WHUFC.com
All the early team news and background for this evening's Carling Cup
first-round tie at the Boleyn
24.08.2011
WEST HAM UNITED v ALDERSHOT TOWN
CARLING CUP FIRST ROUND
WEDNESDAY 24 AUGUST 2011
KICK-OFF: 7.45PM
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
Introduction
• West Ham United and Aldershot Town meet for the first time since The Shots
were reformed in 1992. Previously, the two met in the FA Cup third round in
1990/91, when a goalless draw was followed by a 6-1 Hammers victory, with
both matches taking place at the Boleyn Ground.
• The tie was originally due to take place on Tuesday 9 August but was
postponed after a police request, due to the civil unrest in London.
• This is only the fifth time West Ham United have entered at the
first-round stage, with the Hammers having won all four previous first-round
ties.
• The winners of the tie will face Carlisle United in the second round. If
the Hammers are successful against The Shots, the Carlisle match will be
held at 7.45pm on Wednesday 31 August - transfer deadline day - at the
Boleyn Ground.
• The third-round draw will be held from 12.15pm this coming Saturday.
• Tonight's tie has to be settled on the night. If the scores are level
after 90 minutes, then 30 minutes of extra time will be played. Should the
scores still be level, then a penalty shoot-out will take place.
• The Hammers have never won this trophy, having lost the 1966 and 1981
finals. The team were eleven minutes from last season's final before
ultimately being eliminated by Birmingham City in the semi-finals.
• The record win in this competition was achieved by the Hammers with a 10-0
success against Bury in the second round, second-leg match on 25 October
1983. Liverpool also won by this margin against Fulham in second round,
first-leg match in the same season on 23 September 1983.
• Robert Green made his 200th appearance in goal for the club against Leeds
on Sunday.
• Sam Allardyce reached the 2004 League Cup final with Bolton, with Kevin
Nolan in the team. Wanderers lost 2-1 to Steve McClaren's Middlesbrough at
the Millennium Stadium. Coincidentally, the two managers will meet again
when the Hammers go to Nottingham Forest in the npower Championship this
Sunday.
• John Carew played in the 2010 League Cup final for Aston Villa, appearing
as an 80th-minute substitute in the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United at
Wembley.
• Aldershot Town have not won a League Cup tie since their reformation in
1992.
• Aldershot Town are seeking to end a run of three straight defeats - the
club's worst sequence of results since manager Dean Holdsworth took charge
in January 2011. Indeed, the Shots have not scored a goal in that run.
• Aldershot manager Dean Holdsworth, a boyhood Hammers fan, spent six
seasons at Bolton Wanderers, where he played under West Ham United manager
Sam Allardyce.
Team news
West Ham United
• Sam Allardyce, who may rest some of his established names, is definitely
without Abdoulaye Faye (groin) and it is not thought he will return until
after the international break.
• Peter Kurucz (knee) and Gary O'Neil (ankle) are both definitely out with
long-term injuries.
• New recruits George McCartney and John Carew are pushing hard for their
first starts. Jordan Brown has been back in light training after his ankle
injury in pre-season.
• Jordan Spence is on a season-long loan at Bristol City while Olly Lee and
Cristian Montano are on month-long stays at Dagenham & Redbridge and Notts
County respectively.
• Aldershot Town have a full squad to choose from with no injury problems.
Last time out
Sunday 21 August 2011
npower Championship
West Ham United 2-2 Leeds United
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, Tomkins, Reid, Ilunga, Collison (Faubert
58), Noble (Piquionne 82), Parker, Nolan, Taylor, Cole (Carew 66)
Subs not used: Boffin, Barrera
Goals: Cole 6, Kisnorbo 61 (own-goal)
Saturday 20 August 2011
Morecambe 2-0 Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town: Young, Herd, Straker, Jones, Brown. Rodman (Mekki 87),
Vincenti, Bubb, Guttridge, Collins (Taylor 81), Rankine, Hylton
Subs not used: Morris, Pulis
Previous meetings
• The first meeting between West Ham United and Aldershot took place in the
wartime London League on 4 October 1941. The Hammers ran out 3-0 winners in
front of an estimated 5,500-strong crowd, with Alec George Foreman scoring
two goals and Jim Barrett the other.
• There were an amazing 38 goals in the six wartime league fixtures
contested by the two clubs between 1941 and 1945. West Ham United scored
3-0, 5-1, 6-3, 3-2 and 8-1 victories, while Aldershot notched a 5-1 success
of their own in October 1942.
• West Ham United's biggest-ever win over Aldershot occurred on 20 January
1945, when a 4,000-strong crowd saw the Hammers score an 8-1 home War League
South victory. Alec George Foreman netted four times, Len Goulden scored a
hat-trick and Richard Dunn was also on target.
• Aldershot's sole victory over West Ham United took place on 17 October
1942. Sam Small scored the Hammers' consolation in a 5-1 War League South
success for the Shots in front of a crowd of around 7,500.
Overall record v Aldershot Town (all competitions) W 1 D 1 L 0
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via
play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
Aldershot Town
2010/11 League Two 14th
2009/10 League Two 6th
2008/09 League Two 15th
2007/08 Conference National, 1st (promoted to League Two)
2006/07 Conference National 9th
2005/06 Conference National 13th
2004/05 Conference National 4th
2003/04 Conference National 5th
2002/03 Ryman League Premier Division 1st
2001/02 Ryman Leage Premier Division 3rd
Referee
• Wednesday's referee will be Graham Scott.
Old boys
• No West Ham United player has made his competitive first-team debut
against Aldershot.
• Dale Banton, Bobby Barnes, Alan Dickie, Neil Finn, George 'Terry' Matthews
and Alan Wooler have worn the colours of both West Ham United and
Aldershot/Aldershot Town.
Next up
• West Ham United travel to Nottingham Forest in the npower Championship on
Sunday afternoon looking for a third straight away win. Aldershot will
travel to Oxford United on Saturday afternoon.
General information
• For ticket information, click here. Cash turnstiles will be in operation
on the day, with tickets just £5 for kids and £10 for adults.
• Wednesday night's forecast in east London is for a cloudy evening with
temperatures peaking around the 16C mark.
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Macca calling The Shots
WHUFC.com
The Carling Cup finally gets under way for the Hammers tonight and Neil
McDonald cannot wait
24.08.2011
Neil McDonald is expecting West Ham United to make it third time lucky when
they run out at the Boleyn Ground against Aldershot Town in the Carling Cup
tonight.
Having lost one and drawn one in disappointing fashion at home this season,
the assistant manager is tipping "a strong team" to do the business and book
a second-round date with Carlisle United a week tonight. He revealed John
Carew would be involved with the management likely to mix in established
names with some of the brightest prospects at the club. There is also the
possibility of George McCartney making his second Hammers bow after his
return from Sunderland.
The wet weather at Chadwell Heath failed to dampen the spirits in the
lead-up to the game, with McDonald saying the staff had more than done their
homework on the likely threat posed by The Shots this evening. "The
preparations have been good," he told West Ham TV. "We had a little review
on what Aldershot do although we had that from the last itme we were
supposed to play them. The boys will watch that again and we have done work
on it. "We have a good team behind the scenes here and we have had them well
watched. We have got lots of footage of them and will show them the utmost
respect as we do any other team. We will be well prepared for the things
they can and can't do as much as we possibly can."
McDonald knew that Shots manager Dean Holdsworth, a boyhood Hammers fan,
would have his team raring to go from kick-off at 7.45pm. "They will be up
for it. They are coming to a fantastic stadium against a big team. They
always rise to the occasion so we have to be on our guard and be ready to go
from the start. If not we might get our bottom kicked. "It is important for
us to get the result. We have had the defeat against Cardiff, the draw
against Leeds. Hopefully the next one will be a win against Aldershot. It is
always special to play under the lights but we have to create the atmosphere
and I am sure the crowd will urge the team on."
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Tottenham Hotspur 2012 stadium legal bid continuing
BBC.co.uk
Tottenham Hotspur's legal bid for the 2012 Olympic Stadium is continuing
despite claims it is about to drop it. The club is due in the High Court
seeking a second judicial review over the Olympic Park Legacy Company's
choice to hand the stadium to West Ham. However, according to BBC London's
Adrian Warner, Spurs are on the verge of abandoning the battle. After
negotiations on Tuesday it is thought the club is close to striking a deal
to build a new stadium.
Spurs had been looking for government and mayoral support over their plans
for a bigger ground at a site in Northumberland Park, near White Hart Lane,
for several months. Any deal with Boris Johnson is expected to involve
public funding, which the mayor has already said he supports. A High Court
judge has already turned down the club's first appeal for a judicial review.
If the club drops this second judicial review bid, West Ham is expected to
be able to go ahead with their plans to move into the Olympic Stadium, by
2014. Under West Ham's plan, it is understood London's hopes of staging the
2017 World Athletics Championships would be boosted. Spurs have played at
White Hart Lane since 1899.
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West Ham United v Aldershot Town - Match Preview (Take Two)
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 23rd August 2011
By: Preview Percy
When we popped in to pick up Preview Percy's latest offering we were greeted
by a young lady who told us he was busy having treatment for his rheumatism.
The funny thing is we're pretty sure that he doesn't have rheumatism. We're
also pretty sure that wasn't a proper nurse's uniform either. Anyway he did
leave the following scribbled on the back of an old betting slip....
Ok I'll admit it. What follows is basically a rehash of what I wrote a while
back for when this match was originally supposed to have been played. I
would have written a new one but it's cauliflower cheese night here at the
Harry Redknapp Home For The Confused and Bewildered and you wouldn't want an
oldun like me to miss one of his few pleasures in life would you.
The Shots currently play in Division 4 (or whatever they call it) of the
league and are the successor club to the former Aldershot FC which went into
liquidation in 1992. On foundation in 1992 the new club entered the pyramid
structure at Isthmian League level and it has been a steady (rather than
meteoric) rise through the various levels over the years. They gained
promotion to the Conference in 2002/03 and the following season came close
to gaining league membership, losing out to Shrewsbury on penalties in the
play-off final. This brush with success prompted the adopting of full-time
professional status shortly after, though it took them until the end of the
2006/07 season to finally make it into the Football League. However, when
they did finally take the place relinquished by their predecessor club 15
years earlier, they did it in some style, picking up 101 points en route.
Last season, after a dodgy start that prompted a number of changes on the
coaching staff, most notably at managerial level where Kevin Dillon was
replaced by Dean Holdsworth, they ended up in 14th place. Holdsworth has an
interesting past to say the least, including an extra-marital affair with a
pneumatically-endowed 17 year old page 3 girl, the details of which were
played out all over the tabloids all those years ago. I have to admit it's
not a story I followed at the time but no doubt a certain now defunct Sunday
paper will release the voicemail tapes on one of these new-fangled compact
disc things in due course. More amusingly, it was said that, during
Holdsworth's playing days, Wimbledon FC owner Sam Hamman had promised to buy
the player either a camel or a Ferrari if he managed to score 20 or more in
a season. Thankfully for Holdsworth, he was spared the tricky selection
dilemma this would have posed him by his inability to score more than 16
goals in a season in either of his two spells with the club.
They've had a mixed start to the season thus far. They picked up three
points at Bradford, winning 2-1. However they've struggled since then going
down 1-0 at home to both Northampton and Torquay and, most recently 2-0 up
at Morecambe. This has left them in 20th place
Amongst Aldershot's playing staff is the familiar name of Anthony Pulis.
Pulis is the son of anti-football guru Tony and has a few Welsh U21 caps. He
was on his Dad's playing staff at Stoke for a while but the bulk of his
football at the time was played elsewhere on loan at places such as Torquay,
Grimsby, Plymouth and Bristol Rovers. Having made only two first team
appearances for the Potters in the four years he was there, he left on a
free for Southampton where, again, he spent his time being farmed out
elsewhere, Lincoln, Stockport and Barnet all enjoying the use of the
player's services. Southampton released the player at the end of last season
without him ever having bothered the bloke who prints the names on the back
of the first team kit and he made the trip up the M3 to Aldershot during the
close season.
Last season's supporters' Player Of The Year was 29 year-old Luke
Gutteridge. Gutteridge has been about a bit and his CV includes spells with
Leyton Orient, Colchester and Southend. The midfielder's 6 goals in 37
league matches last term made him the club's top scorer.
Also worthy of note in midfield is the splendidly-monikered Manny Panther.
Panther started his pro career in Scotland with St Johnstone and is
seemingly on a mission to play for clubs in all parts of the realm, having
made it down as far as Exeter from whom he joined Aldershot last year. Older
readers with a penchant for the noble art may remember the player's father –
the even-better-named Cyril Panther – for his boxing exploits in the 1960's
and early 70's.
Between the sticks their first choice 'keeper is Aussie-born but (England
qualified) 'keeper Jaimie Young. Young had a spell on Reading's books though
first-team appearances were limited and he's been on a tour of the Home
Counties ever since, spending four years at Wycombe before alighting at
Aldershot in 2010. The 'keeper, who has been capped at England U20 level,
signed a one year contract extension this summer.
A new boy on the scene this season is striker Bradley Bubb who has come in
from local rivals Farnborough. Bubb is actually a full international, having
picked up caps for Grenada, the tv station better known for producing
Coronation Street. Also in the arrivals lounge is Reading youngster Jake
Taylor who has come in for an initial month on loan from the Biscuitmen,
Holdsworth hinting that the player might be seen as cover for Guttridge.
In on a full time deal is Graham Montgomery, who will be familiar to those
of you who keep an eye on Dagenham & Redbridge who released the player
during the summer. Bubb has been joined in the striking department by
Michael Rankine who has come in from York City. Rankine is hardly what you'd
call the most prolific of strikers – 63 goals in 360 plus first team
appearances isn't going to have drained the stattos calculator batteries too
much over the years.
The other striking option is Danny Hylton who has been with the club since
he was a kid. He nearly upped sticks for AFC Wimbledon in the January window
before being persuaded to sign a one year extension to his contract. He is
the one Aldershot player to have found the net thus far this season, the
other goal in the 2-1 win up at Bradford having been an o.g.
It's up front that has caused something of a problem area for the Shots over
the past season or two. The 2009/10 top scorer Marvin Morgan left under
something of a cloud at the end of the season. Having been booed off after a
match in January, he used the medium of Twitter to give the following
delightful message to Aldershot fans: "I hope you all die". Morgan was
shipped off to Dagenham and Redbridge on loan for the rest of the season and
went to Shrewsbury in the summer. All of which does beg the question: has
any professional footballer, ever, posted something intelligent on twitter?
Meanwhile, Gutteridge's top position in the goalscoring charts, the fact
that only two clubs in the division scored fewer goals last season and the
relative inexperience of Bubb and Rankine at League level all point to a
possible lack of firepower for the visitors.
One player we won't be seeing is Anthony Charles. Charles did his cruciate
knee ligaments towards the end of last season and, with his contract having
expired during the break he is currently without a club, a situation that is
due at least in part to Aldershot not being in the financial position to
afford to pay a player with a long term injury. This is something that
should act as a salutory reminder that the professional game is not all
multi-millionaires, Ferraris and camels. There may be a happy outcome for
the player in sight, however, as he is being linked with former Shots boss
Gary Waddock at Wycombe Wanderers.
The departure of Charles originally left the team without a captain. Full
back Ben Herd (wasn't that a film that had Charlton Heston in that chariot
race?) had the armband during pre-season but Holdsworth proved that clichéd
football-twaddle-speak is not merely the preserve of the higher levels of
the game by delaying his announcement, commenting that he "wanted eleven
captains out there on the pitch" . In the end they settled on just the two
skippers, Herd getting the title of first team captain and central defender
Darren Jones getting the "Club Captain" role. In a way it's a bit like us
last year I suppose, with Upson getting the armband and Parker doing the
actual work.
And so to us. Well despite the disappointment of conceding yet another
stoppage time goal, I remain a bit more optimistic about this one that I did
at the time it was originally due to be played. We've actually won a couple
and, for all the hand-wringing, sackcloth and ashes over Sunday's match, in
the cold light of day a draw was probably the right result from what,
overall, wasn't a bad match to watch.
One thing that hasn't changed since the time this match was originally due
to be played is the fact that we're likely to see a much-changed team on
show. I'd expect to see anyone with an England cap given the night off. Look
out, therefore, for the likes of Boffin, Stanislas, Barrera, Sears and
Faubert to feature. Carew may continue his journey towards match fitness
with a start and it may be time for Linda to take a bow as well. Look out on
the bench for a few youngsters as well – especially since the League Cup is
exempt from the ludicrous reduction to five subs that has been enforced in
the League itself. Hall and or Moncur maybe?
Even allowing for the selection of a team that might have been considered a
second XI back in the days when we actually used to have such a thing, we
ought to have enough to win this one though we've said that before haven't
we? They have absolutely nothing to lose so are in the position of being
able to give it a go whilst we, as usual, are on a hiding to nothing. Win –
we ought to, lose and it's an upset. Prediction? Well originally I went for
a for a 3-1 win, but given their recent shyness in front of goal I'm going
to revise that to 3-0 in the hope that our traditional frailty against lower
league opposition is too scared to raise its head in the presence of Big
Sam.
Enjoy the game!
Last Season: N/A
(Since technically Aldershot Town is a completely different club from the
similarly-named Aldershot that previously competed in the league, this will
be our first match ever against these opponents).
Player To Watch: Luke Gutteridge – last season's top scorer he has a habit
of coming through from midfield to chip in with much-needed goals.
Referee: Graham Scott – a new one to us. He sent off two Ipswich players at
the weekend in their 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Peterborough, awarding in
the process a penalty for a foul that had occurred so far outside the box it
was in a different postcode.
Daft Fact Of The Week: Late comedian Arthur English (that's Mr Harman in
"Are You Being Served" to you) was a big Aldershot fan and actually designed
the club's "Phoenix From The Ashes" club crest. English used regularly to
take the other members of the "Grace Brothers" sitcom to matches at the
Recreation Ground – with the exception of John Inman, who on Saturdays was
usually occupied in his other role as prop forward for Hull Kingston Rovers.
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Tottenham in court
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 24th August 2011
By: Staff Writer
Tottenham have pressed ahead with their request for a judicial review into
the decision to award the Olympic Stadium to West Ham. Despite reports late
last night suggesting that the north London club were close to broking a
deal that would see them withdraw from legal action, Spurs and their QC
Dinah Rose have attended court this morning.
It was suggested last night that Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy was close to
agreeing a deal with London Mayor Boris Johnson that would see his club
receive millions of pounds from the public purse to assist funding
development of the new stadium. However for reasons unknown, that appears to
have failed to materialise with Tottenham pressing ahead with their plans to
go to the High Court, where they are seeking a judicial review into the case
in conjunction with Leyton Orient.
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Allardyce rings the changes
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 24th August 2011
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce is set to give first starts of the season to a number of
fringe players when West Ham take on Aldershot Town at the Boleyn tonight.
With several players who took part in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Leeds likely to
be rested ahead of next weekend's trip to Nottingham Forest, some of the
club's young players are set to be drafted in for the Carling Cup first
round tie.
Ruud Boffin is set to make his first start of the season in place of Robert
Green, whilst George McCartney - Allardyce's most recent signing - is in
line to make the first start of his second spell at the club. Freddie Sears
and Junior Stanislas - who continues to be linked with a move to Burnley -
are both in contention, as is Mexican winger Pablo Barrera whose own
immediate future remains shrouded in uncertaintly. Meanwhile John Carew
(pictured) - who made a brief cameo against Leeds at the weekend - is set to
make his first start since signing for West Ham a fortnight ago.
The extra spaces available on the bench - the Carling Cup retains the seven
subs rule this season - means that a number of Academy starlets, such as
George Moncur and Robert Hall - both of who figured briefly for the first
team in pre-season - could well make the 18-man squad. However one player
unlikely to start is centre half Abdoulaye Faye, who is still recovering
from his recent injury - as is young left back Jordan Brown, who has only
recently returned to training. Also on the injury list are long term
absentees Gary O'Neil and goalkeeper Peter Kurucz, who is still another
couple of months away from a return to action following summer surgery.
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Pards on Barton
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 24th August 2011
By: Staff Writer
Alan Pardew says he is unconcerned by reports linking Joey Barton with West
Ham United. Former Mags captain Kevin Nolan stated earlier this week that he
would like to see Barton - who is available on a free transfer - follow him
to east London. But Pardew, who managed West Ham between 2004 and 2006
admitted he was unsurprised by Nolan's comments, given how close the pair
became during their time in the North East. "I am sure Kevin would like to
have Joey at West Ham," said Pardew. "But it doesn't bother me. Kevin is a
captain, he is a friend of Joey's and I can see why he would want him to
play for West Ham. "I do not see anything more than that. Probably Kev said
it as a passing statement, I don't know. I have no problem with the
statement, Kevin or West Ham. Joey will do what Joey wants to do."
West Ham are unable to make a move for the former Manchester City midfielder
- who was today given permission to travel to London in order to speak with
Queens Park Rangers - until funds are made available from the sale of
current squad members, with Scott Parker and Carlton Cole still considered
the two most likely to leave ahead of the transfer window. Newcastle
supporters are unsurprisingly up in arms over the possibility of a second
star player leaving them to join West Ham in the second tier.
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Eric Mouloungui blow for West Ham
Ken Dyer
24 Aug 2011
Evening Standard
West Ham's hopes of signing Nice striker Eric Mouloungui appeared to be
fading today. The Gabon international was due to undergo a medical this week
prior to a £2.5million deal but the player, in the last year of his contract
at Nice, wants to stay in France. And with just a week to go before the
transfer window closes, a West Ham spokesman said there had been "no
movement whatsoever" on Scott Parker despite speculation that Manchester
City had offered a player-exchange deal for the 30-year-old midfielder.
Boss Sam Allardyce confirmed today he will pick a "blend of youth and
experience" for tonight's Carling Cup first-round tie at home against
Aldershot. Ruud Boffin looks likely to replace Robert Green in goal and
left-back George McCartney should make his debut in his second spell at West
Ham. Allardyce's other new signing, striker John Carew, is also likely to
make his first start, while Freddie Sears and Junior Stanislas could also
figure. Central defender Abdoulaye Faye is out with a groin injury.
"It will be a mixed team, a blend of youth and experience," said Allardyce,
who has failed to record a victory in his first two home games. "We don't
have enough players in the squad to pick two teams but it's important we win
to go through to the next round and get that first victory at Upton Park
this season."
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QPR Offer West Ham and England Midfielder Premiership Return with £5m Offer
Posted on 24 August 2011
Sportsvibe.co.uk
Queens Park Rangers have intensified their pursuit of Scott Parker by
tabling a renewed bid of £5 million for West Ham's midfield enforcer.
According to a report on the Daily Mail, the new owner of the west London
club Tony Fernandes has earmarked three new signings. Whilst Joey Barton of
Newcastle and either Manchester City's Nedum Onuoha or Luke Young of Aston
Villa are also apparent targets, Parker is the priority. The 30 year-old has
been the subject of constant and rigorous transfer speculation for a while
now. Having won the Football Writers' Player of the Season award for his
sterling performances at the heart of the Hammers' midfield over the course
of last season, despite a glaring lack of support from his teammates, Parker
was strongly linked with an £8 million move to Tottenham.
However, as the summer has won on, it appears as though such a switch will
not be forthcoming and Harry Redknapp's indecisiveness could prove to be a
blessing for QPR boss Neil Warnock. Already opening his account for the new
campaign with a goal in West Ham's 4-0 Championship victory over Watford a
week ago, Parker's prowess has evidently not dimmed over the close season.
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Barton To West Ham? Pardew: 'It Doesn't Bother Me'
By Nu Mad
Updated Wednesday, 24th August 2011
Newcastle United RSS Feed
One player has played in the last two Newcastle games, but Alan Pardew seems
unconcerned about West Ham's interest. The chance of a move was heightened
by comments from former Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan suggesting Barton
would be welcome at West Ham if he decides to seek longer-term security
elsewhere.
Pardew brushed it off, saying he had "no problem" with his former skipper.
"I am sure he would like to have him at West Ham!. It does not bother me.
"Kevin is a captain, he is a friend of Joey's and I can see why he would
want him to play for West Ham. "I do not see anything more than that.
Probably Kev said it as a passing statement, I don't know. I have no problem
with the statement, Kevin or West Ham. "Joey will do what Joey wants to do.
His commitment to the game on Sunday was there for everyone to see."
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Reds midfielder will deal Hammer blow in favour of Spurs switch - reports
Liverpool - Joe Cole will snub West Ham and hold out for a move to Tottenham
Hotspur
By Paul Bailey August 24, 2011
GiveMeFootball.com
Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole will turn down an offer from former club West
Ham in favour of a summer switch to Tottenham according to the Daily Mirror.
The 29-year-old has also attracted interest from Barclays Premier League new
boys QPR, but the west London club are yet to make a concrete offer for the
want-away star.
Cole has endured a difficult time with the Reds since his free transfer move
to Anfield last summer, and has been consistently overlooked by Kenny
Dalglish after his return to Merseyside in January. Liverpool have been busy
in the transfer window, and have recruited a number of big-money midfielders
which will likely further limit Cole's opportunities. However, the former
England international is not keen on dropping into the Npower Championship
to join up with West Ham, after Sam Allardyce indicated he could make an
ambitious attempt to bring him back to Upton Park before the close of the
transfer window. Cole is instead holding out for a move to White Hart Lane -
which would see him link up with former Hammers boss Harry Redknapp, as
Spurs continue to work tirelessly in their bid to improve their playing
squad.
The renewed interest in a creative midfielder of Cole's ilk will do little
to assure the Tottenham faithful that Luka Modric's future is anything but
certain, as he could be lined up as a direct replacement for the Croatian
playmaker.
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Burnley close in on West Ham winger Stanislas
10:40am Wednesday 24th August 2011
LancashireTelegraph
BURNLEY are hopeful of making West Ham winger Junior Stanislas one of two
new signings this week, Lancashire Telegraph Sport understands. The
21-year-old is believed to be on manager Eddie Howe's radar, after the
Clarets boss took Zavon Hines from Upton Park last week. Howe is looking for
extra attacking options before the transfer window closes, particularly
after losing new striker Danny Ings for up to five months with knee
cartilage damage, which he is due to have surgery today.
Burnley continue to monitor Stoke defender Ryan Shotton. But Howe was keen
to stay tight-lipped on speculation. "I wouldn't comment on individual
players," he said.
"We are working on a couple of deals and we're hopeful of getting them done.
"Whether or not they're done before Saturday remains to be seen."
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Hammers face Prem competition for MK Dons hot shot
Published 11:03 24/08/11 By james Nursey
The Mirror
West Ham remain keen on MK Dons striker Sam Baldock but face Premier League
competition. The Championship Hammers want Baldock, 22, to fire them back
into the top-flight. Upton Park boss Sam Allardyce watched Baldock net a
hat-trick in Saturday's 6-2 win over Chesterfield. And the League One Dons,
are increasingly resigned to losing their star striker. But sources at
Stadium MK reckon unnamed Premier League clubs have now joined the race for
Baldock too. The youth team graduate made his league debut in February 2007
in 1-1 draw with Mansfield. He has scored 33 goals in 102 league games, with
34 of his appearances coming as a sub.
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West Ham reject Scott Parker 'player swap offer from Manchester City'
Metro.co.uk
West Ham have rejected an approach from Manchester City for their star
international midfielder Scott Parker. The bid tabled by Roberto Mancini is
thought to have included part-exchanges for Wayne Bridge and Shaun
Wright-Phillips. David Sullivan and David Gold are battling to keep Parker
at the club and will only settle for a cash offer for the England
midfielder. Bridge spent time at West Ham towards the end of the club's last
Premier League campaign, which ended in relegation, and is currently surplus
to requirements at the Etihad Stadium, with Gael Clichy, Pablo Zabaleta and
Aleksander Kolarov ahead of him in the pecking order. Despite Shaun
Wright-Phillips repeatedly saying he wants to stay and fight for his place
at Manchester City, it looks like he could be heading out of the exit door
with a number of Premier League clubs rumoured to be interested in signing
the former Chelsea man. Stoke's Tony Pulis, Owen Coyle at Bolton, Roberto
Martinez at Wigan and Neil Warnock of Premier League newboys QPR are all
lining up bids for the diminutive winger. Coyle recently said: 'It's fair to
say he is a player we would love to get to the club. 'There is no issue with
his willingness to come or our desire to have him.'
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Ill feeling may stall Parker move
August 24, 2011
Email Print
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
ESPN
Scott Parker's protracted move back to the Premier League is being hampered
by the ill feeling between West Ham's co-owners and the two London clubs who
want to buy him. Both QPR and Tottenham have crossed swords with David Gold
and David Sullivan, with those previous feuds looking set to harm the
Premier League sides' hopes of signing the England international. Parker has
been told by the Three Lions camp that Fabio Capello believes his chances of
cementing a place in England's Euro 2012 squad would be enhanced by a move
back to the top flight, and Spurs and QPR have been hot on his tail. But
QPR's new owner, Malaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes, upset Gold and Sullivan
earlier this year by announcing he had bid to buy the Hammers on Twitter.
The co-owners publicly ridiculed Fernandes' bid as an attempt to buy the
club on the cheap. Tottenham's interest may also be in vain, with Daniel
Levy and the Hammers board in a bitter conflict over the Olympic Stadium,
though the Championship club insist publicly that the issue will have no
bearing on transfer business. Another stumbling block is Parker's £8 million
asking price, which has yet to be met by either QPR or Spurs, despite the
player making it clear that his preference is to stay in London. Reports
have suggested that QPR have upped their initial offer of £4 million, but an
ESPNsoccernet source confirmed that "no new offer has been received" for
Parker, with just a week left until the summer transfer window closes.
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