WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce on why a striker is top of his transfer-window wish list and
why his team must stay focused
31.01.2012
Sam Allardyce pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday evening's game
with Ipswich Town was a chance for journalists to get the manager's thoughts
on the npower Championship match but also, of course, the latest on possible
transfers into the club.
Why are you looking at bringing a striker in?
SA: Having analysed it, we've had so many good chances, even against
Nottingham Forest we had easy chances that we missed and in some cases did
not hit the target. Perhaps the players are getting a little anxious about
it, perhaps I moan too much but we all know that we've got to do better in
that area. If we do better in that area then we'll start scoring freely.
That'll take a lot of pressure off us as we go into the final stages of a
game or the final stages of the season. We all know the anxiety the last few
minutes of a game brings up if you're 1-0 up and the anxiety will now only
increase as the games get fewer and fewer. If you're in control of the game
and you punish the opposition then it genuinely takes the anxiety out of
everybody.
Are you looking overseas at players?
SA: On the back of our search in this country, the ability for us to find a
player that we wanted was rejected constantly, particularly how early we bid
and how much money we bid. Unlike most windows, the money hasn't talked like
it normally has. There's no doubt that sometimes clubs try to squeeze more
out of us, while there are some clubs that don't want to sell to us in the
first place if we're in their division. You just have to live with that and
move on. As far as Carlos Tevez is concerned that is not an option for us. I
don't think we've got the OK from Manchester City.
Are you looking to get another striker?
SA: I'm trying to get another striker but I thought we were going to get our
players early in the window and the only one we managed was George John on
loan. Every other option has come and gone and there are all sorts of
reasons why they haven't. During those negotiations, things can happen like
agents fees get too big or wages get escalated beyond belief so there are
many reasons why a deal breaks down but you must always have a sensible
value in your head. You must always protect the fact that the finances at
West Ham are extremely delicate in terms of where it lies at the moment. You
want to get better players but if it's too expensive you have to say 'No'.
You are now top of the npower Championship. Is it a case that you're now
looking over your shoulder?
SA: When you're in my position the worst thing you can hear is 'You're
nearly there'. You're never up until is mathematically certain. Once it is
then you can start celebrating. With 19 games still to go there are a
massive amount of points still available and you've got to gather as many as
you can. If you're good enough as my team was at Notts County [when they
were promoted] then you can win it with eight games to go.
Is there still a weight of expectation on the players at the club?
SA: I think they still feel it as the pressure is constant for us. In our
group of players there's only Kevin Nolan at Newcastle that has experienced
the need to consistently be winning games week-in, week-out and the pressure
that brings. It's a big ask. You go to bed and you wake up with it. If you
can relieve that then that is my job as a manager and you have to try and
make the players relax a little bit more. If they're thinking about it too
much it becomes a burden for them rather than a pleasure - pressure should
be a pleasure not a burden.
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Millwall on Sky: confirmed
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 31st January 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's nPower Championship clash with Millwall FC is being
broadcast live by Sky - as exclusively revealed by KUMB.com. KUMB.com
revealed yesterday that Sky Sports would be broadcasting the game - which
kicks off at 12:30pm this coming Saturday (4th February) - live from the
Boleyn Ground. This has now been confirmed by the Lions on their website. A
brief notice posted on millwallfc.com this morning stated: "We have just
been advised by the Football League that, at late notice, Sky TV have
decided to broadcast the West Ham v Millwall npower Championship fixture at
Upton Park live on Saturday."
The news is yet to be confirmed by whufc.com.
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Hammers agree striker fee
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 31st January 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have agreed a fee of £2.5million for Bristol City striker Nicky
Maynard. The 25-year-old forward, who is out of contract at Ashton Gate this
summer was first linked with a move to London during the last transfer
window but remained at City who, at the time, demanded in excess of
£6million for his services. KUMB.com has learned that the two clubs have
agreed the cut-price fee this morning and the player is set for imminent
talks with West Ham, who have lined up a number of possible signings as the
transfer deadline rapidly approaches. City are also understood to be keen to
take a player, possibly on loan, in return for Maynard should a deal be
struck. We'll have more for you on this as it happens.
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Man United starlet Morrison having West Ham medical
Published 11:19 31/01/12 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Manchester United midfielder Ravel Morrison was this lunchtime having a
medical with West Ham. Providing there are no unexpected hitches, the
18-year-old is expected to join the Championship promotion hopefuls before
the transfer deadline at 11pm tonight. The Manchester United teenager has
had a chequered career so far. However, although United wanted him to stay,
Morrison has opted to cut his ties with the Old Trafford outfit. "The deal
is not quite done yet but we are hopeful it will be completed," Allardyce
told the London Evening Standard. "Ravel is a talented lad and if he really
wants to be a player then we will help him as much as we can along the way.
"Perhaps a change of environment will be beneficial to him and help him make
that step up to first team football quicker than perhaps would have been the
case at Manchester United. There is no doubt he has exceptional talent."
Morrison's contract was due to expire in the summer and the teenager had
been offered an extension by the Old Trafford outfit. However, United were
also willing to sell the player now rather than risk losing him to a fee
that would be decided by a tribunal in the summer. The youngster - who will
be 19 on Thursday - has been mired in controversy throughout his fledgling
career and there are some on the Red Devils staff who believe his huge
potential will never be fulfilled. A member of the triumphant FA Youth
Cup-winning side last term, it was anticipated Morrison - rated as one of
the best prospects to come through the United academy since Paul Scholes in
that famous Class of 92 - would make a breakthrough this season. Instead, he
has been restricted to just two substitute appearances - both in the Carling
Cup - and did not even manage a place on the bench throughout Sir Alex
Ferguson's massive injury problems.
Although Ferguson has been reluctant to discuss Morrison in public, it is
almost certain he would have spoken to old friend Sam Allardyce before the
Hammers made their move. It was claimed by a source close to the deal last
night that there was a "50-50" chance of Morrison leaving United before the
transfer window closes, although it is becoming increasingly likely the
Manchester-born youngster will move.
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Birmingham hoping to sign West Ham striker
By talkSPORT
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Birmingham are hopeful of landing West Ham striker Frederic Piquionne if
they can offload Nikola Zigic. The Hammers are happy to listen to offers for
the striker and Sunderland are reported to have made an enquiry. But Chris
Hughton's Championship side also want to be kept in the loop regarding the
33-year-old's future. However, they will struggle to complete a deal without
freeing up funds from the sale of unwanted Zigic and possibly one other
squad member.
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West Ham youngster on trial at Gillingham
KentNews.co.uk
By David Pritchard
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
12:16 PM
The son of former Newcastle United and England midfielder Rob Lee has begun
a week's trial at Gillingham ahead of a potential loan move. Oliver Lee
arrived on Tuesday morning after being recommended to the club by Hammers'
development coach Ian Hendon, who was a former assistant manager at
Priestfield.
The 20-year-old has not featured for the east London club's first-team and
will not be offered a new deal when his contract expires at the end of the
season. His senior experience consists of two spells on loan at Dagenham &
Redbridge, making 17 appearances this season, scoring three goals.
Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler is interested and with the loan window staying
open for several weeks, there is no pressure to wrap up a deal before the
transfer window closes at 11pm on Tuesday.
He said: "West Ham have basically said to him he's not going to get a deal
at the end of the season so he's going out trialling. We've brought him in
to have a look, Ian Hendon gave him a good recommendation and I spoke to Big
Sam [Allardyce, West Ham manager] about him, he said 'get him in and see
what you think'. They like him but they're seeing where they might go and
perhaps he's not going to be a Premiership player at this stage.
"He might need to do a bit of an apprenticeship at our level and see where
it goes. If he's anything like his Dad we might be able to nick a good
player here. It doesn't have to be done before the deadline because the loan
market stays open. There's no real rush, we'll have him in for a week and
see where he goes with it."
Otherwise the transfer deadline is expected to pass without any further
activity at Gillingham, who have brought in Gavin Tomlin and Jo Kuffour this
month, while Luke Rooney and Stefan Payne have moved on.
Hessenthaler said: "I wouldn't have thought so but you never know. There's
one we've identified that's been thrown to us who we could well like but
we'll see what develops."
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Crewe Take Brown On Trial
Posted on: Tue 31 Jan 2012
www.crewealex.net
Crewe Alexandra have offered a trial to the former West Ham youngster Jordan
Brown. The defender trained with the Alex yesterday after coming up to South
Cheshire on Sunday evening. The Alex will watch him in training before
making a decision on him. The 20-year-old left-back never made a first
appearance for the Hammers, but has recently spent a period on loan at
Aldershot. He is unattached and Crewe would not have to pay any fee to the
London club. Steve told the club's official web-site: "Jordan has been
released from West Ham and has come up here so we can have a look at him. He
came up from London on Sunday and trained with Dario's development squad
yesterday. "That gave me and Neil the chance to step back and have a look at
him and we will continue to do that. We will assess him and if he is good
enough then we would look to do something on a short-term basis. "He has
come from West Ham so he is going to be technically good. He is young, but a
good size and athletic. He is a bit inexperienced because he hasn't played
too much first-team football but he can prove he is worth a deal then we
would do something. "He is unattached so there is no fee involved and it
doesn't have to be concluded today."
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Manchester United will not have buy-back option in £1m deal to sell Ravel
Morrison to West Ham
The controversial midfielder is in London to discuss personal terms over
£20,000-a-week deal and undergo a medical as agents' demands hold up move
31 Jan 2012 12:27:00
Goal.com
By Greg Stobart | Northern Correspondent
The proposed £1 million deal to take Ravel Morrison from Manchester United
to West Ham will not include a buy-back option for the Old Trafford club,
Goal.com understands. United had been widely expected to push for an option
to re-sign the controversial 18-year-old despite allowing him to leave the
club with six months remaining on his contract. But sources at Upton Park
have told Goal.com that no such clause has been agreed between the clubs,
who have agreed an initial £650,000 that could eventually rise to £1m.
Morrison, an attacking midfielder who has been one of the stars of the Old
Trafford Academy, is currently in London to undergo a medical and discuss
personal terms over a heavily incentivised contract that will start at
around £20,000-a-week. The fees being demanded by the two agents involved in
the transfer is believed to be causing problems for West Ham but the
Championship club expect to complete the move today. United decided to sell
Morrison this month after growing tired with the youngster's attitude and
off-field problems, despite his billing as the most talented player to
emerge from club's youth system since Paul Scholes. While Morrison would be
West Ham's most eye-catching move on deadline day, Hammers manager Sam
Allardyce wants to sign three players to boost his side's promotion
prospects. Genoa striker Ze Eduardo has already undergone a medical while
the Londoners are also looking for another striker and have held talks over
a swoop for Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard.
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Brown and out
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 31st January 2012
By: Staff Writer
Hammers Academy graduate Jordan Brown has joined Crewe Alexandra on trial.
The 20-year-old left back, who was hotly-tipped to break through to West
Ham's first team prior to the beginning of the current campaign has joined
the League Two outfit on trial with view to a permanent transfer, having
been told that he has no future at the Boleyn Ground. News of Brown's
arrival at Gresty Road was confirmed by Alex manager Steve Davis, who told
the club's website: "Jordan has been released from West Ham and has come up
here so we can have a look at him. "He came up from London on Sunday and
trained with Dario's development squad yesterday. "That gave me the chance
to step back and have a look at him and we will continue to do that. We will
assess him and if he is good enough then we would look to do something on a
short-term basis. "He has come from West Ham so he is going to be
technically good. He is young, but a good size and athletic. He is a bit
inexperienced because he hasn't played too much first-team football but he
can prove he is worth a deal then we would do something. "He is unattached
so there is no fee involved and it doesn't have to be concluded today."
Brown, who was told to find a new club at the end of last year spent last
week on trial at Gillingham but failed to win a permanent contract with the
Kent-based club.
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