Daily WHUFC News - 27th July 2012

An open letter from Karren Brady
WHUFC.com
The Vice-Chairman has written to Londoners ahead of the start of the 2012
Olympic Games
25.07.2012

Dear Londoners,

In just two days' time our fantastic City will embark on what I am certain
will be the most successful Olympic and Paralympic Games to date. The Games
will see a record 205 countries and 14,700 athletes participating in 46
Olympic and Paralympic sports across 34 venues. 2012 will also see the start
of the tangible realisation of the promises made by Lord Coe on behalf of us
all in 2005 Singapore and what they mean for future generations. As I watch
Danny Boyle's opening ceremony on Friday, I'll be proud to be British and,
as a born-and-bred Londoner, I'll be proud of our city. But most of all,
I'll be proud for east London, because I know what 2012 and its legacy means
for this area and the wonderful, eclectic people that I have come to know
and feel so passionate about.

Our Joint-Chairmen, David Sullivan and David Gold, both originated from the
area and often used to tell me of the pull of the East End and its people. I
could not ever fully comprehend just how special the area was until they
achieved their lifelong ambition of running West Ham United - their boyhood
club - and put me at the helm in January 2010.

Since then it is no secret that I have spent two and a half years dedicated
to a project that would see West Ham United occupy the Olympic Stadium and
make it our home post-Games. As has been well documented, the first process
collapsed under threat of legal challenge, but our beliefs remain unchanged.
We have never lost sight of our vision to play our part, along with the
Stadium's major stakeholders, to ensuring that the Stadium grows into a
multi-use destination that serves east London and of which the whole nation
can be proud.

For my Board and I, shaping legacy success has been the key factor in
continuing to pursue our interest despite the many twists and turns. Nobody
is better placed to deliver the legacy for London than West Ham United - we
have been delivering legacies for London since our formation as Thames
Ironworks FC back in 1895. Indeed, this is an intrinsic part of our brand
identity - 'Moore than a Football Club - Since 1895 rooted in London,
working with and for the community'.

It is anticipated that during the 2012 Games over 1 million people will
visit the Olympic Stadium but the showcase must not stop here. Our proposal
would ensure a vibrant, busy Stadium immediately upon the opening of the
Park in 2014. We would seek to act as the catalyst to galvanise the park. We
want to embrace our supporters and the wider community of east London from
the outset and really take them with us. We are proud that of the 850,000
West Ham United supporters regularly communicating with us, over 500,000 of
them are from east London and the surrounding area. This is our community
and it is a community we work hard to serve.

The award-winning West Ham United Community Sports Trust has been delivering
services in east London and Essex since the early 1990s - specifically
targeting some of the most deprived boroughs in the country. Our locally
mentored coaches already teach 17 of the 26 Olympic sports. A move to the
Olympic Stadium would enable us to expand on the established links and
award-winning programmes already in place at an exponential rate.

We estimate that we would bring well over 1 million people a year to the
park. Prosperity would be provided through the offer of a near 100 year
sustainable partnership that would ensure a return on the public investment
that has ALREADY been committed. West Ham United already has an established
workforce from the local boroughs but we would look to substantially add to
this offering in the region of 700 additional full and part time positions.
In addition to what we bring to Stratford, our proposal if implemented will
deliver the much needed regeneration of Upton Park, in line with the needs
of its existing community.

As a businesswoman the commercial benefits of our proposed addition to the
Olympic Park do not escape me. Bringing Premier League football to the park
would offer untold exposure to all of us. The Premier league is watched in
over 650 million homes in 212 territories by a TV audience of 4.7bn billion
people, meaning West Ham United would bring continued global interest to the
Park and surrounding area.

Our vision is not solely held by us however. We have had plenty of support
along the way as we look to stand up for the promises made for London back
in 2005. Indeed, Lord Coe himself said when we first began our journey in
2010 that our bid 'lives with the commitment we made back in Singapore'.

We remain well supported by our friends and partners in the athletics
community. Ed Warner, Chairman of UK Athletics commented recently: "We have
long been enthused by what a club of West Ham's stature and local heritage
can bring to this multi-purpose venue, and in particular by your own team's
plans to be part of a vibrant future for the Stadium and the Olympic Park.
This is why we endorse your bid."

We have also received backing from community leaders, business leaders,
representatives of the arts community and key figures from within football.
I am excited at the prospect of being able to at last communicate the full
extent of our proposals to our patient and loyal supporters. What I am able
to say though, is that if we were to be fortunate enough to be granted the
chance to do so, West Ham United would provide a world-class stadium that
would be their home, showcasing first-class facilities and offering
affordable, accessible , elite football as well as huge opportunities for
growth both on and off the pitch. Put simply, we believe it is the best move
for our fans and the best chance for us to grow as a club. But our vision
for the Stadium has always focused beyond what it can do for us and more on
what we can do for it. The 2012 Games will inspire a generation. Those
moments which capture what can be achieved when you really set out to
achieve your goals must not be lost. The Stadium should remain the Olympic
Park's jewel in the crown watched by the world.

Friday's spectacular event performed to a capacity crowd will mark the start
of what promises to be a momentous event that the whole world will be
watching. But the showcase must not stop there. We know that using the
Stadium as our home will bring with it huge responsibility but we will take
on with pride the mantle of what that means in terms of giving something
back to our community and playing our part in delivering the promises made
in 2005.

I hope Londoners will wish to get behind us when it is time to pass the
baton and let legacy live on, but for now enjoy playing your part in this
spectacular piece of history.

Thank-you all and best wishes,
Karren Brady

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Skipper Diame leads Senegal to draw
WHUFC.com
Mohamed Diame captained Senegal to a 1-1 draw with Team GB at London 2012
26.07.2012

West Ham United midfielder Mohamed Diame had the honour of captaining
Senegal in their opening London 2012 Olympic Games match against hosts Great
Britain.
Diame wore the armband as the African nation came from a goal down to secure
a 1-1 draw with Team GB at Old Trafford in Manchester. Former Hammers
striker Craig Bellamy put Team GB - coached by another ex-West Ham player in
Stuart Pearce - ahead before half-time with a bouncing volley. Bellamy could
later have been awarded a penalty when he appeared to be fouled inside the
Senegal box, but no spot-kick was given. However, just when it looked like
Pearce, Bellamy and unused substitute James Tomkins would have a victory to
celebrate, Moussa Konate popped up with an 82nd-minute equaliser. Earlier in
the day, Uruguay came from behind to beat United Arab Emirates 2-1 in the
other Group A fixture, while Spain were upset 1-0 by Japan in Group D and
Brazil held on to beat Egypt 3-2 in Group C.

Team GB return to action on Sunday, when they face United Arab Emirates at
Wembley at 8pm, whiile Diame's Senegal take on Uruguay earlier the same day
at the Home of Football.

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Hendo happy with first clean sheet
WHUFC.com
Stephen Henderson was pleased with his first shutout as a West Ham United
goalkeeper
26.07.2012

Stephen Henderson was quietly satisfied with a solid night's work as some
smart goalkeeping helped him earn his first clean sheet in a West Ham United
shirt. The Hammers were under the cosh for much of the first half of their
3-0 win against FC Rot-Weiss Erfurt on Wednesday night and the former
Republic of Ireland Under-21 international needed to be on his toes to make
sure they went in at the break on level terms. The second half was a
different story, though, as West Ham came out all guns blazing and three
quickfire goals - two from Ricardo Vaz Te - went unanswered. "I'm very happy
to keep a clean sheet and that we've won the game," Henderson told West Ham
TV. "It's another game under my belt. Bearing in mind we had a different
team out there tonight, to grab a 3-0 result is very good indeed."

The pick of Henderson's saves was a stunning stop to keep out a low
free-kick from Patrick Gobel in the 28th minute. The rest of the No13's
night included some brave goalkeeping to twice narrowly beat strikers to the
ball, in addition to the routine catches and saves. "I was happy as it was
only my second game for the club. I was disappointed not to keep a clean
sheet and win the game at Oxford. It's my third game in four months and I'm
really enjoying being back."

Henderson is all too aware of the healthy competition that currently exists
for a place between the posts at the Boleyn Ground following Robert Green's
departure. Jussi Jaaskelainen joined Henderson on the list of permanent
arrivals last month and despite the fact they will be competing for the same
spot next season, the pair have struck up a strong friendship. "I feel like
I've developed and I feel myself getting fitter and fitter. I'm working well
with the goalkeeper coach Marge [Martyn Margetson] and I'm hoping to get a
chance to show the fans what I'm about. "Me and Jussi are room-mates and
very close. He's a great goalkeeper who's played over 500 games in the
Premier League so it's great to have him around."

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Carr happy with Norwich win
WHUFC.com
Tony Carr hailed the Under-18s for securing a deserved 1-0 pre-season
victory at Norwich City
26.07.2012

Academy Director Tony Carr praised on West Ham United's Under-18s after they
secured a 1-0 pre-season win at Norwich City. The Hammers have a number of
regulars currently away with the Development Squad and first team, so Carr
was impressed at both the performance and result achieved in sweltering
temperatures by a relatively inexperienced side. First-year scholar Taylor
Tombides got the goal that made the difference, with goalkeeper Sam Baxter
also catching the eye between the sticks by making a string of good saves to
keep the Canaries at bay. "The boys coped very well considering it was 30
degrees and midday," said Carr. "For me we were the better side especially
in the first half when we created a lot of opportunities. "They came back
into it during the second period, but Sam Baxter did well by making a few
good saves. Overall, we edged it and deserved the win."

Pre-season is often a time for experimentation and Carr did just that, while
expressing his satisfaction as he and Under-18s coach Nick Haycock continue
to build for the FA Premier Academy League season. "All in all it was a very
good workout and that's exactly what pre-season is about. The lads' fitness
levels are continuing to improve and they did well in the heat, which also
meant we made a lot of changes, but you expect that during this part of the
season."

A few months on from seeing Dan Potts and Rob Hall make their senior debuts,
the ultimate goal for Carr would be to see yet another youth-team player
break into the first team, but he refused to name any names. "My hope is
that a player or players can break into the first team by the end of the
season, but I don't want to name anyone and add more pressure. It would be
great to see them not only get some game time, but be provided with the
opportunity to prove themselves and develop their skills to the next level."

Carr also took a moment to ponder what he would consider a successful season
for the U18s, setting his sights on the FA Youth Cup. "Last season we we're
incredibly unlucky in the FA Youth Cup, losing on penalties to the eventual
winners Chelsea in the fifth round. Success would be winning it, and that's
what we aim to do every year. However it is also important that the players
perform well individually and within the team. "If we play extremely well
and compete only to lose on penalties then we won't have too many
complaints."

The Academy team face Everton on Saturday before wrapping up their
pre-season preparations in Belgium, where Carr will be hoping to add the
finishing touches before their opening league game next month.

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Carroll: West Ham second choice
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th July 2012
By: Staff Writer

A spokesman for Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has revealed that West Ham
would be second in line to sign Andy Carroll should he be given a choice
over which club to join. Gateshead-born Carroll, who moved to Merseyside in
January 2011 for a record-breaking £35million looks set to leave the club
before the close of the current transfer window with new Anfield boss
Brendan Rodgers having hinted that he doesn't see the 23-year-old as part of
his long-term plans. However West Ham - who continue to pursue the former
Newcastle player - would be behind his former club in terms of where the
player would like to spend the 2012/13 campaign. "Andy is aware of West
Ham's interest," the unnamed 'friend' told chroniclelive.co.uk. "He's still
massive mates with Kevin Nolan and he respects his opinion from a football
point of view. "But his first choice if he did leave Liverpool would, of
course, be Newcastle. If they can't come up with the right bid, though, and
he is going to be sitting on the bench at Liverpool, then he has to
seriously consider West Ham."

Back in 2010, when both players mentioned by the source were employed by
Newcastle, Carroll temporarily moved in with Nolan and his family after
being bailed following an assault charge. Speaking at the time, West Ham's
current captain said: "Andy is a great lad to be around. He's always happy
and smiling. He's had his fair share of trouble but didn't we all when we
were that young?" Since then, the two have remained great friends.

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'Bubbles' to feature in opening ceremony
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th July 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United's anthem 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles' will be featuring in
the Olympic Games' opening ceremony when it takes place tomorrow night. An
insider who has been part of the preparation and rehearsals for the opening
ceremony has told KUMB that West Ham feature in a 20-second slot during
which 'Bubbles' will be blasted across the stadium's sound system. As well
as the small section highlighting West Ham's place in the local community,
there will be several other segements featuring the East End of London and
its diverse population. The ceremony, which is being directed by Danny Boyle
(Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting) and is said to be costing around
£27million to stage on its own will be watched by around a billion people
around the world tuning in on TV. Yet bizarrely the stadium itself is
unlikely to be sold out, with plenty of the more expensive and overpriced
£2,012 and £1,600-priced tickets still up for grabs.

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Nolan Encourages Carroll to Join West Ham
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

Well, no one has identified who this £18 million player is yet. Rumours have
been swirling about the identity and even Carlos Tevez is now being
mentioned. I haven't got much time, so here's a few things for you all to
get your teeth into.

* According to the Newcastle Mad website, a source close to Andy Carroll has
said: "Andy is aware of West Ham's interest. He's still massive mates with
Kevin Nolan and he respects his opinion from a football point of view. His
first choice if he did leave Liverpool would, of course, be Newcastle. If
they can't come up with the right bid, though, and he is going to be sitting
on the bench at Liverpool, then he has to seriously consider West Ham." Not
sure Mrs Nolan would welcome the move, but there you go.

* A good 3-0 victory last night over Rot Weiss Essen, with Ricardo Vaz Te
scoring a superb goal and also a simple tap in.

* Danny Collins has joined Nottingham Forest on a three year deal.

* Bristol City are reported to have made a £1.5 million bid for Sam Baldock.
According to Vital Football, Baldock wants to move to Charlton. And the
Pope's an Anglican.

* The on-off sage of a move for Inter striker Luc Castaignos may be back on
after a proposed deal with Dutch side Twente seems to have hit the rocks.

* 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles' will feature in the Olympic opening ceremony
tomorrow night. Sung by Karren Brady. That was a joke.

* There are some rumours doing the rounds that James Collins may be set for
an Upton Park return. At the weekend he was supposed to be heading for
Sunderland. Poor chap.

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Dan King's Sport Uncovered
The Sun
By DAN KING, Sport Uncovered
Published: Today at 00:15

WEST HAM are leading calls for the Premier League to bring in their own
Financial Fair Play rules. Clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal, who
make profits and are unlikely to fall foul of UEFA regulations anyway, are
in favour. But Manchester City, Chelsea, Fulham and others are opposed to
any attempt to tell their billionaire owners how to spend their money.
Hammers co-owner David Gold sees FFP as a way of stemming losses at the club
while keeping it competitive, especially if the revenue-boosting move to the
Olympic Stadium goes through as planned. The issue was raised at the meeting
of all 20 clubs earlier in the summer and the executive team were told to
come back with some ideas. But it is unlikely the proposals will feature
break-even targets like UEFA's rules or ways of curbing wages. Measures may
include compelling clubs to pay half of transfer fees up front, and half the
following year — rather than in the long, drawn-out instalments which helped
destroy Portsmouth — and ring-fencing a chunk of TV money for youth and/or
ground development.

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Cockney Carroll: West Ham make record-breaking £17m move for Reds striker
Andy
The Mirror

West Ham have made a stunning £17million bid to sign Andy Carroll. The
Hammers last night refused to comment on their record-breaking move for the
Liverpool striker for whom they had an initial loan move turned down earlier
this month. But the new offer from the east Londoners – currently on tour in
Germany – is a
one-year loan with a ­whopping £17m due to the Reds next summer. Carroll is
on tour with Liverpool in America but he now knows he is surplus to
requirements at Anfield following public confirmation from new manager
Brendan Rodgers. West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is hoping Carroll's friendship
with former Magpie Kevin Nolan can swing the deal and send the England
striker to London rather than the north east. And Carroll could also be
swayed by the fact that Allardyce's direct playing style would be right up
his street on a team where he would find regular first-team football.

The lure of Newcastle – and the Magpies superior financial firepower – will
give West Ham serious competition for his signature. But the east Londoners
are refusing to give up on Carroll and are willing to shatter their record
£9m outlay on striker Savio Nsereko three years ago. It is still likely to
be rejected by Liverpool, however, with the Reds adamant they are not
interested in offers below £20million for the striker they signed for £35m
last year. In addition Carroll, 23, is believed to favour a move to
Newcastle who themselves had a £13million bid for him turned down last week
- as reported by Mirror Sport. Newcastle boss Alan Pardew warned Liverpool
yesterday that they would have to take a loss on Carroll. But the Reds are
digging their heels in as they try to claw back as much as they can for the
marksman.

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West Ham increase their efforts to sign Liverpool's Andy Carroll
West Ham offer £2m to take Carroll on loan from Liverpool
A further £16m would be added on to make the deal permanent
Ian McCourt
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 26 July 2012 23.09 BST

Andy Carroll cost Liverpool £35m 18 months ago but could soon be on his way
to West Ham United. Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
West Ham have increased their efforts to sign Andy Carroll by offering to
take the Liverpool striker on loan for an initial fee of £2m with £16m added
on top of that to make the move permanent provided the Hammers avoid
relegation from the Premier League next season.

However, neither Liverpool nor Carroll are keen on such a deal. The
Merseyside club are holding out for £20m and would prefer not to loan out
the forward, who cost the club £35m from Newcastle 18 months ago. Carroll
would like to stay at the club and fight for his place but if he is to be
sold, it is thought he favours a move back to the north east rather than
London.

Newcastle had a loan bid for the 23-year-old rejected earlier this month
while Fulham are also thought to be interested in ending Carroll's stay on
Merseyside.

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Liverpool likely to reject West Ham's £17m bid for outcast Carroll
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 22:58, 26 July 2012 | UPDATED: 22:58, 26 July 2012
Daily Mail

West Ham have made an official bid for Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, but
the Anfield club are expected to reject it. The proposal is to take the
England forward on loan with a view to a permanent £17million deal, an offer
exclusively revealed by Sportsmail last month. West Ham have bought Modibo
Maiga from Sochaux but want a marquee signing to herald their return to the
Premier League. Carroll, though, is reluctant to move. He wants to speak to
manager Brendan Rodgers about fighting for his place but the Liverpool boss
will tell him he will struggle to feature in his team. Newcastle would be
Carroll's preferred option if he had to go but their outline proposal is
short of West Ham's £17m and Liverpool want a £20m deal for a player they
paid £35m for in 2011.

Liverpool were linked yesterday with Athletic Bilbao defender Fernando
Amorebieta, 27, as concerns grow that Martin Skrtel will leave. West Ham
continue to look for players on a limited budget and are competing with
Wigan for Real Mallorca defender Ivan Ramis. Wigan have bid around £4m.

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Sunderland, Stoke and West Ham on alert after Blackburn defender Olsson
demands move
By ASHLEY GRAY
PUBLISHED: 19:45, 26 July 2012 | UPDATED: 20:43, 26 July 2012
Daily Maiil

Blackburn's Martin Olsson has handed in a transfer request and 'will not
play in the Championship', says his agent. Stoke, Sunderland, Southampton
and West Ham have all been linked with the Sweden left back, but Olsson has
been frustrated by his failure to secure a move away from Ewood Park.
Chelsea even considered a move to make him Ashley Cole's understudy after
Rovers' relegation from the Barclays Premier League last season, but the
Lancashire club have resisted rivals looking for a bargain. It has been
claimed that Blackburn have so far rejected a £1.5million formal offer for
the 24-year-old and instead want nearer £4m. His agent Martin Dahlin said:
'It is true that Martin has submitted a transfer request. Of course, he
would not play in the Championship.' Olsson, who can also play on the left
wing, has three years left on his Blackburn contract.

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