WHUFC.com
Homegrown defender James Tomkins was the No1 performer in the month of
August say fans
03.09.2011
James Tomkins has been rewarded for his magnificent start to the season by
running away with the SBOBET Player of the Month poll for August 2011. The
homegrown Hammer has been imperious in the opening four weeks of the season,
and took 49.2 per cent of the votes cast by West Ham United supporters on
whufc.com. In all, nearly 2,500 supporters had their say and Tomkins took
the same amount as votes as the other six candidates put together. Tomkins,
22, has particularly shone on the road, including his first goal of the
season in a 4-1 win away to Watford, and has looked imperious alongside
defensive partner Winston Reid. His nearest rivals were skipper Kevin Nolan
on 15.3 per cent and Matt Taylor on 9.3 per cent. Principal partners SBOBET
are continuing their support of a fan award which really captured the
imagination of fans last season. Tomkins will be presented with his prize
before the next home match against Portsmouth on Saturday 10 September - a
Kids for a Quid contest that kicks off at 3pm.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carew crucial for Norway
WHUFC.com
Hammers striker John Carew's dream of playing at UEFA EURO 2012 has taken a
giant step forward
02.09.2011
John Carew made a significant impact for Norway as the only West Ham United
player involved on a busy night of UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying matches. The
Hammers striker was an 80th-minute substitute as Norway searched for a
winner late on at home to Iceland. With Egil Olsen desperate for a goal,
Carew was fouled by the visiting goalkeeper in the 88th minute and a penalty
awarded. It was duly converted to keep Norway at the top of Group H and
firmly on course for next summer's finals in Ukraine and Poland.
Carew was given a huge ovation as he left the field in Oslo, with his
contribution clearly changing the game. Norway can take another giant step
towards the summer competition on Tuesday night when Carew will hope to
start away to Denmark in the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. Elsewhere, Jack
Collison was not involved for Wales because of a virus as they took on
Montenegro in Cardiff. A Welsh victory would hand a huge extra bonus to
England, who won 3-0 away to Bulgaria to take a three-point outright lead at
the top of Group G before the home nations meet at Wembley on Tuesday.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ahmed keen to impress Paolo
WHUFC.com
Ahmed Abdulla is out to make his mark after joining Paolo Di Canio's Swindon
Town
02.09.2011
Ahmed Abdulla is planning to make his mark after joining Swindon Town on
loan until the New Year. The young West Ham United midfielder linked up with
the Robins after speaking to Hammers great and County Ground manager Paolo
Di Canio. The Italian has told the 19-year-old to express himself in a
Swindon shirt, starting in Saturday's live Sky-televised League Two clash
with Rotherham United. "It's a good move for me," said Abdulla, who joined
West Ham from Arsenal at the age of 16 and has been a regular in the
reserves and development squad in recent seasons. "To go away on loan and
learn from someone like Paolo Di Canio, with the ability he had and the way
I try to play, hopefully I should fit in well to his squad. "I had a chat
with Paolo on the phone and he told me they were interested in me and liked
the way I play. Hopefully I can help them and they can help me to improve my
game. "I'd like to make my mark in the Swindon team and hopefully we can do
well while I am there. "Ian Hendon told me to keep doing what I am doing. I
know I have got an opportunity now to do something with myself in football."
Abdulla, who will wear No32 at Swindon, signed a new one-year professional
contract with the Hammers earlier this summer. He is one of four loanees who
could be in action for their respective clubs and countries this weekend.
Real Zaragoza loanee Pablo Barrera and his Mexico team-mates will travel to
Poland on Friday evening for a friendly international. In the Football
League, Cristian Montano will hope to feature when Notts County entertain
Bournemouth in League One on Saturday afternoon. In League Two, Olly Lee's
Dagenham & Redbridge travel to Hereford United, while Jordan Brown is in
line to make his senior debut for Aldershot Town in their home match against
Cheltenham Town. Jordan Spence will have a weekend off with npower
Championship club Bristol City due to the international break.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Galatasaray bid for Cole
Hammers consider offer for striker
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated:
September 2, 2011 4:17pm
SSN
Sky Sports Sources understand Galatasaray have made a bid for West Ham
striker Carlton Cole. The England international's future at Upton Park has
been subject to speculation this summer following West Ham's relegation from
the Premier League. Stoke tried to sign Cole earlier this summer, but the
player turned down the move to the Britannia Stadium. Now Galatasaray have
made a move for Cole as they look to bolster their attacking options.
Despite the transfer window closing on Wednesday a deal could still happen
as the Turkish transfer window remains open until Monday 5th September. Cole
has started the season well for West Ham with three goals and it remains to
be seen if they would consider selling the former Chelsea man.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Positive and Negative Thread - Transfer Special
Mr Polite 10:09 Thu Sep 1
Other articles by Mr Polite...
West Ham Online
As another transfer window slams shut it's time to look around to see you
has come in and who has moved on to pastures new and who has joined the
white knuckle rollercoaster of West Ham United. It was one of the busiest
windows for us that I can remember and of course time will tell which moves
will turn out to be good ones and which we will look back on with regret,
but on first impressions here are what I see as the (mainly) positives of
our transfer activity. I think when looking at the players in adn out it is
important to remember where we are as a club. Yes we are in strong position
compared to others around us but we are still a championship side and that
will limited the quality of the business we could do.
Players Out:
Loans: Olly Lee (D&R), Spence (Bristol City) Abdulla (Swindon), Brown
(Aldershot), Montano (Notts County)
I think all these young lads getting first team experience is excellent
especially as there is no reserve league for them to play in. Hopefully they
will do well and come back stronger players.
Loan: Barrera (Real Zaragoza)
Sorry to see this one happen and would like to have seen him given more of a
chance. He obviously has the talent as seen in the Copa America and I don't
think he has been given a fair crack here.
Released:
Upson - Took far too much stick from fans an used as a scapegoat for the
many poor performances of the team over last couple of years. His formn
dipped last year for sure but was not nearly as bad as many made out. He was
a good defender for us and although agree it was time for him to leave he'll
get a good reception from me should he ever play against us again.
Boa Morte - Similar to Upson in the unfair stick he got, he was never great
for us and again time for him to move on but one thing you could never doubt
was his commitment and effort which can't be said for all of our players.
Spector - Possibly one of the best attitudes from a player we have had.
Never really had a run of games and never in the same position. The phrase
that best sums him up was Utility player. Always gave 100% even if the
quality/match sharpness was understandably lacking. Will never forget how he
took Man Utd apart when he played in midfield for us.
Jacobsen - did a job, nothing more nothing less.
Hitzlsperger - Would having him for a full season made a difference?
probably not. Great left foot, would have been nice to keep him but easily
replaced.
Transfers:
Ba (Newcastle) - Big negative Ba going as I think he would have been
excellent in the Championship. Would have liked to have seen more effort to
keep him at the expense of 1 or 3 of other strikers.
Edgar (Yeovil) - I can't remember ever seeing him play, however when you
look at the buying club it's probably for the best. Wish him well like I
would any of our youth products.
Dyer (QPR) - I honestly thought City were going to buy Dyer.... Holby City!
Even as a free transfer I can't help thinking we over charged. what could
have been so good was always so so frustrating - still nice that he can
train with SWP again.
Gabbidon (QPR) - Never did it for me and pleased to see him move on. Always
more nervous when I saw him in defence.
Kovac (Basel) - An Undisclosed fee but i'm guessing it was somewhere in the
region of a chewed toffee and half a packet of regurgitated frazzles. An
Awful player who always made us a weaker by being in the side. A defensive
midfielder who couldn't tackle, pass or run.
Da Costa (Lokomotiv Moscow) - Showed flashes of talent and leap like a
salmon, but wont be missed by us or by the orange girls of Faces.
Hines/Stanislas (Burnley) - I'm sad these lads are leaving but I think the
reason i'm sad is because I always expected better and never saw it
delivered. Being honest I think if they hadn't come through the youth ranks
I would be pleased to see them go. I do hope they do well in their careers
and maybe with the right manager and formation they will start playing as
well as I thought they would. Will always love Junior for turning the
Millwall game into a great night.
Parker (Tottenham) - Have no problem in Parker wanting to play prem
football, I have no problem in Parker wanting to play for Spurs, the problem
I have is the way our owners allowed Spurs to mug us off. They were told an
asking price at the beginning of the summer and told if they want him to do
business early. They ignored both and ended up getting him cut price with a
few hours to go. Personally I don't think we'll miss him too much in this
league and with no sell on value you could argue the time was right to sell
- however selling to them at all leaves a bad taste and letting them mug us
off completely on timing and fee shows a total lack of class from G&S.
Summary: 21 players out. the loan players for exactly the right reasons
(Barrera aside) and cleared a lot of players that were either past their
sell by date or would make us worse by staying around. The Parker was dealt
with and BA leaving were the only real negatives as far as the outward
window is concerned.
Players In:
Loans:
Brian Montenegro (Deportivo Maldonado) - When brought in I think some
thought he is planned to be the answer to our attacking problems but I see
this more of a suck it and see loan deal. South Americans often have trouble
settling in England and as he is only 19 it is even a bigger risk if we were
to buy outright. A year loan is a sensible option to see how he settles, how
he adjusts and hopefully see some substitute apperances to see how he fits
in with the team - we shouldn't expect much on the playing side but good to
see the club not just looking at the here and now.
Henri Lansbury (Arsenal) - I'll amit to not knowing much about this lad but
after speaking to my Arsenal supporting brother have heard that he is a good
prospect and shows the quality and composure on the ball you would expect
from an Arsenal player, not short on pace either. My concern with loaning
kids is that we improve other teams players at the expense of our own
youngsters.
Bentley (Tottenham) - A good player and one i wanted us to go for a few
years back. We need width to give balance to the side and he gives us that
and can deliver a great ball. My concern would be his attitude, in general
and dropping down a league. Was he forced to come (as Crouch was to Stoke)
or is he up for the challenge. If attitude is good he could be a great
signing as i never felt he got the chance his talet warrrants at Spurs.
McCartney (Sunderland) - If it means Ilunga not playing then i'd have been
happy with Stella McCartney. George is nothing fancy will make the odd
mistake but feel much happier with him back.
Transfers
Diop/Demel/Faye (free/Hamburg/Stoke) - Positives say we add steel to the
team, negatives say we add lumps to the team. Time will tell but i'm not
overly excited about any of these. I'm hoping they will be used for cover.
Carew (Free) - Big imobile lump to go with the others we have. With him in
the team we won't be playing attractive football. With added width we have
he will be an asset on crosses and set pieces no doubt about it, but he will
be used as a target man to hold the ball up or knock on - I hope i'm made to
eat my words.
O'Brien (Bolton) - So far so good, we needed a right back and we got a
decent one for this level. I see him as a mirror image of McCartney which is
probably just what we needed.
Baldock (MK Dons) - To talk about him specifically would be worng as I have
never seen him play. But from hearing what kind of player he is it fills me
with optimism that we won't always be looking to play like we have in the
games i've seen this season and will try to play the ball on the floor more
- Young Hungry striker with pace and ability to finish... we've needed one
of those for ages.
Taylor (Bolton) - Excellent signing. Can play in a number of positions and
can play them well. A great left foot for set pieces and crosses, a premier
league player in the championship. Keeping hold of this type of player is
one thing, attracting them from the prem is something else.
Nolan (Newcastle) - Same as Taylor as far as attracting him is concerned and
will bode well that we have this type of quality should we go back up. It
also shows how much some players must enjoy working with Sam which is a
massive positive. So far he hasn't been very good but his quality is
undoubted and he looks like a leader on the pitch too.
Summary:
Mainly big positives in the players that we have got not just in quality but
also the positions that needed filling have (quality defensive midfielder
aside) have been filled. Of course time will tell if they have been filled
well but so far so good.
The other big positive for me was the players we kept. We have the best
keeper in the league and one that would walk into a number of Prem clubs.
Tomkins, Collison, Noble all Academy boys who hopefully will shine this year
again.
The Negatives would be the amount of lumps we have and the tupe of strikers
we have and have kept as it leads me to believe a lot of our football will
be poor to watch - although I am more optimistic than i was this time last
week.
The main thing is the window is closed now so lets get behind the very
decent squad we have and lets see us more up and out of this league.
I'm sure you won't all agree with these views so feel free to tell me where
i'm wrong. Apologies if i have missed anyone and also for the length of the
thread too.
Thanks for reading
Mr Polite
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
An Excellent Transfer Window, as the Club Does the Business!
September 3rd, 2011 - 6:04 am by S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
West Ham completed some excellent business in the transfer window. Yes,
folk hero, Scott Parker, has been sold, but overall we now have a stronger
squad. Sam Allardyce really does have to be applauded for the quality of
the footballers that he has targeted and secured since arriving at the club.
He has overseen a quick fire restructure of the relegated 2010-11 squad,
which has seen long overdue exits for the perpetually injured, those not
sufficiently committed and the deadwood, who were never good enough to wear
a West Ham shirt.
The truth is that after escaping relegation by the skin of our teeth in
2009-10, this type of restructure should have been undertake whilst we were
still in the PL. It is not right to suggest that somehow we had to be
relegated before we could appoint a quality Manager to turn the the club
around. As they would probably freely admit, the West Ham Board made all
the wrong decisions in appointing Avram Grant and trying to survive in the
PL on the cheap. It resulted in ineffective management and the retention of
too many players who lacked quality and commitment and that, in turn, laid
the groundwork for the disaster 2010-11 season and relegation. However, as
well pointing the figure of blame, we need to acknowledge that this summer
the board not only picked the right manager, but have backed him in the
transfer market; as well as keeping a lid on the controversial public
statements that so blighted Zola and Grant's periods of tenure. In
particularly, David Sullivan is reputed to have worked tirelessly to bring
Allardyce's transfer targets to the club and has enjoyed significant
success. Both Sullivan and Gold have been subject to significant criticism
in the past, some of it justified, some of it not, but credit where credit
is done, they have created an enviroment in which Sam Allardyce has been
able to begin radically transforming the culture, practices and playing
staff at the club.
For my part, I saw the pre-season priorities of the club as retaining the
younger players like Tomkins, Collison and Noble and keepig at least two of
the three England Internationals (Parker, Green and Cole) at the club. And
it looks very much that like it has been achieved. The recruitment of Nolan
and co is a massive bonus. The objective was not only to achieve promotion,
but to go up with the basis of a squad that could than keep us in the PL the
following season. The yo-yo syndrome that afflicted the likes of WBA for so
many seasons needed to be avoided. The current squad is much better
equipped in this respect than I could ever have hoped.
Do you remember the start of the 2003-04 season? That was the most worrying
start to a campaign that I have experienced as a supporter of West Ham Utd
FC. The club started the season under Glen Roeder, who in many respects was
a managerial kindred spirit of Grant, and had been systenmatically asset
stripped of our best players, such as Di Canio, Joe Cole, Glen Johnson,
Fredi Kanoute, etc. Carrick stayed a further season (mainly due to injury
problems), David James left later in the campaign, Repka and Dailly stayed
out of loyalty and Defoe (briefly) under protest. But the quality of the
vast majority of the squad that started the season was far too sparse. The
remainder of the squad was made up of untested youngsters, journeymen and
loanees. Yes, Sir Trevor (the greatest West Ham Manager that we never had!)
stablised the boat after Roeder's belated sackng; yes, Pardew was appointed
and very slowly turned the situation around. However, there was a period at
the beginning of the 2003-04 season when things looked incredibly bleak and
a long stay in the Championship was on the cards. We dodged that bullet,
but it still took us two seasons to get promoted and even then it was
through the play-offs.
Contrast that with the start of 2011-12, with a strong and experienced
Manager in place, the majority of the quality players retained and further
quality added. Indeed, the truly remarkable thing is that Allardyce has
been able to sign PL quality players in the 2nd tier. Lets but honest, if
we had survived in the PL last season, we would have been happy to sign the
likes of Nolan, Taylor, Demel, Lansbury and Bentley. To do that in the 2nd
tier is a significant achievement. We now have a squad capable not only of
winning promotion, but also of giving us a very good platform for a
successful return to the PL, with the added bonus of some top quality
youngsters coming off the Academy production line.
Things look bright and there is a new positivity at the club. I was sad to
see the exit of some players such as Hines and Stanislas. Particularly,
Stanislas who had the potential to succeed with the club. But as they say,
potential has to be actualised at some point and perhaps the club finally
concluded that it was not going to happen. It may have been that neither
player fitted in to the new ethos being created by Allardyce and that is one
of the underlying reasons for their exit? Regardless, I wish them both
well at Burnley. I hope that they succeed there and go on to have good
careers.
It was interesting to read that the response of some supporters to
Wednesday's signings. It was of the 'how are we going to play them all'
variety. The point, however, is that you do not have to play them all at
the same time! This is not the 1970s where you have a first eleven and a
squad of reserves who are seen as 'second string.'. Today, football is a
squad game and you need top quality players competing for each and every
position. For too long, West Ham have not had that, they have had a first
team that basically picked itself, with the rest lacking sufficient
experience or quality to challenge them for selection. Subsequently players
in that self-selecting first team just turned up and went through the
motions in training, knowing that, if fit, they would play each week.
Now, hopefully, we have enough quality to ensure that players turn up each
day to training knowing that they have to perform. There should be no
'favourities,' players must compete for selection on merit and it should be
expected that displaced players pull their socks up and fight to get his
place back. With that sort of competition for places the whole standard of
performance improves, as everyone is doing their utmost to impress and gain
selection. Of course, in addition to issues of form, there is also the need
for a strong squad to cover injuries and to give the manager the option to
change formation. This season we will probably play a 4-5-1 away and either
a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 at home. Players like P.B. Diop have been brought in to
stiffen the midfield in away matches and shore things up, as necessary, in
home matches Hopefully, there will be no more late opposition goals, a la
Cardiff City and Leeds Utd, that result in us losing valuable points.
It is all about professionalism really. I feel that there has always been
something of the 'Old Corinthians' in West Ham's make up. You could change
the manager and the players, but the club always had similiar
caracteristics. And we all know what they are: a tendency to not kill off
the opposition when we have them under the cosh, susceptibility to the
sucker punch and a fustrating inconsistency of match performance. Often we
win where we rightly should stand no chance and then lose to weaker teams.
That is great when we are performing heroics to deny Manchester Utd the PL
title or knock them out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford; but is not so good
when we lose to Tranmere in the cup!
We have seen some residues of this incnsistency this season as well. So far
West Ham's performances have been Jekell and Hyde. Away from home we have
been organised, efficient and fairly ruthless in defeating Doncaster,
Watford and Forest; while at home we have squandered countless chances and
been punished by the opposition scoring late goals. Plus, there has even
been the obligatory cup defeat to lower league Aldershot! But, as I have
argued previously, Sam Allardyce does not have a magic wand to wave that
instantly puts everything right. There was bound to be hang overs from last
season, it is just a matter of working ceaselessly to put it right.
Allardyce's next priority is to crack the psychological block that we have
at Upton Park. In doing so, playing at Upton Park needs to become a
positive once again, rather than a negative. But I tend to think that the
away victories are the harbinger of West Ham's future under Allardyce; tight
at the back, competitive in midfield and ruthless in the final third.
Which raises another point, the football under Allardyce has not been route
one or boring has it? The team try to play good passing football, the
difference is that they are much more organised and they are playing as a
team, not a group of individuals barely on nodding acquaintance! Allardyce
'cuts his cloth' according to what his has in the squad and the teams that
he is facing. If you have quality ball players like Noble and Collison, why
would you use route one? Sure, there will be occasions when the team needs
to resort to the tactic of being more direct, in getting the ball into the
danger zones in the penalty box, to pressurize and exploit the defensive
weaknesses of particular opponents. However, the key thing is that we can
play good passing football, as well as adopting that more direct approach as
the circumstances dictate.
Anyway, personally, I have always thought that there is a lot of loose and
ill-defined talk about the infamous 'long ball' game. If that means playing
every match like Birmingham did last season, pumping high balls in to the
penalty box for a big striker, like Zigic, to knock down to the on rushing
Bowyer and Gardner, then fine. I am an opponent of that type of % football
as a playing style. However, there is nothing wrong with spotting the
opportunity to play long balls forward in to space for forwards to exploit
with pace and finishing ability. The greatest 'long ball' goal has got to
Geoff Hurst's third in the 1966 WC Final, where Bobby Moore picked him out
with a beautiful 40 yard ball forward. While in 1985-86, that fabled title
chasing team frequently played long balls forward in to space for Cottee and
McAvennie to run on to. So, really the type of football that we criticise
should more accurately be called % football, rather than the 'long ball.'
I feel that Sam Allardyce has won over the West Ham fans with his
professionalism, competance and ability to retain and attract quality
players. Yet, the appointment of Allardyce, our bloody nemesis whose Bolton
teams inflicted so many painful defeats upon us, required some adjustment in
the early stages. It felt a bit like the plot of the film Rocky III, where
former arch-enemy Apollo Creed, trains Rocky Balboa to win back his World
title against all the odds! We should have every expectation that the West
Ham-Allardyce team up will have a similiarly successful conclusion!
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Galatasaray Bid £8m for Carlton Cole!
West Ham Till I Die
Our old 'friends' at the Daily Mail are reporting that Turkish club,
Galatasaray, have put in a £8m bid for Carlton Cole. Apparently the Turkish
transfer window does not close until this Monday.
Galatasaray may well be interested in Cole, but I doubt that Sam Allardyce
will sanction any deal. He has just got the squad up to a good standard in
terms of quality and numbers, can you see him sanctioning a deal now?
Indeed, West Ham would be ill advised to weakened their strike force by
accepting it. £8m is a decent bid, but the club need to focus 100% upon the
prize of a PL return next May. £8m now is not so inticing set against the
£40-50 plus on offer for returning to the top flight.
I do not think that the player will want to go. Cole is clearly committed
to West Ham and fighting for promotion. Besides which he appears to want to
stay in London.
So, Mr Sullivan, please reject the bid and tell them not to bother bidding
again, this side of next May!
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers snub £4m bid for in-form Cole from Galatasary
By SAMI MOKBEL
Last updated at 10:50 PM on 2nd September 2011
Daily Mail
West Ham have rejected Galatasaray's £4million bid for in-form striker
Carlton Cole. Turkey's transfer window does not close until Monday night
and Cole was being urged to keep an open mind about playing abroad as
Galatasaray considered an improved offer. Sources close to the striker said
that the 27-year-old would be reluctant to leave London after a promising
start to the season, in which he has scored three goals in five League games
under Sam Allardyce. Hammers co-owner David Gold tweeted: 'The offer for
Carlton Cole is not being considered.' Allardyce would have been unable to
sign a replacement for Cole until January, a key factor in the Hammers'
decision, which is a clear sign of the club's ambition to make a quick
return to the Barclays Premier League.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
