Daily WHUFC News - 31st July 2014

The Big Interview - Big Sam
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce gave an insightful interview to
talkSPORT radio on Wednesday
30.07.2014

Manager Sam Allardyce has revealed that West Ham United's already busy
summer in the transfer market is not over. Speaking to Alan Brazil's Sports
Breakfast on talkSPORT radio on Wednesday morning, Big Sam also discussed
his hopes of securing a top-ten Barclays Premier League finish and that Andy
Carroll will make a successful return from ankle surgery. The manager also
spoke of his hope that Ravel Morrison will replicate the form he showed at
the start of last season and looked forward to the season opener at home to
Tottenham Hotspur on 16 August.

Sam, are you happy with the transfer business the Club has done so far?

SA: "Yes, I think we've gone out and tried to improve the strength and depth
of the squad. We've tried to go a little younger, which I think is important
today because they can be with the club for a time. We've been interested in
these last couple of days in signing Carl Jenkinson on loan from Arsenal and
I hope it's going to be completed in the next 24 hours, so we hope that's
going to be OK. "We have brought in young Cheikhou Kouyate from Anderlecht
and Aaron Cresswell from Ipswich who was the PFA left-back of the season for
the Championship, so he's a good young prospect. We've also brought in Mauro
Zarate from Argentina who scored 18 goals last year, so we have different
dynamics in the front line. "We've got Gus Poyet's young son Diego from
Charlton and we hope there is a little bit more to go. I talked to the
Chairman the other day and there are one or two other players we're looking
at, so hopefully that'll give us the firepower, because we're looking for
that and a few more goals."

So, yourself and the Board are working closely to bring in new players?

SA: "Absolutely. All the speculation was put to bed. It has arisen
occasionally here and there again, but here I am grafting away with the
owners trying to bring the best players we possibly can to make this squad
stronger and better for next season."

Is a top-half Barclays Premier League finish your ambition this season?

SA: "Yes, we'll try and hit the top ten or better if we can, like we did in
year one. Last year, it became a bit of a burden due to the fact we did so
well in year one. Everyone expected us to do better. Injuries and a bit of
second year syndrome, and we all know what that's like, meant 13th wasn't a
bad finish on the basis of some of the things we had to suffer last season.
"It's all down to getting a few more goals and a resilient defence again and
we'll be OK next season."

Realistically, to break into that top seven is almost impossible with the
big clubs, so what represents progress this season?

SA: "You've got to remember that it's only season three for us. The
expectations today sometimes run away with everybody. It's year three back
in the Premier League. We're moving forward, in the right direction. We have
to spend our money wisely today, that's the most important thing - to grow
sustainably by getting a little better each year. "Each time you grow in the
Premier League to get a little better you can finish that little bit higher.
Eventually you do try to hit the top half of the Premier League but that
today all depends on just how much money everybody else is spending. Huge
fees are being banded about on the top players today, it's pretty
frightening and to compete with that is sometimes difficult."

You've suffered a blow with Andy Carroll undergoing ankle surgery and being
ruled out for the start of the season. What can you tell us about his
situation?

SA: "Obviously I'm no specialist in this area, but from what the specialist
has said, it's tightening up of the ankle of the ligaments around the joint,
which is the mainstay of why Andy needed this operation doing. "It's made
the ankle stable again because it was unstable by the fact that the
ligaments around the joint were a little too lax. They've been tightened up
to give them a little more stability and we hope that'll be the end of it.
"Everybody talks about how disappointing it is for me and everybody else at
West Ham, but no more so than for Andy himself. It's not nice for him."

A lot has been written about Ravel Morrison. What are your thoughts about
his position within the Club?

SA: "We thought we'd brought Ravel to the forefront of his abilities this
time last year. He had a fantastic pre-season and he started the season
exceptionally well. I think that drifted away somewhat and he ended up with
QPR on loan and ended up helping get them promoted. "He had a little injury,
where's he's had a hernia operation, which is obviously going to help him.
If he gets back to knuckling down, getting him used to the disciplined side
of the game, then his talents are absolutely outstanding and that's all
Ravel has to do - make sure he knuckles down to the discipline side of the
game and training and then expressing the abilities he has on the football
field, as we'd all love to see them. "It's about having no regrets at the
end of it. When your football career finally comes to an end we all look
back on our football careers, when we were in our early 20s and thinking
there's a long way to go, you click your fingers and it's nearly all over."

You've got a great first game at home to Tottenham Hotspur on 16 August,
Sam. You went to White Hart Lane and beat them last season, so that's a real
mouth-watering start?

SA: "It is. It's going to be a great start to the season for us all,
particularly the West Ham fans. They'll be expecting me to repeat what we
did last season!"

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Haycock pleased with pre-season form
WHUFC.com
Nick Haycock wants his Development Squad to take their fine summer form into
the season
30.07.2014

Development Squad coach Nick Haycock is determined to take his team's fine
pre-season form into the campaign proper. The Hammers U21s have gone
unbeaten throughout the summer to date, and Tuesday's 2-0 win at Braintree
Town represented a third clean sheet in four games. Haycock is thrilled with
the progress the team are making, but warned that the attitude and
application must be maintained. "I'm delighted with the way things are
going," he said. "But obviously it will count for nothing if we don't take
that form into the start of the season. "There are two or three competitive
games left in the pre-season - we have a tough game against Newport County
at the weekend - but I'm delighted with the way the boys have applied
themselves so far." The Hammers have blooded several younger players in
their friendly matches and Haycock has been impressed with their showings
against senior opposition. He continued: "Do we want to win leagues, do we
want to win trophies? Yes it's important we put that into them, but it will
never be at the expense of putting younger players in there when we know
they can take that challenge. "They'll make mistakes, but that is part of
their learning, and I'm delighted with the young players out there. I
wouldn't want to single anyone out because I thought everyone had a go. "I
think in the second half when the tempo went a little bit, we started to get
more control and we started to see more of the type of the football we
wanted to play. "The first 20 minutes was difficult, Alan Devonshire has
them well organised, they were at the top end of the Conference last year
and very unlucky not to go up, and he runs that club on a shoestring budget
compared to most others in that league. "Being a West Ham person we're
delighted to give him a game and it's always a pleasure to come over here
and play against his teams because they're competitive workouts."

Whilst not wanting to single individuals out, striker Elliot Lee continues
to catch the eye, and his double at Braintree took his pre-season tally to
six. Haycock's challenge to the youngster is to keep his form going. He
added: "We keep saying what they have to do is keep knocking on the
manager's door, and all they can do is put performances in. "Elliot is a
pleasure to work with on the training field, I've given him the captaincy
over the pre-season with Dan Potts and Leo Chambers away with the first
team. "Every age level he's played at he's scored goals, and his attitude to
want to get better and his drive is there for all to see. His second goal in
particular was fantastic."

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Harney shines in Milk Cup opener
WHUFC.com
Academy defender Jamie Harney is representing Northern Ireland U19 this week
30.07.2014

Jamie Harney captained Northern Ireland U19s to a 2-0 victory over China in
their opening match of the Dale Farm Milk Cup earlier this week. Goals from
Josh Doherty and Mikhail Kennedy gave the host nation victory in a
tournament which also features Canada and Mexico. WIth Canada also enjoying
a 2-0 success in their opener, both them and Northern Ireland sit at the top
of the standings with two games to go. Northern Ireland are back in action
at 8pm on Wednesday when they take on Mexico at Coleraine Showgrounds. Their
tournament concludes on Friday with a game against Canada.

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Former Barcelona forward Ronaldinho to name new club
By Paulo Freitas | Last Updated: 30/07/14 11:27am
SSN

Ronaldinho is set to announce he has joined a new club after parting company
with Atletico Mineiro. Ronaldinho has enjoyed a good two-year spell with the
Brazilian outfit, which included winning the Copa Libertadores, after
joining in 2012 following his departure from Flamengo. The 34-year-old
Brazilian legend, who has been linked with a move to England, with Stoke,
West Ham and QPR all mentioned as possible suitors, is set to reveal his
next destination on Wednesday, with Argentine giants Boca Juniors reported
favourites to land him. His agent and brother, Roberto de Assis, said: "He
will play until he's 42. He will reveal his future destination on
Wednesday." Atletico Mineiro's boss Levir Culpi admitted he was sad to see
Ronaldinho go, telling SporTV: "I can't call on Ronaldinho anymore. His
cycle with us has ended. "It's unfortunate because he's an idol to all of
us. Everyone loves his football, the way he plays and he's a very
charismatic person. "But that's the way it goes. He's leaving and we must
move on without him." During a glittering career which saw him win 97 caps
for Brazil, Ronaldinho enjoyed a spell with Gremio before moving to Europe
and spending time with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan before
moving back to Brazil with Flamengo in 2011.

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West Ham closing on loan deal for Arsenal's Carl Jenkinson
Last Updated: 30/07/14 7:39pm
SSN

West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce is hoping to wrap up a loan deal for
Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson 'in the next 24 hours'. Sky Sports revealed
on Tuesday that the 22-year-old full-back was closing on a move to Upton
Park. With Arsenal having drafted in Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers to
cover the loss of Bacary Sagna to Manchester City at the end of his
contract, Jenkinson remains some way down the Emirates Stadium pecking
order. "We've tried to go a little younger, which I think is important today
because they can be with the club for a long time." A loan switch would
allow him to get useful minutes under his belt, and there has been no
shortage of Premier League interest. West Ham have led the chase from the
off, though, and Allardyce believes they are poised to complete another deal
that shows the club are heading in an exciting new direction. He told
talkSPORT: "We've been interested in these last couple of days in signing
Carl Jenkinson on loan from Arsenal and I hope it's going to be completed in
the next 24 hours, so we hope that's going to be okay. "I think we've gone
out and tried to improve the strength and depth of the squad. "We've tried
to go a little younger, which I think is important today because they can be
with the club for a long time. "We have brought in young Cheikhou Kouyate
from Anderlecht and Aaron Cresswell from Ipswich, who was the PFA left-back
of the season for the Championship, so he's a good young prospect. "We've
also brought in Mauro Zarate from Argentina, who scored 18 goals last
season, so we have different dynamics in the front line."

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Stuttgart's Antonio Rudiger not thinking about interest
By Thomas Zocher | Last Updated: 30/07/14 3:31pm
SSN

Stuttgart's Germany international centre-back Antonio Rudiger insists he is
not thinking about the interest being shown in him from England. Both West
Ham and Newcastle have shown an interest, whilst Portuguese giants Porto are
also said to be keen. The Hammers even had a bid rejected earlier in the
summer, but now they are reported to be reviving an interest - but the
21-year-old remains calm. "It's fine to find out other clubs are interested
in me. But my full focus is on Stuttgart," he told Sport-BILD weekly. "I am
under contract until June 2017 with the club and I do not force a move at
this point in time. Of course, you never know in football. Still I am just
focussed on my job and the new season. "I have the best conditions to work
at VfB Stuttgart, this will help me progress further. One day I want to come
out for a big club in the Champions League. Anyway, this is still a long way
off!"

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Sam Allardyce offers hope to Ravel Morrison at West Ham
Last Updated: 30/07/14 12:34pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce may well have been persuaded to do a U-turn over his future
plans for midfielder Ravel Morrison. The West Ham manager recently said that
Morrison was likely to be a bit-part performer for the club this season only
for co-chairman David Sullivan to publicly disagree with him a few days
later. Sullivan said last week: "Sam has said Ravel is not part of his plans
but we – as a board – see him as part of our plans. "He (Allardyce) said in
a press conference, if I read it correctly, he's not part of his plans for
this season but we (the board) don't agree with that. "We would like to sit
down and give him a longer contract. 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."

After a strong start to his Hammers career, Morrison's form tailed off
following a groin injury and he ended last season on loan at QPR. But
speaking on Wednesday, Allardyce explained that the former Manchester United
player still has a future in east London, saying: "We thought we'd brought
Ravel to the forefront of his abilities this time last season. "He had a
fantastic pre-season and started the season very well. That drifted away a
bit and he ended up at QPR, helping them get promoted. "If he gets back to
knuckling down, and getting used to the discipline side of the game, then
his talents are outstanding."

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Sam Allardyce confirms Ravel Morrison U-turn as midfielder offered West Ham
lifeline
Jul 30, 2014 17:01 By Ben Burrows
All indications were that the fiery former Manchester United man would be
shown the door but the Hammers boss has pledged to give him another chance
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce has handed Ravel Morrison a West Ham lifeline. The
midfielder's Hammers future looked bleak only a week ago when indications
suggested he'd played his last game in East London. A number of factors,
including a delay of groin surgery and an aversion to long-haul flights, had
seemed to put an end to Morrison's time at Upton Park. But boss Allardyce
has now moved to quash such speculation insisting the England Under-21
international is part of his plans, should he put the time in. "We thought
we'd brought Ravel to the forefront of his abilities this time last season,"
he told talkSPORT. "He had a fantastic pre-season and started the season
very well. That drifted away a bit and he ended up at QPR, helping them get
promoted. "If he gets back to knuckling down, and getting used to the
discipline side of the game, then his talents are outstanding."

Allardyce's change of heart falls in line with recent comments from
co-chairman David Sullivan who sees Morrison as a key part of the club's
future.
"Sam has said Ravel is not part of his plans but we do - as a board - see
him as part of our plans," he said last week. "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. "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."

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West Ham in crisis? Worrying signs at Upton Park – and the season hasn't
even begun
Jul 30, 2014 11:01
OPINION BY STEVESTAMMERS
Steve Stammers casts his eye over developments in east London, where Sam
Allardyce is engaged in a war of attrition with the Irons board
The Mirror

When Sam Allardyce settles into his seat in the manager's seat at the West
Ham training ground, he may want to put a ring round the date of September
27. That could well be his D-day. The Irons are scheduled to play Manchester
United that afternoon, the last of an opening six fixtures that are exacting
to say the least. Tottenham are at home first up followed by Crystal Palace
away. Southampton are next at Upton Park followed by a tricky away game at
Hull and then Liverpool at home and Manchester United away. So that is three
of last season's top seven as well as an outfit in Palace who were arguably
the form team of the last two months of last season as they escaped
relegation. And that cluster of matches come after three extraordinary
months at Upton Park when Allardyce's position has been somewhat
under-mined. In fact, under-mined big time. With Allardyce, you know what
you are getting. He is organised, statistic-obsessed and plays percentages.
And you have to admit he has been highly-successful with that strategy. If
you are looking for Brazil-1970, look elsewhere. If survival is your target,
Allardyce is your man. His track record proves that. And survive West Ham
did last season. In the end with a deal of comfort.

Yet the club hierarchy paid heed to a vociferous element among the West Ham
fans who were less than impressed with a lack of fluency and adventure in
the team. That dreadful cliche "the West Ham way" was given plenty of
air-time. The board listened and after a summit meeting with Allardyce,
declared that more expansive football will be on the agenda for this season.
Allardyce's power was diluted in an instant. Then came the Ravel Morrison
issue. Farmed out on loan by Allardyce to Queens Park Rangers in the second
half of last season, he is clearly not in favour. Not by the manager, maybe
- but co-chairman David Sullivan went public with his desire to not only
keep the hugely-gifted but occasionally wayward Morrison. He wants to offer
the England Under-21 a new contract.

Harmony is not a word that springs to mind among the management strata.
Allardyce is driven by clean sheets. West Ham fans, traditionally, prefer to
score one more than the opposition. To Allardyce, staying in the Premier
League was his brief and he achieved that. To many West Ham fans, a cup run
is the one chance of glory and that was sacrificed inside between January 5
and January 8 last season with a 5-0 FA Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest and
a 6-0 Capital One Cup semi-final defeat at Manchester City.

Clean sheets aplenty, Premier League survival and three wins over Tottenham
do not a season make. And in the build-up to this season's campaign, the
vibes are not good. When those in power at a club and the manager are not at
one, it is often a recipe for uncertainty that spreads from the boardroom to
the dressing room and frequently to the pitch.

Come September 27, around 5pm, we will know a lot more.

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Facundo Ferreyra on West Ham's radar as striker eyes exit from troubled
Shakhtar Donetsk
West Ham keeping tabs on striker Facundo Ferreyra's situation
Argentine is unsettled at Shakhtar due to political unrest in Ukraine
Ferreyra holds an Italian passport so would not need a work permit
By SIMON JONES
PUBLISHED: 22:32, 30 July 2014 | UPDATED: 22:32, 30 July 2014
Daily Mail

West Ham are exploring the possibility of signing Shakhtar Donetsk striker
Facundo Ferreyra. The 23-year-old Argentine is unsettled at Shakhtar owing
to the growing unrest in Ukraine. Newcastle, Sunderland and QPR have also
been offered the chance to take him on loan with view to a permanent deal.
He has an Italian passport so would not need a work permit. West Ham aim to
complete Carl Jenkinson's signing from Arsenal also.

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Southampton see Reid as replacement for Lovren
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 30, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

There are rumours that Southampton are weighing up a bid for West Ham centre
back Winston Reid as a direct replacement for Dejan Lovren who they sold to
Liverpool for £20m. Reid has turned down a £60,000 per week five year
contract on offer from West Ham with just a year remaining on his existing
contract. Southampton may look to use part of their windfall to tempt West
Ham cut their losses before he leaves for free next summer. No bids or
inquires have been received by West Ham to date for Reid but that could soon
change as the Saints look to rebuild their squad from the ground up.

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The Allardyce interview – big opportunity lost
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 30, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

There's an old saying in journalism which still rings true: "You are only as
good as the questions you ask!" That came back to me quite strongly as I
listened to Alan Brazil apparently interviewing Sam Allardyce this morning.

There were so many questions that could have been asked such as:

O When did you claim that Ravel Morrison was not part of your plans as
suggested by David Sullivan on here?

O What went wrong in New Zealand – surely an EPL team should never be beaten
by minnows such as Phoenix and FC Sydney?

O The fans seem to be on your back again – can you win them over as the
owners wish

O and are we going to see a change in style as demanded by the board?

Instead what we got under the gentlest prodding in the world

O Sam telling us that New Zealand was a trip too far;

O that he would do everything he could to improve our league position,

O that Ravel would play (perhaps) if his discipline was right which has
already more or less been on the official site anyway

O that he didn't worry quite as much about things as he spent longer in the
game because he had learned how to overcome problems.

O oh, and that we might sign Carl Jenkinson, in the next 24 hours which was
pretty well known anyway.

Sam sounded nice and calm and composed throughout but this was an
opportunity lost. Talk Sport arrived on air with an agenda to ask the tough
questions – the ones that mattered. There was a brilliant opportunity to get
to the bottom of a whole load of issues this morning – every one of them was
missed. As a PR exercise Sam's few minutes on air could be judged a success
no doubt – as an opportunity to really tell the fans what was going on and
what they could expect it was an opportunity lost!

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Stoke, West Ham and QPR in the running to snare legendary free agent
The former Barcelona man could be lugging his jam-packed trophy cabinet to
the Premier League this season.
Bwinbetting.com

Atletico Mineiro have announced they've parted company with Brazilian legend
Ronaldinho, sparking rumours that the World Cup-winning conjurer is on his
way to the Premier League. Those who believe the buck-toothed Balon D'Or
winner is en route to England can get paid out at 5/1 if he features in a
top-tier match this season. The heady days of illuminating arenas such as
the Nou Camp and San Siro with his sorcery in possession are a thing of the
past for the 34-year-old, but if you believe everything the gossip peddlers
want you to, he could be captivating the entertainment-starved audiences at
Stoke, West Ham and QPR next season. According to Ronaldinho's brother
Roberto de Assis, who handily doubles up as a football agent, his next
wage-payer will be revealed on Wednesday.

Should the daunting project of glamorising one of this hugely unglamorous
trio appeal to his ego, here's what he could bring to the clubs in question:

Stoke
Mark Hughes is doing his level best to paper over the pragmatic ethos
instilled in the Potters from the previous regime with as much pizzazz as
possible.
Having already recruited former Spanish wonder boy Bojan, a shirt-selling
signing such as Ronaldinho would undoubtedly appeal. Both are familiar with
the Barcelona way of playing and their dribbling prowess combined with
incisive passing acumen is a recipe for the creation of ample chances that
haven't come from crosses…if they can only get Peter Crouch on the same
wavelength.

West Ham
Who better embodies the 'West Ham way' (a mythological style of football
that no one is certain exists other than Irons' fans, who are adamant that
it does and is beautiful) than arguably the finest player of his generation?
With co-owners David Gold and Sullivan apparently taking recruitment matters
into their own hands in order to rediscover this long-lost, but not
forgotten approach, it won't matter if he fits in or not, they'll still pay
his wages.

QPR
Harry Redknapp has a penchant for the luxury player with Luka Modric, Joe
Cole and Niko Kranjcar among those to take prominent places in his teams of
the past. He's thought to be plotting a way to squeeze Adel Taarabt into his
side for next season (most likely from one of the flanks) but Little Ronald
is a far superior alternative.

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