Daily WHUFC News - 30th August 2013

Chambers hungry for more
WHUFC.com
Leo Chambers made his first team debut in midweek and is now on the hunt for
more opportunities
29.08.2013

Leo Chambers has spoken of his delight after making his West Ham United
debut in the Capital One Cup victory over Cheltenham Town. The defender
played the full 90 minutes as goals from Ricardo Vaz Te and fellow debutant
Ravel Morrison helped the Hammers into the third-round. The 18-year-old has
been a mainstay in the clubs Development Squad so far this season, playing
every minute of their three matches. But the defender admits making his
debut for the first team was something special. He said: "It was a very big
moment for me at the start of my career, it was my first start and once I
got into the game I felt very confident."

Chambers fitted in seamlessly at right-back as Sam Allardyce's team
maintained their unbeaten start to the season, despite his usual position
being at the centre of defence. When quizzed on whether he had experienced
any nerves before the kick-off the defender gave an answer as cool as his
performance.
"Everyone was asking me if I was nervous, but my response was 'no', it was
more excitement than nerves. "I thought I would get nervous as I stepped
onto the pitch, but again it was just pure excitement. I didn't really show
nerves out there, I was just confident and got myself into the game."

Chambers looked assured on the right-hand side, linking up well with Joe
Cole and then Stewart Downing as a new look Hammers side created a host of
chances. It is not the first time that the youngster has been named in a
first team squad, having previously been on the substitutes' bench on three
occasions, but he was delighted to finally get a starting berth. "It's very
pleasing. I was on the bench three times last season but unfortunately I was
held back by injury.
"I'm coming back now, I've made my first start and I'm feeling good. It was
good of the manager to start me in a game and that's something I've got to
repay him with good performances and I think I've done that tonight."

Allardyce included fellow Development Squad regulars Sebastian Lletget,
Pelly Ruddock and Elliot Lee in the squad to face Cheltenham and despite
none of them featuring from the bench, Chambers believes they can push for a
place in the first team. "Seb, Elliot and Pelly deserved it; they've had a
good start to the season," he added. "They played a few games for the first
team during pre-season and reports came back saying they did well so I think
they fully deserved it.
"Unfortunately they didn't get on the pitch tonight but I'm sure there will
be other opportunities for them."

The Development Squad have won two of their three games this season and
Chambers feels it has acted as the perfect springboard for himself and the
other players to gain first team recognition. "It's been good not only for
me but the rest of the lads as well. "The Under-21s are doing well, not only
me but the whole team and I'm hoping a few of the other lads can join me and
play for the first team."

It's been quite a journey through the ranks for Chambers who started out
trying to score goals rather than stop them. After making his first start
the defender won't be fooled into thinking he has made it just yet. "It's
been a long road. I trained with the Under-12s playing centre-forward,
tonight I played right-back and I usually play centre-back for the
Under-21s, so it's been a very long road. "Bit by bit, you've got to keep
going, work hard, I've still got a long way to go and I plan to do so."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rat: 'We could have scored six'
WHUFC.com
Razvan Rat urged the Hammers to be at their clinical best when Stoke City
are the visitors on Saturday
29.08.2013

Summer signing Razvan Rat hopes West Ham United's fortunes in front of goal
will turn come Saturday, after the Hammers were denied a hatful against
Cheltenham Town in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday. As it was, Sam
Allardyce's side were worthy 2-1 winners against the Sky Bet League Two
Robins, but might have enjoyed an even more comfortable evening at the
Boleyn Ground. The Romanian international, making his competitive debut in
claret and blue, insisted that the Club's safe passage to the third round
was all important, with one eye on a weekend Barclays Premier League clash
against Stoke City.
He told West Ham TV: "It's true that we had a lot of chances and we could
have scored six, maybe. But maybe it was not our day. Hopefully all the
chances will come on Saturday and the ball will go in on Saturday! "It was
interesting for me, my first official game. It's true that it was against,
theoretically, a weaker opponent but as you saw it was not easy because,
this kind of team, when they're playing against a Premier League team, they
give all their best on the field. But it was good, we won, so that's the
most important thing."

Though the Hammers' quality eventually told on Tuesday, the hosts were made
to work hard for the victory and Rat, for one, was not the least bit
surprised with the application of the lower-league visitors. It took a
stunning Ricardo Vaz Te free-kick to break the Robins' stubborn resistance,
a goal that made life considerably easier for West Ham thereafter. He
continued: "They're the same football players like us, they're just playing
in another league. So the difference between a Premier League player and a
Second Division player is just mentally. It's about the mind. They are fit,
they're running hard, so it's just your mentality that makes the difference.
"Vaz Te was amazing, he was amazing on that free-kick. But that goal
released us and the game became much easier afterwards."

Looking further afield, Roland - as he's fast becoming known - is not ruling
out a trip to Wembley, though attention now turns to Saturday's visit of the
Potters.
"I think it's five games 'til Wembley, so we're looking further than the
third round. I'll see you there," he joked! "First of all, I hope to play
[against Stoke, to make my Premier League debut. But this depends on the
manager. I hope also to have a good game on Saturday and get another three
points."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I'm off! Vaz Te hands in transfer request
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 29th August 2013
By: Staff Writer

Ricardo Vaz Te looks set to leave West Ham after the Portuguese forward
handed in a written transfer request. Vaz Te, who was a bargain £500,000
signing from Barnsley just 18 months ago is reported to have asked to leave
the Club have fallen down the pecking order, following the arrival of the
likes of Joe Cole and Stewart Downing.

The news has received a mixed reception from supporters posting on the
KUMB.com forum today. "A nice bloke with a place in our history," wrote
ClaretDave, "but he is not good enough to be an automatic starter at present
and if being a squad member is not enough, it's quite reasonable to ask for
a move. He will leave with my best wishes."

However Crochend_Hammer was rather less inclined to see the back of the
26-year-old winger. "I'm absolutely gutted by this news," he said. "He is
the only player we have - except maybe Joe Cole - who can do something
unpredictable and provide a little bit of additional quality. To me, this is
just another nail in the coffin of how we are going to play when Andy
Carroll comes back."

Premier League newcomers Crystal Palace have already been linked with Vaz
Te, who is likely to command a transfer free of £2-3million.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ricardo Vaz Te hands in transfer request at West Ham
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo | Last Updated: August 29,
2013 11:05am
SSN

West Ham forward Ricardo Vaz Te has handed in a transfer request at Upton
Park. Vaz Te's future at Upton Park has been the subject of speculation this
summer with a number of clubs linked with a move for the Portuguese player.
The Hammers are reported to be open to offers for the former Bolton man as
they look to trim their squad so that they can bring in more new signings
before the close of the transfer window. Vaz Te, who started his first game
of the season in Tuesday's Capital One Cup win over Cheltenham, says that he
has been forced to hand in a transfer request as he does not figure in Sam
Allardyce's plans. "In my 10 years as a professional football player I have
never submitted a transfer request nor issued a statement," Vaz Te said in a
statement released to Sky Sports. "However, I am frustrated at West Ham
United Football Club. "Therefore it is with a heavy heart that I submit a
transfer request and look to join a club where my approach to the game will
be appreciated."

"Last season I was asked to change positions for the benefit of the team
even though I had just scored 24 goals. "The main objective was to finish
top 10 in the Premier League and I followed my instructions to the best of
my ability as the club always comes first. As a result even though I was
injured for three months no other player made more assists than me and no
other winger scored more goals than me. "In addition, since I joined this
football club on 31st January 2012 no other player has scored more goals
than me in all official competitions to date. "Statistics are evident to
all, despite this, it has been made obvious to myself and my representatives
that I am not in the manager's plans. "Therefore it is with a heavy heart
that I submit a transfer request and look to join a club where my approach
to the game will be appreciated."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
By Darren Witcoop Comments
"Frustrated" Ricardo Vaz Te submits West Ham transfer request after falling
down pecking order
29 Aug 2013 22:30
The Mirror

Ricardo Vaz Te has blasted West Ham and slapped in a transfer request. The
Portuguese forward accused the Hammers of playing him out of position and
now wants out before the transfer window closes. Vaz Te scored in the
Hammers' Capital One Cup win over Cheltenham on Tuesday. But that could be
his last outing in the famous claret-and-blue shirt now he's demanded to go,
having falling down the pecking order. He said: "I am frustrated at West
Ham. "Last season I was asked to change positions for the team, even though
I had just scored 24 goals. I followed my instructions to the best of my
ability as the club always comes first. "Even though I was injured for three
months, no other player made more assists than me and no other winger scored
more goals than me.
"Despite this, it has been made obvious to myself that I am not in the
manager's plans. "It is with a heavy heart that I submit a transfer request
and look to join a club where my approach to the game will be appreciated."

Vaz Te joined West Ham from Barnsley in January 2012 and was their
Championship Play-off Final hero after scoring the Wembley winner against
Blackpool.
But the 26-year-old has seen Stewart Downing and Joe Cole join and then
leapfrog him in manager Sam Allardyce's plans. Allardyce will listen to
offers for Vaz Te as he looks to recoup funds following Andy Carroll's
record-breaking £16million summer arrival. Premier League new boys Crystal
Palace and Cardiff have shown interest in Vaz Te, while Championship leaders
Nottingham Forest are also keen. Meanwhile, West Ham's move for Roger Rojas
has collapsed. The Honduran striker failed a medical ahead of a proposed
season-long loan from Club Deportivo Olimpia in his homeland.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com