Daily WHUFC News - 27th August 2013

West Ham United statement
WHUFC.com
Joint-Chairman David Sullivan has sought to update fans on the Club's
activity in the transfer window
26.08.2013

With one week to go until the summer transfer window comes to a close, the
West Ham United Board and manager Sam Allardyce are continuing to work hard
on identifying talent to strengthen the first-team squad. However, as has
been made clear by the Joint-Chairmen and manager, the Club cannot exceed
the wage limit set by the new Premier League financial regulations, which
came in to force this season.

The new rules state that whatever a Club spent on wages last season, they
are allowed to do so again, with an allowance for an extra £4m on top. If
they did not spend £48m on wages last year, as was the case with West Ham
United, they are allowed to go up to a new £52m limit. With five key
signings already made this summer - including two England internationals -
the Hammers are now close to that limit, as Joint-Chairman David Sullivan
explains.

Mr Sullivan said: "Sam and I are working tirelessly on identifying new
targets to add to what has been a very good window for West Ham United thus
far. However, the new rules state that if a team exceeds the new wage limit
they could be hit with a points deduction. As we are now close to that
limit, players can only be brought in if there is money left in the wage
budget, meaning any new signings at West Ham are dependent on other players
leaving the Club.
"I have seen the suggestion that we should just give away or sell a few
fringe players to free up the wages but I must stress this is easier said
than done and despite our hard work over the summer, it just hasn't been
possible yet. "I'm hopeful that things will change over the last seven days
of the window and I can assure fans that we will be working hard - right
until the last minute if needs be - to make sure we give West Ham United the
best chance possible of topping last season's tenth-placed finish."

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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's defensive solidity thus far has impressed manager Sam
Allardyce
26.08.2013

Sam Allardyce is delighted that West Ham United's hard work on and off the
pitch during pre-season is paying off. The West Ham United manager dedicated
hours of the off-season to sourcing and securing talent to bolster his West
Ham United squad, while also putting in the time on the training pitch to
perfect his side's defensive shape. The result from West Ham's first two
games of the Barclays Premier League season are a pair of clean sheets and
just one shot on target conceded, following the 0-0 draw at Newcastle United
on Saturday. "On Saturday, you look at playing away from home in front of
50,000 fans cheering Newcastle on and then you see that they had no shots on
target. That tells you everything about the quality of our defending. From
that point of view I'm delighted with the team. "We're disappointed we
didn't convert our clear-cut chances as when you play away from home and
create three clear-cut chances like we did you've got to take at least one
of them. "All three of them were headers and all three of them were unmarked
and six yards out and not one of them hit the target. On top of that Winston
Reid had a couple of really good chances and Joe Cole missed one right at
the end. "Overall though it was a great performance and a good result and we
move on undefeated with one win and one draw."

Stewart Downing made his full Hammers debut and was unlucky not to score
when he headed Matt Jarvis' cross back across goal at the end of the first
half. His arrival last week added yet further attacking options to
Allardyce's squad, which was evident on Saturday with the likes of Ricardo
Vaz Te, Matt Taylor and Jack Collison not even getting on the pitch. "We've
got more talent. Stewart Downing is a little short of match practice and
we've got Ravel Morrison, Mo Diame, Matt Jarvis, Joe Cole, Kevin Nolan,
Downing and Modibo Maiga, who are all creative talents. We've got the
defensive side right and we've got the attacking flair right, we just need
to get the finishing right."

The next team to have a shot at breaking the Hammers' defensive resolve is
Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night in a Capital One Cup tie at the Boleyn
Ground. Ravel Morrison is likely to get his first start in claret and blue
after making his Premier League debut at St James' Park, and his manager is
looking forward to seeing what he can produce in front of a large home
crowd. "He's an emerging talent and we're very pleased with what he did in
pre-season for us. He came on at Newcastle and is an exceptional talent who
we hope we can nurture into the fray. Some people might say sticking a
player on at that late stage might be risky but we've got to do it at some
stage. "We can see the talent and the only way to do it is to get him in the
first team and get some minutes on the board. He'll play against Cheltenham
on Tuesday and we'll see how he does and keep an eye on him. "He's had a
good season at Birmingham and he's brought that back with him in pre-season
and it's great to see that talent is emerging. "Then next week we have Stoke
City. All the teams we lost to at home last season were in the top seven so
we've got to emulate that if we can and we started well by beating Cardiff
in our first game. "Stoke under Mark Hughes, like they were under Tony
Pulis, will be well organised but we've got to make sure we continue our
home form and home victories and then we can start talking about a good
start."

The summer transfer window will close at midnight next Monday and although
West Ham continue to operate at the maximum of their wage limit, Big Sam was
open-minded about the possibility of new arrivals before then. "I don't
think any more will come in but you never know until that window shuts.
Something might turn up that the Chairman and I might fancy so we'll have to
wait and see. "I think the last week of the window will be quieter than it's
ever been but you never know!"

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West Ham v Cheltenham
KO 19:45
26 August 2013
Last updated at 13:13
CAPITAL ONE CUP SECOND ROUND
Venue: Upton Park Date: Tuesday, 27 August
Coverage: Watch highlights on The League Cup Show on Wednesday at 2335 BST,
BBC One.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says that Ravel Morrison will make his first
start of the season against Cheltenham. New signing Razvan Rat could also be
set for his competitive Hammers' debut.

Cheltenham will be without experienced striker Jamie Cureton, who has a
dislocated shoulder. But fellow forward Terry Gornell has declared himself
fully fit for the Robins, who picked up their first league win on Saturday.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

The teams are playing each other for the first time in a competitive
fixture.
West Ham

The Hammers have won seven of their last nine League Cup matches played at
Upton Park.
West Ham are unbeaten this season, with a win and a draw so far in the
Premier League.
Cheltenham

Cheltenham have scored in each of their last 10 League Cup matches, although
they've kept only one clean sheet in that period.
The Robins have lost all four of their previous second-round ties, all of
which came against teams from a higher division.

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West Ham apply for Rojas work permit
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 26th August 2013
By: Staff Writer

Honduran striker Roger Rojas has arrived in England where he is expected to
complete a season-long loan deal. KUMB revealed on Saturday that the 5'8"
striker was on his way to England initially on loan but with an option to
buy. The move was confirmed late this evening [Monday] via the Twitter feed
of Jack Sullivan, who posted: "Roger Rojas' work permit application is on
Friday, loan with an option to buy. Fingers crossed! 21 goals in last 18
games. #decent"

Tegucigalpa-born Rojas has spent his entire career at Olimpia, for whom he
has made in excess of 100 appearances and scored over 50 goals including
three in his first three matches of this season. He made his debut for
Honduras in 2010 and has since gone on to represent his country 18 times -
meaning that the issue of insufficient international appearances, which
ended Colombian Duvan Zapata's hopes of joining West Ham, should not be an
issue this time.

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Capital One Cup: West Ham v Cheltenham preview
Last Updated: August 26, 2013 1:37pm
SSN

Ravel Morrison is set to make his full debut start of the season for West
Ham in the Capital One Cup clash with League Two Cheltenham at Upton Park.
Morrison played the last 15 minutes of Saturday's goalless Barclays Premier
League draw at Newcastle and boss Sam Allardyce indicated Morrison is one of
a number of fringe players who could be given their chance. New signing
Razvan Rat is set for his competitive Hammers debut while Stewart Downing
could retain his place in the side after expressing his wish for more match
practice. Cheltenham manager Mark Yates will be keen to see a repeat of
Saturday's performance at Accrington when his side travel to the capital.
Yates could choose to stick with the players who helped the Robins bounce
back from the horror show against Plymouth with a solid 1-0 win at the Crown
Ground. Jermaine McGlashan and Byron Harrison will be desperate for a chance
to prove their worth after they were dropped to the bench at the weekend.
Veteran striker Jamie Cureton is still sidelined with a shoulder injury he
sustained in Cheltenham's 2-2 draw with Burton on the opening day.

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Morrison set for West Ham debut
Last Updated: August 26, 2013 3:23pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce has told Ravel Morrison to make the most of his full West Ham
debut in the Capital One Cup clash with League Two Cheltenham. The
20-year-old played the last 15 minutes of Saturday's 0-0 draw at Newcastle
United and has also earned rave reviews for his pre-season performances.
"Ravel is an emerging talent and we've very pleased with what he did in
pre-season for us," Allardyce said. "He is an exceptional talent who we hope
we can nurture into the fray. Some people might say sticking a player on at
that late stage might be risky but we've got to do it at some stage. "We can
see the talent and the only way to do it is to get him in the first team and
get some minutes on the board. "He'll play against Cheltenham and we'll see
how he does and keep an eye on him. "He's had a good season at Birmingham
and he's brought that back with him in pre-season and it's great to see that
talent is emerging."

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Transfer news: Chris Samba not expecting to leave Anzhi Makhachkala
Last Updated: August 26, 2013 4:31pm
SSN

Chris Samba does not expect to be among those moved on by Anzhi Makhachkala
as part of a summer 'makeover'. The commanding centre-half has already been
involved in one transfer during the current window - taking him from Queens
Park Rangers to Russia and a second spell at Anzhi. Since that switch, Anzhi
have revealed their intention to cut costs and offload high earners - with
the likes of Willian and Samuel Eto'o generating plenty of interest. Reports
have suggested that Samba could also be sold, with West Ham United among
those said to be keen on bringing the former Blackburn Rovers and QPR
defender back to England. The 29-year-old has, however, attempted to curb
the rumours by expressing his commitment to the Anzhi cause. Samba told
BobSoccer: "I'm not going anywhere. "The fact is that the club has decided
to rejuvenate things and is undergoing a bit of a makeover. But I'm here and
I'm doing my job. "There is no question of my departure. I want to say this
again, I'm at home here and I'm not going anywhere."

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West Ham say there must be departures in order to bring in new players
Last Updated: August 26, 2013 11:15am
SSN

West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan says there will be no additional
signings in the current transfer window unless players leave Upton Park.
Sullivan stressed that the Hammers and manager Sam Allardyce are working
hard to strengthen the current squad but explained their hands are tied by
the new Premier League financial regulations. "Sam and I are working
tirelessly on identifying new targets to add to what has been a very good
window for West Ham United thus far," said Sullivan on the club's website.
"However, the new rules state that if a team exceeds the new wage limit they
could be hit with a points deduction. As we are now close to that limit,
players can only be brought in if there is money left in the wage budget,
meaning any new signings at West Ham are dependent on other players leaving
the club. "I have seen the suggestion that we should just give away or sell
a few fringe players to free up the wages but I must stress this is easier
said than done and despite our hard work over the summer, it just hasn't
been possible yet. "I'm hopeful that things will change over the last seven
days of the window and I can assure fans that we will be working hard -
right until the last minute if needs be - to make sure we give West Ham
United the best chance possible of topping last season's tenth-placed
finish."

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