Daily WHUFC News - 20th June 2013

Hammers capture Carroll
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce the permanent signing of Andy
Carroll from Liverpool.
19.06.2013

West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of England
international Andy Carroll from Liverpool. Carroll joins the Hammers on a
six-year contract, with an option for a further two in the Club's favour,
for an undisclosed, Club record fee after enjoying an outstanding 2012/13
season on loan at the Boleyn Ground. The marquee signing represents a
significant step for the Club as they prepare to move to the 54,000-seater
Olympic Stadium in 2016, with Carroll set to play a central role having
committed his long-term future to the Hammers. The 24-year-old England
international, who will wear No9 for his new side, netted seven goals for
Sam Allardyce's team as West Ham made a strong return to the Barclays
Premier League by finishing tenth. The forward's committed and eye-catching
displays in claret and blue quickly established him as a firm favourite
among Hammers supporters and he is already looking forward to performing in
front of the same adoring fans come the start of the 2013/14 campaign. "It's
fantastic for me to be here. I really enjoyed last season, and that shows in
me coming back and making it permanent," said Carroll. "The fans, the lads
and the Club itself has been great to me, and what I wanted to do was come
back here and play football. "Since the end of the season I've had a lot of
time to think, I've missed it and that's why I'm back. Getting promoted the
season before last, then finishing where we did - we did great, and it can
only get better for us. "The way the Club's being run, obviously getting the
new stadium and everything like that, it's only going up."

Carroll, of course, spent last season on loan at West Ham, scoring seven
goals and playing a leading role in many more in 24 Barclays Premier League
appearances. The Gateshead-born star enjoyed a superb 2012/13 and was an
influential figure in newly-promoted West Ham's top-half finish. Having
worked under Big Sam before and played alongside captain and close friend
Kevin Nolan previously at Newcastle United, Carroll quickly settled into
life in east London, enjoying a fantastic debut in a 3-0 home win over
Fulham in September. After a hamstring injury curtailed his progress, a
first goal arrived at Tottenham Hotspur in November before he really showed
his class after Christmas. A towering headed winner against Swansea City was
followed by a virtuoso display against West Bromwich Albion, capped with an
outstanding volleyed finish to completed a 3-1 win. Further goals arrived at
Southampton and Manchester City to further enhance Carroll's reputation and
he was rewarded by being named Joint-Chairmen's Player of the Year at the
season-ending Awards Dinner and earning an England recall. Previously,
Carroll established himself as one of English football's outstanding young
talents during his formative years at Newcastle.
Carroll burst into the Newcastle first-team at the age of 17, making his
first-team debut as a replacement for future Hammer Nolberto Solano in a
UEFA Cup victory over Palermo on 2 November 2006 - an appearance that made
him the youngest-ever player to represent Newcastle in Europe. After scoring
his maiden first-team goal past FIFA World Cup winner Gianluigi Buffon in a
friendly win over Juventus in July 2007, Carroll embarked on a six-month
loan spell with Championship side Preston North End. On his return to St
James' Park, the centre forward forced his way into the Magpies starting XI,
scoring on his full home debut with a towering header against West Ham in a
2-2 Premier League draw on 10 January 2009. The 2009/10 season saw Carroll
come into his own as he combined with Nolan to shoot Newcastle to the
Championship title and promotion back to the Premier League at the first
attempt. The striker finished the campaign as the club's top scorer with 19
goals in all competitions and be voted into the Championship Team of the
Year.

At the start of 2010/11, he then took the top-flight by storm, netting a
hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Aston Villa and eleven goals in just 19 league
appearances before completing his record-breaking move to Anfield. In
2011/12, Carroll collected a League Cup winner's medal as Liverpool beat
Cardiff City before returning to Wembley to score the winning goal against
Everton to take the Reds into the FA Cup final. Carroll's performances for
Newcastle earned him a senior England debut in a friendly international with
France on 17 November 2010. His first senior international goal arrived in a
friendly with Ghana at Wembley on 29 March 2011. The striker's all-round
ability saw him named in England's squad for the 2012 UEFA European
Championship finals, where he impressed by scoring a trademark header in a
group-stage victory over Sweden. Having earned nine caps and scored twice
for his country, Carroll will hope his form for his new Club will see him
earn further international recognition in the future with a FIFA World Cup
in Brazil on the horizon next summer.

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Big Sam happy with start
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce is pleased to start the 2013/14
campaign at home
19.06.2013

West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce is happy that the fixture computer has
handed his side a home game to start the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League
season. The Hammers began last season, their first back into the top flight,
by beating Aston Villa 1-0 at the Boleyn Ground, and went on to enjoy an
impressive home record throughout the campaign. With Cardiff City due to
face the Hammers in E13 first up on Saturday 17 August, Allardyce is
determined to carry that success into the new term. "The fixtures have been
kind to us at the start of the season as they were last season," Big Sam
exclusively told whufc.com "It will be important to challenge the players to
try to achieve the same amount - 14 points from our first eight games - as
they did last season. The ones that are important are the newly promoted
sides and we've got Cardiff first game, which I think is the toughest time
to get them in the whole season."I'm pleased that at least we are playing
them at home and not away. It casts my mind back to the start of my career
at West Ham and a 1-0 defeat to them in my first game and I want to make
sure we don't repeat that. "The other games will be about us maintaining our
home form and making people aware that when they come to West Ham they will
be in for a tough afternoon because we play attacking football against the
opposition and create chances."

West Ham's first game on the road comes at Newcastle United on 24 August and
Allardyce knows next season's away form needs to be better. "One thing we
must also do is ensure our away form improves," he continued. "Our first
away game is Newcastle United. Myself, Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan are all
ex-Newcastle and it will spur us on to get the first away points on the
board as we did last year. "They had such a splendid season the year before
and nobody expected us to win there. It is a daunting task but so far I've
managed to get results there and I've not been disappointed with West Ham or
Blackburn. "The run-in has some tough games but the only thing in my mind is
that the results will have a bearing on which place we finishing and we're
not anxious about needing points to stay in the Premier League. That is our
major aim and if that's the case we should all be delighted."

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Andy Carroll: West Ham sign Liverpool striker for £15m
BBC.co.uk

West Ham United have completed the signing of England striker Andy Carroll
from Liverpool for a club record £15m. Carroll, 24, cost Liverpool £35m but
was loaned to West Ham in August, scoring seven goals in 24 games. The
former Newcastle United forward has signed a six-year contract, with an
option for a further two years. "It's fantastic for me to be here. I really
enjoyed last season, and that shows in me coming back and making it
permanent," Carroll said.
The transfer fee was agreed in May, but the England international was said
to be unsure about a move before a World Cup year. Carroll added: "The fans,
the lads and the club itself have been great to me, and what I wanted to do
was come back here and play football. "Since the end of the season I've had
a lot of time to think, I've missed it and that's why I'm back. "Getting
promoted the season before last, then finishing where we did - we did great,
and it can only get better for us. "The way the club's being run, obviously
getting the new stadium and everything like that, it's only going up."

Expensive Englishmen

Andy Carroll is one of the most expensive English players in the history of
football - during his career his transfer fees have reached £50m.
Other notable expensive English players include (total fees):
Darren Bent (Aston Villa): £53.5m
Peter Crouch (Stoke City): £50.6m
Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United): £48.5m
James Milner (Manchester City): £41.6m

Carroll suffered a number of injuries during his time on loan at Upton Park,
with knee and hamstring problems keeping him out of action for several
months.
He also picked up a heel injury on the final day of the season after landing
awkwardly, with the knock keeping him out of the England squad for the
post-season friendlies against Republic of Ireland and Brazil. Carroll
believed he could play his way into England manager Roy Hodgson's plans if
he could improve on his fitness record next term. "I just want to keep fit
now, keep scoring goals and performing week in and week out for West Ham, if
I do that here, play well and keep fit, then hopefully I will get in the
England team," Carroll said. Carroll, who made his England debut in 2010 and
has won nine caps, was signed by Kenny Dalglish for Liverpool on transfer
deadline day in January 2011, for what remains a record fee for a British
player. He had impressed by scoring 31 times for his boyhood club Newcastle
in 81 appearances, but his time at Anfield was short-lived. Coupled with the
arrival of Brendan Rodgers and a new style of play, Carroll's return of just
six goals in 44 league outings for Liverpool saw him loaned to West Ham. The
Hammers' previous record signing was Matt Jarvis, for £10.75m from
Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2012. In March it was announced they would
be anchor tenants for the Olympic Stadium from August 2016.

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Carroll deal confirmed
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 19th June 2013
By: Staff Writer

Andy Carroll says he is delighted to be back at West Ham United - on the day
his record-breaking, £15million transfer was finally confirmed. The
24-year-old striker, who spent the 2012/13 season on loan at the Boleyn
Ground told whufc.com: "It's fantastic to be here. I really enjoyed last
season and that shows in me coming back and making it permanent. "The fans,
the lads and the club itself have been great to me and I wanted to come back
here and play football. Since the end of the season I've had a lot of time
to think; I've missed it and that's why I'm back." Carroll, whose transfer
fee remains officially undisclosed, has signed a six-year contract with an
option for a further two years. West Ham described the deal as "a
significant step for the club as they prepare to move to the 54,000-seater
Olympic Stadium in 2016."

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£40m: the price of Andy Carroll
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 19th June 2013
By: Staff Reporter

West Ham United are paying nothing like the £54million being reported
nationally to sign striker Andy Carroll. The 24-year-old is set to sign a
six year Upton Park contract - possibly before the end of the day - but the
final deal will be closer to £40 million. SportsDirect News.com -who have
been on top of the deal from the start - reveal that senior club figures are
amused and angered in almost equal parts at the wildly exaggerated figures
quoted. Carroll has received a £5,000-a-week increase from the Hammers which
has taken his weekly wage from £75,000 to £80,000. Over the terms of a
six-year deal, that will take his total earnings to around £25million. And
with a transfer fee of £15million - not the £16.5million being quoted
elsewhere - the deal comes to £40million, plus a possibility of up to a
further £5million should the club win silverware or feature in Europe.

Stories this morning also claimed that the Hammers rushed to get a deal done
and hurried the player into a medical yesterday morning after he landed home
from a holiday in Las Vegas (he was actually on a Florida cruise). In fact,
Carroll returned to the United Kingdom before last weekend and wasn't rushed
anywhere yesterday morning, as confirmed by co-owner David Gold who Tweeted
last night: "We managed to bring Andy's medical forward to this evening and
I am delighted to inform you that he has passed with flying colours."

A highly-placed source told SDN: "Some of the reporting has been laughable
and doesn't do our fans justice. Please put things straight for the good of
everybody. "There was never any suggestion the Hammers would pay the
£100,000 personal terms that still is being quoted. "There are a few last
details to be sorted out so effectively we are still in negotiations but
there's nothing involved that can be described as a deal breaker and we'll
sort everything out."

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Andy Carroll has completed his move to West Ham from Liverpool
Last Updated: June 19, 2013 9:31pm
SSN

England forward Andy Carroll has completed his permanent transfer to West
Ham United for an undisclosed, club record fee. The striker spent the
duration of the 2012-13 campaign on loan with the Hammers, scoring seven
goals in 24 appearances, and signed a six-year contract after passing a
medical. Carroll joined Liverpool from Newcastle United on transfer deadline
day in January 2011 for a fee of around £35million after the Reds had
allowed Fernando Torres to move to Chelsea for £50million. He played 58
games for Anfield club in total, and scored 11 times, but was plagued by
injuries before new Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers allowed him to be
loaned to the east London club. "It's fantastic for me to be here. I really
enjoyed last season, and that shows in me coming back and making it
permanent."

Andy Carroll
Carroll, 24, who also suffered with hamstring injury at the Boleyn Ground,
said: "It's fantastic for me to be here. I really enjoyed last season, and
that shows in me coming back and making it permanent. "The fans, the lads
and the club itself has been great to me, and what I wanted to do was come
back here and play football. "Since the end of the season I've had a lot of
time to think, I've missed it and that's why I'm back. Getting promoted the
season before last, then finishing where we did - we did great, and it can
only get better for us. "The way the club's being run, obviously getting the
new stadium and everything like that, it's only going up."

Academy product Carroll burst into the Newcastle first-team at the age of 17
and scored 33 goals in 91 appearances. He made his senior England debut in a
friendly international with France in November 2010 and scored his first
goal for his country against Ghana at Wembley in March the following year.
Carroll has played nine times for England, scoring his second goal against
Sweden in last summer's European Championship finals.

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Hammers win Carr chase
Published: 9 hrs ago
The Sun

ANDY CARROLL aims to spearhead West Ham's charge into a new era after
finalising a club-record move. The Hammers will pay £16million for the
England star after agreeing to make the Liverpool star's loan move
permanent. But that could rise by another £3m based on appearances. Striker
Carroll, 24, signed a marathon six-year contract worth £100,000 a week — as
SunSport told you he would yesterday. And he will lead the Hammers into the
Olympic Stadium should the proposed move go ahead in 2016. He said: "It's
fantastic for me to be here. I really enjoyed last season and that shows in
me coming back and making it permanent. "The fans, the lads and the club
itself have been great to me — and I wanted to come back here and play
football. "Since the end of the season I've had a lot of time to think, I've
missed it and that's why I'm back. "Getting promoted the season before last,
then finishing where we did... we did great and it can only get better for
us. "The way the club's being run, obviously getting the new stadium and
everything like that, it's only going up."

Liverpool will still swallow a £16m loss on the striker they paid £35m for
less than two years ago. Carroll scored seven goals for the Hammers last
season in a campaign hampered by a niggling hamstring injury and a heel
problem which ruled him out of England's recent friendlies against Ireland
and Brazil. But the 6ft 3in Geordie passed a stringent medical on Tuesday
night and will join up with his new full-time team-mates for pre-season
training on July 1. The investment from West Ham could eventually top £55m
if Carroll stays for the full term of his deal. Their previous biggest
signing was winger Matt Jarvis, who signed from Wolves for £10.75m last
year. West Ham have been given the green light to move into the
54,000-seater Olympic Stadium in three years but still face legal challenges
from neighbours Leyton Orient.

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Andy Carroll completes transfer to West Ham as ex-Liverpool striker signs
six-year deal for club record fee
19 Jun 2013 22:29
The Mirror

Andy Carroll admits he chose to stay at West Ham so that he could continue
playing regularly. The England striker, who was frozen out at Liverpool,
completed his £17.5million switch – worth around £85,000 a week - on
Wednesday. He signed a SIX-YEAR deal, with an option for another two years.
The move gives Carroll the chance to press his World Cup claims next
season, with regular first-team action at Upton Park. The 24-year-old
frontman said: "The fans, the lads and the club itself have been great to me
and what I wanted to do was come back here and play football. "Since the end
of the season, I've had a lot of time to think. I've missed it and that's
why I'm back. "Getting promoted the season before last, then finishing where
we did – we did great and it can only get better for us. "The way the club's
being run – ­obviously, getting the new stadium and everything like that –
it's only going up."

The fee means the Hammers have ­shattered the club transfer record of £11m
they paid Wolves for Matt Jarvis last summer. But joint owner David
Sullivan, who worked tirelessly to pull the deal off, told Mirror Sport:
"It's one of the hardest deals I've done since I've been at West Ham – the
player's agent was incredibly demanding. "Whatever people may think of the
finances, the manager made Andy his number one target and we think he's a
player who can really make the ­difference. He gives 100 per cent
­commitment."

Carroll's transfer makes him one of the most expensive English players in
the history of the game, with the total of his moves reaching £50m. His
signing represents a massive loss for Liverpool, however, who signed him for
£35m from Newcastle in January 2011. He was loaned to West Ham last summer
and, despite an injury-ravaged campaign, hit seven goals in 24 matches. His
return to Upton Park was actually agreed several weeks ago. But Carroll had
also been keen to rejoin his boyhood club and asked for time to think the
move over, hoping the Magpies would match West Ham's offer. There were real
fears at Upton Park on Monday that Newcastle had done just that, in order to
back new director of football Joe Kinnear. It meant West Ham had to move
quickly to land Carroll and brought his medical forward by 24 hours to
Tuesday evening to seal the deal. But West Ham will be without Carroll until
September as the frontman – who scored seven League goals last season – is
still recovering from a heel injury.

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Eager Tigers dig for Cole
Published: 19th June 2013
The Sun

HULL boss Steve Bruce is in talks with Carlton Cole about a move to the
Premier League new-boys. Cole, 29, was released by West Ham at the end of
the season after seven years at Upton Park. And Bruce wants him to add some
bite to his Tigers attack. The Hull chief is desperate for a front man after
failing to get anywhere in his attempts to sign Burnley's Charlie Austin.
But he faces competition for Cole from QPR, with Harry Redknapp keen on the
former England man. A switch to Rangers would allow Cole to stay in London.
But it would mean a season in the Championship for the second time in three
years.

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