalfitano (29) on Transfer Deadline Day breached
that policy.
They claimed they would begin a recruitment drive to sign quality attacking
players. Mauro Zarate, Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho were recruited. Ravel
Morrison was also reintegrated back into the club.
They claimed they were pursuing a talented 6ft 4" midfielder (being tracked
by various clubs across Europe). Cheikhou Kouyate, a talented 6ft 4"
midfielder was recruited.
They claimed they would place a greater emphasis on playing attacking
football. For this, the Jury is still out, if you pardon the pun.
During what has been a lengthy trial, the defendant Allardyce claimed that
he was looking to bring in one more defender. As we now know, Allardyce
turned Queen's Evidence as a contingency against the defendant Sullivan
getting 'a bit carried away' on Transfer Deadline Day (31/08/14). May I
remind you of Allardyce's final statement: "For the record, we've done all
our business [.] with the exception of one more player of quality"
(29/08/14). The one player of quality? Alex Song, a central midfielder come
central defender from a club called Barcelona.
Now yes, the Prosecution will rightly argue 'but what about Mo Diame being
sold?' and 'what about Amalfitano being bought?' They'll tell you how on
Football Focus (30/08/14), Allardyce nearly rubbed his own chin off when
answering the tricky question 'so who did actually hire Teddy Sheringham?'
Nevertheless, I ask that you the jury, focus on a much more significant
question. On Monday the 15th September at 8.00pm, which team's football
shirt will Winston Reid be wearing?
Members of the Jury, I put it to you that the defendants have done exactly
(more or less) what they claimed they would do and are therefore innocent of
the alleged crime 'mugging-us-off'.
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ONE WINDOW CLOSES AS ANOTHER OPENS
By Sean Whetstone 6 Sep 2014 at 17:32
West Ham Till I Die
The summer transfer window is now closed but another window opens next
Tuesday, that is the Football league loan window which opens on 9th
September and closes on the 27th November. Although Premier League can't
loan players in during this window, they are permitted to loan players out.
Following our Carling cup defeat Sam Allardyce said in his post match
interview:
.bq "There's nowhere else to get members of my 25-man squad football at a
very competitive level. Only the Capital One Cup that can do that. The rest
of the time we can only train them and play amongst each other because the
Under 21 league is not where you play them, because that's not competitive
enough. It's a disappointment that when you have a 25-man squad - which
we're going to name two days after the window shuts - a lot of them are
going to have to keep themselves fit by training and training alone rather
than getting a game in the Capital One Cup and making a statement to me. The
reason Adrian got the goalkeeping number one slot in the end was because of
his performances in the Capital One Cup last year and a few others. So it's
a disappointing night to go out of the competition."
It is clear from that interview that in Sam's eyes he doesn't consider the
Premier U21 (development) league competitive enough and many of these young
players will now need to go out to Championship or lower league clubs on
loan to prove themselves to catch the manager's eye.
In early speculation it is Diego Poyet who captained the West Ham XI beat an
Ipswich XI 5-1 midweek is being rumoured for a return back to Charlton on
loan, although both Brentford and Huddersfield are said to also want to sign
him.
Elliot Lee also looks set to be sent out on loan to a Championship club
although I am told West Ham are struggling to find a team that will
guarantee him regular starts as they want him played week in week out.
George Moncur is already on loan to Colchester United and scored 2 goals
from his first two starts.
It remains to be seen whether Sebastian Lletget, Raphael Spiegel, Dan Potts,
Reece Burke, Josh Cullen, Paul McCallum,Lewis Page and Blair Turgott will
also be sent out on temporary loans.
With his four goal tally midweek Matthias Fanimo might be another name sent
out on a one or three month loan to experience competitive football.
Earlier this week the Premier League published West Ham's list of under 21s
under contract and scholars listed below. Some new names in there. Reece
Oxford is not included as he is still 15 so remains on school boy forms.
Remains to seen which ones will make the grade from the Academy.
Adebayo, Fatai Ololade Akanni
Amoo, Jeremiah
Bailey, Kieran
Bogard, Clarke Ellis
Brown, Jordan Antonio
Brown, Tim
Browne, Marcus Alexander
Burke, Reece
Bywater, Kieran
Carter, Matthew James
Chambers, Leo Alexander
Cullen, Joshua Jon
Diangana, Grady
Elsom, Ross
Fanimo, Matthias Olubori
Gordon, Jaanai Derece
Harney, Jamie
Howes, Samuel Scott
Knoyle, Kyle
Lee, Elliot Robert
Linley, Joseph
Maguire, Sean
Makasi, Kusu Moses
Marlow, Ben John
Mavila, Nathan
McCallum, Paul Leon Miller
Moncur, George
Morrison, Ravel Ryan
Nasha, Amos Lawrence
Page, Lewis Robert
Parfitt-Williams, Djair Terraii Carl
Pask, Joshua David
Pike, Alexander George
Potts, Daniel
Poyet Gonzalez, Diego
Sadlier, Kieran Paul
Sheriff, Decarrey
Sylvestre, Noha
Tombides, Taylor James
Turgott, Blair Sebastian
Westley, Samuel Edward
Whitehead, Daniel
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Ecuador beats Bolivia 4-0 in exhibition
By Associated Press September 6 at 11:19 PM
Washington Post
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Christian Noboa, Juan Cazares, Enner Valencia and
Junior Sornoza scored goals in Ecuador's 4-0 victory over Bolivia in an
exhibition game Saturday night. Cazares also had an assist. Ecuador opened
the scoring in the ninth minute on Noboa's goal. Renato Ibarra made a cross
to Noboa in the center of the box and his shot went off the hands of
goalkeeper Daniel Vaca and rolled slowly into the goal. Ecuador made it 2-0
when Cazares took a shot from 25 yards out curled to the far post and into
the net in the 33rd minute. Valencia scored in the 65th minute. Valencia
found an opening in the left corner of the net after taking a pass from Joao
Rojas. Sornoza's shot from the center of the box beat Vaca in the 83rd
minute. Ecuador outshot Bolivia 13-5 and leads the series 6-0-1.
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Runaway winner in Player of Month poll
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 6, 2014 in Whispers
Calret & Hugh
Cheikhou Kouyate has been a runaway winner of the ClaretandHugh Player of
the Month poll for August. The Senegal midfielder collected 287 votes (68.33
per cent) in our poll which closed this afternoon. Mark Noble was in second
place a long way behind with 38 votes and 9.05 per cent of the vote. Another
new boy Aaron Cresswell was in third place - 31 votes and 7.38 per cent of
vote with Mauro Zarate fourth - 26 votes and 6.19 per cent of the vote.
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GROW UP MO AND SHOW SOME CLASS
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 5, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
There's really no other way of putting this! I truly am becoming a little
irritated about how regularly Mo Diame reminds us that he's a top four or
six club player! But more importantly, were I his new manager Steve Bruce
this morning I'd be pretty upset about his latest self indulgent outburst.
No sooner does the bloke join his new club than he's whinging on about how -
had circumstances been different at West Ham - he would be at a better club.
That really does show a lack of class - a bit like any of us leaving one
job, going to another and telling everybody around: "Yeah but of course I'm
better than this."
Two words for Mo Diame this morning: Grow up! There may of course be
something in his claim that had Sam Allardyce not shifted him around to a
variety of positions he would have been shown off to better advantage. There
were times when it did seem odd that the manager decided to play him wide
but Mo Diame's game is well known and were a top manager to have come for
him he would have done his homework and would know what he's getting. Here's
the nub of what Diame is saying in his quotes: ".At least with Hull I will
be certain of playing in my favoured role. "I should have left West Ham a
long time ago, as with them I wasn't permitted to play in central midfield."
AT LEAST? These are two words which suggest Mr Diame is about to make the
best of a bad job. As I say that really does lack class. And perhaps he
needs to remember that even when he was playing to the peak of his form in
his favoured role, nobody came in for him. Mo Diame needs to realise his
position in life - a middle of the road midfielder playing at about the
right level. Hopefuly that's the last we'll here from him on this rather
tired old issue.
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Sunday, September 7
Saturday, September 6
Daily WHUFC News - 6th September 2014
Mediawatch - 5 September
WHUFc.com
Our daily look at West Ham United in the written and digital media
05.09.2014
There is only one place to start with today's Mediawatch and that is the
internet sensation of Diafra Sakho's goal for a West Ham United XI against
their Ipswich Town counterparts. More than 150,000 people have viewed
Sakho's goal - West Ham's fourth in a 5-1 victory at the Boleyn Ground - but
the big attraction is the build-up from Alex Song and Ravel Morrison, rather
than the Senegal striker's close-range finish. The YouTube video has been
picked by the national and international media, including MailOnline, the
Daily Mirror, the Evening Standard.and Spanish newspaper Marca.
Elsewhere, the Greater London Authority have asked to hear from fans living
close to football grounds as part of their investigation into football
stadia. An article on the GLA's own website concludes with a mention of
their successful visit to the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday, where the
Vice-Chairman detailed the Club's outstanding community work.
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Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
Diego Poyet blogs about playing with Alex Song, Fanimo's four goals and the
upcoming match against Hull
05.09.2014
Hello everyone,
This is my first column as a West Ham United player. The staff, players and
fans have all helped me to settle in and I have really enjoyed my time at
the club so far. Of course, it is only early into the season, yet I have
already seen many reasons to be excited about it.
One of these positives is the signing of Alex Song from Barcelona. He is a
top player. I remember watching him play in the Premier League at Arsenal. I
have also seen bits of him at Barcelona.
I am learning all the time from watching him in training. It is no accident
that he has played with some of the best players in the world. He has earned
the right. So I want to learn as much as I can, and improve as much as
possible.
On Thursday, I captained the team in a friendly against Ipswich at the
Boleyn Ground. All the lads played very well as we won 5-1. The main thing
was just about getting minutes on the pitch, not the result. It was also
important to give some of the younger boys an opportunity to play. It was a
good performance all round, yet we probably could have scored a couple more.
Overall I was very pleased.
I really enjoyed played alongside Alex in midfield. Judging by the
incredible build-up play for Diafra Sakho's goal, I'm sure Ravel and all the
other players would agree. I felt the three of us did well together in
midfield.
Another player who impressed me was Matthias Fanimo who scored four of our
five goals. He scored so many so I wasn't sure how many he got by the end!
Matty is a talented winger who has come through the youth ranks here. Four
goals in one game, you can't take that away from him. I think he deserves
all the credit he gets for his performance.
As for my personal performance I felt good. When I played against Sheffield
United I thought I would struggle, especially when the match went to extra
time. But I think I did OK. That game was about ten days ago now and I'm
really feeling the benefit. I feel good and I can tell how much I've got
from them.
So far the first team results haven't being going our way but I don't think
we are far away from turning the results around. I think we just need to
keep going. We've got a lot of new players coming in and several people
coming back from injury as well. We've got a really good squad for this
year. If we are all fit, I think we could do really well this season.
Our first game back after the international break is away to Hull City. It's
a massive game and we know it will be a tough match. However, if we keep
working hard and play to our capabilities I think we will come away with a
result.
Have a good weekend!
Diego
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Four-goal Fanimo feeling good
WHUFC.com
West Ham United winger Matthias Fanimo scored four goals in 5-1 victory over
an Ipswich Town XI
05.09.2014
West Ham United winger Matthias Fanimo scored four out of the five goals as
an experimental Hammers XI beat Ipswich Town XI 5-1 at the Boleyn Ground.
The friendly gave new signings such as Alex Song, Diafra Sakho and Diego
Poyet minutes on the pitch as well as an opportunity to field Academy
prospects such as Amos Nasha, Moses Makasi and Jaanai Gordon. Fanimo scored
his first of the afternoon by firing in a fierce drive from the edge of box.
His second came as he tucked away the rebound following Nathan Mavila's
saved penalty. The winger completed his hat-trick just before the interval
following a wonderful through-ball from Song. West Ham's fourth came from a
moment of genius. Song and Ravel Morrison combined with a series of majestic
one touch tricks and flicks before leaving Sakho clear to finish off a truly
stunning move. The goal has become an internet sensation and you can watch
it here. The winger completed an impressive performance by netting his
fourth goal after running onto an incisive pass from Morrison. Speaking
after the game, Fanimo said: "It's always nice to score goals, but four in
one game is definitely an achievement."
When asked to choose his favourite goal from four well taken chances, he
explained: "The first one, it was a good strike."
Talking about what it was like playing with West Ham's new signings, Fanimo
enthused: "It was really good. They are experienced players, Song has played
with some of the best players in the world, and you can see that. It was
good to play off him today."
Fanimo had an injury-hit season last year, scoring one goal in 17
appearances for the U21s. This year, he is keen to make up for lost time:
"If I get ten goals this season that is a bonus, double figures would be
nice."
Having played in the first two league matches of the season, Fanimo missed
the 1-1 draw with Manchester City due to a slight niggle. However, he is fit
and ready for the next league game against Liverpool next Friday at the
Boleyn Ground.
"We haven't got off to the best start, but it would be very good to get a
win against Liverpool," he confirmed.
Development Squad coach Nick Haycock commented on Fanimo's progression
through the Academy in his own post-match interview: "I've worked with
Matthias for many years now, up from Under-14 level. He has had a couple of
bad injuries over the last few seasons, which has meant he has missed about
18 months of football."
"He has come back, played 90 minutes and had a few good training sessions
this week. We have worked on his movement, to get him into the box and score
more goals. If the reward is goals like that, that is fantastic for him."
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From the Academy
WHUFC.com
Academy Manager Terry Westley pens his exclusive column for the Official
Website
04.09.2014
Hello everyone,
They say a week is a long time in football, and I certainly could not
disagree with that. We are only a few games into the season and, as football
fans know only too well, a lot has already happened. Despite only picking up
one point out of three games so far, our Under-21s have been putting in good
performances. Development Squad coach Nick Haycock said he believes his team
deserve seven points for their efforts, and I completely agree. We could
easily have won at Manchester City in a game that ended 1-1 on Sunday. I was
at the City game and, with the funding they have got, the quality of players
and the value of the side they put out, it was an incredible performance.
Kieran Sadlier put us in front, but they equalised with only two minutes to
go.
They have gone out and recruited players from all over the place. If you
look, we had a 15-year-old in Reece Oxford playing. We are delighted with
the performance we put in. Their Development coach Patrick Vieira was
talking about how impressed he was with the commitment to the task our boys
put in. That's a big compliment to the work our staff and our players put
in.
Sometimes it's not about the result, you turn a blind eye to that and
concentrate on the development of the players. All we are trying to do is to
get the best performances out of our players. My role is to stretch them as
far as I dare. For Reece Burke and Oxford playing at the back, it was a
great experience for them, they were tested to the maximum and they will
learn from that. In that respect they will be better prepared for first
team.
The same is true for our U18 coach Steve Potts, whose team drew 3-3 at home
to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and remain unbeaten.
Steve is clearly a legend at the club, with the amount of games he played.
He has also got two boys in the system, which is not easy for himself, or
the two boys. Steve handles that responsibility with great respect. He never
gives anyone a favour, he is a very honest, hardworking coach. He never uses
the fact that he has played over 500 times for the team as a way to get in.
He is early in to training, and he is late to leave. He is now working
towards his UEFA A license. To me he looks like a coach whose individual
plan can go a long way, just like his career here.
Here at the Academy we have an all-round philosophy which is to promote our
most talented youth players into more senior age categories. As a result of
this, sometimes we are going to lose games because we are going to play
younger players in the team. As far as I am concerned, as long as we are
sticking to this plan, we are doing the right thing and are going in the
right direction. We could fill our squads with experienced players and we
would win a lot of games, but we might not get anyone through the system.
Nick was very upset we did not win on Sunday against Manchester City. First,
he is a City boy, as he is from that area and worked for the club
previously. We were leading until two minutes to go, you could see the
emotion in his face. But we have to focus on the positives. The fact we came
away having 'only' drawn to City shows how ambitious we are. Those are they
high standards we expect of ourselves. A further positive is that, with
Reece Oxford, we had the best player on the pitch.
Another positive is players like Jordan Brown who we've recruited, scored
two goals the other weekend for the U18s and he looked dangerous. Yes, you
want to win, but we also want to promote young players into older age
categories. Steve understands that, that's what we want to do.
It cannot be a generic system. We cannot do the same training sessions for
every player we've got. Reece Oxford is on a very different programme to
what Elliot Lee needs for example. There are at different levels in their
careers. We need to be sure we're giving individual work depending on their
needs so that when there are 18 they have the toolkit to play in the Premier
League.
We have a number of players away on international duty this week and next
and it is a learning curve for all of them. You want them to learn from all
the other talented players they are around. It's an opportunity to work with
different coaches and tactics, maybe play in a different position. At the
same time it is important they don't get carried away with international
calls because there are plenty of boys of play for England U16s and U17s who
don't have careers. They have to understand that what they do for us is the
bread and butter in terms of their careers.
We've got Josh Cullen going away with the England U19s, Kieran Sadlier going
away with Republic of Ireland U21s, so there's a hefty group of players who
are getting a taste. Reece Burke was on stand-by for the England U19s. I
watched the England game last night and watched Raheem Sterling, Jordan
Henderson and Fabian Delph, and we have to be in that mould. We have to
create players of that ilk who can go into our team and push on into the
very highest level.
This weekend, those not on international duty will have a challenge of their
own as the Premier League have invited two foreign teams - Benfica and Real
Madrid - alongside Spurs and us, to a four-team tournament at Tottenham.
We accepted that invitation, the tournament is this Friday and Saturday. On
Saturday at Little Heath we're hosting a tournament for the Under-16s - West
Ham, Fulham, Spurs and Norwich. The winners of that will go through to an
international tournament.
All in all, it's been another interesting and exciting week at the Academy,
and the next seven days promise to be no different!
Terry Westley
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Oatley attack unfair, says Ladies coach
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 5th September 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United came under attack yesterday from certain sections of the
press after it was revealed that West Ham Ladies teams have to provide their
own funding.
It's no secret that the Ladies teams have always operated independently of
West Ham United FC, with the vast majority of funding coming from the
players or staff - a situation highlighted when the club set up a donations
page to fund their continued existence earlier this week.
However their plight was brought to a wider audience yesterday when Match of
the Day commentator Jacqui Oatley tweeted United co-chairman David Gold to
enquire why the teams failed to receive financial support from the club..
It was an argument taken up by the Guardian, though the piece strangely
disappeared from their website shortly after being published. However Dave
Maslen, who has worked with several of the Ladies' junior teams in recent
years believes the attack on Gold and the club was both unwarranted and
unfair.
"West Ham United ladies recently set up a Gofundme page in order to help
raise money for the women's and junior girls teams," he told KUMB. "With
ever increasing costs, the club are finding it more and more difficult to
keep the club running to the high standards it has achieved over the last
few years
"We have always been and still are very grateful to the main club for the
help and support they give the first team supplying kit and training
facilities but as we all know, nothing in this world is for free.
"With an average rise of 30 per cent in pitch fees alone for this season
added to the cost of junior training kits, the hire of training facilities
(for the junior teams), transport costs (with the first team and development
squad playing all over country) plus the costs of supplying physios and
coaching staff for the first team, it doesn't take much working out to see
this runs into thousands of pounds a year.
"The club [WHUFC Ladies] has run itself, financially, since its birth in
1991. Not wanting to burden the main club with their own financial problems,
it was decided that the Ladies needed to raise money in different ways.
"Usually, any extra money needed would be raised through the junior section
of the club through club discos, race nights and bucket collections which
have taken place at the men's first team home games.
"We are very grateful to the main club for allowing the girls to do this.
But, unfortunately this isn't enough now for the club to meet its financial
needs as with a lot of other grass roots football teams, we are having to
look into other ways of raising money for the club."
Whilst the Ladies' fundraising via Gofundme has enjoyed to a healthy start,
with more than £1,000 of the £10,000 sought already banked within 36 hours
of the project starting thanks to generous donations, Maslen urged more
Hammers fans to back the Ladies teams.
"The club has around 12 fully-qualified coaches and six managers, all of
whom are unpaid," he said. "Everyone that works at the club volunteers,
putting in the hours purely for their love of this great football club. So
any money raised will go straight into helping to keep the first team and
junior girls teams running.
"The club is recognised as being one of the most popular and successful in
the area with hundreds of girls attending trials each season all eager to
wear the famous claret and blue shirt.
"If you feel you can help the club raise money in any way please visit the
West Ham ladies at www.gofundme.com/dyluxc or contact us direct at either
westhamladiesjuniors@hotmail.co.uk or billdotrobinson@yahoo.co.uk.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Diame: I should have left a long time ago
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 5th September 2014
By: Staff Writer
So said the former West Ham United midfielder, who joined fellow Premier
League outfit Hull City on transfer deadline day. He spent two years at West
Ham having joined the club on a free transfer from Wigan in the summer of
2012. But having barely completed a £3.5million move to Humberside on Monday
- after exercising a 'minimum' fee release clause in his contract - Diame
has gone on the offensive, slamming former manager Sam Allardyce. "At West
Ham I was shunted around all the different positions," he moaned. "I
remember one time I had to play as a striker. At least with Hull I will be
certain of playing in my favoured role. "I should have left West Ham a long
time ago, as with them I wasn't permitted to play in central midfield. You
lose your bearings when you get shunted around all the different positions.
"I wasn't able to get the biggest clubs interested in me, as when they came
to watch me I'd been put in a position that was not mine."
Diame spent much of his time at West Ham talking about the 'top six' move he
hoped to pull off, rather than just getting on with the job he'd been paid -
handsomely - to do. Despite rarely producing the kind of form that might
have rendered such a move possible, it's clearly a dream he continues to
harbour - even if, having left east London, he'll have to find someone else
to blame should his dream not be fulfilled. West Ham face Diame's new club
in the first match following the international break on Monday, 15
September.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
James Tomkins welcomes new West Ham signings
Last Updated: 05/09/14 2:37pm
SSN
West Ham defender James Tomkins has insisted he is relishing working with
new signings Alex Song and Morgan Amalfitano. Song and Amalfitano made it
nine new arrivals at Upton Park this summer, with Sam Allardyce entrusted
with bringing a more attacking brand of football to east London. Former
Arsenal midfielder Song arrives on loan from Barcelona, hoping to resurrect
his career after a disappointing few years with the Catalan giants, while
Amalfitano returns to the Premier League after impressing whilst on loan at
West Brom last season. "Alex Song is a massive player who comes with great
experience in the Premier League," Tomkins told West Ham's official website.
"He has gone to Barcelona and trained with the best, so he is only going to
help us, I should imagine. We're all really looking forward to playing
alongside him. "We played against Morgan last season at West Brom and he
caused us a few problems and actually set up their goal as well, so he'll be
an important player for us. "It shows how much we're trying to strengthen
our squad at the minute. "I'm looking forward to working with the signings
we've brought in and seeing how they will add to the squad."
Tomkins also sent his best wishes to Mohamed Diame, who left the Hammers for
Hull City in the transfer window. "Mo did really well for us here and the
fans really liked him, but he obviously wanted to move on," Tomkins added.
"Everyone wishes him all the best."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mohamed Diame says West Ham 'shunted him around'
Last Updated: 05/09/14 10:33am
SSN
Hull City new boy Mohamed Diame says he was 'shunted around' various
positions at West Ham United and wishes he had left the club a long time
ago.
Diame made the move to the KC Stadium on Monday following two years with the
Hammers, and is looking forward to playing in his favoured central midfield
role. The 27-year-old believes he was misused at West Ham and as a result
was not able to show his best form. Diame had been keen to attract the
attention of top clubs and admits he had hoped to move on from the Hammers
much earlier. "At West Ham I was shunted around all the different
positions," he said, quoted by the Daily Star. "I remember one time I had to
play as a striker. "That was not good for my career. I wanted to play for a
club that is high in the Premier League table. "At least with Hull I will be
certain of playing in my favoured role. "I should have left West Ham a long
time ago, as with them I wasn't permitted to play in central midfield. "I
wasn't able to get the biggest clubs interested in me, as when they came to
watch me I'd been put in a position that was not mine. "You lose your
bearings when you get shunted around all the different positions."
Hull face West Ham in their first match after the international break on
Monday, 15th September
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
HAVE WEST HAM LADIES BEEN LEFT OUT IN THE COLD?
By Iron Liddy 5 Sep 2014 at 16:19
West Ham Till I Die
Last night I attended my first West Ham United Ladies football match as they
took on Tottenham Hotspur Ladies underneath the floodlights of Mill Field in
Aveley. It also happened to be their first home game with Julian Dicks in
charge since he took over as First Team Manager 12 weeks ago.
When we arrived the Ladies' teams were warming up on the pitch and the WHL
junior squad were also demonstrating some of their skills in the corner of
the field. The first thing that struck me was the buoyancy of the supporting
crowd; music was playing, there were strains of 'Bubbles' and shouts of
'Irons!' from all directions and the sense of anticipation and good humour
was tangible. In fact the crowd of 150 – 200 fans were creating more
atmosphere than I often experience in my seat in the West Stand at Upton
Park. I was pleased to see that Tommy Wathen from Tommy Wathen TV and Martin
Green from West Ham TV were there to record the proceedings but I hoped that
it was the growing rise in popularity of women's football that was the focus
rather than a Julian Dicks shaped publicity opportunity for the men's team.
As kick off approached it was very humbling to see Julian Dicks going around
collecting all the warm-up tops, cones and practise balls himself. He even
took 5 minutes out to play a gentle game of passing with a tiny pitch
invader dressed in a claret shirt; no doubt the next generation to have the
Hammers etched on his heart.
Julian Dicks encouraging grass roots football
As the game got underway the next thing I noticed was the inadequacy of the
facilities. The lines on the pitch were barely visible, making the officials
job a difficult one, and the edge of the pitch is so close to the
surrounding fences that I lost count of the number of times a new ball had
to be introduced. Collecting wayward balls seems to be a full time job for
the assistant coach and it must cost the team a small fortune in lost balls
alone! During the first half I was slightly distracted by the
industriousness of the junior squad; lots of little girls running around in
full kit with collection buckets and raffle tickets, trying to raise the
much needed funds to keep the team afloat.
By half time we were 0-2 down with Spurs Ladies looking the stronger and
more organised team. We did show glimpses of potential however, with some
very skilful touches, particularly from captain and midfielder Stacey Little
and forward Kelley Blanchflower. Our keeper Nikita Runnacles also made a
cracking save just before the whistle, only for us to concede a couple of
minutes later. Throughout all of this the crowd had kept up the atmosphere
with cheering, shouts of encouragement and an indefatigable round of
'Bubbles' lead by a troop of little girls in Hammers kits sitting in the
stand.
The Terminator made a couple of subs and we came out fighting for the second
half and looked like a different team. We managed to pull it back to 1-2
with a goal from midfielder Sarah McCrae and again Nikita Runnacles
prevented a bigger goal difference with a save that Adrian would have been
proud of but unfortunately it wasn't enough and the game ended at 1-2 to the
Spuds.
Julian and star goalkeeper Nikita Runnacles
No doubt Julian Dicks was disappointed to have lost his first home game but
it was clear that West Ham Ladies have lots of potential and passion. What
they need now is investment. If they are ever to reach the level of the
Women's Super League to which they aspire they are going to need money and
resources. Having thoroughly enjoyed my first experience of live ladies'
football I came home inspired to learn more about the history of the Women's
Super League and the teams in it.
Top of the league are Chelsea Ladies FC, no surprise there; no doubt they
have a bottomless pit of money to spend on resources and development. They
have their own section on the Chelsea FC website where they are described as
"… a fully integrated female club with performance-based and developmental
objectives." It goes on to say that "The Ladies club, a constituent part of
the comprehensive Community Development Programme at Chelsea, is committed
to producing a first team capable of finishing in the Country's top four
sides." A quick glance at the mind-blowing Chelsea Football Club's Girls'
Centre of Excellence shows that the club certainly put their money where
their mouth is. So far, so predictable.
Chelsea FCs Girl's Centre of Excellence
Second in the WSL and slightly more intriguing, are Birmingham City Ladies
and the background to their success story proved to be very interesting to
somebody concerned with West Ham Ladies current situation. After a brief
outline of their early years their Club History page goes on to say this:
"The Club ran into difficult times during the 90's, with many staff and
player changes. As a result it created an academy of young players to try to
regain stability. Many eventually played for the senior team.
In 1998 Birmingham City Ladies was promoted to the newly created Midland
Combination League and in their first season won the league, thus gaining
automatic promotion into the National Northern Division. After two seasons,
Birmingham Ladies gained promotion to the top flight of women's football,
joining the FA Women's Premier League. The academy had begun to produce
players for the first team at this point, and Laura Bassett became the first
Birmingham City Ladies player, from the academy or otherwise, to appear for
England at full international level.
The club's high-profile manager of the time, Marcus Bignot, signed big name
players including Rachel Yankey and Alex Scott for the 2004/05 season and
Birmingham finished fourth. The club ran into financial problems when
Birmingham City withdrew its support, and had to let major players go before
the start of the 2005/06 season, which they finished in sixth position. The
Club was only able to continue after a player's parent donated £10,000.
Also in 2005, the Club's junior sides joined the newly-formed Centre of
Excellence league in the Central Warwickshire area. Birmingham won their
eighth consecutive Birmingham FA County Cup in 2008 before a number of
established players either retired from the game or moved on to other clubs.
They began to rebuild and finished 2008–09 in fifth place (losing out on
fourth place only through inferior goal difference) and have left Redditch
United for a new stadium at Stratford upon Avon.
In March 2010 the Club was announced as a founder member of the FA WSL. The
Club's successful application was underwritten by Birmingham City's owner
Carson Yeung."
So, despite their great achievements and high profile at the beginning of
this century, Birmingham City's owners took the decision in 2005 to pull the
plug on the women's funding and they only survived because they were bailed
out by a player's parent to the tune of £10,000. Well they didn't just
survive; they went on to become founding members of the WSL and are now
contenders for the title. No thanks to Birmingham City's owners. Remind me
again who they were?
A quick glance at the other two teams in the top four of the Women's Super
League reveals that Liverpool Ladies and Arsenal Ladies FC are also fully
integrated with the men's teams with resources and support that our girls in
claret and blue can only dream of.
Which brings me full circle back to the fund raising appeal set up by West
Ham Ladies captain Stacey Little this week; as outlined in Tommy Wathen's
article on WHTID:
"The Ladies side are a totally self-funded team that play in the FA Women's
Premier League Southern Division and various cup competitions. All the
current players and staff, including first team manager Julian Dicks, are
all completely voluntary and take no payment for their services.
All the players have recently been asked for a generous donation towards the
running costs of the club (kit, pitch fees, equipment costs), but are also
asking whether fans would like to help support the women's club by making a
small donation."
At the time of writing Stacey's appeal has raised £1,160, with donations by
57 people in 2 days. They have a long way to go before they reach their
target of £10,000. Never mind, their raffle last night raised £40, so
hopefully they'll get there before the club has to fold.
Stacey Little - WHL Captain & Fundraiser
News of WHL's plight reached the mainstream media yesterday and an article
highlighting their fundraising appeal appeared on the Guardian website. By
lunchtime yesterday it had disappeared with the advice that it had been
"removed pending investigation" in its place. This morning I followed a link
that was posted yesterday and which said it would take me to a news item on
the West Ham website about Julian Dicks' debut as the voluntary manager of
West Ham Ladies. Strangely this had also disappeared. Clearly something is
afoot.
When I made my donation to the WHL fundraising appeal yesterday I challenged
West Ham United FC to match the amount raised and also to provide regular
financial support to West Ham Ladies and I added the hashtag #westhamfamily.
I reiterate that challenge now and I hope that David Gold, David Sullivan
and Karren Brady agree that West Ham United Ladies deserve the same support
that the women's factions of the big London clubs enjoy and that they should
ultimately become fully integrated with the men's side. After all, don't we
aspire to be one of the big London clubs one day too? To be fair to the club
they do currently provide a training pitch twice a week.
Without significant investment and support West Ham Ladies won't even
survive, let alone have a chance to reach the Women's Super League. With
every unfunded day that passes the gulf between them and the women's teams
in the WSL grows wider and wider. They need investment and they need it now.
I have no affiliation with the West Ham Ladies team whatsoever; I've never
even met any of the players or their families. I'm just a football fan who
wants to see the women's team of the club I have supported my whole life get
the chance to play on a level field.
If you would like to make a donation to the WHL fund you can find a link to
their donation page here. I also noticed in last night's programme that
there are player sponsorship opportunities. The only girl sponsored at the
moment is Lindsey Morgan who is being supported by Scandinavian Hammers and
DB Autos. If you are interested in sponsoring a player or a match day please
email billdotrobinson@yahoo.co.uk
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
SHOULD WE PLAY A 4-3-1-2 FORMATION AGAINST HULL CITY?
By S J Chandos 5 Sep 2014 at 12:30
West Ham Till I Die
I have to say that I am particularly happy with the outcome of West Ham's
activity in the summer transfer window. Last season I consistently argued
that: (1) the squad needed a radical overhaul this summer, (2) the board
needed to fund a major upgrade of the squad to the tune of c.£25-30m, (3)
this should create genuine competition in all 11 positions and (4) enable us
to deploy a variety of tactical formations. This window saw all four boxes
ticked, now all that remains is the key, burning question of whether Sam
Allardyce is able to make best use of the talent at his disposal, deploy
alternative formations and produce a more attractive style of football?
The squad now easily posesses the capability to deploy a 4-3-3, 4-4-2,
4-2-1-3, 4-5-1 or, even, a 3-5-2 formation. However, perhaps we should
seriously consider playing a 4-3-1-2 against Hull City. The beauty of this
formation is that it contrives to facilitate playing the Noble-Kouyate-Song
combination in midfield. It also ensures that they provide the necessary
cover to enable Cresswell and either Jenkinson or Demel to support the
attack down the flanks; as well as allowing us to deploy either Zarate or
Amalfitano, in a crucial play-maker role, just behind the strikers. Up
front, we could play two strong, mobile strikers in tandem, maybe Sakho and
Valencia?
The major 'opportunity cost' of this formation is that it consigns our wide
men to the bench. The emphasis being on the full-backs supplying the width
for our our attacking play. Nevertheless, it also facilitates a good
defensive shape, but allows us to hit the opposition on the counter-attack.
For me, good counter-attacking play is a thing of beauty, when done
proficiently, and it is an approach ideally suited for away fixtures. Are
there some good historical examples of West Ham deploying the tactic? Most
certainly. The 1985-86 side played some fantastic expansive football during
the course of that season. However, they were also very adroit at playing on
the counter-attack and getting the ball forward early for Cottee and
McAvennie. The best single instance of it was probably the 0-4 slaughter of
Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, when our two strikers used their pace, mobility
and finishing ability to devastating effect. Another example that sticks in
the memory is the sharp, counter-attacking football that we played when we
had Craig Bellamy in the front line. In particular, I will always remember
Bellamy using his pace to destroy Portsmouth, at Fratton Park, in our Boxing
Day fixture of 2008-09, in a very memorable and exciting 4-1 victory.
Unfortunately, I do not expect Sam Allardyce to deploy a 4-3-1-2 against
Hull City. I would not be surprised to see both Jarvis (if fit) and Downing
selected for the Hull City match. That then means that he is likely to
select either Cole or Sakho for the remaining attacking position. In
midfield, he may well play Noble, Kouyate and Song (if the latter is
sufficiently match fit), but that could conspire to exclude Zarate from the
starting line up, while the best that Amalfitano can probably hope for is a
place on the bench, at least until his match fitness is up to speed. And the
same probably applies to Valencia.
Indeed, I suspect that Sam Allardyce is too conservative a manager to play a
4-3-1-2 and he will probably stick to the formations that are more familiar
to him. But who knows, perhaps he will cut-lose and adopt a more radical
approach. In that respect the Hull City match could be both illuminating and
indicative of the direction that his managerment is going to take this
season.
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
MO DIAME ACCUSES SAM ALLARDYCE OF 'SHUNTING HIM AROUND THE TEAM.'
By S J Chandos 5 Sep 2014 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
The Daily Star are reporting that Mo Diame has accused Sam Allardyce of
'shunting him around the team.' Indeed, the Sengelese international
midfielder, who joined Hull in a £3.5m deadline-day move, claims he would
have moved to a 'bigger club' if he had got better treatment at Upton Park.
He is quoted as asserting that:
"At West Ham I was shunted around all the different positions. I remember
one time I had to play as a striker. That was not good for my career. I
wanted to play for a club that is high in the Premier League table. At least
with Hull I will be certain of playing in my favoured role. I should have
left West Ham a long time ago, as with them I wasn't permitted to play in
central midfield. I wasn't able to get the biggest clubs interested in me,
as when they came to watch me I'd been put in a position that was not mine.
You lose your bearings when you get shunted around all the different
positions."
So, there you have Mo Diame's account of his time at the club. He is
undoubtedly right about being continually played out of position at West
Ham. However, perhaps he is fooling himself if he really thinks that is the
major reason why there was no interest from a 'top six' club? Regardless,
one can only guess how these comments will be interpreted by Hull City fans.
Who could blame them if they concluded that Diame thought himself a cut
above their club and would rather be at Everton or Arsenal. It is certainly
not a great way to start your time at a new club, is it?
Of course, we West Ham fans are used to Diame making these type of
controversial statements in the press. Is this yet another case of Diame
being quoted in a French language journal and failing to realise that it
would inevitably be picked up by the English tabloid press? Probably.
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham have signed a gem in Aaron Cresswell
by Daryl Hardy
GiveMeSport.com
West Ham have made some big statements in the transfer market this summer,
but the former Ipswich Town full-back Aaron Cresswell could prove to be one
of the most influential. Sam Allardyce has had an uncharacteristically
active transfer window as he looks to resolve the problems that surfaced at
Upton Park last campaign, and nine players have been brought in to revamp
the squad. There has been an abundance of talk about the need for West Ham
to play attacking football this season as they look to climb up the Premier
League table. While you would generally look to the forward players in the
team to provide this, the attacking thrust that Cresswell has supplied from
left-back has been hugely conspicuous in the opening three matches.
Impact
The Hammers have, in the three league matches so far, only picked up three
points but two of those matches have produced exciting and entertaining
performances. While the other against Southampton was, well, disappointing
shall we say – they lost 3-1 at home, and were dismantled in the
second-half.
However, as Allardyce has stated, he has not changed the style in any
significant way, so perhaps it is merely the personnel change that sparked
these vibrant, high energy performances against Tottenham and Crystal
Palace. You needn't look further than the new signing, Cresswell, as to why
this may be. On his Premier League debut in the 1-0 loss to Spurs he
demonstrated his quality at both ends of the pitch.
Attacking thrust
His presence on the left side was remarkable as he looked to constantly bomb
forward and join in with attacks. He provided great width and stretched the
length of the pitch. Cresswell was so active in the opening match that four
of West Ham's top five pass combinations involved him, his enthusiasm and
desire was apparent for all to see. Furthermore, his contributions in the
passing game illuminated the fact that he registered 13 assists for Ipswich
last term, an incredible feat for a full-back. The pace, passing, and
presence of Cresswell will provide an added boost that simply hasn't been
found at his position in some time and he is definitely someone worthy of
getting excited about. While the return of Matt Jarvis in the side, whom he
linked up with extremely well in preseason, can only enhance his
performances and contributions to the team.
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Irons put Barca in the shade
Posted by Sean Whetstone on September 5, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Sources close to West Ham have exclusively revealed to Claret and Hugh that
the Hammers are paying Alex Song more than he earned at Barcelona. Song is
believed to be on a contract worth between £70,000-£75,000 per week at
Barcelona. But the price of persuading him to the east end is understood to
be an £80,000 weekly package . It was originally thought the Hammers were
contributing 75% of his Barcelona wages as a fee but we have been told
categorically this is not the case. The huge wages puts him just behind Andy
Carroll as the club's second highest wage earner. As previously revealed on
Claret and Hugh, Sam Allardyce started confidential negotiations with Song
in secret many weeks ago for fear of it leaking out. After transfer failures
with Modibo Maiga and Alou Diarra and some would argue Andy Carroll and Matt
Jarvis, Allardyce has certainly put his neck on the line by investing so
much wages in one player. We understand the loan from Barlcelona is believed
to last until May and will cost the Hammers just over £3m The source told us
"We are giving Song MORE wages than he was on at Barcelona, that's why he
came."
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Reid: Time is slipping away
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 5, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham are still awaiting a response from Winston Reid's advisers on their
£60k latest offer to the central defender. And a source close to the player
claims that the New Zealander may be being held back from proving himself as
a top defender by the Hammers playing style There is still no agreement and
ClaretandHugh understands new talks will be held over the next fortnight.
The Hammers are keen to nail a deal down as Reid – in the last year of his
contract – could even sign a pre contract for a foreign club in January A
source close to Reid told us exclusively: "Top clubs want players who are
comfortable on the ball and defenders who can play and bring the ball out.
"The Hammers play a more direct game where that approach isn't as high on
the agenda and thus bigger clubs are unsure of the extent of his abilities
and not as quick to make an offer as they otherwise might be! "Talks are
planned over the next couple of weeks which will hopefully sort things out
one way or the other."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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WHUFc.com
Our daily look at West Ham United in the written and digital media
05.09.2014
There is only one place to start with today's Mediawatch and that is the
internet sensation of Diafra Sakho's goal for a West Ham United XI against
their Ipswich Town counterparts. More than 150,000 people have viewed
Sakho's goal - West Ham's fourth in a 5-1 victory at the Boleyn Ground - but
the big attraction is the build-up from Alex Song and Ravel Morrison, rather
than the Senegal striker's close-range finish. The YouTube video has been
picked by the national and international media, including MailOnline, the
Daily Mirror, the Evening Standard.and Spanish newspaper Marca.
Elsewhere, the Greater London Authority have asked to hear from fans living
close to football grounds as part of their investigation into football
stadia. An article on the GLA's own website concludes with a mention of
their successful visit to the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday, where the
Vice-Chairman detailed the Club's outstanding community work.
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Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
Diego Poyet blogs about playing with Alex Song, Fanimo's four goals and the
upcoming match against Hull
05.09.2014
Hello everyone,
This is my first column as a West Ham United player. The staff, players and
fans have all helped me to settle in and I have really enjoyed my time at
the club so far. Of course, it is only early into the season, yet I have
already seen many reasons to be excited about it.
One of these positives is the signing of Alex Song from Barcelona. He is a
top player. I remember watching him play in the Premier League at Arsenal. I
have also seen bits of him at Barcelona.
I am learning all the time from watching him in training. It is no accident
that he has played with some of the best players in the world. He has earned
the right. So I want to learn as much as I can, and improve as much as
possible.
On Thursday, I captained the team in a friendly against Ipswich at the
Boleyn Ground. All the lads played very well as we won 5-1. The main thing
was just about getting minutes on the pitch, not the result. It was also
important to give some of the younger boys an opportunity to play. It was a
good performance all round, yet we probably could have scored a couple more.
Overall I was very pleased.
I really enjoyed played alongside Alex in midfield. Judging by the
incredible build-up play for Diafra Sakho's goal, I'm sure Ravel and all the
other players would agree. I felt the three of us did well together in
midfield.
Another player who impressed me was Matthias Fanimo who scored four of our
five goals. He scored so many so I wasn't sure how many he got by the end!
Matty is a talented winger who has come through the youth ranks here. Four
goals in one game, you can't take that away from him. I think he deserves
all the credit he gets for his performance.
As for my personal performance I felt good. When I played against Sheffield
United I thought I would struggle, especially when the match went to extra
time. But I think I did OK. That game was about ten days ago now and I'm
really feeling the benefit. I feel good and I can tell how much I've got
from them.
So far the first team results haven't being going our way but I don't think
we are far away from turning the results around. I think we just need to
keep going. We've got a lot of new players coming in and several people
coming back from injury as well. We've got a really good squad for this
year. If we are all fit, I think we could do really well this season.
Our first game back after the international break is away to Hull City. It's
a massive game and we know it will be a tough match. However, if we keep
working hard and play to our capabilities I think we will come away with a
result.
Have a good weekend!
Diego
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Four-goal Fanimo feeling good
WHUFC.com
West Ham United winger Matthias Fanimo scored four goals in 5-1 victory over
an Ipswich Town XI
05.09.2014
West Ham United winger Matthias Fanimo scored four out of the five goals as
an experimental Hammers XI beat Ipswich Town XI 5-1 at the Boleyn Ground.
The friendly gave new signings such as Alex Song, Diafra Sakho and Diego
Poyet minutes on the pitch as well as an opportunity to field Academy
prospects such as Amos Nasha, Moses Makasi and Jaanai Gordon. Fanimo scored
his first of the afternoon by firing in a fierce drive from the edge of box.
His second came as he tucked away the rebound following Nathan Mavila's
saved penalty. The winger completed his hat-trick just before the interval
following a wonderful through-ball from Song. West Ham's fourth came from a
moment of genius. Song and Ravel Morrison combined with a series of majestic
one touch tricks and flicks before leaving Sakho clear to finish off a truly
stunning move. The goal has become an internet sensation and you can watch
it here. The winger completed an impressive performance by netting his
fourth goal after running onto an incisive pass from Morrison. Speaking
after the game, Fanimo said: "It's always nice to score goals, but four in
one game is definitely an achievement."
When asked to choose his favourite goal from four well taken chances, he
explained: "The first one, it was a good strike."
Talking about what it was like playing with West Ham's new signings, Fanimo
enthused: "It was really good. They are experienced players, Song has played
with some of the best players in the world, and you can see that. It was
good to play off him today."
Fanimo had an injury-hit season last year, scoring one goal in 17
appearances for the U21s. This year, he is keen to make up for lost time:
"If I get ten goals this season that is a bonus, double figures would be
nice."
Having played in the first two league matches of the season, Fanimo missed
the 1-1 draw with Manchester City due to a slight niggle. However, he is fit
and ready for the next league game against Liverpool next Friday at the
Boleyn Ground.
"We haven't got off to the best start, but it would be very good to get a
win against Liverpool," he confirmed.
Development Squad coach Nick Haycock commented on Fanimo's progression
through the Academy in his own post-match interview: "I've worked with
Matthias for many years now, up from Under-14 level. He has had a couple of
bad injuries over the last few seasons, which has meant he has missed about
18 months of football."
"He has come back, played 90 minutes and had a few good training sessions
this week. We have worked on his movement, to get him into the box and score
more goals. If the reward is goals like that, that is fantastic for him."
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From the Academy
WHUFC.com
Academy Manager Terry Westley pens his exclusive column for the Official
Website
04.09.2014
Hello everyone,
They say a week is a long time in football, and I certainly could not
disagree with that. We are only a few games into the season and, as football
fans know only too well, a lot has already happened. Despite only picking up
one point out of three games so far, our Under-21s have been putting in good
performances. Development Squad coach Nick Haycock said he believes his team
deserve seven points for their efforts, and I completely agree. We could
easily have won at Manchester City in a game that ended 1-1 on Sunday. I was
at the City game and, with the funding they have got, the quality of players
and the value of the side they put out, it was an incredible performance.
Kieran Sadlier put us in front, but they equalised with only two minutes to
go.
They have gone out and recruited players from all over the place. If you
look, we had a 15-year-old in Reece Oxford playing. We are delighted with
the performance we put in. Their Development coach Patrick Vieira was
talking about how impressed he was with the commitment to the task our boys
put in. That's a big compliment to the work our staff and our players put
in.
Sometimes it's not about the result, you turn a blind eye to that and
concentrate on the development of the players. All we are trying to do is to
get the best performances out of our players. My role is to stretch them as
far as I dare. For Reece Burke and Oxford playing at the back, it was a
great experience for them, they were tested to the maximum and they will
learn from that. In that respect they will be better prepared for first
team.
The same is true for our U18 coach Steve Potts, whose team drew 3-3 at home
to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and remain unbeaten.
Steve is clearly a legend at the club, with the amount of games he played.
He has also got two boys in the system, which is not easy for himself, or
the two boys. Steve handles that responsibility with great respect. He never
gives anyone a favour, he is a very honest, hardworking coach. He never uses
the fact that he has played over 500 times for the team as a way to get in.
He is early in to training, and he is late to leave. He is now working
towards his UEFA A license. To me he looks like a coach whose individual
plan can go a long way, just like his career here.
Here at the Academy we have an all-round philosophy which is to promote our
most talented youth players into more senior age categories. As a result of
this, sometimes we are going to lose games because we are going to play
younger players in the team. As far as I am concerned, as long as we are
sticking to this plan, we are doing the right thing and are going in the
right direction. We could fill our squads with experienced players and we
would win a lot of games, but we might not get anyone through the system.
Nick was very upset we did not win on Sunday against Manchester City. First,
he is a City boy, as he is from that area and worked for the club
previously. We were leading until two minutes to go, you could see the
emotion in his face. But we have to focus on the positives. The fact we came
away having 'only' drawn to City shows how ambitious we are. Those are they
high standards we expect of ourselves. A further positive is that, with
Reece Oxford, we had the best player on the pitch.
Another positive is players like Jordan Brown who we've recruited, scored
two goals the other weekend for the U18s and he looked dangerous. Yes, you
want to win, but we also want to promote young players into older age
categories. Steve understands that, that's what we want to do.
It cannot be a generic system. We cannot do the same training sessions for
every player we've got. Reece Oxford is on a very different programme to
what Elliot Lee needs for example. There are at different levels in their
careers. We need to be sure we're giving individual work depending on their
needs so that when there are 18 they have the toolkit to play in the Premier
League.
We have a number of players away on international duty this week and next
and it is a learning curve for all of them. You want them to learn from all
the other talented players they are around. It's an opportunity to work with
different coaches and tactics, maybe play in a different position. At the
same time it is important they don't get carried away with international
calls because there are plenty of boys of play for England U16s and U17s who
don't have careers. They have to understand that what they do for us is the
bread and butter in terms of their careers.
We've got Josh Cullen going away with the England U19s, Kieran Sadlier going
away with Republic of Ireland U21s, so there's a hefty group of players who
are getting a taste. Reece Burke was on stand-by for the England U19s. I
watched the England game last night and watched Raheem Sterling, Jordan
Henderson and Fabian Delph, and we have to be in that mould. We have to
create players of that ilk who can go into our team and push on into the
very highest level.
This weekend, those not on international duty will have a challenge of their
own as the Premier League have invited two foreign teams - Benfica and Real
Madrid - alongside Spurs and us, to a four-team tournament at Tottenham.
We accepted that invitation, the tournament is this Friday and Saturday. On
Saturday at Little Heath we're hosting a tournament for the Under-16s - West
Ham, Fulham, Spurs and Norwich. The winners of that will go through to an
international tournament.
All in all, it's been another interesting and exciting week at the Academy,
and the next seven days promise to be no different!
Terry Westley
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Oatley attack unfair, says Ladies coach
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 5th September 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United came under attack yesterday from certain sections of the
press after it was revealed that West Ham Ladies teams have to provide their
own funding.
It's no secret that the Ladies teams have always operated independently of
West Ham United FC, with the vast majority of funding coming from the
players or staff - a situation highlighted when the club set up a donations
page to fund their continued existence earlier this week.
However their plight was brought to a wider audience yesterday when Match of
the Day commentator Jacqui Oatley tweeted United co-chairman David Gold to
enquire why the teams failed to receive financial support from the club..
It was an argument taken up by the Guardian, though the piece strangely
disappeared from their website shortly after being published. However Dave
Maslen, who has worked with several of the Ladies' junior teams in recent
years believes the attack on Gold and the club was both unwarranted and
unfair.
"West Ham United ladies recently set up a Gofundme page in order to help
raise money for the women's and junior girls teams," he told KUMB. "With
ever increasing costs, the club are finding it more and more difficult to
keep the club running to the high standards it has achieved over the last
few years
"We have always been and still are very grateful to the main club for the
help and support they give the first team supplying kit and training
facilities but as we all know, nothing in this world is for free.
"With an average rise of 30 per cent in pitch fees alone for this season
added to the cost of junior training kits, the hire of training facilities
(for the junior teams), transport costs (with the first team and development
squad playing all over country) plus the costs of supplying physios and
coaching staff for the first team, it doesn't take much working out to see
this runs into thousands of pounds a year.
"The club [WHUFC Ladies] has run itself, financially, since its birth in
1991. Not wanting to burden the main club with their own financial problems,
it was decided that the Ladies needed to raise money in different ways.
"Usually, any extra money needed would be raised through the junior section
of the club through club discos, race nights and bucket collections which
have taken place at the men's first team home games.
"We are very grateful to the main club for allowing the girls to do this.
But, unfortunately this isn't enough now for the club to meet its financial
needs as with a lot of other grass roots football teams, we are having to
look into other ways of raising money for the club."
Whilst the Ladies' fundraising via Gofundme has enjoyed to a healthy start,
with more than £1,000 of the £10,000 sought already banked within 36 hours
of the project starting thanks to generous donations, Maslen urged more
Hammers fans to back the Ladies teams.
"The club has around 12 fully-qualified coaches and six managers, all of
whom are unpaid," he said. "Everyone that works at the club volunteers,
putting in the hours purely for their love of this great football club. So
any money raised will go straight into helping to keep the first team and
junior girls teams running.
"The club is recognised as being one of the most popular and successful in
the area with hundreds of girls attending trials each season all eager to
wear the famous claret and blue shirt.
"If you feel you can help the club raise money in any way please visit the
West Ham ladies at www.gofundme.com/dyluxc or contact us direct at either
westhamladiesjuniors@hotmail.co.uk or billdotrobinson@yahoo.co.uk.
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Diame: I should have left a long time ago
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 5th September 2014
By: Staff Writer
So said the former West Ham United midfielder, who joined fellow Premier
League outfit Hull City on transfer deadline day. He spent two years at West
Ham having joined the club on a free transfer from Wigan in the summer of
2012. But having barely completed a £3.5million move to Humberside on Monday
- after exercising a 'minimum' fee release clause in his contract - Diame
has gone on the offensive, slamming former manager Sam Allardyce. "At West
Ham I was shunted around all the different positions," he moaned. "I
remember one time I had to play as a striker. At least with Hull I will be
certain of playing in my favoured role. "I should have left West Ham a long
time ago, as with them I wasn't permitted to play in central midfield. You
lose your bearings when you get shunted around all the different positions.
"I wasn't able to get the biggest clubs interested in me, as when they came
to watch me I'd been put in a position that was not mine."
Diame spent much of his time at West Ham talking about the 'top six' move he
hoped to pull off, rather than just getting on with the job he'd been paid -
handsomely - to do. Despite rarely producing the kind of form that might
have rendered such a move possible, it's clearly a dream he continues to
harbour - even if, having left east London, he'll have to find someone else
to blame should his dream not be fulfilled. West Ham face Diame's new club
in the first match following the international break on Monday, 15
September.
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James Tomkins welcomes new West Ham signings
Last Updated: 05/09/14 2:37pm
SSN
West Ham defender James Tomkins has insisted he is relishing working with
new signings Alex Song and Morgan Amalfitano. Song and Amalfitano made it
nine new arrivals at Upton Park this summer, with Sam Allardyce entrusted
with bringing a more attacking brand of football to east London. Former
Arsenal midfielder Song arrives on loan from Barcelona, hoping to resurrect
his career after a disappointing few years with the Catalan giants, while
Amalfitano returns to the Premier League after impressing whilst on loan at
West Brom last season. "Alex Song is a massive player who comes with great
experience in the Premier League," Tomkins told West Ham's official website.
"He has gone to Barcelona and trained with the best, so he is only going to
help us, I should imagine. We're all really looking forward to playing
alongside him. "We played against Morgan last season at West Brom and he
caused us a few problems and actually set up their goal as well, so he'll be
an important player for us. "It shows how much we're trying to strengthen
our squad at the minute. "I'm looking forward to working with the signings
we've brought in and seeing how they will add to the squad."
Tomkins also sent his best wishes to Mohamed Diame, who left the Hammers for
Hull City in the transfer window. "Mo did really well for us here and the
fans really liked him, but he obviously wanted to move on," Tomkins added.
"Everyone wishes him all the best."
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Mohamed Diame says West Ham 'shunted him around'
Last Updated: 05/09/14 10:33am
SSN
Hull City new boy Mohamed Diame says he was 'shunted around' various
positions at West Ham United and wishes he had left the club a long time
ago.
Diame made the move to the KC Stadium on Monday following two years with the
Hammers, and is looking forward to playing in his favoured central midfield
role. The 27-year-old believes he was misused at West Ham and as a result
was not able to show his best form. Diame had been keen to attract the
attention of top clubs and admits he had hoped to move on from the Hammers
much earlier. "At West Ham I was shunted around all the different
positions," he said, quoted by the Daily Star. "I remember one time I had to
play as a striker. "That was not good for my career. I wanted to play for a
club that is high in the Premier League table. "At least with Hull I will be
certain of playing in my favoured role. "I should have left West Ham a long
time ago, as with them I wasn't permitted to play in central midfield. "I
wasn't able to get the biggest clubs interested in me, as when they came to
watch me I'd been put in a position that was not mine. "You lose your
bearings when you get shunted around all the different positions."
Hull face West Ham in their first match after the international break on
Monday, 15th September
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HAVE WEST HAM LADIES BEEN LEFT OUT IN THE COLD?
By Iron Liddy 5 Sep 2014 at 16:19
West Ham Till I Die
Last night I attended my first West Ham United Ladies football match as they
took on Tottenham Hotspur Ladies underneath the floodlights of Mill Field in
Aveley. It also happened to be their first home game with Julian Dicks in
charge since he took over as First Team Manager 12 weeks ago.
When we arrived the Ladies' teams were warming up on the pitch and the WHL
junior squad were also demonstrating some of their skills in the corner of
the field. The first thing that struck me was the buoyancy of the supporting
crowd; music was playing, there were strains of 'Bubbles' and shouts of
'Irons!' from all directions and the sense of anticipation and good humour
was tangible. In fact the crowd of 150 – 200 fans were creating more
atmosphere than I often experience in my seat in the West Stand at Upton
Park. I was pleased to see that Tommy Wathen from Tommy Wathen TV and Martin
Green from West Ham TV were there to record the proceedings but I hoped that
it was the growing rise in popularity of women's football that was the focus
rather than a Julian Dicks shaped publicity opportunity for the men's team.
As kick off approached it was very humbling to see Julian Dicks going around
collecting all the warm-up tops, cones and practise balls himself. He even
took 5 minutes out to play a gentle game of passing with a tiny pitch
invader dressed in a claret shirt; no doubt the next generation to have the
Hammers etched on his heart.
Julian Dicks encouraging grass roots football
As the game got underway the next thing I noticed was the inadequacy of the
facilities. The lines on the pitch were barely visible, making the officials
job a difficult one, and the edge of the pitch is so close to the
surrounding fences that I lost count of the number of times a new ball had
to be introduced. Collecting wayward balls seems to be a full time job for
the assistant coach and it must cost the team a small fortune in lost balls
alone! During the first half I was slightly distracted by the
industriousness of the junior squad; lots of little girls running around in
full kit with collection buckets and raffle tickets, trying to raise the
much needed funds to keep the team afloat.
By half time we were 0-2 down with Spurs Ladies looking the stronger and
more organised team. We did show glimpses of potential however, with some
very skilful touches, particularly from captain and midfielder Stacey Little
and forward Kelley Blanchflower. Our keeper Nikita Runnacles also made a
cracking save just before the whistle, only for us to concede a couple of
minutes later. Throughout all of this the crowd had kept up the atmosphere
with cheering, shouts of encouragement and an indefatigable round of
'Bubbles' lead by a troop of little girls in Hammers kits sitting in the
stand.
The Terminator made a couple of subs and we came out fighting for the second
half and looked like a different team. We managed to pull it back to 1-2
with a goal from midfielder Sarah McCrae and again Nikita Runnacles
prevented a bigger goal difference with a save that Adrian would have been
proud of but unfortunately it wasn't enough and the game ended at 1-2 to the
Spuds.
Julian and star goalkeeper Nikita Runnacles
No doubt Julian Dicks was disappointed to have lost his first home game but
it was clear that West Ham Ladies have lots of potential and passion. What
they need now is investment. If they are ever to reach the level of the
Women's Super League to which they aspire they are going to need money and
resources. Having thoroughly enjoyed my first experience of live ladies'
football I came home inspired to learn more about the history of the Women's
Super League and the teams in it.
Top of the league are Chelsea Ladies FC, no surprise there; no doubt they
have a bottomless pit of money to spend on resources and development. They
have their own section on the Chelsea FC website where they are described as
"… a fully integrated female club with performance-based and developmental
objectives." It goes on to say that "The Ladies club, a constituent part of
the comprehensive Community Development Programme at Chelsea, is committed
to producing a first team capable of finishing in the Country's top four
sides." A quick glance at the mind-blowing Chelsea Football Club's Girls'
Centre of Excellence shows that the club certainly put their money where
their mouth is. So far, so predictable.
Chelsea FCs Girl's Centre of Excellence
Second in the WSL and slightly more intriguing, are Birmingham City Ladies
and the background to their success story proved to be very interesting to
somebody concerned with West Ham Ladies current situation. After a brief
outline of their early years their Club History page goes on to say this:
"The Club ran into difficult times during the 90's, with many staff and
player changes. As a result it created an academy of young players to try to
regain stability. Many eventually played for the senior team.
In 1998 Birmingham City Ladies was promoted to the newly created Midland
Combination League and in their first season won the league, thus gaining
automatic promotion into the National Northern Division. After two seasons,
Birmingham Ladies gained promotion to the top flight of women's football,
joining the FA Women's Premier League. The academy had begun to produce
players for the first team at this point, and Laura Bassett became the first
Birmingham City Ladies player, from the academy or otherwise, to appear for
England at full international level.
The club's high-profile manager of the time, Marcus Bignot, signed big name
players including Rachel Yankey and Alex Scott for the 2004/05 season and
Birmingham finished fourth. The club ran into financial problems when
Birmingham City withdrew its support, and had to let major players go before
the start of the 2005/06 season, which they finished in sixth position. The
Club was only able to continue after a player's parent donated £10,000.
Also in 2005, the Club's junior sides joined the newly-formed Centre of
Excellence league in the Central Warwickshire area. Birmingham won their
eighth consecutive Birmingham FA County Cup in 2008 before a number of
established players either retired from the game or moved on to other clubs.
They began to rebuild and finished 2008–09 in fifth place (losing out on
fourth place only through inferior goal difference) and have left Redditch
United for a new stadium at Stratford upon Avon.
In March 2010 the Club was announced as a founder member of the FA WSL. The
Club's successful application was underwritten by Birmingham City's owner
Carson Yeung."
So, despite their great achievements and high profile at the beginning of
this century, Birmingham City's owners took the decision in 2005 to pull the
plug on the women's funding and they only survived because they were bailed
out by a player's parent to the tune of £10,000. Well they didn't just
survive; they went on to become founding members of the WSL and are now
contenders for the title. No thanks to Birmingham City's owners. Remind me
again who they were?
A quick glance at the other two teams in the top four of the Women's Super
League reveals that Liverpool Ladies and Arsenal Ladies FC are also fully
integrated with the men's teams with resources and support that our girls in
claret and blue can only dream of.
Which brings me full circle back to the fund raising appeal set up by West
Ham Ladies captain Stacey Little this week; as outlined in Tommy Wathen's
article on WHTID:
"The Ladies side are a totally self-funded team that play in the FA Women's
Premier League Southern Division and various cup competitions. All the
current players and staff, including first team manager Julian Dicks, are
all completely voluntary and take no payment for their services.
All the players have recently been asked for a generous donation towards the
running costs of the club (kit, pitch fees, equipment costs), but are also
asking whether fans would like to help support the women's club by making a
small donation."
At the time of writing Stacey's appeal has raised £1,160, with donations by
57 people in 2 days. They have a long way to go before they reach their
target of £10,000. Never mind, their raffle last night raised £40, so
hopefully they'll get there before the club has to fold.
Stacey Little - WHL Captain & Fundraiser
News of WHL's plight reached the mainstream media yesterday and an article
highlighting their fundraising appeal appeared on the Guardian website. By
lunchtime yesterday it had disappeared with the advice that it had been
"removed pending investigation" in its place. This morning I followed a link
that was posted yesterday and which said it would take me to a news item on
the West Ham website about Julian Dicks' debut as the voluntary manager of
West Ham Ladies. Strangely this had also disappeared. Clearly something is
afoot.
When I made my donation to the WHL fundraising appeal yesterday I challenged
West Ham United FC to match the amount raised and also to provide regular
financial support to West Ham Ladies and I added the hashtag #westhamfamily.
I reiterate that challenge now and I hope that David Gold, David Sullivan
and Karren Brady agree that West Ham United Ladies deserve the same support
that the women's factions of the big London clubs enjoy and that they should
ultimately become fully integrated with the men's side. After all, don't we
aspire to be one of the big London clubs one day too? To be fair to the club
they do currently provide a training pitch twice a week.
Without significant investment and support West Ham Ladies won't even
survive, let alone have a chance to reach the Women's Super League. With
every unfunded day that passes the gulf between them and the women's teams
in the WSL grows wider and wider. They need investment and they need it now.
I have no affiliation with the West Ham Ladies team whatsoever; I've never
even met any of the players or their families. I'm just a football fan who
wants to see the women's team of the club I have supported my whole life get
the chance to play on a level field.
If you would like to make a donation to the WHL fund you can find a link to
their donation page here. I also noticed in last night's programme that
there are player sponsorship opportunities. The only girl sponsored at the
moment is Lindsey Morgan who is being supported by Scandinavian Hammers and
DB Autos. If you are interested in sponsoring a player or a match day please
email billdotrobinson@yahoo.co.uk
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SHOULD WE PLAY A 4-3-1-2 FORMATION AGAINST HULL CITY?
By S J Chandos 5 Sep 2014 at 12:30
West Ham Till I Die
I have to say that I am particularly happy with the outcome of West Ham's
activity in the summer transfer window. Last season I consistently argued
that: (1) the squad needed a radical overhaul this summer, (2) the board
needed to fund a major upgrade of the squad to the tune of c.£25-30m, (3)
this should create genuine competition in all 11 positions and (4) enable us
to deploy a variety of tactical formations. This window saw all four boxes
ticked, now all that remains is the key, burning question of whether Sam
Allardyce is able to make best use of the talent at his disposal, deploy
alternative formations and produce a more attractive style of football?
The squad now easily posesses the capability to deploy a 4-3-3, 4-4-2,
4-2-1-3, 4-5-1 or, even, a 3-5-2 formation. However, perhaps we should
seriously consider playing a 4-3-1-2 against Hull City. The beauty of this
formation is that it contrives to facilitate playing the Noble-Kouyate-Song
combination in midfield. It also ensures that they provide the necessary
cover to enable Cresswell and either Jenkinson or Demel to support the
attack down the flanks; as well as allowing us to deploy either Zarate or
Amalfitano, in a crucial play-maker role, just behind the strikers. Up
front, we could play two strong, mobile strikers in tandem, maybe Sakho and
Valencia?
The major 'opportunity cost' of this formation is that it consigns our wide
men to the bench. The emphasis being on the full-backs supplying the width
for our our attacking play. Nevertheless, it also facilitates a good
defensive shape, but allows us to hit the opposition on the counter-attack.
For me, good counter-attacking play is a thing of beauty, when done
proficiently, and it is an approach ideally suited for away fixtures. Are
there some good historical examples of West Ham deploying the tactic? Most
certainly. The 1985-86 side played some fantastic expansive football during
the course of that season. However, they were also very adroit at playing on
the counter-attack and getting the ball forward early for Cottee and
McAvennie. The best single instance of it was probably the 0-4 slaughter of
Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, when our two strikers used their pace, mobility
and finishing ability to devastating effect. Another example that sticks in
the memory is the sharp, counter-attacking football that we played when we
had Craig Bellamy in the front line. In particular, I will always remember
Bellamy using his pace to destroy Portsmouth, at Fratton Park, in our Boxing
Day fixture of 2008-09, in a very memorable and exciting 4-1 victory.
Unfortunately, I do not expect Sam Allardyce to deploy a 4-3-1-2 against
Hull City. I would not be surprised to see both Jarvis (if fit) and Downing
selected for the Hull City match. That then means that he is likely to
select either Cole or Sakho for the remaining attacking position. In
midfield, he may well play Noble, Kouyate and Song (if the latter is
sufficiently match fit), but that could conspire to exclude Zarate from the
starting line up, while the best that Amalfitano can probably hope for is a
place on the bench, at least until his match fitness is up to speed. And the
same probably applies to Valencia.
Indeed, I suspect that Sam Allardyce is too conservative a manager to play a
4-3-1-2 and he will probably stick to the formations that are more familiar
to him. But who knows, perhaps he will cut-lose and adopt a more radical
approach. In that respect the Hull City match could be both illuminating and
indicative of the direction that his managerment is going to take this
season.
SJ. Chandos.
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MO DIAME ACCUSES SAM ALLARDYCE OF 'SHUNTING HIM AROUND THE TEAM.'
By S J Chandos 5 Sep 2014 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
The Daily Star are reporting that Mo Diame has accused Sam Allardyce of
'shunting him around the team.' Indeed, the Sengelese international
midfielder, who joined Hull in a £3.5m deadline-day move, claims he would
have moved to a 'bigger club' if he had got better treatment at Upton Park.
He is quoted as asserting that:
"At West Ham I was shunted around all the different positions. I remember
one time I had to play as a striker. That was not good for my career. I
wanted to play for a club that is high in the Premier League table. At least
with Hull I will be certain of playing in my favoured role. I should have
left West Ham a long time ago, as with them I wasn't permitted to play in
central midfield. I wasn't able to get the biggest clubs interested in me,
as when they came to watch me I'd been put in a position that was not mine.
You lose your bearings when you get shunted around all the different
positions."
So, there you have Mo Diame's account of his time at the club. He is
undoubtedly right about being continually played out of position at West
Ham. However, perhaps he is fooling himself if he really thinks that is the
major reason why there was no interest from a 'top six' club? Regardless,
one can only guess how these comments will be interpreted by Hull City fans.
Who could blame them if they concluded that Diame thought himself a cut
above their club and would rather be at Everton or Arsenal. It is certainly
not a great way to start your time at a new club, is it?
Of course, we West Ham fans are used to Diame making these type of
controversial statements in the press. Is this yet another case of Diame
being quoted in a French language journal and failing to realise that it
would inevitably be picked up by the English tabloid press? Probably.
SJ. Chandos.
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West Ham have signed a gem in Aaron Cresswell
by Daryl Hardy
GiveMeSport.com
West Ham have made some big statements in the transfer market this summer,
but the former Ipswich Town full-back Aaron Cresswell could prove to be one
of the most influential. Sam Allardyce has had an uncharacteristically
active transfer window as he looks to resolve the problems that surfaced at
Upton Park last campaign, and nine players have been brought in to revamp
the squad. There has been an abundance of talk about the need for West Ham
to play attacking football this season as they look to climb up the Premier
League table. While you would generally look to the forward players in the
team to provide this, the attacking thrust that Cresswell has supplied from
left-back has been hugely conspicuous in the opening three matches.
Impact
The Hammers have, in the three league matches so far, only picked up three
points but two of those matches have produced exciting and entertaining
performances. While the other against Southampton was, well, disappointing
shall we say – they lost 3-1 at home, and were dismantled in the
second-half.
However, as Allardyce has stated, he has not changed the style in any
significant way, so perhaps it is merely the personnel change that sparked
these vibrant, high energy performances against Tottenham and Crystal
Palace. You needn't look further than the new signing, Cresswell, as to why
this may be. On his Premier League debut in the 1-0 loss to Spurs he
demonstrated his quality at both ends of the pitch.
Attacking thrust
His presence on the left side was remarkable as he looked to constantly bomb
forward and join in with attacks. He provided great width and stretched the
length of the pitch. Cresswell was so active in the opening match that four
of West Ham's top five pass combinations involved him, his enthusiasm and
desire was apparent for all to see. Furthermore, his contributions in the
passing game illuminated the fact that he registered 13 assists for Ipswich
last term, an incredible feat for a full-back. The pace, passing, and
presence of Cresswell will provide an added boost that simply hasn't been
found at his position in some time and he is definitely someone worthy of
getting excited about. While the return of Matt Jarvis in the side, whom he
linked up with extremely well in preseason, can only enhance his
performances and contributions to the team.
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Irons put Barca in the shade
Posted by Sean Whetstone on September 5, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Sources close to West Ham have exclusively revealed to Claret and Hugh that
the Hammers are paying Alex Song more than he earned at Barcelona. Song is
believed to be on a contract worth between £70,000-£75,000 per week at
Barcelona. But the price of persuading him to the east end is understood to
be an £80,000 weekly package . It was originally thought the Hammers were
contributing 75% of his Barcelona wages as a fee but we have been told
categorically this is not the case. The huge wages puts him just behind Andy
Carroll as the club's second highest wage earner. As previously revealed on
Claret and Hugh, Sam Allardyce started confidential negotiations with Song
in secret many weeks ago for fear of it leaking out. After transfer failures
with Modibo Maiga and Alou Diarra and some would argue Andy Carroll and Matt
Jarvis, Allardyce has certainly put his neck on the line by investing so
much wages in one player. We understand the loan from Barlcelona is believed
to last until May and will cost the Hammers just over £3m The source told us
"We are giving Song MORE wages than he was on at Barcelona, that's why he
came."
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Reid: Time is slipping away
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 5, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham are still awaiting a response from Winston Reid's advisers on their
£60k latest offer to the central defender. And a source close to the player
claims that the New Zealander may be being held back from proving himself as
a top defender by the Hammers playing style There is still no agreement and
ClaretandHugh understands new talks will be held over the next fortnight.
The Hammers are keen to nail a deal down as Reid – in the last year of his
contract – could even sign a pre contract for a foreign club in January A
source close to Reid told us exclusively: "Top clubs want players who are
comfortable on the ball and defenders who can play and bring the ball out.
"The Hammers play a more direct game where that approach isn't as high on
the agenda and thus bigger clubs are unsure of the extent of his abilities
and not as quick to make an offer as they otherwise might be! "Talks are
planned over the next couple of weeks which will hopefully sort things out
one way or the other."
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Friday, September 5
Daily WHUFC News - 5th September 2014
Mediawatch - 4 September
WHUFC.com
Our daily look at West Ham United in the written and digital media
04.09.2014
With the summer transfer window having shut on Monday evening, reporting is now focused on the current international break and players' hopes of returning to Barclays Premier League action with a win. That is certainly the case for two West Ham United players hoping to make their first competitive appearances of the 2014/15 season when the Hammers travel to Hull City on Monday 15 September. The first is Carl Jenkinson, who has told the Daily Express how he cannot wait to pull on a Claret and Blue shirt for the first time - potentially alongside former Arsenal team-mate Alex Song - at the KC Stadium. The second is Matt Jarvis, who was flying in pre-season before being slowed by a thigh injury. The winger is also set to return at Hull and told MailOnline he is relishing the opportunity to help the Hammers return to winning ways. On a different subject, the Daily Telegraph is one of a number of media outlets to report on the start of production on a new film chronicling the life of the late, great Bobby Moore OBE. The movie, which will be released next summer to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the 1966 FIFA World Cup success, is being co-written and co-produced by TV presenter and West Ham supporter Matt Lorenzo.
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West Ham United XI 5-1 Ipswich XI
WHUFC.com
Four goals from winger Matthias Fanimo led a West Ham United XI to a 5-1 victory over the Tractor Boys
04.09.2014
West Ham United winger Matthias Fanimo scored four goals, including a first-half hat trick, as a Hammers XI beat an Ipswich Town XI 5-1 at the Boleyn Ground. Nick Haycock selected a range of players, from new signings Alex Song, Diafra Sakho and captain for the day Diego Poyet to young professionals and Academy scholars such as Amos Nasha, Nathan Mavila and Lewis Page. The Hammers scored their first after only 12 minutes as Fanimo cut in from the left wing and shot into the far corner. West Ham were in control for the vast majority of the game as a midfield trio of Ravel Morrison, Song and Poyet dictated the game. Both teams had good chances to score in the early exchanges, young defenders Mavila and Moses Makasi both put in excellent blocks to protect Jussi Jaaskelainen's goal. Down the other end Sakho proved to be handful, his pace and strength too much for the Tractor Boys to handle. However, it would not be until the second half until he was rewarded with a goal for his efforts. It was not long until West Ham doubled their lead. Moments after Morrison had been denied a penalty after being bodychecked, Mavila was awarded a penalty, having been clipped in the box. The left-back dusted himself down and took the penalty himself, only to see his effort saved. However, the Ipswich 'keeper could only parry the shot into the path of Fanimo, who headed the rebound in.
The hosts continued to press for a third goal, yet found themselves pegged back after Ipswich striker Conor Sammon pounced on a loose ball inside the six yard box following a corner. Fanimo completed his hat-trick just before half-time, running onto a defence splitting pass from debutant Song and coolly sliding the ball under the onrushing 'keeper.
The second half took a while to get going, until a moment of sheer brilliance inspired West Ham's fourth of the afternoon. Song and Morrison combined in a series of majestic one touch tricks and flicks before leaving Sakho clear to finish off a truly stunning move. In the 62nd minute, the Hammers' put the game well beyond reach of the visitors. Morrison, who was instrumental in the majority of attacks, once again drove at the Ipswich back four. With three options ahead, he played in Fanimo for yet another calm finish. As both sets of players tired and a raft of substitutions took place, both sides had good chances to score. Sakho had several shots closed down, while Makasi tried an audacious overhead kick that went wide. Down the other end, Jaaskelainen made an excellent one-handed save to block the oncoming winger, before Sammon fired the rebound over the unguarded net. The match finished a resounding 5-1, with many positives for Haycock to take into next Friday's Development Squad match at home to Liverpool in the Barclays U21 Premier League. Kick-off at the Boleyn Ground will be at 7pm.
*Highlights and reaction from the 5-1 West Ham United XI victory over an Ipswich Town XI will appear on West Ham TV soon.
West Ham United XI: Jaaskelainen, Nasha, Mavila, Song, Page, Makasi, Gordon, Poyet, Sakho, Morrison, Fanimo
Subs used: Marlow, Bogard, Tombides, Labonne, Linley, Elsom, Sheriff
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VIDEO - West Ham XI 5-1 Ipswich XI
WHUFC.com
Exclusive highlights as Matthias Fanimo bagged four and Diafra Sakho netted a beauty
04.09.2014
Winger Matthias Fanimo scored four goals, including a first-half hat trick, as a West Ham United XI beat an Ipswich Town XI 5-1 at the Boleyn Ground.
Summer signing Diafra Sakho also converted to climax a fantastic one-touch move involving Ravel Morrison and debutant Alex Song as the Hammers produced an encouraging performance against the Tractor Boys. You can watch exclusive highlights of Thursday's victory, including the amazing build-up to Sakho's wonderful goal, here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWoHGy1dZ1Y
Nick Haycock's Development Squad return to action at the Boleyn Ground on Friday 12 September, with kick-off in their Barclays U21 Premier League fixture with Liverpool at 7pm.
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Man from The Mirror
WHUFC.com
Read what The Daily Mirror football correspondent Darren Lewis makes of West Ham United's latest signings
04.09.2014
West Ham United's summer dealings have attracted a huge amount of attention and discussion. Supporters, Board members, management and team-mates have all had plenty to say about the strenghtening of the Hammers' squad in recent weeeks. Journalists have also written plenty of column inches and filled plenty of television and radio broadcast hours with their opinions. The vast majority of comments have been positive, with much excitement about the arrivals of Cheikhou Kouyate, Mauro Zarate, Alex Song, Aaron Cresswell, Carl Jenkinson, Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia, Morgan Amalfitano and Diego Poyet.
Daily Mirror football correspondent Darren Lewis is among those who believe West Ham have spent their money wisely.
Darren, what have you made of West Ham's transfer dealings over the last few weeks?
"I agree with your Joint-Chairman David Gold that this has been an excellent transfer window. You've only let one player go, and brought in nine new faces, so you've got strength in depth. In particular the capture of Enner Valencia [is exciting], so both Chairmen deserve a lot of credit. "They've made West Ham stronger and they've made Upton Park a stronger place to come. Yes, you've had disappointing results in the first couple of games of the season, but I think after the international break, you'll be a different proposition."
One transition the Club has to make to get to the next level is to go from having a strong XI to a strong squad. If things do go wrong with injuries or players falling out of form, Sam Allardyce has got plenty of options now…
"I think he does. The late capture of Morgan Amalfitano has done well at West Brom and knows the Premier League well. Alex Song is a wonderful capture. You've lost Mo Diame but replaced him with another engine room with Cheikhou Kouyate, a fantastic signing I have to say. "You've got a very powerful midfield full of craft, energy, and creativity, still got Mark Noble as well who scores goals hopefully. You do have good strength in depth and good options to come off the bench in matches. It's a squad that isn't as weak as it has been in recent years.
"The good thing that I see about the West Ham squad is suddenly it's not players in their early 30s or late 20s who are looking for their last pay packet. Its players who still have a lot to offer. "Enner Valencia is a fantastic signing, make no mistake about that. He's powerful, versatile, he did well at the World Cup. There are now other clubs looking at West Ham thinking 'That's a very good signing, why haven't we signed someone like of that calibre?' I really do think you have good strength in depth. And I wonder for Andy Carroll when he comes back, because he's going to have a fight on his hands, as he should have at a big club. When he comes back, as talented as he is, he shouldn't walk straight back into the team."
One complaint fans have had in the last couple of years, certainly in the last decade, is that once a West Ham player has become a headline maker, they move on. With the stadium move coming up, the Joint-Chairmen really have put their hands deep in their pockets. As you mentioned, there have been a few high-profile names come in that other clubs perhaps have coveted...
"Yeah I do see a clear change, largely because the owners have a different vision for the club. They want to bring in better players to the Club and, from the players that have come in this summer, you can see they have been as good as their word. "Obviously they want to focus on their results, that's the thing that matters the most, but they want to bring in a better brand of football. They don't want to scrape to 1-0 wins, or the kind of campaign they had last season. They want to play attractive football, they want to entertain the fans.
"As far as the owners are concerned, they want players to do well at Upton Park and stay at Upton Park. I can see a situation where that does indeed happen. A lot of people look at signings like Cheikhou Kouyate and think he's going to do well at West Ham, and then move on. I don't necessarily think that that is the case. I think he could be a stalwart for West Ham fans and for the Club and have a prosperous career at the Club."
Every fan and every journalist likes to write their predicted league down. If you sat down and put your list of clubs, one to 20, a) where would West Ham be and b) what would you consider a good season for the Hammers?
"I would put West Ham about ninth or tenth and I would consider that to be a good season. I think what they're doing all the time at West Ham is building. Last season they consolidated their season by buying Andy Carroll. Whereas last season that was the be all and end all of the situation, this time around it is not.
"West Ham have now got players who can score goals; Diafro Sakho's come in, scored 20 goals in France last season and has adapted well to English football so far, so hopefully he'll do well in the Premier League and score some goals.
"You've got pace in the side, power in the side, cutting edge up front and now that injection of quality in Enner Valencia. I can see you finishing ninth or tenth,
possibly pushing on even further than that.
"But, this is the toughest Premier League season we've ever had. Manchester United are stronger, Everton are stronger than their team that finished in Europe last year. Spurs are very strong as well, people thought Southampton might sink without trace but they've bounced back quite strongly. So it is a tough league, but I do think West Ham will be there or thereabouts, largely because they have a better squad now than they did last season."
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Moore than a film
WHUFC.com
Production has begun on a feature-length documentary on the life of the late, great Bobby Moore OBE
03.09.2014
Production has begun on a feature-length documentary on the life of the late, great West Ham United and England captain Bobby Moore OBE. Co-produced and co-written by lifelong Hammer and television presenter Matt Lorenzo and made by Timeless films, its launch will coincide with the 50th anniversary of England's 1966 FIFA World Cup triumph Moore, who tragically passed away following a brave battle with cancer in February 1993 at the age of 51, made 646 senior appearances for West Ham, scoring 27 goals. He was also capped 108 times by England, scoring twice and lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy at Wembley on 30 July 1966. Archive footage of Moore's life and times will blend with interviews, old and new, and the real stories behind his footballing glory; his battles with two bouts of cancer and the facts that led to false accusations about a stolen bracelet ahead of the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
The documentary is written and produced by acclaimed football journalist, TV presenter and devoted West Ham fan Lorenzo, a Hammers' fan ever since his father, Peter, started taking him to matches in the Sixties. Directing the project is the award-winning commercials and documentary maker Finn McGough, (Summer With The Johnsons, Banged Up Abroad), who will also co-write with Lorenzo. The new, but as yet untitled, Bobby Moore feature documentary project will be produced by Ralph Kamp (Postman Pat: The Movie, Manchester United: Beyond the Promised Land, The Phantom of the Opera), of Timeless Films. Timeless is also handling worldwide sales, with Entertainment One (eOne) distributing the film in the United Kingdom. The Bobby Moore film will be released in the summer of 2016, the 50th anniversary of the legendary World Cup win on that golden afternoon at Wembley. It will be launched with a World Charity Premiere in aid of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK.
Since its creation in 1993, the Bobby Moore Fund has raised £21m in its campaign against bowel cancer. The charity will also receive a percentage of the profits from the film. Bobby's widow and founder of the Fund, Stephanie Moore MBE, has given the film her blessing and offered her full support: "I really appreciate the filmmakers support for the Bobby Moore Fund."
Lorenzo said: "He was a kind, humble man who always had time for people. I can't think of any greater hero in our national game. To have known him personally only deepens my admiration. His was a life touched with glory, struggle, tremendous challenges and, towards the end, ill-deserved disappointment."
Director McGough noted: "Sadly I hadn't taken my first breath when England won the World Cup. For many of us born post 1966, Bobby Moore is a sporting hero but still somewhat of an enigma. With 2016 marking half a century since that historic win, now is the perfect opportunity to present the iconic image of the only English captain to have held the World Cup aloft. I'm thrilled to be on board, our film will bring his dramatic story vividly to life."
The project is also fully endorsed by the Football Association, who commented: "Outside Wembley Stadium there stands one statue: that of Bobby Moore. As we approach the 50th anniversary of England's finest sporting moment - winning the World Cup in 1966 - it is fitting we remember one of our greatest footballers by supporting the film that celebrates his life."
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Tomkins hails Hammers depth
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins believes West Ham United now have the strength in depth to make a real impact this season
03.09.2014
James Tomkins believes West Ham United now have the strength in depth to make a real impact in the Barclays Premier League. The Hammers brought in nine new players this summer, adding to an already established backbone, and the No5 is excited about the prospect of lining up with both groups this term.
With Alex Song and Morgan Amalfitano adding to seven earlier captures, the centre-back believes West Ham now have the firepower, experience and ability to cause any opponent problems. "I'm looking forward to working with the signings we've brought in and seeing how they will add to the squad," said Tomkins. "I'm sure they will do because they're really good signings. "I think we did some really good deals in the transfer market, bringing in the players that we needed. They're going to add to our squad and they will be vital in helping us push towards where we want to get to."
Speaking specifically about Song, Tomkins says the former Arsenal midfielder possesses the qualities needed to inspire West Ham to the next level. "Alex Song is a massive player who comes with great experience in the Premier League. He has gone to Barcelona and trained with the best, so he is only going to help us, I should imagine. We're all really looking forward to playing alongside him."
And of Amalfitano, the 25-year-old recalled the assist the France midfielder provided for Saido Berahino in West Bromwich Albion's 1-0 win over the Hammers at The Hawthorns in April this year. "We played against Morgan last season at West Brom and he caused us a few problems and actually set up their goal as well, so he'll be an important player for us. It shows how much we're trying to strengthen our squad at the minute. Song, Amalfitano, and Tomkins will all be gunning to return to winning ways when West Ham head to Hull City for their next Barclays Premier League fixture on Monday 15 April. After home defeats by Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton - either side of a fine 3-1 win at Crystal Palace - the defender knows the Hammers need to get their season back on track as soon as possible. "We're obviously majorly disappointed with the Southampton defeat in a game we were expected to win, really, especially at Upton Park," he continued. "But I'm sure our home form will turn around. "We made a good start to our form away from home at Crystal Palace and we need to bring that forward to our next game, which is Hull. There is no point in looking back, we've got to look forward. "I think all over the pitch the other day, we didn't really get near Southampton at times. We will work on that in training. I'm sure with games we'll get fitter and stronger, while the new players will add to our team and hopefully we can go to Hull and get a victory."
At the KC Stadium, he could face a familiar face in Mohamed Diame, who moved to the East Riding of Yorkshire on transfer deadline day. "Mo did really well for us here and the fans really liked him, but he obviously wanted to move on. Everyone wishes him all the best."
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International round-up
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's internationals are being kept busy during the current break from domestic action
04.09.2014
West Ham United's Sam Howes made his England U18 debut in successful fashion as the Young Lions roared to a 4-1 victory over the Netherlands in Bury.
Howes (pictured), fresh from his Hammers first-team debut in pre-season and winning the UEFA European U17 Championship with his country in May, lined up for his first crack at U18 international football on Wednesday 3 September. And it was another successful occasion for the 16-year-old, who was beaten only by a close-range strike from Marlon Slabbekoorn early on. England stormed back from a goal down to win comfortably, with Howes doing his job by making a fantastic double save to deny Ruben de Jager with the score still poised at 1-0 to the Dutch. The two nations will meet again at the same venue, Bury FC's JD Stadium, on Friday 5 September. Elsewhere, Jamie Harney's Northern Ireland U19s came back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with their Icelandic counterparts in Dungannon. The Northern Irish face the same opposition at Queen's Sport, Belfast, on Friday. This page will be regularly updated as West Ham's internationals appear for their respective countries over the coming days.
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Hammers on Song in Tractor Boys romp
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 4th September 2014
By: Staff Writer
Matthias Fanimo stole the show as a West Ham XI beat an Ipswich Town XI 5-1 at the Boleyn Ground this afternoon. The Academy youngster scored four times as the Hammers eased past their Championship counterparts in a specially-arranged friendly, in which a number of first team squad members not travelling with their respective countries this week got some valuable match time. However it was West Ham's only goal not scored by Fanimo - scored by new boy Diafra Sakho - that will no doubt feature heavily on forthcoming YouTube goal compilation videos. Sakho's fellow new signing Alex Song and Ravel Morrison - no stranger to a worldy or two - combined expertly on the edge of the box in a move reminiscent of those Song may have been used to practising with former team mate Mionel Messi at Barcelona. And Sakho was on hand to finish off the move which drew gasps from those watching from the sidelines.
ra'vel ✔ @morrisonravel
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I think me song and Sakho scored the best goal u will ever see at WHU #tikitaka
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THE MYSTERY OF JACK COLLISON
By Iain Dale 4 Sep 2014 at 16:00
West Ham Till I Die
So far as I know, Jack Collison still hasn't found himself a club, despite having trials with both QPR and Ipswich Town. Like many of you, I was very sad when he was released by us at the end of last season. He is a model pro, who always gave his best. At one time he really looked as if he would be a first team regular but the injury which put him out of the game for a long time has clearly had an impact. The thing is, he always had a nose for goal and scored some brilliant goals for us. I've looked him up and in fact he only scored 11 times in 105 games, but it feels like more than that.
Surely there must be a Championship club who could make use of Jack Collison's undoubted talents?
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SHOULD A WEST HAM MANAGER HAVE PRE-EXISTING LINKS TO THE CLUB?
By Iain Dale 4 Sep 2014 at 12:00
West Ham Till I Die
Guest Post by Hamburg Hammer
It may happen in a few weeks. It may happen at the end of the season. Or it may coincide with our move to the OS. Sooner or later West Ham United will have a new manager. Regardless of the fact that Sam Allardyce is still our manager with a valid contract till the end of the season the speculation about his successor have started.
Posters have thrown hats with managers' names attached to it into the ring already, discussing the likes of Moyes, Bilic, Pulis, Mackay. Fans seem to have differing opinions on which criteria is the most important one when finding a new manager.
In our case there is the added incentive (or burden, depending on which way you wanna look at it) that soon we will be playing in the OS, having to fill 54.000 seats for league games, also on the proverbial cold and rainy Tuesday night in November, playing Burnley.
So one criteria definitely is a manager who can build a squad (and set it up accordingly) that delivers quality, attractive passing football almost instantly and constantly. And he should be a great man manager of different egos and mentalities as you don't survive long in this league without the ability to do that. Which leads to another criteria that is somewhat connected to the way most fans want us to play: Should the new manager have previous West Ham connections, ideally as a former player?
The argument being that this manager would understand our history, our tradition, the brand of football West Ham fans crave for, and know about the player types that have been and are still revered around the East End, names like Moore, Brooking, Devonshire, Alvin Martin, Billy Bonds, Dicks, Cottee, DiCanio, Tevez – the list goes on.
It's a point I can identify with to a degree. It's always nice to welcome home a familiar face, to evoke memories from seasons ago and reminisce. We can also presume that former players have the club at heart (at least to a certain degree) and would also be given a ton of goodwill from the fans, probably more than a foreigner or a no-name manager coming in from abroad, someone like…Pochettino ?
Yes, your average football fan didn't know who that man was when he arrived at Southampton. They had never heard his name. The man was a former defender from Argentina who didn't even speak English to begin with. He didn't know the Premier League. Or England. He knew nothing about Southampton. Not about the place, not about the club.
But he was a success, offering nice attacking football, making a number of Southampton players attractive transfer targets for bigger clubs and earning himself a transfer to Spurs to be their new manager.
Contrast that with former West Ham players like Harry Redknapp. Would we want him back at West Ham ? Curbishley ? Not a good idea! Paul Ince ? Nah. DiCanio ? Not really, no matter how entertaining this ride would be! But then there is Bilic: Well spoken, knows the Premier League and West Ham and has done reasonably well for Croatia and Besiktas so far. Steve Potts is another one, a former defender and true Hammers legend who already is in the West Ham coaching set up.
Who knows where Julian Dicks might end up manager wise eventually. There are loads of former (or present) West Ham greats I could imagine as future managers. But also others I wouldn't want near our club ever again.
The point is: Pochettino has shown that you don't need a famous name to make it as a manager in the Premier League. You don't need previous experience in this league or at that particular club to make it all work. You even can deliver exciting football if you've been a center back throughout your active career as a footballer. Do I want a new manager with West Ham connections ? I'd prefer one, yes, but only if he ticks the other boxes as well.
Having West Ham connections should just be the icing on the cake for us fans, so to speak. If we 'only' get a progressive manager who knows what he's doing, who gets our team to play better football and manages to put some pride back into our club I can gladly do without the icing. He'd be accepted at our club with open arms and could turn himself into a true West Ham legend in the process.
Even if he doesn't yet know the words to 'Bubbles' when signing his contract.
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THE BIANCA WESTWOOD COLUMN - LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE...
By Bianca Westwood 4 Sep 2014 at 08:00
West Ham till I Die
Welcome to my first Hammers blog. In actual fact it's my first blog full stop! Initially I had big plans to delve into the history of my life long love affair with all things West Ham United. That'll keep. Because with all the excitement and chaos at Sky Sports HQ over the last few days (and weeks!) I couldn't really ignore the drama of the latest transfer window. So for what it's worth here's my take…
I've been pleasantly surprised by what's been happening at Upton Park. OFF the pitch anyway. You can't argue with some of the quality that's been brought in. I watched Ipswich several times the last couple of seasons and Aaron Cresswell was more often than not the best player on the park. He's tricky and pacey, loves to get forward and when he does he can deliver. He's a good old fashioned attacking full back, the likes of which we haven't seen in a few years. Getting from box to box quickly and whipping those deadly balls in should not be a problem and of course he can defend which helps.
Morgan Amalfitano is another solid signing. My friends at West Bromwich Albion were sorry to see him return to Marseille at the end of last season but I'm sure they won't be too thrilled to see him back at the Hawthorns on 2 December! He was used mainly on the right wing for the Baggies and who can forget his stunning solo goal at Old Trafford last September? Then again one wonder goal does not a superstar make (Modibo Maiga anyone?). The Frenchman has said he prefers to play behind the striker. I'm not 100% certain that's where Big Sam sees his role so I think he'll learn to get versatile in this team. Everyone else has to!
I didn't know anything about Enner Valencia until he scored for Equador during the World Cup. Next time I saw him he'd rocked up at Chadwell Heath pre-season. I was gobsmacked. £12m is by no means a snip but he was in admirable form for Mexican side Pachuca last season and of course in Brazil he looked an explosive young talent. He's quick, looks hungry and is eager to impress. Hopefully knows where the goal is too. He has said he has desires of bringing European football to East London (bless him) so he may have to rethink his ambitions slightly but hey the boy can dream!
Talking of dreams I did have to rub my eyes when I saw Alex Song being paraded at the Boleyn ground. I'm looking forward to seeing him in the claret and blue. I'm just glad they got his signature before the Southampton game. Otherwise he might have hijacked DG's chopper at full time & zipped off back to sunny Spain.
A grilling for Downing
As for Sakho, Zarate & Kouyate I have to admit I wouldn't have recognised them if I'd walked past them on Green Street before the season started but from what I've seen and heard so far I'm satisfied they'll do the business for us. Zarate's strike at Palace was different class, Sakho is also off the mark already, albeit in a cup defeat, but getting a good start can only be a positive thing. As far as Kouyate is concerned, well I haven't seen him play in the flesh yet but everyone is raving about him. When I interviewed Stuart Downing for Soccer Saturday last week he was waxing lyrical about the lad. He was really impressed with how quickly he had settled in. He's strong, aggressive, wins tackles, breaks the game up and shoulders the burden of the defensive play, giving his attacking team mates the luxury of getting forward. He's a terrific find! Downing also said that there are no excuses now. There's nowhere to hide. He's absolutely spot on.
At times last season with Andy Carroll out we looked lost and half the time appeared defeated before a ball was kicked. We had nowhere to go. We barely had a fit eleven and players were played way out of position. Again we flirted with the drop. For far too long. It CANNOT be the case for Sam Allardyce and the boys this time. The board has backed him, he's been given good money to spend and this time he's not put all his eggs in one 6ft 3in Geordie-sized basket. But it does mean Big Sam has to deliver. He has the squad now they just have to show up.
As I work on a Saturday I didn't get to see the Southampton game. Lucky me I'm told. It seems we were woeful. With so many new players arriving they will need time to gel so I think we can pull them a squeeze for that defeat. But the gaffer must show what he can do with this team and quickly.
A lot has been said about Sam and his style but look at it this way. When he walked into our club after the Avram Grant debacle the club was a shambles. He took the team by the scruff of the neck and dragged us back into the Premier League. He kept us up by hook or by crook. No it wasn't pretty but we survived and 10th and 13th place respectively is not to be sniffed at in this division. Plus, the players respect the manager. There is a great togetherness and the lads genuinely like him and each other. There's a lot to be said for that and Sam's ability to foster a cohesive unit shouldn't be underestimated. Whether or not the board have really demanded attractive football is another story but over the coming weeks and months I think we'll find out. Downing dodged that question extremely well. I asked him in a plethora of ways whether there had been a conscious effort to adopt a more expansive method of play but he was artful in his deflection. He did say that winning games breeds confidence and that THAT will have a positive effect on the way we play. We proved that against Palace. In spells the football was just like the West Ham we fell in love with. But let's not fool ourselves here, at the time the Eagles were in crisis.
We can't get too comfortable. Beating Tottenham three times in a season is a hell of a lot of fun but it's not enough. We've already screwed that one up now anyway. I'm prepared to give Allardyce a chance. Easy for me to say when I'm not paying the big bucks for a season ticket to watch some of the dross that was served up on occasion last season, or yet another relegation dogfight. I know this. However, I'm eager to see what the gaffer can do with this calibre of squad at his disposal. Questions have been asked about his ability to evolve but he deserves the chance to try. Sam Allardyce has never been relegated…but can he bestow upon us the flowing, attack-minded, possession-heavy, footballing exuberance that us misty-eyed Hammers fans still fantasise about? Can Sam give us sexy football?
Well, with the international break it's the perfect opportunity to do the graft, get it right and give Messrs Neville and Carragher the chance to analyse our beloved team for all the RIGHT reasons when we visit the KC on Monday week. Oh and here's hoping that Mo Diame has a VERY quiet game.
B
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Hammers hero joins ClaretandHugh
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 4, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
ClaretandHugh is proud to announce the arrival of Leroy Rosenior as our No 1 columnist for the 2014-15 season …and going forward! Fearless Leroy was one of the bravest strikers ever to wear the claret and blue and between 1988-92 became a hero to the Upton Park Army. He was one of the most whole-hearted players in our recent history who, before being hit with a crippling knee injury, scored 15 times in the 53 games he played for the club. Leroy always tells it as it is! There will be no mealy mouthed sucking-up to anything or anybody at the club and he promises to give an absolutely honest opinion on the big issues affecting West Ham United. A ceaseless campaigner against racism in the game, he is one of the few black players to have gone on to become a manager.
He has often spoken about the racism he experienced as a player and a manager. He has said there is a glass ceiling holding back qualified black coaches from getting the top jobs. He has become one of the game's most widely respected pundits and on joining ClaretandHugh he said: "I am delighted to have been asked – I think it's a terrific resource for all Hammers. "I'm an Iron and this is my personal first stop site for all the latest news.I hope I can add forthright, honest and balanced analysis and insight on all aspects of life at the Boleyn – a place which has such special memories for me." Welcome aboard Lee – we're proud to have you with us. In his first column Leroy tells why he believes Enner Valencia is a big gamble for the club. Check it out!
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Irons hero: "Valencia's a gamble"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 4, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Former West Ham striker Leroy Rosenior believes that virtual free signing Mauro Zarate is a safer bet than £12 million 'marquee' arrival Enner Valencia.
Rosenior was a big Irons favourite as a player and as a regular ClaretandHugh columnist this season makes it clear that Valencia is a gamble. Leroy – who was with the Hammers for four years in the late 80s and early 90s said: "I always think it's dangerous signing players off the back of a big World Cup. "The Premier League is totally different and very hard and I hope he does it for us but I have to reserve judgement. He was on a roll in the World Cup…time will tell if he's a Premier League player.
However, when you see strikers like Russ McCormack going to Fulham for £11 million you have to agree with David Sullivan that the market is crazy. "Had any of us heard of Valencia before the World Cup? Had Sam? I hope so and I also hope he scores the 12-15 goals that are being expected." Rosenior believes that Zarate meanwhile has returned to the country and Premier League a far more mature player and has already shown that he will be quite at home here. "He's a top player – a throwback to the West Ham players of the past and will be very creative in the hole. "He cost the club next to nothing and for me has been the arrival of the summer."
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Ravel hails best goal you will ever see at West Ham
Posted by Sean Whetstone on September 4, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Ravel Morrison has hailed a wonder goal scored by Diafra Sakho this afternoon as the best goal you will ever see at West Ham. It involved help from Alex Song and himself of course. Ravel tweeted "I think me song and Sakho scored the best goal u will ever see at WHU" after the behind closed doors game at the Boleyn ground against an Ipswich XI this afternoon as a 5-1 win.
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WHUFC.com
Our daily look at West Ham United in the written and digital media
04.09.2014
With the summer transfer window having shut on Monday evening, reporting is now focused on the current international break and players' hopes of returning to Barclays Premier League action with a win. That is certainly the case for two West Ham United players hoping to make their first competitive appearances of the 2014/15 season when the Hammers travel to Hull City on Monday 15 September. The first is Carl Jenkinson, who has told the Daily Express how he cannot wait to pull on a Claret and Blue shirt for the first time - potentially alongside former Arsenal team-mate Alex Song - at the KC Stadium. The second is Matt Jarvis, who was flying in pre-season before being slowed by a thigh injury. The winger is also set to return at Hull and told MailOnline he is relishing the opportunity to help the Hammers return to winning ways. On a different subject, the Daily Telegraph is one of a number of media outlets to report on the start of production on a new film chronicling the life of the late, great Bobby Moore OBE. The movie, which will be released next summer to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the 1966 FIFA World Cup success, is being co-written and co-produced by TV presenter and West Ham supporter Matt Lorenzo.
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West Ham United XI 5-1 Ipswich XI
WHUFC.com
Four goals from winger Matthias Fanimo led a West Ham United XI to a 5-1 victory over the Tractor Boys
04.09.2014
West Ham United winger Matthias Fanimo scored four goals, including a first-half hat trick, as a Hammers XI beat an Ipswich Town XI 5-1 at the Boleyn Ground. Nick Haycock selected a range of players, from new signings Alex Song, Diafra Sakho and captain for the day Diego Poyet to young professionals and Academy scholars such as Amos Nasha, Nathan Mavila and Lewis Page. The Hammers scored their first after only 12 minutes as Fanimo cut in from the left wing and shot into the far corner. West Ham were in control for the vast majority of the game as a midfield trio of Ravel Morrison, Song and Poyet dictated the game. Both teams had good chances to score in the early exchanges, young defenders Mavila and Moses Makasi both put in excellent blocks to protect Jussi Jaaskelainen's goal. Down the other end Sakho proved to be handful, his pace and strength too much for the Tractor Boys to handle. However, it would not be until the second half until he was rewarded with a goal for his efforts. It was not long until West Ham doubled their lead. Moments after Morrison had been denied a penalty after being bodychecked, Mavila was awarded a penalty, having been clipped in the box. The left-back dusted himself down and took the penalty himself, only to see his effort saved. However, the Ipswich 'keeper could only parry the shot into the path of Fanimo, who headed the rebound in.
The hosts continued to press for a third goal, yet found themselves pegged back after Ipswich striker Conor Sammon pounced on a loose ball inside the six yard box following a corner. Fanimo completed his hat-trick just before half-time, running onto a defence splitting pass from debutant Song and coolly sliding the ball under the onrushing 'keeper.
The second half took a while to get going, until a moment of sheer brilliance inspired West Ham's fourth of the afternoon. Song and Morrison combined in a series of majestic one touch tricks and flicks before leaving Sakho clear to finish off a truly stunning move. In the 62nd minute, the Hammers' put the game well beyond reach of the visitors. Morrison, who was instrumental in the majority of attacks, once again drove at the Ipswich back four. With three options ahead, he played in Fanimo for yet another calm finish. As both sets of players tired and a raft of substitutions took place, both sides had good chances to score. Sakho had several shots closed down, while Makasi tried an audacious overhead kick that went wide. Down the other end, Jaaskelainen made an excellent one-handed save to block the oncoming winger, before Sammon fired the rebound over the unguarded net. The match finished a resounding 5-1, with many positives for Haycock to take into next Friday's Development Squad match at home to Liverpool in the Barclays U21 Premier League. Kick-off at the Boleyn Ground will be at 7pm.
*Highlights and reaction from the 5-1 West Ham United XI victory over an Ipswich Town XI will appear on West Ham TV soon.
West Ham United XI: Jaaskelainen, Nasha, Mavila, Song, Page, Makasi, Gordon, Poyet, Sakho, Morrison, Fanimo
Subs used: Marlow, Bogard, Tombides, Labonne, Linley, Elsom, Sheriff
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VIDEO - West Ham XI 5-1 Ipswich XI
WHUFC.com
Exclusive highlights as Matthias Fanimo bagged four and Diafra Sakho netted a beauty
04.09.2014
Winger Matthias Fanimo scored four goals, including a first-half hat trick, as a West Ham United XI beat an Ipswich Town XI 5-1 at the Boleyn Ground.
Summer signing Diafra Sakho also converted to climax a fantastic one-touch move involving Ravel Morrison and debutant Alex Song as the Hammers produced an encouraging performance against the Tractor Boys. You can watch exclusive highlights of Thursday's victory, including the amazing build-up to Sakho's wonderful goal, here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWoHGy1dZ1Y
Nick Haycock's Development Squad return to action at the Boleyn Ground on Friday 12 September, with kick-off in their Barclays U21 Premier League fixture with Liverpool at 7pm.
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Man from The Mirror
WHUFC.com
Read what The Daily Mirror football correspondent Darren Lewis makes of West Ham United's latest signings
04.09.2014
West Ham United's summer dealings have attracted a huge amount of attention and discussion. Supporters, Board members, management and team-mates have all had plenty to say about the strenghtening of the Hammers' squad in recent weeeks. Journalists have also written plenty of column inches and filled plenty of television and radio broadcast hours with their opinions. The vast majority of comments have been positive, with much excitement about the arrivals of Cheikhou Kouyate, Mauro Zarate, Alex Song, Aaron Cresswell, Carl Jenkinson, Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia, Morgan Amalfitano and Diego Poyet.
Daily Mirror football correspondent Darren Lewis is among those who believe West Ham have spent their money wisely.
Darren, what have you made of West Ham's transfer dealings over the last few weeks?
"I agree with your Joint-Chairman David Gold that this has been an excellent transfer window. You've only let one player go, and brought in nine new faces, so you've got strength in depth. In particular the capture of Enner Valencia [is exciting], so both Chairmen deserve a lot of credit. "They've made West Ham stronger and they've made Upton Park a stronger place to come. Yes, you've had disappointing results in the first couple of games of the season, but I think after the international break, you'll be a different proposition."
One transition the Club has to make to get to the next level is to go from having a strong XI to a strong squad. If things do go wrong with injuries or players falling out of form, Sam Allardyce has got plenty of options now…
"I think he does. The late capture of Morgan Amalfitano has done well at West Brom and knows the Premier League well. Alex Song is a wonderful capture. You've lost Mo Diame but replaced him with another engine room with Cheikhou Kouyate, a fantastic signing I have to say. "You've got a very powerful midfield full of craft, energy, and creativity, still got Mark Noble as well who scores goals hopefully. You do have good strength in depth and good options to come off the bench in matches. It's a squad that isn't as weak as it has been in recent years.
"The good thing that I see about the West Ham squad is suddenly it's not players in their early 30s or late 20s who are looking for their last pay packet. Its players who still have a lot to offer. "Enner Valencia is a fantastic signing, make no mistake about that. He's powerful, versatile, he did well at the World Cup. There are now other clubs looking at West Ham thinking 'That's a very good signing, why haven't we signed someone like of that calibre?' I really do think you have good strength in depth. And I wonder for Andy Carroll when he comes back, because he's going to have a fight on his hands, as he should have at a big club. When he comes back, as talented as he is, he shouldn't walk straight back into the team."
One complaint fans have had in the last couple of years, certainly in the last decade, is that once a West Ham player has become a headline maker, they move on. With the stadium move coming up, the Joint-Chairmen really have put their hands deep in their pockets. As you mentioned, there have been a few high-profile names come in that other clubs perhaps have coveted...
"Yeah I do see a clear change, largely because the owners have a different vision for the club. They want to bring in better players to the Club and, from the players that have come in this summer, you can see they have been as good as their word. "Obviously they want to focus on their results, that's the thing that matters the most, but they want to bring in a better brand of football. They don't want to scrape to 1-0 wins, or the kind of campaign they had last season. They want to play attractive football, they want to entertain the fans.
"As far as the owners are concerned, they want players to do well at Upton Park and stay at Upton Park. I can see a situation where that does indeed happen. A lot of people look at signings like Cheikhou Kouyate and think he's going to do well at West Ham, and then move on. I don't necessarily think that that is the case. I think he could be a stalwart for West Ham fans and for the Club and have a prosperous career at the Club."
Every fan and every journalist likes to write their predicted league down. If you sat down and put your list of clubs, one to 20, a) where would West Ham be and b) what would you consider a good season for the Hammers?
"I would put West Ham about ninth or tenth and I would consider that to be a good season. I think what they're doing all the time at West Ham is building. Last season they consolidated their season by buying Andy Carroll. Whereas last season that was the be all and end all of the situation, this time around it is not.
"West Ham have now got players who can score goals; Diafro Sakho's come in, scored 20 goals in France last season and has adapted well to English football so far, so hopefully he'll do well in the Premier League and score some goals.
"You've got pace in the side, power in the side, cutting edge up front and now that injection of quality in Enner Valencia. I can see you finishing ninth or tenth,
possibly pushing on even further than that.
"But, this is the toughest Premier League season we've ever had. Manchester United are stronger, Everton are stronger than their team that finished in Europe last year. Spurs are very strong as well, people thought Southampton might sink without trace but they've bounced back quite strongly. So it is a tough league, but I do think West Ham will be there or thereabouts, largely because they have a better squad now than they did last season."
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Moore than a film
WHUFC.com
Production has begun on a feature-length documentary on the life of the late, great Bobby Moore OBE
03.09.2014
Production has begun on a feature-length documentary on the life of the late, great West Ham United and England captain Bobby Moore OBE. Co-produced and co-written by lifelong Hammer and television presenter Matt Lorenzo and made by Timeless films, its launch will coincide with the 50th anniversary of England's 1966 FIFA World Cup triumph Moore, who tragically passed away following a brave battle with cancer in February 1993 at the age of 51, made 646 senior appearances for West Ham, scoring 27 goals. He was also capped 108 times by England, scoring twice and lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy at Wembley on 30 July 1966. Archive footage of Moore's life and times will blend with interviews, old and new, and the real stories behind his footballing glory; his battles with two bouts of cancer and the facts that led to false accusations about a stolen bracelet ahead of the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
The documentary is written and produced by acclaimed football journalist, TV presenter and devoted West Ham fan Lorenzo, a Hammers' fan ever since his father, Peter, started taking him to matches in the Sixties. Directing the project is the award-winning commercials and documentary maker Finn McGough, (Summer With The Johnsons, Banged Up Abroad), who will also co-write with Lorenzo. The new, but as yet untitled, Bobby Moore feature documentary project will be produced by Ralph Kamp (Postman Pat: The Movie, Manchester United: Beyond the Promised Land, The Phantom of the Opera), of Timeless Films. Timeless is also handling worldwide sales, with Entertainment One (eOne) distributing the film in the United Kingdom. The Bobby Moore film will be released in the summer of 2016, the 50th anniversary of the legendary World Cup win on that golden afternoon at Wembley. It will be launched with a World Charity Premiere in aid of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK.
Since its creation in 1993, the Bobby Moore Fund has raised £21m in its campaign against bowel cancer. The charity will also receive a percentage of the profits from the film. Bobby's widow and founder of the Fund, Stephanie Moore MBE, has given the film her blessing and offered her full support: "I really appreciate the filmmakers support for the Bobby Moore Fund."
Lorenzo said: "He was a kind, humble man who always had time for people. I can't think of any greater hero in our national game. To have known him personally only deepens my admiration. His was a life touched with glory, struggle, tremendous challenges and, towards the end, ill-deserved disappointment."
Director McGough noted: "Sadly I hadn't taken my first breath when England won the World Cup. For many of us born post 1966, Bobby Moore is a sporting hero but still somewhat of an enigma. With 2016 marking half a century since that historic win, now is the perfect opportunity to present the iconic image of the only English captain to have held the World Cup aloft. I'm thrilled to be on board, our film will bring his dramatic story vividly to life."
The project is also fully endorsed by the Football Association, who commented: "Outside Wembley Stadium there stands one statue: that of Bobby Moore. As we approach the 50th anniversary of England's finest sporting moment - winning the World Cup in 1966 - it is fitting we remember one of our greatest footballers by supporting the film that celebrates his life."
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Tomkins hails Hammers depth
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins believes West Ham United now have the strength in depth to make a real impact this season
03.09.2014
James Tomkins believes West Ham United now have the strength in depth to make a real impact in the Barclays Premier League. The Hammers brought in nine new players this summer, adding to an already established backbone, and the No5 is excited about the prospect of lining up with both groups this term.
With Alex Song and Morgan Amalfitano adding to seven earlier captures, the centre-back believes West Ham now have the firepower, experience and ability to cause any opponent problems. "I'm looking forward to working with the signings we've brought in and seeing how they will add to the squad," said Tomkins. "I'm sure they will do because they're really good signings. "I think we did some really good deals in the transfer market, bringing in the players that we needed. They're going to add to our squad and they will be vital in helping us push towards where we want to get to."
Speaking specifically about Song, Tomkins says the former Arsenal midfielder possesses the qualities needed to inspire West Ham to the next level. "Alex Song is a massive player who comes with great experience in the Premier League. He has gone to Barcelona and trained with the best, so he is only going to help us, I should imagine. We're all really looking forward to playing alongside him."
And of Amalfitano, the 25-year-old recalled the assist the France midfielder provided for Saido Berahino in West Bromwich Albion's 1-0 win over the Hammers at The Hawthorns in April this year. "We played against Morgan last season at West Brom and he caused us a few problems and actually set up their goal as well, so he'll be an important player for us. It shows how much we're trying to strengthen our squad at the minute. Song, Amalfitano, and Tomkins will all be gunning to return to winning ways when West Ham head to Hull City for their next Barclays Premier League fixture on Monday 15 April. After home defeats by Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton - either side of a fine 3-1 win at Crystal Palace - the defender knows the Hammers need to get their season back on track as soon as possible. "We're obviously majorly disappointed with the Southampton defeat in a game we were expected to win, really, especially at Upton Park," he continued. "But I'm sure our home form will turn around. "We made a good start to our form away from home at Crystal Palace and we need to bring that forward to our next game, which is Hull. There is no point in looking back, we've got to look forward. "I think all over the pitch the other day, we didn't really get near Southampton at times. We will work on that in training. I'm sure with games we'll get fitter and stronger, while the new players will add to our team and hopefully we can go to Hull and get a victory."
At the KC Stadium, he could face a familiar face in Mohamed Diame, who moved to the East Riding of Yorkshire on transfer deadline day. "Mo did really well for us here and the fans really liked him, but he obviously wanted to move on. Everyone wishes him all the best."
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International round-up
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's internationals are being kept busy during the current break from domestic action
04.09.2014
West Ham United's Sam Howes made his England U18 debut in successful fashion as the Young Lions roared to a 4-1 victory over the Netherlands in Bury.
Howes (pictured), fresh from his Hammers first-team debut in pre-season and winning the UEFA European U17 Championship with his country in May, lined up for his first crack at U18 international football on Wednesday 3 September. And it was another successful occasion for the 16-year-old, who was beaten only by a close-range strike from Marlon Slabbekoorn early on. England stormed back from a goal down to win comfortably, with Howes doing his job by making a fantastic double save to deny Ruben de Jager with the score still poised at 1-0 to the Dutch. The two nations will meet again at the same venue, Bury FC's JD Stadium, on Friday 5 September. Elsewhere, Jamie Harney's Northern Ireland U19s came back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with their Icelandic counterparts in Dungannon. The Northern Irish face the same opposition at Queen's Sport, Belfast, on Friday. This page will be regularly updated as West Ham's internationals appear for their respective countries over the coming days.
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Hammers on Song in Tractor Boys romp
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 4th September 2014
By: Staff Writer
Matthias Fanimo stole the show as a West Ham XI beat an Ipswich Town XI 5-1 at the Boleyn Ground this afternoon. The Academy youngster scored four times as the Hammers eased past their Championship counterparts in a specially-arranged friendly, in which a number of first team squad members not travelling with their respective countries this week got some valuable match time. However it was West Ham's only goal not scored by Fanimo - scored by new boy Diafra Sakho - that will no doubt feature heavily on forthcoming YouTube goal compilation videos. Sakho's fellow new signing Alex Song and Ravel Morrison - no stranger to a worldy or two - combined expertly on the edge of the box in a move reminiscent of those Song may have been used to practising with former team mate Mionel Messi at Barcelona. And Sakho was on hand to finish off the move which drew gasps from those watching from the sidelines.
ra'vel ✔ @morrisonravel
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I think me song and Sakho scored the best goal u will ever see at WHU #tikitaka
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THE MYSTERY OF JACK COLLISON
By Iain Dale 4 Sep 2014 at 16:00
West Ham Till I Die
So far as I know, Jack Collison still hasn't found himself a club, despite having trials with both QPR and Ipswich Town. Like many of you, I was very sad when he was released by us at the end of last season. He is a model pro, who always gave his best. At one time he really looked as if he would be a first team regular but the injury which put him out of the game for a long time has clearly had an impact. The thing is, he always had a nose for goal and scored some brilliant goals for us. I've looked him up and in fact he only scored 11 times in 105 games, but it feels like more than that.
Surely there must be a Championship club who could make use of Jack Collison's undoubted talents?
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SHOULD A WEST HAM MANAGER HAVE PRE-EXISTING LINKS TO THE CLUB?
By Iain Dale 4 Sep 2014 at 12:00
West Ham Till I Die
Guest Post by Hamburg Hammer
It may happen in a few weeks. It may happen at the end of the season. Or it may coincide with our move to the OS. Sooner or later West Ham United will have a new manager. Regardless of the fact that Sam Allardyce is still our manager with a valid contract till the end of the season the speculation about his successor have started.
Posters have thrown hats with managers' names attached to it into the ring already, discussing the likes of Moyes, Bilic, Pulis, Mackay. Fans seem to have differing opinions on which criteria is the most important one when finding a new manager.
In our case there is the added incentive (or burden, depending on which way you wanna look at it) that soon we will be playing in the OS, having to fill 54.000 seats for league games, also on the proverbial cold and rainy Tuesday night in November, playing Burnley.
So one criteria definitely is a manager who can build a squad (and set it up accordingly) that delivers quality, attractive passing football almost instantly and constantly. And he should be a great man manager of different egos and mentalities as you don't survive long in this league without the ability to do that. Which leads to another criteria that is somewhat connected to the way most fans want us to play: Should the new manager have previous West Ham connections, ideally as a former player?
The argument being that this manager would understand our history, our tradition, the brand of football West Ham fans crave for, and know about the player types that have been and are still revered around the East End, names like Moore, Brooking, Devonshire, Alvin Martin, Billy Bonds, Dicks, Cottee, DiCanio, Tevez – the list goes on.
It's a point I can identify with to a degree. It's always nice to welcome home a familiar face, to evoke memories from seasons ago and reminisce. We can also presume that former players have the club at heart (at least to a certain degree) and would also be given a ton of goodwill from the fans, probably more than a foreigner or a no-name manager coming in from abroad, someone like…Pochettino ?
Yes, your average football fan didn't know who that man was when he arrived at Southampton. They had never heard his name. The man was a former defender from Argentina who didn't even speak English to begin with. He didn't know the Premier League. Or England. He knew nothing about Southampton. Not about the place, not about the club.
But he was a success, offering nice attacking football, making a number of Southampton players attractive transfer targets for bigger clubs and earning himself a transfer to Spurs to be their new manager.
Contrast that with former West Ham players like Harry Redknapp. Would we want him back at West Ham ? Curbishley ? Not a good idea! Paul Ince ? Nah. DiCanio ? Not really, no matter how entertaining this ride would be! But then there is Bilic: Well spoken, knows the Premier League and West Ham and has done reasonably well for Croatia and Besiktas so far. Steve Potts is another one, a former defender and true Hammers legend who already is in the West Ham coaching set up.
Who knows where Julian Dicks might end up manager wise eventually. There are loads of former (or present) West Ham greats I could imagine as future managers. But also others I wouldn't want near our club ever again.
The point is: Pochettino has shown that you don't need a famous name to make it as a manager in the Premier League. You don't need previous experience in this league or at that particular club to make it all work. You even can deliver exciting football if you've been a center back throughout your active career as a footballer. Do I want a new manager with West Ham connections ? I'd prefer one, yes, but only if he ticks the other boxes as well.
Having West Ham connections should just be the icing on the cake for us fans, so to speak. If we 'only' get a progressive manager who knows what he's doing, who gets our team to play better football and manages to put some pride back into our club I can gladly do without the icing. He'd be accepted at our club with open arms and could turn himself into a true West Ham legend in the process.
Even if he doesn't yet know the words to 'Bubbles' when signing his contract.
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THE BIANCA WESTWOOD COLUMN - LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE...
By Bianca Westwood 4 Sep 2014 at 08:00
West Ham till I Die
Welcome to my first Hammers blog. In actual fact it's my first blog full stop! Initially I had big plans to delve into the history of my life long love affair with all things West Ham United. That'll keep. Because with all the excitement and chaos at Sky Sports HQ over the last few days (and weeks!) I couldn't really ignore the drama of the latest transfer window. So for what it's worth here's my take…
I've been pleasantly surprised by what's been happening at Upton Park. OFF the pitch anyway. You can't argue with some of the quality that's been brought in. I watched Ipswich several times the last couple of seasons and Aaron Cresswell was more often than not the best player on the park. He's tricky and pacey, loves to get forward and when he does he can deliver. He's a good old fashioned attacking full back, the likes of which we haven't seen in a few years. Getting from box to box quickly and whipping those deadly balls in should not be a problem and of course he can defend which helps.
Morgan Amalfitano is another solid signing. My friends at West Bromwich Albion were sorry to see him return to Marseille at the end of last season but I'm sure they won't be too thrilled to see him back at the Hawthorns on 2 December! He was used mainly on the right wing for the Baggies and who can forget his stunning solo goal at Old Trafford last September? Then again one wonder goal does not a superstar make (Modibo Maiga anyone?). The Frenchman has said he prefers to play behind the striker. I'm not 100% certain that's where Big Sam sees his role so I think he'll learn to get versatile in this team. Everyone else has to!
I didn't know anything about Enner Valencia until he scored for Equador during the World Cup. Next time I saw him he'd rocked up at Chadwell Heath pre-season. I was gobsmacked. £12m is by no means a snip but he was in admirable form for Mexican side Pachuca last season and of course in Brazil he looked an explosive young talent. He's quick, looks hungry and is eager to impress. Hopefully knows where the goal is too. He has said he has desires of bringing European football to East London (bless him) so he may have to rethink his ambitions slightly but hey the boy can dream!
Talking of dreams I did have to rub my eyes when I saw Alex Song being paraded at the Boleyn ground. I'm looking forward to seeing him in the claret and blue. I'm just glad they got his signature before the Southampton game. Otherwise he might have hijacked DG's chopper at full time & zipped off back to sunny Spain.
A grilling for Downing
As for Sakho, Zarate & Kouyate I have to admit I wouldn't have recognised them if I'd walked past them on Green Street before the season started but from what I've seen and heard so far I'm satisfied they'll do the business for us. Zarate's strike at Palace was different class, Sakho is also off the mark already, albeit in a cup defeat, but getting a good start can only be a positive thing. As far as Kouyate is concerned, well I haven't seen him play in the flesh yet but everyone is raving about him. When I interviewed Stuart Downing for Soccer Saturday last week he was waxing lyrical about the lad. He was really impressed with how quickly he had settled in. He's strong, aggressive, wins tackles, breaks the game up and shoulders the burden of the defensive play, giving his attacking team mates the luxury of getting forward. He's a terrific find! Downing also said that there are no excuses now. There's nowhere to hide. He's absolutely spot on.
At times last season with Andy Carroll out we looked lost and half the time appeared defeated before a ball was kicked. We had nowhere to go. We barely had a fit eleven and players were played way out of position. Again we flirted with the drop. For far too long. It CANNOT be the case for Sam Allardyce and the boys this time. The board has backed him, he's been given good money to spend and this time he's not put all his eggs in one 6ft 3in Geordie-sized basket. But it does mean Big Sam has to deliver. He has the squad now they just have to show up.
As I work on a Saturday I didn't get to see the Southampton game. Lucky me I'm told. It seems we were woeful. With so many new players arriving they will need time to gel so I think we can pull them a squeeze for that defeat. But the gaffer must show what he can do with this team and quickly.
A lot has been said about Sam and his style but look at it this way. When he walked into our club after the Avram Grant debacle the club was a shambles. He took the team by the scruff of the neck and dragged us back into the Premier League. He kept us up by hook or by crook. No it wasn't pretty but we survived and 10th and 13th place respectively is not to be sniffed at in this division. Plus, the players respect the manager. There is a great togetherness and the lads genuinely like him and each other. There's a lot to be said for that and Sam's ability to foster a cohesive unit shouldn't be underestimated. Whether or not the board have really demanded attractive football is another story but over the coming weeks and months I think we'll find out. Downing dodged that question extremely well. I asked him in a plethora of ways whether there had been a conscious effort to adopt a more expansive method of play but he was artful in his deflection. He did say that winning games breeds confidence and that THAT will have a positive effect on the way we play. We proved that against Palace. In spells the football was just like the West Ham we fell in love with. But let's not fool ourselves here, at the time the Eagles were in crisis.
We can't get too comfortable. Beating Tottenham three times in a season is a hell of a lot of fun but it's not enough. We've already screwed that one up now anyway. I'm prepared to give Allardyce a chance. Easy for me to say when I'm not paying the big bucks for a season ticket to watch some of the dross that was served up on occasion last season, or yet another relegation dogfight. I know this. However, I'm eager to see what the gaffer can do with this calibre of squad at his disposal. Questions have been asked about his ability to evolve but he deserves the chance to try. Sam Allardyce has never been relegated…but can he bestow upon us the flowing, attack-minded, possession-heavy, footballing exuberance that us misty-eyed Hammers fans still fantasise about? Can Sam give us sexy football?
Well, with the international break it's the perfect opportunity to do the graft, get it right and give Messrs Neville and Carragher the chance to analyse our beloved team for all the RIGHT reasons when we visit the KC on Monday week. Oh and here's hoping that Mo Diame has a VERY quiet game.
B
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Hammers hero joins ClaretandHugh
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 4, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
ClaretandHugh is proud to announce the arrival of Leroy Rosenior as our No 1 columnist for the 2014-15 season …and going forward! Fearless Leroy was one of the bravest strikers ever to wear the claret and blue and between 1988-92 became a hero to the Upton Park Army. He was one of the most whole-hearted players in our recent history who, before being hit with a crippling knee injury, scored 15 times in the 53 games he played for the club. Leroy always tells it as it is! There will be no mealy mouthed sucking-up to anything or anybody at the club and he promises to give an absolutely honest opinion on the big issues affecting West Ham United. A ceaseless campaigner against racism in the game, he is one of the few black players to have gone on to become a manager.
He has often spoken about the racism he experienced as a player and a manager. He has said there is a glass ceiling holding back qualified black coaches from getting the top jobs. He has become one of the game's most widely respected pundits and on joining ClaretandHugh he said: "I am delighted to have been asked – I think it's a terrific resource for all Hammers. "I'm an Iron and this is my personal first stop site for all the latest news.I hope I can add forthright, honest and balanced analysis and insight on all aspects of life at the Boleyn – a place which has such special memories for me." Welcome aboard Lee – we're proud to have you with us. In his first column Leroy tells why he believes Enner Valencia is a big gamble for the club. Check it out!
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Irons hero: "Valencia's a gamble"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 4, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Former West Ham striker Leroy Rosenior believes that virtual free signing Mauro Zarate is a safer bet than £12 million 'marquee' arrival Enner Valencia.
Rosenior was a big Irons favourite as a player and as a regular ClaretandHugh columnist this season makes it clear that Valencia is a gamble. Leroy – who was with the Hammers for four years in the late 80s and early 90s said: "I always think it's dangerous signing players off the back of a big World Cup. "The Premier League is totally different and very hard and I hope he does it for us but I have to reserve judgement. He was on a roll in the World Cup…time will tell if he's a Premier League player.
However, when you see strikers like Russ McCormack going to Fulham for £11 million you have to agree with David Sullivan that the market is crazy. "Had any of us heard of Valencia before the World Cup? Had Sam? I hope so and I also hope he scores the 12-15 goals that are being expected." Rosenior believes that Zarate meanwhile has returned to the country and Premier League a far more mature player and has already shown that he will be quite at home here. "He's a top player – a throwback to the West Ham players of the past and will be very creative in the hole. "He cost the club next to nothing and for me has been the arrival of the summer."
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Ravel hails best goal you will ever see at West Ham
Posted by Sean Whetstone on September 4, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Ravel Morrison has hailed a wonder goal scored by Diafra Sakho this afternoon as the best goal you will ever see at West Ham. It involved help from Alex Song and himself of course. Ravel tweeted "I think me song and Sakho scored the best goal u will ever see at WHU" after the behind closed doors game at the Boleyn ground against an Ipswich XI this afternoon as a 5-1 win.
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