Daily WHUFC News - 29th March 2013

Big Sam on: West Bromwich Albion
WHUFC.com
Big Sam spoke to the press ahead of the Barclays Premier League visit of
West Bromwich Albion
28.03.2013

Sam Allardyce insists a top-ten Barclays Premier League finish is still well
within West Ham United's reach, as his side prepare to take on West Bromwich
Albion at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday. While achieving top-flight safety
remains the number one priority, Big Sam is hopeful his side can far exceed
the 38 points he expects to guarantee a second season in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, the Hammers boss is further boosted by the return of Joe Cole to
full training and with players returning unscathed from international duty,
Big Sam has an almost full-strength squad at his disposal.

Sam, what's the team news ahead of Saturday?

SA: "We've no injury problems from the international players, who've been
away on international duty over the last couple of weeks. They're all back
and recovered apart from young Raphael Spiegel, who fractured a finger I
think in four or five places, so we've called Stephen Henderson back from
Ipswich for the goalkeeping position. Joe Cole's back in full training, so
he joins the squad. Mark Noble has not recovered yet from surgery on a
trapped nerve. The squad's looking quite strong."

With Mark, how soon do you expect him back?

SA: "We don't really know, because it's an injury we haven't incurred before
and we know very little about. So we can only take it day-by-day on how Mark
feels and what the specialists or the surgeons say next time they visit.
He's making good progress at the moment but quite how long it will be, we
don't know."

You've mentioned the 38-point mark before, do you still think that will be
enough?

SA: "I think this season that will be enough, but obviously we want that and
more. We've always set out this season to try and finish as high as we
possibly can. Our goal at the very start of the season, the maximum we felt
we could do in year one, with the squad we have, was tenth and that's still
a possibility. Our position at 14th at the moment is the lowest we've been
all season, so that's how well we've done, even though I've not been
satisfied with results recently, it still puts us in a very good position.
"Because we had such a good start to the season, you can see what it means
to a team when they have a difficult period - as everyone does at some stage
of the season - it doesn't drag you down to the lower end where the pressure
pot is, lying in the bottom four. Trying to scramble your way out of that
becomes very difficult."

How big an achievement would a top-ten finish be for West Ham United in your
first season back?

SA: "It would be unbelievable. I think it would be an outstanding feat for
us in our first year back, and like I said it's not beyond us. I would have
worried about that at the start of the season, but I know about everybody
else now and I know about us and I know that's achievable with the squad we
have. "Hopefully we can get to 38 points as quickly as we can and try to
finish the season with a few games left to achieve even more than 40 points.
It has been a little disappointing recently, from a results point of view,
that we haven't already clinched safety, because I think we should have
done, based on our performances. But our lack of concentration and on some
occasions, lack of goals, has made us linger on this subject and we all want
to get it done and dusted and focus on hopefully another season in the
Barclays Premier League."

Is West Bromwich Albion's success in the Premier League a blueprint for West
Ham to follow?

SA: "No, because we don't want to go down and come back up, we want to stay
up. My blueprint is Bolton Wanderers, when I was there, Blackburn Rovers
when they came up with us and Fulham. We all came up together and we all
stayed in the Premier League. In actual fact, Fulham are still there, some
15 years on I think. Bolton and Blackburn have slipped up recently and gone
back down, but sustaining your Premier League status is the most difficult
thing to do in year one, so if you manage it you reduce your percentage of
being relegated. But certainly, we don't want to think about being relegated
to come back up."

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Hall makes Bolton loan switch
WHUFC.com
Rob Hall has joined npower Championship side Bolton Wanderers on loan until
the end of the season
28.03.2013

Rob Hall has joined npower Championship side Bolton Wanderers on loan until
the end of the season. The West Ham United forward will join Dougie
Freedman's squad for the run in, with Bolton five points and two places
outside the Play-Offs with eight games still to play. The England U19
international star returned from a successful loan spell with Birmingham
City to undergo keyhole surgery to rectify a hernia problem earlier this
month. Now, the 19-year-old is ready to return to training and he will link
up with the Trotters next week. Hall could make his Bolton debut in the home
fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday 6 April. Hall said of his
bid to regain full fitness: "I'm getting there slowly, obviously it's
important not to rush things, but I'm excited about what has happened in the
last few hours. "I'm looking forward to a new challenge at Bolton and
hopefully I can get a good run of games. I've kept an eye on the whole
league, because it's really close, and Bolton have picked up a lot of good
results in the last handful of games."

After weighing in with seven assists in 13 apperances while on loan at St
Andrew's, Hall is intent on making his mark for the Trotters too, and with
Bolton just five points off the top six, he may yet find himself in the
midst of a play-off campaign. "It's a massive confidence boost for me to
be wanted by a big club like that and I'm hoping to go there and make an
impression," he added. "The play-offs are within touching distance but on a
personal note, I'm just hoping to put in some good performances to enhance
my reputation and we'll see where it leaves me come the end of the season."


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Reidy ready for Baggies
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid has returned from a successful international stint and is up
for Saturday's visit of West Brom
29.03.2013

While many of his team-mates enjoyed a fortnight of training in the familiar
surroundings of Chadwell Heath, Winston Reid's international break was
rather different. The West Ham United defender made the 24,000-mile round
trip from London to the city of Dunedin on New Zealand's South Island, where
he captained his country for the first time in a vital 2-1 FIFA World Cup
qualifying win over New Caledonia - a result that confirmed their place in
the Intercontinental Play-Off with the fourth-placed CONCACAF nation for a
place in Brazil. After spending a couple of days relaxing with his family -
and watching his country's cricket team come within a whisker of beating
England in a Test match - Reid returned to this country on Monday and is now
prepared for Saturday's Barclays Premier League visit of West Bromwich
Albion. The No2, who has also led the Hammers in each of their previous two
matches in the absence of Kevin Nolan, spoke exclusively to West Ham TV
about his eventful fortnight and his hopes of making a winning return to
action at the Boleyn Ground. "I've flown a couple of kilometres, that's for
sure!" joked the centre-back. "It's been good. I went away with New Zealand
and we got a good result and now I'm looking forward to the game on
Saturday. "I had a conversation with the coach [Ricki Herbert] when I got to
New Zealand and it's a great honour and privilege to captain my country, so
hopefully things will go well and we'll qualify for Brazil. If I got to
captain the side there, that would be a great honour.
"It was a bit of a long journey but I got there in the end and, game-wise,
we got the three points that mattered. We're looking forward to the two
games in the Play-Off."

Without Reid, who was rested, New Zealand completed a perfect six wins from
six in Round 3 of Oceania qualifying by winning 2-0 in the Solomon Islands
last week. For the defender, fixtures against relatively unknown Pacific
Island nations present a different sort of challenge to the one he is used
to with the Hammers. "The Oceania qualifiers are different from the Premier
League. It's difficult as well because the circumstances you come across are
different - you don't just turn up at the stadium like you do here. You have
preparation and travel that don't always go well when you go to those sorts
of places, so it's difficult. There is also the heat, so it can be tough to
play in those environments because they always want to beat us when we go to
those places. "In this qualification round I thought we did well and were
very professional. We only conceded two goals so I thought we did a good
job."

New Zealand enjoyed a memorable 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where
the All Whites earned three group-stage draws, including a 1-1 tie with
Slovakia that featured a last-minute goal from Reid. The defender believes
his country is making strides forward on both the football and cricket
pitch, having held England to a 0-0 draw in the recent three-Test series. "I
think we've done all right. The team is getting better and there are a lot
of good young players coming through by New Zealand's standards. It's good
and hopefully the game can grow down there. "[Regarding the cricket], we
should have won it. I watched the highlights and had a little bet with one
of the physios at West Ham, but unfortunately it ended in a draw!"

Having been back at Chadwell since Tuesday, Reid is now 100 per cent ready
for the visit of the Baggies for an important Barclays Premier League
fixture this weekend. "I think everyone is looking forward to it and raring
to go. We've done well at home this season and had some really good
performances, so we're looking forward to another home game and hopefully we
can do another one on Saturday."

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On this day - 29 March
WHUFC.com
Tony Cottee and Frank McAvennie take centre stage as West Ham run riot at
Chelsea on this day
29.03.2013

Anniversary
James Tomkins
Born: 29 March 1989
Clubs: West Ham United, Derby County (loan)

Basildon-born Hammer James Tomkins is today celebrating his 24th birthday,
some 17 years after joining West Ham United's famed Academy as a schoolboy.
The tall, stylish centre-half made his senior bow for the club exactly a
week prior to his 19th birthday, in a 1-1 draw at Everton's Goodison Park
under the stewardship of Alan Curbishley. The following season saw him enjoy
a five-week loan spell at Derby County, before returning to the Boleyn at
the turn of the year. He would end the 2008/09 season with a flourish,
opening his account in a 2-0 win over Sunderland and then putting pen to
paper on a new deal with the club. Tomkins has subsequently racked up a
total of 152 appearances in claret and blue, as he became an almost
permanent fixture in West Ham's promotion-winning side last term. The
England Under-21 international started all but four of the Hammers' 49
fixtures, with West Ham clinching their return to the top flight courtesy of
a dramatic Play-off final victory over Blackpool at Wembley. Though he
still awaits a full international cap, Tomkins has represented his country
at every level from Under-16s upwards, including Stuart Pearce's Great
Britain side at last summer's Olympic Games.

Classic match
Chelsea 0-4 West Ham United
Division One
29 March 1986

Twenty seven years ago today, West Ham United players and supporters alike
were basking in the glory of a spectacular 4-0 triumph at Chelsea's Stamford
Bridge, as John Lyall's side strode towards a club-record high finish of
third in Division One. It took the rampant Hammers 23 minutes to hit the
front, when Alan Devonshire made light of the treacherous playing surface to
dispatch a 25-yard drive into the top corner. While that set the tone, it
was after the interval that West Ham would truly turn on the style. The
prolific Tony Cottee netted twice in the space of nine minutes, first
rounding off a sweeping counter-attack led by George Parris, before being
teed up by strike partner Frank McAvennie to slot home from eight yards.
It was left to McAvennie himself to complete the rout as he pounced on
Cottee's mis-hit shot, rifling high past Blues 'keeper Tony Godden. The
irrepressible strike duo would finish the campaign with an amazing 54 goals
between them, with the Scotsman notching 28 and Cottee 26. Victory took West
Ham up to sixth in the table, as they won an extraordinary eleven of their
final 14 league outings to finish third, just four points behind eventual
champions Liverpool.

Complete record - 29 March

2008 Sunderland 2-1 West Ham United (Premier League)
2006 Manchester United 1-0 West Ham United (Premier League)
1991 Oldham Athletic 1-1 West Ham United (Division Two)
1986 Chelsea 0-4 West Ham United (Division One)
1980 Swansea City 2-1 West Ham United (Division Two)
1975 West Ham United 0-1 Chelsea (Division One)
1969 West Ham United 0-0 Manchester United (Division One)
1968 West Ham United 1-1 Arsenal (Division One)
1958 Stoke City 1-4 West Ham United (Division Two)
1948 West Ham United 4-2 Cardiff City (Division Two)
1947 West Ham United 1-2 Coventry City (Division Two)
1937 Barnsley 0-0 West Ham United (Division Two)
1930 Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1929 West Ham United 4-0 Burnley (Division One)
1924 West Ham United 1-0 West Bromwich Albion (Division One)
1922 Notts County 1-1 West Ham United (Division Two)

Played 16, Won 5, Drawn 5, Lost 6, Scored 24, Conceded 16

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Hunter wowed by stadium images
WHUFC.com
Rowing champion Mark Hunter MBE was 'blown away' by artist impressions of
how the Olympic Stadium will look
28.03.2013

Mark Hunter MBE admitted to being 'blown away' by images of how the Olympic
Stadium will look when West Ham United move in. The Olympic rowing Gold
medallist and lifelong Hammer could not contain a smile when he viewed
artist's impressions of the iconic London 2012 venue, for which the club was
named anchor tenant on Friday 22 March. The Forest Gate-born athlete said
the 'incredible' images would reassure supporters that the club's future lay
in Stratford.
"It's been great to see the images of the Olympic Stadium - it's what we've
all been waiting for, so to actually see them just sends shivers down your
spine at just how incredible it is going to be and going to look when we do
move there," said the 34-year-old, who won Gold in the Lightweight double
sculls at Beijing 2008 and Silver in the same event at London 2012. "The
images certainly whet the appetite. As a fan, you always wonder what it is
going to be like and if it is going to keep the feel like we have at Upton
Park. You can see from the images that it is going to be West Ham all over
so it's going to be our home ground and we should embrace that. "People are
scared of change but I think it's an exciting time ahead."

The images show the Olympic Stadium fully renovated as West Ham's new home,
complete with a roof covering all of the 54,000 seats, Hammers branding
inside and outside the ground and retractable seating that will bring
supporters close to the action. Situated just yards from Stratford railway
station, with its mainline, London Underground and bus links to all over the
South East, and the shopping and leisure facilities of Westfield Stratford
City, Hunter also praised the accessibility of West Ham's new home. "It's
going to be our home and that's the most important thing about it. It is
still the iconic Olympic venue but it's going to change dramatically with
the seating being closer to the pitch and retractable for other events.
Also, the roof looks incredible and I'm blown away by what I've seen. "It
will certainly be a lot easier to get to than Upton Park. It's going to be
incredible. I just keep thinking back about how it was during the Olympics
and that roof is going to be built now and it's going to be even louder.
"It's going to be even more iconic than Wembley in my eyes, with the West
Ham branding around the outside, and I literally cannot wait to be there for
the first kick-off, to be honest."

The two-time world champion attended athletics events at the Olympic Stadium
during Team GB's outstanding London 2012 Games, and said he could not wait
for Hammers supporters to re-create the same atmosphere when they move into
their new home. "The noise when the Olympics were on inside the stadium was
electric, and if we can emulate half of that it's going to be louder than
Upton Park. "There are going to be more fans there and more opportunities
for fans to be there - I just think the club is moving forward, this is an
iconic place to be and there are great times ahead."

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Dev Squad make a splash
WHUFC.com
Four promising West Ham United youngsters swapped the pitch for the pool to
aid their recovery
28.03.2013

Modern-day football calls for clubs to examine every possible method to get
their players back on the pitch as quickly and safely as possible. With that
in mind, Academy Head of Sport Medicine and Sport Science Tom Smith took
four Development Squad players to David Lloyd Gidea Park to use the plunge
pool and swimming pool. There Rob Hall, Elliot Lee, Matthias Fanimo and
Sebastian Lletget swapped their football boots for swimming trunks to aid
their recovery and rehabilitation. "We brought the lads down as they have
had various injuries or tightness in their muscles from previous games to
use the facilities to do some mobility work and rehabilitation exercises,"
Smith explained. "The plunge pool is like an ice-cold bath with nice deep
water, so the pressure and temperature of the water both have their
therapeutic benefits. The exercises the lads did in there were to mobilise
their hips, marching on the spot and cycling their legs. It basically
pre-empted the session they did in the swimming pool on a larger scale.
"They began by walking in the pool, which was an extension of their hip
mobility work - Matthias is recovering from a hamstring injury and Rob has
had a recent groin operation and Elliot and Seb who both had hip-related
musclar tightness. The leg session they did involved a few walking patterns
that opened up the movement around their hips. "Matthias and Rob then did
swimming sessions in floatsuits as a bouyancy aid that allowed them to
concentrate on the upper-body movements rather than staying afloat. It helps
with the lads confidence if they not strong swimmers and also allows them to
get more benefit from the exercises that they do."

Hall said the players enjoyed the change of scenery of a visit to David
Lloyd, as well the beneficial effects of spending time in the water. "We
used this visit as a rehab session, whereas we usually use the pool for
recovery after games or hard training sessions," said the forward. "We have
to treat the David Lloyd professionally and like an extension of the
training ground. We cannot mess around. It's nice to get out of the training
ground and see something new."
As well as the visits made by the club's young professionals, Smith said
West Ham's first-team squad were also regular attendees for pool sessions at
David Lloyd. "The first team are down regularly for rehab sessions or
recovery sessions if we have a couple of games close together and they have
a quick turn-around in between. "The facilities we can use such as the pool,
jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, as well as the spin bikes in the gym, give us
lots of different facets to our recovery sessions. "They really help us out
at David Lloyd, with whom we've had a link for a few years now. They come
and watch some of our games throughout the season and, in return, we get use
of their outstanding facilities. It's been fantastic."

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Bolton sign Robert Hall and Danny Butterfield on loan
BBC.co.uk

Bolton have signed West Ham winger Robert Hall and Southampton defender
Danny Butterfield on loan until the end of the season. Butterfield, 33,
previously played alongside current Wanderers manager Dougie Freedman at
Crystal Palace. Hall, 19, arrives after a loan spell at Birmingham earlier
this season, during which he played in a 3-1 defeat by Bolton in December.
Both go into the squad for the game against Charlton on Saturday.
Butterfield made the last of his 50 appearances for the Saints against
Stevenage in the Capital One Cup in August and includes Charlton and Grimsby
among his former clubs. Hall has also had loan spells at MK Dons and Oxford,
where he scored five goals in 11 starts, and has made three appearances for
West Ham's first team this season.

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Sam Allardyce will sign new contract when West Ham are safe
BBC.co.uk

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says he will only sign a new contract when
the club are certain of survival in the Premier League. Allardyce, 58,
revealed that talks over a new deal have already begun. "I suppose I could
sign a contract that said if we get relegated then I don't want it, but I
won't do that," he said.
The Hammers are 14th in the Premier League - five points short of the
38-point total that Allardyce believes will be enough to secure safety. "We
think we will be safe at 38 points. Then we can push on to 40 if we can," he
added. "The contract negotiations are ongoing at this moment in time. We
talk confidentially among ourselves and hopefully we can come to an
agreement shortly." Allardyce's current contract expires at the end of the
season. West Ham discovered this week that they will be anchor tenants for
the Olympic Stadium and Allardyce said he would be like to be in charge of
the team when they move in to their new home in four seasons' time. "If I
can last that long, I'd like to be here," he said. "The sack is always
around the corner, that's how it is these days."

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Carlton Cole set for foreign challenge?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 28th March 2013
By: Staff Writer

Carlton Cole's contract situation is being closely monitored by a string of
foreign clubs - with at least one preparing to offer him a deal should he
fail to secure an extension to his existing contract at West Ham.
Fans'-favourite Cole, who was a £2million signing from Chelsea in 2006 (and
the last remaining player signed by former manager Alan Pardew on the club's
books) is currently set to be a free agent this summer. It's a situation
that has naturally not gone unnoticed by both domestically-based clubs and
those abroad. Whilst the popular striker insists that his preference would
be to remain in east London, he has acknowledged that he could be enticed
into a move abroad. And that's news which hasn't gone unnoticed in places
such as the United States and Australia, whose respective MLS and A-League's
are keen to expand their 'roster' of European-based players in order to
enhance their status and reputation. KUMB.com has learned this week that at
least one North American club are planning to make Cole a tempting offer to
leave England once his contract expires at the end of the current campaign.

UK-based agents working on behalf of the club have been asked to prepare a
portfolio on the 29-year-old forward in preparation for a lucrative contract
offer that could signal the end Cole's of seven-year association with West
Ham United. "My contract is up in the summer; it's still open," Cole told
the Daily Mail when asked about his future earlier this week. "Mr Sullivan
and Mr Gold are going to speak about everybody's future once we know where
we are in the league. It's a bit premature at the moment. "When we know
where we are then we can close that deal. If I'm not going to close that
deal at West Ham I might close it somewhere else. I've got to weigh up my
options. "I love the club with all my heart and I want to see them do well.
If I can be a part of that, I'm a part of that - if not, I wish them all the
best. Sometimes you have to part ways. It happens. "I could stay in the
Premier League, go abroad. I'm open right now. If I'm not with West Ham,
anything's possible."

* One player unlikely to be a potential replacement for Cole is Wilfried
Bony. The Ivorian international's talks with West Ham are understood to have
reached an impasse over wage demands and the player is now in discussions
with other Premier League clubs.

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Hall joins Bolton Wanderers
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 28th March 2013
By: Staff Writer

Robert Hall has joined Championship side Bolton Wanderers on loan for the
remainder of the 2012/13 season. Hall, who only recently returned from a
spell with Bolton's Championship rivals Birmingham City is now a Trotter
having completed his move ahead of tonight's transfer deadline. The
19-year-old England youth international has previously spent time on loan at
Oxford United (twice), Milton Keynes Dons, and most recently, Birmingham
City.

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QPR boss Harry Redknapp has dismissed talk linking him with a return to West
Ham
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated: March
28, 2013 4:32pm
SSN

Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp has rubbished rumours linking him
with a return to West Ham this summer. Reports had suggested Redknapp was
being lined up for a shock return to Upton Park as doubts continue to
surround the future of current West Ham manager Sam Allardyce. Allardyce is
out of contract at the end of the season and fresh terms have yet to be
agreed, fuelling talk that he could be on his way out of the club. Redknapp,
who played for West Ham and managed them for seven years between 1994 and
2001, has dismissed talk of a return to the club and admits he was
"embarrassed" by the rumours. "I was embarrassed when I read that," said
Redknapp. "They've got a manager. Sam [Allardyce] has done a great job there
and is talking about signing a new contract. "They don't need me."

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Former Bolton boss Sam Allardyce attacks the club over treatment of "icon"
Davies
Last Updated: March 29, 2013 8:23am
SSN

Former Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has attacked the club for their
"insensitive" handling of Kevin Davies' release. Bolton confirmed they would
not be offering a contract extension to their 36-year-old captain, who has
played 407 times for the club over the last 10 seasons. Davies contract
expires five days before the 10th anniversary of his arrival at the club and
the striker believed he would not be awarded a testimonial. Bolton defended
their conduct, saying they are happy to give Davies a testimonial but
Allardyce, who brought Davies to Bolton in 2003, thinks the Trotters icon
has been harshly treated. "Every footballer has to face the fact that his
career comes to an end at some stage at whatever football club you've been
at, but the timing and the way that Bolton have handled it isn't very good,"
Allardyce, now manager of West Ham, said. "I think they've handled it
poorly. "It has been a great shame when it happens to somebody who has been
such a great servant. Someone who I brought there when he was released by
Southampton."

Allardyce thinks the striker deserves to be remembered as one of the
all-time greats at the Lancashire club. "I thought at the time he would be a
great acquisition, but I never expected him to be such a major force in what
I and we did at the time and continue to do when I left," said Allardyce,
who departed Bolton for Newcastle in 2007. "Over 10 years for all but five
days and then to be released on his birthday was pretty insensitive and I
think they could have handled it an awful lot better as a football club and
should have done."

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Sam Allardyce ready to commit future once West Ham reach 38-point mark
Last Updated: March 28, 2013 4:30pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce says he will sign a new contract once West Ham have reached 38
points in the Premier League. Allardyce and the club have always maintained
a new deal is on the cards but will not be rubber-stamped until another
season of top-flight football is guaranteed. And, according to the manager,
whose current deal expires in the summer, it will take five more points
before both parties are happy relegation is no longer a real threat. "I want
us to get safe and then if the contract's already there and ready to sign,
I'll sign it, move on and get ready for next season." He said: "I want us
to get safe and then if the contract's already there and ready to sign, I'll
sign it, move on and get ready for next season. "I'm not so sure we have to
wait until we're mathermatically safe. I think if we get to 38 points both
parties would say that's going to be enough this season. "Hopefully we can
get to 38 points as quickly as we can, then we'll have a few games left to
achieve more than 40 points if we can."

West Ham have won just twice in nine league games, and Allardyce said: "It's
been a little disappointing recently, not from a contract point of view but
from a results point of view. "I'm disappointed we haven't already clinched
safety because I think we should have done based on our performances. "Our
lack of concentration and, on some occasions, our lack of goals has made us
linger on this subject. "We all want to get it out of the way, done and
dusted and focus on hopefully another season in the Premier League."

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Robert Hall is Bolton Wanderers Bound
By S J Chandos About 10 hours ago 8 comments
West Ham Till I Die

It has been reported that Robert Hall has gone out on a month's loan to
Bolton Wanderers. It seems that the youngster has quickly recovered from
injury and has been placed back out on loan with some haste. I guess it
makes sense to agree another loan if he is not in the first team frame at
Upton Park, but one wonders when he will be deemed ready for first team
duty? Very worryingly it was reported last week that Hall is in the final
months of his current contract and there is a real possibility that he could
move this summer for a fee of little more than £500,000. Surely Sam
Allardyce rates Hall and knows his potential. As such, every effort must be
made to get him to sign a new contract, otherwise the club could have cause
to regret his loss, especially if as been rumoured Liverpool are lining him
up on a Bosman move!

Is the new high profile striker, referred to by Dave Sullivan last Friday,
Wilfred Bony or not? If it is, then other clubs are competing for his
signature. Not least Chelsea, who some sources this week have suggested were
actually trying to manipulate Bony's move to West Ham to give him PL
experience, before taking him off our hands at some point in the future! Its
all sounds very Machiavellian to me and I doubt that even Chelsea can
manipulate that situation. But we shall see, if Bony signs for West Ham and
insists on a release trigger at a certain level of fee then that might be
significant and substantiate the view that there could be substance to the
Chelsea manipulation rumour. Time will tell, but lets sign Bony on our terms
and try to avoid a reccurrence of the Ba/Diame type scenerio.

Last week was significant, with the official announcement of West Ham as the
anchor tenant at the Olympic Stadium. The media coverge of the event was
very partial and, some of it, quite astonishing in its bare faced
partiality. The article that I responded to on here was Des Kelly's biased
peice in the Sports Mail. It was full of holes and inconsistencies, which
hopefully I exposed. But the most amzing article of the lot was in the
Telegraph, in which the journalist suggested he would rather see the stadium
burnt to the ground then West Ham occupy it! Fortunately, Martin Samuels was
at hand to add some balance and put a powerful counter argument to all the
'tax payer ripped off' indignation. Basically, Samuels put the blame for the
extra expenditure entailed with revamping the Stadium firmly on Coe, Jowell
and Livngstone. The argument being, that If they had not resisted the
overwhelming business case for football usage in 2006-07, then a different
multi-use stadium design could have been agreed, which accommodated
football. And rather than being the villans here, West Ham are actually
helping to clear up the historical mess of others. Yes, West Ham are getting
a good deal, but so are the tax payer, who will not have subsidize the OS in
future and, more than that, there are also healthy future income streams, in
to the 'public purse,' via the rental, naming rights, hospitality income and
any sale of the club over the next ten years. So, in reality it is one of
those rare win-win situations!

However, the most powerful image in Samuels' peice is the reality that the
Stadium has been stripped since last summer and there are clear signs of
detoriation in the condition of the stadium. The press launch/event to
announce the deal was not held at the Stadium itself, but at a nearby
location. Is that significant? Anyway, the deal is in place now and
hopefully the hypocrisy coming out of Brisbane Road will soon also be
exposed once and for all. I personally do not believe that West Ham's
occupancy of the OS will finish off Leyton Orient. Orient fans really are a
different breed and, although the match day attendance is under 4,000 at
Brisbane Road, they appear staunchly loyal to their club. Perhaps the Orient
board will decide that they need to move to a new location, with a bigger
potential fan base? Most football fans are rightly opposed to these
'Wimbledon' type geographical moves, in which clubs are ripped from their
orginal communities and transplanted elsewhere. I do not like the hypocrisy
and misinformation that has been coming from Orient, but if that type of
move happens I will feel sorry for the die hard Orient fans. But the brutal
truth is that I am concerned with the future of West Ham Utd, not Leyton
Orient, and to me this move is crucial to moving our club forward as a force
in the PL.

Finally, it appears that initial negotiations have taken place with Sam
Allardyce on a new three year contract. Publicly, Allardyce has stated that
he will be looking to seal the new deal once the club reaches 38 points and
probable safety. The delay in agreeing a new deal gave hope to the
anti-Allardyce brigade that a managerial change is afoot in the summer. And
no doubt they will cling on to that possibility until the new contract is
signed, sealed and delivered. Unexpected things do happen sometimes, but the
current probability is that Allardyce will be West Ham manager for at least
the next three seasons.

SJ. Chandos.
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