Daily WHUFC News - 23rd June 2013

'It's our biggest-ever signing'
WHUFC.com
Hammers legend Tony Cottee believes Andy Carroll can help the Club continue
to kick-on
22.06.2013

Legendary Hammers striker Tony Cottee has described Andy Carroll's arrival
at the Boleyn Ground on a permanent transfer from Liverpool as the biggest
signing the Club have ever made. England international Carroll impressed
hugely whilst on loan from the Reds last term and Cottee, who netted nearly
150 goals in Hammers colours across two spells, says he will be a key part
of West Ham's plans to keep on progressing in the Barclays Premier League.
Carroll's netted seven vital goals last term despite suffering with niggly
injuries over the campaign, so Cottee believes that with an uninterrupted
season of football the big Geordie could become a real West Ham legend. "I'm
absolutely delighted," he said. "We've all been waiting patiently since the
end of the season but I think it was clear from the start that Andy wanted
to sign for the club. "That was a real positive, that gave the Club great
grounds for optimism in terms of signing him - it was always going to drag
on a bit, there was a huge transfer fee involved when he went to Liverpool,
but as a West Ham fan I'm delighted that he's signed. "We saw some real
quality glimpses from Andy last season and we can now look forward to him
starting the season as a permanent West Ham player. It's a big signing for
the Club. "It's a massive statement of intent from the Board and they need
congratulating for bringing a player of Andy's standing to the Club. "I'm
pleased it's a long-term contract and hopefully he can be the man who can
lead us to stability, and hopefully Andy will be leading the attack for the
next six, seven, eight years for the Club."

Cottee is of the belief that Carroll is a perfect fit for the Hammers and
Sam Allardyce and he knows the fans will continue to get behind him from the
off.
He continued: "For the way Big Sam wants to set his teams up, I think Andy
slots right in for him. Playing in the system with Kevin Nolan pushing on
from midfield, they have a telepathic understanding and they got on really
well on and off the field. "With Kevin pushing forward you need a big target
man, you need someone who is going to hold the ball up, bring the others
into play and then if you get the likes of Matt Jarvis supplying the
crosses, he's always going to be a danger. "Whatever club you go to, it's
great to get that adulation from the fans, when they respect you as a player
and understand what you bring to the table. "Andy will get that, and I think
from his point of view there's a World Cup at the end of next season, and if
you're not playing football you won't be in Roy Hodgson's plans. "So
personally I think it's a great decision from Andy - coming here and playing
his football in front of such passionate support will be great for Andy, and
if he can get into the World Cup squad then it's great for the Club too
because it means Andy's playing well and the team's doing well."

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Under 20s World Cup: England set up for success, says Ugo Ehiogu
Last Updated: June 22, 2013 12:11pm
SSN

Ugo Ehiogu is confident that England are well positioned to have a
successful tournament at the Under 20s World Cup. Much has been made about
the state of English football following the dismal performance of the U21s
at this summer's European Championship. But Peter Taylor's U20s have the
opportunity to restore some pride and coach Ehiogu thinks the build-up has
been positive ahead of Sunday's opening game against Iraq. Former Aston
Villa and Middlesbrough defender Ehiogu said in the Daily Star: "There are a
lot of good people working hard behind the scenes to get the players ready
for the tournament when it starts. "And we are ready - everything is in
place."

England have already been in Turkey for more than a week as they prepare for
the tournament and that has benefited the squad. West Ham United defender
Dan Potts said: "We want to come top, so we're only thinking about our
performances and how we can win and qualify for the next stage. "It's been a
good week of training but now as the game is getting closer we're starting
to take a look at the opponents. The build-up has been good and we want to
get off to a good start."

Nottingham Forest defender Jamaal Lascelles added: "The Iraq game will be a
massive match. "We need to go into it like we did against Uruguay -
confident and lively. And if we get after them from the start we should be
okay."

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Craig Bellamy: I Was Forced Out of West Ham & Never Wanted to Leave
By Iain Dale About 14 hours ago
West Ham Till I Die

I'm reading Craig Bellamy's autobiography at the moment, and jolly good it
is too. I resisted the temptation to read the West Ham chapter first, but I
have just finished it. It just goes to show how one can be taken in by how
things are spun at the time. I've just looked at how I wrote it all up at
the time, and like most people I assume Bellamy was the bad guy in all this.
His autobiography tells a very different story. Here is a very abbreviated
version...

As January wore on, I became more and more aware that negotiations were
going on about my future. My adviser had rung on Christmas Eve to da that
Spurs had offered West Ham £6million for me and that West Ham had turned it
down flat. That was fine by me. In fact I was pleased that West Ham still
held me in that much esteem after my injury problems. Then things started to
get complicated. Manchester City rang me. They said they had an agreement
with Tottenham that Tottenham couldn't sign me. They wouldn't bid for Defoe
if Spurs didn't bid for me. They now felt Spurs were reneging on the deal.
Spurs and City started firing bids to West Ham and arguing with each other,
I was called in by the club before the Barnsley cup tie. "You must be aware
of what is going on behind the scenes," I was told. "Do you want to play?" I
said of course I did. The point was made to me that I'd be cup-tied. I said
I was a West Ham player and I wasn't bothered about being cup-tied. I wanted
to play. I found it strange I was even asked about it

Soon after, it became clear to me that the club was now encouraging bids
from Spurs and Manchester City... the situation was starting to unsettle me.
West Ham said they didn't want me to go to Tottenham. They said they would
like me to sign a new contract with them, which I was open to. They then
asked me who I wanted to join. It was getting bizarre. I said I loved living
in London and I would prefer it if they stopped encouraging Manchester City.
As I was about to leave the office there was a call from Spurs. I could hear
someone from the club on the phone. He said Man City had gone to '10'. Then
he phoned Man City and said 'Spurs have gone up to '10' - what are you
offering?' I felt exasperated by it. It was draining me. Gianfranco didn't
know what was happening either. It was a mess.

I went in to training the following Monday to be told that the Tottenham
deal was done but that I had to put in a transfer request. I said I wouldn't
do that. I knew they were trying to make it look as though I had been
pushing for a move when, all along, I had watched them conducting an auction
for me. I said if they wanted to sell me they had to tell the fans they
wanted to sell me. Otherwise I'd stay. I was happy there. It was obvious
they needed the money but they needed the highest fee. I understood that and
didn't resent them for it but they needed to be straight about it. They said
that the deal was done so I went in to the training ground to say goodbye to
everyone and went back to my flat in Canary Wharf.

I was sitting in my apartment watching Sky Sports. They started reporting I
had walked out of training. I didn't know what to do. I decided to go back
to Cardiff. Next day the back page headline in the Daily Mail was 'Bellamy
on Strike'. You couldn't get further from the truth if you tried. It got
people angry, understandably. A lot of West Ham fans were disgusted with the
idea I'd go on strike after the club has been so patient with me. I didn't
blame them. Again, I didn't know what to do, but I was really angry about
it.

Gianfranco rang. He said I wasn't right to play. He said West Ham wanted him
to put me in the squad [against Fulham] but he refused. I suppose they
wanted to strengthen the picture of me as a contract rebel. It reflected
well on Gianfranco that he wasn't willing to play that game. He said he was
still hoping they would get me back.

It got very ugly. It began to appear that West Ham wanted to sell me to
Manchester City because they would offer more money... It seemed West Ham
had just been threatening City with the Spurs deal to drive the price up.
They were still doing their best to make me look the bad guy, too. I rang
West Ham and told them I wasn't going anywhere. I said I'd sign the new
contract he had mentioned to me. I told him to make sure it was on his desk
on Monday morning and I'd come in and sign it there and then. I told him I
was happy with what I had got at West Ham and that I had never wanted to
leave. He sounded taken aback. "Leave it with us," he said. My head was
spinning. I didn't really want to go to Manchester City. I knew it was an
interesting proposition though. I was happy in London. I didn't want to
move.

I went out for a jog. When I got back, there was a message on my phone. It
was from the club.

"The deal with City is done," it said. "All the best."

So there you go.

Craig Bellamy's book is called 'Goodfella'. It is published by Sport Media
at £18.99 in hardback. And it's one of the best football autobiographies I
have ever read, I will do a full review of it when I have finished it.

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Is the West Ham Summer Sale About to Commence?
By Iain Dale About 17 hours ago
West Ham Till I Die

The Sun reports that West Ham hve put four players up for sale in a bid to
recoup £12 million. I'd say that sum is optimistic in the extreme. The
players concerned are

Modibo Maiga
Alou Diarra
Ricardo Vaz Te
Matt Taylor

Maiga cost £4 million a year ago, but we'd only reckon to get £2.5 million
back. Diarra was on loan to Rennes but I doubt we'd get more than £1.5
million for him. Matt Taylor was bought for £1 million, but is 32 in
November, so wouldn't fetch much more than that. And as for Ricardo Vaz Te,
I am not really sure what to say. I'm slightly surprised Sam would get rid
of him, but he really did flatter to deceive last year, and it's not that he
didn't get the chance. The Sun reckon we're after £3.5 million for him. I
can't see any way we'd get £12 million for those four players more like £8-9
million if we are lucky. But it seems the main thing is to get them off the
payroll so we comply with the new fair play rules (which I have to say I
still don't understand).

The main thing is that we hold on to James Tomkins. Newcastle are sniffing
around again and there is talk of a £4 million bid being made. I think not.
If we did sell, and I pray we don't, we should hold out for £10 million.

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