Kouyate at home with the Hammers
WHUFC.com
His Hammers career may be in its infancy, but Cheikhou Kouyate is fast taking to life at West Ham
13.07.2014
Summer recruit Cheikhou Kouyate feels he is already finding his feet at West Ham United, having enjoyed a first outing in Claret and Blue at Stevenage on Saturday. The imposing midfielder looked the part during a second half that saw the Hammers belatedly claw their way back from a two-goal deficit at the Lamex Stadium to draw 2-2. While the result may be of little consequence, Kouyate was still satisfied with his efforts and amazed at how smoothly he has settled into life at his new club. "It was definitely a good start," he told West Ham TV. "We'd obviously have preferred to have won the match, but it's a pre-season game and one to rediscover rhythm. For a debut, it's not bad at all. "The result is not the most important thing because it's a preparatory match and it's all about getting ready for that first game of the season. At the moment we're just searching for rhythm and that's exactly what pre-season games are for. Week on week that will get better and better."
Saturday's exertions came on the back of a week-long training camp at Evian in France, with 45 minutes apiece therefore proving plenty at this early stage. Reflecting on the hard yards in France, the 24-year-old reckons pre-season is off to a productive start. He continued: "Physically it's a bit difficult and 45 minutes was probably enough, with all the work we'd done in Evian. It was good work and well-paced. That will stand us in good stead and help us to get back to form as quickly as possible. "Evian was good, the weather wasn't awful and we managed to get through the work that we had to. We alternated between work on the pitch, in the gym and the swimming pool. We tried everything over there. Now we've got to prepare for the weeks ahead, because the pace will pick up and we're off to New Zealand!"
Fitness aside, pre-season also presents Kouyate with the perfect opportunity to acclimatise to his new surroundings. Mild-mannered off the pitch, the midfielder is surprised by how quickly he has become part of the furniture and is thankful for the support from team-mates and staff alike following his switch from Belgian champions RSC Anderlecht. "I've adapted well," he confirmed. "The team has really welcomed me and the players have been extremely kind. That's great and has helped me fit in. That's what I was expecting, but I wasn't expecting it to happen so quickly. From my very first day at West Ham, they have all been behind me."
As it turns out, Kouyate is every bit as impressed with the support from the stands as he is with that from within the camp. His Senegalese compatriot Mohamed Diame had told him what to expect and on Saturday's evidence, Kouyate is not likely to be disappointed. He concluded: "It's fantastic! Momo Diame told me: 'You're going to love the fans. It's mad! They're truly amazing'. And there you go, even for a pre-season game, I see that they're all there and supporting us. I'm sure it's going to be even better in the Premier League. Momo was absolutely spot on!"
Kouyate and his new colleagues return to action at Ipswich Town on Wednesday evening.
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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce says further summer signing is close
Last Updated: 13/07/14 11:07am
SSN
Sam Allardyce says West Ham are closing in on a further addition this summer, with a deal for Ecuador striker Enner Valencia understood to be nearing completion. The Hammers have already added Mauro Zarate, Cheikhou Kouyate, Aaron Cresswell and Diego Poyet to their squad in the off-season and joint-chairman David Sullivan told supporters to expect a fifth arrival in the near future. Valencia, who hit 18 goals in 23 appearances for Mexican side Pachuca last season, impressed at the World Cup – scoring three times in as many games - and the 25-year-old is nearing a £12million switch to Upton Park, according to Sky sources. Allardyce is looking to improve on last season's 13th-place finish in the Premier League and he confirmed that another signing looks to be on the horizon. He told Sky Sports News: "We're very close, but nothing is ever certain in this game with new signings until they have actually signed on the dotted line. "We are very hopeful, there has been a lot of negotiation done by the chairman and hopefully that will pay off in the next 72 hours."
West Ham got their pre-season fixtures underway with a 2-2 draw at Stevenage, but they were without record signing Mauro Zarate and fellow striker Andy Carroll as late goals from Matt Jarvis and Stewart Downing saw them recover a two-goal deficit at Broadhall Way. The club played down the absence of Zarate and Carroll and say the pair will be fit to fly to New Zealand next week as preparations for the new campaign are upped, but Allardyce will also be hopeful of having Valencia on board.
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Reported West Ham target Pedro Obiang could leave for the right price
By Nadia Carminati | Last Updated: 13/07/14 4:40pm
SSN
The agent of reported West Ham target Pedro Obiang says there have been no bids for the Sampdoria midfielder, but admits that he could leave if the right offer comes in. Obiang has been linked with a summer switch to Upton Park in the Italian press, although Sampdoria are said to have previously rejected bids from AC Milan, Juventus and Roma for him. The 22-year-old, who started his career as a trainee at Atletico Madrid, is a Spain Under-21 international with 65 Serie A appearances to his name. Obiang's agent, Jose Gonzales, admitted that the Hammers have shown an interest but insists that the midfielder is happy to stay at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. "Pedro is liked by them, but at the moment there haven't been real offers - neither from Italy or from England," he told Sampdoria News. "His will is to stay at Sampdoria, like the old club ownership wanted. Next week I'll meet the club to understand their intentions about the player's future. "Clearly, should an offer arrive ready to satisfy both Pedro and Sampdoria, he could leave."
West Ham have already been boosted their midfield options this summer with the arrivals of Cheikhou Kouyate from Anderlecht and Diego Poyet from Charlton, while Sam Allardyce has also added full-back Aaron Cresswell and striker Mauro Zarate. The Hammers are also understood to be close to sealing a deal for Ecuador striker Enner Valencia for a £12million fee from Mexican side Pachuca.
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Stewart Downing believes Enner Valencia will ease the pressure on Andy Carroll at West Ham
Jul 13, 2014 22:30 By Mirror Sport
Argentinian Mauro Zarate has already joined the Hammers so new signings should be a huge boost to the West Ham frontline
The Mirror
Stewart Downing reckons the imminent £12million purchase of Enner Valencia will ease the heat on Andy Carroll at West Ham. Ecuador striker Valencia is set to sign from Mexican club Pachuca in the next 24 hours after arriving in London late on Saturday night. The Hammers have already signed Argentinian striker Mauro Zarate from Velez Sarsfield and winger Downing said: "We can't rely on Andy all season. "He was the big signing last season, but Andy struggled with injuries so hopefully the new signings will take the pressure off him a little bit. And from what I've seen of Valencia against England, he looks a very good player. "He can nick a goal and it is competition for places. It's what we've needed as we didn't have that last season."
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Enner Valencia joins West Ham United from Mexican club Pachuca in £12million deal
Ecuador forward becomes Sam Allardyce's fifth signing of the summer after impressing in the 2014 World Cup
Ecuador's Enner Valencia was among the most impressive forwards at the 2014 World Cup
John Percy By John Percy10:00PM BST 13 Jul 2014
Telegaph.co.uk
Sam Allardyce has completed his fifth signing of the summer at West Ham United after sealing a £12 million deal for Enner Valencia, the Ecuador forward.
Valencia flew in to England on Saturday and has passed a medical to agree a five-year deal in a move that represents a significant coup for Allardyce and a clear shift in the club's transfer policy towards signing more creative players. The 25-year-old was one of the most impressive forwards at the World Cup, scoring three goals in three games, but he was made available by Mexican club Pachuca. Allardyce has moved swiftly to bring in further firepower to ease the pressure on record-signing Andy Carroll and Valencia's move is expected to be confirmed today. The West Ham manager is keen to revamp his squad after surviving the axe this summer and Valencia will add another dimension to their attacking play. Mauro Zarate, Aaron Cresswell, Cheikhou Kouyaté and Diego Poyet have signed this summer and David Sullivan, West Ham's joint-chairman, has admitted that another three could join before the start of the season.
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Hammers answer claims on Villa 'target'
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 13, 2014 in Whispers
Claret * Hugh
Speculation that West Ham United are ready to swoop for Aston Villa's Fabian Delph has been denied by the club. The Mirror had claimed today that the midfielder was on the Hammers wanted list at around £5 million. Delph is heading into the last year of his Aston Villa contract and it was claimed that he was a player Irons boss Sam Allardyce saw as one capable of giving the creative spark required from his team. But at the Boleyn Ground, ClaretandHugh was told by a top source: "I really have no idea where that one has come from. "We are spending out time hoping we can get the Valencia deal done but Delph is not a player we have looked at."
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Irons target Valencia in UK
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 13, 2014 in Whispers
ClaretandHugh
West Ham's £12 million target Enner Valencia has arrived in Britain ahead of talks with the club tomorrow. ClaretandHugh has been told exclusively that the hoped for marquee signing will settle down to negotiations with his advisers in the morning. However, a source revealed: "It may be the talks will go on until Wednesday – they are not to be hurried." We understand that discussions have reached a relatively advanced stage but nobody at the club is counting any chickens before they are hatched. Our source added: "Nobody ever gives hard and fast statements at this stage of things but it is likely to be Wednesday before the situation is decided – one way or the other."
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For West Ham to progress they must sack off their captain
14:02 13 July 2014
Brad Pinard
London24
When standing at a game at Upton Park you hear all sorts of nonsense screamed towards the pitch. One man who stands behind me is not a fan of club captain Kevin Nolan, to put it nicely. Every pass, every header and every failed run is noted by said gentleman, but after a while you begin to see where he is coming from. I'm bored of hearing how good Nolan is as a captain, because all I frankly judge a player on is their performances and effort on the pitch. While it isn't irrelevant, no matter how good the former Newcastle and Bolton man is around the dressing room, if he isn't doing it on the pitch he doesn't deserve to start.
When you have a player like Mark Noble, improving year on year and clearly passionate for the club, it is surely a no brainer to make him the leader on and off the pitch. England recognition is still a million miles away for Noble but to be made captain of West Ham would be the reward he deserves after his 14 years at the club. Nolan is fast becoming ineffective and his so called brilliant understanding with main man Andy Carroll was hard to find last season, so now another year older and slower surely Sam Allardyce needs to drop his pal?
With two new central midfielders already through the door and Ravel Morrison back at the club, competition for places is fiercer than ever in the middle of the park. I saw plenty of Diego Poyet last season and was massively impressed and it appears Allardyce is a big fan of Cheikhou Kouyaté with Mauro Zarate also accomplished in that attacking midfield role, so Nolan's guaranteed starting spot is in jeopardy. The odd goal from inside the six yard box is no longer enough to keep the 32-year-old in the side and if Morrison can find his best form without having a wrestle with Allardyce, the time has come for Nolan to fall away with his usual grace.
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