Daily WHUFC News - 28th July 2013

A message from the Vice-Chairman
WHUFC.com
Vice-Chairman Karren Brady writes an open letter to mark one year since the
2012 Olympic Games
27.07.2013

As preparations to move my Club West Ham United to the iconic Olympic
Stadium gather pace, the one-year marker offers a chance to reflect on what
legacy has been left so far and, more importantly, what we can look forward
to in the years ahead. I, for one, am excited about what the future holds as
I truly believe that we will enjoy the best legacy left by any Olympic Games
in recent memory. We will play a significant role in making sure we keep the
Olympic flame burning bright - for the next 99 years at least!

Without question, our new home, the stunning jewel in the crown of the Queen
Elizabeth Olympic Park, is the most important physical legacy of the 2012
Games. Back in March we were awarded the proud title of anchor
concessionaire by London Mayor Boris Johnson on behalf of her Majesty's
Government. They identified that West Ham United provided the best long-term
legacy for the Olympic Stadium. They shared in our vision and could see our
unwavering commitment to ensuring it kept its status as one of the great
sporting venues in the world.

It was the focal point of one of the proudest summers for Great Britain for
a generation so we fully understand and relish the responsibility we have to
our fans, to Londoners and the rest of the United Kingdom who, like me, hold
the venue in a special place in their hearts. No-one is more committed than
my Board and I to ensuring that the Stadium is still held in that esteem for
generations to come.

We make two simple promises. The first is that following the Stadium's
groundbreaking conversion into a world-class UEFA Category Four football
stadium for the start of the 2016/17 season, it will remain an inclusive and
accessible beacon for young people who will be actively encouraged to come
to enjoy sport and to be inspired.

The second is that it will continue to be a Stadium that London and the rest
of the United Kingdom can be proud of. The draw of Premier League football
means people from all over the United Kingdom and beyond will still visit
the Queen Elizabeth Park every other week, while the TV cameras will
broadcast the action to a global audience of 4.7 billion people. We are
already one of the top 30 football brands in the world but with our
commitment to bringing in world-class talent and the draw of our new home,
people across the globe will sit up and take notice of what's going on in
east London.

Since we became involved in football, David Sullivan, David Gold and I have
been committed to offering affordable football to all. We pioneered the
popular Kids for a Quid programme; now widely recognised throughout the game
as a successful way to inspire young people through access to elite sport.
Last season alone West Ham hosted six such fixtures, which resulted in a 23%
increase in young people enjoying Premier League football at the Club.
That trend will only continue as our move will give nearly 20,000 more
supporters the chance to experience our fantastic product on a regular
basis. We are also committed to access schemes that will offer up to 100,000
free and affordable tickets to the most deprived community groups.
Our award-winning Community Sports Trust will ensure that, all year round,
the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a hub for education and sport for the
community. It is something West Ham United has been doing since our
inception as Thames Ironworks FC in 1895 when Arnold Hills built our first
home, the Memorial Grounds, just a mile from the Olympic Park as a focal
point for the community. His legacy lives on today as my Board and I take
our commitments to the local community very seriously. Although the Olympic
flame was extinguished nearly 12 months ago, we will ensure it continues to
burn bright in East London.

Looking back at the past 12 months since the dramatic closing ceremony, we
have seized the opportunity to capture young peoples' imaginations and
engage them in sport in a way that simply would not have been possible had
the Olympic Games been awarded to another city back in 2005.

We were proud to host the final of The Kickz Cup, a nationwide campaign
which uses football to bring deprived communities together and engage young
people. 18,000 youngsters in the Olympic boroughs of Newham and Tower
Hamlets alone engaged with West Ham's Kickz project and we are expecting an
even greater number this season.
In June we broke new ground as, for the first time in its history, the
Boleyn Ground hosted the finals of the UK Asian Community Cup, providing an
opportunity to open our doors to new groups within our community. I'm
pleased to report the response has been phenomenal. At West Ham we are
excited by the opportunity the Olympic Stadium provides to widen our reach
and are pro-actively engaging with all groups within OUR community to ensure
that it will feel like home to everyone.

To ensure we maximise the opportunity to make sure the Olympic Games wasn't
just a golden flash in a generation's upbringing, I have recently appointed
a highly experienced new Head of Community, Joe Lyons, who will oversee the
vast expansion of our community department and operations. Joe has hit the
ground running and the young people of east London are already feeling the
benefit of his expertise and passion.

Over the coming years, thousands of young people will be inspired by our
community coaches' expertise, with the chance to be coached, trained or
educated in the Queen Elizabeth Park a major draw from 2016 onwards.
From a West Ham perspective, once we were awarded the stadium and the
constraints of confidentiality were lifted, we have been hard at work to
inform and consult our supporters about our historic move. Over 100,000
people watched a video I presented on the plans for the incredible
conversion and I've personally read hundreds of emails we have received from
supporters. We've launched a new microsite and opened up new channels for
supporters to get in touch with the Club.
The West Ham fans continue to amaze me with their passion and loyalty and I
know that by working together we will make sure that the Olympic Stadium -
the country's most famous sporting monument - will continue to serve West
Ham United, the east end and the rest of the country for many years to come.
It is an honour to be offered that chance and we won't let you down. On
behalf of everyone at West Ham United, we look forward to welcoming you in
2016.

Karren Brady
West Ham United Vice-Chairman

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Hammers set for Shrimpers test
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will send a team to face League Two club Southend United on
Monday evening
28.07.2013

West Ham United will send a team to face League Two club Southend United on
Monday evening. The Hammers will make the short trip down the A13 to take on
Phil Brown's Shrimpers at Roots Hall, with kick-off at the seaside set for
7.45pm. With West Ham having returned from their pre-season tour of Germany
on Saturday evening, the Hammers will send a squad containing both players
with first-team experience and promising youngsters to face his former
assistant's side. "It'll be a brilliant experience for whoever plays," said
assistant manager Neil McDonald. "I'm sure Phil will play his strongest team
because they are getting very close to the start of their season. "We had
four young lads away with us who have impressed us in pre-season so far in
Dan Potts, Elliot Lee, Pelly Ruddock and Seb Lletget. They'll all be really
looking forward to playing on Monday because they've seen what the first
team can do and have been on the edge and they want more of that. "To play
against what will be a strong Southend team will do them the world of good."

McDonald said West Ham fans would also have the opportunity to see other
future stars in the making at Roots Hall, with the likes of Paul McCallum,
George Moncur and Kieran Sadlier also set to be involved. "This is a chance
for them to stake a claim. They are slowly getting there. The ones we took
away with us on tour to Germany aquitted themselves really well and this
will be one of their biggest tests. "It's a game against a team from League
Two who were chasing promotion and were there or thereabouts in the
Play-Offs last year. I'm sure they'll do the same this season under Phil
Brown."

Sam Allardyce's No2 added that the chance to take on seasoned professionals
like former Hammers youngster Freddy Eastwood would be a hugely beneficial
experience for the young professionals. "It's a total step up from playing
Development football, of course. It's a scenario where they have to learn
not to get beaten if they don't win. If you make a bad pass, it could cost
you the game, when, with all due respect, if you do it in a Development
Squad game you go on to the next game and try not to do it again. "If you do
it against first-team players, nine times out of ten they will punish you so
it'll be a big test for the boys."

Southend finished eleventh in League Two last season, while also reaching
the final of the Football League Trophy at Wembley, where they were beaten
by Crewe Alexandra. Brown has been busy in the transfer market as he
prepares for his first full season in charge at Roots Hall, allowing four
players to leave and bringing in new captain John White, Ben Coker (both
Colchester United) and winger Will Atkinson from Bradford City.

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Maiga impact delights Macca
WHUFC.com
Neil McDonald has praised Modibo Maiga's performance in the 3-0 win at
Eintracht Braunschweig
27.07.2013

West Ham United assistant manager Neil McDonald believes Modibo Maiga is
hitting form at just the right time after his starring role in West Ham
United's 3-0 victory against Eintracht Braunschweig on Saturday afternoon.
The Mali striker hit two goals and set up a third as the Hammers signed off
their German tour in style. After opening the scoring with a somewhat
fortunate goal from 30 yards, a strong run and cross set up Momo Diame for
the second before the West Ham No12 concluded the scoring by rounding the
goalkeeper and slotting into an empty net. "Modibo is in the team to score
goals and interlink and that side of his game was much better than it has
been," McDonald said. "He was running in behind and causing problems, which
is great to see as it stretches teams. It was a huge improvement on the last
few games we've played. "Modibo's ability is there as we paid a fair bit of
money for him. When you sign new players sometimes they take a bit longer to
settle into the team. He's just been waiting for his chance to show what he
can do and hopefully he can score goals on a regular basis, try to work out
where we want him to run to, hold the ball up and interlink. He's got one
hell of a chance to start the season."

After a cagey start from both sides, Sam Allardyce's team soon found their
tempo and began dominating proceedings through some incisive midfield
passing. Captain for the day Mark Noble was at the centre of most of the
visitors' positive play, but he was matched by nearly every player in claret
and blue, from Adrian in goal right through to Maiga up front. "It was a
really good performance---. It was very hot in stadium but we've certainly
upped our performances since we've come out to Germany. The manager is very
happy with everyone's performance. We passed the ball very well and the
movement was good. We put it into space and capitalised and scored a few
goals."

The Hammers' comprehensive victory concluded a hugely productive tour of
Germany that saw the team come on leaps and bounds in terms of performances
and fitness. After losing their first game 4-1 against SFV Mainz 05, an
impressive 3-1 win against SV Hamburger followed, before Saturday's victory
in the Stadion Eintracht. "We're delighted, not just for the victory but for
the performances after getting beaten in our first game against Mainz. The
players have upped their game a touch, are a lot fitter and are doing the
things that the manager and coaching staff are asking of them. That's all we
can do at this stage.
"The penny is just starting to drop and the hard work we're doing on the
training pitch is showing in games. We've scored three goals and kept a
clean sheet, which is even more pleasing."

While Maiga will deservedly earn the headlines for his performance, former
Everton and Newcastle United defender McDonald says that with the rest of
the squad all but finalised, the hunt for more firepower to support Maiga
and Andy Carroll will continue. "I know there are a lot of names being
bandied about but I do feel that we need another striker to provide
competition for places. I think we've got good competition for every other
place in the team at the moment and over the three games in Germany,
everyone played their part and impressed when they got their opportunity."

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Modibo Maiga scores twice as West Ham beat Eintracht Braunschweig 3-0
Last Updated: July 27, 2013 7:52pm
SSN

Modibo Maiga scored twice as West Ham ended their tour of Germany with a 3-0
win over newly-promoted Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Braunschweig. Maiga put
Sam Allardyce's side ahead in bizarre circumstances after 22 minutes when
Ermin Bicakcic's attempted clearance hit the forward and looped in over
stranded goalkeeper Daniel Davan. Maiga then set up the second for Mohamed
Diame to score with a backheeled finish in the 42nd minute before scoring
his second and West Ham's third of the afternoon a minute before half-time
when he latched onto a wayward backpass to round Davan and score.

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'Back to the future' with Jelavic, the structure of a deal to sign Loic Remy
and Maiga comes good in Germany!
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

There are reports that Everton striker Nikica Jelavic is not in favour with
new boss, Robert Martinez. Even allowing for Jelavic's brace in yesterday's
pre-season fixture against Blackburn Rovers, there is a suggestion that
Martinez might be considering moving him out to generate transfer funds. If
so, and in view of recent disappointments in recruiting a new striker, could
West Ham be well advised to 'go back to the future' to put in a c.£5m bid
for his services? You will recall that we originally tried to sign Jelavic
from Glasgow Rangers during our promotion season in the Championship. The
obstacle to the deal was the player's reluctance to, if only temporarily,
drop down a tier to the Championship, and he subsequently signed for Moyes'
PL Everton FC. It is a deal well worth considering and would represent
excellent value for money. Especially if the proposed signing of Loic Remy
does not materialise for the well publicised reasons. Then follow that up
with deals for Kalou or the excellent Robert Snodgrass and the prolific
Rhodes (if only!) and we are virtually sorted for the big August kick off.

However, it does appear that Loic Remy is Sam Allardyce's principal target.
If so they will have to move smartly as it has been reported that Newcastle
Utd have now made a concrete transfer bid for Remy. And the deal that they
are proposing is probably the way forward! Take him on a season long loan
(with a break clause for the club if events render the player unavailable),
with a view to permanent deal in July 2014. Hopefully that will build in
safeguards if Remy's much publicised legal case goes the wrong way.
Presumably that will be resolved one way or the other by this time next
season. That is the correct structure for a deal, now all we have to do is
offer the player superior terms and pay a better loan fee than Newcastle Utd
for a one year loan deal. The added advantage for West Ham is that the full
fee for a permanent move is deferred for 12 months, in a similar way as the
Carroll loan deal last season. That permanent fee, of course, should be
fixed with a first option to sign the player if all goes well.

Elsewhere, I am delighted that Maiga appears to have come good in the last
pre-season match in Germany. Maiga scored twice in an impressive 0-3 win
yesterday over Eintracht Braunschweig. Granted he did not know much about
the opener on 22 minutes, as a poor goal keeper clearance hit Maiga and
rebounded in to the net. However, his second and West Ham's third goal, on
42 minutes, was an example of taking advantage of poor defending to convert
clinically. In between, Maiga was also integral to the creation of a goal
for Mo Diame. He controlled the ball and centred smartly for Diame to score
with a clever and technically accomplished back heel in to the corner of the
net on 44 minutes. Could Maiga emerge this season? He has the technical
skills and footballing intelligence to do so. Last season he made a good
impact in the few appearances that he made in the cup and PL, both as a
taker and maker of goals. The only doubts are work rate and his ability to
stand up the physical demands of the PL. Disprove those reservations and
Maiga could be almost as good as having a new player next season. If not
then he will be traded to bring in other players before the summer transfer
window deadline. I hope it is a case of the former scenario over the latter!
Nevertheless, if this proves not to be, the more goals Maiga scores in
pre-season the higher the monetary value of any such outward bound deal.

The excellent thing is that for the second match in a row, West Ham have
wrapped up a match in 45 minutes and then controlled the match and shut up
shop at the back. This is very clinical and very unlike past West Ham sides.
Long may that continue and, who knows, maybe the addition of the right
striker(s) will allow us in future to finish off the game in 45 minutes and
then go on to further punish the opposition with more goals in the second
half!

Finally, it is a great bonus that Alou Diarra has come back and buckled down
so well in pre-season. A fit and in-form Diarra has a major role to play
next season and it renders unnecessary one bit of previously planned
transfer business. With this development the club were able to avoid a move
for Ludovic Sane and redirect the transfer/wage resources to our striker
priorities. Also Razvan Rat is shaping up very well. He is an experienced
and class left-back and his presence makes us stronger defensively. All he
needs to do is avoid any major injury problems and we are sorted at
left-back for the season, especially with McCartney, Potts, JOB and Famino
as cover. Things are looking good, add the right striker(s) and get Carroll
back to fitness and we are set for another good season. Anything above 10th
place and a good cup run should be our twin targets for next season. COYI!

SJ. Chandos.

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Kalou to snub Hammers move
Published: 27th July 2013
The Sun

SALOMON KALOU added to Sam Allardyce's striking woes by appearing to snub a
move to West Ham. The ex-Chelsea star, 27, now at Lille, looks set to turn
down Hammers' offer to return to England. Andy Carroll's heel injury has
left boss Allardyce short of options. But Modibo Maiga staked his claim with
two goals in Germany. Hammers assistant Neil McDonald said: "If the penny
drops on where we want him to run and play the ball to, Maiga has one hell
of a chance of starting the season." Mohamed Diame netted No 3 against
Braunschweig.

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West Ham plot Robert Snodgrass transfer from Norwich as attacking shake-up
continues
27 Jul 2013 23:00
The Mirror

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is lining up a shock £5million bid for
Norwich ace Robert Snodgrass, writes Alan Nixon of the Sunday People. Big
Sam wants funds for a surprise splash on the Scotland winger, who has been a
big hit since joining the Canaries from Leeds. Snodgrass may be interested
if the Hammers are offering good wages, but Norwich manager Chris Hughton is
likely to try to price him out of the move. West Ham are short of attacking
options and Snodgrass, who can play down either flank, would be a major plus
for them. Allardyce spent heavily on Liverpool and England striker Andy
Carroll, but his West Ham chiefs have hinted there could be more cash for
another attacking player. Snodgrass – who is in line to face England at
Wembley next month – may be attracted by a move to London.

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