Daily WHUFC News - 22nd June 2013

Legends love new kit
WHUFC.com
Several of the Boys of 86 have given the new adidas home kit the thumbs up
21.06.2013

A host of West Ham United's famous Boys of '86 were reunited to take a first
look at the Club's new Alpari-sponsored adidas home kit, featuring the
"Alpari FX Trading" brand line. Strikers Tony Cottee and Frank McAvennie,
midfielder Alan Dickens and defensive duo George Parris and Steve Potts were
all part of the team which fired the Hammers to their best-ever league
finish of third in the 1985/86 season. The Club were clad in an adidas strip
that season, and are now back in the popular iconic three stripes 27 years
on, as Sam Allardyce's current crop of Hammers look to build on last year's
impressive tenth-place Barclays Premier League finish. The home kit was
unveiled on Thursday and features the logo of the club's new principal
sponsor Alpari and the brand line "Alpari FX Trading" on its front, after
the global forex broker joined forces with the Hammers to expand their
sponsorship agreement earlier this year. Two of the standout members from
the 1985/86 squad were strike partners Cottee and McAvennie, who notched 46
league goals between them as the Hammers finished just four points behind
champions Everton. Cottee would go on to score close to 150 goals for the
club and he is sure the new kit will evoke memories of that fine spell in
Hammers history. Cottee: "The adidas kits we had in the 1980s were iconic.
Not just the one in 1986, and it's great for the fans that whatever era you
associate yourself with you can put the top on. "'86 was a special season
and I didn't realise that [era] was the last time we wore adidas. This is
the first chance I've had to look at the new kit and I'm really impressed.
"It's a really nice kit and I think it will sell well."

Scotsman McAvennie, who arrived at the Hammers in the summer before that
unforgettable campaign, contributed 26 of those 46 goals, and he would love
the modern-day Hammers to take similar inspiration from their "Alpari FX
Trading"-branded new kit. The Glaswegian forward said: "It would be great if
it can bring us a bit of luck like it did that season, because we did well
and played some great stuff. "The kit is superb. The boys should run out
there and be honoured to wear this jersey. Even putting it on now I'm
honoured to do it, so I'm sure from the first team squad to the Under-21s
and everyone downwards, they will be honoured too."

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On this day - 22 June
WHUFC.com
A West Ham United player helped Mexico take a step towards their
continential title two years ago
22.06.2013

Anniversary
Mexico 2-0 Honduras
CONCACAF Gold Cup Semi-Finals
22 June 2011
Former Hammers winger Pablo Barrera won his 14th cap for Mexico on this day
two years ago and helped his country earn a place in the final of the
CONCACAF Gold Cup. The continental competition for North and Central
American sides had seen the Mexicans ease through the group stage with 5-0
wins over El Salvador and Cuba and a 4-1 victory over Costa Rica. A 2-1
quarter-final success over Guatemala was next before Honduras, who defeated
Costa Rica on penalties in their last-eight clash, were waiting in the
semis. Barrera started the contest, which remained at 0-0 after 90 minutes.
But two goals in the first nine minutes of extra-time, one from Aldo de
Nigris and the other from Javier Hernandez, won the game for Mexico. Barrera
would also play in the final, where his two goals helped Mexico see off
hosts USA to claim their sixth Gold Cup title.

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Olympic inspiration excites Carroll
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll is looking forward to the prospect of playing in front of
54,000 Hammers fans
21.06.2013

Andy Carroll revealed that West Ham United's upcoming move to the Olympic
Stadium played a big part in his decision to complete his transfer from
Liverpool on a long-term contract earlier this week. Carroll enjoyed a
successful loan spell with the Club last season and has now returned on a
contract which runs for an initial six years. That takes the England striker
past 2016, when West Ham are due to move into the Olympic Stadium, and he is
relishing the prospect of playing in front of 54,000 Hammers fans. "It's
massive," he exclusively told West Ham TV. "The Club's only going one way
and that's what I want to be a part of. "The fans are never quiet here [at
the Boleyn Ground] and it's going to be even better at the Olympic Stadium
when more people can fit in. I can't wait."
Carroll is also looking forward to playing under the management of Sam
Allardyce again, with a place in the England squad one of his aims in a
World Cup year. He continued: "Sam is a great manager and a great man. I
enjoyed working under him at Newcastle and here too, so speaking to him over
the summer, he was happy with the way I was last season and I'm looking
forward to working with him again. "It's always good when you have somebody
who is behind you. He only gives me confidence to go out there and show what
I'm about. "I want to keep fit, score goals and perform week-in week-out. If
I do that hopefully I'll get into the England team. "If it comes with
England, then it'll come. Every footballer wants to win trophies too and i
don't see why we can't the way our team is going."

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The perfect transfer?
It is increasingly unusual that a transfer can be said to work well for all
parties. Daniel Storey thinks that Andy Carroll's move to West Ham from
Liverpool is one of the rare breed
By Follow me @danielstorey85. Last Updated: June 21, 2013 1:03pm
SSN

The most obvious element of Andy Carroll's £15million permanent transfer
from Liverpool to West Ham is that it is seemingly a deal which 'works well
for all parties'.

Such a status quo is rare in modern football, generally reserved for loan
deals, when the loanee receives the short-term benefit of a high-quality
player, the loaner can keep the player happy without involving them in
first-team plans, whilst the individual in question gets vital playing time.

In modern permanent transfers, one party almost inevitably loses out. More
often than not players are sold against a manager or fans' wishes,
individuals using that most hideous of football creations, player power, to
engineer a move to a destination of his choosing. In other cases the buying
club gets stung by an over-inflated minimum fee release clause, or the
selling club is damaged by a player's refusal to extend a contract, thus
lowering the fee it is possible to command. In Carroll's case, however, this
simply isn't the case.

"If we can start with Andy Carroll that would be a great achievement for us
as he can only get better and better. It is our target to make it a
permanent situation. It's our main priority."

Allardyce wants to keep Carroll
Such a statement left little room for discussion on Sam Allardyce's
principle aim this summer. Mere minutes after his side's final-day 4-2
victory over Reading, West Ham's manager stated his desire to make the
England striker's deal permanent. Allardyce has his man, it appears.

Making Carroll a priority came as no surprise. He is a striker that fits the
manager's favoured direct approach, acting as the attacking lynchpin to
which Kevin Nolan, Ricardo Vaz Te and Joe Cole or Modibo Maiga can operate.
Carroll won an average of 9.3 aerial duels per game in the Premier League
last season, a total bettered by no other player.

The England international may have only scored seven league goals last
season (and registered four assists), but those figures were hampered
significantly by a hamstring injury that limited him to 24 Premier League
appearances. Interestingly, of the 34 players to score more goals in the
Premier League than Carroll last season, only Demba Ba and Javier Hernandez
played less minutes in getting their goals. With a full season, he should be
expected to contribute 20 goals and assists combined.

A price tag of £15million may seem steep for a striker who is yet to
demonstrate a consistent scoring record in the Premier League, but on
investigation is not unreasonable. This is a 24-year-old that had three
years left on his £80,000 per week contract at Anfield and has made nine
appearances for his country, scoring at Euro 2012. The premium put on the
head of English players is notorious, and West Ham paid over £8million for
Matt Jarvis last summer, who is three years older than Carroll and has a
solitary (and unlikely to be added to) England cap.

But if West Ham are happy to have captured Carroll, Liverpool will not mind
letting him leave. The striker has struggled to settle at Anfield ever since
his £35million move from Newcastle, and undoubtedly suffered through the
extraordinarily inflated nature of his fee.

Furthermore, after spending substantially on the forward, Liverpool then
failed to play in a style to suit their new signing. Supporters at Anfield
felt that a direct approach to a target man did not fit the club's ethos of
attractive attacking play, and Carroll was often left isolated, forced to
drop deeper in order to involve himself in proceedings. Carroll is a penalty
box striker, his effectiveness decreasing as he moves closer to midfield.

If that was the case under Kenny Dalglish, who signed the striker, it was a
situation only likely to worsen under the stewardship of Brendan Rodgers.
The Northern Irishman aims to imprint a philosophy of fluidity in the
attacking third, with short passing and quick counter attacks. Neither of
these strategies are remotely synonymous with Carroll's style, which
requires long balls from defence or crosses from wide.

Rodgers' attacking signings in the last year (Daniel Sturridge, Philippe
Coutinho, Iago Aspas) all fit into a mould which clashes with Carroll's
assets. When such a situation occurs, there is little point in prolonging
the agony. Rodgers has gained £15million boost to his transfer kitty
(bearing no responsibility for the deal), whilst Liverpool have taken the
£20million hit on their signing.

For the player, too, you sense relief: "It's fantastic for me to be here. I
really enjoyed last season, and that shows in me coming back and making it
permanent. What I wanted to do was come back here and play football."

Those last few words are the key, you feel. Carroll was more than aware that
his opportunities at Anfield would be limited. At West Ham he will be the
main man, particularly after the departure of Carlton Cole. His efforts will
be appreciated by the Upton Park faithful, and the club's approach will suit
his style.

A transfer that genuinely sits well with all parties. A rarity, but
genuinely pleasing to see.

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Carroll four-ces Hammers cull
Exclusive
By ANDREW DILLON
Last Updated: 22nd June 2013
The SUn

WEST HAM have put nearly £12million worth of talent up for sale to bankroll
their record signing Andy Carroll. Ricardo Vaz Te, Modibo Maiga, Matt Taylor
and Alou Diarra are all up for grabs to offset a potential £55m investment
in England hitman Carroll. Former Bolton striker Vaz Te is the biggest
casualty of the cull.
His winning goal in the 2012 play-off final against Blackpool took West Ham
back to the Premier League. But the Portuguese ace, 26, struggled in the top
flight and Hammers want £3.5m for him. Winger Taylor, 31, who is rated at
£1.5m, has told boss Sam Allardyce he wants out as he is fed up of being a
sub. Maiga cost the Hammers £4.7m from Sochaux last July, but the striker,
25, has failed to get regular starts. French midfielder Diarra, 31, spent
the second half of last season on loan in his homeland at Rennes and is not
keen to on returning. West Ham paid Liverpool a club-record £16m for
Carroll, plus add-ons, in an initial six-year deal.
Incoming financial rules mean the payroll must not exceed £52m a season, so
West Ham must trim the wage bill to accommodate his £100,000-a-week wages.
Winger Gary O'Neil and striker Carlton Cole were released last month.
Carroll, 24, is eager to get going and is already eyeing an England recall.
He said: "I want to keep fit, score goals and perform every week. "If I do
that hopefully I will get into the England team."

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Andy wants to be Roy's boy
Published: 21st June 2013
The SUn

ANDY CARROLL reckons he can fire his way onto England's plane to Brazil.
West Ham's new £16million hitman is determined to prove that new boss Sam
Allardyce was right to splash the cash. And the giant Geordie is convinced
he can bang in the goals to force his way into Roy Hodgson's World Cup
plans.
Carroll, 24, said: "I want to keep fit, score goals and perform week-in
week-out. "If I do that hopefully I'll get into the England team. If it
comes with England, then it'll come." Carroll is also desperate to taste
success at club level — and thinks the Hammers have got the squad capable of
doing just that. He added: "Every footballer wants to win trophies too and I
don't see why we can't the way our team is going. "Sam is a great manager
and a great man. "I enjoyed working under him at Newcastle and here too, so
speaking to him over the summer, he was happy with the way I was last season
and I'm looking forward to working with him again. "It's always good when
you have somebody who is behind you. He only gives me confidence to go out
there and show what I'm about."

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