Daily WHUFC News - 12th July 2013

Four Hammers games moved
WHUFC.com
Changes have been made to the dates of four fixtures in the opening months
of the season
11.07.2013

Four of West Ham United's 2013/14 Barclays Premier League fixtures have
moved to alternative dates or times. The home Barclays Premier League
fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea, and the Hammers' away games at
Southampton and Norwich City are the affected games. Sam Allardyce's men
will now travel to Southampton on Sunday 15 September for a 4pm kick-off,
while the trip to Norwich remains on Saturday 9 November but with a 5.30pm
kick-off.
The visit of Manchester City to the Boleyn Ground will also fill the 5.30pm
slot on Saturday 19 October, while Chelsea will now come to E13 on Sunday 24
November for a 1,30pm kick-off.

Tickets for the Hammers' opening two home Barclays Premier League fixtures
against Cardiff City and Stoke City go on sale from Tuesday with full
details available by clicking here You can also secure your seat for the
pre-season match against Portuguese UEFA Champions League qualifiers Pacos
de Ferreira at the Boleyn Ground.

For ticket details for this pre-season match in aid of the Bobby Moore Fund
for Cancer Research UK, click here. Please note that the fixture against
Chelsea is still subject to change in the event that they are competing in
the UEFA Champions League on the following Tuesday. It should also be noted
that the away fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City in October
are both subject to change in the event that they shall be competing in the
Group Stages of the UEFA Europa League. The second round of the Capital One
Cup, the stage at which West Ham enter, is scheduled to take place during
the midweek of week commencing Monday 26 August 2013, with the draw likely
to take place following completion on the first Round on 7 August.

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Big six to go on sale!
WHUFC.com
Tickets for West Ham United's most sought-after fixtures will go on sale on
Tuesday 16 July
11.07.2013

West Ham United are pleased to announce that tickets for the most
sought-after fixtures in the 2013/14 season at the Boleyn Ground will go on
sale exclusively to Bond Holders and Academy Members on Tuesday 16 July.

With demand for seats at the home of the Hammers higher than ever, the early
opportunity to purchase tickets will allow supporters - starting with Bond
Holders and Academy Members - more time to guarantee their place for the
most eagerly anticipated matches in the calendar.

Fans who take up the opportunity to purchase their ticket in advance will
also ensure that they get the cheapest possible price - the tickets are
guaranteed to not be sold any cheaper but may be more expensive nearer to
matchday if they are categorised as A+ matches - and get the first pick of
the best available seats to watch all of the pulsating action.

The six category A games - Manchester City (19 October), Chelsea (23
November), Arsenal (Boxing Day), Manchester United (22 March 2014),
Liverpool (5 April 2014) and Tottenham Hotspur (3 May 2014) - will be made
available to Bond Holders and Academy Members during an exclusive eight-week
window from Tuesday 16 July before the tickets go on general sale on Tuesday
3 September.

The Hammers' return to the top-flight last season proved to be hugely
popular with the Claret and Blue Army, as the Club recorded its highest-ever
average home attendance of 34,720, with the last 17 home matches all selling
out.

With Season Ticket sales once again looking strong for the coming season,
that trend shows no sign of abating. The early window to buy tickets will
provide fans with the peace of mind that they have secured their place for
the biggest games at the Boleyn Ground, before the rush begins.

Tickets for the above fixtures start from just £47 for Adults and £24 for
Over-65s, Young Adults for Academy Members. For full pricing details, click
here.
If you would like to become an Academy Member, Adult Membership costs just
£35 and Youth Academy Membership for Under-16s is available for just £25!
Your benefits also include savings on match tickets, discount shopping days
and an exclusive welcome pack with a voucher for £10 off official adidas
products, including kit and trainingwear.

You can join West Ham United today here or by calling 0871 529 1966 (calls
cost 10p plus network extras).
*Please note all fixtures are subject to date and time change. Should a
fixture date or time change, tickets will remain valid for the revised
fixture but no refund will be available.

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£77 to watch West Ham
WHUFC.com
Filed: Thursday, 11th July 2013
By: Staff Writer

Non-season ticket holding West Ham fans could be asked to pay almost £1 per
minute for the best seats in the house at the Boleyn Ground next season.
Earlier today West Ham United released details of the new Category A+ ticket
prices, which are being introduced for matches against the Premier League's
most successful teams. And in order to watch the home matches against those
clubs which may be declared Category A+ - namely the two Manchester teams
and Liverpool plus London clubs Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham - Band 1
tickets for non-member, non-season ticket holders will be a wallet-busting
£77.

Whilst members pay a fiver less (£72) for Cat A+ tickets, the cheapest on
sale (Band 4) are £57 for non-club members and £52 for members. Meanwhile,
Under 16s will be asked to find £43 should they wish to sit in Band 1 seats.

KUMB member 'comebackjoecole' is one of many supporters disappointed by news
of the price hike. "At £77 for adults and £43 for kids that's £163 for me
and my two boys. This is obscene," he said. "I can afford it once or twice a
year but can't justify it. Watching West Ham is becoming more and more
difficult and I have genuine fear my two boys will not grow up with the love
for the club I have."

Oddly perhaps there are no confirmed Category A+ matches as of yet, but West
Ham have indicated that all Category A matches may be upgraded closer to
match day. "The tickets are guaranteed to not be sold any cheaper but may be
more expensive nearer to match day, if they are categorised as A+ matches,"
read an item on whufc.com.

A full list of the new Category A+ match day prices may be seen below.

Non-Members

Adults: Band 1 £77; Band 2 £70; Band 3 £65; Band 4 £57.
Over 65s/Under 16s: Band 1 £43; Band 2 £40; Band 3 £37; Band 4 £34.

Disabled: Adult £44; Over 65s £34; Under 16s £34.
Restricted: Adult £60; Over 65s £35; Under 16s £35.

Members

Adults: Band 1 £72; Band 2 £65; Band 3 £60; Band 4 £52.
Over 65s/Under 16s: Band 1 £38; Band 2 £35; Band 3 £32; Band 4 £29.

Disabled: Adult £39; Over 65s £29; Under 16s £29.
Restricted: Adult £55; Over 65s £30; Under 16s £30.

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TV dates confirmed
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 11th July 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United will appear live on TV four times before Christmas. Sam
Allardyce's side will feature on Sky TV four times between now and the end
of 2013 - but not a single time on BT Sports, who are delivering live
football for the first time in 2013/14. The first fixture amended for TV is
West Ham's trip to Southampton which has been moved back by 24 hours and
will now take place on Sunday, 15th September (4pm kick off). On 19th
October, United's clash at the Boleyn Ground with Manchester City had been
moved from 3pm to 5.30pm to allow for live coverage - as is the case for
West Ham's trip to Norwich on Saturday, 9th November. Finally, Chelsea's
visit to the Boleyn Ground has been moved to Sunday, 24th November (1.30pm
kick off). A comprehensive list of all live matches may be seen below.

Full Live TV Fixture List

August
Saturday 17th: Liverpool v Stoke City (BT, 12.45pm)
Saturday 17th: Swansea City v Manchester United (Sky, 5.30pm)
Sunday 18th: Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur (Sky, 1.30pm)
Sunday 18th: Chelsea v Hull City (Sky, 4pm)
Monday 19th: Manchester City v Newcastle United (Sky, 8pm)
Saturday 24th: Fulham v Arsenal (BT, 12.45pm)
Saturday 24th: Aston Villa v Liverpool (Sky, 5.30pm)
Sunday 25th: Cardiff City v Manchester City (Sky, 4pm)
Monday 26th: Manchester United v Chelsea (Sky, 8pm)
Saturday 31st: Manchester City v Hull City (BT, 12.45pm)
Saturday 31st: Crystal Palace v Sunderland (Sky, 5.30pm)

September
Sunday 1st: Liverpool v Manchester United (Sky, 1.30pm)
Sunday 1st: Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur (Sky, 4pm)
Saturday 14th: Manchester United v Crystal Palace (BT, 12.45pm)
Saturday 14th: Everton v Chelsea (Sky, 5.30pm)
Sunday 15th: Southampton v West Ham United (Sky, 4pm)
Monday 16th: Swansea City v Liverpool (Sky, 8pm)
Saturday 21st: Norwich City v Aston Villa (BT, 12.45pm)
Saturday 21st: Chelsea v Fulham (Sky, 5.30pm)
Sunday 22nd: Arsenal v Stoke City (Sky, 1.30pm)
Sunday 22nd: Manchester City v Manchester United (Sky, 4pm)
Saturday 28th: Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea (BT, 12.45pm)
Saturday 28th: Swansea City v Arsenal (Sky, 5.30pm)
Sunday 29th: Stoke City v Norwich City (Sky, 1.30pm)
Sunday 29th: Sunderland v Liverpool (Sky, 4pm)
Monday 30th: Everton v Newcastle United (Sky, 8pm)

October
Saturday 5th: Manchester City v Everton (BT, 12.45pm)
Saturday 5th: Sunderland v Manchester United (Sky, 5.30pm)
Sunday 6th: Norwich City v Chelsea (Sky, 1.30pm)
Sunday 6th: West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal (Sky, 4pm)
Saturday 19th: Newcastle United v Liverpool (BT, 12.45pm)
Saturday 19th: West Ham United v Manchester City (Sky, 5.30pm)
Sunday 20th: Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur (Sky, 4pm)
Monday 21st: Crystal Palace v Fulham (Sky, 8pm)
Saturday 26th: Crystal Palace v Arsenal (BT, 12.45pm)
Saturday 26th: Southampton v Fulham (Sky, 5.30pm)
Sunday 27th: Chelsea v Manchester City (Sky, 1.30pm)
Sunday 27th: Sunderland v Newcastle United (Sky, 4pm)

November
Saturday 2nd: Newcastle United v Chelsea (BT, 12.45pm)
Saturday 2nd: Arsenal v Liverpool (Sky, 5.30pm)
Sunday 3rd: Everton v Tottenham Hotspur (Sky, 1.30pm)
Sunday 3rd: Cardiff City v Swansea City (Sky, 4pm)
Saturday 9th: Norwich City v West Ham United (Sky, 5.30pm)
Sunday 10th: Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United (Sky, 12pm)
Sunday 10th: Sunderland v Manchester City (Sky, 2.05pm)
Sunday 10th: Manchester United v Arsenal (Sky, 4.10pm)
Saturday 23: Everton v Liverpool (BT, 12.45pm)
Saturday 23: Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur (Sky, 5.30pm)
Sunday 24th: West Ham United v Chelsea (Sky, 1.30pm)
Sunday 24th: Cardiff City v Manchester United (Sky, 4pm)
Monday 25th: West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa (Sky, 8pm)
Saturday 30th: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United (BT, 12.45pm)
Saturday 30th: Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion (Sky, 5.30pm)

December
Sunday 1st: Hull City v Liverpool (Sky, 1.30pm)
Sunday 1st: Chelsea v Southampton (Sky, 4pm)

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West Ham midfielder Joe Cole targets Wembley cup final glory
Last Updated: July 11, 2013 4:17pm
SSN

Joe Cole has admitted he would love West Ham to play in a Wembley cup final,
saying it would rank as one of the best moments of his career. The
much-travelled former England international returned to the east London club
- where he made his name as a teenager - during this year's January transfer
window.
The Hammers went on to finish the season 10th in the Premier League table,
following their promotion from the Championship. And he believes it is about
time that the Upton Park side returned to the national stadium where they
won three FA Cup finals and a European trophy between 1964 and 1980. "I
would love to finish better than 10th - but I would love to take this club
to Wembley."

Joe Cole
The 31-year-old former Chelsea and Liverpool midfielder said: "I think the
ambition of the club at the moment is improvement. "But for me personally, I
would love to finish better than 10th but I would love to take this club to
Wembley. "At the end of the day, they are the days you remember in your
career - it would be a massive achievement. "You look at Swansea and Wigan
last season and that is their day, we would like a bit of that because it
has been such a long time since West Ham have been there, so that would be
nice."

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Is one more signing Enough?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

Sam Allardyce has been reported as stating that the club are looking to sign
a second striker and that will probably conclude the transfer business in
this window. If we take this statement at face value, we must ask whether
that level of transfer business be enough to ensure that we can 'push on'
from last season's 10th place PL finish?

To recap, to date, we have signed Rat (left-back), Adrian (goalkeeper),
Carroll (centre forward) and Whitehead (midfield). In terms of outgoing
moves, Carlton Cole, O'Neill and Hall have exited. In assessing the current
squad, the following are variable factors: the apparent return from loan of
Alou Diarra, the impressive pre-season form of Ravel Morrison and the
readiness of any of the Development Squad youngsters to step up and make a
positive impact. Indeed, could Chambers, Potts, Moncur, Lee, Turgott, or
McCallum make the breakthrough this season and add to the first team mix? In
terms of our goal keeping stable, we are probably provided for by the
triumvirate of Jussi, Adrian and Spiegel. Arguably, we are also well covered
in defence, particularly if Chambers makes the anticipated breakthrough and
Diarra's presence means that we have a competent auxillary centre-back. At
full-back, we certainly have the numbers with JOB, Demel, Spence, Rat,
McCartney and Potts. However, should we seek to improve the quality at
right-back?

In midfield, we can select from: Noble, Diarra, Diame, Joe Cole, Collison,
Nolan, Taylor, Morrison, Moncur and Whitehead. In attack, we currently have:
Jarvis, Carroll, Maiga, Turgott, Carroll, Lee, Vaz Te and McCallum. If we
retain all of our current midfield, and Morrison adds to the creativity,
then we should be strong enough in that department. However, one can
understand Allardyce's emphasis upon adding to our attack. We definitely
need another centre forward to cover and compete with Carroll. But do we
need a mobile and pacy third striker on loan to ensure that we have enough
flexibility and strength in depth? Or should we trust in Maiga, Vaz Te and
Lee stepping up to the plate? Similarly, we only have Jarvis who is a
natural wide player. Yes, Cole, Taylor, Collison, Vaz Te and Maiga can play
there, but would we not benefit from signing another pacy, natural wide
player, like Kalou or Downing?

If money was not an obstacle then we should probably sign a right-back, a
centre forward, a third striker and a wide player to help us push in to the
top eight of the PL. This is not likely to be the case, so we can probably
get away with a centre forward and either a wide player or a third striker.
In the case of a player like Zapata, we would possibly acquire a player that
combine a wide role with proficiency as a central striker, thus effectively'
killing two birds with one stone.' However, in the latter scenerio, the
outcome will very much depend on the variables factors going our way, such
as avoiding major injuries/suspensions and the likes of Morrison, Maiga and
Diarra delivering next season.

One thing is sure and that is that Allardyce appears to have built a very
good collective team spirit. And that can positively assist the squad to
give 100% and over-perform. If we can just add that bit of extra quality in
one or two key positions, then we could potentially do very well next season
and make a serious challenge for European qualification.

SJ. Chandos.

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Hammers do the biz for Kuz
Published: 11th July 2013
The Sun

WEST HAM are poised to make a move for Inter Milan midfielder Zdravko
Kuzmanovic. The Serbian international, 25, does not figure in new coach
Walter Mazzarri's plans. The Hammers have also been lifted by news that
striker Andy Carroll could recover from a heel injury in time for the
Premier League big kick-off on August 17. There were fears that he would be
out until mid-September.

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Chelsea and Hammers Target Wilfried Bony Reveals Offers After Joining
Swansea
By NICK HOWSON: Subscribe to Nick's RSS feed | July 11, 2013 5:01 PM GMT
IB Times

New Swansea City signing Wilfried Bony has revealed he turned down offers
from elsewhere in England before becoming The Swans' record signing, after
being linked with moves to Chelsea and West Ham United. Bony has penned a
four-year deal at the Liberty Stadium, joining the League Cup winners for
£12m to become Michael Laudrup's seventh signing of the summer transfer
window. The 24 year old was linked with moves to both Chelsea and West Ham
throughout the summer transfer window and upon clinching his move to
Swansea, Bony has admitted he received other others from rivals English
clubs. "This move has been talked about for quite some time, so I am
delighted it is all completed,'' Bony said. "Now it is important that I
focus my mind on the challenge ahead because I hope to make the Swansea fans
very happy. "I watched Swansea a lot last season on TV. They have some good
players and I like the way they play. I appreciate the style, which is
similar to the Dutch way, and I think being at Swansea will help me develop
as a player. "I believe it's the right step for me; the perfect move. I had
a lot of offers from all across the world, including England, France,
Ukraine, Russia and the UAE. "But I chose Swansea because it is a good club
with a corresponding style, a great manager and, of course, playing in the
Premier League. I considered everything and Swansea came out on top.''

The ex-Sparta Prague forward scored 31 goals in 30 games last season and
claimed the Dutch Player of the Year award, sparking interest from both
Chelsea and West Ham among others. While Chelsea are seeking an accomplice
to Fernando Torres and Demba Ba, both of whom misfired last season, West Ham
are keen to recruit a second striker in the window despite signing Andy
Carroll from Liverpool. A bid for Sevilla forward Alvaro Negredo has been
rejected by the Spanish club but Hammers co-owner David Gold is adamant the
club must add to their attacking resources after only Kevin Nolan reached
double figures in terms of goals last season.

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West Ham looking to do more business, insists assistant boss
West Ham players celebrate
By talkSPORT | Thursday, July 11, 2013

West Ham assistant boss Neil McDonald remains hopeful that the club will
bring in more new signings before the Premier League season gets underway.
The east London club have already been busy in the transfer market during
the summer securing the permanent signing of Andy Carroll from Liverpool for
£15m. Romania captain Razvan Rat and Spanish goalkeeper Adrian have also
been brought in as Sam Allardyce looks to help his team challenge for
another top-half finish. But with Carlton Cole leaving the club, West Ham
are still short of forwards and they have been strongly linked with moves
for Demba Ba, Romelu Lukaku and Duvan Zapata. McDonald said: "There is a lot
of talk on different people. The manager and the hierarchy in Mr Gold and Mr
Sullivan are looking to strengthen the team even more. "If we can bring one
or two others in to give competition for places we will be in a really good
place for the opening game against Cardiff."

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