Daily WHUFC News - 11th July 2014

Dicks: 'I like the badge!'
WHUFC.com
Julian Dicks is a fan of West Ham United's proposed update of the Club crest
10.07.2014

Uncompromising though he was on the pitch, straight-talking Julian Dicks
needed no convincing where West Ham United's proposed new crest was
concerned.
An advocate of simplicity, Dicks was instantly taken by the new design and
pleased to see the famous crossed hammers given the prominence they deserve.
A legend in his own right, the newly-appointed West Ham United Ladies
manager was also proud of the recognition of the Club's Thames Ironworks
beginnings. "I like it," he told whufc.com. "It's quite plain but you've
still got the crossed hammers and you've got the inscription of the Thames
Ironworks. I think it's a nice badge. It's clean and simple, just like me!
"Of course the crossed hammers are important to me. That's what West Ham are
all about, it's the crossed hammers and they've still got them on the badge,
which is good. "When you hear West Ham are changing the badge, you think
'hang on a minute' - but for me, I do like the badge, it's plain and it's
still got the crossed hammers in there. As long as it's got West Ham on
there, that's all that matters really!"

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Full first-team squad for Stevenage
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will take a full first-team squad to their opening
pre-season fixture at Stevenage on Saturday
10.07.2014

West Ham United will take a full-strength first-team squad to Stevenage for
the Club's opening pre-season match on Saturday. Following a week of hard
work in eastern France, the Hammers kick-off their preparations for the
2014/15 Barclays Premier League season by making the short trip to
Hertfordshire to take on Graham Westley's side. Manager Sam Allardyce
expects a competitive 90 minutes at the Lamex Stadium, but has warned his
players not to take any unnecessary risks against their League Two
opponents. "The full first-team squad will be out in force, there is no
doubt about that," he confirmed. "Going to Stevenage for the first game is
about rotating the squad completely because of the amount of physical
activity they have had in France over the last few days means they will be
slightly fatigued going into the game. "The conditioning work is actually
more important than the game, but the game starts the ball rolling on
getting a feel for playing in an eleven-a-side, competitive match. "We'll
make sure we give the players a maximum 45 minutes each with the warning
that 'If you feel anything go tight or any knocks or anything of that
nature, there is no need to be brave and carry on. Come off and we'll
replace you with another player'. "If we can achieve what we achieved last
season, which was getting through pre-season without any significant
injuries, then the lads should be really fit and raring to go come 16
August."

West Ham's four summer signings - Mauro Zarate, Cheikhou Kouyate, Aaron
Cresswell and Diego Poyet - are all expected to make their first appearances
in a Hammers shirt this weekend. The game will also see the Club's new
adidas away kit make its debut. With Stevenage playing at home for the
first time in pre-season and also expected to field at least half-a-dozen
new signings, a large crowd is expected at the 6,722-capacity Lamex Stadium.
All 1,392 Standard tickets for the West Ham section have SOLD OUT. However,
Hammers supporters will be admitted to Home sections, provided they behave
in a respectful and appropriate manner.

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West Ham make £12m bid for Ecuador striker Enner Valencia
Last Updated: 10/07/14 4:43pm
SSN

West Ham have made a £12m bid for Ecuador striker Enner Valencia, according
to Sky sources. The 25-year-old scored 18 times in 23 games for Mexican side
Pachuca last season before impressing for his country at the World Cup in
Brazil with three goals, scoring twice against Honduras and once against
Switzerland.
He also scored against England in the 2-2 friendly draw in Miami before the
tournament. Pachuca president Jesus Martinez revealed earlier that an
English club were closing in on the signing of Valencia. "There are various
offers for Enner Valencia, the strongest and closest to what the player and
us are demanding is from a club from England. We are making huge steps to
finalise the negotiation," Martinez told Ecuagol. "We are seeking the
possibility that is convenient for him and the club and that he is sold for
the price that we like for everything the Mexican league is worth. "We want
to keep a percentage of the player in case he is sold in the future to
another big team in Europe."

West Ham are keen to avoid the problems of last season when they were often
light on options up front, with Andy Carroll already joined at Upton Park by
Argentine forward Mauro Zarate.

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West Ham target Enner Valencia with £12million bid for Ecuadorian World Cup
star
Jul 10, 2014 12:34 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror

West Ham have made a £12million bid for Ecuador World Cup forward Enner
Valencia. The east Londoners are optimistic that the 25-year-old will be
travelling to London to complete a deal within the next 48 hours. Jesus
Martinez, President of his club Pachuca, confirmed: "Valencia will leave
Pachuca for the highest fee ever received for a player in the Mexican
League. Valencia netted 18 times in 23 games for Pachuca last season. More
significantly, he scored twice against Honduras and once against Switzerland
at the World Cup. And he made the scoresheet in the 2-2 draw with England in
Miami last month before both teams travelled to Brazil. The move is a
measure of West Ham's ambition as they bid to ensure there is no repeat next
season of the relegation scares they have suffered over the last two
campaigns. They are also determined not to be left short in attack after
injury to Andy Carroll left them lightweight up front for the first half of
last season. Carroll has already been joined by 27-year-old Argentine
forward Mauro Zarate from Velez Sarsfield.

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West Ham expect Diego Poyet to become a star
by Daryl Hardy
Football News 24/7

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is confident new signing Diego Poyet will be
a big hit at Upton Park and is hopeful he will break into the first team in
the new season. While Big Sam continues on his mission to bring in more
talent to his squad he has hailed the capture of 19-year-old defensive
midfielder Poyet from Championship side Charlton Athletic.

Progress

The teenager burst onto the scene for Charlton when he made his first
appearance in January 2014 before going on to make 23 more and scooping the
Addicks' Player of the Season award. "Diego is one of the younger end that
we have invested in, based on the information that we've got, and based on
the progression he has made in a short period of time," the West Ham manager
told the official club website. "He has taken that leap into the first team
and, all of a sudden, became a big contributor to Charlton last year."

Potential

Allardyce believes that Poyet, the son of former Chelsea and Uruguay
midfielder and current Sunderland manager Gus, will benefit greatly from the
experience of being part of a footballing family as he continues with his
development. "He's appeared on the scene after working very hard as a
youngster and trying to make the grade with a very famous father and always
having that to deal with. "Of course, having a father like Gus, he knows all
about the professional side of being a player. He has watched his Dad over
the years and sees him as a manager and I think that will have had a massive
effect on Diego, know what dedication and commitment is needed to be a
footballer. "I think he has got all that and hopefully that development will
continue with us. If he can break into the first team this year that would
be a massive bonus."

Poyet is expected to feature heavily during the Hammers' pre-season schedule
and, looking even further into the future, Big Sam said his first
competitive chance is likely to come in the Capital One Cup. "Like all the
young players, we'll try him out in the pre-season. We may try him out, if
he progresses well, in the early stages of the Capital One Cup if the
opposition are from a lower division than ourselves. "That system progressed
us to a fantastic run last season to the semi-finals and we nearly made
Wembley. It was about playing the young players and trying to play them at
very competitive first-team level in the Capital One Cup. He'll get a chance
in there and hopefully he can take the chance and move on from there."

Big loss

Not so surprisingly, Charlton fans were not happy to see their new star
depart so soon after having burst onto the scene and winning their hearts
with his enthusiasm and committed, inspiring performances. Poyet is the sort
of player that can grab a game by the scruff of the neck and dictate the
play even at his tender age, perhaps something that West Ham have lacked in
recent times, and it is expected that if he is given the chance he will
shine in the Premier League.
The youngster, who signed a four-year deal having left Charlton on June 30,
is excited for the challenge and keen to impress his new manager and
teammates.

Hard work

"It's massive to come to a Premier League club. It's what I wanted," Poyet
told West Ham's official website. "I wanted a new challenge and soon as I
heard there was a chance of stepping up I had to take it. "Like any young
player, the first thing you want to do is get into the first team. I need to
show the staff, players and the gaffer what I'm capable of." Poyet has a lot
in his locker as a defensive midfielder, not only does he use the ball well
but he is not afraid to get himself about and put in important challenges.
He also reads the game well and always looks forward which in an invaluable
trait at the top level.

Major coup

At West Ham he would not only prove to be a good defensive shield but he
could also provide an attacking thrust in the heart of the team that the
current crop is missing. Poyet became West Ham's fourth summer signing
following the captures of striker Mauro Zarate from Velez Sarsfield,
Anderlecht midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate and Ipswich full-back Aaron
Cresswell. The Hammers are not done in the transfer market yet, though, and
are keen to bolster their squad further in order to stop a repeat of last
season's chaotic period when they became short on defenders and Allardyce
was forced to experiment with his formations and team selections.

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West Ham and QPR miss out as Championship goal-machine signs new contract
18:07 10 July 2014
London 24

The London pair, along with Newcastle and Southampton were keen on the
£10million-rated star but will now be looking elsewhere. The 24-year-old,
who scored 25 goals last season for the Ewood Park outfit, has committed his
future to Rovers for the next five years by extending his current deal until
the summer of 2019. "I'm delighted, I'm very happy," the striker told Rovers
Player. "It is a fantastic football club and I'm very lucky to be here. "I
enjoy coming in every day and to have an extension of two more years on top
of my current contract is a real bonus. "I was delighted to sign it, it is a
club I enjoy playing for. The fans have been great ever since I've come in
the place and I've just thoroughly enjoyed it so I'm delighted to be here."
Rhodes has scored more than 50 goals and broken into the Scotland squad in
the two campaigns since arriving from Huddersfield for a club-record fee of
£8million.

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West Ham £10m deal for Algeria World Cup hotshot may not be dead yet
HITC
Jack Beresford

West Ham's interest in Islam Slimani looked to have cooled after Sporting
Lisbon slapped a £10m price tag on his head, but that could change. Sam
Allardyce could reignite his interest in Algeria striker Islam Slimani after
admitting that West Ham United were still in the hunt for new players.
Speaking in an interview with West Ham TV, the Hammers boss said that he was
looking at completing as many as four signings in the coming weeks, with a
striker among the top priorities for the London club. The Irons have already
tabled a £12 million bid for Ecuador star Enner Valencia but with the
Pachuca striker attracting plenty of interest from clubs both abroad and in
the Premier League, the completion of a deal still looks some way off.

West Ham were also linked with a move for Slimani earlier this month, after
seeing the 26-year-old star for Algeria at the World Cup with a goal and an
assist in the Fennec Foxes 4-2 victory over Korea Republic – the first World
Cup match in which an African nation has scored four or more goals. Since
then the Sporting Lisbon forward has been attracting plenty of attention,
with Newcastle United and Everton among those linked with a move for the
striker. But their interest, along with West Ham's, appeared to have cooled
after Sporting slapped a £10 million price tag on the Algerian's head.
However that situation may now have changed with Allardyce moving to admit
that the club was on the hunt for new players. "I think there are three or
four positions - it depends on the budget," he told the club's channel "You
would say there is still room for a young central defender, particularly a
left-footed one because we do run with three and not four," he added.
"Ideally, you would have four... You would also say we need another
left-back to go along with Aaron and I think a front-line player and the
possibility of a midfield player as well."

Though not commenting on any move for Slimani, the quotes nevertheless
suggest those behind the scenes at West Ham may be willing to spend big this
summer. And if the end result is the arrival of the 26-year-old at Upton
Park, it could be money well spent.

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