Cresswell scoops KUMB award
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell has been named Player of the Year by readers of independent West Ham website KUMB.com. The 25-year-old full-back, who was recently crowned Hammer of the Year followed up that prestigious award with a double-scoop at the KUMB Awards.
In addition to being named Player of the Year Cresswell also picked up the Best Signing Award at the event, which was staged at The Cow in Westfield Stratford City, overlooking West Ham United's magnificent new home at the Olympic Stadium.
Ex-Hammer Jack Collison was also a double-winner on the night, picking up the Most Missed Award (for players who left the club within the last year) and the KUMB Podcast Guest of the Year award.
Elsewhere Reece Burke collected the Young Player of the Year award with a whopping 92 per cent of votes, whilst Enner Valencia won Goal of the Season for his wonderful effort at Hull City last September.
This season's Most Memorable Match was the 3-1 win over Liverpool last September, whilst the KUMB readers' Most Improved Player of 2014/15 was Stewart Downing.
The event featured special guests Jimmy Walker and Rufus Brevett, both of whom featured for West Ham during Alan Pardew's tenure in the mid-2000s.
The duo, who used to room together when Hammers teammates, kept the audience fully entertained throughout the evening with hilarious stories of their time together at the club.
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Poyet makes winning start
WHUFC.com
Diego Poyet's Uruguay kicked-off their FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Serbia.
The West Ham United midfielder appeared as a 71st-minute substitute as La Albiceleste defeated their European opponents at the spectacular Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Uruguay's goal was scored by Facundo Castro eleven minutes after half-time, with Poyet helping to ensure the 2013 runners-up made the perfect start to this year's finals.
In the other opening Group D fixture, Mali defeated Mexico 2-0.
Uruguay face the Mexicans at the same venue on Wednesday at 4pm local time (5am UK time) before completing their group-stage commitments by tackling Mali at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday 6 June at 4pm local time (5am UK time).
Elsewhere, Enner Valencia and Ecuador will step up their preparations for this month's Copa America finals in Chile by facing Panama in a pair of warm-up fixtures on Wednesday and Saturday respectively.
The first meeting will be held at the Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City, while the second will take place at the Estadio Reales Tamarindos in Portoviejo, Ecuador.
Ecuador kick-off their Copa America Group A challenge by facing host nation Chile in Santiago on Thursday 11 June, before tackling Bolivia in Valparaiso four days later and Mexico in Rancagua on Friday 19 June.
At age-group level, goalkeeper Sam Howes is in the England U18 squad for an international double-header with Russia at the Arena Khimki in Moscow on Monday 8 June and Wednesday 10 June.
Finally, James Collins will miss Wales' vital 2016 UEFA European Championship Group B qualifier with Belgium in Cardiff on Friday 12 June due to a calf injury.
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Parfitt-Williams signs new contract
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce that highly rated Academy prospect Djair Parfitt-Williams has signed a professional contract at the Club.
The skilful forward has put pen to paper on a two-year deal, keeping him at West Ham until June 2017.
Speaking after committing his future to the Hammers, Parfitt-Williams, who was the U18's top goal scorer this season with nine strikes, said: "Ever since I was young I've always wanted to be a professional footballer, so it feels really good.
"It's nice to see my hard work recognised. I do a lot of extra training and I'm always watching football. For my hard work to come out on the pitch is excellent.
"I've known the contract was coming for a while, so it's nice to finally sign it. It felt kind of weird."
Parfitt-Williams' impressive performances culminated in his nomination for the prestigious Dylan Tombides Award at this year's Player Awards.
Speaking about being nominated, he said: "It was nice to be nominated for the award. I was unlucky not to win it but it's just nice to be recognised as one of the best players at the Academy.
"It's great to be top goal scorer. I've worked hard on my finishing which has paid off in my games."
Following the close of the regular Barclays U21 Premier League season, Parfitt-Williams played, and excelled, in the Hong Kong Soccer Sevens tournament scoring against Hong Kong Premier League champions Kitchee.
In a terrific campaign by the young Hammers, they were just pipped to the title by Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid, losing narrowly 3-2 in the final.
The impressive showing in Hong Kong follows further good news for the Academy after 18-year-old Reece Burke broke into the first team in the latter stages of the season.
Parfitt-Williams continued: "Reece breaking into the first team is great. It's a huge incentive for me and all the other players trying to break into the first team. It's made me hungrier to get there. I've been teammates with Reece since I came to West Ham as an U15.
"I pleased for him. There is a good atmosphere around the academy at the moment. This generation coming through at the Academy has a lot of talent and a few boys here have a real good chance of making it."
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Academy star sets eyes on first team
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 1st June 2015
By: Staff Writer
Djair Parfitt-Williams has signed a two-year professional contract with West Ham - and has his eye very much on the first team squad.
The 19-year-old forward, leading goalscorer for the U18s this season has put pen to paper on his first professional deal. However he hopes that is just the first step to becoming a first team regular.
Speaking to whufc.com, Parfitt-Williams admitted that his main ambition at present is to represent the club in the Premier League.
"It's got to be the first team," he said. "That's where I want to be. I've just got to keep pushing like how I've pushed to get into the Under 21s - and I know I can be there.
"Seeing Reece [Burke] in the first team has made me even more hungry to get there. We've been team mates since I first came in as an Under 15 so I'm happy for him.
"This generation, there's a lot of good young players coming through at the Academy. I think if we all apply ourselves then a few of the boys have a real chance."
Parfitt-Williams was recommended to West Ham by former Hammer Clyde Best, who spotted the promising striker starring for San Jose Earthquakes Academy.
He recently declared his intention to represent the United States at international level rather than Bermuda, his country of birth where he lived until the age of eight before moving to California.
Current Under 21s boss Steve Potts worked extensively with Parfitt-Williams during his time with the Under 18s and believes West Ham have another young star in the making. "His technical ability is fantastic," remarked the former central defender recently.
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West Ham discussing manager's job with Frank de Boer, Unai Emery, Slaven Bilic and Marcelo Bielsa
By Amy Lewis
Last Updated: 01/06/15 12:52pm
SSN
West Ham are discussing their vacant manager's job with four men - Frank de Boer, Unai Emery, Slaven Bilic and Marcelo Bielsa - according to Sky sources. The Hammers are keen to appoint a new boss within the next 10 days after former manager Sam Allardyce's contract was not renewed and he left the club last week. Ajax boss De Boer, whose side finished runners-up to PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie this season, was in contention for the Tottenham job before they hired Mauricio Pochettino last summer and has retained a desire to manage in England.
Besiktas boss Bilic, meanwhile, has an affinity with West Ham having played over 50 times for the club and is also believed to be keen to manage in the Premier League. Unai Emery is the Sevilla head coach who has clinched two successive Europa League trophies and Argentinian Bielsa is the current boss at Marseille. Last week, Hammers co-owner David Sullivan promised supporters there would be imminent signings and a 'big-name' manager. He said: "I am dedicating every waking minute to recruiting the best available manager to drive our club forwards. "It is a constantly changing landscape but we are being absolutely thorough in our search, by speaking to representatives of a number of managers and doing our own due diligence on each one. "Given that, I am not expecting us to make an appointment for at least a week as we must do everything we can to get this appointment right."
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WEST HAM'S EUROPEAN TOUR
By Sean Whetstone 1 Jun 2015 at 15:13
West Ham till I Die
The completion of many European seasons yesterday has settled the other 101 teams we could face in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.
Southampton have now also qualified for next season's Europa League thanks to Arsenal's 4-0 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup final. The Saints who finished an impressive seventh in the league will enter the competition at the third qualifying round stage, meaning their first game will be on Thursday 30th July.
This means Liverpool who finished sixth in the Premier League will now join Spurs in the group stages of the competition in which 48 teams complete with their first group matches scheduled for 17th September.
West Ham will have to go the long way around by entering at the first qualifying round with our first game on 2nd July just 4 weeks away. Players are expected to return for pre-season training on Monday 22nd June.
The Europa league first qualifying round contains a total of 104 teams selected from 31 domestic cup winners, 35 domestic league runners-up, 35 domestic league third-placed teams and finally 3 teams which qualified via Fair Play ranking.
In the qualifying rounds and the play-off round, teams are divided into seeded and unseeded teams based on their 2015 UEFA club coefficients,313233 and then drawn into two-legged home-and-away ties. Teams from the same association cannot be drawn against each other. List of each country/team and their co efficient ranking below.
The club coefficient rankings are determined by the results of clubs in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League over the previous five seasons, as well as by the coefficient of the clubs' association. The club coefficient is the sum of the points earned by the club over the five seasons plus 20% of the club's association coefficient.
West Ham have the highest coefficient so are seeded in top spot in the first qualifying round purely down to the Football Association/Premier League ranking.
England West Ham United Coeff. 16.078
Moldova Sheriff Tiraspol Coeff. 14.500
Norway Rosenborg Coeff. 11.875
Sweden Elfsborg Coeff. 11.545
Croatia Hajduk Split Coeff. 11.200
Cyprus Apollon Limassol Coeff. 10.460
Cyprus Omonia Coeff. 10.460
Slovakia Slovan Bratislava Coeff. 9.250
Sweden AIK Coeff. 9.045
Azerbaijan Neftchi Baku Coeff. 9.000
Slovakia Žilina Coeff. 8.750
Kazakhstan Aktobe Coeff. 8.575
Netherlands Go Ahead Eagles Coeff. 8.195
Serbia Red Star Belgrade Coeff. 7.775
Hungary Debrecen Coeff. 7.700
Denmark Brøndby Coeff. 7.460
Belarus Shakhtyor Soligorsk Coeff. 7.150
Georgia (country) Dinamo Tbilisi Coeff. 6.875
Serbia Vojvodina CC: 6.275
Slovakia Spartak Trnava Coeff. 6.250
Iceland FH Coeff. 6.100
Scotland St. Johnstone Coeff. 6.080
Bosnia and Herzegovina Željezni?ar Coeff. 6.000
Denmark Randers Coeff. 5.960
Norway Strømsgodset Coeff. 5.875
Iceland KR Coeff. 5.600
Romania Boto?ani Coeff. 5.259
Croatia Lokomotiva Coeff. 5.200
Republic of Ireland Shamrock Rovers Coeff. 5.150
Luxembourg F91 Dudelange Coeff. 5.025
Azerbaijan Inter Baku Coeff. 5.000
Northern Ireland Linfield Coeff. 4.975
Bulgaria Beroe Stara Zagora Coeff. 4.850
Malta Valletta Coeff. 4.841
Luxembourg Differdange 03 Coeff. 4.775
Republic of Macedonia Rabotni?ki CC: 4.675
Belarus Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino Coeff. 4.650
Scotland Aberdeen Coeff. 4.580
Moldova Dacia Chi?in?u Coeff. 4.500
Slovenia Koper Coeff. 4.475
Republic of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic Coeff. 4.400
Bulgaria Lokomotiv Sofia Coeff. 4.350
Israel Beitar Jerusalem Coeff. 4.200
Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski Mostar Coeff. 4.000
Faroe Islands HB Coeff. 3.950
Montenegro Budu?nost Podgorica Coeff. 3.875
Malta Birkirkara Coeff. 3.591
Slovenia Domžale Coeff. 3.475
Liechtenstein Vaduz Coeff. 3.450
Serbia ?ukari?ki Coeff. 3.275
Slovenia Celje Coeff. 3.225
Hungary Ferencváros Coeff. 3.200
Estonia Nõmme Kalju Coeff. 3.200
Estonia Flora Tallinn Coeff. 3.200
Montenegro Sutjeska Nikši? Coeff. 3.125
Latvia Skonto Coeff. 3.100
Faroe Islands Víkingur Gøta Coeff. 2.950
Republic of Macedonia Renova Coeff. 2.925
Norway Odd Coeff. 2.875
Albania Kukësi Coeff. 2.825
Azerbaijan Gabala Coeff. 2.750
Republic of Macedonia Shkëndija Coeff. 2.675
Kazakhstan Kairat Coeff. 2.575
Kazakhstan Ordabasy Coeff. 2.575
Hungary MTK Budapest Coeff. 2.450
Armenia Shirak Coeff. 2.300
Montenegro Mladost Podgorica Coeff. 2.125
Albania Laçi Coeff. 2.075
Armenia Ulisses Coeff. 2.050
Moldova Saxan Coeff. 2.000
Northern Ireland Glentoran Coeff. 1.975
Finland VPS Coeff. 1.890
Georgia (country) Dinamo Batumi Coeff. 1.875
Georgia (country) Spartaki Tskhinvali Coeff. 1.875
Estonia Sillamäe Kalev Coeff. 1.700
Andorra Lusitanos Coeff. 1.666
Finland SJK Coeff. 1.640
Finland Lahti Coeff. 1.640
Iceland Víkingur Reykjavík Coeff. 1.600
Latvia Jelgava Coeff. 1.600
Bosnia and Herzegovina Olimpic Coeff. 1.500
Faroe Islands NSÍ Runavík Coeff. 1.450
Andorra Sant Julià Coeff. 1.416
Lithuania Atlantas Coeff. 1.400
Northern Ireland Glenavon Coeff. 1.225
Republic of Ireland Cork City Coeff. 1.150
Republic of Ireland UCD Coeff. 1.150
Lithuania Kruoja Pakruojis Coeff. 1.150
San Marino La Fiorita Coeff. 1.099
Wales Airbus UK Broughton Coeff. 1.075
Albania Partizani Tirana Coeff. 1.075
Luxembourg Progrès Niederkorn Coeff. 1.025
Lithuania Trakai Coeff. 0.900
Latvia Spartaks J?rmala Coeff. 0.850
Malta Balzan Coeff. 0.841
Wales Bala Town Coeff. 0.825
San Marino Juvenes/Dogana Coeff. 0.599
Wales Newtown Coeff. 0.575
Armenia Alashkert Coeff. 0.550
Gibraltar College Europa Coeff. 0.300
Poland Runners-up or third-placed team of 2014–15 Ekstraklasa
Poland Fourth-placed team of 2014–15 Ekstraklasa
So which team do you fancy for a little European tour in the first round?
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West Ham manager search focused on Marcelo Bielsa as top target Unai Emery closes on the Napoli job
22:30, 1 JUNE 2015
BY DARREN LEWIS
Ex-Hammer Slaven Bilic remains the bookies' favourite but Upton Park chiefs have the Marseille boss above him on their shopping list
The Mirror
West Ham are set to step up their interest in Marseille boss Marcelo Bielsa with their move for Europa League-winning Sevilla coach Unai Emery under threat. The Hammers are targeting a big name to replace Sam Allardyce, who left by mutual consent last month. Having seen Rafa Benitez - with whom they had agreed a deal - poached by Real Madrid, however, they are now being challenged for Emery's services by the club that Benitez is poised to leave, Napoli. It is understood Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is set to meet with Emery and his agent to persuade him to move to Serie A instead of the Premier League. The West Ham position, nonetheless, remains an attractive one and Mirror Sport first revealed last week that Argentinian Bielsa, whose Marseille side were narrowly beaten to a Champions League place, is keen. The east Londoners have never discounted the 59-year-old, despite claims that he is poised for a new deal at his French club.
Bookies' favourite and former Hammers star Slaven Bilic has confirmed his next job will be outside Turkey after leaving Besiktas at the end of the season. But neither he nor another of the names touted for the post, Ajax coach Frank De Boer, are uppermost in the thinking of the West Ham hierarchy.
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West Ham's Enner Valencia welcomes Chelsea transfer interest ahead of potential big-money move
22:30, 1 JUNE 2015
BY DARREN LEWIS
Ecuador striker will decide his future after this month's Copa America and said "if it is for my good and that of West Ham then it is welcome"
The Mirror
West Ham forward Enner Valencia has claimed he will decide his future after this month's Copa America, amid interest from Chelsea.
The 25-year-old Ecuador star said: "We are going to see what happens after the Copa America - a competition in which I think we are going to do good things. "I have heard of the [interest from] Chelsea, yes. And other teams. But we are going to wait. You have to see what happens. "If it is for my good and that of West Ham, then it is welcome."
The Copa America begins on June 11 and runs until July 4. Ecuador kick off their group stage campaign against Chile on the opening day before playing Bolivia and Mexico. West Ham, however, insist Valencia - signed only last summer for £12million from Mexican club Pachuca - is going nowhere. The east Londoners remain relaxed in the knowledge that the player is on a five-year contract and that only a massive offer would tempt them into allowing him to leave Upton Park.
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Pulis aims to 'Baggie' Nene!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 1, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Nene is tonight being reported as being possibly set for a move to West Bromwich Albion. ESPN has said that the former Paris St Germain forward – who will not be offered a new Upton Park deal – could be on his way to the west midlands. They say that West Brom boss Tony Pulis is weighing up a move" for the 33-year-old who made just eight appearances at Upton Prk under Sam Allardyce's management.
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Valencia gets a "start performing" message
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 1, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Enner Valencia has been warned that he needs to perform for West Ham before he starts talking up a possible move to Chelsea. The striker went public on his Facebook page today, as we reported earlier, claiming he had heard of the Chelsea connection declaring: "If it is good for me and for West Ham, welcome it is!" However, there was a quick reaction from the club of mixed amusement and mild frustration with a top insider speaking for many. He said: "It sounds very much to me as if this is the case of a player believing press reports which are total rubbsh anyway – there has been no bid. "If Enner wants a big money move I think it would be realistic to expect him to start performing for West Ham United."
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De Boer staying at Ajax says agent
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 1, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Frank de Boer's agent Guido Albers has all-but ruled out the chances of the Dutch manager leaving Ajax this summer.
Albers told Dutch media "Frank has agreed that he will remain at Ajax next year. Only when Ajax itself indicates they no longer want him will other clubs come into the picture."
This morning Sky Sports claimed De Boer is one of four names on West Ham managerial shortlist ahead of next season.
Two days ago West Ham club insiders revealed to Claret and Hugh that the 45 year old is seen as as a gamble given that the Dutch League is among the weakest in Europe.
Admitting there was an interest, our source revealed added that it would be "entirely wrong" to put him among the front runners.
The source added: "Obviously he plays the kind of football very much associated with this club and has won titles in Holland but it's not unlike the Scottish League. How much does that mean? It would be a gamble."
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Irons look at two more boss candidates
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 1, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
West Ham have considered an application from former Watford boss Slaviša Jokanović (above right) as their hunt for the new man continues.
And although he is an unlikely candidate, Eddie Howe still hasn't been entirely ruled out. However the club is still essentially looking for candidates with Premier League experience. Former Chelsea midfielder Jokanović led Watford to promotion last season but has left Vicarage Road reportedly after unable being able to agree new terms. He had been appointed on a short term contract when becoming their fourth coach in five weeks. Under him the club sealed promotion with a 2–0 win at Brighton. An insider admitted that he had been put forward but told us exclsuively: " It's such an important year that we have to get the appointment spot on. It could be seen as a gamble."
Eddie Howe's name has never been far from the front tier of candidates but the lack of Premier League experience remains a problem.
We were told: "He's a great young manager who has done a remarkable job at Bournemouth. Is he ready for life in the Premier League at West Ham ? That's a big question isn't it? Howe last year extended his Cherries contract until 2018 and around £2 million would be required in compensation were he to join the Irons.
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Benitez arrives in Madrid
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 1, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Rafael Benitez has arrived in Madrid, less than 24 hours after overseeing his final game in charge of Napoli which he lost 4-2 to Lazio.
Benitez is expected to be named the new Real Madrid coach this week. "I am enthusiastic and happy," Benitez told the Spanish press upon his arrival in the capital. "Although there are things that still need to be discussed," he said. It is claimed that Real Madrid hijacked a deal for Rafa Benitez with whom the Hammers were said to be within a couple of hours from reaching an agreement with.
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Klopp confirms sabattical
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 1, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Jürgen Klopp has confirmed he'll take a sabbatical until further notice telling media this morning "I will take a break until further notice, after seven intense and emotional years of 'Real Love', I consider it sensible to process all these memories until I'm fresh and full of motivation to take on a new task, together with my team."
Two days ago we reported that West Ham were refusing to give up on persuading Klopp to join West Ham but now it appears his mind is made up to have a break from football.
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Upbeat Carroll tweets good news
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 1, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Andy Carroll appears to be very much on the mend and stepping up his training regime.
The striker tweeted an upbeat message giving hope that he could be back in action for the opening Europa Cup matches in July.
He wrote: "Great start to the week with a sunny session at Chadwell Heath."
He has been out of action since he underwent a knee operation back in February having suffered medial ligament damage against Southampton.
Should he be fit, the front man is almost certain to play as the Hammers would see the games as a perfect way of getting him up to full fitness.
The club kicks off its campaign on July 2.
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Emery in talks with Napoli president
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 1, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Spanish media say Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis boarded a flight to Madrid this morning in an attempt to secure the signing of Sevilla coach and West Ham target, Unai Emery to manage in Serie A next season.
De Lauerntiis and his right hand man, Andrea Chiavelli, will meet later this evening with Emery and his agent, Jorge Mendes, with the intention of convincing the Basque coach of a move to the San Paolo will further his career.
Emery will have to renounce Champions League football after Sevilla's win in last week's Europa League Following last night's 2-4 defeat to Lazio, Napoli will have to settle for Europa League football next season. If Emery isn't persuaded to join Napoli, then the next candidate in line For Napoli is said to be Serbian, Sinisa Mihajlovic, who today resigned as Sampdoria coach.
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