Daily WHUFC News - 23rd May 2012

Noble's double delight
WHUFC.com
Groom-to-be Mark Noble is carrying on the promotion party on his stag do
this week
22.05.2012

Whilst Hammers fans up and down the country had plenty of reason to
celebrate at the weekend, Mark Noble will keep his own knees-up going all
week long.
With his npower Championship Play-Off final winners medal in tow, Noble left
Wembley to jet off to Dubai for his five-day stag do ahead of his marriage
later this month, but anyone who bumps into him is unlikely to see it
hanging round his neck. "I've made a deal with my little cousin that if we
won he has to wear it for the whole five days," he explained."It feels
fantastic to have the medal and I'm obviously proud to be a West Ham player
and delighted my family could be there as it was great moment for them."

Having picked up the trophy on Saturday afternoon to cap off a brilliant
season, Noble and team-mate and close pal James Tomkins will be in high
spirits as they contemplate life back in the top tier of English football
during a sun-filled break. Had Ricardo Vaz Te not popped up at the death
with a dramatic winner it could have been a different story, but his goal
ensured the Hammer of the Year and runner-up have another reason to enjoy
their trip. "It would been a sour note flying out as a losing team and
coming back for a wedding being on the losing team. Thank you to the boys
and everyone that we came through it. I'm just over the moon and excited
about the trip."

Noble and his bride to be, Carly, have known each other since they were 14,
when he impressed her with his footballing skills. The couple tie the knot
in London later this month and Noble admits it will be a special occasion
for him and his family. "She used to watch me in the school team when I
would score three or four goals a game. Things are a little bit different
now, though, of course! "We got engaged a couple of years ago and decided to
have two kids which held us up a little bit so we're finally doing it. So I
said hopefully after this season. we will get promoted and then it would be
nice to get married as well. Touch-wood all the lucky stars are looking down
on me and everything is going to plan."

Saturday's win was a special moment for the Canning Town-born midfielder and
West Ham's longest-serving player. As bedlam erupted all around Wembley
following Vaz Te's strike, Noble ran over and celebrated in front of the
Hammers fans who have been so supportive of him and his team-mates this
season.
"I think everyone ran their separate ways. I just followed someone just to
celebrate. It was a great moment when the final whistle went. I've obviously
been through this before and won at Cardiff [in 2005] but it was a little
bit more special this year because I've played 98 per cent of the games."

On the game itself, Noble admits that West Ham were not at their best and,
as expected, Blackpool were tough opponents to break down. "We didn't play
as well as we can do and sure everyone will agree with that. It doesn't
matter as long as you win and we have done that. "Obviously a lot can change
in finals with a bit of luck. We created the chance late doors in the 87th
minute and I think the rest is history. We're playing in the Premier League
now and little margins make a huge difference. But credit to Blackpool as
they've been fantastic all year."

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A truly Gold-en day
WHUFC.com
Joint-Chairman David Gold was all smiles after the Hammers were promoted to
the Premier League
22.05.2012

Joint-Chairman David Gold has spoken of his delight at seeing his beloved
West Ham United regain their place in the Barclays Premier League. Born just
a stone's throw from the Boleyn Ground and a West Ham Boys player in his
youth, Mr Gold was as nervous as any Hammers fan at Wembley during
Saturday's npower Championship Play-Off final. Following the 2-1 victory
over Blackpool, however, the Joint-Chairman was all smiles as he joined the
players on the pitch and got his hands on the claret and blue ribbon-adorned
trophy. Mr Gold was a recent guest on talkSPORT's Alan Brazil's Sports
Breakfast show, where he spoke enthusiastically about the Club's big day out
at Wembley and his high hopes for the future.

It was a sensational game that could have gone either way, so how were you
feeling sat in the Directors Box?

DG - Well, from the minute the whistle was blown to start the game to the
very end, the whole thing was a nervous experience. You start off being very
nervous then when we went 1-0 up, you are still nervous because you are
hanging on and you're thinking to yourself 'Can we win this game from this
position?'. Then, when they equalised I was back on the edge of my seat and
then, of course, with five minutes to go we scored and I was thinking 'Can
we hang on?'. You really can't begin to enjoy it until the final whistle
goes and the game is over.

There was so much at stake, were you thinking before about the consequences
of winning or losing the Play-Off final?

DG - Oh yes, it was a big game. We've still got a long way to go. We
inherited a huge amount of debt when we arrived and the first thing was to
get back into the Premier League - that was the first part of the financial
plan. Myself and David Sullivan had dinner on Monday night and the
discussion was 'What is the next step?'. We have got plans in place, but we
still go over those plans. We must stay in the Premier League, then things
will begin to improve.

It's going to be quite a busy summer for you as a Board and as a Club, isn't
it?

DG - It certainly is. Emails are flying backwards and forwards between
myself, Sam Allardyce and David Sullivan. It's a busy, busy time.

You are back in the Premier League and it is the only place to be, isn't it?

DG - It is. People talk about this £90m and it's vitally important, the
money generated, but at the same time the expenses go up by huge
percentages. Although you have £90m coming in over a four-year period, your
expenses go through the roof and that's what makes life difficult. It is
exciting, though!

Some West Ham United fans have said Saturday was the best day of their
lives! Now, they cannot wait for the Premier League to restart...

DG - Absolutely. The emails and tweets I've received have been just
phenomenal. What sometimes we miss out on on this fantastic day - I've
experienced it twice and there is nothing like it in football - is the
pride. You can see the pride coming back to the fans because their club is
back in the Premier League. They go to work every day in an area where there
are Tottenham fans, Arsenal fans and Chelsea fans all in the Premier League.
They sneak in because they haven't got that pride, but now they go to the
workplace as a West Ham fan and can say 'I support a Premier League club' so
that pride comes flooding back. It's very, very important and
sometimes we under-estimate that.

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Captain's blog
WHUFc.com
Kevin Nolan looks back on an monumental day for West Ham United
22.05.2012

We are back in the Premier League!

How good does that feel? Saying it, feeling it, it's just fantastic.
Saturday's final was a tremendous day for our club and one day I know I
won't ever forget.

I was proud to lead the team out on to the pitch as captain in front of all
you, our fans who totally bossed Wembley with your noise and support, it was
unbelievable.
We knew we had a tough game on our hands as Blackpool have got previous form
in the play-offs and they were aiming for the same goal as we were - trying
to win the game and get promotion. Credit to them, they played their part,
but we won and we are up. We were determined to make sure it was us going up
to get the trophy that tells us we are back in the top league. There has
been a range of emotions, which I am sure all of you have had as well since
the weekend, there is just a massive buzz. The feeling of waking up on
Sunday knowing that we had won and were promoted was second to none.

It was a hard game and it was a case of us just keeping our heads and
working hard, taking our chances when they came - Coley and Vaz took their
chances to score and I think you will agree that everyone did play their
part. We had desire, I think our performance showed character and as I said,
we are just delighted to be saying we are back in the Premier League.

For everyone here at the club, the staff and everyone around us, it is
fantastic. We have a great bunch of lads in the team and I have built
friendships here in what has been my first season at the club that will be
for life. It has been a fantastic season and has ended how we wanted, with
promotion. There is a lot of talk about next season already and we know it
will be tough, but let's enjoy the here and now, enjoy what we have achieved
together this season and then the hard work will begin again.

I am under no doubts that under Sam, we will be prepared as much as we can
be to every point, to take on the challenges the Premier League will throw
at us, but as I said, for now let us enjoy this moment.

For you, our fans, I said before the game that we knew how much us winning
meant to you, it meant that much to us too and we were determined to
deliver.
I have led the team out from the beginning of the season to the loudest of
cheers from all of you, whether that is at home games at the Boleyn Ground
or any away game, but it gave me and the other lads goosebumps to hear you
all when we came out on to the pitch at Wembley. We are absolutely delighted
to give you all what you deserve - it is what you all deserve for the
fantastic support you have given us all season. I and all the lads and staff
have always been one hundred per cent behind the Gaffer - even with the
games we should have won and for whatever reason didn't - the belief never
wavered. We just had to come through it and we asked for your support to get
us through it, which you did in huge numbers.

I had my family there on Saturday and to see their faces and to be able to
celebrate with them was just fantastic and I hope you enjoyed celebrating
with your families and friends. I am sure there were quite a few sore heads
throughout East London, Essex and beyond on Sunday morning! My chicken dance
celebration was in full force I can tell you!

We will have a break now to recharge the batteries before coming back to
what will be a tough season. We are under no illusions about that, but it is
a stepping stone back to where we want our great club to be in the Premier
League.

We have a core of players with experience and youth, we don't want to get
too far ahead of ourselves at the moment because there is no need, but the
desire amongst everyone here starting back in the Premier League as West Ham
United players is top. We are going to enjoy the summer and then the hard
work starts again but we can't wait. Saturday is up there with the best of
them and I am just delighted we could do it for all of you.

We are back where we belong, it will be one step at a time but the club is
going in the right direction under the owners and the Gaffer and we are
looking forward to sharing what we hope will be another great chapter in our
club's history.

Thank you again for all your wonderful support - have a good summer and see
you all for the new season in the Premier League!

COYI

Kevin Nolan
Captain

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Taylor wants West Ham stay
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 22nd May 2012
By: Staff Writer

Matt Taylor has revealed that he would like to end his career at West Ham.
Taylor, who played the full 90 minutes of West Ham's Championship play-off
Final win over Blackpool at Wembley on Saturday admitted that he would love
to end his career at the club - despite having been a Tottenham supporter as
a boy. "I'm very happy and very settled," he told Talksport's Andy Gray and
Richard Keys. "My family is settled, the kids are happy and ultimately I'm
happy. Long may that continue and hopefully I'll be able to stay at West Ham
beyond my current contract. If I can, then that will be wonderful."

The 30-year-old, who began the season on the left side of midfield before
dropping back to full-back also revealed that he had been surprised by the
size of West Ham United and their stature in the English game - adding that
he was perhaps the happiest he has been in a career that has included spells
at Luton, Portsmouth and Bolton. "Maybe a bit naively I didn't realise how
big the club was until I signed for them, how many fans they have and how
well supported they were," he admitted. "Not just how big the football club
is in the community but also in the country. It's the biggest club I've
played for. "I'm enjoying myself at the moment. I'm enjoying playing
football even though I had a difficult mid-season with injury. Ironically
the season's finished now but I was in a position where I was really
enjoying my football. I thought I was doing ok and staying in the team.
"When you're a footballer you want to play. It's all well and good watching
and saying we're handsomely rewarded for doing so but I always want to play
and that was part of the reason I left Bolton, for football."

And already Taylor is looking forward to the 2012/13 Premier League campaign
- even if a much-deserved, post-season break is slightly higher on his
current list of priorities. "After the euphoria of Saturday it'll be nice
for everyone to get some time with their families and some time away from
football," he added. "We've been advised to have a couple of weeks off and
do nothing because the body needs to recover. Then, when you come back in,
you're raring to go again. "First and foremost we want to make sure we stay
in the League. But if you look at the [Premier League] season this year, in
terms of the way Norwich and Swansea have fared so well, we as a team should
take great hope from that. "In the Premier League you've got five or six
team that are in a different league financially to everybody else, but
Newcastle have nearly broken into that this year. We want to go and be as
successful as we can but obviously the Chairmen would sit here and say we'd
take 17th. "We've got some fantastic young players and it'll be great to see
who we sign. Hopefully we'll sign some quality players to help us out next
season."

However one position that is definitely not up for grabs is that of
Saturday's match winner Ricardo Vaz Te, whose 87th minute strike in front of
the West Ham end of Wembley ensured that he will always be remembered in
West Ham folklore. Taylor admitted that he was delighted for the Portuguese
forward who, he revealed, had thought that his career could have been over
even before he signed for West Ham back in January. "It was a hugely
emotional day for Vaz on Saturday," said Taylor. "I was at Bolton [with him]
for three-and-a-half years and I think in that time he probably trained 10
to 15 times because of his knees and injuries. "He went to Scotland and
Greece and then Barnsley took him. He was meant to go to Sheffield United
but they wouldn't pass him on a medical, so he ended up at Barnsley where he
set the place alight. Sam knew him so we signed him - and he's been a
fantastic signing for us. "He was in tears on Saturday after the game, it
meant so much. He thought that maybe his career was over and now he's
getting another crack at the best league in the world. He was very emotional
in the changing rooms afterwards but it was fantastic for him. "Vaz has come
in and done exactly what was required of him. He's played on the wing and
he's played up front. You put him and Carlton together like we did on
Saturday for the second half and they look menacing. "He's quick, he's big,
and he's strong. He's good in the air and he's got so many tricks I don't
think he knows what he's going to do sometimes!"

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Cole on future
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 22nd May 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham transfer target Joe Cole says that he would like to make a fist of
it at Liverpool - but isn't ruling out a move elsewhere this summer. The
former Hammers youngster, who moved to Chelsea in 2003 when West Ham were
relegated from the Premiership is on Sam Allardyce's radar following
United's return to the top flight. Having spent last season on loan with
Lille in France, the 30-year-old is back in the UK in order to resurrect his
career. But until his parent club hire a replacement for the sacked Kenny
Dalglish, his immediate future remains uncertain. Speaking in today's Mail,
Cole said: "There is still a part of me that would really love to make it
work and I don't want to have a bad spell at Anfield on my CV. But it is out
of my hands now. "At the minute I can't rule anything in or out. We have
got to speak to Liverpool and see what happens there."

Cole made his debut for West Ham aged just 17 when appearing as a
second-half substitute in the 1-1 draw with Swansea in the third round of
the FA Cup back in January 1999. He went on to make 150 in all competitions
for the Hammers over the course of the next four years, including a spell as
captain in the 2002/03 relegation season. In the summer of 2003, he was sold
to Chelsea for £6m and spent the next seven years at Stamford Bridge before
sealing a free transfer switch to Liverpool. However that move turned sour
and after just nine league starts he was sent out on loan to Lille. On his
year in Ligue 1, Cole admitted that it was the perfect tonic following his
failed spell at Liverpool. "It was exactly what I needed," he said. "It is a
bit slower, a bit more tactical. I will have to do extra work [in England]
because I will be going back to that 100mph pace, but I'm sure it will be
okay. "I have been able to learn about the tactical side of the game.
Foreign players tend to embrace that more than we do. But we will just have
to wait and see what happens; whatever is the case, I am delighted with how
things have gone."

West Ham Chairman David Gold admitted this morning that it would be
"fantastic" if Cole returned to east London. Speaking on Talksport this
morning, he said: "It would be a romantic thing to happen but I'd be very,
very surprised. "But you never know - you've just got to wait and see. I
have to say Joe Cole didn't come up on Sam's [transfer target] list a few
weeks ago, whether that's now the case only time will tell."

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Stratford on course
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 22nd May 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham Chairman David Gold said this morning that West Ham's move to the
Olympic Stadium remains on course - despite contradicting himself with
regards to the level of support for it. At the beginning of April, Gold
insisted that he had the backing of "70 per cent of our fan base". However
in an interview with Talksport this morning, that figure had dropped by a
substantial margin. "Our surveys suggest that better than 50 per cent of
fans are wanting to go to the new stadium," he told the Breakfast Show.
"Also, over the years, clubs that move to new stadiums and build new
stadiums have always been successful in their move. They've always increased
fanbase, it's always worked out. It's very hard to pick a move that's beeen
a failure. "We're very excited about the future of the Olympic Stadium and
of course we don't want to move there as you see it now. We're all bound by
rules not to discuss this but the hint is that there will be changes.
"You're not going to go into the stadium when the Olympics finish. There's a
whole programme of changes [planned]."

The latest independent poll on the move, conducted by campaign group WHU's
VIew? in April resulted in 87 per cent of those polled voting against the
move to Stratford. Meanwhile the most recent KUMB.com poll - conducted in
February of this year - resulted in 60 per cent of supporters voting against
the move to Stratford, with a further 17 per cent stating they were
'unsure'.

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London pride
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 22nd May 2012
By: Staff Writer

David Gold admitted that West Ham's financial worries have been eased
considerably by a return to the Premier League - but insisted that restored
pride was just as important to the club and its supporters. Billed as the
richest game in world football, as winners of last weekend's Championship
play-off Final West Ham are guaranted a minimum £90million windfall over the
course of the next four seasons. But Gold believes that as far as the
supporters are concerned, it's the ability to hold your head high that is
just as important. "One of the big things outside of the money is the
pride," he told Talksport. "You can see fans' pride comes flooding back;
their football club is back in the Premier League. "They go to work every
day in an area when there are fans of Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea and now
they can walk in and say "I'm a West Ham fan and I support a Premier League
club". Pride is very important and sometimes we underestimate that."

However as co-owner of the club, along with David Sullivan, for Gold it's
the fiscal benefits that will ultimately prove most rewarding. Now that
promotion has been secured, attention turns to next season and ensuring the
club remains in the Premier League beyound 2012/13. "David and myself had
dinner last night and the discussion was "what's the next step"?," he said.
"Obviously we've got plans in place and we must make sure that we stay in
the division for another season and then things begin to improve. "Emails
are flying backwards and forwards between Sam, myself and David Sullivan.
It's a busy, busy time. But we've still got a long way to go. "We
inheritited a huge amount of debt when we arrived and the first thing was to
get back into the Premier League, that was the first part of the financial
plan.
"People talk about this £90million and it's vitally important that the money
is generated, but by the same token the expenditure goes up by huge
percentages. So though you've got the money coming in spread over four
years, equally your expenses go through the roof - and that's what makes
life difficult."

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Gold doubts Cole return
Hammers chief unsure whether Allardyce wants England midfielder
Last Updated: May 22, 2012 12:09pm
SSN

West Ham co-chairman David Gold has played down suggestions Joe Cole could
make a 'romantic' return to Upton Park this summer. Liverpool midfielder
Cole's future looks set to be discussed again this summer following the end
of a season-long loan at French club Lille. The 30-year-old insists he has
unfinished business at Anfield amid speculation linking him with a second
spell at the recently-promoted Hammers. However, Gold is unsure whether boss
Sam Allardyce is interested in Cole as he plots their return to the Premier
League next season.

Busy

"It's going to be a busy summer," Gold said. "Joe Cole moving to West Ham
would be a fantastic and romantic thing to happen but I would be very, very
surprised.
"He didn't come up on Sam Allardyce's list of players he wants to sign a
couple of months ago. "Whether that's still the case, only time will tell."
Cole made 150 appearances for the East London club before leaving for
Chelsea in a £6.6m deal in August 2003.

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Taylor happy at Hammers
Midfielder would consider long-term West Ham stay
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated: May
22, 2012 1:53pm
SSN

West Ham midfielder Matt Taylor has revealed that he would like to end his
career with the club after promotion to the Premier League. The 30-year-old
ended his first season at Upton Park with a Championship play-off victory
over Blackpool at Wembley. And the former Bolton player admits he is content
at the Hammers, in manager Sam Allardyce's team.

Settled

"I'm very happy and very settled," Taylor said. "My family is settled, the
kids are happy and ultimately I'm happy. "Long may that continue and
hopefully I'll be able to stay at West Ham beyond my current contract. If I
can, then that will be wonderful. "I'm enjoying myself at the moment. I'm
enjoying playing football even though I had a difficult mid-season with
injury. "Ironically the season's finished now but I was in a position where
I was really enjoying my football. I thought I was doing okay and staying in
the team."

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Duo tracking Robinson
QPR & West Ham eye Rovers raid
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated: May
22, 2012 10:36am
SSN

Sky Sports understands Queens Park Rangers and West Ham are eyeing up moves
for Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson. Robinson is expected to be one of
several big names to leave Blackburn following their relegation from the
Premier League. The 32-year-old was one of Rovers' shining lights last
season despite their struggles at the wrong end of the table. West Ham are
drawing up a shortlist of goalkeeping targets as doubts continue to surround
the future of Rob Green with the England international out of contract this
summer. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce will be keen to bring in an experienced
custodian to fill the void if Green leaves and is a huge fan of Robinson,
having worked with him during his time in charge of Blackburn. QPR boss Mark
Hughes is also thought to be keen to bolster his goalkeeping options after
seeing his side narrowly avoid relegation on the final day of the season and
he is keeping tabs on Robinson's situation at Ewood Park.

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Gold looks to push on
Co-owner ready to invest to keep Hammers up
Last Updated: May 21, 2012 7:09pm
SSN

David Gold has welcomed the financial rewards of promotion as West Ham look
to push on in the Premier League. Gold reckons that Ricardo Vaz Te's goal
three minutes from time to seal a 2-1 victory over Blackpool in the
Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday has saved the debt-ridden
club around £50million.
However, the co-owner is still prepared for a summer of spending as he
believes manager Sam Allardyce will need in the region of £20million
investing in his squad to keep the Hammers up next season. "Had we not won,
it would have meant the owners would have had to find more money. It is
painful. If you own 150 oil wells then it is no problem, but if you own 150
Ann Summers shops..." said Gold. "It is hard to put it into financial terms
because the first thing we would have done on Monday if we didn't win was
say we need to cut our cloth accordingly.

More money

"I still think the club has got to find £20million to ensure it doesn't get
relegated again - and that is on top of the TV money." "We wouldn't have
sat there deluding ourselves, we would have needed to find more money. It
would have cost around another £30million. "It also depends on what you want
to do. Do you want to challenge again in the Championship? If so you would
have to find about another £20million. "But I think we still have to do
that, there is still hard work ahead. I still think the club has got to find
£20million to ensure it doesn't get relegated again - and that is on top of
the TV money. "We obviously need to strengthen some areas and although I
would expect significant changes, it won't be anything like last summer when
26 players went and 19 came in. "The hard work starts now. This club has
debts we inherited. We are committed to paying these debts. The best way to
put it is that we would not have bought West Ham if we weren't supporters -
we would have to be mad."

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Vaz Te Considering his Options?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

The Daily Express/Daily Star have reported that Ricardo Vaz Te will consider
his options if the right move comes along. While admitting that he is
currently happy at West Ham, and acknowledging that he still has two years
left on his contract, Vaz Te is quoted as stating that he will consider
olffers, especially if they come from his native Portugal. Anything in it?
Well, it is only in the Express stable of papers and their football coverage
is not the best. So, there is a good chance that he has been quoted out of
context or misquoted. If not, Mr Vaz Te might be well advised to show that
he can do 'the business' in the PL with West Ham before he starts fishing
for other offers. Or perhaps it is all about nudging West Ham in to offering
him a new, improved contract. After all, the club does not want to lose
another natural goal scorer, following Demba Ba's exit last summer, because
they do not have him tied to the right contract, do they!

Elsewhere, we are being linked wth a number of players: including Arsenal
keeper Fabianski, WBA centre back Olsson, Wolves centre-back Johnson,
Sunderland winger Richardson and Crystal Palace's right-back, Clyne. Other
rumours centre on signing Robinson from Blackburn Rovers or a possible free
transfer move for Gordon, who has recently been released by Sunderland.
While it seems largely a formality that a deal will be struck with
Sunderland to make George McCartney's move permanent. What will be
interesting is the outcome of Henri Lansbury's show down talks with Wenger
about his Arsenal future. If Lansbury does not get the assurances that he is
seeking then surely West Ham will make a bid to bring him to Upton Park?

The latest news on Robert Green's future is that he has opened negotiations
with the club on a new contract. Rumour has it that he is asking for £40,000
a week wages and that is a bit too strong for the club's taste. Yet, another
report states that they are considering signing Paul Robinson on, yes you
knew it, a £40,000 a week contract. Why not just bite the bullet and sign up
Greeno? Elsewhere, they have moved quickly to finalise a deal to sign the
promising Henderson from Portsmouth. That could prove to be a very good deal
indeed.

It will also be interesting to see who is on West Ham's released player's
list, due to be announced shortly. Favourites to be released are veterans
Faye, Diop, Carew and Piquionne. Although players like Faubert might also be
included? We shall see?

Oh well, we have not been linked with Yakubu as yet, but its probably only a
matter of time.

SJ. Chandos.

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Portugal move interests Vaz Te
I deserved Euro 2012 call-up, says West Ham goalscorer
Last Updated: May 23, 2012 8:40am
SSN

Ricardo Vaz Te may have just taken West Ham to the Premier League but the
striker is still keen to consider offers to move elsewhere. The Portuguese
forward scored the winning goal for the Hammers in Saturday's Championship
play-off final against Blackpool at Wembley. And despite only signing for
the Hammers in January, the 25-year-old admits the chance to play in his
homeland would be an attractive proposition. Vaz Te, quoted in the Daily
Star, said: "I have another two years left on my contract and I'm happy at
West Ham, but if something came up I'd have to analyse it. "I've never had
the chance to play in Portugal. If I did, of course, I'd sit down with
people and study the offer. The former Barnsley man has scored 12 goals in
18 games for the Irons but is still waiting for his senior debut with
Portugal. Asked about Paulo Bento's Euro 2012 squad, he added: "Without
devaluing the players who were called up, I think I deserved to be named."

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A dozen reasons why West Ham's match winner made the right move
London 24
Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
8:30 AM

West Ham striker Ricardo Vaz Te did not hesitate when offered the chance to
come to Upton Park and he hasn't looked back since. The arrival of striker
Ricardo Vaz Te at Upton Park was a marriage made in heaven. He scored 12
goals for Barnsley leading up to the transfer window, but the lure of a
potential promotion campaign in London, as well as reuniting with boss Sam
Allardyce, was too good to resist. "I never doubted the move for one
second," said the 25-year-old Portuguese marksman after he had smashed home
the winner in Saturday's play-off final at Wembley. "I came and I knew
everything about the club. I knew what direction they wanted to go and I
felt that I wanted to be a part of that. "I thank everyone for giving me the
opportunity and I hope they remember this moment."

Few will forget the ball falling for Vaz Te with just three minutes to go at
Wembley and crashing the ball in for his 24th goal of the campaign and his
12th in claret and blue. "I thought that 'Coley' was going to score and I
saw him take a dip, so I just took a gamble," revealed Vaz Te, who by this
time had moved from the wing to be an out and out striker as the game
reached its climax. "He managed to nick it round the keeper and set it up
perfectly for me and I just made sure that I hit the back of the net. "It
was a trememdous feeling, I am delighted to be part of it, delighted to get
the winning goal for the team and it is just an amazing moment to be part of
this."

Manager Sam Allardyce would certainly agree with that. He took a gamble on
his former Bolton Wanderers protégé back in January and the striker has
turned into a magnificent buy. "When you take into account the number of
goals he has scored and the relatively small fee we got him for, he is
possibly my best ever signing," admitted the ecstatic manager. "I've signed
some good players in my time, but he's been great for us all season and I
have got to be pleased with his winning goal here, because this is my first
time as a Wembley winner."

Vaz Te will be the first to admit that he did not play as well as he has
done this campaign, but he insisted that West Ham deserved to win the match.
"Blackpool were always going to be a terrific opponent," he said. "Obviously
we didn't play at our best today, but we have a lot of experience, we stayed
cool and we made sure we took our chances when they came along." He
certainly did that, much to the delight of the West Ham fans and now he is
hopeful that the team can perform when they return to the top flight. "I
think we have to be optimistic," he said. "We have to view it that way
because West Ham is a massive club and everyone should get their heads
around that and make sure that we are the team to beat."

Few would disagree with that.

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West Ham Assistant: This is my proudest moment in football
London 24
Colin Benson, Recorder Stadd
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
8:15 AM

While West Ham's heroes showered each other with champagne in the Wembley
dressing rooms assistant manager Neil McDonald stepped out to tell the
Recorder about his proudest day in football, writes Colin Benson. "I have
coached a team to sixth place and qualified them for Europe – that was a
career highlight," said McDonald. "But to come to a club that has just been
relegated and turn them around to a promotion side in one season is my most
satisfying achievement of all."
That is something for a man as experienced as McDonald, who played in the
Everton team beaten 3-2 by Liverpool in the 1989 FA Cup final. He describes
his association with Sam Allardyce as a "dream partnership", the two men
being on the same wavelength, and believes that 'Big Sam' has been wrongly
criticised as favouring the long ball. In McDonald's view it would be more
precise to label the gaffer as being "tactically astute".

McDonald said: "Sam sets the tone and has stood up to be counted. When you
come to a club that has been relegated the first priority is to change
things and get the players believing in themselves once again. "The
perception that we play a long ball game is totally misleading as we have
played a lot of good football this season.
"We try and play a passing game, but you can fall into the trap of playing
too much football without achieving an end result and when things have not
been going to plan, Sam has always been spot on with his tactical changes."

It is about striking the right balance and getting the best out of the
players available and in this respect the management duo have undoubtedly
achieved their objective. With the euphoria of the Wembley Play-Off final
triumph over Blackpool now behind them, the pair are knuckling down to plan
a future in the Premier League.

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West Ham target Almunia after Spanish keeper is released by Arsenal
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 20:30, 22 May 2012 | UPDATED: 20:30, 22 May 2012
Daily Mail

Arsenal have confirmed that former first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia
will be released when his contract expires this summer. The 35-year-old
Spaniard, who spent a spell on loan at West Ham last season, is one of seven
players to be released by the club. Almunia joined the club in 2004, making
175 appearances - including in the 2006 Champions League final. He has
already been linked with a return to Sam Allardyce's Hammers. The other
players to be released by the club are youngsters George Brislen-Hall, Gavin
Hoyte, Sean McDermott and Rhys Murphy, along with scholars James Campbell
and Jeffrey Monakana. Meanwhile, Arsenal also confirmed midfielder Jack
Wilshere had now undergone a 'minor procedure' on his left knee as part of
his continued rehabilitation from an ankle problem which ruled him out of
all last term. 'This procedure is not expected to significantly affect
Jack's return date in the summer,' a club statement added.

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London 2012 Olympics: West Ham's Premier League return paves way for Olympic
Stadium solution
Telegraph.co.uk
West Ham supporters were not the only ones celebrating the Hammers' victory
in the Championship play-off final on Saturday that sealed their return to
the Premier League.
By Paul Kelso7:00AM BST 23 May 2012

The beleaguered London Legacy Development Corporation and its political
paymasters will also have been relieved as it should, in theory, make a
viable solution to the Olympic Stadium saga more likely. Promotion means
West Ham now only need to confirm approval from the Premier League for their
proposed move to Stratford, rather than the Football League, which was
proving far harder to convince. Among those cheering on the Hammers on
Saturday was the Newham Council chief executive, Kim Bromley-Derry, who is
ready to authorise the injection of £40 million of taxpayers' money into the
stadium project. The LLDC rewrote the tender process last week for the third
time in 18 months, primarily to get around a challenge from Leyton Orient
chairman Barry Hearn. Hearn has objected to West Ham moving on the grounds
that the club do not have permission from the Football League. West Ham have
not applied for permission from the league board, which would have to feel
it had the support of a majority of the 72 clubs before approving the switch
to Stratford.

Hearn has considerable influence on the Football League, and his argument
that West Ham moving to within a mile of Brisbane Road will kill his club
has support among owners of other small clubs. The Premier League, by
contrast, has already given permission for West Ham's move, though Orient
are challenging that decision in an FA arbitration process An irony not
missed by Hearn's camp is that West Ham are relying on some of the same
arguments they deployed in objecting to Tottenham's plans to move to
Stratford.

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