Daily WHUFC News - 26th July 2014

West Ham United 1-3 Sydney FC
WHUFc.com
West Ham United complete their Football United Tour of New Zealand with defeat in Wellington
26.07.2014


WEST HAM UNITED v SYDNEY FC
FOOTBALL UNITED TOUR
WESTPAC STADIUM, WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
SATURDAY 26JULY 2014
KICK-OFF: 2.07PM NZ TIME

Final score - West Ham United 1-3 Sydney FC

96: The game is over. Thanks for joining us. We'll have goals, reaction and more across our media platforms soon.
94: Gameiro is replaced by Timotheu.
93: West Ham have a free-kick five yards outside the box. Vaz Te takes and the ball hits the wall and loops wide for a corner. Zarate's corner is a wicked dipper that the goalkeeper helps on its way for another corner. That comes to nothing other than a throw. When Whitehead crosses next, Janjetovic collects.
91: We're going to have five added minutes.
90: Ognenovski is replaced by Muata-Marlow for Sydney. I recekon that's the last change.
88: Time is almost up, so this is the correct time to thank every member of the Claret and Blue Army who has turned out to support the Hammers during our stay in New Zealand. The results haven't gone our way, but the experience has been unforgettable. Thank you all.
83: Fanimo is out on the left wing. Vaz Te is on the right. The latter collects and is fouled by Gersbach. Sydney bring on Burgess for Ibini-Isei.
82: He's 16, but as his SkyWalk showed, Howes is fearless. He takes a free-kick with his first touch and then receives a dogdy return pass from Reid. He doesn't panic, though and calmly sidesteps Gameiro as the No7 bears down on him.
81: Fanimo is the final outfield substitute and he's on for Downing. Young goalkeeper Sam Howes is on for Adrian for his first-team bow. Sydney bring on Gersbach for Jurman at left-back.
77: Sydney's man of the moment Gameiro spent two seasons with Fulham and was loaned to Hayes and Yeading in 2011. He was released by the Cottagers in 2013 after a loan spell with Wellington Phoenix. He is now 21 and was an Australia U20 international.
75: Vaz Te has his first opportunity in the attacking third, beating his man but shooting low and wide of the near post. Goal kick. West Ham are running out of time if they want to avoid a second defeat of the tour.
72: Potts is on for O'Brien. The No27 will play at right-back.
69: - Gameiro looks to be a player. He gets in behind the West Ham back four again and fires a low shot that Adrian spills and collects as the ball rolls across the face of goal.
68: Poyet is on for Diame and Whitehead replaces Noble.
65: After a delay, two changes from Sydney. Naumoff and Gligor replace Abbas and Antonis.
64: Goal! Another simple goal for the hosts. Cresswell is beaten by Antonis, but only because the right-back punched the ball past him! The game goes on and the right-back latches onto a return pass from Ibin-Isei before finding Gameiro, who takes a touch and goes around Adrian before slotting past the sliding Collins. Controversy abounds, particularly as the big screen replay shows the clear handball at least twice! The West Ham players are incensed, but Mr Waldron is not going to change his mind.
63: Audacious from the substitute Trantis, who clips a shot over Adrian from 25 yards that kisses the top of the crossbar on its way over.
62: Good goalkeeping from Janjetovic as the No20 claims Cresswell's cross. The three goalkeepers West Ham have faced this week - Moss, Italiano and Janjetovic - have all been at the top of their respective games. They will all have been hugely motivated to do well against their Barclays Premier League opponents.
60: A moment of concern for West Ham as Gameiro wriggles away from his marker inside the box. He elects to take another touch and forces himself wide before slicing into the side netting. That was a half-decent chance. A few seconds later, Sydney attack again and Antonis drives over the bar from 25 yards. Again, he might feel he should have done better from there.
59: Jarvis is replaced by Vaz Te. Can our Play-Off final hero get his name in the headlines again? He will play on the left.
57: Zarate collects from Diame about 22 yards out. He has a wall of defenders in his midst, but the Argentine conjures enough space for a shot that rises and eludes the far top corner by a few yards.
56: Sydney make a third change, with Trantis on for Dimitrijevic.
55: Nolan wins a tackle but only at the expense of a corner. The near-post delivery squirts out to Antonis, who slices his first-time shot way over the top.
54: A foul by Collins on Gameiro near the corner flag leads to a Sydney free-kick. Collins heads clear, but only as far as Abbas, whose shot is deflected a yard over the crossbar.
52: West Ham are going forward again, but when the attack breaks down, Reid is penalised for a challenge where he appeared to win the ball cleanly. Before the free-kick, Sydney bring on Bojic and Carle for Ryall and Brosque.
51: GOAL! The comeback is on. Jarvis is released by Nolan and he has space in behind Ryall. Zarate and Downing want it, but Jarvis's cross instead hits Petkovic and loops over Janjetovic and into the corner! No5 Jurman tried to clear, but the post got in his way.
48: The Hammers are probing for an equaliser but nothing has happened for them just yet. Nolan appears to be playing up front alongside Zarate.
46: Sydney get us back underway... Zarate is on for Cole.

Half-time - West Ham United 0-2 Sydney FC

46: Noble lifts a long ball into Cole, who controls on his chest, turns and wallops a volley a few yards off-target. Janjetovic watches the ball fly over and Sydney have a goal kick. Seconds later, the half-time whistle is blown by referee Nick Waldron.
44: Heart in mouth time for O'Brien as Ibin-Isei rolls a first-time cross inside the box and Gameiro attacks it and goes to ground. He wants a penalty, but the referee waves away the appeal. We will have at least one added minute.
43: West Ham have a shooting chance. The ball is played down the right, with Noble to the fore following Cole's hold-up play. The ball is laid off to Downing, whose low shot takes a touch off a defender that carries it into the arms of the goalkeeper.
38: West Ham's subs are back on the bench, but I expect Big Sam to make changes after the break. For now, Sydney have another corner. Central midfielder Dimitijevic takes and Cole again heads clear at the near post.
35: The ball just won't go in. O'Brien overlaps and crosses for Nolan, but the No4 cannot force an effort on goal. West Ham will get a considerable boost if they can score before half-time. As happened against Wellington, they've had the lion's share of the play without putting the ball in the net.
34: Better. Diame wins the ball back and Downing finds Cresswell wide left. He runs forward and plays a neat give-and-go with Cole inside the box before his first-time shot hits the side netting. The West Ham fans 'Ooooh' in disappointment.
33: Janjetovic flaps Noble's free-kick and the ball is worked back to Downing, whose rasping shot hits Ryall. Handball claims are turned down. Sydney clear their lines.
32: Cole holds up play from Jarvis's pass and finds Nolan. He initially beats his man on the outside, but his shot is charged down. Corner. Jarvis's initial delivery is cleared but the ball is worked back to the winger. He is pulled back by Abbas, who is booked. Last time we had a free-kick here, Sydney scored.
30: Sydney have a corner as Cresswell slides in to tackle. Cole heads clear and West Ham can counter through Diame and then Downing. The move slows down and when Jarvis hangs up the cross to the far post, it's headed clear.
29: Moments after Downing had stung the palms of Janjetovic, the winger is involved again, taking a pass from Nolan and beating his man before cutting back for Cole. The striker is crowded out and Sydney clear their lines.
26: Goal! Sydney go 2-0 up. It's too simple. A loose pass in midfield leaves Diame no chance and Ibin-Isei picks out Brosque with O'Brien caught upfield. The No14 takes it first-time and drives a low left-foot shot across Adrian and into the far corner.
23: Another chance, this time for Diame. He has time and space and only one defender in front of him, but elects to shoot from long-range. It's a daisy-cutter and simple for Janjetovic.
22: This is better. Diame and Cresswell combine before Noble finds the Senegal man in space. He loses his man and clips a ball into the box for Cole, but the striker cannot control and the goalkeeper collects.
21: Patient build-up from the Hammers. Noble finds Downing wide right. Demel overlaps and Downing runs his man before crossing. Janjetovic can't hold on, but Jarvis is beaten to the rebound by a defender and Sydney escape.
18: Another nervous moment as right-back Ryall gets past Jarvis and Cresswell and into the box. He cuts back for Ibin-Isei, who beats one man before being challenged by a lunging O'Brien. The Irishman wins the ball cleanly and West Ham break. Jarvis is fouled 30 yards out, but Noble lifts the free-kick straight to goalkeeper Janjetovic.
16: The Australian side are on top here. They are stroking the ball around with confidence and composure. West Ham have not put together an attack of note since the opening moments of the game.
13: Not a lot to write about in terms of action in either penalty area in recent minutes. However, we do have an injury to report. Unfortunately, Demel cannot continue and he is replaced by Cresswell. The No3 goes to left-back, with O'Brien going to right-back. It appeared to be Demel's upper leg which was bothering him.
9: The goal has knocked West Ham out of their very early stride. Cole gifts a pass to a Sydney player in midfield, but thankfully the A-League side cannot benefit. The Hammers need to settle down and play their football.
6: Needless to say that was not the start we were all looking for. You could see the danger developing as soon as Noble's crossfield pass went astray. Adrian's first touch was to pick the ball out of the net.
4: Goal! Gameiro scores for Sydney on the counter after Noble had given the ball away cheaply in midfield. Abbas strides forward and sends the No7 clear, with left-back O'Brien playing him onside. The Sydney man takes a touch and passes the ball under Adrian and into the net.
3: Two chances go begging as Noble's free-kick finds Nolan. His shot is blocked and Janjetovic saves the follow up from Diame.
2: West Ham have started really well. Demel collects from Cole and his low cross is cleared to Diame. He works the ball left and Jarvis takes on right-back Ryall before being brought down a yard outside the box. Free-kick.

2.07pm - The Hammers get us underway!

2.06pm - The two sides go through their pre-match handshakes and coin-toss and they are going to swap ends. West Ham will kick-off...
2pm - The strains of 'Bubbles' can be heard loud and clear as the famous Hammers anthem is played on the PA system here at Westpac Stadium. The two teams emerge from the tunnel on the far side of the pitch to cheers from all around a stadium known as 'The Cake Tin' for its round shape.

1.50pm - The two teams are back in their respective dressing rooms ahead of the kick-off in about 15 minutes or so. The stadium is filling up, but it's not full just yet. Presumably the fans will be taking their seats shortly. Of course, the hometown Phoenix are playing at 4.30pm, so some supporters may choose to arrive a little later this afternoon.

1.30pm - Kick-off is fast approaching and the teams are both out on the pitch here at Westpac Stadium. It's a cold, still, sunny winter's day here in Wellington. We have got the team news for you, with West Ham making three changes to their starting XI from Wednesday's 2-1 defeat by Wellington Phoenix.

West Ham United: Adrian, Demel, O'Brien, Reid (c), Collins, Noble, Diame, Nolan, Downing, Jarvis, Cole
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Howes, Cresswell, Fanimo, Potts, Poyet, Whitehead, Vaz Te, Zarate

Sydney FC: Janjetovic, Ryall, Jurman, Petkovic (c), Gameiro, Ibin-Isei, Ognenovski, Antonis, Dimitrijevic, Abbas, Brosque
Subs: Necevski, Bojic, Trantis, Carle, Gligor, Timotheu, Naumoff, Muata-Marlow, Gersbach, Burgess

Good afternoon and welcome to Westpac Stadium in New Zealand's capital, Wellington.

West Ham United complete their Football United Tour with a fixture against A-League side Sydney FC, with a near-capactity crowd expected for a double-header that also features the hometown Phoenix's clash with Newcastle United.
The Hammers will be seeking to end a memorable trip on a high, having lost 2-1 to the Phoenix in Auckland on Wednesday evening. With thousands of members of the Claret and Blue Army expected to be in attendance, Sam Allardyce and his players want to put on an impressive showing.
However, West Ham will have to make do without the absent Andy Carroll, who has travelled to the United States for ankle surgery, as well as Cheikhou Kouyate (ankle) and James Tomkins (groin).
With those three players unavailable and others to be given extended run outs after coming on in the second-half against Wellington - including the impressive Stewart Downing and midweek goalscorer Mauro Zarate.
Opponents Sydney finished fifth in the A-League in 2013/14, but have since lost the services of Italian great Alessandro Del Piero. The Australians have an almost exclusively home-based squad, bar Serbians Nikola Petkovic and Milos Dimitrijevic and Iraq international midfielder Ali Abbas.
We will have the team news confirmed for you shortly, plus live text commentary, highlights and exclusive reaction following the final whistle.
For Wellington-based Hammers, tickets remain on sale for the double-header, while the match will be screened live across New Zealand on SkySport pay-per-view.
For British-based fans, the game will be screened live on BT Sport at 3.07am UK time.

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Andy Carroll update
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll will have an operation on his left ankle in the United States on Friday
25.07.2014

West Ham United can confirm that Andy Carroll will have an operation on ligaments in his left ankle in the United States on Friday. The England international will then have a week of recovery before starting an intensive period of rehabilitation, which is expected to take four months. The Club would like to again make clear that this is a new injury and not in any way associated with the injury he successfully overcame at the end of last season. Carroll said: "I'm gutted to be missing the start of the season after working hard during the summer and pre-season. Although this obviously isn't the news I would have wanted, I'm determined to come back fitter and stronger than ever before. I will be doing all I can to get back on the pitch with the lads as soon as possible."

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'The people have been fantastic'
WHUFC.com
Matt Jarvis admitted West Ham United were disappointed not to reward their loyal supporters in New Zealand
26.07.2014

Matt Jarvis has thanked the people of New Zealand for their support of West Ham United's Football United Tour of the country. The winger was claiming his second pre-season goal in Saturday's 3-1 defeat by A-League side Sydney FC at Westpac Stadium in Wellington - although the strike was officially recorded as an own-goal from Nikola Petkovic. Sydney raced into a two-goal lead early on through Corey Gameiro and Alex Brosque before Jarvis' intervention, only for Gameiro to add a controversial third late on following a clear handball by midfielder Terry Antonis. Jarvis admitted the Hammers had been disappointed to lose both games in front of thousands of supporters from all over the world, but insisted West Ham would put things right come the start of the new Barclays Premier League season. "It's been great to come over here," said the No7, who was one of the Club's standout performers in New Zealand. "The people have been fantastic and we've met loads and loads of fans. It's been a great experience. "We need to keep working hard and take the fitness we have built in these two games and build confidence to go into our next week of pre-season training and our next game. "We don't need to beat ourselves up that much because it is pre-season. We need to work extremely hard in our games and start to know exactly what we'll be doing tactically for the rest of the season. "We need to make sure we keep improving, getting stronger and fitter and that we are right bang at it come the start of the season."

Speaking specifically about the Sydney FC defeat, Jarvis lamented West Ham's inability to turn chances created and possession into goals - the same issues that led to Wednesday's 2-1 defeat by Wellington Phoenix in Auckland. "I thought we started the game well again in the opening minutes but then fell behind to an early goal, which was very disappointing," said Jarvis, who provided the assist for Mauro Zarate's midweek strike at Eden Park. "We had a lot of the ball, but unfortunately couldn't get the ball in the back of the net as the first half went on. "I'm enjoying it personally. I just need to keep working hard and getting fitter, stronger and sharper. I'm pleased with how it's gone as I've got two assists and two goals now."

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Sydney FC 3-1 West Ham Utd
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 26th July 2014
By: Staff Writer

The tour of New Zealand may have been a huge PR success but on every other front it has proved to be little short of a disaster.

Two defeats to so-called inferior opposition plus injuries to first team squad members Andy Carroll, James Tomkins, Cheikhou Kouyate and Guy Demel have heaped added pressure on Sam Allardyce and his team with less than a month to go until the start of the 2014/15 Premier League campaign.

Hopes were high for a much improved effort from West Ham following the 2-1 reversal against Wellington Phoenix in Auckland last week. Yet if anything, this was a performance that only served to reinforce concerns expressed following that particular defeat against the A-League minnows.

This morning, Sydney managed to score from their first meaningful foray into West Ham territory with just under seven minutes of the match played. Joey O'Brien was hopelessly out of tune with the rest of his defenders, allowing the lively Corey Gameiro to slip through and finish smartly under Adrian.

Sydney doubled their lead on 26 minutes when Mo Diame lost possession inside his own half, allowing Bernie Ibini to pick out Alex Brosque. The Sky Blues' all-time leading goalscorer delighted Sydney fans by firing across Adrian to make it two-nil, which is how it remained until the half time interval.

West Ham did at least give their sizeable contingent of supporters, a mongrel bunch of claret and blue-clad fanatics cast from both hemispheres something to cheer about when Matt Jarvis' centre was deflected into the net by the hand of Nikola Petkovic.

But Sydney were to regain a two-goal advantage in the most dubious of circumstances when Terry Antonis punched the ball, volleyball style over Aaron Cresswell into the path of Gameiro who rounded Adrian to seal the Hammers' fate.

West Ham, naturally incensed by the decision to allow play to continue had their appeals brushed off by the New Zealand referee, who was then suitably embarrassed by the stadium's big screen controllers who decided to replay the incident.

Not that it mattered much in the grand scheme of things, for West Ham were showing few signs of matching Graham Arnold's side, let along staging a comeback. The defeat, like that against Wellington was fully deserved and whilst it is only a pre-season friendly, there was little for West Ham fans to be excited about with the new season looming on the horizon.

In tactical terms, Allardyce has persevered with his favoured 4-3-3 formation although there are signs that he and his staff have begun to tinker with their tactical approach. Fewer long, diagonal balls have been utilised during the trip and the team are playing with more freedom in the centre of the field. Aaron Cresswell's mobility from full back could also prove to be of major benefit.

Still, fans taking to social media after the game were - predictably - mostly scathing of Allardyce (and to a lesser degree, his players). It's a worrying sign for the club, with few of the manager's detractors from last season having proved willing to bury the hatchet. Allardyce, it could be said, is now working under almost impossible conditions.

Having been railroaded by his employers, influenced by fan pressure, into changing a system that has allowed him to work at the very highest level of domestic club management for some 15 years, Allardyce is now being given no time in which to implement those changes. That few - if any - improvements have been evident during this past fortnight has only served to exacerbate the situation.

Without a morale-boosting victory since returning from the summer break (two draws, two defeats), West Ham are going to find their first win of pre-season even more difficult to come by with Schalke and Malaga waiting in the wings when the squad fly to Germany next week.

Allardyce, bereft of Andy Carroll until November will be hoping that Enner Valencia will finally be able to pull on a West Ham shirt to give both the team and its supporters a much-needed boost - and maybe, even a goal or two.

Sydney FC 3-1 West Ham Utd

Sydney: Janjetovic, Ryall, Jurman, Petkovic, Gameiro, Ibin-Isei, Ognenovski, Antonis, Dimitrijevic, Abbas, Brosque.

Subs: Necevski, Bojic, Trantis, Carle, Gligor, Timotheu, Naumoff, Muata-Marlow, Gersbach, Burgess.

West Ham Utd: Adrian, Demel, O'Brien, Reid, Collins, Noble, Diame, Nolan, Downing, Jarvis, Cole.

Subs: Jaaskelainen, Howes, Cresswell, Fanimo, Potts, Poyet, Whitehead, Vaz Te, Zarate.

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#AskDS: in summary
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 25th July 2014
By: Staff Writer

For the second successive summer, co-owner David Sullivan took to Twitter to answer fans' questions regarding West Ham United.

You may read a summary of the questions and answers below. Last year's #askDS questions and answers may be found here.

The Academy

@DICEY1972: Why are our top young players signing for Arsenal and Man Utd?

DS: Sadly they are offered crazy wages by clubs far richer than us, but we are working on reversing this trend.

@Dazzairons: what's the future of Oscar Borg and Reece Oxford?

DS: Oscar Borg has turned down a contract but Reece Oxford is only 15 and we hope he will be a West Ham United player for many years to come.

@RioHoye: Will youth be given a proper first team chance this year? E.g Lee, Chambers, Potts and Lletget?

DS: The manager picks the team, not me, but I believe in youth development.

@RioHoye: Which youth player do you think is most likely to break into the first team?

DS: I think it would be wrong for me to say.

@FatSamOut: Will Elliot Lee ever be given a chance?

DS: Yes.


Transfers

‏@hands_lee: How many more players are you bringing in?

DS: Two more, unless someone leaves.

@MitchellClark: Will we be signing any other full backs this summer?

DS: We hope to sign one more full back as we are short in that position.

@Lewis_PM: Do you expect us to sign any players other than a full back?

DS: Yes. Another striker.

@Adam16WHU: When do we expect Enner Valencia to sign?

DS: He has signed, but it is subject to a work permit on the 29th.

@FatSamOut: Any chance of the Enner Valencia deal falling through?

DS: The deal is done subject to a work permit, but we are very very optimistic.

@daviesconnor43: Was Enner Valencia scouted before the World Cup and are you confident he will justify such a hefty fee?

DS: Yes. We've scouted Valencia since January.

@maggs10: Why not try and sign a proven Premier League goalscorer who isn't injury prone?

DS: Bony is £19million and we don't have that sort of money. I wanted him a year ago but no one else at the club did!

@Stef_Goodridge: Has a new contract been offered to Ravel Morrison?

DS: Discussions are ongoing with Ravel and his agents.

@ironviews: Do you expect Diego Poyet to feature heavily next season?

DS: It is the managers choice, not mine, but I think Diego is a fantastic player for the future.

@spencerb222: Is there any chance that Andy Carroll will be sold? If so, who would you like as his replacement?

DS: No, but I will update regarding AC at the end.

@_sportscoverage: Is it true Jussi Jaaskelainen has asked for a transfer away from the club?

DS: No, this is false.

@_CarltonCole9: Is Stephen Henderson still alive?

DS: His contact has been terminated and he's going to Charlton.

@FatSamOut: Jenkinson, Shelvey, Rhodes IN, Nolan + Carroll OUT.

DS: I cannot comment on players at other clubs as it is deemed "tapping up".


Merchandise & Marketing

@Terry78WHU: How much will you be hiking season ticket prices in the final season at the Boleyn?

DS: Hopefully prices won't rise at all.

@whusmudge: Will fans ever be able to buy the replica kits in sports shops like other teams' fans?

DS: We hope that will be the case next season.

@LBritainGooner: Are we going to have a pre-season game in the far-east in next few years? Like China?

DS: It's unlikely, but I would love to spread west ham to Asia, USA and everywhere In between.

@WHU_MR2013: Which country are we likely to visit for pre season next season?

DS: USA.

@Gavlar_04: Will fans both from the UK and abroad (I live in Ireland) ever be able to buy shares in the club?

DS: Possibly at some time In the future.

@grahamwhu: How come your loyal season ticket holders no longer get the 10 per cent Adidas discount?

DS: We work on tiny margins on the kit and it is almost not viable with this discount, but we will do special discount days for season ticket holders.


Next Season

@sewellyboyx: What is the expectation for the coming season?

DS: A top-half finish and a cup run.

@sewellyboyx: Are we actually going to play a more expansive style of football next season or have the fans been lied to?

DS: [re-tweeted, reply left blank]


Miscellaneous

@MarkHarrison23: Who is better - Benni McCarthy, Modibo Maiga or Frederic Piquionne?

DS: I think Maiga, because when his head is right he is one hell of a player eg Southampton at home and Spurs in the Cup.

@Tweet_Trist: Can I have your hat that makes you look Russian pls ;)

DS: No - that is my lucky hat because it was a Christmas present from my family!

@JonjoHeuerman: What did you want to be when you were my age ?

DS: A footballer or a boxer, but when I was 15 I realised this wasn't going to happen!

@Adoodledude: Who is your favourite player who doesn't play for West Ham?

DS: Ronaldo, as he has the same birthday as me and I think he is the best player in the world.

@levi_whufc: Apparently you support Grimsby Town, is this true?

DS: No. I have no affiliation with Grimsby.

@rossihammer78: How about a Q&S with our dopey deluded manager next time? It seems he's untouchable.

DS: We will try and arrange it, as well as a fans forum!

@MCjingle: Indian or Chinese food?

DS: Neither, I like fish and chips and pie and mash!

@Daveyboymarra: Will there ever be any boxing events at Upton Park?

DS: I hope so as I love boxing and just lost out on the Chisora v Fury fight.

@Hammer197952: Are we ever going to have a state of the art training facility?

DS: [re-tweeted, reply left blank]

@Andrew_whufc: Do you miss this man [picture of Avram Grant]?

DS: Avram is the nicest man but unfortunately failed to delivery as a manager at West Ham.


And some of the questions that remained unanswered...

@slippery101: How do you justify having the fourth most expensive season ticket prices in the Premier League?

@FatSamOut: Why are ticket prices the fourth highest in the Prem, when we play the worst football?

@JackDaley8: @jsullivanwhu How are we funding the current transfers? TV money or further personal investment from David Gold and yourself?

@DaveGrantWHU: Would you consider selling the club? Do you think we have a chance of being the next Man City?

@ironsjack: Are there any updates on further potential investment into the club i.e the purchase of the C&B holding shares?

@c0xy1988: Can you put people's minds at rest? how much DID we pay for Valencia?

@da_ledi: Why did we stop pursuing Konoplyanka?

@glenngal: Any word on Diame's contract offer?

@RealBarno: Why is Allardyce wanting more money than most of Europe's top managers, for doing a below average job?

@bennett1984: Do you enjoy watching the football Sam serves up week in, week out?

@Hodgo88: Not one question answered on Nolan. Is he undroppable?

@MrTwisticles: Have you looked into our medical staff? Players appear to be getting injured far too frequently.

@whu_sam: Would we consider Paolo Di Canio back to the club as manager or in another position?

@deanhall8: Why can't we sell our tickets back to the club if we can't make a game, even if its not sold out to help fans financially?

@WHUnited91: View on the new cartoon badge that fans supposedly voted in?

@whuscott: Will season ticket prices be lowered significantly after the move to the Olympic Stadium?

@BayJayZus: I have always supported the OS move but I am getting increasingly frustrated at the lack of updates. Why is this?

@sam_whufc_1991: Would the club be willing to look into safe standing for the Olympic Stadium?

@DamianADavis: Why were none of the questions about the Olympic stadium answered?

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Sam Allardyce and West Ham board split on Ravel Morrison
Last Updated: 25/07/14 7:24pm
SSN

The West Ham board and boss Sam Allardyce appear to be on collision course over the future of Ravel Morrison. Allardyce is planning without the England Under-21 midfielder ahead of the new season, but co-owner David Sullivan has confirmed the board to not want to sell him. Morrison fell out of favour last season and was shipped out on loan to QPR, where he helped Harry Redknapp's men win promotion back to the Premier League. Swansea and CSKA Moscow have been linked with the former Manchester United star, but Sullivan insists he wants to see Morrison stay at Upton Park. "Sam has said Ravel is not part of his plans but we do - as a board - see him as part of our plans." "Sam has said Ravel is not part of his plans but we do - as a board - see him as part of our plans," Sullivan told talkSPORT. "I think he (Allardyce) said in a press conference, if I read it correctly, he's not part of his plans for this season. I think he said that in New Zealand but we don't agree with that. We would like to sit down and give him a longer contract." Sullivan added: "We do like him. We do see him as part of the long-term future of the club but we have to agree it with the manager because there's no point signing a player he's not going to play." Morrison, 21, was left at home as the remainder of the West Ham squad jetted off for a pre-season tour of New Zealand, with the club confirming he underwent successful groin surgery. Having spent time at St George's Park since his operation, Morrison should be fit and ready to rejoin the first-team squad when they return from their trip.

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West Ham hoping Winston Reid will agree new contract
Last Updated: 25/07/14 2:02pm
SSN

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan believes there is still a deal to be done with Winston Reid. Sky Sports revealed in mid-July that fresh terms had been put to highly-rated defender Reid. The New Zealand international only signed a new deal last summer, but that agreement will take him through to 2015. With Premier League rivals reported to be closely monitoring his situation, West Ham were eager to ensure that Reid remains at Upton Park. An initial offer is, however, understood to have been knocked back by the 26-year-old, forcing Sullivan, David Gold and manager Sam Allardyce back to the drawing board.
Sullivan told talkSPORT: "I think we will get to a deal with Winston. "Both balls are in the air with regards to Winston and Ravel (Morrison) but both are players we like very, very much."

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Chelsea's Christian Atsu a transfer target for West Ham, Aston Villa and Everton
Jul 25, 2014 22:30 By Darren Lewis
Fifteen suitors are looking to take the Ghana World Cup winger in loan deal his parent club want to be a finishing school before joining their first team
The Mirror

Chelsea have urged World Cup winger Christian Atsu to choose the loan club that gives him the best chance of breaking into their new-look team in 12 months' time. West Ham, Aston Villa and Everton are among 15 clubs interested in borrowing the 22-year-old Ghanaian from the Stamford Bridge side. Others include Celtic, and further afield Spain's Espanyol, PSV Eindhoven of Holland and German side Hamburg are keen. Atsu arrives back in London following his post-World Cup holiday on Monday. He will meet with the clubs in whom he is most interested early next week before making a decision. Ironically, Everton's interest hinges on the club making a decision over another Chelsea player, Romelu Lukaku. The Toffees are holding out for the Belgium marksman after he shone on loan with them last season, but cannot take two players on loan from the same Premier League side. A number of clubs have approached Chelsea directly to push for a deal on Atsu. They have been ruled out, however, as they cannot commit to guaranteeing the player enough playing time - which the Londoners are stipulating in any loan deal. Atsu, who enjoyed an impressive World Cup, was signed from Portugal's Porto on deadline day last summer and immediately loaned to Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem, where he scored five goals in 28 appearances.

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Sydney FC humble West Ham in Wellington
Sydney FC 3-1 West Ham United
theguardian.com, Saturday 26 July 2014 06.28 BST
Alex Brosque

West Ham United fell to a second straight defeat on their pre-season tour of New Zealand after A-League side Sydney FC posted a 3-1 win in Wellington.
Sydney's victory comes four days after Graham Arnold's side were thumped 4-0 in Dunedin by another Premier League side, Newcastle United. Ahead 2-0 at half-time against the Hammers, Sydney added a controversial third 18 minutes into the second half when Corey Gameiro capitalised on a missed hand ball to slot home for a brace. It was West Ham's second loss in three days, after they were beaten 2-1 by Wellington Phoenix in Auckland on Wednesday.
West Ham threatened early with a free-kick on the edge of the area, but Sydney saw the danger off comfortably then struck almost immediately on the counter. Ali Abbas found Gameiro with room down the left, and the 21-year-old striker made the most of his chance to slot home under sprawling goalkeeper Adrian San Miguel. West Ham were forced to shuffle their back four when Guy Demel tweaked a hamstring and was replaced by Aaron Cresswell at left-back after 13 minutes, while Joey O'Brien switched to the right. The Hammers' woes at the back continued, Sydney extending their lead on 25 minutes when Bernie Ibini broke upfield and lifted a well-placed ball through for Alex Brosque to power home. West Ham continued to press, but couldn't finish the few chances they created, Stewart Downing working hard for little reward while winger Matt Jarvis was under-utilised. Perhaps their best chance came after Cresswell and Carlton Cole played a neat one-two 10 minutes before the break, but Cresswell's powerful strike went wide, and Sydney went into the break with a 2-0 lead.

It took barely five minutes for West Ham to hit back after the restart. Jarvis cut in from the left, his venomous strike from just outside the box taking an unlucky deflection off Sydney skipper Nikola Petkovic to loop over keeper Vedran Janjetovic. Gameiro picked up his second after 63 minutes in controversial circumstances, referee Nick Waldron missing Terry Antonis' hand ball early in the build-up. Gameiro finished his surge down the right when he rounded the keeper with precision, but the decision to let play go on in the build-up left West Ham players incensed.

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Andy Carroll was once England's future, but Newcastle United could be the club to revive him
Telegraph.co.uk
By Luke Edwards1:13AM BST 26 Jul 2014 Comments1 Comment

Andy Carroll was once flatteringly described as a rare breed of England striker, a throwback centre-forward whose aerial dominance and physical strength made defenders fear him. At his best during those thrilling early performances for Newcastle United, Carroll looked unplayable. Just three years after Liverpool spent £35  million to lure him away from Tyneside, Carroll is still unplayable following a £15 million switch to West Ham United, but only because he is rarely fit enough to be selected. Neither have got value for money from a player who, at the age of 25, is giving the impression his best years are already behind him.
Whether Carroll's constant breakdowns are purely down to bad luck or due to a failure to look after himself properly is a moot point. Regardless of why they have happened, Carroll's injuries are ruining him as a footballer.

Since leaving Newcastle, where he scored 33 goals in only 60 starts for his hometown club, Carroll has rarely looked the same player. His statistics make miserable reading, seven goals in 22 starts for Liverpool, nine in 35 for West Ham. Since turning a successful loan spell at Upton Park into a long-term move 12 months ago, Carroll has managed to play in just 14 games.

West Ham thought they were getting far more for their money than a striker whose body already looks like it is unable to cope with the demands made of it. When he has played, he has tended to look rusty and bereft of sharpness. If Sam Allardyce, a manager renowned for his meticulous approach to sport science, can't keep him in shape, Carroll is in trouble. If he continues to live a lifestyle that does not befit a professional athlete, the injuries will continue to plague him and he will be playing in the Championship by the time England have another crack at a World Cup. For those of us who enjoyed seeing an old fashioned No9 bulldozing his way through startled defences, Carroll's failure to maintain those standards is a terrible waste of a player that could have given England something unique.

There are very few players of Carroll's type who are so effective and while the hipsters may scoff at the idea that a retro centre-forward is still relevant in the era of false nines and fluid, flexible formations, there is nothing wrong with starting a new fashion by taking inspiration from the past.
According to Xavi, the Barcelona and Spain midfielder, England need to play to their strengths rather than try to hide their weaknesses.
He argued England's best weapons are their wingers and if you are able to open teams up on the flanks, it makes sense to have a striker who can get on the end of the crosses they deliver.

There are few signs we are getting any closer to mastering the intricate short passing game of Spain or the irresistible blend of power and skill that turned Germany into World Cup winners, so why not look at what we are good and pick the players best suited to it. Carroll would enable England to change their approach if they needed to, but such thoughts are pointless while he continues to spend so much time injured or trying to recover. Few teams focus their offensive play down the flanks because few of them have a striker who can beat a centre-back in the air, or worry them enough for space to be left for others to exploit.

Both England's goals at the World Cup came from crosses, yet neither Wayne Rooney or Daniel Sturridge were asked to play in a way that benefits from this sort of delivery. England regularly had merely one player to aim for in the area, making it easy to defend crosses. One centre-back attacked the ball, the other stuck tight to the striker. Rooney and Sturridge aren't bad in the air, but it is not one of their great strengths either. Carroll is different, but it's difficult to know when he last played well for a prolonged period. There have been the odd games here and there, but nothing consistent enough to suggest he deserves to be back in the England side.

West Ham were keen to stress Carroll had done everything asked of him in pre-season but instead of reigniting his career, he has broken down again and will miss four months of the new season after an operation to repair ankle ligament damage. He also missed the first six months of last season with a heel problem.
West Ham have said they will sign a striker to replace him and they do not necessarily mean only while he is injured. Although nothing has been said publicly, West Ham were open to the idea of selling Carroll this summer.

Newcastle, as they have been ever since they lost him, have been mulling over whether to make a bid, well aware of how popular the move would be among
fans who love to see one of their own playing in black and white stripes.

However, they were already wary of Carroll's poor fitness record and will only consider buying him after another lengthy rehabilitation for a significantly reduced price. West Ham may well prefer to persevere with their club record signing rather than cut their losses.
Carroll is happy in London, his agent made that clear when rumours of a return to Newcastle began to circulate earlier this month, but perhaps it is time for the Geordie to go back to familiar surroundings.

There was a time when Carroll needed to get away from Newcastle's nightlife, but moving away from his family and friends has arguably given him even more distractions in his life. Perhaps the only way for Carroll to return to his best is to return to the club where he once looked like the future of English football.

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