Daily WHUFC News - 15th April 2015

Backroom Blog - Tony Carr
WHUFC.com

Club Ambassador Tony Carr MBE has had an illustrious and successful career
at West Ham United, helping to nurture some of the best Academy graduates
the Club has ever produced. Reflecting on his 42 years at the Club for an
upcoming Premier League World documentary due to air this summer, Carr
reminisced about his life from an emerging prospect himself in the 1960s to
his current role as Club Ambassador.

Speaking after the end of filming, on a gloriously sunny day at the Boleyn
Ground, Carr spoke to www.whufc.com...

The documentary came about after I was approached by Premier League
Productions and Premier League World to do a piece about my 40 odd years at
West Ham United. I was delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate what
we've achieved over the years. They've contacted some of the old players who
came through the youth system here, the likes of Frank Lampard, Rio
Ferdinand and Joe Cole. Hopefully when it comes out, the fans will enjoy it
because these were some incredible years for the club. Looking back, 42
years is a long time and there are a lot of memories so you can't cover
everything, I hoped I haven't missed anyone out – if I have I apologise!
It's nice to look back, but at the same time I'm really enjoying my new role
as Club Ambassador.

Obviously I'm still keeping my finger on the pulse on what's going on at the
Academy. I still love watching the youth team play and it's great to see so
many young coaches as well as players involved with the Academy. Since he's
come in, Terry Westley has done a fantastic job, he's trying to implement
new ideas which is great for everyone because I think the Academy needed a
new impetus and fresh eyes and Terry has done that. Nothing stays the same,
especially in football, and we need to evolve. Hopefully he can get some of
our promising young players across that line and into the first team because
we've struggled to do that over the last few years.

Currently, we've got some outstanding young players in our Academy, Reece
Oxford, Vashon Neufville and Anthony Scully are all internationals who are
doing very well. In the U21s, Josh Cullen is a great talent, and on the
fringes of getting an opportunity for the first team. He was Academy player
of the year last season after having an outstanding year. He's in the Mark
Noble mould, he's got great character and desire and he's West Ham through
and through. He just needs an opportunity and I'm sure he'll get it soon.

The production line may not be as fast as it once was but I think we're
getting there. We've had a number of youth players on the first team bench
who have not quite made it onto the pitch yet. Reece Burke played in the
League Cup and a few pre-season games which was fantastic for him. It's
incredibly tough to blood you talent, tougher than I was doing it and it's
getting tougher. Now, you get more than a million pounds per place in
Premier League prize money so it's a big incentive to fight for every place.
It used to be the case that if you were safe from relegation with a few
games to go you'd give the younger places a go but it's very hard to do that
now.

On another note, I'm delighted that Mark Noble and James Tomkins have signed
new long-term contracts. It is fantastic for the club and the fans and it
just shows how the club is growing. Not long ago we were producing the
players but finding it hard to keep them so it's great to see them commit
their futures to the club.

Tony Carr

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Dev Squad drawn against Hong Kong Champions
WHUFC.com

West Ham United's Development Squad have been drawn in Group B of the HKFC
Citibank Soccer Sevens tournament due to be held between May 29-31. The
Hammers will travel to Hong Kong to participate in the prestigious
tournament following the end of their Barclays U21 Premier League Campaign,
where they will face Hong Kong champions and last year's finalists Kitchee,
Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG and HKFC Captain's Select. This is
the first time the Hammers have taken part in the international competition
since 2012. Speaking ahead of the competition, Academy manager Terry Westley
said: "We were invited to participate which is nice. I've been to the
tournament before when I was at Birmingham City, so I know a little bit
about it.

"It's a very fast, physically demanding seven-a-side tournament played in
challenging conditions and presents a different type of experience. It's a
nice thing for us to be involved in at the end of the season. "It's a real
challenge for them. As its seven-a-side we'll be taking mainly attacking
players. We're hoping it'll be a great experience."

Alongside West Ham, fellow Premier League teams Stoke City, Aston Villa,
Leicester City and Newcastle United will all be sending teams to compete
During the tournament, we'll have match reports, pictures and reaction on
www.whufc.com and across all our platforms.

The full draw for the HKFC Soccer Sevens is:

Group A: Newcastle United (ENG), Leicester City (ENG), HK Premier League
Club 1 (HKG), Singapore Cricket Club (SIN)

Group B: West Ham United (ENG), Kitchee (HKG), Shanghai SIPG (CHN), HKFC
Captain's Select (HKG)

Group C: Aston Villa (ENG), Wellington Phoenix (NZL), HK Premier League Club
2 (HKG), Hong Kong Football Club (HKG)

Group D: Stoke City (ENG), Atletico Madrid (SPA), HKFA U-20 (HKG), Yau Yee
League Select (HKG)

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New Stadium priority window for Academy Members
WHUFC.com

Academy Members will have an exclusive 24-hour priority window on Tuesday 21
April to join the Season Ticket Priority List for the new Stadium. This is
the only way for Academy Members to guarantee priority when it comes to
Season Tickets for the 2016/17 campaign, the Club's first on Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park.

All existing Academy Members will be eligible to join the Season Ticket
Priority List free of charge from 9am on Tuesday 21 April. To do so, they
will need to visit reservations.whufc.com and submit their details.

The Season Ticket Priority List will then become available from 9am on
Wednesday 22 April to all supporters, who will be required to pay a £10
deposit to join. The deposit is non-refundable but will be redeemed against
the purchase of a 2016/17 Season Ticket.

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Collins pulls no punches
WHUFC.com

James Collins pulled no punches after West Ham United saw another lead
disappear in the dying seconds on Saturday. With the Hammers seemingly on
course to record successive Barclays Premier League home wins, Stoke City's
Marko Arnautovic plundered a 95th minute leveller to floor Collins and co.

It is a feeling that the Wales international is becoming all too accustomed
to and he insists that the Hammers have to be more professional in the
game's final throes. "It's a loss," he said. "The game's over, we've got to
be more street wise and know how to win games. We've done it too many times
this season and we haven't learned from it. Everyone's bitterly
disappointed. "We've only ourselves to blame. The game's over, we've got to
keep it in the corner, do anything to win the football match and we're not
doing that. "It was three points in the bag, not the prettiest game again.
But three points are three points, especially with the run we're on. There's
not a lot more you can say."

On a more positive note, Collins was suitably impressed with Aaron
Cresswell's splendid opener, one that was certainly worthy of winning the
game. He continued: "It's a great free-kick and he's worked on it a bit. We
haven't scored too many from direct free-kicks, I can hardly remember any,
so for him to do that was great. Obviously it would have been better for him
if we'd hung on for the win, but that hasn't happened."

The No19 felt the Hammers could and should have made more of their perfect
start, rather than being forced to retreat in the game's latter stages.
"They had a lot of chances. They've hit the post and the two goals are
offside, I know. But if you go 1-0 up in the first seven minutes, you feel
like you've got to push on and go to score more goals, not sit back and hang
on, as we did on Saturday."

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Allardyce, Sheringham, Bilic and Sakho: Tuesday's news
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 14th April 2015
By: Staff Writer #2

Get the very latest West Ham news in one place, with our new daily media
round-up!

On this day - 14 April
West Ham United 6-0 Brighton & Hove Albion, npower Championship, 14 April
2012
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2014/04/14/on-this-day-14-april_2236884_3
765693

West Ham striker Diafra Sakho ruled out for the rest of the season with
suspected torn thigh muscle
The 25-year-old marksman, who has scored 12 goals this season, is understood
to have sustained the injury in Saturday's draw at home to Stoke.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/west-ham-striker-diafra-sakho-55
13664

Slaven Bilic rubbishes rumours of a West Ham switch
SLAVEN BILIC has dismissed rumours that he's holding talks with West Ham,
according to reports in Turkey.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/436361/Slaven-Bilic-rubbishes-rumo
urs-West-Ham-switch

West Ham confirm double injury blow ahead of Manchester City clash
West Ham Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke has
confirmed strike pair Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho picked up injuries at
the weekend.
http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/west-ham/west_ham_confirm_doubl
e_injury_blow_ahead_of_manchester_city_clash_1_4033177

West Ham stars deliver a masterclass to the kids
Hammers first-teamers plus attacking coach Teddy Sheringham take Academy
boys through their paces
http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/west-ham/west_ham_stars_deliver
_a_masterclass_to_the_kids_1_4032987

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West Ham will struggle to land David Moyes, says Graham Hunter
Last Updated: 14/04/15 12:08pm
SSN

West Ham will find it difficult to lure David Moyes to Upton Park this
summer, according to Spanish football expert Graham Hunter. He told Revista
de la Liga's live Periscope Q&A that Moyes is happy at Real Sociedad in La
Liga, where he has been in charge since November.
And Hunter says West Ham would find it difficult to convince the former
Manchester United and Everton boss to return to the Premier League, should
they look to replace Sam Allardyce at the end of the season. "If you'd
asked me that question six or seven months ago, when David Moyes was
beginning to find his feet (at Real Sociedad), not just at the club but in
the city, away from his family, the changing culture and climate, I would
have said it's feasible," said Hunter. "But he's enjoying himself,
absolutely finding that the thing he's always aspired to, working with a
high-profile club on the continent, can be as rewarding and interesting as
he imagined it to be.
"The players are working for him, his team is playing better, he has the
director of football more onside than ever and the club president is
beginning to think about some of the reforms he wants implemented. "So for
West Ham or anybody to drag him away will be much tougher now than it would
have been a few months ago."

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I'M NOT BEING ANTI-SAM, BUT...
By Iain Dale 14 Apr 2015 at 08:00
West Ham till I Die
Guest Post by Iron Fish

First of all, this is NOT an anti-Sam or pro-Sam thread, it is a thread from
someone who has wavered between the 2 for far too long now, but a poster who
feels it is time for change.

I would like to say a massive Thank-you to Sam Allardyce. Big Sam saved this
club, re-built our failing squad, brought back a "winning" mentality and has
turned this club around in the space of 4 years.

I remember being sat in the stands after we lost our final game of the
season in 2011 against a poor Sunderland team, we lost 3-0 with no
leadership, no fight and very little footballing quality. I thought then we
were doomed – I could not see how we would ever get back to the Premiership.
But we did, and we have one man to thank for that, and that man is Sam
Allardyce. Yes, he had great support from the board, who have always dipped
into their own pockets, but the one man who turned our great club around,
was Sam Allardyce.

But, ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for change – we have the greatest
opportunity in our footballing history, to get this club into the top 6, in
the next few years, with a fantastic new stadium, then build us into a top 4
side, within the next 5-10 years. We can do it, but to do that, it is of my
opinion, we need to change our manager in June of this year.

So, who should be the next manager? Well the board are insisting on
Premiership management experience, which would rule out Bielsa, Bilic, De
Boer, Rijkard, Simeone and Howe – all names we are linked with on a daily
basis. The only names that will tick that box are Redknapp, Rafa and Moyes.

Redknapp would probably cause even more divide against our loyal fan base,
Rafa would want at least £6m a year, plus another £50m – £75m on transfer
funds, which leaves one man………David Moyes.

He would make the perfect successor to Big Sam. It would keep the pro-Sam
supporters happy, as Moyes would set-up a similar way to Sam, but would want
wing backs, a pacey midfield and a big striker. He would set-up for us to
defend well, but might be more pleasing on the eye going forward. I think he
would bring more exciting football to our club, with a focus on scoring
goals too, which would keep our anti-Sam supporters happy. David Moyes could
re-UNITE our brilliant fan base.

It just seems to be the logical choice. David Moyes did a great job at both
Preston North End (achieving a 48.29% win ratio), and did a great job at
Everton, with limited resources (42.08% win ratio). If you look at his Man
Utd stats (52.94% win ratio), he actually did a pretty good job there too,
but the fans were never going to take to him, he just was not a big enough
name for them. Don't forget, he brought in Fellani, and look what he is
doing for Man Utd now. All of these are very impressive stats, and would
clearly move us forward from where we are now with Sam (38.29% win ratio –
he achieved 41.24% at Bolton, 33.33% at Newcastle and 34.88% at Blackburn).

Other key factors include, he would be working again with Tony Henry, our
new Recruitment Director. Tony would be the ideal middle man, working
closely with the board and working closely with David Moyes. We would not
need to completely change the current squad. The likes of Nolan, Cole,
O'Brien and Jussi would surely leave, but David Moyes would build a team
around the likes of Carroll, Sackho and Valencia, and might even add the
likes of Mirallas and Baines-type players, adding pace and creativity.

Surely, we would all be happy with that? A winning mentality, good solid
defence, but more creativity and looking to score goals. More energy, more
pace and more creativity – who does not want any of that?

Finally, and probably most importantly to the board, David Moyes would not
be a risk to our great club. We would not get us relegated in our last year
at the Boleyn Ground or the 1st year at the Olympic Stadium. David Moyes
would build on very strong foundations, the same foundations that Sam has
set-up and built for us over the last 4 years. Thank-you Sam Allardyce, you
are handing over a stable team and club to your younger successor, David
Moyes………..COME ON YOU IRONS !!!!

PS. I've got my tin hat at the ready, but I really do think this will
happen.

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Chelsea and Manchester City to battle it out for West Ham defender Aaron
Cresswell in the summer
17:42, 14 April 2015 By Darren Lewis
The 25-year-old joined the Hammers from Ipswich last summer for £2million
and has been hugely impressive since
The Mirror

Chelsea have joined Manchester City in the chase for West Ham left-back
Aaron Cresswell . The Irons have been digging their heels in after City's
initial interest but Chelsea 's admiration has presented them with a fresh
problem. The Blues are considering their options because Filipe Luis is
mulling over a move back to Atletico Madrid after just one season at
Stamford Bridge. Cresswell, 25, has been outstanding since his arrival at
Upton Park last summer for just £2million from Ipswich. West Ham believe
they can hold on to him without handing him a new deal as he signed a
lucrative five-year contract when he signed for the club last July. But both
Chelsea and City could test that defiance if they follow through with their
interest. Cresswell has scored twice for the Hammers, including last
Saturday's stunning free-kick in the 1-1 draw against Stoke.

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Hammers press on with player targets
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham insiders were today dismissing reports that Sam Allardyce's
uncertain position was hindering the club's summer signing policy.
It's the time of year when all sorts of stories get planted in the media
about any number of transfer related situations and it's not hard to work
out who the beneficiary of each of them may be. One national 'paper reported
this morning the club could "miss out on summer targets due to doubts over
who will be in charge at Upton Park next year."

This was dropped into a gossip section where the suggestion was made that
players wouldn't be ready to sign until the "identified targets" knew who
was in charge! However, that report assumed no decision has been made on the
next manager and that the club and person – whoever he may be – doesn't
already know the position! With David Sullivan's recruitment director Tony
Henry (above right) having a bigger and bigger say on the positions that
need filling no problems are expected in attracting the right players.

We were told: "The managerial situation would be explained clearly to any
potential signings but the report doesn't add up because that process
doesn't start until we have permission to talk to them anyway …and that's
not now! "Obviously we know who and who isn't available in the summer and by
that time we will have settled the managerial situation anyway."

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Hammers on Hernandez
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham are refusing to deny an interest in Manchester United's Javier
Hernandez. The Mexican striker – on loan at Real Madrid – is today being
linked with a move to Italian outfit Lazio. But ourselves, Liverpool, Spurs
and Southampton have also been linked with the player who has suffered a
serious loss of form whilst in Spain. The Hammers have promised to bring in
a couple of well known world names this summer and Hernandez would fit the
bill as one of them. We were told: "We're aware of his availability and
anything else on the transfer front is possible in the summer. We will
certainly need front line reinforcements."

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Collins: "We haven't learned…it's our fault"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret 7 Hugh

James Collins has admitted the Hammers have only themselves to blame for
surrendering points in the dying minutes of games. His admission comes soon
after Enner Valencia made it clear the side was falling back too far
defensively after going in front. Collins is as fed-up as everybody else
with the situation declaring on the official site: "It's a loss. The game's
over, we've got to be more street wise and know how to win games. "We've
done it too many times this season and we haven't learned from it.
Everyone's bitterly disappointed. "We've only ourselves to blame. The game's
over, we've got to keep it in the corner, do anything to win the football
match and we're not doing that. And Enner Valencis said: It's true that
after the result we can say that after we scored we went back a bit too far,
but they are a good side and looked after the ball well." Earlier today we
reported sources inside the club unhappy that we appear to be defending one
goal leads and the players are clearly showing a measure of agreement."

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Deep gloom but no public announcements
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in News Agenda, Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham United will be making absolutely no public declarations on Sam
Allardyce's position until the last ball of the season has been kicked.
ClaretandHugh has taken very much on board the worries and frustrations of
fans wanting an end to the constant speculation over the manager's position.
But despite constant nagging, the club is keeping the shutters closed until
the end of the season in line with their well known and oft stated policy.
However, there is desperate gloom about the team's inability to hold onto
leads with one source saying: "It's become a pschological thing and people
aren't helping themselves in trying to protect one goal leads. "We are
allowing teams to dominate us at home and at times look like a League Two
side defending against a Premier League side. " However, the board is
remaining entirely tight-lipped on the managerial issue given that all sides
involved have given each other their word nothing will be said before the
end of the season.

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Benitez Irons link fading and dying
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham's link with Rafa Benitez is this morning reported as 'fading and
dying' as he finds himself linked with Manchester City next season. This is
in line with reports ClaretandHugh has been bringing over the past fortnight
after being told that the former Liverpool boss was eyeing the Etihad or
Anfield jobs. Latest reports suggest that City may want the Spaniard as a
caretaker boss on the likely firing of Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the
season before the club moves for Pep Guardiola next summer. Benitez had been
a provisional candidate for the Hammers until it became clear the talking
would start at £6 million a year. But the major stumbling block was the
manager's desire to take one of the country's big clubs preferably in the
north west close to the family's Liverpool home. Benitz's wife Maria still
lives in the Merseyside area and with her husband out of contract this
summer, a reunion in the UK is now on the cards.
A source told Claretandhugh this morning: "As we told you several weeks back
it was a hopeful thing rather than a truly confident one.
"You never say never but he's a top manager who will be hunted by a lot of
clubs although the north west looks his most likely destination if it can be
made to happen."

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Carlton Cole eyes MLS switch if West Ham deal falls through
Simon Osborn for Metro.co.uk
Tuesday 14 Apr 2015 8:53 am

West Ham striker Carlton Cole says he will move abroad if the Hammers do not
offer him a new contract to stay at Upton Park. The former England star's
current deal expires at the end of the season and it is unlikely he will not
be offered new terms by the East End club.
'I love the place, I love the fans, I love everything about West Ham,' said
Cole. 'But I know all good things do come to an end sometimes and you have
got to just crack on. 'I'm trying my best to put myself in the best position
to have a new contract, if not at West Ham then somewhere else. 'I'm quite
open, I am an adventurous guy. I wouldn't mind a bit of China or even the
MLS, you never know. I'm really open and I just want to see what offers are
on the table and take it from there.' The 31-year-old joined West Ham in
2006 and has scored 67 goals in just under 300 games for the club.

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West Ham 'making £10m offer to sign Arsenals Carl Jenkinson'
Jamie Sanderson for Metro.co.uk
Monday 13 Apr 2015 7:20 am

West Ham are reportedly looking to win the race for Carl Jenkinson by
offering Arsenal £10million for his services. Jenkinson had impressed during
a season-long loan at Upton Park, and the Hammers have been looking into
making the deal permanent. Liverpool have also been sniffing around, as they
look to replace Glen Johnson, but reports say West Ham will blow them out of
the water with a £10million offer. Arsenal would likely accept that, with
Mathieu Debuchy, Hector Bellerin and Calum Chambers all ahead of him in the
right-back slot.

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West Ham boys need a rocket up their backsides
13:30 14 April 2015
London 24
Dave Evans

West Ham fan James Corden is getting rave reviews in the States for his new
Late, Late Show – but for the Hammers it is nothing but misery and
condemnation. Sam Allardyce was chuckling away on The Clare Balding Show on
Friday night, but there was nothing much to laugh about from this dismal
late, late show which culminated in Stoke's deserved injury-time equaliser.
From the moment that Aaron Cresswell arrowed a superb free kick into the top
corner, until the final minute of injury time, West Ham were second best
against a Potters side who had little to play for either. Manager Sam
Allardyce rued the late goals that the Hammers have conceded in recent
games, but if you don't play well enough in the other 90 minutes, you don't
really deserve to hang on for the three points.

Mark Hughes' side had more attacking intent. They hit the post and had two
goals ruled out for offside before they finally scored, while the best West
Ham had to offer was Cheikhou Kouyate's shot which was saved and Carlton
Cole's header which went wide from Stewart Downing's cross. "We should have
50 points by now," insisted the boss. "We've now thrown away seven points in
the last few minutes.
"Had we not conceded those late goals against Manchester United, Tottenham
and Leicester we would have our record number of points since being back in
the Premier League. "We are struggling to find the key element that will
help us to close out games. We are panicking towards the end of games and
not keeping possession. "I think their goal was a very good one, but we
should have dealt with it better than we did. We are very nervous because
we've conceded late goals before."

With the likes of Alex Song and Mark Noble in the middle of the park, as
well as Downing further forward, the Hammers really should have dominated
possession. But they gave it away too often and put pressure on their
defence. This was not the fault of the back four, it was those further
forward to blame. With West Ham safe in the Premier League and leading in
this game, surely it was time for some more attacking endeavour. But Enner
Valencia played for much of the game on the wing, denying Diafra Sakho the
support he needed, while when Noble and Song are in the same team, they seem
to get in each other's way instead of complementing each other. Why
Allardyce does not give a start to Brazilian Nene remains a mystery. When he
comes on he seems to have some useful trickery, but once again the manager
opted for Kevin Nolan to come off the bench. Surely it is also time to have
a look at someone like Reece Oxford in defence or Diego Poyet in midfield,
as well as Nene up front just to freshen things up a little, though maybe
not next Sunday at Manchester City! This West Ham team needs a rocket up
their backside. Too many seem to have run out of steam and perhaps
predictably there is not the urgency there was earlier in the season.

Unless they can find it then they will not make the top 10.

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Diafra Sakho out for the season as West Ham suffer blow with striker's
injury
West Ham drew 1-1 with Stoke City in the Premier League on Saturday
Diafra Sakho was forced off after 59 minutes due to an injury
It is understood the striker has torn a thigh muscle during the match
Sakho is unlikely to be able to feature for West Ham again this season
By KIERAN GILL FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 07:59, 14 April 2015 | UPDATED: 12:40, 14 April 2015

West Ham striker Diafra Sakho is out for the remainder of the season after
tearing a thigh muscle on Saturday against Stoke City.
The 25-year-old is West Ham's runaway top scorer this season with 12 goals
and was forced off after 59 minutes during their 1-1 draw at home. West Ham
claimed Sakho could return 'before the end of the season' on their official
website, but it appears unlikely the Senegal international will be fit
enough to feature before the next campaign. Ten of Sakho's 12 goals came in
the Barclays Premier League, with Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing the
club's next top scorers with just five apiece. It comes as a blow for
manager Sam Allardyce who is aiming to finish in eighth position as he
fights for a new contract with West Ham. Allardyce's current deal expires at
the end of the season and it is not certain co-owners David Gold and David
Sullivan will keep him on, despite already beating last season's total by
three points.

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