Daily WHUFC News - 26th May 2013

Hammers fans set attendance record
WHUFC.com
West Ham United recorded the highest average home league attendance in the
Club's history in 2012/13
24.05.2013

West Ham United's loyal fans achieved an amazing feat in 2012/13 - the
highest average home league attendance in the Club's 118-year history.
Outstanding home form, investment in star players such as Andy Carroll,
Mohamed Diame and Matt Jarvis and the Board's commitment to affordable
football meant a total of 659,677 supporters attend the Hammers' 19 Barclays
Premier League matches at an average of 34,720 per match. Fans have also
clearly responded positively to other improvements off the pitch, including
better benefits for supporters and changes to the matchday experience
alongside a desire to secure a priority place at the Olympic Stadium.

The Hammers sold out their final 17 Barclays Premier League matches of
2012/13 and, with Season Tickets selling fast, that streak already looks set
to continue when the 2013/14 campaign gets underway in August. The average
eclipses the previous record-high average attendance of 34,719 set in the
2006/07 season, when a total of 659,663 fans attended the Club's 19 home
league fixtures. With West Ham set to move into the 54,000-capacity Olympic
Stadium in Stratford in 2016, demand for tickets to watch the Hammers in
action is only set to grow in future campaigns. Joint-Chairmen David
Sullivan and David Gold welcomed the record-breaking news.

"I would like to thank our fans for their fantastic support this season,"
said Mr Sullivan. "I know from speaking to Sam Allardyce and the players
that they have all felt the benefit of playing in front of such a positive
atmosphere at the Boleyn Ground this year and we must continue that into
next season. It is great to see that so many of our most loyal fans already
share our excitement for the new season as thousands of Season Ticket
holders have already renewed."
"A successful season stems from the relationship between the Chairmen, the
Vice-Chairman and the manager and the manager and his players," said Mr
Gold. "They are the principals of any football club, but what cements it all
together is the fans' passion. You can have all of those elements in a
fragmented way, but without the fans it simply doesn't work, so their
support at home and away has made a huge difference."

Under Big Sam, the Club's Loyal Season Ticket Holders and Academy members
and supporters from all over the world were treated to a memorable 2012/13
season on home turf. Newly-promoted West Ham lost just four of their 19
league matches at the Boleyn Ground, beating UEFA Champions League winners
Chelsea and Capital One Cup winners Swansea City while holding Barclays
Premier League champions Manchester City and champions-elect Manchester
United to draws. The Boleyn Ground faithful enjoyed seeing their team score
34 goals - the highest total of any side outside the top four - and saw 56
goals fly into the net in total - a tally bettered at only five other
Barclays Premier League stadia.

West Ham's eight highest average home league attendances have been recorded
during the Premier League era. The ninth-highest came in the Championship
season of 2003/04. The tenth-highest came in the old Division One in
1968/69, when the Hammers lost just three of their 21 home league matches on
their way to finishing eighth.

Rank Season Average home league attendance
1. 2012/13 (Premier League) 34,720
2. 2006/07 (Premier League) 34,719
3. 2007/08 (Premier League) 34,601
4. 2002/03 (Premier League) 34,432
5. 2008/09 (Premier League) 34,226
6. 2005/06 (Premier League) 33,743
7. 2009/10 (Premier League) 33,683
8. 2001/02 (Premier League) 31,570
9. 2003/04 (Championship) 31,167
10. 1968/69 (Division One) 31,125

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International call-ups
WHUFC.com
A number of West Ham United players have received call-ups from their
respective nations this summer
24.05.2013

A number of West Ham United players have been called-up for international
duty by their respective countries this summer. While loanee Andy Carroll
has been forced to pull out of the England squad for friendly matches at
home to Republic of Ireland and in Brazil, a host of others will be hoping
to pull on their national colours. Mohamed Diame has been included in the
Senegal squad for 2014 FIFA World Cup African qualifying Group J qualifiers
with Angola in Luanda on Saturday 8 June and Liberia in Monrovia on Saturday
15 June. Senegal currently top Group J with five points from three matches
played, with Diame starting the 1-1 draw with Angola and 3-1 win over
Liberia.

New boy Razvan Rat, who will join the Hammers from Ukrainian double winners
Shakhtar Donetsk on 1 July, is in the Romania squad for an international
friendly with Trinidad and Tobago in Bucharest on Tuesday 4 June.

Lower down the age-group scale, U18s top scorer Kieran Sadlier and U21
striker Sean Maguire have both been included in the Republic of Ireland
squad for their 2013 UEFA European U19 Championship Elite Round Group 2
qualifiers with mini-group hosts Serbia, Slovakia and Switzerland. The Irish
youngsters will take on Switzerland and Slovakia at FC Obilik in Belgrade on
6 and 8 June respectively before facing Serbia at Karadjordje in Novi Sad on
11 June. The group winners will qualify for the finals in Lithuania at the
end of July.

Meanwhile, Dan Potts and Rob Hall have recently returned from an England U20
training camp ahead of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey in June. Defender
Potts and forward Hall have both been named in a preliminary 35-man squad
for the tournament, with coach Peter Taylor set to reduce his selection down
to a final 21 on 7 June. Should Potts and Hall be included, they would face
Group E opponents Iraq and Chile in Antalya on 23 and 26 respectively and
Egypt in Bursa on 29 June.

Modibo Maiga will hope to be included in Mali's squad for their two home
2014 FIFA World Cup African qualifying Group H qualifiers with Rwanda and
Benin in Bamako on Sunday 9 and Sunday 16 June respectively. Mali have won
two of their opening three fixtures to sit second in the group, behind
leaders Algeria on goal difference.

Wales pair James Collins and Jack Collison and New Zealand captain Winston
Reid have a summer free of international commitments.

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Splash! Hammers go rowing
WHUFC.com
The West Ham United squad had a day of rowing at Eton Dorney recently
24.05.2013

West Ham United's players and staff enjoyed a day of rowing with Team GB
athlete and Hammers fan Mark Hunter MBE at Eton Dorney recently. Beijing
Gold Medallist Hunter, who also picked up a Silver Medal at the London 2012
Games, put the Hammers through their paces as they tried their hand at
single sculling, before a series of team gig racing. For some it was a more
successful day than others, with assistant manager Neil McDonald ending up
as one of those who spent time out of the boat and in the lake! Despite that
unintended excursion, McDonald felt the day proved beneficial for his squad.
"It wasn't very good to be the first one in," he smiled. "It took us of our
comfort zone to a certain extent. Trying to get the balance and trying to
get the coordination of your arms, legs and core and unfortunately I
couldn't do that. Plop, in I went! "We had been trying to arrange this with
Olympic champion and big West Ham supporter Mark Hunter, and leading up to
the Olympics we said we'd come across and watch him train, to see how he
does things and see whether we could pick something up. "But with both
schedules being very busy, it was hard to plan. But we had a chance leading
up to the last game to bring the boys down and see what it's all about..
We've had a go individually as well as a team and I think the day worked out
fantastically well. "The players are a tight group and that reflects in our
performances and in our position. "Mark, his coaches and his father gladly
took us on board and showed us just a little bit how it's done. A couple of
people fell in, including myself and we had a big race where it's all about
pulling together and making sure everyone's working together, which is what
football's all about."

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Ladies appoint Saunderson
WHUFC.com
Mark Saunderson has been appointed as the new West Ham United Ladies manager
24.05.2013

West Ham United Ladies have appointed Mark Saunderson as their new manager.
Saunderson was put in charge following the club's 2013 Annual General
Meeting, with former boss Julia Setford moving to a new role as Director of
Football. Former Fulham Ladies and Crystal Palace Ladies manager Saunderson
has a wealth of experience of the women's game, winning the FA Women's
Premier League Southern Division title with the Cottagers in 2008. He has
also worked extensively with players with hearing impediments, coaching
Fulham Deaf FC and the Great Britain Deaf team. Setford, who stepped down as
manager herself in the spring following a successful two-and-a-half years in
charge, said the 2008 Manager of the Year would bring fresh thinking and
attract new players to the club. "Basically, we have had a little change,"
she explained. "Mark is going to be first-team manager and I will be his
number two and also fill the role of Director of Football. "Mark was with
Fulham Ladies previously, where he has won the Manager of the Year award and
led them to the Southern Division title. He has got a lot of experience and
we have brought him in for that reason. We think he can do a really good job
for us next season. "The changes will enable me to take a step back, but
Mark has far more experience of management than I do and he can really push
us on. He has won the division we are in before so we know he has got good
pedigree and a respected name in women's football. "We need to boost our
squad with more quality and we feel Mark is the manager to bring better
players to the club."

West Ham missed out on a place in the Women's Super League 2, which will
start in 2014, but Setford says everyone at the club is determined to
overcome the disappointment by winning the Southern Division title next
season. "We are all looking forward to the new season already. We didn't get
into the Super League 2, but with our new manager coming in we want to do
well in our own division. "It's going to be even tougher next year with
National Division clubs like Charlton Athletic, Cardiff City and Portsmouth
possibly joining us following the restructuring of the league. It will be
interesting to see how we can build our squad for next year."

Among the other changes made at the Ladies' AGM were the appointment of Ray
Wood as Chairman, replacing Setford, and Bill Robinson as secretary,
replacing the long-serving Colin Roache. The club is looking to appoint a
new reserve-team manager. Applicants must hold the FA Level 3 Coaching
Badge. For further details, email whuladies@hotmail.com Finally, the Ladies
will host a second trial for 16-18-year-olds who would like to spend the
next two years as part of the club's new Football Academy. The Football
Academy is a two-year, full-time education and football development
programme. Participants will earn a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Sport and
coaching qualifications, while also having the opportunity to train and play
in the Conference Youth Alliance League. The trial will take place between
3pm-5pm on Wednesday 29 May at the West Ham United Community Sports Trust,
60A Albatross Close, Beckton, London, E6 5NX.

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Jussi takes Scandinavian acclaim
WHUFC.com
Jussi Jaaskelainen was voted Player of the Year by the Scandinavian Hammers
Supporters' Club
24.05.2013

Jussi Jaaskelainen took the acclaim of the Scandinavian Hammers by being
named as their Player of the Year. The 600-strong Supporters' Club is the
largest of all those groups affiliated to West Ham United, with more than 70
Danes, Finns, Norwegians and Swedes flying in for Sunday's 4-2 Barclays
Premier League win over Reading. On the day before the match, the
Scandinavian Hammers were invited to watch the first-team squad in training
at the Boleyn Ground before spending the evening having dinner with Academy
Director Tony Carr MBE. After training, the group presented their Player of
the Year award to Jaaskelainen - the man who finished as runner-up in the
main Hammer of the Year poll. Scandinavian Hammers leader Gjermund Holt
explained that the former Finland international goalkeeper had won the award
ahead of Hammer of the Year Winston Reid.

"The members have sent in their votes and it was just the other way around
from the Hammer of the Year vote - Jussi just edged it ahead of Winston Reid
in our poll," he said. "Jussi is a well-deserved winner. "He has been
consistently good and he might have got one or two votes because he is
Scandinavian as well! "I was a little bit sad at the end of last season
because Robert Green was one of my favourites. I was at the Play-Off final
and you could see he was waving 'Goodbye' to the fans and I was sad, but
Jussi has really done the business."

Holt said the group were delighted to be back at their home from home at the
Boleyn Ground. "We brought more than 70 members over for the game and we
really love to be at West Ham, so it's been good," said Holt, who is a
regular visitor to east London from his home in Norway. "We are close to 800
members now, most of them from Norway but some from Sweden and Denmark as
well, and this is our third group trip of the season. Some members travel to
every game, but the final game is always a good one to pick out early
because we know the game won't be moved and we can plan and buy plane
tickets. We always come to the last game of the season. "English football is
very popular in Scandinavia and we are probably the eighth or ninth biggest
supporters' club in the region. The Manchester Uniteds and Liverpools are
even bigger with up to 30,000 members. "We will celebrate 25 years in the
autumn. We were formed in 1988 and have had more than 600 members for the
last ten years, so it's been good."

While Jaaskelainen scooped the Player of the Year award this season, Holt
said the Scandinavian Hammers were not fussy when it came to cheering on
their heroes in claret and blue. "We are West Ham supporters and we like to
be here and pretend to be British and be part of the Club," he explained.
"We can see most of the games on television and on the computer as well when
we're at home, but Sunday was my eighth game of the season and quite a few
of the members travel over often because the plane tickets cost next to
nothing. "When I started following West Ham, you had to save for a year to
go for one trip, but now it's a lot easier."

Holt and his fellow Scandinavian Hammers are already planning further trips
to the Boleyn Ground next season, and the leader has endorsed the Club's
decision to agree a new contract with manager Sam Allardyce and is excited
about moving to the Olympic Stadium in 2016. "When you look at the results,
we finished in the top-half and that's as good as we can do at the moment.
We can get better too, so we're pleased with that of course. "It depends
what happens during the transfer window and I know the Club will probably
say tenth is good, but I hope we can push on and be in the chase for a
European place. Maybe next season is too early, but in the future sometime.
"We have a forum on our website and there have been more than 10,000
postings about moving since the rumours started. At the beginning, people
were worried about the running track, but since the last drawings were
published everyone is happy. "Of course it will sad, but it will be so good
to go up there to Stratford. We will be there, for sure."

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Cole thanks Hammers fans
WHUFC.com
Departing West Ham United striker Carlton Cole has praised the Club's fans
for their loyal support
24.05.2013

Carlton Cole has thanked West Ham United supporters for their loyal support
as his seven-year stay at the Club comes to a close. The popular striker
will depart the Hammers when his contract expires at the end of June, ending
an association that has spanned 237 appearances and 59 goals. The
Croydon-born player joined West Ham from Chelsea in 2006 and made an
immediate impact by scoring on his debut. During his time at the Boleyn
Ground, he also earned seven senior England caps and scored one of the goals
that helped the Hammers to promotion in the 2012 npower Championship
Play-Off final at Wembley.
Speaking exclusively to whufc.com, Cole said he had thoroughly enjoyed his
time in east London. "I have said that I didn't know what to expect when I
arrived here, but I am glad I came here," said the No9. "I have met so many
good and decent people and I also want to thank the West Ham fans for their
support. I was always proud to play for West Ham United. "I hope that they
could see I always tried to give my all on the pitch for the team and
whether we were home or away, they gave their backing. I am sad to be
leaving but there is a new challenge ahead for me now."

Aside from helping Hammers gain promotion a year ago, Cole also finished as
the Club's leading goalscorer in four consecutive seasons between 2008/09
and 2011/12. The striker was never less than 100 per cent committed every
time he pulled on a claret and blue shirt. "It was full of ups and downs,
but I did try my best and will always remember my time here," added the
29-year-old. "I wish the club and the fans well for the new season and look
forward to what lies ahead for me."

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Keep or Sell - The Strikers
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

Modibo Maiga 56% KEEP

The trouble with Maiga is that he looks as if he isn't trying. I'm sure that
is wrong, but maybe that is why Sam has given him so few outings. He has
scored 4 goals all of which were taken very well, but he's a bit like
Maynard and Baldock - none of them were ever given extended runs to enable
them to show what they could do. I'm ambivalent as to whether Maiga stays or
goes, but if he's not going to get a chance, there's little point in keeping
him.

Carlton Cole 76% SELL

Well he's gone, so the 76% got their way. I'm astonished at that figure. It
turns out Carlton was offered a new contract but he refused it. He'd be mad
to go to LA Galaxy. Watford or Crystal Palace would suit him more, I'd have
thought.

Andy Carroll 98% KEEP

It's good that so many people appreciate Andy. Let's hope he appreciates
what we think of him. Fingers crossed. Well as it stands at the moment, we
only have a single first team striker on the books, so far as I can see.

Carroll Chamakh, Paulista were all loan signings and Carlton Cole has
already gone. So, Modibo Maiga, it's all down to you! Except of course he's
already being linked with a cut-price move back to France. The Sun reported
this morning that Marseilles want to sign him for £2.5 million, which is
£1.5 million less than we paid for him. Rob Hall's contract is also up in
June. I have heard Sam thinks a lot of him, but if so it's odd that he's
allowed his contract to run down. Bolton want him and would be able to sign
him for peanuts.

So if Andy Carroll doesn't sign we really are up a creek striker-wise. No
wonder Sam wants to tie the deal up quickly. But whatever happens it looks
like we need at least 3 new strikers this summer.

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Keep or Sell? - The Midfield
By Iain Dale West Ham Till I Die

Kevin Nolan 92% KEEP

A solid season from the captain, again with a superb goalscoring record.
Sometimes it is easy for him to drift out of a game, but his attacking
threat is always there. The Keep score is more emphatic than I thought it
would be. If Andy Carroll stays, a large part of it will be because of his
relationship with Nolan.

Mark Noble 98% KEEP

A great season for Mark Noble. I suspect if he hadn't had that protracted
period out towards the end of the season he would have come close to winning
Hammer of the Year. Despite a lack of pace he has been the fulcrum of the
side, with his tackling and ability to spray the ball around the pitch being
key to his game. His ability to score penalties has remained - he's up there
with Ray Stewart and Julian Dicks for scoring them.

Mo Diame 98% KEEP

Maybe he faded in the second half of the season but to me he was one of the
best three players of the season. His driving runs are a sight to behold and
although his shots can be a tad wayward he did score some crucial goals. He
should be given a new long term contract minus the £3.5 million sell on
clause that turned his head in the January transfer window.

Gary O'Neill 56% SELL

As people know, I am not a fan of Gary O'Neil. Yes, he did deliver the goods
towards the end of the season and scored a couple of excellent goals, but he
is too average to be part of our long term plans. By all accounts he is a
lovely guy, but it seems to me that if any players are to be let go, he
needs to be one of them.

Matt Jarvis 98% KEEP

Despite a slow start, Matt Jarvis is now one of the first names on the
teamsheet. Stats show he delivered more crosses into the box than any other
Premier League player. As his confidence went up, so did his ability to beat
defenders and take the ball to the byline. He needs to score more goals and
he no doubt realises that, but I reckon he may well play himself into the
World Cup squad next season. Assuming we qualify!

Joe Cole 96% KEEP

Since he re-joined us in January he has surpassed all expectations. OK, he's
been out a couple of times through injury, but when he has played he has
always looked dangerous and it is good to see him rediscovering his scoring
boots.

Ricardo Vaz Te 51% SELL

Vaz Te flattered to deceive this season. He only had one really good game -
against Manchester United. His lack of goals was a worry and his head
dropped far too often. You wonder whether the Championship was his right
level. I'd be tempted to stick with him for another season and give him
another chance, but if one of the promoted sides comes in with an offer,
you'd have to consider it.

Matt Taylor 87% SELL

I'm slightly surprised that 87% of you want rid of Matt Taylor. He's done
nothing wrong at all and every team needs a player like Taylor. He can play
across midfield and left back. His corners remain incredibly dangerous
(unlike Noble or O'Neil's) and he is great at set pieces - well, perhaps not
as often as he used to be, but you get my drift.

Jack Collison 88% KEEP

A mixed season for Jack, again blighted by injury. The things is with Jack,
you know he will never let you down. He's also capable of scoring crucial
goals. He's often played out on the right, but I have always seen him as a
forward looking central midfielder. As an able first deputy, you couldn't
want better.

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SIGNING COLE IS A BURNING AMBITION
The Star
26th May 2013 By Paul Hetherington

CRYSTAL PALACE aim to win promotion to the Premier League tomorrow – then
clinch the signing of West Ham striker Carlton Cole. Palace boss Ian
Holloway has made Cole – out of contract and leaving the Hammers on a free
transfer – a priority target. Cole, 29, is interested in moving to America's
MLS but Palace hope to persuade him to remain in London. They will try to
sign the former Chelsea and England striker (below) even if they lose the
play-off final with Watford. But if they triumph at Wembley to reach the top
flight, they will be able to offer a financial package amounting to
£50,000-a-week, particularly as there is no transfer fee to pay. That would
be made up of a signing-on fee plus wages. Palace are in the market for a
centre-forward as knee injury victim Glen Murray, their leading scorer, has
already been ruled out for most of next season. Team-mate Damien Delaney
certainly isn't a fitness doubt – he is taking inspiration from GB's Olympic
triathlon medal- winners Alistair and Jonny Brownlee. The defender, 31, has
been busy competing in triathlons and is considering taking them up
full-time when his football career ends. As Delaney prepared for the Eagles'
big day, he said: "I've done a few triathlons. I love them. "It's a really
different level of fitness."

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West Ham lined up to take yet another Liverpool misfit
Footylatest.com

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is keen on clearing out the excess weight
from his Liverpool squad this summer as he looks to bring in the kind of
players who he believes can play his brand of pass and move football. Having
already sold Joe Cole to West Ham United last season, and reportedly now
being on the verge of doing the same to Andy Carroll, the Reds have found a
third player they wish to discard, who the Hammers will gladly sign on in
midfield battler Jonjo Shelvey.

The former Charlton Athletic star made his England debut this season in an
international friendly against San Marino and was tipped for big things when
he made his move to Merseyside at the start of the 2010-11 season.

The arrival of Brendan Rodgers at the club has seen Shelvey get a lot more
game time, particularly in the Europa League where Rodgers used the
youngster extensively. However, it appears that Shelvey has not done enough
in his 33 appearances for Liverpool this season to convince Rodgers of his
long term viability and the Reds manager is keen to move him on to West Ham
should he get a fair valuation for the 21 year old.

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