Daily WHUFC News - 8th January 2013

McCallum signs new contract
WHUFC.com
On-loan AFC Wimbledon centre forward Paul McCallum is fit, scoring goals and
enjoying his football again
07.01.2013

Paul McCallum has been making plenty of headlines this season. After missing
virtually the whole of the 2011/12 campaign due to shin problems, the West
Ham United centre forward has returned to regular action this term.
McCallum's six goals fired the Development Squad to the Barclays Under-21
Premier League Group 1 title before embarking on a loan spell at npower
League Two club AFC Wimbledon. The 19-year-old's joy turned to despair as he
was sent-off for violent conduct on his Dons debut at Morecambe on 24
November - ruling him out of the club's historic FA Cup second-round visit
to MK Dons. Since then, however, McCallum's disappointment has turned to
pride and joy as he was first rewarded with a new contract by the Hammers
until summer 2015, then scored two vital goals in Wimbledon's battle to
avoid relegation out of the npower Football League. "It's been a good few
weeks. I have signed a new contract with West Ham and been doing well and
scoring goals, so I cannot ask for any better. "I feel like I am physically
fit and when I scored two goals in the opening Under-21 game of the season
[in a 3-1 home win over Reading], I felt I was ready and it gave me a lot of
confidence to go out and play my game. "I would like to thank all the staff
at West Ham, particularly the physio Tom Smith, for getting me right for
this season. I only played one game last season, which was frustrating for
me and knocked my confidence. "I had a good pre-season and those two goals
in the opening league game brought my confidence back."

McCallum, who conveniently lives just ten minutes from Wimbledon's training
ground, has had a down-and-up time since moving to Kingsmeadow. After
suffering the shock of being shown a red card at Morecambe on his maiden
appearance for the club, the teenager has returned to the starting XI in
stunning style, scoring in a 3-2 victory at Torquay United on New Year's Day
before smashing in the only goal of the game in another welcome win at
Rochdale.
"It was probably the worst thing that could have happened. At the time, I
didn't feel like I had done anything wrong. I felt like I had let the
Wimbledon manager down after he had put his faith in me to play. After that,
I just wanted to get back on the pitch and do a job for him. "When I went
back to the dressing room all I could think about was that I would be
suspended for the MK Dons game. It had been a real bonus for me to have a
chance to be involved in that game and West Ham had given me permission to
play, so it was disappointing to miss it. "Our fans were amazing up there
and I thought we were really unlucky to lose."

For the former Dulwich Hamlet forward, scoring at Deepdale helped him to
bury the memory of an unproductive loan spell with Rochdale last season.
"I've scored two goals in two games and we have won both of them, so I could
not have asked for more than that. "Against Torquay, the ball dropped inside
the penalty area and I spun and hit my shot inside the bottom corner. At
Rochdale I scored a header from inside the area, which is the sort of chance
I love. The fans up there were brilliant and were the 12th man for us. "I
was on loan at Rochdale last season but, because of my injury, I didn't get
a chance to play. It was after my first training session that my shin
started playing up and I had to come back to West Ham. McCallum's loan spell
at Wimbledon is scheduled to end on Saturday 19 January and, as things
stand, his short-term future is undecided. After a frustrating time last
season, the striker himself is just happy to be fit and playing regularly,
be it for West Ham or Wimbledon. Should he return to the Boleyn Ground, the
big frontman revealed his ambition to break into Sam Allardyce's first-team
squad - having already been named as an unused substitute for the Capital
One Cup ties with Crewe Alexandra and Wigan Athletic earlier this season.
"As a striker, I have got to keep scoring goals and hopefully I can get my
chance in the first team and score a few goals for them. "When Big Sam came
in, everyone was saying that we'd play route-one, but it's not like that.
The manager does like to play with a big centre forward and I have got to
believe I can be that man - that if I get my chance, I am good enough to
take it. "Whatever happens - if I return to West Ham or stay out on loan - I
want to keep playing well and scoring goals. "If I get the chance to stay
with Wimbledon, then I just want to be playing and making a name for myself
in the Football League. If I come back, obviously I'll do my best for the
Development Squad. "The Under-21 Elite Group Stage is a big thing for the
young players at the club. We won out first-stage group and now we want to
win the Elite Group Stage."

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Cole fired by warm reception
WHUFC.com
Joe Cole enjoyed the East End welcome on his second West Ham United 'debut'
on Saturday
07.01.2013

Joe Cole described his first match back in a West Ham United shirt as
"emotional" and thanked the fans for making it a special occasion against
Manchester United on Saturday. The midfielder did his part by helping to set
up the two goals that James Collins scored and received a rapturous applause
from supporters as he made way off for Matt Taylor in the 78th minute. "The
reception I got was really emotional for me," Cole said. "I was choked, our
fans were fantastic. But the West Ham fans have given me a great welcome
every time I have come back here, with Chelsea and Liverpool, but it was
really special."

Cole made his mark just before the half hour mark when he collected a pass
from Ricardo vaz Te and sent a curling cross that was met by a glancing
header from Collins. That drew the game level after United had gone ahead
through Tom Cleverley. The new No26 was also instrumental when West Ham
grabbed their second strike. He received Jack Collison's corner and sent in
another curling cross that Collins again met with his head to put the
Hammers ahead. Although Robin van Persie scored late on to set up a replay a
week on Wednesday, Cole said everyone was pleased with the performance and
is something he feels can be taken into the clash at Old Trafford. "You
can't point a finger, no one made a mistake. It was literally a case of it
being a world-class ball from Giggsy [Ryan Giggs] and bang, van Persie was
on it and he's a world-class finisher. "We nearly got a third goal right at
the end as well. I thought as well as us going forward, collectively we
defended really well. We will go up there [Old Trafford] and give it a right
go again."

Much has been said about Cole's return to his boyhood club and while the
player embraced it all, he was just happy to be out there on the Boleyn
Ground pitch in claret and blue once again. "There was a lot of focus on me
coming back, but I just couldn't wait for the chance to play. I felt during
the match that I was getting stronger as the match went on and that will
only come with playing. "It was nice to play well. We have good players who
can put balls in the right areas and players who can get on the end of them,
as well as having a solid defence."

Cole also said that in the short time he has been back, he feels already
that the club is in a good place and there is much to look forward to. "The
structure here at the club from top to bottom is just really good, something
I noticed straight away. Hopefully with the Olympic Stadium being just
around the corner for us and the way the manager has got this team together
and wants to build on that, the future looks really bright. "If we, as a
team, can continue to play with the desire we have, then it can only be
onwards and upwards for us."

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U21s start with Manchester United trip
WHUFC.com
The Development Squad start the Elite Group Stage with a visit to Manchester
United on Monday
07.01.2013

West Ham United will start the Barclays U21 Premier League Elite Group Stage
with a trip to Manchester United on Monday 14 January. Nick Haycock's
Development Squad qualified for the Elite Group by winning the Group 1 title
before Christmas and will now play for the right to be named as the
country's best U21 side. To do so, the Hammers will need to finish in the
top three to reach the end-of-season play-offs. The winners of the Tier One
and Tier Two Stage groups will play-off to meet the winners of the Elite
Group in one semi-final, while the second and third-place Elite Group
finishers will contest the other. The winners of the two semi-finals will
contest the final. Following Monday's trip to Altrincham FC's Moss Rose
ground to face the Red Devils, the Hammers open their home slate of fixtures
with the visit of Group 3 title winners Liverpool to Rush Green on Friday 18
January, kick-off 7pm. The Elite Group also comprises Group 1 runners-up
Arsenal, Southampton, Group 2 winners Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich
Albion - who finished third in Group 1 - and Wolverhampton Wanderers. One
home fixture will be played at the Boleyn Ground - the visit of Tottenham on
Monday 8 April, kick-off 7pm.

2012/13 Barclays U21 Premier League Elite Group Stage fixtures
(Home matches in Bold)
Mon 14 Jan Manchester United 7pm (at Altrincham FC)
Fri 18 Jan Liverpool 7pm (at Rush Green)
Mon 28 Jan Arsenal 1pm (at Colney Training Ground)
Mon 4 Feb Tottenham Hotspur 12noon (THFC Training Ground)
Fri 8 Feb West Bromwich Albion 7pm (Rush Green)
Fri 15 Feb Southampton Home 7pm (Rush Green)
Tue 26 Feb Wolverhampton Wanderers 7pm (AFC Telford United)
Fri 1 Mar Manchester United Home 7pm (Rush Green)
Mon 11 Mar Liverpool Away 2pm (The Academy, Kirby)
Fri 15 Mar Arsenal Home 7pm (Rush Green)
Sun 31 Mar West Bromwich Albion 2pm (WBA Training Ground)
Mon 8 Apr Tottenham Hotspur Home 7pm (Boleyn Ground)
Mon 15 Apr Southampton Away 7pm (Eastleigh FC)
Fri 19 Apr Wolverhampton Wanderers Home 7pm (Rush Green)

Competition notes -
The top two sides and two best third-place teams from three First Group
Stage groups will go forward to the Elite Group Stage.
The other third-place team, fourth and fifth-place teams and best
sixth-place teams will go forward to Tier One Stage. The two other
sixth-place teams, seventh and eighth-place teams will go forward to Tier
Two Stage.
The Tier One and Tier Two winners will play-off to meet the winners of the
Elite Group in one semi-final, while the second and third-place Elite Group
finishers will contest the other. The winners of the two semi-finals will
contest the final.

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Transfer latest
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 7th January 2013
By: Staff Writer No.2

No firm news but a lot of speculation is the order of the day as the
transfer window enters its second week.

Reports suggest that striker Wellington Paulista is close to signing a loan
deal. The striker is reported to be due to undergo a medical today, though
some reports, including the official Cruzeiro website, have suggested that
the 28 year-old striker has already completed the move.

However, there's been no official announcement from United as yet, and Sam
Allardyce was tight-lipped when quizzed about the player after Saturday's
draw with Manchester United ("Wellington? The weather's not been THAT
bad!").

Meanwhile, the Lancashire Telegraph is reporting that the Irons have had a
£2m bid for Swedish left-back Martin Olsson rejected by Blackburn Rovers,
though other sources suggest thatthe figure may be as high as £3m. The 28
year-old defender has been linked with a number of clubs this window, though
Rovers currently maintain thatthe player is not for sale.

Elsewhere, a couple of players from US MLS clubs are set to start training
with the Hammers. Chivas USA forward Juan Agudelo and Sporting Kansas City
midfielder Graham Zusi are both set to spend some time at Chadwell Heath,
though it is unclear whether the arrangement is by way of a trial or simply
an agreement between the club and MLS to keep the players fit during the
American close season.

The 19 year-old Agudelo had a similar arrangement with Celtic before
Christmas and in the past has also spent training time with Liverpool and
Borussia Dortmund and, like Zusi, is expected to join the US national squad
training camp next week.

Finally, David Gold's twitter account has been a rich source of humour in
previous windows and this one is proving to be no exception. Responding to
someone called "Andy" who had, hopefully with tongue in cheek, whether there
were any plans to re-sign Benni McCarthy, Gold replied: "Are you ok Andy? Is
someone with you?"

We'll bring you more news as it arrives.

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Thieving Northern b*stards
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 7th January 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham supporters hoping to make the trip to Old Trafford to watch the FA
Cup third round replay have reacted furiously to Manchester United's
decision to charge £45 per ticket. The two sides meet again at Old Trafford
on Wednesday, 16th January as a result of the first tie finishing in a
stalemate after the visitors grabbed an injury time equaliser to take the
game to a replay. West Ham were looking to take up to 10,000 fans to
Manchester for the return trip - that was until the Premier League leaders
announced the astonishing decision to charge adults £45 for a ticket.
Speaking on the KUMB.com forum this afternoon, hammer-lad referred to the
decision as "a joke", adding: "I won't pay this for a replay and another day
or two off work. They'll get a half-empty stadium and an even flatter
atmosphere than they had for the league game."

Whilst another supporter, The Gibbins, added: "£45? Robbing b*stards. I
think I'm going to give this a miss and watch it on TV. It will set me back
too much after a hectic Christmas."

The decision will no doubt also anger West Ham, who charged Manchester
United supporters just £20 to watch Sunday's tie at the Boleyn Ground.

Full replay ticket details

Season ticket holder prices
£45 Adults; £35.50 18-20 yrs; £26 Over-65s/16-17s; £12 Under-16s.

Non-season ticket holder prices
£45 Adults; £35.50 18-20 yrs; £26 Over-65s/16-17s; £12 Under-16s.

Disabled ticket prices
£45 Adults; £35.50 18-20s; £26 Over-65s/16-17s; £12 Under-16s + Carer
Complimentary.

Tickets go on sale to Bond Holders from 9am on Tuesday, 8th January, to
season ticket holders at 9am on Wednesday, 9th January and on general sale
from 9am on Friday, 11th January.

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Blackburn considering bid from West Ham for Martin Olsson
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @graemebailey. Last Updated: January 7,
2013 8:21am
SSN

West Ham United have tabled a bid for Blackburn Rovers defender Martin
Olsson, Sky Sports understands. The Hammers have long been linked with a
move for Olsson, as Sam Allardyce knows him well from his time in charge at
Blackburn. The 24-year-old has never hidden his desire to move back to the
Premier League following Rovers' relegation and now he could get that chance
with the Hammers. Sky Sports understands that after talks, West Ham lodged a
bid over the weekend and now Blackburn are considering the offer. Rovers are
still managerless following Henning Berg's dismissal last month - but the
Hammers are hopeful the Championship club will agree to the deal.

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Rio Ferdinand hopes Joe Cole flourishes on his West Ham return
Last Updated: January 7, 2013 12:38pm
SSN

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand hopes Joe Cole makes a success of
his return to West Ham. Ferdinand watched from the subs bench as Cole set up
both West Ham's goals in the 2-2 draw with United in the FA Cup third round
on Saturday. It was Cole's first game for West Ham since re-joining his
boyhood club from Liverpool last week. Ferdinand and Cole duo know each
other well, having been products of the Hammers' famed academy before going
to play for England together. "I thought Joe did well," Ferdinand told the
London Evening Standard. "Two quality crosses from him and two goals. I'm
sure the West Ham supporters will be happy with that. "I hope the move works
out for him. Joe's been plagued with a lot of injuries over the last few
years. It's been a bit stop-start for him in recent seasons. It will be good
for him and West Ham if he can now play regularly and stay injury-free."

Ferdinand - who has himself been linked with a move back to Upton Park -
says only time will tell if Cole made the correct decision in breaking the
old 'never go back' rule. "Everyone is an individual," he said, "and you
never know how these things will work out until you try. He's come back to
West Ham after a few years and good luck to him. "Joe looked good and it was
a tough cup tie. That's what you expect when you go to West Ham though. It
was nothing different to what we anticipated."

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West Ham's Joe Cole enjoys debut in FA Cup against Manchester United
Last Updated: January 7, 2013 9:19am
SSN

Joe Cole wants to ignore the fuss about his West Ham United debut but admits
it was better than one of his first outings for Liverpool. The midfielder
made his return to his boyhood club last Friday, having first left for
Chelsea in 2003, and he on Saturday starred in the FA Cup draw with
Manchester United. Cole played 78 minutes before being substituted at the
weekend and it was a significantly more enjoyable second debut for West Ham
than his maiden Premier League game for Liverpool.

Allardyce laments missed chance
The 31-year-old was sent off against Arsenal in 2010 by Martin Atkinson, the
same referee who took charge of the game against Manchester United.
"It was a bit better than my Liverpool debut, yeah" said Cole on Saturday in
the Daily Mirror. "Same referee as well. He said to me, 'you lasted
longer!'.
"It was great to play again and I really enjoyed it. There's been a lot of
fuss. I'm not really one for that. I just wanted to get out there and play
football.
"It's nice to play well. All the eyes were on me today but I'm just happy to
be out there playing and getting match minutes in and getting stronger. "I
had a great year out in France last year and I played a lot of football but
this year's not been kind for me. I haven't played a lot of football, only
scraps - 20 minutes here, half-an-hour there. "Individually it was a good
performance and collectively I thought we defended really well." Cole added:
"It was an amazing reception. It really choked me up. It's great to be here.
"The fans, even when I came back here with Chelsea or Liverpool, have always
given me a good reception but today was special. Onwards and upwards."

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Swede dreams: West Ham set to return with improved offer for Blackburn
defender Martin Olsson
The Mirror
7 Jan 2013 22:30

Sam Allardyce is set to go back with an improved offer after having a £2m
bid for Martin Olsson rejected by Blackburn. West Ham boss Allardyce is
desperate to bring in a new left back with George McCartney facing a long
lay-off while Joey O'Brien has had a hamstring problem. Swedish
international Olsson fits the bill and played under Allardyce when he was in
charge at Blackburn but it is clear that Rovers want a bigger fee.
Meanwhile, Allardyce is also poised to seal a deal to take Brazilian striker
Wellington Paulista on loan.

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No red card: Cole relief as he makes Hammers debut and doesn't get sent off!
The Mirror
6 Jan 2013 22:32
Jamie McDonald

Even ref Martin Atkinson joked that Joe Cole's return to Upton Park went
better than his Liverpool debut. The Yorkshire official showed the
midfielder a straight red card after only 46 minutes of his first Premier
League appearance for the Anfield club in August 2010. On his second Hammers
debut, Cole created both of James Collins' goals before getting subbed off
to a standing ovation after 78 minutes. "It was a bit better than my
Liverpool debut, yeah" said Cole, 31. "Same referee as well. He said to me:
'You lasted longer!'. "'It was great to play again and I really enjoyed it.
There's been a lot of fuss. I'm not really one for that. I just wanted to
get out there and play football.

"It's nice to play well. All the eyes were on me today, but I'm just happy
to be out there playing and getting match minutes in and getting stronger.
"I had a great year out in France last year and I played a lot of football,
but this year's not been kind for me. I haven't played a lot of football,
only scraps - 20 minutes here, half an hour there. "Individually it was a
good performance and collectively I thought we defended really well." Cole,
who scored for Liverpool at Upton Park last month, added: "'It was amazing
reception. It really choked me up. It's great to be here. The fans, even
when I came back here with Chelsea or Liverpool, have always given me a good
reception but today was special. Onwards and upwards."

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Always believe in...
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 7th January 2013
By: Terry Land

A year to the day before World Trade Centre bombings on September 11th, 2001
and most of Britain was queuing at petrol stations as fuel duty protests
from a few north Wales farmers spread across the nation.

Yet I was engaging my own vigil along with 4,000 other Hammers as we trooped
over to White Hart Lane for a night game with a view to showing our hated
(and I do mean hated) north London rivals what supporting your football team
is all about.

Never mind us being outnumbered ten to one or Sol Campbell scoring the only
goal of the game with a thumping header from a corner, we had a new terrace
chant – and it was very good indeed. To the tune of Spandau Ballet's Gold we
belted out, "Joey Cole, COLE! Always believe in your soul, You got the power
to know, You're indestructible, Always believe in…"

Go back a couple of years and it is my duty to make you aware as a
middle-aged man with no children and a vasectomy I am extremely unlikely to
have any grandchildren. In light of that probability I feel I must reveal to
you, I was at Upton Park the day Joe Cole signed his first professional
contract. Although Matchday Announcer Jeremy Nicholas has maintained a fine
tradition of cringeworthy exclamations over his many years in the job this
particular embarrassment prior to a drab goalless draw with Chelsea barely
registers in a top ten.

It was the 7th of November, 1999, the day before Cole's 18th birthday. I was
also there when Cole made his first-team début as a substitute against
Swansea in the FA Cup, for his Premier League début at Old Trafford, his
first start – against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park, first goal – at St Andrews
in the League Cup and first league goal – in a 5-4 thriller against Bradford
at The Boleyn.

I mention all this not to establish any über-fan credentials but to
emphasise just what an exciting period it was being a West Ham supporter.
The club had broken into Europe (albeit through the dubious pathway of the
Intertoto Cup) and even if Frank Lampard was a leaden obstacle clogging up
midfield he did score goals as Paolo Di Canio thrilled us up front, Trevor
Sinclair added pace and skill to the right flank and Rio Ferdinand strolled
about at the back.

Cole's play was a metaphor for that of the club. Gifted with an exceptional
touch and quick feet the boy from Camden could and did beat players with
ease – before looking up and … nothing. After finishing fifth in season
98-99, the team slumped to 9th and 15th upon Cole's arrival. The player
seldom scored goals, having a Stuart Slater-like ability to scuff the ball
and even more rarely made them – a bigger disappointment as manager Harry
Redknapp's 3-5-2 formation was designed to give him just that role. A final
ball is often the last thing to develop in a player (Cristiano Ronaldo and
Ryan Giggs were both criticised early career for such a lack) but
nonetheless, Cole didn't seem to have a ruthless streak.

Of course, the lack of personality weakness should be never taken as a
criticism (even if there was a half story involving Joe, a Page 3 girl, a
black eye and half naked dash around south London during his Chelsea days)
and the No26 was loved by those in claret and blue as much for his
enthusiasm as skill, even if much of it seemed puppyish rather than
proficient. Or to put it another way, Joe was such a lovely bloke it was
very difficult to dislike him. A perceived lack of football nous –
emphasised by a slack-jawed demeanour while in play – endeared rather than
repelled. Joe's cause was not helped by a manager in Redknapp who could see
no role other than playmaker despite meagre returns but was also happy to
criticise him for perceived lack of professionalism – a rant following a
quarter-final FA Cup loss to Spurs seemed designed to belittle.

Harry departed the club a game or so later to usher in Glenn Roeder, an
outsider in the race for the job and an opposite to his predecessor in
almost every respect. Upstanding of character and blessed with a strong
football brain from his days as a ball playing centre-back, the ex-Newcastle
and QPR man was as uncomfortable in front of the press as "Good Old 'Arry"
welcomed the headlines. Out went the luxury player and for the first time
Cole was asked to play the more disciplined wide position that would these
days be considered his home.

The second season under Roeder was by far Joe's best. Given the captaincy
and a midfield water-carrier role he broke tackles and drove at opponents to
great effect. Unfortunately the metaphor continued, a missed tackle on
Jay-Jay Okocha proved costly as the Bolton man ran on to score for Sam
Allardyce's side and West Ham's more pragmatic play resulted in relegation
despite the 42 points gained. We all knew the player was off and he went to
Chelsea with our best wishes.

Roman Abramovich's revolution at Stamford Bridge didn't help Cole, and
especially not when Claudio Ranieri lost out to Jose Mourinho, a manager who
despite amassing a ferocious pool of talent appears to have a near
pathological fear of playing flair players. Avram Grant, Felipe Scolari and
Guus Hiddink as well as injury niggles came and went until Roy Hodgson
grabbed Cole on a free transfer to Liverpool after seven mostly wasted years
at The Blues. Once again the curse struck as the now England coach was
replaced by first Kenny Dalglish and then Brendan Rodgers. Cole's career
seems blighted by a series of managers who either indulged or ignored him.

My first reaction when I heard Cole might be returning to Upton Park was
weary resignation – another washed-up player with his best years behind him
and ruined by managerial incompetence. Maybe I'm not paying enough credit to
Allardyce, a boss with a track record of finding something from apparently
over-the-hill professionals. If there is a manager in the business capable
of nurturing the best from Cole it's Big Sam. And let's be honest, no player
deserves it more.

*Terry Land hosts a blog at moxycoxy.wordpress.com. He may also be found on
Twitter at twitter.com/#!/AMoCS.

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Hammers' Distin future
Published: 07th January 2013
The Sun

WEST HAM are set to join the race for Sylvain Distin. The Everton defender,
35, is out of contract this summer and may not get a new deal — alerting
Sunderland, QPR and now the Hammers.

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London calling for Danny
By STEVE PAGE
Published: 07th January 2013
The Sun

WEST HAM face competition from Fulham and QPR as they move for Newcastle's
Danny Simpson. Defender Simpson, 26, has been strongly linked with a move to
Upton Park. He is believed to want a move to London so he can be closer to
his girlfriend, The X Factor judge Tulisa. And both Martin Jol and Harry
Redknapp are also tracking his progress. But QPR boss Redknapp faces defeat
in the chase for Marseille's Loic Remy, with Newcastle expected to sign the
£8million-rated striker.

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Transfer Activity Bodes Well for the Second Half of the Season!
West Ham Till I Die

I had urged the club to act decisively in the January window and get their
transfer business done nice and early. I have not been disappointed to date,
as the recruitment of Joe Cole and Marouane Chamakh has been followed by the
news that the club are close to clinching a six month loan deal for Cruzerio
striker, Wellington Paulista. Furthermore, it has also been reported that
West Ham have submitted an initial £2m bid for Blackburn Rovers left-back,
Martin Olsson. Blackburn have apparently rejected the bid and West Ham are
thought to be preparing a second, increased offer for a player that Sam
Allardyce has managed previously and rates highly..

Sam Allardyce was quite tight lipped about a possible deal for Paulista,
when asked about it during the Man Utd post-match interview. Similiarly, he
refused to rule out speculation that West Ham might be lining up a deal for
37 year old, former MLS, midfielder, David Beckham. Two current US MLS
players are also shortly scheduled to start training with the Hammers. They
are Chivas USA forward Juan Agudelo and Sporting Kansas City midfielder
Graham Zusi. At this early stage, it is unclear whether the arrangement is a
trial or simply a training agreement between the club and MLS to keep the
players fit during the American close season? No doubt there will be further
news on this in due course.

Elsewhere, it appears that West Ham are not pursuing a deal for Marsailles
striker, Loic Remy. It is now likely to be a straight fight between PL
strugglers Newcastle Utd and QPR for Remy's signature. However, there are
rumours that Marsailles could still be interested in agreeing a deal for
West Ham striker, Maiga, as a replacement. Yet, it is thought that Sam
Allardyce recognizes the potential of the former Sochaux striker and may be
reluctant to let Maiga move on at this particular juncture.

With the latest transfer speculation out of the way, a few words on the
performance against Man Utd. It was a great display, in which we largely
contained Man Utd's attacking potency and posed their rear guard plenty of
problems. Both Diarra and Collison did well in midfield, after returning
from their long injury lay offs. As for Joe Cole, those two beautifully
flighted balls in for the Collins headers were top class. That is why he is
at the club, to add extra vison and touch to West Ham's forward play. Is it
a coincidence that West Ham's attacking unit looked far more coherent and
linked up with Cole in the side? I do not think so. Joe still has a lot to
offer and a lot to prove. Lets hope that he can stay fit, play himself in to
top form and really make up for lost time.

I also thought that Danny Potts did very well at left-back, defending well
and supporting the attack down the left. I called for Potts and Hall's
recall from their loan deals some time ago, because I am sure that both
players are nearing readiness for regular first team footballer. Potts
arguably demonstrated that my assessment is correct. I welcome the potential
signing of Martin Olsson, but I hope that Potts continues to secure more
first team exposure during the remainder of this season. Demel played well,
as did Tomkins and Collins. While Jarvis is rapidly playing himself in to
form and we should start to see the very best of him in the second half of
the season. He evaded the Man Utd defence to carve out an excellent chance
for Matt Taylor and Carlton Cole to score what should have been the decisive
third goal. When we failed to score, I turned around to my friend and said
prophetically, 'I hope we do not live tro regret that miss.'

And lo and behold, Giggs and Van Persie duly combined to score a 90th minute
equaliser. The only slight grumble that I have is that we were probably a
bit naive. With just over four minutes to play, we should have played the
ball out from the back to try to keep posession and see out extra time.
Instead, we launched a goal kick up the field, Carlton Cole lost possession,
Giggs picked it up and his long pass was expertly converted by the prolific
Dutch marksman. That aside, some times you just have acknowledge the quality
of the opposition play, and this was one of those occasions. Giggs ball
forward was inch perfect and Van Persie showed technique of the highest
order to receive and strike the ball. The skill, technique and, yes,
directness of the move effectively turned our defenders in to spectators!

So, now we face another trip to Old Trafford on Wednesday, 16 January 2013,
to resolve the contest. And a 4th round, home tie, awaits the winner on 27th
January 2013. There is the possiblility that both Carroll and Diame may be
fit to play some role in that match. I know that Man Utd are clear
favourites at Old Trafford, but if we can play as well again in the replay
then it may not be as straightforward a contest as some would have us
believe. Least ways, lets go up there and give it a right go.

Before that, we play Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, this coming
weekend. It is a game that we should definitely be looking to take at least
a point from, possibly all three. As usual, I am going to go for the longer
shot and go for a 1-2 win for the Hammers!

SJ. Chandos.

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