Daily WHUFC News - 16th August 2013

Big Sam on: Cardiff City
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce spoke to the press ahead of the Barclays Premier League curtain raiser
15.08.2013

With the big Barclays Premier League kick-off now imminent, Sam Allardyce spoke of the significance of ensuring West Ham United get off to a flier on Saturday against Cardiff City, just as they did last season.

That said, Big Sam is not expecting an easy ride against Malky Mackay's newly-promoted Bluebirds, insisting that his players will need to be at their very best from the first whistle to come through it unscathed.

New addition Stewart Downing will likely be involved at some stage on Saturday and Big Sam hailed the quality of the England international winger, in the knowledge that he brings yet more competition for places.

How excited are you to get the new season started, after such a good season last year?

SA: "There's a bit of keep your feet on the ground with me. The objective of the exercise is to make sure we try and get better than last season if we can. We achieved 46 points last year, so I'd think if we get 50 it would be a great season.

"That would probably be our target to start with then we'll break that down and see how we're going to try and get those 50 points. Of course, from our point of view, we won't really know how tough it's going to be until the end of the window.

"There's a lot of spending going on again. I didn't think there would be quite as much spending because of the new restrictions, but there seems to have been a lot and when we get to the end of that window and I sit down with the coaching staff and the technical staff - we look at everybody's squad and say to ourselves is it more difficult this year than last? Have clubs bought better players, will there be stronger competition? Look at the business we've done and proceed from there."

Some business this week as well, Stewart Downing coming in. You're renowned for your use of stats and analysis. Did you pay particular attention to what Andy Carroll and Downing had done before. Was that part of your thinking in getting him in?

SA: "I think that I was more [interested in] Stewart Downing Aston Villa than I was Downing Liverpool. I think that Downing, at Villa, was more what I'm looking for than perhaps he was at Liverpool. That's no reflection on what Stewart did at Liverpool, because he was asked to play a different way than he was at Villa. As everybody knows I love crosses and equally, there are lots of people who don't like crosses anymore.

"From my point of view, Stewart, Andy, Matt Jarvis, Joe Cole, Vaz Te, Nolan, Maiga are all going to be our most offensive players and we're looking for them to provide and score goals this season collectively. It's great competition for places. Everybody's on their toes on the frontline. 'Is it me who's going to be left out?

"That brings a little bit more of an edge. And like I said, starting the season as we did last season would be fantastic for us. Stewart, as an addition, for the quality of player, value for money and somebody that sits at the top of our performance stats, which is also very important."

What about Cardiff - you opened the season against them a couple of years ago...

SA: "A last minute 1-0, on a Sunday if I remember correctly. I think that this time round Malky gone and invested in his team and they will come all guns blazing. Like every other team that gets promoted, particularly the team who win the league, the enthusiasm carries over into the early part of the Premier League season. Sometimes it then catches up with them.

"From Malky's point of view it's going to be a really tough game, so complacency is certainly not what we're after. The perception outside of Cardiff and West Ham fans is that we're going to turn up on Saturday and win easily. My message to the lads is that there's no easy game in the Premier League and if we don't hit the ground running and hit our top form, this will be a very difficult game for us.

"The last thing you want is to start your season playing at home and to lose it. Because then you've got to go to Newcastle United away from home and try to get a result. So straight away pressure would come on you to get points and you don't really want that. So Saturday's the most important game of the season, obviously."

Considering Cardiff's position, having won the Championship quite comfortably, do you think their being an unknown quantity could work in their favour?

SA: "If you've never played in the Premier League before, to a certain degree the excitement, enthusiasm and determination you show can stand you in good stead, But realistically, you've got to have your manager organising your team and your tactics because otherwise you end up getting found out.

"Malky's, for me, got Cardiff organised and structured from the very first day he went in. The players seem to know their responsibilities in the positions that they play. So that organisation, as well as the investment they've made will stand them in good stead. They'll be difficult to beat and to break down. They've got experienced players, particularly Peter Whittingham and Craig Bellamy and people like that, who have played in the Premier League and we'll have to watch out for.

"He'll find out a lot about his team in the first four or five games, but hopefully he'll be disappointed when he goes home on Saturday."

Any team news ahead of Saturday?

SA: "There's no injury news from our team at the moment. It's the first time in my management career that I've gone through a pre-season without a single injury. We've had knocks, but no player has had to miss a game because of injury throughout the entire summer, so I hope that continues all the way through to next May!"

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Reid confident of improvement
WHUFC.com
Hammer of the Year Winston Reid wants to better last season's tenth-place finish in 2013/14
15.08.2013

Winston Reid is confident West Ham United can improve on last year's top-half finish after they rounded off their pre-season preparations with a win at the Boleyn Ground. The New Zealander was in action as the Hammers secured a confidence boosting 2-1 win over Pacos de Ferreira ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League opener against Cardiff City. Reigning Hammer of the year Reid says the squad are not resting on their laurels after a successful return to the Barclays Premier League last season. "We aim to get better this year, not only me, but the whole team wants to get better" said the No2. "You never stop learning so we always want to improve, it's been a good pre-season for us and we're looking forward to Cardiff on the first day of the season."

The centre-back made 36 league appearances as he helped the Hammers achieve a tenth-place finish last season. But despite proving himself among the Barclays Premier League's elite, the defender is keen to improve further still. "I think there's always a lot I want to improve on, different areas of my game, like when I'm on the ball and also my defending, so there's a lot I think I can improve. Using the ball properly, getting into the right situations with my team-mates and understanding each other a lot more are important."

The defence was one of the main reasons for the team's success last year, with Reid battling fellow centre-backs James Collins and James Tomkins for a starting berth, and the 25-year-old thinks they can all contribute to a successful campaign once again. "Obviously last year we had a good defensive unit and hopefully this year we can continue on from that. I'm sure no matter who plays the job will be done right."

The team, bolstered by new additions Andy Carroll, Razvan Rat, Adrian and Danny Whitehead, will be looking to replicate the flying start they made to last season, taking 14 points from their first eight games as they quickly adjusted to life back in the Barclays Premier League. This time around, the powerful defender thinks it will be equally as important to make a fast start. "I think we've got pretty much the same squad as last year. Hopefully we can pick up points early and get the job done, but it's going to be difficult this year as there are a lot of good teams in the league so it's not going to be easy. "But we'll all be doing our jobs and hopefully we can get off to a good start like last year."

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Hammers duo in international action
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison and Mohamed Diame helped their countries achieve draws in Wednesday's internationals
15.08.2013

Jack Collison and Mohamed Diame were in action for their countries in Wednesday's round of international friendlies. Collison started for Wales as they drew 0-0 with the Republic of Ireland at the Cardiff City Stadium. The 24-year-old midfielder was earning his 14th cap and played 82 minutes of the stalemate. Diame, meanwhile, was with Senegal for their match against Zambia in Paris. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, Senegal's Dame Ndoye levelling after eight minutes, following a second minute opener from Jacob Mulenga.

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Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
New signing Stewart Downing becomes the latest player to blog for whufc.com
16.08.2013

West Ham United's newest signing Stewart Downing has enjoyed a non-stop week - playing for Liverpool against Celtic in Dublin last weekend before completing a move to the Hammers on Tuesday and preparing for Saturday's season opener against Cardiff City. He tells us all about it in our latest player blog. The last week has been a bit of a whirlwind time for me, I must admit! I was starting for Liverpool against Celtic last Saturday, thinking I was in the plans there for the season. Then within a couple of days they accepted the bid from West Ham and I was on the way to London. It has been a bit fast but I have certainly enjoyed the week. I have been made to feel very welcome here, the lads are great, which helps you to settle in and training has been enjoyable so hopefully I will be involved on Saturday. Sam is quite persuasive, I'll give him that, but I didn't need much persuasion to come down here. As soon as I spoke to him I knew it was right to sign, I'm the right age, it's a good club and I just think that with the way the manager plays and with his ideas it will suit my game. I was to repay his faith with good performances. The area is certainly a lot different to where I'm from in Middlesbrough! Life is a lot faster, but it is a great thing for me and I have enjoyed the first week of being here, and I am looking forward to a few good years in London to enjoy it and do well for West Ham. West Ham is a great club with a great fanbase and we have got a good manager with good ideas. I am excited by it, I think it is a good time for me to come here. We were at the Boleyn Ground to train on Thursday and I think that was a good idea, especially for the new players to get used to the surroundings before the first game of the season. It is a great stadium, I have seen the atmosphere as I have played here many times, and I am looking forward to hopefully getting off to a good start against Cardiff. Crossing has been a big part of my game throughout my career, certainly in my spells at Middlesbrough and Aston Villa. That was what was based our game around, crosses and getting the ball into the box. With a player like Andy's abilities in the box, it is good for us to get the service in, whether that's me or Jarvis or Joe Cole out wide. We have got a big target to hit and I am really excited by that.
I have obviously thought about England with a World Cup at the end of this season, and I have probably got more of a chance of getting in the team and playing on a regular basis here than I did at Liverpool. That was another part of my thinking, so now I have got a full season to prove to Roy and this is my best chance to do that. Everyone is looking forward to Saturday now - you can sense it around the ground. The fans and the players want to get started and we need to get off to a good start. It will be a tough game against Cardiff but with the fans behind us and if we play like how I have seen in pre-season then we have certainly got a chance of winning. The aim has to be to improve on last year. We were tenth and with this squad and the players we have got, we should push for Europe. We have the ability to do that and just need to prove it on the pitch.

Come on you Irons!
Stewart

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Andy Carroll 'faces battle with Rickie Lambert for England place'
BBC.co.uk

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce believes strikers Andy Carroll and Rickie Lambert are competing this season for one England World Cup place. Southampton's Lambert, 31, scored the winner on his debut against Scotland on Wednesday, with the Hammers' Carroll missing out with a heel injury. "I think there's a choice for that type of player between Andy and Rickie," said Allardyce. "It's going to be a challenge this season on who's the best of the two." Carroll, 24, has made nine appearances for England, scoring twice, with his last cap coming against San Marino in October 2012. He turned his loan move from Liverpool into a permanent one in the summer but is likely to miss the season opener with Cardiff, because of the injury he suffered on the final day of last season. England are second to Montenegro in their World Cup qualifying group with three games left, but if they win their match in hand they could go one point clear at the top.
"Andy is looking forward to playing for us and doing a great job, which we would hope will get him to Brazil," Allardyce said. "I'm sure Rickie is the same. One or the other would go. "I think it will be a competition between the two on who consistently plays the best this season. From a selfish point of view I hope it's Andy."

Lambert had only been on the pitch for three minutes when he scored what turned out to be the winner against Scotland, with his first touch. The former Football League player also hit the woodwork and saw another saved by Allan McGregor from point-blank range. "For Rickie it was great to see him come on and make a statement," added Allardyce. "To get the winner against Scotland shows what he can do and what England might be missing a bit. "It shows you have to have other dimensions in your squad no matter what level you play at."

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Chairman backs Jack in Twitter spat
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th August 2013
By: staff writer

David Sullivan has given teenage son Jack the green light to continue posting about West Ham on Twitter. The Club's co-owner, speaking exclusively to KUMB.com earlier this week defended his son in the wake of criticism following a recent Tweet relating to the potential purchase of Belgian striker Ilombe Mboyo. Sullivan Snr, who does not possess a Twitter account himself insisted that criticism of Jack, whom he described as a typical teenager who "gets bored easily", was unjustified. "I think it's unfair," he said. "Jack is dyslexic and his English is appalling at times, so I do anything I can to encourage him to read and write. "Secondly, he takes a great interest in it, he loves it and I think it's nice to give him information as to what's going on - without naming players that damages the club. If it's critical stuff, he does check with me. So I would say no, [it's not justified]."

West Ham's co-owner also revealed that Jack was occasionally helped with his spelling and grammar by his elder brother, ending the long running mystery of why tweets from Jack's account occasionally appeared to come from different people. "His brother David has access sometimes," Sullivan explained. "Or Jack says to his brother, "do this for me Dave", as Dave is more articulate than Jack and better at English."

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David Sullivan: Part One
Filed: Friday, 16th August 2013
By: Graeme Howlett
KUMB.com

Earlier this week KUMB had the opportunity to sit down with David Sullivan, the co-owner of West Ham United, for a lengthy one-to-one ahead of the new 2013/14 Premier League season which kicks off this weekend with the visit of Cardiff - ironically perhaps, the city where Sullivan was born and spent the first few years of his life.

In what proved to be a frank, honest and open discussion - which, as will be the case again on Saturday was played out over 90 minutes - the Chairman answered questions on subjects as varied as his son's involvement with Twitter, the Club's summer transfer policy, his relationship with Sam Allardyce and the imminent move to the Olympic Stadium.

Quizzing the Chairman on behalf of KUMB.com was Graeme Howlett. The second half of our exclusive interview with David Sullivan will follow tomorrow.


KUMB: David - I'd like to start with Twitter, because [your son] Jack's involvement is currently a big issue amongst the fan base. There are those who think it's great because the journos and 'ITKs' have had their noses put out of joint, but there are others who say: "Hold on a minute, this should be the job of the Club's media team". Do you think the criticism is justified in any way, or totally unfair?

DS: No, I think it's unfair. There are two things I want to say. One, Jack is dyslexic and his English is appalling at times, so I do anything I can to encourage him to read and write. Secondly, he takes a great interest in it, he loves it and I think it's nice to give him information as to what's going on - without naming players that damages the club. If it's critical stuff, he does check with me. So I would say no, [it's not justified].

We've done some research at the Club that has shown our support among Under-18s grew by 23 per cent last season and the Club believe Jack has a lot to do with that as he offers a link to younger fans. They really like Jack being involved - if it became a problem I would of course step in, but at the moment they really like Jack's connection with the younger supporters. He's happy doing it so I'm happy.

Regarding the criticism he received about the [Ilombe Mboyo] issue. As a Club, we wanted a quick response on how fans would feel if we signed the player because for football reasons, he was a perfect fit for what we were looking for. We wanted to see how fans felt about it because the previous year we tried to sign El Hadji Diouf and I could not believe the reaction.

Sam [Allardyce] wanted to sign him [El Hadj Diouf] so I said: "Look Sam; if you really, really want to sign him I'll support you but I've never seen a backlash like this in my life and I think it'll be a serious [error]." I've got to say, he came back with Doncaster and he had a hell of a game against us!

KUMB: Yeah - he played us off the park, didn't he! You know where that came from though?

DS: Yeah. But you really want to see how people feel. West Ham is a special Club; you couldn't do that with West Ham without seeing how the fans felt. [On Mboyo] we wanted an immediate, instant response. Maybe we should have done it through David [Gold] but David isn't always easy to get hold of and we wanted a response that night as we had to make a decision the next morning.

I said to Jack: "Do us a favour, put this on and see what the fans say" - and within ten minutes he said:" Dad, we shouldn't sign him!" So maybe it's my fault.

KUMB: Given the response Jack had to that particular tweet, have you thought about creating an account yourself which you could perhaps occasionally use for things like that?

DS: David [Gold] makes statements as the Joint-Chairman so I don't really feel that I need to.

KUMB: And he's very good at it as well!

DS: He loves doing it, but I would not want to compete with him on a daily basis because you'd get "who's got the most followers?" etc and it'd be ridiculous. So I can't imagine any circumstances under which I'd have my own account. That's the answer to that one.

KUMB: Is it the case that Jack is the only person with access to his account? Many people are aware of Jack's dyslexia, but then you get tweets...

DS: His brother [David]. He's 15, he has access sometimes. Or Jack says to his brother: "Do this for me Dave", as Dave is more articulate than Jack and better at English. So Dave will have access to it.

KUMB: Well that would explain it. Sometimes we see tweets about the Club punctuated correctly where the grammar is...

DS: That's where David has re-written them for him.

KUMB: I was going to ask where Jack's been as since that particular tweet he's not been on, but I noticed he'd posted a message this lunchtime saying we're looking to sign another player!

DS: It's kids, because they are kids. They get very busy and you get 20 [tweets] in a day then they go missing for two days! If you look at his history... It's kids. They get bored easily and that is normal behavioural pattern for kids.

KUMB: Ok. Let's move on to the transfer window, as we're getting towards the business end of it now. We've signed Adrian and Razvan Rat [on free transfers] but also Andy Carroll, Joe Cole and possibly Stewart Downing in 2013 so there seems to be a move towards predominantly signing British players. Is that deliberate, or is it just that these are the players who are becoming available at the right time?

DS: I think the manager has taken the view that the percentage of risk on foreign players is very high. You can sign a superstar but the failure rate can be very high and he's playing safe, he's playing cautious and I can respect him for that. I'm more of a chancer; if I was picking the players there'd be a few more foreigners there but Sam makes the calls, not me!

If you have an expert, you'd think his knowledge is far superior to yours or mine. I get supporters writing to me saying: "Why are we signing this one when we should be signing this one?" Sam's argument would be that if you're hiring a professional you have to take his advice. He picks the players, not us.

I say to him sometimes: "Sam, are you absolutely sure about this, are you sure this is what you want because there isn't any more money when you've spent this money?" He says: "Yes, that's what I want" - and we support it.

KUMB: Have you ever vetoed any signing Sam has suggested? Has it ever come to that?

DS: Never.

KUMB: How about when you were at Birmingham?

DS: We had a few at Birmingham, because when the manager signs a few players you don't want him to sign - and you put it in writing that you don't want him to sign them - and you support his signature then there comes a point that if he does it again you say, "well I did tell you about so-and-so, I'm going to veto this one."

Sam accepts it if you haven't got the money. There was a player today; people said to me: "Oh why didn't you go and sign Samuel Eto'o?" He wants £220,000 per week and a £5million signing on fee. We just do not have the money in our wages budget.

But only a club like Chelsea or Man United - I can't see Arsenal paying that money, nor Tottenham - would pay that. Maybe not even Man United would pay that money. But I've never vetoed a signing of Sam's, no.

KUMB: Can you tell us where we are with Stewart Downing?

DS: Very close.

KUMB: You're optimistic it'll go through?

DS: Football never ceases to amaze me. I think it's probably 75 per cent. 50 per cent yesterday, 75 per cent today but you never know until the last minute as things can change.

We've done it ourselves; we had a player who was having a medical at a club and he just walked out to get a drink and never went back, he came to us! So we've done it to other people and you just never know what's going to happen.

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David Sullivan: Part Two
Filed: Friday, 16th August 2013
By: Graeme Howlett
KUMB.com

Earlier this week KUMB had the opportunity to sit down with David Sullivan, the co-owner of West Ham United, for a lengthy one-to-one ahead of the new 2013/14 Premier League season which kicks off this weekend with the visit of Cardiff - ironically perhaps, the city where Sullivan was born and spent the first few years of his life.

In what proved to be a frank, honest and open discussion - which, as will be the case again on Saturday was played out over 90 minutes - the Chairman answered questions on subjects as varied as his son's involvement with Twitter, the Club's summer transfer policy, his relationship with Sam Allardyce and the imminent move to the Olympic Stadium.

Quizzing the Chairman on behalf of KUMB.com was Graeme Howlett. The second half of our exclusive interview with David Sullivan will follow tomorrow.


KUMB: The squad's really taking shape now and this may be a question for Sam, but how many players do you think we need to complete the squad?

DS: We need a few, but we haven't got the money. In my programme notes for Cardiff I've explained how the wage cap works and how once you've spent your wages, you've spent your wages.

This is why I've said to the manager at every stage, "This is what we've got left, do you want to spend your money on this player? "I said to him overnight: "If you spend the money on this player then there's very, very little left and you'll have to move somebody out to get somebody in".

If you breach your wage limit, you get a points deduction - so what you need and what you have to live with are not the same thing. It's not a question of us having to find another couple of million to put in, because we've done that anyway already on transfers this summer. You are allowed to do it on transfers, but on wages you're not.

Somebody has to go to produce some spare wage capacity. I'd like the supporters to understand because people don't understand it and they just think, "oh get your cheque book out" - you can't, you're not allowed to under the rules.

Even the big clubs can only increase their spending by four million this year, but they've got some big ones to come off so they'll have spare capacity. But they would struggle to pay Eto'o's wages because I doubt they've got £10-15million to spend in their wage budgets.

Our total wage budget, as I explain [in my programme notes] is £52million. If you spent £180million last year, you can spend £184million - but as we didn't spend £52million last year, that's it. It's not a lot. Well it is a lot of money, it's a fortune.

KUMB: But not in terms of the Premier League...

DS: If you go to Portugal they're earning two-bob a week, but when they come here they want 50 grand a week. The money is not there and you can't break [your limit].

KUMB: David Gold is a big believer in FFP; do you support it as well or are you not quite as convinced?

DS: I do, because you've got to draw the line somewhere. If it's still there in three years' time; it's only a three-year deal at the moment, it may not be. It goes up by four million a year, so we go £56million and then we can do 60.

It's based purely on player's wages. Whatever you spent last year, you can spend four million more this year. Even if you didn't spend £48million, you can still spend 52 - so if you have a team like Norwich who spent say £30million, they can go to £52million. If a team like Sunderland for example spent £60million, they can go to 64.

The only increase you can have is if you genuinely increase non-television income. We maximised everything last year, so we might get another £1million there this year. Man United just got £15million for their training ground, so they've got £15million more to spend there.

But nobody wants to sponsor our training ground for £100k, let alone £15million. We've just got to be realistic. It always amazes me that no-one's sponsored our Youth Academy for half-a-million, or £1million a year - but we've not been able to find them. If we could, that money could then go towards the wages.

Where we get the benefit in three years' time, if it's still in force, is when we move to the Olympic Stadium and our income will rise substantially. We could then increase the wages so we could afford much better players. But I do basically support it because football is getting deeper and deeper into debt every year.

Most Premier League clubs are deeply in debt and getting worse and the League is forcing them to be a bit more sensible - and if everyone's forced to be a bit more sensible, it's a fair competition.

KUMB: But is it still fair though, because you have your Man United's generating millions of pounds from sponsorships all over the world. Are we on a level playing field there?

DS: But you never were on a level playing field, so I don't think it's any worse than it was.

KUMB: But fairer, in your view?

DS: It's no fairer at all, but it does mean that the lesser clubs will have to follow the rules. Pacos De Ferreira, who we played on Saturday get 5,000 gates. They finished third in the Portuguese league. Do you know what their wage bill is?

KUMB: Go on..?

DS: €4million a year! And they're Champions League qualifiers - which they got €2.5million for, by the way. They're playing the Russian team Zenit St. Petersburg and if they beat them they get €8.5million. Because they're unseeded, they've drawn somebody good; they could have drawn Arsenal or someone like that - although Arsenal have drawn a tough one, relatively.

So I do support it [FFP], I think it's pretty good. There are odd things about it which I don't agree with but overall I think it's a good concept and it will help us when we get to the Olympic Stadium, we'll have a big leap in income which will then give us greater ability to pay higher wages. Maybe we'll put the money into an Eto'o and two players like that; have two superstars and see what they do for us.

KUMB: I wanted to ask you about that, as one of the concerns some people have expressed as we move to the Olympic Stadium is whether Sam Allardyce will have more money to spend. We'll have more people coming through the door but will that necessarily translate into funds for the manager? That's how you see it?

DS: I do, because if you've got more income then you can use it for wages. Increasing income will release money for wages and transfers, but wages in particular is where it will count. Our income has to be dramatically more at the Olympic Stadium that at Upton Park.

KUMB: One of the things we're hamstrung by at the Boleyn Ground is the lack of corporate facilities. Presumably moving to the OS will allow us to generate a lot more funds from that source?

DS: Yes; we'll have almost 3,500 corporate spaces instead of 2,000 so in theory, corporate income will double. Also, I think a lot of companies who would never come to Upton Park will feel they have to have representation at the Olympic Stadium because their clients will demand the entertainment.

I think it's wonderful for West Ham Football Club and for everything to do with the Club, and we will hopefully use that to become a top six Club.

KUMB: Is that where you would see the Club in, say, five years from now?

DS: That's the hope - but football, as we all know can kick you in the privates!

KUMB: And does. Frequently!

DS: Frequently, yeah! But you do hope that within five years we're up there in the top six or we qualify for Europe. Even this year I'd love to have a Cup run. Not like Wigan at the expense of our Premier League status but I think to go into the Europa League for most clubs is a burden - but for one season I think our supporters would love it. It'd be absolutely wonderful.

We've got a great Cup history. I hope we put a strong team out in the FA Cup, particularly because for the first three or four rounds of that they're blank Saturdays and you're not doubling up your fixtures. So I would hope we do better this year. But, I've got to respect that the Premier League is the most important thing.

KUMB: With view to that, will you perhaps be having a quiet word with Sam and asking him to play a few more senior players in the League Cup?

DS: Well I would hope to beat Cheltenham in two weeks' time. We've priced the game to give people who couldn't normally afford to come the chance to come. People think that we get more money but we don't. We'd probably get 8,000 supporters whatever we charged and we'd probably make a lot more money ramping the prices on them than 18-20,000 at a fiver or a tenner.

To put it in perspective: What do you think we got out of the Crewe game - the same round - last year? We had 18,000 people and discounted it but what was the cut of our gate? The league take 10 per cent, the away team take 45 per cent and we keep 45 per cent. What do you think was out cut from that game?

KUMB: Hmm... 20 grand, maybe?

DS: £49,000. This is why it's hard to pay the wages, it doesn't pay a couple of players for a week! Our cut was £49,000, but I believe it builds the brand and there are people who came to that who'll get a taste and come again. That's why we do it, that's why we do Kids for a Quid. We probably won't get the benefit in my lifetime but when they're adults they'll want to bring their kids and that KFAQ does attract a lot of new supporters.

KUMB: Does it concern you when you look around the Boleyn and see perhaps 70-80 per cent of season ticket holders are from my generation and above [40+]?

DS: That's why we're investing in young supporters and why I believe the Olympic Stadium will attract absentee supporters, lost supporters, new supporters and give us a huge lift.

People say, "Do you think you can fill it?" and I think we will. Any time a club moves to a decent stadium they increase their [gates]. Arsenal at Highbury got 38,000, they get 60,000 where they are now. Stoke could hardly fill their [Victoria Road] ground, etc. Coventry might be the one exception, but they did drop two divisions.

I believe there's lots of West Ham supporters where if you do a deal on price, it's easier to get to or they want to come and see the stadium they will come - and once they come again they get a taste for it again. It's like when you go to the cinema - do you ever go?

KUMB: Occasionally...

DS: Well if you go there'll be a trailer for another one. You'll go another couple of times quickly and it's the same with football. I think if you come to West Ham five times then you'll be a supporter. You've only got to get people to come five or six times and then they're hooked. It puts a purpose in people's life and I think the stadium will do that, we'll get supporters and new corporate people from all over.

We had six £1 games for kids last year. My attitude, even if we end up with a little less money is that I prefer a full house for the atmosphere, for the team and it's investing in the future. You do go back to where you were younger when you are older with great memories of the great times you had. I think that'll happen with the kids who are coming now; they'll bring their own kids in 20 years time.

KUMB: Do you think the lure of the new stadium will be enough, or do you feel that pricing it aggressively is also essential?

DS: I think you price it as you need to price it. That's how we've priced the games this season. We priced the games last season not to upset the season ticket holders, because they're important to us, but we did the odd deal to sell out the ground as best we can. There are the odd games that you don't sell out but we would price it to sell out. There are a few seats that are not great seats and you could offer them at say £10 or £15.

KUMB: Do you therefore see prices remaining similar to how they are at the Boleyn?

DS: Yes. But there will be cheap games and cheap seats, so there will be an opportunity for someone who's struggling to pay at Upton Park for a slightly inferior seat and to get it a lot cheaper.

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Andy Carroll faces 'battle' with Rickie Lambert to be England target-man, says Sam Allardyce
Last Updated: August 15, 2013 1:18pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce admits his West Ham striker Andy Carroll now faces a real challenge from Rickie Lambert to be England's World Cup target-man. Lambert enjoyed a dream debut on Wednesday when he scored the winner in England's 3-2 victory over Scotland at Wembley with his first touch in international football. Allardyce hailed Lambert's contribution as "Roy of the Rovers stuff" and believes the 31-year-old has emerged as a genuine competitor to Carroll, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury. "I think there a choice for that type of player between Andy and Rickie. It's going to be a challenge this season on who's the best of the two," Allardyce said. "Andy is looking forward to playing for us and doing a great job, which we would hope will get him to Brazil. I'm sure Rickie is the same. One or the other would go. "I think it will be a competition between the two on who consistently plays the best this season. From a selfish point of view I hope it's Andy. "But for Rickie it was great to see him come on and make a statement. To get the winner against Scotland shows what he (Lambert) can do and what England might be missing a bit. "That's when they get into the final third and a crowded penalty area, and the best way of penetrating that type of defensive situation is aerially; he is a very strong, powerful header of the ball. "It shows you have to have other dimensions in your squad no matter what level you play at."

Allardyce hopes the signing of winger Stewart Downing from Liverpool can bring the best out of former Newcastle frontman Carroll. "As everyone knows I like crosses and there are lots of managers who don't like (crosses) any more," Allardyce added. "Stewart is a quality player, value for money; somebody who sits at the top of our performance stats as well as a nice guy."

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New West Ham midfielder Steward Downing reckons leaving Liverpool will boost his career
Last Updated: August 15, 2013 5:54pm
SSN

New West Ham midfielder Stewart Downing believes his decision to leave Liverpool will boost his career. The 29-year-old had been on the fringes of the first-team at Anfield following the arrival of Brendan Rodgers. But after speaking to Hammers boss Sam Allardyce, the former Middlesbrough and Aston Villa ace had no hesitation in making his move to Upton Park. Downing said: "I think it's a good time for me. Obviously it has been difficult there not playing. "I got into the team at the back end of last season but I think the way Brendan wants to go - maybe a younger team - I think it was a good time for me to go. "Once I spoke to Sam and heard his ideas, obviously I like the way he wants to play. It feels right and that's why I made the move."

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Damned Lies and Statistics
By Iain Dale
West Ham till I Die

The Daily Mail have an article today which contains some very interesting statistics on last season.

* West Ham were the only team not to win consecutive Premier League games in 2012-13.
* Matt Jarvis created the most goal scoring chances without actually assisting a single Premier League goal in 2012-13 (46).
* West Ham had the best cross completion rate in the Premier League in 2012-13 (26 per cent).
* They were shown more yellow cards for dissent (11) than any other side.
* Jussi Jääskeläinen made a league-high 164 saves in 2012-13.
* George McCartney played more minutes without having a shot than any other PL outfield player in 2012-13 (873).
* The Hammers conceded the fewest headed goals in the PL in 2012-13 (four).
* Sam Allardyce's side conceded a joint-high 12 goals in the opening 15 minutes of games this term.

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MATCH PREVIEW - WEST HAM
Cardiffcityfc.co.uk
PUBLISHED 18:59 15th August 2013
by Steve Garland

A look at our opening Barclays Premier League opponents

West Ham United v Cardiff City
Venue: Upton Park (Capacity: 35,303)
Date: 17th August 2013, KO 3pm
Nav it: E13 9AZ
LISTEN LIVE ON CARDIFF CITY PLAYER

City's long wait for Barclays Premier League football will come to an end on Saturday as they take to the pitch as a top flight team for the first time in 51-years to take on West Ham United at Upton Park.

MATCH FACTS

- City boss Malky Mackay returns to his former club where he made 22 appearances for the Hammers between 2004-05, winning promotion to the Premier League before joining Watford in the summer of 2005.
- This will be the 52nd meeting between Cardiff City and West Ham United in all competitions. West Ham have won on 27 occasions when the sides have met, the Bluebirds winning just 9, drawing 15.
- City's last win at Upton Park came in the first game of the 2011-12 Championship season as Kenny Miller scored a last minute winner to grab a 1-0 away victory for the Bluebirds.

RECENT NEWS

Stewart Downing – West Ham United completed the signing of 29-year old England International Stewart Downing on Tuesday for a reported £5 million fee from Liverpool. The former Middlesbrough and Aston Villa winger made 91 appearances in all competitions for the Reds in just over two years at Anfield and arrives at Upton Park looking to stake his place for England's World Cup squad next summer. Following his move Downing said: "I'm very excited. It's a great opportunity for me being here, it's a great club and I'm really excited to get going. "I've played a decent few games for Liverpool in pre-season, so there will be no problems on that front."

KEY PLAYER

Kevin Nolan - The heart of a Sam Allardyce midfield for many a year, Kevin Nolan has been a regular part of the Hammers line-up since joining them as a Championship side in the summer of 2011 from Newcastle United. Nolan made 38 appearances in all competitions for the Hammers last season, also adding his fair share of goals with ten from the midfield an added bonus for Allardyces' side in the Premier League. Nolan has been in good form in the Hammers' pre-season as well with three goals, suggesting a similar season in the Premier League could be on the way for the Liverpool born Captain.

IN-FORM PLAYER

Ravel Morrison - The former Manchester United midfielder returned to Upton Park this summer following last season's loan spell with Championship outfit Birmingham City and he has certainly been keen to impress in pre-season. Morrison has scored six goals for the Hammers during their pre-season preparations, including an impressive double against Sporting Lisbon and has been tipped for a good season by Captain Nolan.

PRE-SEASON FORM

West Ham:WWWLW

6-2 W (Cork City), 3-0 W (Boreham Wood), 2-0 W (Bournemouth), 2-1 W (Colchester United), 1-4 L (FSV Mainz), 3-1 W (Hamburg), 3-0 W (Eintracht Braunschweig), 3-2 W (Sporting Lisbon), 0-1 L (Sporting Braga), 2-1 W (Pacos de Ferreira).

Cardiff City: WDLWW

4-3 W (Forest Green), 1-1 D (Cheltenham Town), 2-3 L (Brentford), 1-0 W (Chievo), 2-1 W (Athletic Club).

LAST MEETING:

2011-12 Championship Play-off semi-final second leg, Upton Park – West Ham United 3-0 Cardiff City

REFEREE - Howard Webb

Rotherham born Referee Howard Webb has refereed a number of notable matches during his career which culminated in him becoming the first person to referee the finals of the UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup in the same year. Webb has drawn praise for his authoritative and respected approach to refereeing from football bodies, pundits, colleagues, players, and managers. City have a long record with Webb stretching back over 10 years to the 2003 play off final victory over QPR at the Millennium Stadium. Last season he issued 148 yellow cards and 5 red cards in 42 matches.

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West Ham United v Cardiff City: Preview - New signings to make an impact?
HITC Sport
by Jamie Allen
@JamieAHITC

West Ham United v Cardiff City. Who will come out on top?
Odds: West Ham evs, Draw 13/5, Cardiff 3/1

It will be a tough match as both sides will look to impose themselves physically and with Sam Allardyce's style of play you can expect a lot of aerial bombardment of the Cardiff backline. Cardiff have bolstered their squad with the signings of Gary Medel and Steven Caulker as they look to avoid relegation and cement their place in the top tier of English football. They look to have added well to a squad the won the Championship last year

West Ham secured the permanent transfer of Andy Carroll from Liverpool and also bought Stewart Downing from the same club. They have also brought in full back Razvan Rat on a free transfer; they have strengthened on an already solid Premier League outfit. Impressive wins for Cardiff against Chievo and Atletico Bilbao have left confidence high in the squad just at the right time because a good start to the season will be critical for their survival hopes. West Ham have also been in good form throughout pre season racking up wins against Hamburg, Champions League side Pacos de Ferreira and Sporting Lisbon. The Hammers will be without their main striker Andy Carroll for this game along with defender James Collins. Each will be out until at least mid September. Their opponents have no real injury concerns to speak of.

Last meeting: West Ham United 2-0 Cardiff City – Championship playoffs 2nd leg, 7th May 2012

West Ham defeated Cardiff last time they met clinching a place in the Championship playoff final which they went on to win against Blackpool.

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Sam Allardyce backs Ravel Morrison to succeed at West Ham United
Sam Allardyce says Ravel Morrison has a promising future at West Ham if he can maintain the recent discipline on and off the pitch
SportReview.com
By Harry Kemble
Thursday 15 August 2013, 16:45 UK

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes notorious bad boy Ravel Morrison has a promising future if he can maintain the recent discipline on and off the pitch. Morrison, 20, was compared to none other than Paul Scholes during his tempestuous tenure at Manchester United but let down his former employers by getting into trouble away from the pitch. However, after returning from a loan spell with Birmingham – where he played 30 games, scoring three goals – the precocious talent has been on fire this pre-season, netting six times for the Hammers. Allardyce said: "He's really promising and hopefully we can develop that into a player who plays a part in the first-team. "What's ahead of Ravel if he can carry on and discipline himself could be quite bright. A 20-year-old. It's early days for him yet. We'll give him a chance if he continues to do what he's doing."

Last term, Morrison really grew into the role laid out for him by Birmingham boss Lee Clark and thrived towards the end of the season, playing for the first-team each week. West Ham chose to bring Morrison to east London in a deal that could rise to £2.5m, despite a public storm caused by a criminal record for witness intimidation and criminal damage. But Allardyce admits his recent pre-season performances alongside first team captain Kevin Nolan – famed for looking after Andy Carroll during his own personal meltdown at Newcastle – are hard to ignore. "He's had some very good pre-season games playing against the likes of Hamburg, Sporting and teams like that, it's still only pre-season friendlies," added the former Bolton manager. "It is a bit tippy-tappy compared to the Premier League, where when the whistles goes on Saturday, it's 100MPH from the start to the finish almost. He'll have to learn to cope with that and then produce the ability. "I haven't had a word with him apart from just encouraging him about how well the pre-season has gone for him. "I think that his contribution in pre-season has been really exciting for us without getting carried away. His big challenge is when he gets to play in the first-team at a competitive level."

As Allardyce rightly points out, few young stars around Morrison's age are given the opportunity to play week in, week out in the Premier League. "It's a shame but that's just the way it is," says Allardyce. "There aren't that many players playing in the Premier League aged 21 these days – it's a very difficult industry to break into as a young player. Probably the last one was Jack Wilshere."

Allardyce has rarely been one to conform to popular opinion as shown by his successful spell with Bolton, playing a rather physical brand of football.
It would surprise few if the 58-year-old decided to take a punt on Morrison by playing him against Cardiff on Saturday.

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West Ham Step Up Scouting of Feyenoord Defender Bruno Martins Indi
Thursday, 15th August, 2013

West Ham United are extremely keen on Feyenoord defender Bruno Martins Indi, having stepped up their scouting of the Holland international. The English Premier League outfit sent scouts to take in the 21-year-old's performance against Zwolle in the Eredivisie at the weekend, while just last night they had representatives in Portugal as Holland clashed with Cristiano Ronaldo's men, with the game ending as a 1-1 draw. According to Voetbal International, the Hammers' talent spotters gave close attention to the Feyenoord defender, who has been on their watch list for some time. It remains to be seen if West Ham will slap a bid in for the Portugal-born stopper before the transfer window closes. Martins Indi is a product of Feyenoord's youth academy and broke through into the club's senior ranks in 2010. Feyenoord will not be keen to part with the highly-rated defender, who can operate as a centre-back or a left-back.

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Maiga set for West Ham stay
By talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) | Thursday, August 15, 2013

Sam Allardyce says striker Modibo Maiga will only leave West Ham if he the club receive a big bid and can find a replacement immediately. The Mali forward, who arrived for £4.7m last year, managed only two goals in his first Premier League season, but starts this term as the side's only fit centre-forward with Andy Carroll struggling with a heel problem. Maiga, however, has been strongly linked with a move back to France, with St Etienne declaring their interest in the 26-year-old. But Allardyce has cooled rumours of an exit by stating that the former Sochaux man will not be going anywhere unless the Hammers land another forward. "Well he can't move away because it's only him and Andy Carroll who are our two front-liners here," Allardyce said. "Unless the chairman rings me and says 'we've got the sort of bid that we are not considering turning down and we could use that somewhere else' then he won't be going anywhere. "Any move would depend on what someone is offering for him in the first place and whether we've got a replacement immediately would be the two key factors if he did move."

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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is keen to be reunited with Demba Ba
Evening Standard
KEN DYER
Published: 15 August 2013 Updated: 10:35, 15 August 2013

West Ham, who remain keen to add another striker to their squad, have been linked with a loan move for Chelsea's Demba Ba. The Senegal striker scored seven goals in 12 matches in his first spell at West Ham but moved to Newcastle when the Upton Park were relegated in 2011. After netting 29 goals in 54 matches for the north east club, he was transferred to Chelsea last January but could now find himself well down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, especially if Jose Mourinho is successful in signing Wayne Rooney from Manchester United. West Ham have also been rumoured to be monitoring the situation at Turkish club Besiktas where their Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida is available for transfer after refusing to take a pay cut. West Ham however, will have to reduce their wage bill if they want to add to their squad since they have reached their maximum salary cap under the new Financial Fair Play regulations. Two players who could be available for transfer as the club attempt to reduce their wage bill are strikers Modibo Maiga and Ricardo Vaz Te. Maiga, who is due to start on Saturday against Cardiff, is wanted by French club St Etienne while Championship club Nottingham Forest are rumoured to be interested in Vaz Te.

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Ex-Bolton Wanderer Ricardo Vaz Te on Nottingham Forest radar
BoltonNews.co.uk
9:00am Thursday 15th August 2013 in Latest By Marc Iles

THE chequebook has hardly left the desktop at Nottingham Forest this summer but could ex-Wanderers whiz-kid Ricardo Vaz Te be the next name on Billy Davies's extensive shopping list? With a budget most Championship managers would kill for, the so-called poisoned chalice at the City Ground has looked that little bit easier to handle in recent months. Davies had already got the club upwardly mobile at the end of last season but suffered the same last-day heartbreak as Dougie Freedman when Leicester leapfrogged everyone into the play-offs because of Anthony Knockaert's late, late winner in the East Midlands derby. His pain was eased, however, by ambitious Forest owner Fawaz Al Hasawi giving him some considerable financial backing, enabling the Scot to bring in eight new names in the transfer window with the promise of at least two more. One, Portuguese striker Vaz Te, is reportedly available at around £1million from West Ham – a bargain considering the goals he fired for Sam Allardyce at this level in earning the Hammers promotion a couple of years ago. Although he started the 2011/12 season in Barnsley colours, Vaz Te scored 24 goals in total including the winner against Blackpool in the play-off final. The 26-year-old's Premier League career has been less prolific, and he managed just three goals in 18 starts and six sub appearances last term. Andy Carroll's arrival seems to have made the skilful striker surplus to requirements, although reports in Nottingham also claim that Wolves hitman Bakary Sako is another player Davies may turn to in order to add more goals. Forest have won all three of their opening games in league and cup, taking six points out of six in the Championship with slender 1-0 wins over Huddersfield and Blackburn. The lack of an established goalscorer is an area Davies is looking to address and it seems almost certain that he will add to the £5.5million he has already invested this summer. Forest failed in a bid for Charlie Austin, with the Burnley front man opting to sign for QPR in a £4million deal a fortnight ago.

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Liverpool reject Stewart Downing baffled by how quickly Brendan Rodgers sold him to West Ham
15 Aug 2013 22:31
The Mirror

Stewart Downing has slammed Brendan Rodgers for going back on his word to keep him at Liverpool. And the new West Ham winger is adamant that money played no part in his decision to leave Anfield. Mirror Sport understands that Downing has actually taken a pay-cut to join the Hammers and was desperate to get regular first-team football after signing a four-year deal. Downing was baffled to hear comments from his former manager on Thursday that he had been offered 'an incredible deal at West Ham and has taken that decision to go'.

The 29-year-old clearly has a different take to the story and after, he claims, being told that he was a key part of Rodgers' plans this season, he feels the Liverpool boss had a change of heart over his future and was happy for him to leave. Downing featured heavily for the Anfield giants during the pre-season campaign and was preparing for their opening game against Stoke on Saturday. But when West Ham made their interest known, Liverpool quickly accepted their £6million offer and Downing knew Rodgers had no plans to play him. "I spoke to the manager and he said he wanted me to stay. So I'm disappointed that one minute I was staying and the next minute I'm gone," said Downing. "It was a surprise because it happened so quick. One minute I was in the starting XI for Liverpool, and the next I was on my way to London. "I was playing in the team and playing regularly and that's why I was surprised to be told that a fee had been accepted. It is normally when you are not playing, or you are not in the squad is why you leave."

When asked if he was surprised to hear Rodgers' comments that he had been offered an 'incredible' deal at West Ham and wanted to leave because of it, he replied: "I don't know about that. "Obviously, I've got a four-year contract but having the opportunity to play was the big thing. At my age, I need to play. And in a World Cup year, I need to be in with a chance. "Maybe for the club it was an ­unbelievable offer, I don't know."

With England facing crucial World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine next month, Downing knows he has the ideal chance to force his way back into the senior squad if he manages to find his best form again at Upton Park. England manager Roy Hodgson has showed he is ready to recall players who are hitting top form, and Downing feels he has the perfect opportunity to do that playing alongside the likes of Andy Carroll, once the striker is fit, and Matt Jarvis.
He added: "I always watch the England games. I think most players would think they can bring their qualities to the team. "I went to the Euros and didn't play and I haven't been picked since, which is a bit strange. That's why I think I'm moving at a good time with a year leading up to the World Cup I have a chance to play. It is up to me now. "I didn't play with Andy as much as we would have liked (at Liverpool) but I am looking forward to it. His strengths suit me, crossing and having someone in the box who will head it. I know he is a favourite here so hopefully he can carry on his form. "He asked me if I was coming. I am glad he is here. He is probably happy I am here. He is a friend. If you are friends off the pitch you generally do well on it."

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Could This Chelsea Striker Be A Ba-gain For West Ham? Transfer Scouting Report.
By Nick HarrisPosted on August 15, 2013
Squawka.news

West Ham are reportedly considering renewing their attempts to sign Demba Ba from Chelsea this summer, with Sam Allardyce keen to bolster his attacking options before the end of the transfer window, according to the Daily Mirror. Ba is likely to be behind both Fernando Torres and Romelu Lukaku in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, and with Chelsea still on the lookout for another striker, West Ham are hoping the Senegalese player would be willing to return to his first club in English football. The 28-year-old scored seven times in 12 games for West Ham in the 2010-11 season, but would he still be such a good option for the Hammers now?

Ba was fantastic for Newcastle United in the first half of last season, scoring 13 times in 20 league appearances to earn his January move to Chelsea. However he could not maintain his prolificacy at Stamford Bridge, netting just twice in 14 games. As a result of his struggles at Chelsea, Ba finished the season with a Performance Score of 537 from 34 appearances, a total that was comfortably outstripped by Andy Carroll despite the fact that the England international played eight less matches.

Sam Allardyce will likely be planning to use Ba as a foil for Carroll, but the Senegalese player has only hit his best form in the past couple of seasons when playing as a lone striker. During his stop-start partnership with Papiss Cisse at Newcastle, Ba was only able to find the net when Cisse was not scoring, and vice versa.

However Carroll is a different player to Cisse, and given his efficacy in holding up the ball and winning it in the air, the England international could provide Ba with plenty of chances. Ba's shot accuracy of 58% even during his lean spell at Chelsea suggests he would be effective as a poacher feeding on Carroll's build-up play.

If West Ham are planning to use Ba as a support striker for Carroll then he might not be the best option, as the 28-year-old has looked poor when pushed wide by Newcastle. However if the Senegalese striker is being brought in to play ahead of Carroll as a poacher, then he could prove to be an excellent piece of business, and Ba could rediscover his scoring touch at the club he first impressed at in England

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Leaving Reds was Downing's decision says Rodgers
16 Aug 2013 07:26
LFC boss on Stewart Downing's West Ham switch
Liverpoolecho.co.uk

Brendan Rodgers insists it was Stewart Downing's decision to leave Liverpool FC for West Ham. The winger completed a £6million switch to Upton Park this week – two years after arriving at Anfield for £20million from Aston Villa. Rodgers says he was in no rush to sell Downing but the England international wanted to accept the Hammers' offer. "Stewart was one who I thought would be a really good player for us in the squad," Rodgers said. "He wasn't one we were pushing out of the door. After the early part of last season, he became a very valuable member of the squad. It was simple really. He had two years left on his contract and he was offered a really good deal by West Ham to cover four years I believe. "When you are 29 years of age and maybe thinking about your place with one or two other players coming in here, I think it was a calculated gamble for him to go. "When you leave a club like Liverpool it takes a lot of thinking. But he gets the chance to go to West Ham, picks up a long term deal, plays week in, week out and at this stage of his career that's obviously what he wanted."

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Downing up Carroll service at West Ham
Express.co.uk
By: Paul Joyce
Published: Fri, August 16, 2013

Winger Downing is teaming up with striker Carroll once again after Liverpool recouped just £23million of the massive £55m outlay they spent on the duo two years ago. The Downing-Carroll axis that was central to Kenny Dalglish's blueprint at Anfield was seldom seen in practice as injury, and then the Scot's dismissal as manager at Liverpool, ensured their partnership rarely got off the ground. Now, having moved to Upton Park in a £6m deal, Downing is hoping they can flourish at the second attempt and catch the eye in the countdown to next summer's World Cup in Brazil. "I enjoyed playing with Andy at Liverpool, but we didn't play as often together as we would have liked," said Downing, who went to the Euro 2012 finals but did not feature for Roy Hodgson's men and has not appeared for the national side since. "His strength suits me for crossing and you know he's going to get in the box to head it, so I'm looking forward to playing with him. "He's a friend of mine and had been asking me if I was coming when I didn't really know what was happening. stewart downing, andy carroll, brendan rodgers, winger, west ham, england, roy hodgsonBrendan Rodgers has a desire for greater squad depth at Anfield I have come here to get in the team and play regularly. I didn't think I was going to play at Liverpool as often as I wanted. At my age I need to play. Coming up to a World Cup year I need to be in with a chance "I have come here to get in the team and play regularly. I didn't think I was going to play at Liverpool as often as I wanted. At my age I need to play. Coming up to a World Cup year I need to be in with a chance. "There were a few rumours of me going to Newcastle on loan, but I liked Sam Allardyce's ideas when I spoke to him and the way the team plays will suit me."

That Liverpool only sought to recoup a fraction of the £20m they paid Aston Villa for Downing's services in 2011 remains something of a surprise given the fact manager Brendan Rodgers has a desire for greater squad depth at Anfield. Downing started Liverpool's pre-season friendly against Celtic in Dublin last Saturday, but was informed a deal had been agreed with West Ham. "I thought I would be starting the season at Liverpool and then Brendan said there had been an offer accepted," added Downing. "He said he didn't want me to leave, but obviously the club had agreed for me to go. "I just thought it was right for me to move. I was in and out of the team for Liverpool and the way they're going it will be a younger team. "Sometimes a move can be good for a player. It freshens you up and it's a new challenge for me. I'm sad to be leaving Liverpool, but I'm excited to come here and play." Rodgers suggested Downing had been offered an "incredible deal" to move to London, but the player said: "For me? I don't know about that. "I got a four-year contract, but the opportunity to play was the big thing."

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