Birthday boy Nolan relishing pre-season
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan is looking forward to West Ham United's pre-season fixtures in New Zealand and Germany
24.06.2014
West Ham United captain and birthday boy Kevin Nolan is looking forward to the Club's exciting pre-season schedule. The Hammers have confirmed a week-long Football United Tour to New Zealand in July, when they will take on Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC, and an appearance at the Schalke 04 Cup in Germany in early August, where Malaga CF and the host club will tackle Sam Allardyce's squad. West Ham will also take on Italian giants Sampdoria at home in the Marathonbet Cup on Saturday 9 August. Both trips will be well supported by West Ham fans from home and abroad - a prospect that already has skipper Nolan excited.
"Looking ahead to the summer, the Club has announced pre-season trips to New Zealand and Germany, which all the lads are naturally looking forward to," confirmed the skipper, who celebrates his 32nd birthday today. West Ham travel to New Zealand on 17 July before taking on A-League sides Wellington in Auckland on 23 July and Sydney in Wellington on 26 July. Travelling to the other side of the world is an experience usually reserved for West Ham defender and All Whites captain Winston Reid, but Nolan and his squad-mates will be joining the defender on the 11,400-mile trip this summer. "The New Zealand journey is going to be a long one, as I've seen from the look of Reidy when he returns from international duty, but we will be down there for a decent period of time and will play two games and hopefully meet a lot of our fans," Nolan continued. "Reidy has said a lot of good things about New Zealand and I am personally really looking forward to it because I've never been there on a pre-season trip. It will be a fantastic occasion for the Club and a great experience for everyone involved. "First and foremost, we will be working as hard as we can to make sure we are mentally and physically fit for the start of next season in August."
The trip to New Zealand will give West Ham and football fans in general the opportunity to see a top-flight English club play in the country for the first time since Everton visited in 1986. It is also hoped that the tour will enhance the Club's profile and increase the fanbase in a part of the world where the sport is growing quickly. "Football is such a global sport now and the Barclays Premier League is a global brand, so we know our roles and responsibilities as players to help that to grow," said Nolan. "It's surprised me how big it has got, but we play in the best league in the world in the best sport in the world, so perhaps I shouldn't be so shocked after all!"
West Ham return home following their meeting with Sydney FC and will have a few days to re-acclimatise before heading to Gelsenkirchen for the four-team Schalke 04 Cup over the weekend of 2/3 August. There, Nolan says the Hammers will gain much from taking on top-class opposition prior to the start of the 2014/15 campaign. "We're also going to the Schalke 04 Cup where we will play against two top European teams and that will give us the chance to get some good run outs under our belts before the season starts. It's also testament to how far the Club has come on in recent years in terms of the opposition who want to play us."
To complete the pre-season schedule, Nolan and company will welcome Italian Serie A side UC Sampdoria to the Boleyn Ground for the traditional curtain-raiser. The Marathonbet Cup will kick-off at 3pm on Saturday 9 August, with tickets on sale now!
West Ham United pre-season fixtures
Sat 12 July v Stevenage (The Lamex Stadium, 3pm)
Wed 16 July v Ipswich Town (Portman Road, 7.45pm)
Wed 23 July v Wellington Phoenix (Football United Tour, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, 7.45pm local time)
Sat 26 July v Sydney FC (Football United Tour, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand, 2pm local time)
Sat 2 Aug v Schalke 04 (Schalke 04 Cup, Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany, 5pm local time)
Sun 3 Aug v Malaga CF (Schalke 04 Cup, Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany, 3pm local time)
Sat 9 Aug v UC Sampdoria (Marathonbet Cup, Boleyn Ground, 3pm)
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No Balanta bid, says vice president
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 24th June 2014
By: Staff Writer
Rumours of a multi-million bid by West Ham for Columbian defender Eder Alvarez Balanta have been denied by the player's current club. River Plate vice-president Matias Patanian, speaking in the wake of speculation suggesting the Hammers had made a bid for the highly-rated 21-year-old denied that his club has received any contact from the Hammers. "For the moment we only know officially that Juventus are making a big effort for Balanta," Patanian told local radio station Radio La Red. "We have heard what an English newspaper is saying about West Ham. "If the amount of money that the newspaper mentions is true and we receive an offer like that, then River could sit down and start negotiations as it would be close to the amount the club expects for transferring Balanta. "If the money that is being mentioned in the English media is that, then we will have to listen to them when we receive an official offer. Of course we would want to sell our players to the team that gets closest to our value."
The People claimed earlier that West Ham were set to make a £6million bid for the Colombian defender, who is currently impressing audiences at the World Cup Finals in Brazil.
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Big Sam hints at further arrivals
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 24th June 2014
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce still has plenty of irons in the fire as he seeks to enhance his first team squad ahead of the new 2014/15 Premier League campaign. The manager, who has already lured Mauro Zarate and Cheikhou Kouyate to the Boleyn Ground recently admitted that he still hopes to make several additional signings between now and the beginning of September. "We've made many bids and there are many negotiations ongoing," he said. "We particularly want a left back, ideally another centre back, a midfielder and at least two more for the front line."
And with that in mind, we bring you the following...
* West Ham are reported to be in talks with Stade de Reims over a move for Prince Oniangue, who is said to be interesting several Premier League clubs. Now 25, the Paris-born Congolese international can play play in midfield or the centre of defence and will cost somewhere in the region of €3.5million.
* Swansea's 28-year-old striker Michu is reported to be the target of a £6million bid from West Ham, according to the Sun this morning. The Spanish striker enjoyed a fruitful first season at Swansea scoring 22 goals in 43 appearances but managed just six goals last season; his most recent coming in October 2013.
* Former Hammer Rio Ferdinand is poised to join newly-promoted Queens Park Rangers on a free transfer. Available on a free having been released by Manchester United at the end of last season, the 35-year-old has jumped at the chance to team up with Harry Redknapp at Loftus Road. Redknapp was behind the £18million sale of Ferdinand to Leeds from West Ham 14 years ago - from which the wheeler-dealer pocketed a cool £350,000 'bonus'.
* The Daily Express, not exactly renowned for breaking big football stories in recent years report that West Ham are set to "beat Liverpool, Man Utd and Spurs" to the signing of 24-year-old Ukraine international Yevhen Konoplyanka. Which seems unlikely. As does the prospect of Mssrs Sullivan and Gold paying Konoplyanka's £12million buy-out clause.
* 21-year-old Eder Balanta may be able to list West Ham as one of his admirers but they'll have to join the back of a long queue. The River Plate defender, who should be in action later today when Columbia take on Japan at the World Cup Finals has already been touted as a potential superstar and is available for anywhere between £3-10m, depending upon your source.
* Sources in Turkey are linking Portuguese international Raul Meireles with a move to West Ham. Now 31, the midfielder is available having failed to settle in Turkey where he currently plays for Fenerbahce. West Ham are understood to have made initial enquiries into the player's situation back in January.
* And finally in today's round-up of the latest tittle-tattle, rumour and speculative nonsense, Islam Slimani is being linked with a move to England and West Ham by the Portuguese media. The Algerian international, who West Ham enquired about during the last transfer window is valued by current club Sporting Lisbon at the €8million mark, according to O Jogo.
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Arise, Sir Clyde
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 24th June 2014
By: Staff Writer
A Minister in the Bermudan Government says former West Ham star Clyde Best should be knighted for his services to football. According to Bermudan daily the Royal Gazette, Quinton Edness has urged Bermuda's Governor George Fergusson to approach the Queen with view to securing the title for Best, who was awarded an MBE back in 2006. "Every person who was in Bermuda who knew Clyde Best at the time he was representing Bermuda overseas would urge the Governor to contact Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and request she grant him a knighthood, because of what he represented as a sports person," said Edness.
"Also for his contribution to humanity and what he had to endure to prove he was a deserving sportsman and sufficiently competent to recognised as a worthwhile human being. "All of Bermuda is very proud that he represented us and, at this particular time, he could once again represent Bermuda with the provision of a knighthood."
Now 63, Best played for West Ham between 1968 and 1976. He was one of the first black players to feature in the old Division One and in conjunction with Clive Charles and Ade Coker, became part of the first black triumverate to feature in a top-flight English team when West Ham beat Tottenham 2-0 on April Fools' Day 1972 - several years before Ron Atkinson repeated the achievement at West Bromwich Albion. A burly centre-forward, Best scored 58 goals in just over 200 appearances for West Ham before joining Tampa Bay Rowdies and the first North American soccer revolution in 1975.
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Roger 'The Relegator' Johnson to return?
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 24th June 2014
By: Staff Writer
Roger Johnson could return to West Ham - if West Ham and his current club can agree terms. The central defender - cruelly dubbed 'The Relegator' having been previously involved with three Premier League drops - spent five months at the Boleyn Ground last season on loan from League One Wolverhampton Wanderers. And KUMB understands that the 31-year-old, who made six appearances for the Hammers and has just 12 months of his current contract with the Molineux-based club remaining could be in for a shock return to east London - but only if Wolves drop their demands for a transfer fee. Johnson has admitted privately that he has no plans to return to the Wanderers, despite being under contract for another year. A source said: "Currently it's a game of poker to see who cracks first; Wolves letting him go on a free or someone else buying out his contract."
* For more transfer updates, visit our earlier story here.
The super six: Roger Johnson's West Ham appearances
8th Jan: Man City 6-0 West Ham Utd (Capital One Cup)
11th Jan: Cardiff City 0-2 West Ham Utd (Premier League)
18th Jan: West Ham Utd 1-3 Newcastle Utd (Premier League)
21st Jan: West Ham Utd 0-3 Man City (Capital One Cup)
26th Mar: West Ham Utd 2-1 Hull City (Premier League)
31st Mar: Sunderland 1-2 West Ham Utd (Premier League)
Record: Played: 6; Won 3; Drawn 0; Lost 3.
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River Plate insist West Ham have not made a bid for Eder Alvarez Balanta
By Andres Garavaglia | Last Updated: 24/06/14 2:27pm
SSN
River Plate have denied that West Ham United have made a bid for their Colombian central defender Eder Alvarez Balanta. The 21-year-old, rated is as one of the best young players in South America, has been linked with Barcelona in the last 12 months, while Italian champions Juventus have made contact with River.
Now West Ham are being linked, with reports claiming a £6million offer was set to be lodged, but River have denied receiving any offer from the Premier League club. River Plate vice-president Matias Patanian told Radio La Red: "For the moment we only know, in an official way, that Juventus are making a big effort for Balanta."
Asked about West Ham, he replied: "No, we have heard what an English newspaper is saying about West Ham. "If the amount of money that the newspaper mentions is true and we receive an offer like that, then River could sit down and start negotiations as it would be close to the amount the club expects for transferring Balanta. "If the money that is being mentioned in the English media is that, then we will have to listen to them when we receive an official offer.
"Of course we would want to sell our players to the team that gets closest to our value." Balanta is currently with the Colombia squad at the World Cup finals.
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West Ham hold talks with Reims over midfielder Prince Oniangue
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @graemebailey | Last Updated: 24/06/14 2:22pm
SSN
West Ham have held talks with French side Reims over midfielder Prince Oniangue. Sky Sports understands that West Ham first made contact with the French club at the end of the season. Talks have continued between the two sides, but as yet no deal has been agreed. The Hammers have been pro-active in the transfer market this summer having already secured deals for Mauro Zarate and Cheikhou Kouyate. Manager Sam Allardyce has his eyes on a number of other deals still and Oniangue is one of those.
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BUILDING UPON OUR GREAT ICONIC BADGE
By Iain Dale 24 Jun 2014 at 17:44
West Ham Till I Die
Guest Post by Steven Johnson
With all the opinions relating to the rebranding of a potential new badge and the clubs recent video dissection, does it appear that the club already know what they want?
The graphics used within the clubs presentation makes you assume we will have a generic shield shape "similar to the Arsenal shield". As a die hard hammers fan but also owner of amber&green studio, a graphic design and branding company who specialises in crest design, I would like to share my version of the club badge and my rational behind my design.
My approach is to build upon the existing badge which is already strongly recognised and loved, even our co-chairman David Gold has said he likes the existing badge.
My design has a bigger, bolder prouder version of the crossed hammers, I have used the dynamic angles to create a unique shape rather then a generic shield shape or standard circle. Incased within the new dynamic shape is the most important factors of our club. The date the club was formed and a classically styled football symbolising what we are renowned for – The Academy of Football.
There has been much talk about keeping the castle, it's what I grew up with. It wasn't always part of our identity and whilst it's important not to forget our history before the castle, it is indeed one of the most iconic elements of our badge. Ask any junior hammer what is most recognisable, they will scream 'the hammers and the castle'
They are the future of our club so I have chosen to keep part of the castle and revert it to white similar to that seen on the kit used in the 1964 FA cup final, this lets the crossed hammers become the true centre piece.
From what we have read David Sullivan seems very keen to incorporate the word London. Maybe it could work? but cramming this onto a design could lead to a misunderstanding of our name and dilute our brand. London West Ham United, West Ham London I can hear our American friends mistakingly calling us!
They say football is a game of opinions, well the club badge seems to be dividing us all. With or without London I hope my design shows we will always be West Ham United.
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MICHU SIGNING SAID TO BE CLOSE, BUT SHOULD WE ALSO SIGN PETER CROUCH?
By Iain Dale 24 Jun 2014 at 07:54
West Ham Till I Die
Now, soot me down in flames if you like, but hear me out.
Peter Crouch is available from Stoke for a knockdown £1 million. OK, he's 33, but don't we need to learn the lessons from last season and have like for like cover for Andy Carroll? He plays much the same game as Carroll, has scored consistently wherever he has played. Now that we have made our Allardyce bed, we need to lie in it and recruit players who can play to a system, even if some of us don't like it.
I have always thought Crouch was a very underrated player. Just because he isn't pretty to watch doesn't mean he isn't skilful. In fact he has a very good first touch and if you look at some of the spectacular goals he has scored over the years it is testament to what a good player he actually is. He's certainly not prolific, but like Carroll, contributes much more to the team than just goals. But his 32 goals in 116 games at Stoke isn't bad. Having said that, last season he only scored 8 in 34 in the Premier League.
He's surely got to be worth paying £1 million for, as long as his weekly wage demands aren't too horrific.
The papers are full of rumours of us signing Michu from Swansea. This would be a risky signing bearing in mind he, like Carroll is very prone. There's no doubt he knows where the goal is – look at his record the season before last where he scored 18 Premier League goals in 35 games. Last season he only scored 2 in 12, but also bagged 4 in 7 Europa Cup games. The club is said to be looking at paying £6 million for his services and negotiations have reached Board level. £6 million for a 28 year old striker who has proved he can score at the top level. Doesn't seem too bad.
I think we need five strikers this season. If we pulled these two off we'd have a front line of Carroll, Zarate, Carlton Cole, Michu and Crouch. Well it's certainly better than last year, but three of those five are very injury prone – which is why we'd need 5 strikers in the squad rather than 4.
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