KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 1st February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has revealed that he can't wait to begin working with new
signing Ravel Morrison, who signed a three-and-a-half year contract with
West Ham on transfer deadline day. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder is
rated as one of the most highly-rated players of his generation but was
effectively cast aside by former club Manchester United following a series
of off-field problems. Morrison, who is 19 later this week represents a
low-risk gamble for Allardyce who paid just £650,000 for his services and is
considered by many supporters, who have followed a series of mavericks at
the club over the years including Julian Dicks and Paolo Di Canio, to be the
club's best signing of the transfer window. And Allardyce believes he could
have landed himself a gem - if he can keep the youngster on the straight and
narrow. "By Alex Ferguson's own words, he [Morrison] is one of the best he's
ever had at that age," Big Sam told Talksport this morning. "When Sir Alex
tells you something like that then you know [he's a great prospect].
"There's obviously been trouble off the field and it comes, I think, due to
the area that he's lived in as a young man. So getting away from there and
away from an old group of friends probably is probably the best thing for
him. "We're going to have to try and make sure that those sort of things
don't happen again, develop the talent that he's got as quickly as we can,
get him in the first team and see if we can see that talent. "It's not
unusual for me, taking the odd difficult one on but I like high-class talent
at a football club if you can find it. If it comes with a little bit of
trouble, then I think you can cope. "If the lad's doing it on the field
then you help him as best you can off the field to make sure he becomes a
well-rounded, decent human being and, hopefully, a decent footballer. "But
I'm looking forward to working with him - as I am with Nicky Maynard and the
young lad I used to have at Bolton who had a great talent, Ricardo Vaz Te."
Morrison is unlikely to feature this weekend against Millwall although both
Vaz Te and Maynard could start. 25-year-old striker Maynard, whose former
club Bristol City have beaten the Lions twice already this season, scored
all three of the Robins' goals in the two fixtures.
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How the transfer window happened
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 1st February 2012
By: Staff Writer
As the sun sets on yet another busy transfer window for West Ham United,
join us as we take a look back at the main talking points of the past
month...
2 Jan: Reserve goalkeeper Peter Kurucz joins League One side Rochdale on an
emergency 28-day loan.
2 Jan: KUMB reveal that West Ham failed in a bid to sign Tottenham's Andros
Townsend on loan. The winger snubs Sam Allardyce in favour of moving to
Leeds.
5 Jan: David Gold admits that West Ham may lose at least one of their better
players during the window.
5 Jan: Young defender Callum Driver joins Burton Albion on a month's loan.
5 Jan: James Tomkins refutes a (false) Daily Star story claiming that
youngster JOHN Tomkins has handed in a transfer request.
5 Jan: Newcastle's Evening Chronicle says West Ham are interested in taking
the Magpies' 20-year-old full back Shane Ferguson on loan.
5 Jan: Huddersfield boss Lee Clarke says Jordan Rhodes will be going nowhere
during the window in the wake of reported interest from the Hammers.
5 Jan: The Hammers are linked with a move for Barnet winger Mark Marshall.
5 Jan: Talksport's Ian Abrahams claims West Ham are looking to sign Bolton
veteran Kevin Davies.
6 Jan: Herita Ilunga returns to West Ham following the culmination of his
loan spell at Doncaster.
6 Jan: Callum McNaughton completes a permanent move to AFC Wimbledon after
just one appearance for West Ham (during which he was sent off against
Aldershot).
9 Jan: George Moncur joins AFC Wimbledon on a short-term loan.
9 Jan: The news that American centre half George John is on his way to east
London breaks on KUMB.com.
12 Jan: George John's agent, Ted Philipakos, confirms that John has agreed
terms with United.
12 Jan: The Sun's Sports Editor Jim Munro confirms via Twitter that West Ham
are in talks over QPR winger Jamie Mackie and have bid for Watford's Marvin
Sordell.
13 Jan: West Ham confirm the arrival of American defender George John on
loan with view to a permanent deal.
13 Jan: KUMB.com confirm that despite reports to the contrary, Sam Allardyce
is not interested in signing Tottenham's Vedran Corluka.
13 Jan: Ken Dyer (Evening Standard) breaks the news that Japanese
international Ryoichi Maeda is not being offered a contract - despite
reports to the contrary.
14 Jan: The Daily Mail claims that Wolves have signed Freddie Piquionne. The
story turns out to be nonsense.
17 Jan: Jack Sullivan (son of co-chairman David) claims via his Twitter
account that West Ham have offered £3.5million and £5million for two
strikers.
18 Jan: whufc.com confirms that former Manchester United trainee Joe Dixon
has been signed on a free transfer.
19 Jan: Ruch Chorzów striker Maciej Jankowski is linked with a move to the
Irons by Polish media.
19 Jan: SSN state that Southampton have rejected a bid by West Ham to sign
out-of-favour winger Jason Puncheon.
20 Jan: Talks between West Ham and Rangers over striker Nikica Jelavic are
confirmed.
21 Jan: James Tomkins celebrates landing a new four year contract - secured
for him by new agent Mark Curtis.
23 Jan: Sam Allardyce reveals that he'd be happy to make no further
signings.
24 Jan: Olly Lee is allowed to go on trial at Derby - a fortnight after
being named in West Ham's squad for the away trip to Sheffield Wednesday.
24 Jan: Academy graduates Jordan Brown and Matt Fry - both told they have no
future at West Ham - join Gillingham for a trial period.
24 Jan: KUMB.com reveals that Edson Buddle and Andy Iro fail to impress
during a week-long trial.
25 Jan: Nikica Jelavic confirms that he would be interested in a move to
West Ham.
26 Jan: Co-chairman David Sullivan says he is, "hoping to make one or two
important additions to the squad in the next 48 hours".
26 Jan: 16-year-old schoolboy Kieran Bywater is offered a scholarship by
Tony Carr's Academy.
27 Jan: Full back Herita Ilunga's contract - which has a year left to run -
is cancelled by mutual consent.
28 Jan: Reports from Twitter claim West Ham are set to sign Carlos Tevez on
loan. Unsurprisingly, any such move fails to materialise.
29 Jan: Académica de Coimbra forward Eder does a Savio and goes missing
after holding talks with West Ham regarding a permanent switch.
30 Jan: Eder resurfaces claiming he had gone to visit family after turning
down a move to the Boleyn Ground.
30 Jan: SSN report that Genoa striker Ze Eduardo is on his way to England
after agreeing to join West Ham on loan for the remainder of the season.
30 Jan: KUMB.com confirms that Sam Allardyce is looking to sign at least two
players ahead of the transfer deadline.
30 Jan: Barnsley snub West Ham's 'derisory' offer of £500,000 for forward
Ricardo Vaz Te. It is also confirmed that the club have made enquiries into
the availability of Andy Carroll and Carlos Tevez.
30 Jan: Sam Allardyce confirms that striker Ze Eduardo is on his way to
England for a medical ahead of a proposed loan move.
30 Jan: A number of sources claim West Ham are set to sign Ravel Morrison
from Manchester United.
31 Jan: KUMB.com reveal that West Ham have agreed a fee with Bristol City
for the transfer of Nicky Maynard.
31 Jan: Left-back Jordan Brown, who has been allowed to leave West Ham on a
free joins Crewe Alexandra on trial.
31 Jan: West Ham - via the Twitter accounts of Jack Sullivan and Vanessa
Gold - confirm that they have signed Ravel Morrison, Ricardo Vaz Te and
Nicky Maynard.
1 Feb: It is confirmed that Ze Eduardo has been allowed to return to Genoa
following the arrival of the aforementioned trio.
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Nolan apologises for Ipswich debacle
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 1st February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Current West Ham United captain Nolan has apologised for the shocking
performance at Portman Road last night that saw Sam Allardyce's side
thrashed 5-`1. Nolan, speaking via whufc.com this morning admitted that the
team "didn't turn up", whilst insisting that there were "no easy games" -
despite Town going into the game one place above the relegation zone and
without a win in seven games. "Eleven players didn't turn up," said the
former Bolton and Newcastle midfielder, who has come under heavy criticism
from supporters this season for a number of sub-par performances. "We didn't
do what we were supposed to do and Ipswich were good. Their gameplan worked
better than ours and we were very poor. We can't get away from that. "It
must have been very disappointing for them [the traveling supporters] and
all we can do is apologise for the performance and thank them for sticking
with us - and we hope they continue to do so."
Next up for Nolan and his team mates is the visit of Millwall for the big
one this weekend - a game in which nothing less than victory will satisfy
the fans following last night's debacle. Although it will be his first West
Ham/Millwall derby at the Boleyn, Nolan is under no illusions of what is
expected - especially with the Portman Road humiliation so fresh in the
mind. "We've got to get on with it now and look forward," he affirmed. "We
can't stew over it because we've got a big game on Saturday. Every game is a
big game, but obviously with it being a derby it's going to be tough. We've
got to make sure we're focused for that and give the fans what they deserve
after Tuesday night. Hopefully we will give them what they deserve on
Saturday - and there's no better way than by doing it against Millwall, at
home, in front of 30,000 fans."
Nolan, who was signed from Newcastle last summer and is thought to earn
around £50,000 per week has scored seven goals thus far this season for the
Hammers from 28 appearances. Last season, he hit 12 from 32 games whilst
playing for the Magpies in the Premier League.
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Maynard - I'm ecstatic
Hammers' latest recruit delighted to join big club
Last Updated: February 1, 2012 2:48pm
SSN
West Ham United's new striker Nicky Maynard is 'ecstatic' after managing to
seal a late deal to join the club on transfer deadline day. The 25-year-old
was the subject of much interest in the January window after netting 46
times since joining Bristol City in 2008. The prolific centre-forward left
Ashton Gate on Tuesday night after penning a two-and-a-half-year contract
with the Hammers. Maynard, who has 81 goals on his professional tally, has a
proven goalscoring record and is eager to get his career underway at Upton
Park. "I'm ecstatic," he told the club's official website. "It's been a long
day but I'm delighted to put pen to paper and can't wait to get going.
Ecstatic
"West Ham are a massive club. They've got everything geared to get to the
Premier League and the Premier League is where I want to be. "I'm a quick
player who likes to get behind and thrives off chances. I'll keep plugging
away all game as I'm not happy unless I'm scoring." Maynard enjoyed a
schoolboy spell with Arsenal before moving to the Crewe Alexandra academy
where he graduated and went on to score 35 goals in 67 appearances for the
Railwaymen. The striker's impressive form was the reason Bristol City spent
£2.25 million to secure his services and despite the side's poor form this
season Maynard has still managed to bag eight goals.
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Morrison to live alone after transfer to West Ham
By LAURA WILLIAMSON
Last updated at 10:09 PM on 1st February 2012
Daily Mail
Sir Alex ferguson may think Ravel Morrison will be 'better out of
Manchester' but the former United youngster will start life at West Ham by
staying in a four-star east London hotel. The Championship side have no
plans to place the 18-year-old, whose career has been blighted by off-field
problems, with a host family to keep him out of trouble. Two days after
winning the 2011 FA Youth Cup, Morrison was fined £600 by a court for
throwing his girlfriend's mobile phone out of a window during an argument.
He also pleaded guilty to two counts of witness intimidation last year and
has a police caution for assaulting his mother. The midfielder is rated as
one of the top players to have come through United's academy, but made just
three first-team appearances and left after Ferguson said his wage demands
were 'unrealistic'. But his three-and-a-half-year contract at West Ham is
based heavily how much he plays so he will suffer financially if he does not
feature regularly.
West Ham paid an initial £650,000 but the fee could rise to £2.5million
depending on performances. Sportsmail understands United did not insert a
buy-back clause into the deadline-day deal.
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West Ham skipper gives no excuses for Hammer horror
London 24
Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
6:16 PM
West Ham skipper Kevin Nolan stared off into the freezing cold Portman Road
air as he contemplated a 90 minutes that had been his worst experience in a
claret and blue shirt since his arrival in the summer. Was he straining for
an excuse? Was he considering some positive spin? Not a bit of it. There was
no Avram Grant attempt to paper over the cracks of this West Ham performance
from Nolan. "What went wrong? Well, 11 players didn't turn up for one," said
the 29-year-old midfielder with icy breath. "We didn't do what we were
supposed to do and Ipswich were good," he continued. "Their gameplan worked
better than ours and we were very, very poor. We can't get away from it."
Captaincy can be a tough job at times. Standing up and facing the music when
your team have been stuffed 5-1 is all in the remit if you want to do the
job properly and Nolan certainly fulfils that criteria. The absence of
Matthew Upson when things were going pear-shaped and the team were looking
for a leader was a significant part in West Ham's demise last season. When
the captain needed to step from the trenches with a rallying cry, there was
nothing but a whimper. When Lucas Neill was at the helm you knew who the
captain was and that he would stand up for his players. Well with Nolan too,
you get that same feeling that he is watching the team's back.
"It's very rare that you get 11 players who just don't perform on the
night," he reiterated. "We didn't and we have got to hold our hands up.
"We're big enough to say we didn't perform and Ipswich probably played their
best game of the season. "We've got to take it on the chin, bounce back from
it and show that we're men and there's no better way than by doing it
against Millwall in a derby at home on Saturday in front of 30,000
spectators."
He's right, of course, though he did have some words of comfort for the
2,000 hardy Hammers who braved roadworks and rail engineering works to
traipse to Portman Road and watch that abject display. "It must have been
very disappointing for them," he said with some understatement. "All we can
do is apologise for the performance and thank them for sticking with us and
we hope they continue to do so. "Hopefully we will give them what they
deserve on Saturday."
It was time for some positive thinking from the skipper, but he was guarded
when it came to the prospect of the Millwall clash. "It is going to be
tough," he said. "Ipswich were around the bottom and Millwall are around
there, but there are no easy games in this league and that's what we've got
to learn. "As a squad we are still learning because we've got a lot of young
boys who have done fantastically well. After 28 games, we're top of the
league and where we wanted to be – albeit after a very disappointing night.
"Twenty-eight games in and if you had asked any fan where they wanted to be,
they'd all say 'top of the league' and we have a two-point cushion, so it's
nice."
Captain's job done. Nolan gave a little smile through gritted teeth and made
his weary way to the team coach. It really can be tough at the top.
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Tony Cottee Column: Heavy Ipswich defeat could give West Ham the kick-start
they need
London 24
Tony Cottee, London24 West Ham Columnist
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
3:23 PM
There is no getting away from it, Tuesday night was the worst West Ham
performance of the season, and it is a real shame that we could not take the
opportunity of being top of the league and push on. With Southampton being
held at home by third-placed Cardiff City, the Hammers could be five points
clear at the top which would have given us a nice cushion. Instead, it is
just two points and it is so important that we show the character to bounce
back from the defeat. I did say last week that it would be a difficult game
under the lights at Portman Road and so it proved to be. Ipswich have been
such an up and down side this season but they do possess some good players
with the ability to hurt sides that are not on the top of their game.
Something just didn't click for the Hammers on Tuesday and from the off, the
home side were on top and dominating the game. I'm not sure if the players
were switched on from the beginning, but you will never win a game of
football at any level if you are not in the right mindset. I think that some
people expected us to roll up there and brush Ipswich aside because we were
top of the league. But that just isn't how it happens in the Championship
and West Ham got what they deserved. We may be top of the league, but we did
not defend well at all. I am just hoping that the players can forget about
the game, and not dwell on it too much. A heavy defeat can sometimes be the
turning point in a team's season, and I think Sam Allardyce will be keen for
his players to turn a negative into a positive. I am sure that the squad
will use the defeat as motivation to bounce back stronger this weekend.
There was mixed emotions for me after the game, as although the Hammers had
lost, we had also signed three very exciting young players. We have been
struggling to create chances for some time and when we do create them we
just aren't taking them at the moment, and I think that the additions of
Ricardo Vaz Te and Nicky Maynard will add some real quality to the squad. I
haven't seen too much of Ravel Morrison, but I have heard about his talent
and I think that Allardyce is the man to iron out any potential attitude
problems. We now have eight forwards at the club and I am sure that we have
enough firepower to get us automatic promotion back to the Premier League,
and I would not be surprised to see the likes of Freddie Sears and Freddie
Piquionne leave Upton Park in the loan window.
However, the midfield is also pivotal, and we have been lacking that
creative spark. I think that is where the likes of Morrison and Vaz Te will
shine, creating opportunities for others. We now have the perfect
opportunity to get back to winning ways this weekend against arch-rivals
Millwall. And I hope that the football on the pitch does the talking and
there is no trouble and both sets of fans can get to and from the game
safely. Millwall are not in the best of form themselves coming into the
game, so I am hoping the fans create an electric atmosphere and really get
behind the team. If the players don't get up for this one, then I am sure
that the fans will let them know about it.
Tony Cottee was talking to Nathaniel John
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