Jussi eager to get started
WHUFC.com
Jussi Jaaskelainen is looking forward to joining up with his new team-mates at the start of pre-season
16.06.2012
Jussi Jaaskelainen has confessed that he cannot wait for his first training session with his new West Ham United team-mates. The Finland international goalkeeper has agreed personal terms with the Hammers and will join on 1 July - the day Sam Allardyce and his squad return for the first day of pre-season training. Jaaskelainen, West Ham United's second goalkeeping signing of the summer, will then be offered the perfect opportunity to get to know his new team-mates as the squad fly out for a week's intensive training break in Austria the very next day. Here, the former Bolton Player of the Year looks ahead to the new season in an exclusive Q+A with whufc.com.
Welcome to West Ham, how are you feeling?
JJ: I am delighted to have joined. After spending 15 years in Bolton it's a great challenge and I'm looking forward to it.
How did the move come about?
JJ: It happened very quickly. I have worked under Big Sam before and when I heard West Ham were interested I didn't think twice. I asked my agent to arrange it as quickly as possible. Sometimes you're very lucky when things happen and I'm delighted.
You obviously know the manager from your time at Bolton. Was he a big reason you wanted to join?
JJ: It's great working with Big Sam and I like the way he manages the players on the field and off the field and how he manages the staff. When you play in the Premier League at the top level, every little detail needs to be looked after and he's one of the best men at doing that. The manager was a big factor in me coming here and challenging myself.
What was it that appealed to you about joining West Ham?
JJ: The fans get behind the team really well and they always have a good following at away games. Hopefully I can go on to do a very good for them. It was a big thing to be able to stay in the Premier League as well.
With some other talented goalkeepers at the club, we assume you'll be coming here to fight for the No1 jersey won't you?
JJ: At the start of pre-season we all start at the same place and hopefully I can play at the level I've been playing at over the years. When pre-season starts we will all be working hard and I'm ready for it and looking forward to it.
What are you hoping to achieve with the club?
JJ: It will be a new challenge. The deal is for one year with a possible second year and our very first goal has to be to make sure that we keep West Ham United in the Premier League. We can then start to build for the future and hopefully I can be a big part of the start of that.
You're an experienced goalkeeper, what will that add to the squad?
JJ: That's the thing. I'm 37 and I think I've got at least three or four more years left yet. One important reason why I wanted to come to West Ham is that I know Big Sam looks after the players in the right way and the right manner. Hopefully I can extend my stay longer than the first year or two.
Finally, have you got any message for the fans and staff at Bolton where you spent 15 years?
JJ: Well, firstly I appreciate Bolton giving me permission to speak to West Ham before my contract was up and for the efforts the Chairman made in trying to get me to stay. I would like to thank the fans for all their support over the years and I will continue to be a fan. I wish the players and, in particular, Owen Coyle, all the best in gaining promotion at the first attempt . Most importantly I would like to thank Eddie Davies, the owner, Chairman Phil Gartside, Fred Barber, my long-term goalkeeping coach, and all the staff at the club for all of the support and guidance they have shown my family and I.
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Fixtures out on Monday
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Premier League fixtures will be confirmed on Monday morning
15.06.2012
The waiting is nearly over as West Ham United's fixtures for the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League season will be released on Monday morning at 9am. Just under a month after the Hammers secured the most dramatic of promotions from the npower Championship by beating Blackpool 2-1 at Wembley in the Play-Off final, Sam Allardyce and his squad will find out how their return to England's top tier will shape up.
The visits of champions Manchester City and their local rivals Manchester United to the Boleyn Ground are sure to be one of the first fixtures fans will look out for, as will the derby-day dates with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. Queens Park Rangers' second season in the Premier League means West Ham fans can now look forward to no less than ten London derbies at home and away in 2012/13.
Subscribers to the official West Ham United SMS service will be the first to get the key fixtures sent to them, but then whufc.com and the club's official twitter and Facebook pages will have all of the news and reaction from the people that matter at 9am. Remember a West Ham United Season Ticket is the best way to secure your seat for every single home game and with new applications well up on previous years, fans are advised to move fast to avoid missing out. To buy yours today, click the image below.
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Happy Hutch
WHUFC.com
Don Hutchison believes West Ham United can flourish in the Barclays Premier League next season
15.06.2012
Don Hutchison is optimistic that West Ham United have the right tools to flourish in the Barclays Premier League. Hutchison, who was back at the Boleyn Ground this week to manage a team of Royal Marines against a side coached by Tony Gale, believes Sam Allardyce's squad possesses the right blend of youth and experience to thrive in 2012/13. "The Championship was a hard division to get out of, but I think Sam has done a fantastic job," Hutchison told West Ham TV. "They did it the hard way by coming through the Play-Offs, which was a bit nerve-wracking, but it's great to be back in the Premier League. "I think the Premier League will benefit from having a club like West Ham back in there with their fans and the revenue they will bring. It's great to see everyone with smiles on their faces again. "Sam has brought in Jussi Jaaskelainen who has plenty of experience and what we are looking for is to see what type of players Sam wants to bring in. "This will be a different test for the boys and a different test for Sam. He's obviously been there with Bolton and Blackburn before. "We've got some good experienced players and a bit of youth as well. Mark Noble is a good one to have around the place and if we can get service to Carlton Cole he'll score goals. I think Sam just needs to tweak it slightly. I think the starting XI is a very, very good side but we need to strengthen the squad."
The former Hammers and Scotland attacking midfielder also called for supporters to be patient and not to expect too much, too soon on the Club's return to the top flight. "There are lots of top sides in the Premier League. There are sides in that league who are going to cause problems, so the fans have to be patient. What we don't want is West Ham going without a win for two or three games and there being a bit of disgruntlement around the place - the fans have to stick with them and trust the manager. "If it gets to the end of the season and it hasn't worked, then they have a right to have a little go, but they have got to be pro-active at the start of the season and get behind them."
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Freedman a fan of Baldock
Palace boss also says there has been no movement on Martin
Last Updated: June 15, 2012 7:24pm
SSN
Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman says Sam Baldock is a 'very good player', but insists there has been no contact over a move for the West Ham United striker. Baldock joined the Hammers on a four-year contract from MK Dons in August last year and scored five goals in 23 Championship appearances last season.
However, he did not start a game after mid-January and is tipped to be allowed out on a season-long loan following West Ham's return to the Premier League.
Charlton Athletic and Ipswich Town have also been linked with a bid, and Freedman suggested the 23-year-old is the type of forward he would be interested in.
Freedman told the Croydon Advertiser: "Sam is a very good young player, but we have not made any contact with West Ham." The Palace boss also confirmed there had been no developments on a deal to bring Chris Martin back to Selhurst Park after he impressed on loan from Norwich City last term. He added: "He did very well for us, but nothing has happened there at all."
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Rob Green's Exit - A Personal Point of View
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
If the latest reports are to be believed, Robert Green is on the verge of agreeing a Bosman move to QPR. It has been reported that Green has agreed a three year deal worth £40,000 a week. And QPR representatives have flown out to the Euro-Championships, where Green is currently on England duty, to clinch the deal. This is despite alternative interest from Spurs and WBA, who have either not pursued their initial interest or have been beaten to the punch by QPR.
No doubt financially it is a very good deal for Green. Not only does he get a reported £40,000 a week basic wage, but as a Bosman he also gets to negotiate his signing on fee, which will be substantial. In footballing terms, who knows? He is likely to play on a regular basis at QPR, something that is not guaranteed at a club like Spurs. A lot will depend on whether QPR are able to substantially strengthen their squad this summer and avoid a repeat of last season's PL struggles. Will West Ham out perform QPR in next season's PL? Obviously, It depends on our success in the transfer market and the ability of key current players to perform in the PL? Many neutrals will interprete this as a sideways move for Rob Green, in terms of the respective prospects of both club's next season.
I personally think that we Hammers supporters should wish Green well and bid him a fond farewell, without bitterness or grudge. West Ham obviously had the option to sign him on a new deal and decided that they could not meet his wage demands. So he has walked and is apparently in the process of joining a club that has met his valuation of his worth; as well as securing a Bosman signing on fee. And who can blame him in all honesty? Rumour has it that Green was the lowest paid senior professional at the club, which is surprising when you consider the consistency of his performances and his ongoing importance to us. There have been rumours over the last two seasons concerning a new deal for Green, only for talks between player and club to apparently break down, or be suspended, depending on what version you have heard! Regardless, the new deal did not materialise and the 11th hour bid to reach agreement ultimately proved abortive.
For the initial £2m fee, we got six seasons of sterling service. Green did very well for us, with his characteristic reaction saves. Every season, he pulled off wonder saves from opposition efforts that had 'goal written all over them.' In that sense, he definitely saved us points most seasons. Even in the dire relegation season of 2010-11 he was one of thevery few West Ham players to emerge with any credit. And thereafter, even though Green's future remained uncertain, he put in another committed series of performances last season. Green's final contribution to the club being his performance against Blackpool in the Play-off Final at Wembley. A key moment being that close range, near post, save from Scott Dobie in the early stages of the match. However, Rob Green's finest hour was doubtedly his vital contribution to the great escape of 2006-07. In particular, who can ever forget his performance against Arsenal, at the Emirates, that guaranteed our 0-1 win and a very unlikely 3 points. It was undoubtedly one of the finest displays of goal keeping that I have ever witnessed and will forever be enshrined in Hammers folklore.
Some wll argue that Green has his weaknesses as a keeper. Most commonly cited is his alleged failure to consistently command his area and collect high ball in to the box. That may be true, but it must also be admitted that he has some countervailing attributes that have to be recognised and given due weight. The bottom line is that Green was a good servant to the club and we should honour his past contribution. Time will tell if it is a good move, in football terms, for him; as well as determine whether West Ham have made a major mistake in not meeting his contract demands? But the truth is the club is bigger than any one player and there will always come a time when there has to be a parting of the ways, even for the greatest and most loyal of Hammers players.
Lets bid Rob Green a fond farewell and look to the future. I must admit that I would have preferred to keep him at the club, but it was not to be. So, a new goal keeping era opens with hope and optimism. The Goal keeper is the foundation building block of all good sides, upon which the defence is constructed. Jussi, Henderson and any other keeper that we recruit must rise to the challenge, next season, of filling the gap created by the departure of a good Hammers custodian! Upwards and onwards! COYI !
SJ. Chandos.
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Is the Potential Signing of Guti a Good Move?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
West Ham are supposedly offering ex-Real Madrid veteran, Guti, a trial this summer. Guti is 35 years of age and was released by his club in the Turkish league, last season, before the end of his contract. In recent months he has not been attached to another club and consequently has been inactive playing wise. Guti was previously a very successful footballer with Real Madrid, over a number of years, winning multiple Spanish titles and the Champions League, but is he still good enough for the EPL? It may be that Guti will be Sam Allardyce's elder statesman in the dressing room, a vastly experienced player who can give advice and impact from the bench. Certainly Allardyce used quality, older professionals well during his time at Bolton Wanderers, perhaps this is him adopting the same approach.
My own view is that I am not prepared to condemn the move until we know what the player has left in the tank and what he has to offer the club. Presumably Sam Allardyce has taken the same view, hence his trail over the pre-season period. Sam Allardyce knows how to use these older professionals, in the latter stages of their careers, to good effect. He proved that at Bolton. So I would advise that we wait and see on this one.
How do other Hammers fans initially view the move, a smart, very experienced addition to the Squad or a deal best avoided, as the player is likelyto be well past his best? Or perhaps you have also adopted a wait and see position?
SJ. Chandos.
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WEST HAM EXPECTED TO MAKE IMPROVED BIP FOR GRANT HOLT
Daily Express
Sunday June 17,2012
By Daily Express Reporter
WEST HAM are expected to make an increased offer of £4million tomorrow for Norwich City's unsettled striker Grant Holt. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce, looking to bring in at least five new players, has already agreed a deal to sign Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and is close to landing Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha.
And former Real Madrid midfielder, Guti says he also expects to join the Upton Park club on their return to the Premier League.
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Former West Ham stopper Green set to complete QPR switch
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 22:42, 16 June 2012 | UPDATED: 22:42, 16 June 2012
Daily Mail
QPR will wrap up a deal for West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green while the 32-year-old is on England duty at Euro 2012. And manager Mark Hughes has also persuaded Spurs defender Ryan Nelsen to join him at Loftus Road. Green left West Ham on a Bosman and his representatives have agreed a £40,000-aweek contract that will allow QPR keeper Paddy Kenny to go to Leeds United.
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Hammers seek Elia and Castaignos
By Football Italia staff
FootballItalia.net
West Ham are not only in talks with Juventus for Eljero Elia, but also reportedly discussing Luc Castaignos with Inter. Manager Sam Allardyce was spotted earlier this week in a meeting with Juve director Fabio Paratici. It was believed he was in negotiations to sign both Elia and Milos Krasic, although it appears the Dutch winger is now the primary target for around €8m. According to Italian sources, the Hammers are also talking to Inter with the possibility of taking forward Castaignos for €7m.
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Diame passes cardiac medical as West Ham close in on midfielder
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 20:00, 15 June 2012 | UPDATED: 20:00, 15 June 2012
Daily Mail
Mohamed Diame has passed a cardiac medical with a London specialist as talks continue over a move to West Ham. Sunderland and Aston Villa remain interested in the former Wigan midfielder, 24, but Sam Allardyce is in pole position.
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Former Real Madrid midfielder Guti set for West Ham move
CHARLES HIGSON SMITH FRIDAY 15 JUNE 2012
The Independent
Ex-Real Madrid midfeilder Guti could be set for a move to Upton park, with the 35-year-old currently in talks with West Ham manager Sam Allardyce. Guti reportedly told Goal.com: "Yes West Ham are interested but nothing is decided yet. We are negotiating." In an attempt to avoid an immediate return to the Championship, Allardyce is trying to bring as much experience as possible to the club. Having already signed Jussi Jasskelainen earlier this week, Guti would be a valuable addition.
The Spaniard won La Liga five times and the Champions league three times with Real Madrid. One of Guti's representatives, Barry O'Connor, told The Sun: "West Ham will make a final decision before the next season starts. I cannot discuss what terms could be offered." Guti would move on a free transfer since his contract at Besiktas has expired.
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