Daily WHUFC News - 9th June 2012

Frank backs Big Sam to flourish
WHUFC.com
Frank McAvennie believes Sam Allardyce is the perfect manager to lead the
Hammers in the Premier League
08.06.2012

West Ham United great Frank McAvennie believes Sam Allardyce will help the
Hammers to consolidate their place in the Barclays Premier League next
season.
McAvennie, who was back at the Boleyn Ground recently to host his annual
11-a-side Tournament, believes Big Sam has the experience and knowledge
required to ensure his beloved West Ham don't spend next season battling
against relegation. Speaking exclusively to whufc.com. the Scot was also
delighted to meet so many smiling supporters still enjoying Saturday's
npower Championship Play-Off final win at Wembley.

It's a good time to be a West Ham United fan, isn't it Frank?

FMc - It's a great time! I came down here for my tournament but I couldn't
make it down for the final, so I watched it on TV. We didn't play too well
but we won and Big Sam is happy, I'm happy and everyone is happy. It'll be a
good summer for everyone. It's great for me and my tournament. I had three
tournaments on the Wednesday and played and scored in the morning! It was
brilliant. We won 1-0 and Macca did it again! It was the first time my team
had won in about five years! We played against some Spurs fans and I got a
few kicks, but it was worth it. I played for a team of Celtic fans who came
down from Scotland too, which was fun but tiring. Never mind, though, I'll
get by!

So, did you watch the final at home and hide behind the sofa when Blackpool
equalised?

FMc - I spent the whole day watching West Ham at home. I watched the whole
game, I suffered it! It was worth it. They had a couple of chances but over
the course of the season we deserved to go up and Blackpool didn't. I'm
happy. We didn't play too well. Blackpool were the better side, but
sometimes to win trophies you need luck and we rode ours! Over the course of
the season, I thought we deserved to go up. We beat Blackpool twice and the
way we played against Cardiff City [in the Play-Off semi-finals] was enough
to show me we deserved to go up. If you asked West Ham fans if they wanted
to go up automatically or if they could guarantee going up in the Play-Offs,
they would rather go through the Play-Offs and have a day out at Wembley. It
was a nerve-wracking time for sure. West Ham is a Premier League club and
Big Sam is at home in the Premier League so I'm looking forward to see what
he brings to the table next year.

What do West Ham United need to do next to consolidate their position in the
Barclays Premier League?

FMc - I think everyone knows we have got to spend a bit of money and bring
in some quality players. We have got to bring in good players because we
have got the nucleus of a good side. I like the boy [James] Tomkins, I think
he is an excellent player. There are a few boys who Big Sam can build his
team around so I'm looking forward to seeing who he'll bring in. Jack
Collison has been playing well and Mark Noble has been running miles for us.
I went to see Sam a lot when he was in charge at Bolton and he brought some
quality players in. He knows what he is doing. He said he was going to get
us out of the Championship and he's done it. Now we can build for future and
consolidate because if we are going to the Olympic Stadium then we need to
stay in the Premier League.

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Pre-season details confirmed
WHUFC.com
Ticket prices for trips to Southend United, Colchester United and Ipswich
Town have been finalised
08.06.2012

Ticket details for West Ham United's pre-season matches at Southend United,
Colchester United and Ipswich Town have now been confirmed. The Hammers will
travel down the A13 to take on npower League Two side Southend on Saturday
14 July before heading up the A12 to face npower League One outfit
Colchester United a week later on Saturday 21 July.
After spending a week in Germany, the squad will return to England and head
for Portman Road to take on the npower Championship Tractor Boys on Saturday
4 August. All three fixtures will kick-off at 3pm.
Paul Sturrock's Shrimpers enjoyed a decent 2011/12 season, finishing fourth
in the table and just a point shy of automatic promotion. Southend were
beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Crewe Alexandra in the Play-Off semi-finals.
John Williams' Colchester also had a productive campaign last term,
finishing in an impressive tenth position in League One, while Paul Jewell's
Ipswich did the double over West Ham on their way to finishing 15th in the
Championship table.

West Ham supporters have been allocated 2,100 tickets for the visit to Roots
Hall, 1,700 for the Club's first-ever trip to the Weston Homes Community
Stadium and up to 4,000 for the journey to Suffolk.
With tickets starting from as little as £10 for Adult Season Ticket holders
and £15 for non-Season Ticket holders, all three fixtures are set to see
high demand following the Hammers' promotion to the Barclays Premier League.
Full details of for the Southend match can be found here, information
regarding the Colchester fixture can be found here, while Ipswich ticket
details can be found here.
Supporters planning to travel to Germany to watch the prestige pre-season
fixture at 2.Bundesliga side SG Dynamo Dresden on Friday 27 July can
purchase tickets for the game at the Glucksgas Arena by clicking here.

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Barrera starts World Cup quest
WHUFC.com
Pablo Barrera's Mexico start their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign
against Guyana tonight
08.06.2012

Pablo Barrera will hope to start when Mexico host Guyana in Mexico City in
their opening 2014 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF third round Group B qualifying
fixture this evening. The West Ham United winger has 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. Barrera
has earned 47 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. After Friday's visit of Guyana, 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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Hammers eye full back
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 8th June 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham have made an enquiry into the availability of Charlton Player of
the Year Chris Solly. The 21-year-old right-sided defender was a regular
fixture in Chris Powell's League One-winning side last season and made 48
appearances for the Addicks as they romped to the third division title.
KUMB.com understands that the Hammers approached Athletic earlier in the
week with view to taking Solly on a permanent basis - however Charlton are
keen on taking the out-of-favour Sam Baldock to the Valley in part-exchange.
Rochester-born Solly made his debut for Charlton at the age of 18 on the
final day of the 2008/09 season, but it was only when regular right-back
Carl Jenkinson fell out of favour in March 2011 that he became a regular
member of the first team. Also named as Young Player of the Year by the
club's management team, Solly is the first Charlton player to win both
accolades in the same season since Addicks legend Richard Rufus back in
1995. Meanwhile the Hammers are understood to have been similarly frustrated
in their purported interest in Crystal Palace winger Wilfred Zaha. The
highly-rated 19-year-old is said to have been the target of interest from
West Ham but Palace are not thought to be interested in parting company with
the Ivorian unless a substantial transfer fee is involved. Zaha, who had
been watched by a number of Premier League teams in recent months is
understood to be valued around the £10million mark by the Palace board.

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Something old, something new
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 7th June 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham are set to confirm the signing of two new players within the next
72 hours. Goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and young full-back Nathan
Mabi-Mavila are both on the verge as being announced as the club's latest
recruits having agreed terms within the past few days. The veteran Finnish
goalkeeper agreed terms last week and earlier this week completed a medical
ahead of his free transfer from relegated Bolton Wanderers. Meanwhile news
of the arrival of Mabi-Mavila - who is less than half the age of his fellow
new Hammer - was announced on the KUMB Forum earlier this afternoon.

The young left-sided full-back, who arrives at West Ham from Wycombe
Wanderers' youth team confirmed confirmed via his Twitter account yesterday
that a deal had been struck, although heis yet to undergo a medical. Having
featured for the Chairboys in the Youth Alliance South East Conference last
season, West Ham have high hopes that Mavila can make the step up in class.

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Top Twenty West Ham Transfer Rumours
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

So, here is a roundup of the latest transfer rumours from the papers,
Bradley Palmer and Clunge. I do think some false hares are being set
running. But that's all the fun of the transfer window. The one thing we do
know is that eight or nine new players will be coming in and I'd bet there
will be the odd sale as well...

1. We're apparently in negotiation with Crystal Palace for Zaha and are
offering Sam Baldock on a one year loan, as part of a £5 million deal.
2. Hull City are set to table a £3.5 million bid for Sam Baldock.
3. We are bidding for Yakubu and/or Kenwyne Jones.
4. We are bidding for Real Madrid reserve strike Joselu, plus an unnamed
foreign striker, according to Jack Sullivan.
5. Tottenham want to steal, sorry sign sign James Tomkins for £5 million.
6. QPR, West Brom, Southampton and Tottenham are all interested in Rob
Green.
7. If Rob Green leaves, West Ham will try to sign Paul Robinson, giving us
an impressive trio of goalkeepers.
8. We are looking at Leeds winger Rob Snodgrass as an alternative to Zaha.
9. Matt Jarvis and Michael Kightly from Wolves are said to be of interest.
10. Charlton full back Chris Solly is said by KUMB to interest the Hammers,
but Charlton are demanding Sam Baldock in part exchange.
11. Sixteen year old Wycombe left back Nathan Mabi-Mavila is close to
signing for West Ham.
12. Yossi Benayoun could return to Upton Park, or, depending on who you
believe, he is heading for Ajax.
13. Celtic striker Gary Hooper and Rangers forward Stephen Naismith are also
said to interest West Ham, as does Norwich hitman Grant Holt.
14. Demba Ba .... no, it's really stupid to even contemplate it, but some
people believe he may come back. And pigs might fly.
15. Argentine International Claudio Yacob is said to be interesting West
Ham, Arsenal and Manchester United.
16. Loic Remy, a previous target for West Ham and Spurs is said to be the
subject of a £12 million bid from West Ham. Er, right....
17. Freddie Sears will be sold, possibly to Colchester United.
18. Christopher Samba is a defensive target. He is apparently not happy in
Russia.
19. Nicolas Anelka wants to join us but won't take a cut in wages from £200k
to £40k a week. Who'd have thunk?
20. If Sam Baldock goes, we will try to sign Jordan Rhodes.

How many of those are true? I'd guess 3 or four of them.

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WEST HAM AS A DESTINATION MAY NOT BE AN ENTIRELY BAD IDEA
Date: 8th June 2012 at 7:33 pm Transfer Tavern

Yossi Benayoun is seemingly on the move from Chelsea but possibly not to
Arsenal, as West Ham and Ajax eye up returns for the Israeli star. Benayoun
is out of favour at Stamford Bridge and is set to continue his career
elsewhere, though a move to Arsenal, where he was on loan last season, seems
unlikely as progress over a permanent deal has been slow.

So now it seems Benayoun is firing up the Delorean and heading back to one
of his former clubs – West Ham, Ajax and even Maccabi Haifa want their
former play-maker to return after some years away.

West Ham's return to the Premier League has led to a number of established
Premier League players being linked with a move to Upton Park – from Jussi
Jaaskelainen to an audacious move for Nicolas Anelka. Now a move for
Benayoun is being mooted, which is a sign that Allardyce wants more
creativity from his side and a conscious attempt to shake the 'long ball'
tag from his name.

Being based in London with Arsenal and Chelsea in recent times, I'm sure
that Benayoun would relish a return to Upton Park but also the opportunity
to further his career whilst staying in London.

It makes a lot of sense for Benayoun to return to West Ham at this point in
his career, but I'm sure that moves back to Ajax and Maccabi Haifa will also
appeal to him – particularly Ajax where he could end up replacing the superb
young talent Christian Eriksen, who is attracting interest from many of the
world's best sides.

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West Ham United closing in on Bolton Wanderers keeper Jaaskelainen
by Kieran Evans. Published Fri 08 Jun 2012 14:00, Last updated: 2012-06-08
ClickLancashire.com

According to reports Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper will become a West Ham
United player within the next 24 hours. With Rob Green leaving Upton Park on
a free transfer, Hammers boss Sam Allardyce has been on the lookout for a
quality replacement. Big Sam has had his eye on the veteran Finn who he
worked with when he was manager at Wanderers and talkSPORT claims he is set
to get his man. The 37-year-old is set to end his 15-year association with
Wanderers after turning down a new contract as he is keen to stay in the
Premier League.

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Hammers to test Hughton's resolve
by Setanta Staff , 08 June 2012
setanta.com

West Ham will reportedly test new Norwich boss Chris Hughton's desire to
keep striker Grant Holt by making an improved bid. The newly-promoted
Hammers have reportedly already had one bid snubbed for the 31-year-old
hitman, who impressed in his debut Premier League campaign for the Canaries
with 15 goals. And, while Holt made it clear that he would like to quit
Carrow Road before Paul Lambert departed to take over the managerial reins
at Aston Villa, it seems he is still intent on moving on to pastures new
this summer after his agent Lee Payne claimed the club have refused to give
him a new three-year deal. Norwich have rejected Holt's initial transfer
request, but it seems West Ham will return to make an improved offer in an
effort to prise the player away from the Norfolk outfit. In the meantime,
53-year-old Hughton has stressed that it is aim to ensure Holt is still a
Norwich player when the new season kicks off in August. "He is a quality
player, no doubt about that," Hughton said. "With his record - to score the
goals he did last season - there wouldn't be any manager coming in who
wouldn't want to keep a player of that quality. "I've only just come through
the door a few minutes ago so I have not had the opportunity to speak with
him but that will be one of the priorities. "He is contracted to this club.
He won player of the season for the last three seasons so I absolutely would
like him here." It is also being suggested that if Holt does press for a
move then Hughton could turn to his former club Birmingham to snap up
towering striker Nikola Zigic as a replacement.

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