Daily WHUFC News - 19th June 2012

A Golden opportunity
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 18th June 2012
By: Staff Writer

David Gold declared himself delighted after the 2012/13 fixture list threw
up a comparitively favourable opening to the forthcoming campaign. West Ham
are not scheduled to face any club that finished in the top six of last
season's Premier League until match seven of the campaign when they host
Arsenal - whilst they face all three newly-promoted clubs from last season
in September. And that news was greeted with enthusiasm from co-chairman
Gold, who told Sky Sports: "I think it's important to get off to a good
start. I think the season before last we got off to a tough start in the
first four game because we were playing big clubs. "But home to Aston Villa
and away to Swansea? They're winnable games, or they're games that you can
expect to get something from. So we're very excited about it. "We're back in
the Premier League, every game is against a club with history. Whether we
are playing super clubs or teams that have come up with us like Reading or
Southampton, I could make a case that they are all exciting."

In addition to the the August fixtures mentioned by Gold, West Ham face
Fulham (h), Norwich (a), Sunderland (h) and QPR (a) before meeting Arsneal
at the Boleyn Ground on 6th October.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sullivan: signings imminent
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 18th June 2012
By: Staff Writer

David Sullivan has revealed that West Ham are hoping to make at least one
new signing this week. United's co-chairman has been busy chasing a series
of targets during the past few weeks since the club's return to the Premier
League was confirmed by defeating Blackpool 2-1 in the play-off Final at
Wembley last month.
And having already confirmed the arrivals of Stephen Henderson and Jussi
Jaaskelainen on permanent contracts, Sullivan hopes to make his third
capture within the next few days - with another to follow shortly after. "We
expect to sign a player this week and next," Sullivan is reported to have
told the Evening Standard. "I can't say any more at the moment though."

Names in the hat include Wigan's Momo Diame, West Bromwich Albion's Jonas
Olssen and free agent and former Real Madrid star Guti. * Young Hammers fan
Jonjo Heuerman, who has been fundraising for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer
Research UK since 2010 has revealed that David Sullivan has sent him a
cheque for £5,000. Heuerman told KUMB.com that Sullivan's unexpected
gesture, received last week, had boosted his fund to an incredible £76,000.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold eyeing Villa revenge
Hammers to meet Villans on opening day
Last Updated: June 18, 2012 12:21pm
SSN

West Ham United co-chairman David Gold admits he is hoping for revenge
against Aston Villa after they were paired together on the opening day of
the Premier League season. The Hammers are back in the top flight after just
one year in the Championship and once again begin their campaign against
Villa, the team they played on the opening day of the season two years ago.
Back then Avram Grant's side were thrashed 3-0 at Villa Park, with the
season ultimately ending in the heartbreak of relegation. Gold admits he is
keen to see his side gain revenge on the Midlanders when they arrive at
Upton Park on August 18. "It's going to be extremely exciting; we're back in
the Premier League," Gold told Sky Sports News. "It's Aston Villa first, I'm
pleased about that for a number of reasons, one being the last time we
played them on the first game of the season two years ago they beat us 3-0
at Aston Villa, so I'm looking forward to them coming here and hopefully we
can reverse the score.

Good start

"I think it is important to get off to a good start; the season before last
in the Premier League I think we lost our first four games because we were
playing big clubs.
"But at home to Aston Villa and away at Swansea, they are winnable games or
games you can expect to get something from so we are very excited about it."
When quizzed on the rest of West Ham's fixtures, Gold admitted he sees every
game as a highlight, such is the prestige of playing in England's top
division. "I think the Spurs game at home will be exciting, Arsenal at home
too, Manchester United, Manchester City, I could go on and on," he added.
"We're back in the Premier League, every game is a club with history,
whether it is one we are seeking revenge as we are against Aston Villa or
that it is just a great club coming to Upton Park. "Whether we are playing
super clubs or teams that have come up with us like Reading or Southampton,
I could make a case that they are all exciting.

Premier League

"This is the Premier League, the most exciting league the world has ever
known, I really don't mind who we play." Gold also revealed that the club's
finances have recovered significantly since he and co-chairman David
Sullivan bought the club from Icelandic group CB Holding in 2010. The
previous ownership had laden the club with significant debts and a
spiralling wage bill which Gold admits had pushed the club perilously close
to administration. However, the 75-year-old is much more optimistic about
the club's future, saying: "The club gets stronger with every passing day,
when we first arrived it was scary times, the club was close to
administration. We are clawing our way from that from those issues, we are
getting stronger financially. "The morale is high and the future is bright."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
McDonald eyes strong start
No.2 hopes Hammers can take advantage against Villa and Swans
Last Updated: June 18, 2012 3:21pm
SSN

West Ham assistant manager Neil McDonald is hoping the club can take
advantage of Aston Villa and Swansea sides still adjusting to their new
managers when their Premier League campaign gets under way. The Hammers, who
won promotion back to the top-flight last season, will host Villa in their
curtain-raiser on August 18th in what will be Paul Lambert's first
competitive game in charge. The East Londoners then travel to the Liberty
Stadium to face the Swans the following weekend, with Michael Laudrup having
recently succeeded Brendan Rodgers at the helm. McDonald feels Lambert and
Laudrup will still be trying to put their mark on their new teams, which
could benefit Sam Allardyce's side, and is also glad the club will open
their campaign at Upton Park. He told West Ham's official website: "It's
brilliant to have a home game first as when you get promoted you're always
looking for a home fixture first. "Villa have got a new manager so hopefully
they may still be trying to work out what he wants and that will be the same
perhaps for Swansea in our second game. "The managers may still be trying to
bed in and get their ideas across to the players and which way they want to
play and what system they want to play. "We've got to try and take advantage
of that if we possibly can. It's still a difficult start but we're happy
we've avoided one of the top four."

Tough

McDonald is hoping the Hammers can make a strong start to prepare them for
testing fixtures against potential title contenders over November and
December.
"It will be a tough start without a shadow of a doubt but it's a good
start," he added. "Looking to November and December when we play the likes
of Manchester City, Manchester United,Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool it will
be very tough so I think we need a good start and hopefully the first six
games will give us a chance to get some points on the board."

The assistant boss feels Monday's release of the fixtures will have whetted
the appetite of the Hammers players ahead of pre-season. "We've only had a
short-ish break but I imagine the lads will have seen the fixtures and
they'll be ready and raring to go on 1st July," he said. "We'll have plenty
of time for preparation and plenty of time to get the boys fit for the game.
We're really looking forward to getting started now."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold reveals transfer ambition
Co-chairman admits Hammers are keen to strengthen
Last Updated: June 18, 2012 12:50pm
SSN

West Ham co-chairman David Gold has revealed the club hope to sign up to
four players during the summer transfer window. The Hammers are back in the
Premier League after just one season in the Championship thanks to their 2-1
play-off win over Blackpool at Wembley last month. The summer re-building
has already begun, with Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen agreeding a
move to east London in July. A number of other players have been linked with
a switch to Upon Park, including former Real Madrid midfielder Guti, who is
available on a free transfer after being released by Turkish club Besiktas.
Gold refused to be drawn on any individual targets but did admit the club
intend to be busy right up until the deadline at the end of August. "We're
connected with about 20 players," Gold told Sky Sports News.

New season

"What we hope to do is to maybe bring in two, three or maybe four players by
the close of the window as we start off in the new season." Gold also
revealed that the Hammers did everything they could to try and persuade
goalkeeper Robert Green to stay at the club. The England international
rejected the offer of a new deal and will leave when his contract expires at
the end of the month. "We did our very best and we're very sad that we have
lost Robert, "added Gold. "We wish him well, and wherever he goes I'm sure
he will be a great servant to that club."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Are Four Signings Going to Be Enough?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

Club Co-Chairman, David Gold, has been interviewed on SSN regarding the
club's summer transfer plans. In the interview, Gold states that the club
are aiming to bring in two, three or maybe four new signings before the
close of the transfer window at the end of August. Presumably, that number
excludes our first two signings, Jussi and Henderson? I sincerely hope so
anyway.

So, if we take David Gold's comments at face value, are four new signings
going to be enough to redress the lack in our current squad and add the
necessary depth in strength for the coming PL campaign? Over to you!

SJ. Chandos.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com