Daily WHUFC News - 3rd June 2012

Taylor thanks fans
WHUFC.com
Midfielder Matt Taylor cannot wait to play in front of the Hammers faithful
in the Premier League
02.06.2012

West Ham United midfielder Matthew Taylor has spoken of his immense delight
at winning the Play-Off final against Blackpool at Wembley. The midfielder
played at Wembley last season with Bolton Wanderers when the Trotters lost
5-0 in an FA Cup Semi-Final against Stoke City. Taylor said it was fantastic
to rid himself of the demons of that particular afternoon. "When Vaz Te
scored, I did lose it a bit I think! I ran off and kicked about three
cameras stands over, I was so delirious when he scored; it just meant so
much not only to me, but everyone who works and is connected to our club.
"When Howard Webb blew the final whistle, it was such a great feeling.
Previously I had played at Wembley before for Bolton and we got beaten 5-0
so it was nice to go back there and win in front of our fans and the way we
did it by scoring in the last few minutes for the first time this season was
incredible."

Taylor was also keen to point out the impact and influence the West Ham
United fans had on proceedings at Wembley. The 30-year-old was pleased to be
able to give something back to the fans who he says were fantastic all
season. "The fans at Wembley were brilliant; it gives you a massive buzz
when you have 40,000 or so fans cheering you on, it was brilliant and I'd
like to say a big thank-you to them on how they got behind the team."

Taylor said, "The whole day was amazing for everyone concerned, it was just
so nice we could give them something to cheer about this season and we are
back where we wanted to be, We are so lucky to have them as our supporters
and hopefully they will be just as lucky for us next season too!"

Taylor is now looking forward to a well-deserved few weeks off from the
football. However, 'Matty' still has sights firmly set on next season and is
determined to be ready to go come August. "It's going to be nice now to get
away and recharge the batteries for what will be a difficult season next
year. Now is the time to reflect on the great season we had, and then step
up the exercise and keep ticking over until we are back in full training.
But firstly I am looking forward to a well-earned rest and time with my
family."

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Big Sam's big year
WHUFC.com
June 1 2012 marked exactly a year since Big Sam's arrival in east London
31.05.2012

The first of June 2011 saw Sam Allardyce sign a two-year deal with West Ham
United to become the Club's new manager. After his first 12 months in charge
at the Boleyn Ground, Big Sam can look back on his opening year in the East
End with a sense of pride and achievement. From his signing of Kevin Nolan
just two weeks after his arrival to smashing the club record for away league
wins to guiding the Hammers to their npower Championship Play-Off final
victory over Blackpool at Wembley, it has been a year full of highs.
Arriving days after West Ham had been relegated to the Championship, the new
manager's brief was to ensure a swift return to the top flight. Big Sam
began by rebuilding the squad by signing captain Nolan and the experienced
Abdoulaye Faye, Matthew Taylor and Joey O'Brien in the space of month. By
the end of the summer transfer window, Big Sam had added striker John Carew,
Sam Baldock, Papa Bouba Diop and Guy Demel on permanent contracts and George
McCartney, David Bentley and Henri Lansbury on season-long loan deals. The
season began well for West Ham with Big Sam's first win coming in the second
game of the season courtesy of a 1-0 victory at Doncaster Rovers thanks to
Nolan's first goal for the club. From the middle of October until the end of
the year, Big Sam kept the Hammers in the top two of the npower Championship
table with impressive wins at home to Blackpool, Leicester City and Derby
County and away at Brighton and Hove Albion, Hull City and Middlesbrough.
The January transfer window saw Big Sam add some real striking quality to
the squad with the acquisitions of Ricardo Vaz Te from Barnsley and Nicky
Maynard from Bristol City.

February saw the Hammers pick up eight points out of 12, despite going down
to ten men in three of their four games. The Hammers beat Millwall 2-1 at
home, drew 1-1 with Southampton and won 4-1 away at Blackpool despite having
to field midfielder Lansbury in goal after Robert Green's dismissal. Good
Friday marked one of Big Sam's proudest moments as a 4-0 win away at
Barnsley saw the Hammers break the club record for most away league wins in
a season. The record had stood at eleven wins since the 1957/58 season and
now stands at 13 thanks to a 2-1 victory at Leicester City in April.

Big Sam saved the best until last as he guided West Ham to a 5-0 aggregate
victory over Cardiff in the Play-Off semi-finals before beating Blackpool
2-1 in the final to secure a dream return to the Premier League at the first
attempt. Carlton Cole and Vaz Te got the goals at Wembley before Big Sam
called the win his proudest achievement as a manager.

With his second year in charge now underway, Big Sam and his staff are
already plotting the Hammers' path to further success in the Premier League
next season. As the now famous saying goes 'Nothing Beats Being Back'!

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Winger 'in talks' with West Ham
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 2nd June 2012
By: Staff Writer

That is according to Sunderland's out-of-favour Ahmed Elmohamady and an
Egyptian news website... The 24-year-old Egyptian international has spent
the last two years with Sunderland and was part of the national squad that
won both the 2008 and 2010 African Nations Cup tournaments. However since
the arrival of current boss Martin O'Neill midway through last season,
Elmohamady has slipped down the pecking order and made just four Premier
League appearances since January - all as a substitute - for the north east
club. As a result, the player - who was briefly linked with Arsenal last
month - has set his sights on a move further afield and according to ahram
online, could be on his way to east London. "West Ham are in talks with me.
There could be something next week," Elmohamady is reported to have told
Modern Sports in a 'brief phone interview' following Egypt's 2-0 World Cup
qualifying victory over Mozambique last night. Born in Basyoun in 1987, the
player began his pro career in 2004 with Egyptian Premier League outfit
Ghazl El-Mahalla and was a permanent fixture in the first team from the age
of 17. In 2006 he switched allegiances to another Egyptian side, the
wonderfully-named Engineering for the Petroleum and Process Industries Club
(aka ENPPI) with whom he remained until 2010 when Sunderland took him to the
Stadium of Light on loan. Despite interest from other clubs such as West
Brom and Belgian side Club Brugge, Elmohamady joined the Black Cats -
initially on loan - in July 2010. After making an impressive start his move
was made permanent in March of the following year when then-manager Steve
Bruce exercised a £2million clause in his contract.

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Jussi deal done
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 2nd June 2012
By: Staff Writer

Bolton reserve goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen is set to join West Ham on a
short term contract, it has been revealed. Sam Allardyce is understood to
have moved for his former charge at the Reebok Stadium after talks with
current number one Robert Green stalled. According to a source at the club,
Green was offered double his current salary but refused that offer - and now
looks certain to leave east London after six years with United.

As a result, the Hammers have moved for the Finnish international, who
retired from international football three years ago - despite returning
briefly in 2010.
Jaaskelainen, and who lost his place in relegated Bolton's first team last
season to Adam Bogdan has spent 15 years with the Trotters having signed for
them way back in 1997 - the same year that KUMB first went online. Now 37,
he is understood to have rejected the offer of a one-year contract with
Bolton and is poised to team up with Allardyce once again at the Boleyn
Ground. Jaaskelainen is set to undergo a medical next week with view to
signing an initial one-year deal.

Jussi Jaaskelainen: career stats

1992-1995: Mikkelin Palloilijat - Pld 64 (0)
1996-1997: Vaasan Palloseura - Pld 54 (0)
1997-2012: Bolton Wanderers - Pld 529 (0)

1998-2010: Finland - Pld 56 (0)

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Striker light?
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 2nd June 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham are said to have had a bid of £3million for Norwich striker grant
Holt rejected. And manager Sam Allardyce has also been linked with a move
for Real Madrid youngster Joselu. Holt, who enjoyed a fantastic season for
the Canaries last year, scoring 15 goals in the process, informed his
current club last week that he was hoping to leave the club as a result of
personal differences. And that alerted West Ham who are reported to have
placed a £3million bid for his services - an opening offer that is said to
have been dismissed. Meanwhile the Daily Mail report today that West Ham are
taking a close look at Castilla's 22-year-old Joselu, a German-born forward
who joined Real Madrid's B-team in 2009. Joselu - who has lived in Spain
since the age of four - began his professional career with Celta in 2008
before being snapped up by Madrid a year later. Immediately loaned back to
Celta for the 2009-10 campaign, the 6'3" striker - who has made just two
appearances (one as a substitute) for Real has represented Spain at under
19, under 20 and under 21 level.

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Jussi Joins & Green Goes
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

Jack Sullivan has tweeted that Jussi Jaskalainen will sign for West Ham next
week subject to a medical. In a further tweet he seems to suggest that West
Ham have now lost patience with Rob Green and are resigned to him leaving.

"We have try with green double his wage but some time you have to move on :(
and henderson is a great keeper too."

If true, this is a great shame. But I do wonder if Robert Green might be
overplaying his hand. Great keeper though he undoubtedly is, there wasn't
exactly a rish of clubs beating West Ham's door to sign him last summer, was
there? What would be the point in leaving Upton Park to join the likes of
QPR, unless, of course, you are solely motivated by money? If Arsenal or one
of the top five clubs come knocking, then fine, but QPR? Really?

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Baggies in for England's Green as Hammers contract nears its end
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 21:44 GMT, 2 June 2012 | UPDATED: 21:44 GMT, 2 June 2012
Daily Mail

England's Rob Green could be unsettled as West Brom try to sign him. His
West Ham deal expires next month and contract talks have stalled over his
wage demands, allowing Albion to step in. Green, 32, has 12 senior caps for
England and is in the squad for Euro 2012.

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Sunderland's Ahmed Elmohamady 'in talks' with West Ham United
Guardian Series
4:13pm Saturday 2nd June 2012 in News

Ahmed Elmohamady has claimed he could complete a move to West Ham next week.
The out-of-favour Sunderland winger is currently on international duty with
Egypt and speaking after a 2-0 victory over Mozambique in a World Cup
qualifier on Friday, he reportedly said: "West Ham are in talks with me.
There could be something next week."
The 24-year-old has fallen out of favour at the Stadium of Light since
manager Martin O'Neill took over in December and there have been reports
linking him with a return to the Egyptian Premier League.

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West Ham United offer for Norwich City's Grant Holt reportedly rejected amid
links to Real Madrid forward
Guardian Series
11:52am Saturday 2nd June 2012 in News

West Ham have had a £4.5m offer for Norwich City striker Grant Holt rejected
and have now turned their attention to Real Madrid striker Joselu, according
to the Daily Mail. The forward, who scored 15 goals last season, has made it
clear he wants to leave Carrow Road despite having a transfer request turned
down. The bid for Holt was reportedly rejected and Sam Allardyce is said to
have also seen a loan offer for the Real Madrid B forward refused, meaning
the Hammers may have to pay up to £7m to sign him on a permanent basis. The
22-year-old made just the one substitute appearance for Madrid's first team
in the last campaign.

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