Daily WHUFC News - 30th June 2014

SOUTH AMERICAN HAMMERS PART TWO
By Sean Whetstone 29 Jun 2014 at 09:18
West Ham Till I Die

In part one I covered Javier Margas, Maurico Taricco, Lionel Scaloni, Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano

The sixth South American Hammer was Peru's Nolberto Solano who signed a one-year contract with West Ham United in August 2007 after previously playing for Newcastle and Aston Villa. He made his debut for West Ham in October 2007, coming on as a second half substitute in the 3–1 home win against Sunderland, and was instrumental in West Ham's second goal, his shot being deflected into the Sunderland goal by goalkeeper, Craig Gordon. His first goal for West Ham was a free-kick and the fifth goal in West Ham's 5–0 away win against Derby County on 10 November 2007. In the last game of the season on 11 May 2008 Solano scored his second free-kick goal, against Aston Villa, the match ended 2–2. He was released by West Ham when his contract expired at the end of the 2007–08 season having scored four goals in 23 appearances. Solano took the first step into coaching as the part-time first-team coach of Newcastle Benfield in 2012.In June 2012, he was confirmed as manager of Peruvian Primera División club Universitario de Deportes although he was released by the club in December 2012. He is currently the head coach of Canadian semi-professional team Internacional de Toronto, from League1 Ontario.

Uruguay left-back Walter Lopez became the seventh South American to pull on a Hammers shirt on 5th September 2008. He was described by Kevin Keen (caretaker manager at the time) as "an attacking full-back" and "another West Ham type player" referring to his fluent attacking style of play reminiscent of former West Ham players. He made his debut for West Ham United in a League Cup third round tie away defeat at Watford on 23 September 2008. He made his Premier League debut as a late substitute in West Ham's 1–0 win over Manchester City on 1 March 2009.However, López failed to cement a place in the first team due to the presence of Congolese international Hérita Ilunga and was subsequently released by West Ham at the end of the 2008–09 season. He returned to Uruguay and signed for Primera División side Cerro. Age 28 now he is still playing football for Italian club US Lecce in the Lega Pro Prima Divisione.

Chile midfielder Luis Jimenez was the eighth South American to sign for West Ham, Jiménez signed for West Ham United on 23rd June 2009. Although a work permit had been granted a couple of weeks before, the deal was only announced after personal terms were agreed. West Ham signed Jiménez for a one year loan initially, with an option to purchase at the end of the loan period.He made his full debut for West Ham in their 2–0 away win against Wolves on 15 August 2009. He scored his only goal for West Ham, a penalty and West Ham's fifth, in a 5–3 home win against Burnley on 28 November 2009. He made 11 appearances with that that one goal from a penalty. He left West Ham when his loan completed. Now age 30 he plays for Al-Ahli Dubai. He had a successful first season, scoring 13 goals and featuring in most of it. In the 2012-2013 season, he won the Presidents Cup with Al Ahli. He has made 68 appearances for Al-Ahli in the Middle East scoring 33 goals.

In September 2009 Guillermo Franco became the ninth South American born player to sign for the Hammers. He signed for West Ham United on a one-year contract, Franco was born in Corrientes, the capital city of the Corrientes Province in Argentina. Franco began his footballing career with Argentine Primera División side San Lorenzo, playing with the team from 1996 to 2002 mainly as a right winger. He moved to Mexico in 2002 and became a Mexican citizen in 2004. In September 2009, it was disclosed that due to West Ham's perilous financial situation following former chairman Björgólfur Guðmundsson's financial collapse, West Ham's CEO Scott Duxbury, and their Sporting and Football Technical Director Gianluca Nani, had part financed the Franco deal from their own salaries. Franco made his debut for West Ham on 17th October 2009 in a 2–1 away defeat to Stoke City. He scored his first goal for the team on 31 October 2009 to put them 1–0 up against Sunderland away from home, in a game that finished 2–2. On 24th April 2010, Franco assisted Scott Parker, who scored for the winner in a 3–2 victory against Wigan Athletic; a win which would see them safe from relegation. In May 2010, despite his wish to stay at the club at which he made 23 appearances and scored 5 goals, it was announced that West Ham had released Franco. In September 2012 Franco signed with Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire On 21st January 2013 the club announced Franco's contract option was not picked up for the new season and he announced his retirement from football 8 days later.

West Ham United's tenth South American was Brazilian forward Ilan, who signed 1st February 2010, West Ham United confirmed the signing of Brazilian forward Ilan on a six-month contract. He was available on a free transfer after leaving French club AS Saint-Etienne in January. He made his debut for West Ham on 6 February in 2–1 away defeat against Burnley. He replaced Mark Noble in the 77th minute and scored three minutes later. In March 2010 the press speculated that Ilan had openly criticised manager Gianfranco Zola; a claim later refuted by the player and the club. After nine games without scoring for West Ham United, Ilan scored his second goal on the 87th minute against Everton to make it 2-2 all on 4 April 2010. The following week, Ilan scored the only goal in the game in a 1-0 win over Sunderland. After the impressive performances against Everton and Sunderland, Ilan hoped to win a long-term deal at West Ham 14 days later, Ilan scored the opener at 31 minutes in a 3-2 win over Wigan on 24 April 2010.

On 2 June 2010 West Ham announced that they would be releasing Ilan as his was surplus to requirements. He made 11 appearances and scored 4 goals. Now age 33 he currently plays football for Ligue 1 club Bastia after a two years where he scored 3 goals from 23 appearances last season.

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West Ham target Enner Valencia to spark new era of attacking football at Upton Park
Jun 28, 2014 23:00 By Dean Jones
The Mirror

West Ham are interested in Ecuador striker Enner Valencia, writes Dean Jones for the Sunday People. The forward has made a big impression at the World Cup with three goals in the group stages and Sam Allardyce is understood to be looking into his availability. Valencia, 25, currently plays for Mexican side Pachuca and scored 18 goals for them before heading to the Brazil finals. The Hammers are making a vow to provide more attacking football at Upton Park next season after Allardyce came under fire from fans for their dull approach last term. Valencia would certainly fit the bill in terms of adding a new edge - but Newcastle and Everton are also believed to be monitoring him.

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West Ham agree deal with Argentine left-back
GiveMeSport

West Ham are in talks with Boca Juniors over the possible signing of Emanuel Insua, according to the Daily Mirror. The left-back has already agreed personal terms with the club, but West Ham and Boca Juniors have yet to agree on a price for the player. However, the club are certain the deal will be wrapped up within the next few days. Despite playing in defence, Insua managed to provide six assists at Boca last term, in 25 appearances. Insua would be the second Argentine to join West Ham this summer, with a deal to bring in CA Velez's star striker, Mauro Zarate, already agreed. The Hammers have also confirmed a £7million deal to bring in powerful defender, Cheikhou Kouyate, from Anderlecht. West Ham have been busy so far during this transfer window – which doesn't officially open until July 1 – and club manager, Sam Allardyce, has admitted that he is looking to add an additional five players to his squad, on top of the two that he has already agreed to sign. West Ham were thought to be chasing £1.5million-rated Fiorentina left back, Marcos Alonso, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland, but his parent club are now thought to want to hold on to their player, forcing the Hammers to look elsewhere. However, Nice left-back, Timothee Kolodziejczak, was also linked with a move to Upton Park, in a £3million deal. However, Allardyce has admitted that "We've made many bids and there are many negotiations ongoing." With a number of new faces set to join, Allardyce will be keen to wrap up his transfer activity early, to ensure the team have time to gel ahead of next season's Premier League campaign.

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West Ham agree fee with Kolodziejczak

Get French Football News exclusively understands that West Ham United have agreed a fee with Nice's full back Timothee Kolodziejczak. The fee is €4 million plus €2 million in bonuses. We also understand that West Ham are in contract talks with the player as we speak, and hope to complete the deal as soon as possible. After interest from the likes of QPR and Southampton, it looks like West Ham will have their man.

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Positive Winston words bring hope!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 29, 2014 in Whispers
By CandH Editor
Hugh Southon

It was extremely encouraging to hear Winston Reid having a word of praise for Sam Allardyce earlier today. With so much speculation surrounding the central defender's future no news is usually good news – so it's great to find the exception may be disproving the rule. Football breeds more rumours than any other sport and sorting fact from fiction is usually a pretty tough call.

In Wiston's case I've heard:
1/ He's desperate to play top six football;
2/ He's had a fall-out with the manager;
3/ that his advisers are demanding £75,000 a week wage;
4/ that he was unhappy playing second fiddle for a period when he returned from injury last season;
5/ and that he will never fully get over the ankle problem he suffered in training.

The only one I believe is Number Three – that his advisory team are looking for the earth. Talking to the official site, the Kiwi made it clear he and the boss had a great relationship and anyone who is remotely cynical about that should ask one question: "Why mention it at all?" The other four points are to some extent or other are inter-related because like most players he wants to play at the highest level. However, that surely wont to happen until the player proves his fitness and if he's going to leave at all, therefore, I reckon it will be unlikely to occur until January the earliest. However, if any other than a top six club comes in, he's not going to get the sort of wages he's after from anywhere else as the Hammers wage structure is on a level with most others. The 'playing second fiddle' argument is false because although every pro want's first team football, they all want and need competition. So finally it's great news that the player should say unbidden: ""The manager has been great. "He puts faith in me when he picks me to play, tells me to go out there to do my best and do what I can do best for the team. So that is good for me." I believe there's far more going in favour of the player signing a new deal than not and there was some of you thinking I could never be postive :-)

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THE FINAL WORD: Ravel shirt mystery solved
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 29, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

The Chelsea top worn by Ravel Morrison and pictured first on his Instagram account before emerging on Twitter yesterday was a 2013/2014 away shirt given to him by former Hammer Frank Lampard. Lampard wore it at the Boleyn ground on 23rd November 2013 when scoring two of the goals in a 3-0 Hammers defeat. Ravel is known to be a fan of Frank Lampard and made sure he and the former hammers midfielder swapped shirts after the match. Most fans would have framed it of course to keep it safe but Ravel of course is a little different. Manchester United sources claim that he once turned up to training in a Manchester City shirt" for a joke." I don't think we can read too much in to this, he is neither a Chelsea fan or likely to join Chelsea. Why Ravel would want to be seen in it during the transfer window in the shirt and allow it to emrge on Instagram and Twitter is only a question he can answer.

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