Daily WHUFC News - 22nd May 2013

Hammers seal Rat signing
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of Romania captain
Razvan Rat
21.05.2013

West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of Romania captain
Razvan Rat on a free transfer. The experienced left-back, who has 88 caps to
his name, will join the Hammers on a one-year deal, with the Club having an
option to extend to two or three years, on 1 July following the expiry of
his contract with Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk. Rat, 31, has spent
the past decade with Shakhtar, winning seven Ukrainian Premier League
titles, four Ukrainian Cups and lifting the UEFA Cup in 2009. He has made
248 appearances for the club, including 57 in the UEFA Champions League. The
Piatra-Olt-born defender played eight times in the UEFA Champions League in
2012/13, helping Shakhtar to defeat Chelsea on their way to the last-16.
Domestically, he helped the club to win the Ukrainian Premier League title
for the fourth season in succession and reach the Ukrainian Cup final in his
last appearance. Hammers manager Sam Allardyce is delighted to have secured
his signature. He said: "I'm hugely happy that we've got a player of his
experience and his character. "He's been playing Champions League football
this year and at the highest level for many years. Shakhtar had offered him
a very good contract, but his ambition was to come and try his abilities and
skills in England. "When you hear somebody speak so positively about that,
then you know they've got the mental character that's needed to do well in
this division. "We certainly know he's got the ability and he's at an age
where he's still capable of producing at 31. "He speaks perfect English,
which he taught himself, and that shows the discipline and the character of
the man. Discipline, character and ability are the three big things in the
Premier League, and with a little bit of adjusting, we'll see him early on
in the season giving hopefully his best performances for West Ham."

The 5'9 full-back started his career with hometown club Rapid Piatra-Olt
before playing schoolboy and youth-team football for Universitatea Craiova,
Constructorul Craiova, Sporting Pitesti and Cetatea Targu Neamt. In 1998,
the 17-year-old Rat joined Rapid Bucharest, quickly establishing himself at
the Romanian Premier League club under manager Mircea Lucescu and making his
European debut in a UEFA Cup qualifying round defeat at Armenian club Mika
in August 2000. After a six-month loan spell with smaller Romanian club FCM
Bacau during the 2000/01 season, Rat returned to Bucharest, winning the
Romanian Cup in 2002 and the Romanian Premier League title the following
year. Shakhtar moved to sign the defender in summer 2003 and he has enjoyed
huge success since moving to Ukraine, lifting a total of 15 trophies - the
vast majority of them under the guidance of former mentor and compatriot
Lucescu, who took charge at the club in 2004. At international level, Rat
was capped at U21 level before making his senior debut against France in
Paris in February 2002. Since then, he has been a virtual ever-present for
Romania, earning 88 caps to date. His solitary international goal came in a
5-1 win over Germany in April 2004. In 2008, he started all three
group-stage matches at the UEFA European Championship finals in Switzerland
before being appointed national-team captain in September 2011. Rat becomes
the third Romanian to represent West Ham after 1994 FIFA World Cup stars
Florin Raducioiu and Ilie Dumitrescu.

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'I have enjoyed every minute'
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll looks back fondly on his season-long loan spell with West Ham
United
21.05.2013

Andy Carroll signed-off his loan spell at West Ham United with another top
performance in the 4-2 victory over relegated Reading. Captain Kevin Nolan
notched a hat-trick and Ricardo Vaz Te also scored to ensure that Hammers
ended a strong and solid first season back in the Barclays Premier League
with a top-ten finish. And no-one was more delighted than Carroll, who again
proved to be an inspirational presence in the middle of all the action. The
No8 was quick to thank the West Ham supporters for their backing and spoke
of how much he has enjoyed playing in east London. "I have enjoyed every
minute of being here," said the 24-year-old. "I have just tried to play my
best in every match, score goals and keep myself fit once I got back from
the injuries I had and then push on from there. "The West Ham fans have been
brilliant - they were chanting my name all through the match [against
Reading], they never stopped and I thank them for the way they have
supported me here from the moment I arrived."

While Nolan's treble of goals saw him end up top scorer for the Club this
season, Carroll was heavily involved in the creation of the goals that
secured West Ham's victory over the Royals and he had only praise for his
skipperand close pal. "Kev is a great friend of mine on and off the pitch so
I was really pleased for him to get the hat-trick. He has done really well
again this season. He is a leader and I think he showed that again in the
match against Reading. When it went to 2-2, he went and got us ahead again
and we rallied and won the match really well. "As a team, we have made a
good transition back up to the Premier League. It is a tough thing, but the
aim from the start was to try and get in that top ten and that is what we
have done. That was certainly relayed to me when I arrived here, the
determination to do that. "It was a great game [against Reading]. We played
really well, especially in the first half. For the first goal, the ball had
come back out from Alex McCarthy, hit me and Kev was in the right place at
the right time, as he often is, to put the ball in the back of the net. We
had a little wobble at the start of the second half, but we got ourselves
back in it and we finished really strongly to get the win."

Playing and training with a smile on his face is something everyone at West
Ham associates with Carroll and his love of the game has shone through.
"That is me. That is how I am and how I play football. I love my football
and try to have a smile on my face as much as I can. When the team is
playing well, I am playing well and we are winning games, there is no better
feeling."

While Carroll's club future is still to be decided, the striker will not be
resting up for the summer just yet as he has an important part to play for
England after being named in the national squad for the friendly
internationals with the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Wednesday 29 May
and Brazil in Rio on Sunday 2 June. The frontman is looking to make as good
a contribution for his country as he has done for the Hammers this season.
"I have worked hard to get myself back in the England squad, trying to play
my best for West Ham, so I am really pleased about that. I just have to make
sure I keep playing well to stay in there. "I have had a great season here
at West Ham, really enjoyed being part of a great set of lads in the team,
with the staff around us and the fans. Everyone has been so welcoming to me
and I have been over the moon to be here. This is a great Club."

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Pre-order the adidas kit from 20 June
WHUFC.com
Get kitted out for the 2013/14 season with West Ham United's new adidas kit
20.05.2013

West Ham United's new adidas home kit will be available to pre-order from
Thursday 20 June. The Hammers recently announced a new lucrative commercial
partnership with adidas, which sees the global sportswear giant become the
Club's Official Technical Supplier from next season.. The Hammers have
enjoyed a rich history with the world-famous sports brand and wore the
company's strips for their best-ever league finish of third in 1986 and in
the 1981 League Cup final. Indeed, some of the most legendary players ever
to pull on the claret and blue did so in an adidas kit, including Billy
Bonds MBE, Sir Trevor Brooking and Tony Cottee, and now many more stories
are set to be told with the Club now clad in the famous three stripes again.
By purchasing a Season Ticket, you could be one of the first to wear the new
adidas kit! As a 2013/14 Season Ticket Holder one of your many benefits is a
10% discount on all official merchandise, including the adidas replica kit.
Not only that, you will be invited to an exclusive shopping evening the day
before the kit goes on sale in store.

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Potts hoping for World Cup chance
WHUFC.com
Dan Potts and Rob Hall are in England's provisional 35-man squad for the
FIFA U20 World Cup
21.05.2013

West Ham United youngsters Dan Potts and Rob Hall have been named in
England's provisional squad for the FIFA U20 World Cup. Peter Taylor has
named defender Potts and forward Hall in a 35-man party which will meet for
a training camp at the National Football Centre at St George's Park later
this month. There, former Tottenham Hotspur winger and England Under-21
manager Taylor and his coaching staff will assess the players before
finalising their 21-man party for the tournament on Friday 7 June. The 2013
FIFA U20 World Cup will take place in Turkey between 21 June and 13 July.
England have been drawn in Group E alongside Iraq, Chile and Egypt. Potts
had initially been named in the squad for England's UEFA European U19
Championship Elite Qualifying Round in Belgium later this month, but will
now join up with the U20 squad instead. The versatile defender has enjoyed
another productive season in 2012/13, making six first-team appearances and
going on loan to npower League One club Colchester United. Potts has been
capped at both U18 and U19 level by England, most recently in a 1-0 friendly
victory over Turkey in Telford in March. "I'm pleased to have been
called-up, definitely," said Potts. "I'm very proud. It's a great
experience. International football is a different kind of football. There is
a lot to take in and you are representing your country at the end of the
day. "As much as it being a proud honour, you want to do your best for your
country and the main objective is to do well. "At the end of the day, as a
young footballer you want to be at the top and it doesn't get much better
than representing your country, that's for sure."

While his summer holiday plans will remain on hold for now, Potts is
relishing the prospect of extending a campaign that saw him appear for the
Hammers at both Old Trafford and the Emirates. "On a personal note, I think
as the season has gone by I've developed and progressed well. It's been a
step up for the whole Club to the Premier League and my objective this year
was to try to play in the Premier League. I've done that but next year I'll
be looking to get more games and more minutes under my belt and I look
forward to that. "Looking back, I've got some good memories. I've had some
good results and some bad results but it's all experience and a learning
curve, so I take nothing but positives from them."

When asked for his personal highlight of 2012/13, Potts selected his
appearance in the 2-2 FA Cup with Budweiser third round draw with Manchester
United at the Boleyn Ground in January. "It's definitely the Man United game
here earlier in the season that stands out for all sorts of reasons, not
only personally but the game itself was entertaining for the neutral. They
scored a last-minute goal but, on the night, I don't think anyone could have
denied that we deserved it if we had come through. "It was definitely up
there with my best individual performances. You've got to take into account
I was playing against the future champions of England. It was a great
experience and now I just want to push on into next year."

Hall is one of eight of the 35 who were part of the England squad that won
the UEFA European U17 Championship in 2010. The 19-year-old made three
first-team appearances for the Hammers this season, including making his
Barclays Premier League debut against Fulham in September. He subsequently
spent the remainder of the season on loan at npower Championship clubs
Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers, totalling 14 league appearances.

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Manager delighted with final flourish
WHUFC.com
Big Sam spoke of his delight after Kevin Nolan's triple fired the Hammers to
a final-day win
19.05.2013

Sam Allardyce lauded skipper Kevin Nolan's stylish hat-trick, as the
ever-reliable midfielder's goals paved the way for a thrilling 4-2 win over
Reading to round off West Ham United's first season back in the Barclays
Premier League. Nolan and Ricardo Vaz Te had fired the Hammers into a
two-goal lead prior to the break, before Garath McCleary and Adam Le Fondre
restored parity within ten second-half minutes. But Big Sam's side were soon
back in the ascendency as Nolan scooped his first triple for the club,
wrapping up the three points with a composed neat near-post finish and then
a close-range header. A ninth home win of the campaign was no more than the
Hammers deserved and Allardyce rightly heaped praise on his captain
fantastic.

"In the opposition's box he has always been top class," he told whufc.com
"It's another ten-goal haul in the Premier League. Finishing the season with
a hat-trick has got to be thrilling for him, his family, the fans and
everyone connected with West Ham. "It was a thrilling performance and a
game. Because we had that 15 minutes where we all thought we were going to
come out in the second half and continue where we left off. Reading stunned
us and scored two very clever goals. "But the team got their composure back
again and when we needed Kevin again, that's what he's good at. When he
scores his goals, they're always very important."

Not only was Nolan's triple the so-called perfect hat-trick, left-foot,
right-foot, header, but also the club's first in the Premier League since
Marlon Harewood in 2005, and Big Sam was suitably impressed with all four of
the Hammers' goals. He added: "We knew that they were going to try and play
it out the back, so our tactics were to hunt them down and try to stop that
and that paid off brilliantly with the first goal. Forcing the opposition
into a mistake in their own box and then there's no reprieve. "Obviously,
his second goal, was great composure, one-on-one with the keeper. He kept
his cool, didn't panic, slotted it in the bottom corner. Then his third
goal, arriving late in the box, was a great cross from Maiga. "The one that
he missed was probably the easiest one, but I have to say it was a wonder
save from Alex McCarthy, who touched it onto the bar. "The quality of Vaz
Te's goal, not just the finish but the build-up means that for only 15
minutes we weren't very good, for the rest it was great entertainment and a
great way to finish the season."

Andy Carroll was the architect of both of the Hammers' first two goals and
Big Sam subsequently confessed that he is keen to see the powerful frontman
start next season a West Ham United player. "He'll be disappointed he didn't
score. You see his all-round ability showing more and more in every game
that he plays. It's not just about his aerial prowess in the box, it's about
his overall game, his hold up play, his quality on the ball and his
retention of possession.
"He makes life very difficult for centre halves and his all round game is
getting better and better. He is, obviously, our target to make it a
permanent signing if we can. Hopefully we can get somewhere in the near
future to do that. "It's our main priority at the moment. We have to pursue
that to the very end, one way or the other and find out as quickly as we can
whether it's going to be a yes or a no. So that'll be the first priority.
And of course, if we can start with Andy Carroll that will be a great
achievement for us. "At his young age, he can only get better and better in
terms of his playing prowess. Then I think we build around that in terms of
what we want to improve next. "There's a player that's wanting to enjoy his
football. He lives for his football, he wants to play every game. There was
a 60-yard chase at one point, where he ended up tackling a Reading
midfielder and I think that says it all."

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Andy Carroll: Liverpool and West Ham agree £15m transfer fee
By Ben Smith
BBC Sport

West Ham have agreed a fee with Liverpool for Andy Carroll but the England
striker has yet to decide if he wants to join the Hammers permanently. The
London side will match Liverpool's asking price of around £15m, but the
24-year-old is unsure about the move ahead of a World Cup year. It is
understood interest from former club Newcastle United has cooled. West Ham
are expected to bid for Vitesse Arnhem's Wilfried Bony if Carroll rejects
their approach.

Andy Carroll career stats
Newcastle (2006-11): 91 games, 33 goals
Preston (loan Aug 2007-08): 12 games, 1 goal
Liverpool (2011-present): 57 games, 11 goals
West Ham (loan 2012-13): 24 games, 7 goals
England (2010-present): 9 games, 2 goals

The 24-year-old Ivory Coast international finished as 31-goal top scorer in
the Dutch league this season, but West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has made no
secret about Carroll being his main summer target, Meanwhile, Carroll has
withdrawn from the England squad for the upcoming friendlies against the
Republic of Ireland and Brazil. because of a heel injury. Carroll was signed
by Kenny Dalglish and moved to Liverpool on transfer deadline day in January
2011, for what remains a record fee for a British player of £35m. He had
impressed by scoring 31 times for his boyhood club Newcastle United 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 outings for Liverpool saw him loaned to West Ham in late
August 2012. Despite a knee injury ruling him out for December, Carroll
scored seven times for Allardyce's side during the season, form which
encouraged the West Ham boss to pursue a permanent deal. "If we can start
with Andy Carroll, that would be a great achievement for us as he can only
get better and better," he said after West Ham's weekend win over Reading.
"Then we build around that in terms of how we want to improve next year,
with better quality. "Andy is a player who is wanting to enjoy his football.
He lives for his football and wants to play every game. He wants to use his
strengths and score as many as he can - but he also works very hard for the
team."

Whether the deal goes through appears to rest with Carroll, who has said he
has "enjoyed every minute" of his loan spell in London. "I have had a great
season here at West Ham, really enjoyed being part of a great set of lads in
the team, with the staff around us and the fans," Carroll told the club's
official website. "Everyone has been so welcoming to me and I have been over
the moon to be here. This is a great club." One deal that the Hammers have
completed is that of Shakhtar Donetsk left-back Razvan Rat, 31, on a free
transfer which will formally go through on 1 July.

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West Ham to sign Shakhtar Donetsk defender Razvan Rat
BBC.co.uk

West Ham have agreed to sign Romania defender Razvan Rat on an initial
one-year deal when his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk expires on 1 July. The
31-year-old left-back has made 88 international appearances for Romania. He
played in both of Shakhtar's Champions League games against Chelsea earlier
this season.

Razvan Rat in focus
Rat was born in Piatra-Olt, Romania on 26 May 1981.
He has played 88 times for his country, and has captained Romania since
2011.
In 10 years with Shakhtar Donetsk, Rat helped the club to seven league
titles, four Ukrainian Cups and the Uefa Cup in 2009.

"I'm hugely happy that we've got a player of his experience and his
character," West Ham boss Sam Allardyce told the club's website. Captain of
his country since 2011, Rat has helped Shakhtar to seven league titles, the
Uefa Cup in 2009 and made over 50 Champions League appearances in a 10-year
stint with the Ukrainian club. "Shakhtar had offered him a very good
contract, but his ambition was to come and try his abilities and skills in
England," added Allardyce.
"He speaks perfect English, which he taught himself, and that shows the
discipline and the character of the man. Discipline, character and ability
are the three big things in the Premier League." West Ham have the option to
extend Rat's contract by one or two years. West Ham have also agreed a fee
of around £15m with Liverpool for Andy Carroll, although the England striker
has yet to decide if he wants to join the Hammers permanently following his
season-long loan spell.

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David Moyes move a boost for British managers - Sam Allardyce
By Richard Conway
BBC sport news reporter

Sam Allardyce says Manchester United's decision to appoint David Moyes as
Sir Alex Ferguson's successor is "a huge bonus" for British managers.
"For many years, the top jobs here have all been taken up by foreign
coaches," said the West Ham boss.

UK-born Premier League bosses

Aston Villa - Paul Lambert
Everton - David Moyes*
Liverpool - Brendan Rodgers
Manchester United - Sir Alex Ferguson*
Newcastle - Alan Pardew
Norwich - Chris Hughton
QPR - Harry Redknapp
Reading - Nigel Adkins
Stoke - Tony Pulis
West Brom - Steve Clarke
West Ham - Sam Allardyce (pictured)
* Moyes will become Manchester United manager on 1 July

"It's a huge bonus for David, a huge bonus for British managers." Moyes, who
has been Everton manager for 11 years, will replace fellow Scot Ferguson on
1 July. Ferguson was United boss for 26 years and won 38 trophies. "For
David to get that position is a great achievement for him, a great
achievement for British managers to look up to," added Englishman Allardyce.
"They will think: 'If I do my job correctly I may have a chance of getting
there at some stage or other in my career.'"

Allardyce also wants club owners to give more job stability to managers,
something he thinks would improve the overall standard of British football.
Roberto Mancini's sacking by Manchester City last week took the number of
managerial casualties this season to 54 across all four English leagues.
Speaking to BBC Sport at the annual League Managers Association awards
dinner in London, the 58-year-old Allardyce said: "Unfortunately, the
volatile nature of instant results revolves around every division now and we
have to live with that pressure. "But it would be nice if a little more
stability came from the owners and that young managers were given much more
of a chance to start learning and improving. The game would evolve a lot,
lot better."

England boss Roy Hodgson agreed that the job of being a football manager in
Britain was getting tougher. "You have to be very lucky to survive the ups
and downs and that's getting harder and harder," said Hodgson, who has
coached in eight different countries. Allardyce also discussed the imminent
return of Jose Mourinho to British football. The Portuguese is tipped to
become Chelsea boss for a second time following confirmation that his
three-year reign at Real Madrid will finish at the end of the Spanish
season. "He's very entertaining, isn't he?" said Allardyce. "There's not a
dull moment with Jose, but he's also a very talented manager."

Asked if Chelsea would be tough to beat next season under Mourinho,
Allardyce insisted the Blues are already a "formidable force". "Carlo
Ancelotti won the double, Roberto Di Matteo did what no-one else could do
and won the Champions League and Rafa Benitez won the Europa League," said
the former Blackpool, Notts County, Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and
Blackburn Rovers boss. "The success of Chelsea has continued since Jose
left."

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West Ham and Liverpool agree terms for Andy Carroll
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 21st May 2013
By: Staff Writer

England international Andy Carroll is on the verge of signing a permanent
deal with West Ham after it was revealed that the two clubs had reached
agreement on a fee. Liverpool, who had originally demanded £17million for a
player who just two years ago cost them a record-breaking £35million, are
believed to have accepted an offer of around £15million from West Ham for
the 24-year-old. And it is understood that the decision now lies with
Carroll, who ended his season-long loan spell with West Ham against Reading
on Sunday. The 6'3" striker - who withdrew from the latest England squad
earlier today through injury - became a huge fans' favourite at the Boleyn
Ground following a string of committed performances. In 24 appearances for
West Ham last season, Carroll scored a total of seven goals.

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Underchuffed: Carlton Cole leaves West Ham
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 21st May 2013
By: Staff Writer

Carlton Cole has revealed that his seven-year stay at West Ham United is
over. Tweeting a 'farewell' message to supporters shortly after 5pm tonight
[Tuesday], Cole - whose current contract expires this summer - said: "I came
to East London not knowing what to expect but I'm glad I did. In the last
seven years I've met a lot of good honest decent people. "I want to thank
the West Ham fans for their support - especially the ones who made the away
games feel like a home game. "Life is filled with ups and downs; today is a
down but I'll be back! Carlton Cole/CFC as I have been called has left the
building."

Sam Allardyce revealed on Sunday that he was holding talks with both Cole
and Gary O'Neil today - discussions in which the duo were to be informed
whether or not they had earned a new contract. Cole was signed from Chelsea
by Alan Pardew in the summer of 2006 in a £2million deal. Although only a
regular starter during the mid-term of his seven years at the club, he went
on to make 237 appearances, scoring 59 goals.

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Razvan Rat signs
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 21st May 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United have completed the capture of Romanian full-back Razvan Rat.
The 31-year-old defender was out of contract with current club Shakhtar
Donetsk this summer and joins West Ham on a free transfer, according to the
Twitter account belonging to Jack Sullivan, the 12-year-old son of Chairman
David Sullivan. Sam Allardyce, speaking about the deal earlier in the day
said: "He has played Champions League this year; if everything goes to plan
we get a player that has played at the highest level for his country and for
Shaktar Donetsk. "Bringing his experience and talent into the Premier
League would be a great asset for us, if we can sort it out."

Born in Piatra-Olt in the south of the country, Rat has represented his
country on 88 occasions since making his debut in 2002 and has been a firm
fixture in the Romanian team ever since. He was part of the squad which
featured in Euro 2008 and featured in his country's most recent outing
against the Netherlands last month. Rat, who started his pro career at Rapid
Bucharest has spent the last decade playing his club football in the Ukraine
with Shaktar Donetsk. During that period he has won seven Ukrainian Premier
League titles, the Ukrainian Cup on four occasions and the Ukrainian Super
Cup three times.

He was also part of the Donetsk side that won the UEFA Cup in 2009 for the
only time in the club's history, when they beat Werder Bremen 2-0 - and also
featured when his side were beaten 1-0 by Barcelona in the UEFA Super Cup (a
one-off game between the winners of the UEFA Cup and the Champions League)
later that year. It was thought that the player would join French club
Marseille upon the expiration of his contract at Shaktar, although West Ham
are now believed to have usurped the Ligue 1 side.

Razvan Rat: Career Statistics

Rapid Bucharest (1998-2003): Pld 97; Gls 5.
FCM Bacau (2000-01): Pld 14, Gls 2.
Shaktar Donetsk (2003-13): Pld 296; Gls 10.
Romania (2002-13); Pld 88; Gls 1.

Honours

Romanian League winner: 1998–99, 2002–03; Romanian Cup winner: 2001–02;
Romanian Super Cup winner: 2002–03; Ukrainian League winner: 2004–05,
2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12; Ukrainian Cup winner: 2003–04,
2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12; Ukrainian Super Cup winner: 2005, 2008, 2010;
UEFA Cup winner: 2008–09.

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Carlton Cole confirms West Ham departure
Last Updated: May 21, 2013 6:40pm
SSN

West Ham United striker Carlton Cole has confirmed he is leaving Upton Park
after seven years with the club. The former Chelsea striker, who had slipped
down the pecking order this season, scored 47 goals in 227 league
appearances for the Hammers. He tweeted: "Life is filled with ups & downs
today is a down but i'll be back! Carlton Cole/CFC as i have been called has
left the building #UNDERCHUFFED "I want to thank the West Ham fans for their
support especially the 1's who made the away games feel like a home 1"

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West Ham agree deal with Liverpool for Andy Carroll
Last Updated: May 21, 2013 11:20pm
SSN

West Ham have agreed a fee with Liverpool to sign striker Andy Carroll on a
permanent basis, Sky sources understand. Liverpool are set to receive an
initial fee of £12million, a figure which could rise depending on the
forward's success with his prospective new club. Carroll played the final
match of his season-long loan from Anfield in the Hammers' 4-2 Premier
League win over Reading on Sunday. His seven goals, including a late-season
flurry, earned him a call-up to the latest England squad and Hammers boss
Sam Allardyce had said keeping him at Upton Park was a priority. "I have had
a great season here, really enjoyed being part of a great set of lads in the
team, with the staff around us and the fans. Everyone has been so welcoming
to me. This is a great club."

Andy Carroll
Former club Newcastle and newly-promoted Ligue 1 side Monaco were reportedly
keen on the 6ft 3in frontman but a deal is in place to extend his stay in
East London. Carroll moved to Liverpool from Newcastle in a £35million deal
in January 2011, but struggled to make his mark on Merseyside and has scored
just six Premier League goals for the Reds in 44 games. Speaking to West
Ham's website at the end of his loan spell, Carroll said: "I have enjoyed
every minute of being here. "I have just tried to play my best in every
match, score goals and keep myself fit once I got back from the injuries I
had and then push on from there. "I have worked hard to get myself back in
the England squad, trying to play my best for West Ham, so I am really
pleased about that. I just have to make sure I keep playing well to stay in
there. I have had a great season here, really enjoyed being part of a great
set of lads in the team, with the staff around us and the fans. Everyone has
been so welcoming to me. This is a great club."

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Andy Carroll withdraws from England squad with injury
Last Updated: May 21, 2013 10:36pm
SSN

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has withdrawn from the England squad to play
the Republic of Ireland and Brazil due to a foot injury. The Football
Association confirmed the news on Tuesday evening, adding that no
replacement has been called up by manager Roy Hodgson for the two friendly
fixtures. "Andy Carroll has been ruled out of the England squad for the
upcoming internationals with Republic of Ireland and Brazil," an FA
statement read. "Carroll had been named in Roy Hodgson's squad that will
take on Ireland at Wembley on Wednesday, May 29, and then travel to Rio to
face Brazil on June 2, but has now been forced to withdraw through injury.
"No replacement will be made at this time."

The news is a blow to Hodgson, who had spoken glowingly about Carroll's
end-of-season form at loan club West Ham. There is no obvious alternative to
the target man in the remainder of the squad, which includes Manchester
United pair Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck, plus Liverpool's Daniel
Sturridge and Tottenham forward Jermain Defoe. England's players are due to
meet up at St George's Park on Sunday, by which time it should be known
whether or not Tom Cleverley will be available. The Manchester United
midfielder suffered a calf injury during the season-ending 5-5 draw at West
Brom last weekend.

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Rat Signs, Cole Leaves & Carroll Fee 'Agreed'
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

Bearing in mind the old season has barely finished, I can't say I was
expecting much transfer activity this week, but today it has been announced
that Romanian international left back Razvan Rat on a free transfer from
Russian side Shaktar Donetsk. He has a great record, with 88 Romanian caps,
and speaks good English so let's hope he finds his feet quickly. He's a
headline writer's gift, but we should remember that in German, 'rat' means
advice!

Secondly, Carlton Cole has announced on Twitter that he is leaving the club.
It had been rumoured that he was offered a 'take it or leave it' contract.
He decided to leave it. I'm very sad as he is a lovely bloke and has been a
great servant for us since he joined all those years ago, back in 2006. He
scored 47 goals in 206 appearances, but last season saw him score only 2
goals. I'd have liked to have seen him stay as I think he performed a very
useful role and could have come good again. Carlton is a confidence player
and I am sure we all remember that season when Gianfranco Zola really got
the best out of him. It wouldn't at all surprise me if he ended up back with
Zola at Vicarage Road.

And finally as if all that wasn't enough, it is being reported all over the
place that West Ham have agreed a £15 million fee for Andy Carroll. However,
it seems Andy Carroll is in no hurry to do a deal and that makes me wonder
if his heart isn't still set on re-signing for Newcastle. If I tell you that
of the 1426 people who have taken part in the Keep/Sell survey, only 28
(1.6%) don't want him to stay at Upton Park, you'll see how much we rate
him. One Twitter report suggested that he will indeed sign and that he will
be unveiled along with the new kit on June 20th. i don't think any of us
want to wait that long. Put us out of our misery

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Rat up a drainpipe! West Ham sign Razvan Rat from Shakhtar Donetsk two days
into summer window
21 May 2013 18:54
The Mirror

West Ham have wasted no time starting their summer shopping, signing of
Romania captain Razvan Rat on a free transfer. The full-back, 31, has inked
a one-year contract and will link up with the Hammers in July, after his
current deal with Ukrainian champions and Champions League regulars Shakhtar
Donetsk expires. Rat has spent the last 10 years playing in Ukraine, winning
15 trophies in total and has 88 international caps. West Ham, who were
linked with Rat during the winter window , have the option to extend the
deal to two or three years and his capture has delighted manager Sam
Allardyce. "I'm hugely happy that we've got a player of his experience and
his character," the boss told the official West Ham website. "He's been
playing Champions League football this year and at the highest level for
many years. Shakhtar had offered him a very good contract, but his ambition
was to come and try his abilities and skills in England. "When you hear
somebody speak so positively about that, then you know they've got the
mental character that's needed to do well in this division.
"We certainly know he's got the ability and he's at an age where he's still
capable of producing at 31. "He speaks perfect English, which he taught
himself, and that shows the discipline and the character of the man.
"Discipline, character and ability are the three big things in the Premier
League, and with a little bit of adjusting, we'll see him early on in the
season giving hopefully his best performances for West Ham."

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Lukacoup! West Ham want Romelu Lukaku and Andy Carroll as their strike-force
for next season
21 May 2013 22:32
The Mirror

West Ham are plotting to pair Romeu Lukaku with Andy Carroll in a
potentially sensational strike-force next season. The ambitious Hammers
agreed a £15.5million fee with Liverpool for England international Carroll,
who spent the 2012-13 season with them on loan, on Saturday. They will now
move quickly in an attempt to beat Europa League-bound Swansea to the
signing of Chelsea striker Lukaku, who is set to go out on loan for another
season in 2013-14 after an impressive year with West Brom. Hammers
joint-chairman David Sullivan explained: "Lukaku would be a loan again. We'd
maybe buy him a year later if Chelsea decide they don't want him."

Highly-sought-after Belgium international Lukaku, 20, hit 17 goals for West
Brom, including a hat-trick against Manchester United in Sunday's season
finale.
Meanwhile, West Ham and Liverpool are now waiting for Carroll to decide
whether he wants to make his move permanent. Carroll, also linked with a
return to Newcastle, the club he left for Anfield in 2011, is set to give
both sides an answer by next week. Sullivan added: "When I spoke to him he
said he very much enjoyed his time at West Ham and he very much enjoyed his
time in London. "He won't play again at Liverpool and in a World Cup year
you'd hope he wants to play somewhere that he already knows he feels
comfortable in a system proven to get the best out of him. "But only he
knows the answer."

The two men made a massive impact at their clubs in the season just ended.
Played together, the Hammers believe, Carroll and Lukaku will form the best
strike-force outside the top six. Joint-owner Sullivan told the Mirror: "If
we sign Andy, it will be a record signing for the club. Having said that, he
is just our type of player and it has been an exciting time watching him.
"He and Romelu would be devastating. The best strike- force outside of the
top six or seven.
"Lukaku has been amazing for West Brom this season and I'd hope that he
would prefer to live in London."

Carroll's seven goals this season have come in his final 16 games of the
season. And the marksman forced himself back into the England squad for the
forthcoming friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil, before a
heel injury ruled him out on Tuesday. Sullivan said: "Andy is a real
professional. Had he not been injured this season, we would have been much
higher up the table. "He is first on the training ground and last away. He
is a young man who wants to improve himself. He is one of the few
professionals I've met where it's about football, not money. "Last summer
the manager said to me,: 'If you sign me Andy Carroll, I will guarantee you
we will stay in the Premier League.' So we said, 'Thank you very much, Sam.
There you go.' "And from day one, he has been fantastic. If you picked Frank
Lampard behind him for England, you'd get a lot of goals."

West Ham fans will be delighted with the ambition Sullivan and co-owner
David Gold showed last summer to snap up the players capable of keeping the
club up. Sullivan now believes manager Sam Allardyce has won over fans who
doubted the club could entertain under him. He added: "I've come out of the
adult industry. "Paul Raymond owned just one strip club in Soho, but he was
always seen as the strip king. In fact he was actually a huge property
magnate. "In the same way, there is still a misconception about Sam. "He is
a very smart, forward-thinking man. He is intelligent, he prolongs careers
and he is brilliant in terms of maximising players' potential. "We have
played some great stuff under him this season. I just hope he has two or
three fantastic years with us and then finally gets a crack at the England
job."

Sullivan has warned fans that managers really will have to sell this summer
before they can buy, with the introduction of Financial Fair Play. Hammers
favourite Carlton Cole has left after turning down a new deal and Marouane
Chamakh is set to follow after a disappointing spell on loan from Arsenal.
But the club are signing Romania and Shakhtar Donetsk left-back Razvan Rat
on a three-year deal. Sullivan said: "I am absolutely delighted with this
season. To be clear of relegation with three or four games to go has been a
lovely feeling. "But we have another challenge ahead. Newcastle were fifth
last year and yet hovered above the relegation zone this time. There can
never be any room for complacency."

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Done deal! Liverpool and West Ham agree £15m fee to make Andy Carroll's loan
permanent
21 May 2013 19:56
The Mirror

Liverpool and West Ham have agreed a fee to make striker Andy Carroll's loan
to the Hammers permanent. England international Carroll's move to Upton Park
now appears to be solely up to him. The Press Association is reporting that
Liverpool agreed several weeks ago to accept a fee of £15million - rising
with various add-ons - to get the 24-year-old off their wage bill, as they
prepare to start their own summer spending. With the Hammers willing to pay
the asking price for a player that cost £35m when joining the Reds from
Newcastle in January 2011, the only barrier to the transfer is Carroll
himself - who has spoken fondly of his season-long loan at Upton Park. A
major consideration for the England international, recently recalled to Roy
Hodgson's squad, will be the implications of a pay cut at the Londoners. But
with a World Cup just 12 months away, Carroll has to weigh up whether he
would be better off playing regularly with little likelihood of first-team
football under Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers. Despite only scoring seven
goals at West Ham, the 6ft 3in striker proved a popular signing and he
admits he has enjoyed his time in London. "I have enjoyed every minute of
being here," he told whufc.com. "I have just tried to play my best in every
match, score goals and keep myself fit once I got back from the injuries I
had and then push on from there. "I have worked hard to get myself back in
the England squad, trying to play my best for West Ham, so I am really
pleased about that. "I just have to make sure I keep playing well to stay in
there. I have had a great season here at West Ham, really enjoyed being part
of a great set of lads in the team, with the staff around us and the fans.
"Everyone has been so welcoming to me and I have been over the moon to be
here. This is a great club."

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