Vaz Te at the double
WHUFC.com
The spectacular Ricardo Vaz Te won both Goal and Signing of the Season at
the Player Awards
09.06.2012
Few players can have made an impact on joining West Ham United as big as
that made by Ricardo Vaz Te. After starring for Barnsley throughout the
opening half of the 2011/12 npower Championship season, the Portuguese
forward was snapped up by Sam Allardyce at the end of the January transfer
window. In just 18 appearances, Vaz Te has scored 12 goals, including the
Hammers' first league hat-trick in more than six years and an unforgettable
Wembley winner in the npower Championship Play-Off final victory over
Blackpool. Such has been the impression made by the No12 on the club's
supporters that he collected the Goal of the Season, sponsored by Mulalley,
and Signing of the Season, presented by S.14 Limited director Mark Pryke,
trophies at the recent Awards Dinner. "For myself I am pleased with the way
I have started my career at West Ham," the 25-year-old told West Ham TV.
"I'm happy overall and I think everyone should be because it's been a great
season overall. It's been very competitive and people shouldn't take credit
from Southampton or Reading because they have been brilliant. "It's been a
tough season but overall it has been very positive."
Winning two awards and scoring a Wembley winner were testament to the hard
work Vaz Te has put in to rebuild his career following his release by Bolton
Wanderers in 2010 - a club he had originally been brought to by Sam
Allardyce seven years previously. He played professionally in Greece and
Scotland in a bid to rediscover his best form and was rewarded first by
Barnsley last summer and then when he was reunited with Big Sam in January.
A haul of 24 goals in 42 appearances - just 30 of them starts - this term is
a statistic that speaks for itself. "Behind the scenes, people don't really
know what I've been through, but I don't feel sorry for myself. I did what I
had to do. Some people had a word with me and told me what I should do and I
did what I thought was right and now it's paying off, luckily! "I just want
to carry on, keep improving and stay humble and keep my feet on the ground."
One of those 24 goals was the sensational scissor-kick that completed his
hat-trick in the 6-0 home victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on 14 April -
a strike that won him the Goal of the Season award. "It was a fluke!" joked
Vaz Te, with a trademark wide smile on his face. "It was all right!"
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Barrera starts with a win
WHUFC.com
Pablo Barrera's Mexico started their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign
by beating Guyana 3-1
08.06.2012
Pablo Barrera started for Mexico in their opening 2014 FIFA World Cup
CONCACAF third round Group B qualifying win over Guyana on Friday. The West
Ham United winger had been a regular for El Tri in recent weeks, starting
victories over Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Brazil in the United States at
the end of May and beginning of June. That run continued as Barrera played
for 65 minutes as Guyana were beaten 3-1 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico
City. Former Fulham full-back Carlos Salcido and Tottenham Hotspur winger
Giovani Dos Santos were among the scorers. Barrera has now earned 48 senior
caps for Mexico since making his debut at the age of 20 in a friendly
meeting with Guatemala in October 2007, scoring six goals. He appeared three
times at the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa and was part of the
squads which won the 2009 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cups. Mexico are seeking to
qualify for their 15th FIFA World Cup finals, having reached the tournament
every time it has been held since 1994. Guyana, who feature former Newcastle
United striker Carl Cort up front, have never reached the tournament.
Next up, Jose Manuel de la Torre's side travel to El Salvador on 12 June and
Costa Rica 7 September before welcoming the latter on 11 September. The
third round concludes with a trip to Guyana on 12 October and the visit of
El Salvador on 16 October. The CONCACAF region also contains previous FIFA
World Cup finals participants United States, Jamaica and Canada, as well as
2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers Honduras. The top two nations in each of
three third-round groups will qualify for the fourth round group-stage,
where six teams will battle for three automatic qualifying places and one
intercontinental play-off berth against the first-place Oceania side -
likely to be Winston Reid's New Zealand.
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Busy pre-season for Development Squad
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon's side will play a host of warm-up fixtures at home and abroad
09.06.2012
West Ham United's Development Squad have a busy pre-season schedule to look
forward to ahead of the 2012/13 campaign. Ian Hendon's side will return to
Chadwell Heath on Monday 25 June before flying to Russia for the VTB Lev
Yashin Cup tournament in Moscow on 11 July. On their return to England, the
Development Squad will embark on a series of fixtures against non-league and
npower Football League opposition. The domestic fixtures will start with a
trip to Grays Athletic on Friday 20 July. Before the match, which kicks-off
at 7.45pm, Joint-Chairman David Sullivan will open Grays' new Rush Green
Stadium. Hakan Hayrettin's side, who finished fifth in Isthmian League
Division One last season, will welcome West Ham for the fourth time in five
years, having beaten the Hammers 2-1 in 2008, lost by the same scoreline in
2009 and gone down to a 5-1 defeat a year ago. Tickets will be priced at £10
for Adults and £5 for Concessions.
The following afternoon, the Development Squad will travel to Ship Lane to
take on Ryman League Premier Division side Thurrock on Saturday 21 July. The
Fleet have recently appointed Mark Stimson as manager as they seek to bounce
back from relegation from Blue Square Bet South last season. Tuesday 24 June
will see Hendon's team travel to Blue Square Bet Premier new boys Dartford
for a 7.45pm kick-off. The Darts finished second in the table and were
promoted following a 1-0 Play-Off final win over Welling in front of a crowd
of more than 4,000 at their Princes Park home. Welling will provide the
opposition for the Development Squad on Saturday 28 July at 3pm, when the
Development Squad will visit Park View Road.
August will see the Hammers travel to npower League Two AFC Wimbledon and
Northampton Town. The Dons will welcome Hendon's team on Saturday 4 August
for a 3pm kick-off at Kingsmeadow. Terry Brown's side finished 16th in
League Two last season and boast Academy graduate Callum McNaughton among
their ranks.
The Cobblers will play host to a West Ham XI at Sixfields on Tuesday 7
August at 7.45pm. Managed by Aidy Boothroyd, Northampton recovered from a
difficult start to the 2011/12 season to finish 20th in the League Two
table. Supporters should keep a close eye on whufc.com, @whufc_official on
twitter and the Club's official Facebook page for ticket details as and when
they are confirmed.
Development Squad pre-season fixtures
(All matches AWAY)
12-15 July - VTB Lev Yashin Cup (Moscow, Russia)
20 July - Grays Athletic (Rush Green Stadium, 7.45pm)
21 July - Thurrock (Ship Lane, 3pm)
24 July - Dartford (Princes Park, 7.45pm)
28 July - Welling (Park View Road, 3pm)
4 Aug - AFC Wimbledon (Kingsmeadow, 3pm)
7 Aug - Northampton Town (Sixfields, 7.45pm)
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What About Stech, Barrera & Montenegro-Martinez?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
Amidst the ongoing speculation about incoming deals, there are three players
contracted to the club who have major question marks over their future. The
players in question are Marek Stech, Paulo Barrera and Brian
Montehegro-Martinez. Stech is a young Czech keeper of unquestioned
potential. He has first team experience, mostly in cup matches, and he has
always given a very good account of himself. For some reason Ruud Boffin
seemed to get ahead of Stech in terms of covering for Rob Green over the
last couple of seasons. Latterly, he has found himself out on serial loans
to lower divison clubs.The rumour circulating was that he had refused a
contract extension and the terms of his move to West Ham meant that one more
first team appearance triggered a clause necessitating a £700,00 bonus
payment to the selling club in the Czech Republic. Is that true? I have no
idea, but it does seem to explain why he was not brought back from loan last
season, even after Boffin fell out of favour.
So, what is his contract situation? Is he just seeing out his current
contract before moving on a Bosman? I for one hope that this is not the
case. I would like to see him stayat the club and compete with Henderson and
Jaaskelainen for the keepers jersey. That would be an interesting stable of
keepers, with two good, young keepers backing up one of vast experience.
Would it work? I do not see why not. Both Henderson and Stech would learn a
great deal from working with Jussi and the incentive will be there for both
of them to compete to succeed him in the first team. I know that there is a
strong case of going for a third, more experienced keeper like Robinson or
Gordon, but if Stech stays we could possibly end up with
Jaaskelainen-Henderson-Stech as our first team squad goal keepers.
Pablo Barrera's situation is also intriguing. After a poor first season
under Grant's management, the club loaned Barrera to Spanish club, Real
Zaragosa, for the whole of last season. If he was signed on a three year
contact, then that means he is coming in to the final year of his current
deal. It is interesting that his recent performances with the Mexican
national team have been closely followed by the club website. It could just
be a 'filler' to put new news on the web in the quiet early summer period or
it could be a conscious policy to raise his profile with fans ahead of a
return next season. The latter scenerio seems unlikely, but stranger things
have happened. Certainly, if Barrera is in his final year then the club will
either be looking to agree an extension or will move him out for a fee of
some sort. If interested club cannot agree a deal with West Ham and decide
to wait for his contract to expire, then the club will have the choice of
either utilising him next season or getting him off the wage bill with
another season long loan. Barrera's situation is interesting and we will
have to see which way that one goes?
A third player with a current question mark over his future is South
American loanee Brian Montenegro-martinez, whose one year loan deal is due
to expire soon. No doubt the loan deal came with an option to buy this
summer. Montenegro-Martinez is only 18 years of age and featured regularly
for the Development Squad last season. During those games he impressed with
his skill, pace and goal scoring ability. I would hope that the club will
have seen enough to agree a deal for the young goal scoring winger, but we
shall have to see? It would seem that Christian Montano has earnt a new
cotract with the club, so it remains to be seen if there is room for both of
them at the club?
Finally, a word on Sam Baldock's position. There are various rumours that
the club will either sell Baldock or put him out on loan next season. The
strongest speculation is that Baldock's future is tied up with West Ham's
negotiations for Palace's Wilfred Zaha. The story is that Palace want
Baldock on a permanent deal, in part-exchange for Zaha. While the Hammers
are offering a higher fee for Zaha and Baldock on a one year loan. I could
certainly see West Ham being tempted to sacrifice Baldock in order to land a
player of Zaha's ability, but it all depends how highly Allardyce and co
rate Baldock's potential. We shall see, but there is little doubt that
Baldock would benefit from a season of regular football at Championship
level. It would probably answer many of the questions about his potential,
but if a part-exchange deal was the only way that we could land Zaha, would
that force the club's hand?
SJ. Chandos.
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Sport Football Transfer News QPR transfer news
By Brian McNally 1 Comment 9 Jun 2012 21:30
Tug of War: Hughes and Allardyce battle for Bhoys star
The Mirror
London rivals Queen's Park Rangers and West Ham United are set to bid for
Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama. The 20-year-old Kenyan international has
stunned the Scottish Premier League champions by telling them that he wants
to test himself in England's top-flight after a successful first season at
Parkhead. But Celtic will slap a £7million fee on Wanyama, a bargain
£900,000 buy from Belgian outfit Beerschot AC last summer, as he still has
three years to run on his contract. Now QPR's Mark Hughes and Hammers boss
Sam Allardyce will go to head-to-head to try and lure him to the Capital.
Wanyama's preferred position is central midfield anchor man but he also
starred in defence when Celtic boss Neil Lennon used him as a centre back.
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Going Green: West Brom in the hunt for keeper
Now the Hawthorns outfit join a long list of clubs courting West Ham's out
of contract stopper
The Mirror
Steve Clarke wants West Brom to join the cluster of clubs chasing England
goalkeeper Robert Green. New boss Clarke starts work at The Hawthorns
tomorrow knowing he has to sort out a replacement for Ben Foster, after
his loan spell from Birmingham. Albion fear they can't afford the £5m fee
that their Championship neighbours will be seeking and won't be able to
match the wages Foster will be offered by Queen's Park Rangers. So Green,
available on a free transfer from West Ham, is the answer. Newly-promoted
Southampton are also keen on the 32-year-old, but Clarke worked closely with
him during his time as No2 to Gianfranco Zola at Upton Park. He believes he
can convince Green that Albion can build on last season's top 10 finish.
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Jussi the man for the Hammers
Football365
Jussi Jaaskelainen has rejected Bolton's new contract offer, and will link
up with old boss Sam Allardyce at West Ham, according to reports. The
Icelandic stopper has reportedly penned a two-year deal at Upton Park, after
rejecting the Wanderer's offer to stay in Lancashire on less money,
according to reports in the Daily Mirror.
The veteran keeper is set to leave the Reebok stadium after 15 years with
the Trotters, where he has made over 500 appearances in all competitions.
Allardyce has chosen Jaaskelainen to replace the outgoing England goalkeeper
Robert Green, who failed to agree a new deal with the Hammers. Bolton boss
Owen Coyle will now look at several options to give competition to current
number one Adam Bogdan, with Leed's Andy Lonergan a reported target.
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